Select Board Elects Schaaf Chair in 2-1 Vote

Select Board · Meeting of May 4, 2026

Hardwick Select Board elected Jeffrey Schaaf chair in a 2-1 vote after a tense reorganizational meeting. New member Zachary Spencer, sworn in that night, nominated Schaaf and said he'd heard campaign-season concerns from fire, police and DPW staff about board instability; William Tinker cast the dissenting vote and was then elected vice chair unanimously, with Spencer elected clerk. Spencer told Schaaf the board had been "more out of decorum than any of these other select board members" and warned that "the people in this town think that this is a clown show." The board also confronted a looming $200,000 fiscal 2027 deficit tied to two $100,000 one-time revenue sources; Tinker said "you cannot use one-time revenue to fund a budget," and the board will invite department heads to its May 11 meeting to discuss cuts.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of May 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.