Elizabeth Cyran for Hardwick Select Board

04/08/2026

HIDDEN FEES AND BUDGET BUSTING

It’s important to inform Hardwick citizens about issues that affect them and their taxes.

Today’s post: hidden fees and budget busting. Grab a cup of coffee or a shot of bourbon, because here we go! Warning! There’s math involved.

I’m not targeting any department, employee, or property owner. I’m telling a story with practical examples.

Case One: Hidden fees.

Marty submits the annual highway budget to the finance committee. His budget includes himself and three employees. Even if not filled, they will be. Marty budgets $45,000 for each full-time employee. We hire two people to fill the open positions. $90K for their salaries is in Marty’s budget, everything’s fine.

Here’s the interesting part. Marty’s budget is fine, but there are fees the salary doesn’t include. Health insurance, disability, retirement funds, and other miscellaneous parts of the ‘benefit package’ for full-time employees. These don’t come out of Marty’s budget; they come out of the general municipal budget.

In the past, no one examined these fees, finance pointed them out this year, calculated the percentages and say this averages $17,000 per person. Let’s say that equates to 30%. These fees are non-negotiable.

This means the true cost of hiring the full-time highway employee is $62K, not $45K. The two employees cost the town $124K annually, not $90K. Marty’s budget is fine, the town’s may not be.

We don’t have many full-time employees making under 45K, but we do have some making over $100K.
Every time the town hires a full-time employee, we MUST add 30% to determine the true cost to the town. Think about this when the select board signs off on a $100K salary. They just cost us $130K.

New math: online statistics say the average real estate tax bill in Hardwick is over $6,000. We’ll use $6k for this calculation. To pay for Marty’s two new employees, it takes almost 22 property owners.

Are you starting to get it?

Case Two: More Budget Busting!

AH, the cost of schools. It’s half of our budget. Here’s my example. This one might need a double shot of the good stuff.

Mrs. A lives in a 5-room, one-bath apartment in Gilbertville. She’s old, she’s lived there over 70 years. Her late hubby was not skilled at repairs. Three of her apartments are uninhabitable. The 4-family needs a complete renovation, a new roof, heating, and all systems.

Mrs. A pays her yearly sewer bill of $1,250, the flat fee for a residential unit. She pays $2,000 in real estate taxes. She has meals delivered, so does few dishes daily, takes a bath weekly, suses the toilet and washes her hands four times a day. Someone takes her laundry out a few times a month since she lacks a washer and dryer.

When Mrs. A dies, her children return from New Hampshire and sell the dilapidated home to an ugly home buyer, Mr. Z, for short money.

Mr. Z renovates the home into four brand new 3-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath apartments with modern amenities like dishwashers and washer/dryer hookups. He rents them at market rates. What the tenants pay does not affect the town’s budget.

Mrs. A’s old place is now occupied by a couple and their two kids, another couple and their two kids, a single woman and her three kids (plus one on the way), and a single mom and her four kids round out the new tenants. Mr. Z, an absentee landlord, doesn’t know about the boyfriend, other adults or the friend and her child also living there. He knows about six adults and eleven children, and one on the way.

Mr. Z is thrilled with his investment. He pays $1250 per apartment for sewer, the going fee per household. This amounts to $10,000 a year. The taxes have increased, he will be paying above the average, say $8,000 a year. The house is renovated, neighbors are happy, and the town is getting four times the amount of taxes and sewer fees.

Mrs. A’s low sewer usage is now a problem. The property now has eleven kids living there, (maybe more) including Johnny who flushes his dinosaurs and the two teenage girls who send tampons down the pipes. All adults including the extras, take a daily shower. The kids get nightly baths, which means at least eleven baths and six showers every day. Each of the apartments runs a load of dishes and at least one load of laundry every day, while the woman with the four kids says she’s doing laundry “all the time” to keep up with the kids’ dirty clothes. With at least seventeen people, the toilets are often flushing, and water is running for somewhere constantly.

If Mrs. A’s sewer usage was a one on the scale, now it’s on steroids and more like a ten on the scale. The new issues from the place keeps Scott up at night.

The town is thrilled about the increased real estate taxes from this property, now at $8,000 instead of $2,000. Yes, there’s a catch.

With 11 new kids in the school, the state mandate a minimum of $10,500 per child, adds $115,500 onto the town’s school budget. If any special needs kids live there, that figure goes up.

In contrast to Mrs. A’s previous contributions of $2,000 in taxes and $1,250 for sewer, the new property owner provides $8,000 in real estate taxes and $10,000 annually for sewer. Where the property was no burden previously, the town now faces thousands of gallons of sewerage and $115,500 in school assessments.

Using the $6K per property average, it now takes 19 property owners to cover the school costs of the children from that one building. Keep this in mind every time someone talks about adding new apartments, or a new house is built.

Adding the new school assessment and benefit package for two employees, $150 thousand dollars is added to the town budget. This is Non negotiable.

BUSTED! Have another cocktail.

25 property owners to cover the new costs. How many property owners do we have in town to cover the entire budget?

Just two examples that show how things no one thinks about breaks our budget and causes a property tax increase.

Our select board must consider hidden fees and make sound fiscal decisions. Responsible growth requires balancing any hidden fee against generated income and the benefits offered to citizens. As a business person, I’ve encountered these situations and will bring my knowledge to make wise decisions that benefit all.

I am running for Select Board because I know I can make a difference in Hardwick. I bring common sense. I ask for your support.

04/06/2026

To All the Good People of Hardwick: I put this page up to inform you all of my positions on subjects effecting our town, and as a forum to discuss these things.

I did NOT put it up so that people who do not live in town can use it to attack me or any other citizen in town. If you wish to spout political vitriol, do it in your own town.


That being said, I have blocked that ‘person' from this site. Any other person who plays this game will also be blocked.

On another note - my blueberries are starting to bud! Just for temptation!

04/05/2026

I was asked a question, “What will be your first action if you became the new select person in town?”

I’d like to see the board develop a roadmap for future governance, outlining goals, responsibilities, and regular reporting structure to the public.

One of my primary concerns is about executive sessions. Taxpayers are entitled to know the reasons behind all board decisions. While confidentiality is important, Mass Law requires the board review and release executive meeting notes after resolving issues or expiring privilege. This has never been done. We are never told what was discussed or transpired.

Executive sessions are often used during contract negotiations, but after finalizing a contract, the board must disclose the terms to the public. As taxpayers, we deserve to know how our funds are used.

The board can ensure transparency by regularly reviewing and releasing all meeting notes, as required by Mass Law, to foster public trust.

Another concern is about complaints received by the Select Board in recent years, none of which have been addressed or resolved. If the board won’t handle a complaint, it’s not addressing real issues in our town, or being transparent with the taxpayers. All complaints should be addressed immediately, resolved and the information released to the public.

03/31/2026

HARDWICK’S FINANCES - EXPLAINED

Each year, the finance committee, in conjunction with the selectmen, meticulously reviews the expenditures of each town department to formulate the next year’s budget. This budget is ultimately voted upon by the town’s taxpayers and voters during the annual town meeting. When we approve the budget, it directly influences the tax rate and the amount we are required to pay in real estate property taxes.

While most residents may not attend these sessions, they can be perplexing, overwhelming, and potentially revealing.

To simplify the matter, Hardwick has significant financial burdens and faces a spending challenge.

The most crucial aspect is the current budget and, more importantly, the town’s expenditures this year. In other words, if the budget allocates $10,000 for legal services this year, the town is authorized to spend up to that amount. However, it does not imply that $20,000 can be spent. While emergencies may arise, any excess spending should be presented to the select board for approval. The board must ensure the town can accommodate such expenses and secure the necessary funds to cover them.

The issue appears to be that funds not allocated in the budget are routinely being spent, departments exceed their budget limits, and there is a lack of accountability for these actions. These overages are not presented to the full board for review, and no justification is provided for their occurrence.

To illustrate this concept, consider your family’s weekly grocery budget of $100. If you purchase $99 worth of food at the store, you are within budget. However, on Monday, you decide to buy a loaf of bread and a pound of butter. On Thursday, you lack the motivation to cook and purchase a roasted chicken and a few sides. If you repeat this pattern every week, your finances will deteriorate significantly by the end of the year.

This issue is not novel. Every two weeks, a warrant is issued, requiring each department to submit its outstanding bills. The accounting department then processes these bills and issues checks for payment.

I worked in the treasurer’s office ‘paying the bills.’ I consistently had concerns regarding the purchase of seemingly unnecessary items, overpriced items, and questionable expenditures. While I did not have access to all purchases and their justifications, as a taxpayer, it is my duty to question and scrutinize these expenditures.

I often emphasize the importance of financial management, stating that by paying attention to small details, larger financial issues can be effectively addressed.

Departments must adhere to their budgets. It is imperative that our select board be dedicated to ensuring accountability by implementing a comprehensive system to manage this.

A more active board of selectmen is necessary to oversee the expenditure of funds and ensure the proper management of Hardwick’s daily finances. By assigning the full board the responsibility of signing warrants, rather than limiting it to a single member, taxpayers’ dollars would be safeguarded against overspending.

The select board is not a part-time job. Board members should attend many of the other boards’ regular meetings in town, such as the finance and Master Plan boards, and serve as a liaison between the boards. They should also attend regular staff and department head meetings. There are ongoing selectmen’s workshops to attend, as well as training conferences and courses in subjects like the Open Meeting law. Additionally, there are inter-municipal meetings with neighboring towns to discuss shared services such as the senior center, our regional school, police, and those proposed such as the fire department. There are numerous county and state-level conferences, with the Mass Municipal Association, state agencies, and meetings regarding grants or compliance. Members should regularly meet with our local state senator and representative, and, on occasion, be available to meet with our federal senators and representatives.

As evident, the selectboard must address several matters or attend meetings each week. Recently, one of our members visited the state house to address a bill of significance to Hardwick’s future. As a retired individual, I have ample time and energy to attend these meetings to ensure Hardwick receives the best representation possible.

I am asking you to vote for me as your next select board member on May 2.

03/17/2026

Heads up to anyone traveling the back woods of West Hardwick. There are people on the road looking for salamanders and frogs on Turkey Street. Yes, I saw many of the little ones jumping across the road. It’s that time of year, so watch for the tiny wild life but also for the people out there monitoring them in this very nasty weather.

03/16/2026

How do I get rid of all the junk that keeps coming onto my page from FB? I just spent ANOTHER hour deleting things. And still they come!

03/15/2026

WHAT CAN I BRING TO HARDWICK AS YOUR NEXT SELECT BOARD MEMBER?

As someone born in Hardwick, my upbringing in this small farming community instilled in me a strong work ethic and deep appreciation for the land.

My professional journey encompassed practical skills, including real estate and insurance brokerage. I oversaw numerous housing units and ensured that insurance costs were manageable and provided comprehensive coverage. I obtained necessary qualifications to work as a private detective and as an auxiliary police officer in both Boston and Waltham, MA. I was a deputy sheriff, and earned Serve Safe certification in the food industry. I am an ordained minister. I have owned and operated many successful businesses in my lifetime.

Along the way I have acquired the skills to draft and negotiate contracts, successfully represent myself in legal matters as a Pro Se attorney, hire and manage personnel, prepare profit and loss statements, create and implement budgets and effectively manage and protect businesses. I am a small farmer, with a productive organic blueberry patch in town that many of you enjoy from the Farmer’s Market on the Common every summer.

I have held positions on the Conservation, Sewer and Historical Commissions. I actively worked to oppose the horse race track, and have been adamant about continuing to keep the dump closed, to protect our health, land and water. I have assisted the administrative secretary, treasurer, accountant and assessors through the Senior World Off program. I preformed daily tasks such as paying bills, filing and writing up meeting minutes, while freeing our paid employees to work on other matters. I assisted a past administrator with paperwork necessary to get the town the multi million dollar USDA Grant to upgrade our sewer facilities. Along with my sister, I set up and catalogued the town’s records room, to insure the safety of important documents.

I am deeply concerned about the future of our town. The high cost of living has led to the departure of long time residents. Our state consistently ranks among the least affordable places to live in our nation. Consequently, we urgently require dedicated individuals with the skills, passion and time and commitment to ensure that Hardwick remains an exceptional place to live.

Former select board members have cited the substantial time and demands this position requires as the reason they no longer wish to serve, that it interferes with their family and work life. As a retired person, I have the flexibility to devote whatever time the job requires, and the ability to represent the town at numerous board meetings as well as regional and state wide events.

Many of you have collaborated with me on projects or witnessed my candid remarks at public meetings. I have a tendency to be straightforward, sometimes to a fault. While some may think that a disadvantage, it will not deter me from being honest with the people of Hardwick.

My parents gave me a great town to call home and I want to ensure I pass that on to future generations. To that end, I have established the Hardwick Rural Collaborative, a non profit organization that will be unveiling some remarkable initiatives this year to continue to the past legacies of this town.

The position of select board member boils down to three central themes:

Responsible Financial Stewardship – managing budgets, contracts, and risk for the town.
Protecting Hardwick’s Rural Character – preserving our land, history, and community while planning responsibly.
Honest, Accessible Leadership – being present, and accountable to the residents.

I bring a unique combination of real skills, knowledge and enthusiasm to a position on the Select Board. As a retired successful businessperson with practical experience in budgeting, contracts, and risk management, I am well equipped to handle the responsibilities of this role, and have the time to devote to it.

Although the position of select board member is the only contested opening this election, I urge everyone to exercise their right to vote. Whether in person or by mail in ballot, this election matters, and your vote is crucial to who will shape the future best interests of our town.

I am confident that you will find me the most qualified candidate for the office of Select Board member. I promise that if you elect me to this position on May 3, I will be dedicated and hardworking and always have the best interests of the Town of Hardwick in the forefront of every decision I make. I humbly ask that you vote for me, Elizabeth Cyran, as your next select board member.

Thank you.

03/12/2026

03/12/2026

03/12/2026

This is practice Cabin #1. It didn’t make it to my place in great shape. But we will save it!

03/12/2026

This is what #7 looks like today. It will be renovated!

03/12/2026

Practice Cabin #7. Formerly resided at the Northeast Music Camp, “the camp” on Hardwick Pond. Saved by me! It now resides at my home and will soon see some renovations.