Public Hearing For Gardner Park Environmental Project | News

The project includes more than running an 8-inch pipe under the river. The project includes rehabilitating aging infrastructure to improve water quality.

“There are environmental issues; it’s in a flood plain, and there are air quality issues,” Pion said. A cultural and archaeological review found no issues with the site where the pipe will be located.

The air quality concern stems from the liner inside the pipe. The product has styrene in it, which deteriorates over time. The odor emanating from the liner can cause nausea and other medical reactions. Pion said the plan is to use a UV curing process to mitigate styrene exposure. Other considerations include the following.

-Must withstand a 300 year flood.

-Subsurface contamination; Gardner Park was once a landfill.

-Contaminated water will be treated.

It is anticipated the permits will be secured this spring with a starting date for the project to be in June. Director of Public Works Tom Bernier said the grant funds for the project must be spent by September 30, 2026.

The project is intended to ensure sewage overflow does not discharge into the Clyde River which is part of the Lake Memphremagog watershed.

The study finds there is no significant impact on the environment.

The council took the time to correct an oversight by a prior council. Rick Isabelle, representing NEK Development, advised the council they had applied for tax stabilization for the former Bogner factory property. According to the council minutes in 2022, the city council agreed to the request, but never formalized their approval.

Tax stabilization can be granted for three to 10 years. NEK Development was counting on the reduced tax rate. The organization spent $2 million to upgrade the facility, remove mold and other contaminants, add new wiring, lighting, and other upgrades.

“The decision was made by a previous council but the paperwork was never carried out,” Mayor Rick Ufford-Chase said. He added the tax stabilization request to the meeting agenda so the council could rectify the area.

City resident Pam Ladds objected to the tax stabilization request. She said NEK Development already received a $1.3 million grant to fund the upgrades.

“You’ve already had a break,” Ladds said.

“To get a tenant, we have to drop the rent as low as possible to make it feasible,” Isabelle said. “We want to secure job creation.”

The request affects $90,000 in property taxes over the next five years. Ufford-Chase said the tax stabilization program has been around since at least 2010. Councilor John Monette said it appears the council is being asked to clear up a mistake and honor the previous council’s agreement.

“It’s clear in the minutes the council agreed to do this,” Ufford-Chase said. “It seems pretty straight forward.”

Currently there is a tenant at the Bogner property. TRACK, Inc. is the preeminent dealer in North America for superior snow grooming and specializes in off-road utility vehicles and equipment.

The former Bogner building is a 43,000 square foot facility. The company has the capacity to service 16 snow groomers and large off-road utility vehicles at a time.

The location of the property in Newport City is important to the company because of its proximity to Canada, said owner and chief executive officer of TRACK, Inc. Mike Desmarais. He spoke at an open house in February of 2025 to celebrate the move to a large space.

The council voted to honor the tax stabilization agreement.

Ufford-Chase was pleased to announce the Vermont Bond Bank has approved a 25 year bond for $2,603,000. The bond will pay off the Passumpsic Savings Bank note taken out in 2025 on a short-term basis. Some of the funds will be used to acquire 400 water meters, which will almost complete the process of metering every residence and business on the municipal water system.