HARTFORD — With seven months remaining in his first term, Selectboard member Brandon Smith is stepping down, and moving to Lebanon.
Smith’s resignation will go into effect on July 31, the day he transfers residency to Lebanon, according to a letter he submitted to members of the Hartford Selectboard and Town Manager, John Haverstock.
“I’m sad to have to go. It’s been a great pleasure to stand up for my values in this way,” Smith said in a recent interview.
As much as he and his partner would have liked to stay in Hartford, after nine months of searching for a house they “couldn’t find one that we could afford really,” he said.
“It’s been great getting to know my neighbors,” he said.
Smith, who moved to Hartford about three years ago, said he ran for the Selectboard to learn more about his community. He was elected for a two-year term at Town Meeting in March 2024. Advocating for more affordable housing was chief among his goals during his campaign.
Smith works as an assistant project manager for Earthshare Construction LLC in Lebanon.
Trained as a journalist, he covered the police beat while living in Chicago between 2012 and 2017.
Smith also was among the 89 individuals arrested last year at the May 1 pro-Palestinian protest on the Dartmouth Green.
During his time on the Selectboard he was often unafraid to stand alone on certain issues.
In April, he was the only board member in a 6-1 vote to support a special meeting to discuss adopting a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
In spring 2024, he voted against hanging a dozen or so banners of veterans in White River Junction for six months.
“This is how I see these banners: all smoke and no fire. I would much rather we offer better services to veterans, and better opportunities to connect in the community,” Smith wrote in an opinion piece published in the Valley News in April 2024.
In advance of his departure, Smith will present a draft ordinance at Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting that would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings while operating within the town. Law enforcement officers also would be required to provide their first and last names, and badge numbers when requested by a member of the public including those they were apprehending as well as town staff.
The ordinance comes as the use of face coverings has become increasingly prevalent among federal officials including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents when performing arrests.
“That’s the primary definition of secret police is that they conceal their identities likely because they know they wouldn’t be allowed in polite society if they were known to do this work, and for good reason,” Smith said.
“To me this is us standing up for our values as a town. Just real simple: no secret police,” he added.
Last month, Hartford resident and personal trainer Rahm Klampert was arrested and charged with felony drug offenses after drugs and firearms were found at his residence and training facilities.
Members of the Vermont Drug Task Force who were onsite at the arrest were wearing face coverings.
Trevor Whipple, of Vermont League of Cities and Towns, a Montpelier-based nonprofit specializing in municipal development, encouraged Smith to consider instances when it’s necessary for authorities to wear a face covering in an email addressed to Haverstock, which is attached to the agenda packet. .
The proposed ordinance currently states that law enforcement would be permitted to use face coverings in the case of inclement weather or disease prevention. The ordinance also states that officers could conceal their identity when they are working on a case that could only be conducted undercover.
In a July 3 email, Selectboard Chairwoman Mary Erdei suggested Smith look into whether other towns are considering similar policies. She acknowledged that the town is in “uncharted ‘waters’ with the politics and militarization efforts under this administration.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Selectboard will discuss whether to leave Smith’s seat open until Town Meeting next spring, or hold a special election to fill his spot.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Hartford Town Hall. The meeting will also be accessible remotely via Zoom. The link to the Zoom meeting can be found in the meeting’s agenda packet, which is on the town’s website hartford-vt.org.
Marion Umpleby can be reached at mumpleby@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.
