HCR 193

R-234  Page 1 of 1
2026
No. R-234. House concurrent resolution in memory of Bennington Town Manager
Stuart Alan Hurd.
                                         (H.C.R.193)
   Offered by Representatives Morrissey of Bennington, Corcoran of Bennington, Greer
of Bennington, and Nigro of Bennington
   Offered by Senators Bongartz and Plunkett
   Whereas, during his over half-century of innovative municipal public service in the
Town of Bennington, Stuart Hurd adeptly applied the hands-on problem-solving skills
that he had studied as a civil engineering student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and
   Whereas, in 1973, while visiting a friend in Vermont, the Connecticut native read a
job announcement from the Town of Bennington seeking the community’s first zoning
administrator, and his hiring benefitted the future of Bennington in ways never
imagined, and
    Whereas, having proven an effective zoning administrator, the Bennington
Selectboard subsequently chose Stuart Hurd to serve as assistant town manager and,
ultimately, in 1992, named him town manager, launching a historic tenure in this role that
lasted for nearly 33 years, only 18 months short of the State’s longevity record for a town
manager, and
   Whereas, Stuart Hurd was known for his unparalleled dedication to the community
and for his calm demeanor, and
   Whereas, in 2008, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns honored him with its
prestigious Vermont Municipal Service Award, and
  Whereas, Stuart Hurd’s community leadership included roles on the former
Bennington School District Board and with local nonprofit organizations, and
   Whereas, outside his professional life, Stuart Hurd embraced the arts, including as an
amateur watercolorist who created Christmas cards; enthusiastically played in
Bennington’s men’s basketball and softball leagues; enjoyed international travel; and
spent quality time with his family, and
   Whereas, Stuart Hurd died at 77 years of age on August 30, 2025, following a four-
year battle against cancer, and his survivors include his spouse, D. Justine Scanlon; and
in his honor, the Town of Bennington flew the municipality’s flags at half-mast for five
days, representing each of his five decades of exemplary municipal public employment,
now therefore be it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
   That the General Assembly expresses its sincere condolences to the family and
colleagues of Bennington Town Manager Stuart Alan Hurd, and be it further
   Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the family of Stuart Hurd and the Town of Bennington.
                                                                             VT LEG #387502 v.1