Lexi Webster, housing and development specialist for the town of Hartford, at Hartford Town Hall in White River Junction, Vt., on Monday, April 7, 2025. Webster started in the newly-created role at the end of February, and is focused on expanding housing in the area, with a focus on affordable housing. (Photo by Alex Driehaus, Valley News)
In an effort to spur growth, the town has hired its first housing and development specialist.
The need for the position became apparent to the Selectboard, the Department of Planning & Development and the Committee on Housing & Homelessness while working on an update to the Town Plan over the past few years.
“This newly created role underscores the town’s commitment to expanding housing opportunities, fostering economic growth, and enhancing community engagement in development initiatives,” an April 1 news release from the town said.
The town posted the position in November. Lexi Webster, 27, started on Feb. 24 and is making a yearly salary of $63,502.
When asked where she lives, Webster told the Valley News the human resources department advised her not to answer.
In an email Q&A, Webster outlined Hartford’s housing and economic challenges and how she hopes to address them in this new role. The exchange has been edited for length and clarity.
Valley News: Where are you from? When did you move to the Upper Valley? What brought you here?
Lexi Webster: I’m from Robbinsville, North Carolina, which is a small town in rural western North Carolina about an hour and a half west of Asheville. However, I lived in Tennessee before moving to the Upper Valley. I moved to the Upper Valley in late January of this year because my fiancé received a job offer from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
VN: Can you describe your background in housing and development? What makes you a good fit for this position?
LW: My background consists of an undergraduate degree in politics and international affairs from Wake Forest University, and a graduate degree in public policy and administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
My first job out of graduate school was serving as a project administrator at a regional development district in southeast Tennessee. In this role, I administered approximately 40 grants at one time, which focused on water and wastewater infrastructure, economic development, community development, child care and housing. I also wrote several grant applications for million-dollar projects that were then accepted and funded.
I have a passion for housing and development, understand the interconnectedness of the topics, and have a deep understanding of local government operations.
VN: How have your first few weeks on the job been? What have you done so far?
LW: My first few weeks on the job have included becoming more knowledgeable about state-level legislative acts related to housing and economic development.
So far, I have served as the staff liaison for the Hartford Committee on Housing and Homelessness, assisted with the preparation of a rental inventory survey that the committee will be releasing soon, and become more familiar with the economic development plan of the town and economic development programs that could benefit the town. I am also assisting with village center planning, including a beautification effort.
I serve as the town liaison for the White River Junction Downtown Business Association, work closely with the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce, and the state-wide Downtown Program.
VN: What are the current challenges Hartford is facing when it comes to developing housing?
LW: Construction costs are rising, our current economic environment is uncertain, and the need for housing units far exceeds the current supply.
VN: What are Hartford’s current economic challenges?
LW: Hartford lacks a population that is growing enough to sustainably develop the economy. Living in the town has become unaffordable for many.
To me, housing and the economy are interconnected. Without affordable housing, it is very difficult to grow the economy; without a growing economy, there is less desire from developers to provide affordable housing.
VN: How do you plan to address these challenges?
LW: I plan to make sure that developers understand Act 181 and Act 47 (the HOME Act), which both amended Act 250 to allow for loosened restrictions and more housing development.
By providing affordable housing units, developers can now exceed traditional density requirements. Using these acts will help spur economic development.
I also plan to help citizens understand that it will take both the public and private sectors jointly working together to solve these issues in light of limited public resources.
VN: What are your main goals in this role? How will you achieve them?
LW: I aim to see more housing, particularly affordable housing, within the Town of Hartford. I know from my own personal experience in the Upper Valley thus far that there is an extreme need for housing in general and that the prices are very high if you can even find a place to rent or buy.
As previously noted, another main goal of mine is to foster economic growth within the Town. Since these goals cannot be solved solely by myself, I plan to bring multiple players to the table.
VN: What is the most exciting aspect of this job for you?
LW: The most exciting aspect of this job to me is getting to make a difference in the Town of Hartford. I am very excited that I have the opportunity to positively impact the Town in multiple ways.
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