VERGENNES — At its annual meeting at Kennedy Brothers on Monday, June 20, the Vergennes Partnership announced what partnership officials call a “much deserved community service award” to longtime Macdonough Drive resident Matt Daniels.
Almost four-dozen attendees heard praise for Daniels, as well as a wrap-up of the partnership’s projects over the past year and its plans for the future.
According to partnership marketing and development coordinator Amy Bodette Barr, the partnership board chose Daniels because of volunteer work he does at the Falls Park and Macdonough Park on Otter Creek and in the Otter Creek Basin as a whole, noting also that Vergennes benefits from the many boaters who dock in the Basin annually. 
“For years, Matt has maintained the lawns and gardens on his own time. He also keeps track of the number of boaters and reports to the City Council. He visits with the boaters and is a source of information to them, and has even given them rides into town. He basically serves as our unofficial harbormaster,” Barr said.
Comments from City Manager Mel Hawley were read at the meeting: “I don’t think Matt realizes how much his stewardship of Macdonough Park is appreciated. My guess is that boaters and visitors think the city has an army of lawn care and landscape employees to keep the park in such great shape, which is not the case. This is the work of just one volunteer — Matt Daniels. Thank you!”
Daniels did not attend, and Barr said a partnership delegation would visit Daniels and would present him with the award, a framed certificate, a special bottle of Vergennes Wine and $50 worth of Vergennes Green money, and let him view the video of the award presentation.