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Greensboro Performing Arts Center Trust Names New Theater Complex

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The Greensboro Performing Arts Center Trust (GPACT) announced a new name for the theater complex currently under construction at the corner of Hardwick Street and Center Road. The theater will be called the Highland Center for the Arts. GPACT will correspondingly be known as the Highland Center for the Arts Trust, Ltd. As a multi-purpose performing arts facility, the new name is a reflection of the building’s diverse planned uses, including as performance space for music, dance, circus arts, and theatre, as well as gallery space. The performing arts center is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2017.  For more information, as well as for current construction photos and updates, visit https://highlandartsvt.org/summer-2016-construction-photos/

What do YOU see? What do YOU want Greensboro to be?

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The Greensboro Planning Commission is writing a new Town Plan.

Now is the time for residents to weigh in on residential and commercial development, renewable energy, natural resources, community character and more. Everyone in the household is encouraged to participate in this process by taking the Greensboro Community Survey.

Please complete the survey by Monday July 11th.

                www.surveymonkey.com/r/GreensboroVT1

                www.surveymonkey.com/r/GreensboroVT2

The online survey is up and live now. Paper copies of the survey are also available at the following locations:

Greensboro Town Clerk’s Office; Smith’s Grocery; Willey’s Store; Greensboro Free Library; Greensboro Post Office; Greensboro Bend Post Office; Four Seasons of Early Learning; Greensboro United Church of Christ

The Planning Commission hopes that every resident, voter and property owner, as well as members of their immediate household will respond. After reviewing the results of the survey, the Commission will conduct topic-specific focus groups and general discussion community forums before sitting down to write a draft plan. Once the draft is ready, the Commission will again seek community wide input and consensus before finalizing the plan.

Questions? Please contact the Greensboro Planning Commission:

Joe Wood (Chair): 533-2148 or [email protected]

David Miltenberger (Vice Chair): 533-2917 [email protected]

50 Ways to Protect Caspian Lake

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Did you know that the GA published a guide that illustrates ways we can all protect and conserve Caspian Lake?   It includes useful information about boating rules, tips to protect water quality, septic system maintenance, and more. The document is available for you on our website – just check to the lower right hand side of our home page.

Consider making it available in hard copy for your guests or renters this season.

 

Barr Hill Access Road Reopens

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The access road to the Barr Hill Nature Preserve underwent significant repairs during the month of May that required its temporary closure to vehicle traffic. Those repairs were completed just in time for Memorial Day weekend, and visitors to Greensboro can once again access the parking area for the nature trail and preserve by car.   Please note that the repairs included the installation of several water bars to facilitate drainage and help prevent washouts. Drive slowly to protect your car, and more importantly, drive slowly to fully appreciate this special spot in Greensboro.

 

 

Important Early Summer Dates for Town Services

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Grievance Day hearings are set for Tuesday, June 28th beginning at 9:30 AM. The town clerk’s office requests that appointments be scheduled prior to June 28th. The Assessor will be available in the Town Office on Tuesday, June 21st to answer questions.

The summer recycling schedule will begin on Wednesday, June 22. The recycling center will be open from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM on Wednesdays in addition to the regular Saturday hours of 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The summer recycling schedule ends on Wednesday, September 7.

Household Hazardous Waste collection day will be on July 23 this year, from 8:00 to 11:00 AM.

Hardwick Gazette for Sale – for 400 Words

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Ross Connelly, the publisher of our local newspaper the Hardwick Gazette, is looking for the best person to fill his chair at the 127-year old paper. Entrants will pay $175 and submit an essay of no more than 400 words describing their skills and vision for the paper, which is a key source for information for the nine communities it serves, including Greensboro. Ross Connelly has been at the paper’s helm for 30 years and is ready to retire.   A panel of judges will select the winning entry. The contest begins this Saturday and will continue until August 11. The winner will also take over the Main Street building in Hardwick that houses the paper’s offices.

Act 46 and Greensboro: An Update on our Progress

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It’s been several months since the Greensboro and Lakeview Union Districts held a public forum to discuss Act 46. In that time, several developments have taken place.

Greensboro members from the Greensboro School District Board, the Lakeview Union Board, and the Hazen Union Board are active participants in the OSSU Act 46 Study Group, now formally called an Exploratory Committee. Meetings are facilitated by consultant Steve Sanborn, whose work is funded by a $5000 study grant from the state. The committee is currently discussing options including an option for school choice within the supervisory union and transportation issues.

Separate from these meetings Greensboro and Lakeview school board members were also contacted by school board members from Peacham to explore possible ways for our districts, including Stannard, to work together.   Peacham operates a K-6 school like Lakeview, but they offer full choice for grades 7-12. They do not operate a middle or high school. Peacham currently educates approximately 45 students and is deeply committed to retaining its small, community elementary school.

Board members are just as committed to retaining Lakeview for our elementary students and community.

At a June 7 meeting it was very clear that no one present was in favor of placing children on buses for long distances for any grades. Cost, quality of education, retaining control of our budget, and providing equity to all students are important parts of the ongoing discussion.

Board members are continuing their work to find the best options for Greensboro and Stannard students and families. There are several options on the table that they will explore that could satisfy Act 46’s requirements. Actual financial implications for any of these ideas are not available at this time. It is the work of the exploratory committee in conjunction with the consultant to work out those details and then provide that information to the community for feedback.

No decision or change to our current education structure will be made without the approval of the voters of Greensboro.

If you are interested in the Act 46 process, the next OSSU Exploratory Committee meeting is on June 16 at 6:00 PM at the OSSU Central Office in the Daniels Building in Hardwick. Greensboro will host another meeting in the coming weeks to update the community on the committee’s progress and next steps. Minutes of past OSSU exploratory group meetings as well as other information about Act 46 are available at https://www.ossu.org/ossuannouncements/h361.

 

 

Barr Hill Access Road Closed until mid June

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Planning on taking your first hike up Barr Hill for the season in the coming weeks? The road to the nature trail has been in need of repair for several years, and now, with help from the Nature Conservancy and the Town, it will be repaired in the coming weeks.

The access road to the natural area will therefore be CLOSED to vehicles from now until early June. Hikers are still welcome at their own risk.

We’ll keep you posted on when the road re-opens.

Important Information About Shorefront Ice Damage Repair

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Did your shoreline sustain damage from this winter’s ice? John Schweizer and other GA board members are working with the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) to clarify requirements for repairs done to shorelines.

Several lakeshores in the Northeast Kingdom sustained ice damage this winter due to the warm winter and repeated expansion and contraction of ice. ANR has already begun visiting sites at other lakes in our region to review Lake Encroachment Permit Applications for properties on Maidstone Lake and Seymour Lake, both of which had severe ice push on shorelines. Damage was most severe where lawns run all the way to the lake.

ANR would like to visit sites on Caspian as well. Lakeshore Encroachment Permitting covers any work done in the water. They have clarified the requirements for seeking a permit for shoreline work in the information below:

“Any work that is to be done above the current mean water level (area jurisdictional under the Shoreland Protection Act) that does not involve creating new cleared area or impervious surface may take place at any time. Maintaining an existing beach above mean water level would be an exempt activity provided no new cleared area or impervious surface is involved with completing the project.

However, any work that proposes to add or remove fill at or below the current mean water level would require a Lake Encroachment permit. If you are looking to stabilize your existing shoreline through the use of adding any type of fill at or below mean water level, one may not reclaim lost land through placement of new fill beyond the location of the existing shoreline or create new land lakeward of the existing shoreline.

Review time for a Lake Encroachment permit applications take between 45 and 90 days. Any Lake Encroachment activities may not commence until after July 1 of a calendar year as a spring fish spawning protective measure.”

Keep our lakes beautiful. If you have questions about whether your shoreline project falls under the permitting guidelines, visit the ANR’s website at https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds.

 

 

Green-up Day!

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It’s been a Vermont tradition for 45 years. On the first Saturday in May, Vermonters take to our highways and byways, green garbage bags in hand, and pick up roadside litter. It’s just one of the ways we work to keep our state beautiful for all of us.

This year, Green-up Day is on Saturday, May 7. The town will provide green bags and gloves for trash collection. Come to the Town Clerk’s office to mark your route on the town map so everyone knows which areas have been covered. This year, Greensboro’s Walking ladies will provide snacks and the Vermont Coffee Company is also supplying coffee for volunteers. Full green-up bags can be brought to the designated dumpster behind the Town Hall. In addition, the metal dumpster will be available, as well as a tire dumpster for tires found along roadsides. If you have tires to dispose other than those found along roadsides, the town has a suggested fee of $3.00 per tire, delivered to the town clerk’s office.

Not in Greensboro, or even in Vermont, for Green-up Day? Consider taking a few minutes of your day to green-up in your town. For more information about Green-up Day, including safety tips, visit https://www.greenupvermont.org.

Caspian Challenge Scheduled for Sunday, July 24

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Greensboro’s Select Board approved the Association’s plans for hosting the 5th Annual Caspian Challenge on the morning of Sunday, July 24. This family-friendly event has grown over the years, and it will continue to include the 6.8 mile run around Caspian, a 5K run, and a 5K walk. Proceeds from past runs have supported lake protection and, most recently, the Lakeview Union School’s Farm-to-School program. Look for race details and a link to online registration on the Greensboro Association website by mid-May.

The Challenge relies heavily on volunteers for its success. Interested in getting involved to keep this event running into the future? Contact [email protected].

Caspian Lake Milfoil Attendants

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Summer is approaching, and so is our need to be vigilant about aquatic invasive species, including Eurasian milfoil, coming to Caspian Lake. The Town of Greensboro is currently looking for high school or college-aged individuals to serve as boat inspectors and milfoil educators at the Caspian Lake Beach this summer.   Avid boaters are often early-risers, so the position will require early morning shifts and will run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, although applicants need not be available the entire period. New hires will be required to attend a training on Saturday, June 4th, in Fairlee, Vermont. Interested candidates should contact Andy Dales, Greensboro’s Milfoil Program Supervisor at [email protected], or Valdine Hall, Greensboro’s Town Clerk, at [email protected].

Tent for Greensboro Arts Alliance and Residency Approved for Town Hall Green, Summer 2016

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At Greensboro’s Town Meeting in March, voters conducted a non-binding straw poll regarding the GAAR tent on the Town Hall Green. Through a show of hands, those in attendance indicated strong support for the Select Board to allow GAAR to erect its tent on the Town Hall Green for the 2016 summer season. The new theater under construction at Tolman Corner is currently scheduled for completion in 2017. At its March 23 meeting, the Select Board approved the tent for the 2016 summer season with the following conditions:

  • It will go up on June 15 and will be taken down by Labor Day.
  • GAAR will ensure the lawn is properly reseeded at the end of the season.
  • No balloons will be used.
  • Signage will be minimized.
  • GAAR may use the Collier Room in Town Hall, but it must be cleaned and ready for the conduct of any town business.
  • The Town Hall gym must be emptied at the end of the season.
  • Garbage and debris around the tent must be removed promptly.
  • The parking situation will be addressed with assistance from Hardwick Police Chief Aaron Cochran.
  • Props from completed shows will be removed from Town Hall as the season winds down to make it easier to prepare the building for the new school year.

Lake Levels and the Caspian Lake Beach Dam

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Several properties on Caspian this year have sustained significant ice and water damage from high lake levels. According to Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), Hardwick Electric Department (HED) is not responsible for managing water levels on Caspian by adjusting the dam at the beach despite their ownership of the beach and the dam. In a recent Hardwick Gazette article, Jeff Crocker, ANR’s stream flow protection coordinator, explained that in the 1990s, the dam was under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Board, and HED adjusted lake levels to “spur its hydro production downstream in Wolcott.” He added that the Caspian dam is not designed for flood control, nor would ANR approve of HED managing the water level of Caspian in response to rain, snow, and ice.

If you are interested in learning more about Vermont’s water laws and how they may impact your property, here is an informative reference:

https://www.uvm.edu/crs/resources/citizens/water.pdf

Greensboro Historical Society: The Power of Water

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The GHS held its winter meeting this past March. The meeting included a panel discussion entitled The Power of Water, which explored the history of water in Greensboro and Greensboro Bend as well as recent upgrades and changes to the town’s water system. The discussion can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCUrjCPKcM0&feature=youtu.be

A special thank you to Kyle Gray and the GHS for continuing to make these videos available for all of us to enjoy.

Proposed Town Policy Regarding Temporary Signage

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The Greensboro Select Board is reviewing a proposed policy for temporary signage on municipal property. Should it be approved, the policy will define what constitutes a temporary sign and sets out procedures for posting signs on municipal property, specifically that signs posted on town property must be approved by the Select Board. Signs on private property, including those within the town road right-of-way, would not be regulated under the proposed policy.

The Select Board is inviting comment from the public on this proposed policy. Comments must be submitted in writing by Monday, April 11 by email to [email protected], in person at the Town Clerk’s office, or by mail to PO Box 119, Greensboro, VT 05841. The Select Board will take up the policy and hear public comments at its April 13 meeting. If the Board makes no further changes to the proposed policy, it will go into effect on June 1, 2016.

The proposed policy can be viewed here:

https://www.greensborovt.org

911 Signs For Your Home or Cottage

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The Fire Department is selling reflective signs for 911 house numbers. These signs are critically important for rescue and fire services to help them locate your home or cottage.

They will be available for sale at the Fire Station on Saturday, March 19 from 9-12 and Thursday, April 7 from 7-8 PM.

The Fire Department will also host two dates this summer for accepting sign applications: Saturday, July 2 from 11 AM to 2 PM and Thursday, August 18 from 7-9 PM, with possible additional dates. Signs are $15 each.

We can’t emphasize enough how important these signs could be in saving a home or a life.

Town Meeting 2016 on YouTube

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Were you unable to attend Town Meeting this year? Kyle Gray, who graciously recorded the great interview with Larry Lumsden, also recorded the proceedings of Greensboro Town Meeting 2016. The audio is clear and the whole video provides a great opportunity for what a Vermont Town Meeting is truly like.

For your viewing reference, seated at the table from left are Select Board members Marsha Gadoury, Sean Thomson, Ernest Machia, Peter Romans, Moderator Tim Nisbet (standing), and Town Clerk Valdine Hall. Susan Wood was unable to attend.

Thank you, Kyle, for providing this to our community!

Town Meeting 2016

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IMG_0037It was sunny on Town Meeting day in Greensboro this year, which usually means we have a great turnout for this annual gathering.

Tim Nisbet, our Town Moderator since 1980, got things underway with his welcome dry wit, solid knowledge of parliamentary procedure, and keen ability to keep the meeting running while still recognizing the needs of those seeking further discussion on a topic.

We enjoyed visits from three of our legislators, including Senator John Rodgers (D-Essex/Orleans), Representative Sam Young (D-Orleans/Caledonia), and Representative Vicki Strong (R-Orleans/Caledonia). All spoke to issues currently facing the legislature, including alternative energy projects (both commercial and private), Act 46, medical marijuana, and more.

The town’s amended budget of $1,749,221, passed on a voice vote after some discussion about driveway plowing, highway equipment maintenance, and roadwork plans.IMG_0035

We also re-elected Ernest Machia to a 3-year term on the Select Board and Judy Carpenter to a 2-year term.

Andy and Judy Dales were recognized for their many contributions to life in Greensboro as this year’s recipients of the Greensboro Award.IMG_0038

The final article of the warning, which allowed for the transaction of other business legally coming before the meeting, brought about the request by several attendees to hold a straw poll regarding the presence of the Greensboro Arts Alliance tent on the Town Green this summer. The Select Board tabled the decision at its last meeting and GAAR also withdrew its request. Straw polls are non-binding and all taxpayers, not just registered voters of Greensboro, can participate. Voting by a show of hands, the majority in attendance indicated they wanted the GAAR tent to be allowed to return to the Town Green for one summer.

Other issues discussed during the final article included the combat of invasive Japanese knotweed, cell phone coverage, and the name of the Caspian Lake Beach (vs. calling it Hardwick Beach).

IMG_0041Last but not least, voters agreed to hold the town’s annual Funky Fourth Celebrations on Saturday, July 2nd. Mark your calendars!

The meeting adjourned and we shared a delicious lunch provided by the Four Seasons of Early Learning. This is always a highlight of the day.   It’s a chance to visit with neighbors and friends, some of whom we may not have seen all winter.

After lunch, Tim called the annual meeting of the Greensboro Town School District to order. We elected Jerilyn Virden and MacNeil as directors to the town school board. We also elected Amy Skelton and Robbie Hurst to the Lakeview Union School District board, and Jefferson Tolman to the Hazen Union board. We enjoyed a lively and civil discussion about the future of our school and our community. Several townspeople expressed concerns about the attractiveness of Greensboro as a place to settle for a family. Some felt that high property prices can be prohibitive for many families, and without families and children in town, the viability of our school could be in jeopardy in the future. Others expressed concern about the recent divisiveness over development projects in town being off-putting for prospective families considering moving to Greensboro. Planning Commission members in attendance reminded us all that their work for the next few years will provide important opportunities to bring our whole community together to design Greensboro’s future.

As always, Town Meeting brought civil and engaged discussion. If you weren’t able to attend, consider joining us next year. If you were there yesterday, share your comments and observations below.