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2016 Greensboro Association Annual Meeting

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This year’s Annual Meeting of the Greensboro Association covered a range of topics. We approved the budget for next year and elected a new slate of Officers, which you can find here: https://www.greensboroassociation.org/about/board-of-trustees/.

John Schweizer and Stewart Arnold spoke about their efforts to work with the State to curb future ice and water damage to shoreline properties. This is an ongoing project and we’ll keep you informed of its progress.

Susan Wood provided an update from our Select Board about town happenings. She explained that the proposed ban on temporary signage was abandoned. There has been some repair accomplished to the sidewalks along Breezy Avenue.   The town sold the old fire station and also purchased new equipment for road upkeep and maintenance. In addition, the Select Board will be working on planning for long range infrastructure improvement, as well as long-range planning for the upkeep and maintenance of town-owned property. Sue also shared that recycling regulations will be changing, and the town may have to move the recycling center to a new location or perhaps build a new facility. Final regulations for regulations have not been passed, so the needs are still unclear. In addition, the town will be conducting speed studies to better understand speeding issues in certain parts of town. Finally, the stump dump is full and is now closed to the public.

We also had an opportunity to celebrate Andy and Judy Dales, 2016’s recipients of the Greensboro Award. For a chance to learn more about their contributions to Greensboro, watch this video, kindly provided by Andy and Judy’s son, Cameron Dales: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir43Uej_Q78

Chief Aaron Cochran of the Hardwick Police shared statistics on incidents in Greensboro during the past year. We also had an opportunity to meet the department’s new canine. Chief Cochran reported increases in criminal offenses in 2015, a decrease in domestic violence incidents, and that the number of reported burglaries in Greensboro was the same as 2014. Chief Cochran also fielded questions about the drug problem in our area.

Finally, Joe Wood provided an update on work of the Planning Commission. The town will work with a consultant for 18 months to complete the process of redrafting the town plan. The survey circulated earlier this summer garnered approximately 400 responses, of which 250 were from part-time residents and 150 from full-time residents. The data from the surveys is still under review and will be made available shortly.

We will continue to keep you updated on happenings in Greensboro throughout the coming year, and we hope you’ll join us for next year’s annual meeting!

GREENSBORO PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC FORUM  #1 

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The Greensboro Planning Commission is holding the first in a series of public forums on August 15th, 2016 at the Fellowship Hall.  The Planning Commission is seeking public input regarding the community survey results and invites further discussion about what we want Greensboro to be as based on those results.  Public input gathered at the forum will be strongly considered by the Planning Commission as it works on revising the Town Plan. The public forum will be held at the Fellowship Hall on August 15, 2016 and will begin at 7 PM.  For more information, please contact the Town of Greensboro, Zoning Administrator at (802) 533.2911.

Subsequent dates for future community forums to be announced soon.

Please review the Community Survey Results  before the forum.

Please join us!

Greensboro Association Annual Meeting to be Held Thursday, August 4 at 4 PM

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The Annual Meeting of the Greensboro Association will take place on Thursday, August 4 from 4-6 PM.   The Board elected to schedule the meeting earlier in the evening to accommodate the variety of evening activities in early August.

Included on the agenda are a one-hour business meeting, followed by a town update that will include a presentation from the Planning Commission on the results of the recent community survey, as well as a report from Hardwick Police Chief Aaron Cochran.

Finally, we invite you to celebrate the recipients of this year’s Greensboro Award, Judy and Andy Dales, and offer thanks at this meeting for their many contributions to the community.

Please note the earlier time and join us from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 4 at the GUCC Fellowship Hall.

Greensboro School Board to Host Community Forum

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The Greensboro School Board will host a community forum on Tuesday, July 26. The forum will focus on Greensboro’s efforts to comply with Act 46. Greensboro residents and taxpayers are invited to join the conversation about the issues and opportunities presented for the town under this law. The forum will focus on Greensboro’s participation in the Alternate Structure currently under review by the OSSU Exploratory Committee and the possible impact of this option on Greensboro students and taxpayers.   The forum will also provide an opportunity for the community to learn more about conversations with other area districts. No changes to Greensboro’s current school governance will be voted on at this meeting.

The forum will be at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, July 26 in the Lakeview Union Library. All Greensboro community members, including non-resident taxpayers, are encouraged to attend.

Lake Levels & Ice Damage Informational Meeting

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When:  July 8, 2016 from 4 to 6 PM

Where: Fellowship Hall of the Greensboro United Church of Christ

Sponsor: Greensboro Association Ad Hoc Committee on Lake Levels

Shorelines and properties around Caspian Lake experienced unprecedented ice and high water damages during the 2015/2016 winter.  The Greensboro Association Ad Hoc committee on Lake Water Levels has been investigating the extent of the damages, the causes and possible solutions.   The committee has also met with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources  to inform them of damages to Caspian’s shoreline, to understand the Agency’s policies and to discuss long term solutions.

The objective of the July 8th meeting is to inform the Caspian community of the current situation regarding controlling lake levels and to discuss the committee’s proposals on how Caspian community should move forward to prevent seasonal ice and high water damage in the future.

 

Summer Lake Concert Help

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Sunday Lake Concerts have been a tradition in Greensboro for decades. Hosted by John and Lisa Hewitt at the Landon Lake House on the South Shore, these concerts draw boaters each Sunday evening for recorded classical music.

Paid or volunteer help is needed to help set up the concerts each week and keep this tradition going in the future. Interested? Sign up using the link below. Please note that August 7 is already filled.

https://www.greensboroassociation.org/calendar/summer-lake-concert-help/

 

Planning Commission Survey

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Have you completed your Greensboro Community Survey? This is the first step for Greensboro’s redraft of its Town Plan. Everyone in the household is encouraged to complete the survey, but they must be completed by Monday, July 11.

The electronic survey is here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GreensboroVT3

Paper copies are also available at the Town Clerk’s office, Greensboro Free Library, Smith’s Grocery in the Bend, Willey’s, both Greensboro post offices, Four Seasons of Early Learning, and at the Greensboro United Church.

Select Board and Zoning Administrator Vacancies

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The Greensboro Select Board has a vacant seat. The town is seeking letters of interest to fill the seat until March 7, 2017 (Town Meeting Day). At that time, the voters will elect an individual to complete the remaining two years of a three-year term.

Letters of interest should be sent to: Town of Greensboro, PO Box 119, Greensboro, VT 05841, or emailed to [email protected]. Letters must be received in the the Town Clerk’s office by Monday, July 11 for review at the regular Select Board meeting on Wednesday, July 13.

The town is also seeking a part-time Zoning Administrator. This individual is responsible for administering the Greensboro Zoning Bylaws and works with both the Planning Commission and the Development Review Board. The position requires 10-20 hours per week, depending on the season, and is considered by the outgoing and interim ZAs to be very integral to the community and rewarding.

If interested, forward a letter of interest, resume, and two references electronically to Sean Thomson at [email protected]. To apply by mail, forward the same materials to Joe Wood, Planning Commission Chari, PO Box 119, Greensboro, VT 05841.

Renter & Boating Guidelines

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The GA provides several resources on its website to help make everyone’s time in Greensboro more enjoyable. Of particular interest for property owners who rent out their property at any time of year are the Renter Guidelines. The board is in the process of updating these guidelines to reflect the current rental scene, but in the interim, members who do rent their property should still consider providing the guidelines to their tenants. Of particular importance for the protection of camp septic systems and Caspian Lake is a recommendation for clarity about maximum occupancy at your property. Occupancy should not overload the number of bedrooms, the water supply, or the property’s septic system.

In addition, the GA provides information on boating guidelines for Caspian Lake. The guidelines include information about speed limits on the lake, as well as no-wake zones and wake management, boat equipment, and environmental considerations. Jet skis, personal watercraft, or any other Class A vessel which uses an inboard engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of motive power are prohibited.

To view the complete Renter Guidelines and Boating Safety pamphlets, visit https://www.greensboroassociation.org/resources/

Bike & Pedestrian Safety

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Most of us appreciate the summer rituals of biking or walking to Willey’s, or biking around the lake at least once during our time in Greensboro, and we are all familiar with the stretches of road that demand more caution and awareness of traffic.   In 2015, cyclists and pedestrians in Vermont were involved in 223 crashes. Four of these crashes were cyclist fatalities, which prompted our legislature to take action to improve biker safety. On July 1, new safety laws to help protect “vulnerable users”, such as bikers and pedestrians, go into effect. The new law recommends at least four feet of clearance from bikes when passing, and will also increase the penalty for riding more than two abreast or impeding traffic while riding two abreast from $25 to $100.

This summer, remember to give cyclists and pedestrians a wide berth. It may require slowing down and waiting for a safe opportunity to pass a cyclist to do so. In addition, please honor the speed limits, particularly along Craftsbury Road and Lakeshore Road, as these two thoroughfares see a lot of bike and pedestrian traffic.

Update on Ice Damage Prevention Efforts on Caspian Lake

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Greensboro Association members Andy Dales, Stew Arnold, and John Schweizer met with representatives from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) in early June to discuss this year’s ice damage to numerous stretches of shoreline in February and mid-April. ANR Program Manager Perry Thomas and the Stream Flow Specialist Jeff Crocker explained that the agency’s policy regarding lake level and outflow covered all lakes in Vermont without exception. Seasonal draw-downs of lakes affect the food sources and reproduction cycles of fish and insect species in both lakes and in habitats downstream. The Greensboro Association proposed that ANR allow Hardwick Electric Department (HED), in cooperation with the GA, to set a mean lake level for both summer and winter by adjusting the dam outflow at the Caspian Beach. This proposal was rejected by the agency. However, it could be possible for the GA to petition the state to set a target lake level for Caspian, and the agency offered to provide the GA with the requisite forms and petition materials should the Association decide to pursue this option. The discussion did not address responsibility for this year’s damage or compensation for property owners who experienced damage to their shoreline. The intent behind this initial meeting was to inform the ANR of the problem and to better understand the agency’s policies and positions on this subject.

Stay tuned for updates and a possible public forum on this topic.

 

Greensboro Swim Program Cancelled for 2016

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After years of successful programming, the Greensboro swim program will not be held in 2016.

Despite a comprehensive search using several different approaches and options, organizers were not able to find enough certified instructors to teach the program.

If you are interested in becoming a Water Safety Instructor (WSI) or Lifeguard so that the Greensboro Association can once again sponsor this program in coming years, the prerequisites are:

  • Must be 16 years old or older,
  • Have proof of completion of level 5 or 6 Red Cross Swim lessons,
  • And be able to pass a swimming test by a certified instructor.

For additional information, please look into an instructor certification course at a pool near you. College pools, YMCA and Kiwanis pools often offer courses during the year.

For many of our area kids, this can be one of the only opportunities they will have to learn to swim. It’s also been one of the GA’s important sponsorship programs in our community. If you or someone you know would be interested in participating next year, please, start the process now so that this can be offered again.

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.