Archive for category: Blog

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.

 

 

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.

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.

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.

It 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.

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.

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).

Last but not least, voters agreed to hold the town’s annual Funky Fourth Celebrations on Saturday, July 2^nd. 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.

 

 

The GHS held a lunch meeting with Greensboro dairy farmer Larry Lumsden last week. Members of the Society recorded their interview with Larry and have made it available for viewing on YouTube. This is an excellent opportunity to listen to one of Greensboro’s last dairy farmers talk about dairying and life in Greensboro. Watch and listen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoYgIr3Txoo

Our members have received the Winter Letter by email. Those who have not “opted out” of paper mailings also received the mailing delivered by the USPS. We look forward to getting your updates, suggestions and new member referrals.

We have been very busy this the fall, addressing a number of issues important to our members. Read the highlights in the Winter 2016 President’s Letter.