Archive for category: News

The 2015 Town meeting held on March 3, 2015 was civil, well attended and productive.   The minutes are available 2015-MINUTES-TOWN-MEETING-MARCH-3-2015.

Highlights included:

1) The Greensboro Award was given to Wayne Young.

2) Susan Wood and Ernest Machia were re-elected to the Selectboard, serving a 3 and 1 year term respectively.   Sean Thomson was elected to fulfill a 2 year term.   They join Marcia Gadoury and Peter Romans for the next year.

3) The motion to adopt a Noise Ordinance for Greensboro Village was discussed at length, with many comments both pro and con.   It failed to pass by a margin of 50 votes (74 NO, 24 YES)

4) The Town Budget and School Budget were passed as presented, including funding for the Greensboro Grange ($10000) and Willey Beach Park ($3000).

5) The Town voted that the Select Board should sell the Former Firehouse in the Village.

6)  A motion was approved to change the Property Tax Due Date to October 29, 2015 at 4pm.  This will affect all property owners in Greensboro.   

7) A delicious lunch was again served by the Greensboro Early Learning Center, accompanied by chocolate chip cookies from Tom Hurst.

8) The Funky Fourth Celebration parade is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2015.   The fireworks will be July 3 at the Ball field.

The Town of Greensboro has published FY16-Warning for Town Meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2015.     Voters must register to vote by February 25.   All Greensboro residents and non-resident property owners are welcome at the meeting.

For information on the items to be discussed at Town meeting, the following documents are available at the Town website.     Town Report for 2014,  Agencies-Requesting-Town-Funds-2014-15 and the Checklist for 2/26/2015.

Additionally, a proposed Noise Ordinance will be discussed, as well as a motion to sell the Old Firehouse in the Village.

Comments on any aspect of the meeting may be left as a reply to this article.

“Town Meeting Day marks a special event in which residents meet in about 40 towns across Vermont. They discuss the business of their town and any issue is open to debate. They also elect local officials, approve a budget for the following year, and conduct other local business. It is a time for neighbors to discuss the civic issues of their community, state, and nation.

Vermont town meetings (with one exception) are the practice of direct democracy. That is, eligible citizens of the town may vote on specific issues that are announced through a warning. The town meeting warning tells people when and where town meeting will be held, and it lists all of the articles (topics) that are going to be discussed and voted on at the meeting. The warning must be posted at least 30 days before the meeting.”  See here for more information.

A legislative breakfast has been set up for Jan. 19th in the Fellowship Hall of the Greensboro UCC at 9am. There is a great deal of interest in the subject of cost of education in Vermont and its impact on our property taxes, and that will be the focus of this meeting.     Our state representatives Vicki Strong, John Rogers, Bobby Starr and Sam Young have been invited to express ideas that they think may be helpful in improving the current situation.  But the most important outcome of this legislative breakfast will be your thoughts and desires, so please come prepare to express your ideas and thoughts.

This meeting is open to all with an interest in this area from Greensboro, Craftsbury, Glover and Barton.   If you know of anyone who is and has served on one of our local school boards, please be sure to encourage them to come.  Real knowledge of our local school budgets would be very helpful.

For those interested in the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union deliberations about this years school budget, there are a number of community forums which are being covered by Hardwick Community Television – you can attend or watch the proceedings.   https://www.ossu.org/resources/communityforums

During 2014 the Greensboro Association was granted 501(c)(3) status as a non-for-profit organization.   This means that contributions to the Association may now be treated as tax deductible by donors to the full extent of the law.

Many of our members give donations over the years to support the GA mission.   The GA relies on our annual giving and dues each year to support programs like fireworks, Caspian Lake milfoil patrols, grants and gifts to local organizations and other areas within our mission.   We very much appreciate the generosity of our members!   Thank you.

Additionally, in 2014 the Greensboro Association Board established an additional charitable fund.   The Greensboro Association Endowment is a community fund focused on providing future, endowed support for Greensboro municipal, charitable, and natural resources needs as they are identified.   A description of this fund is available on our website.    Individuals interested in learning more about how to support future needs in Greensboro through this fund (including legacy gifts, stock transfers or other structured gifts) should contact John Stone at [email protected] or Linda Ely at [email protected].

The Development Review Board in Greensboro has had a busy fall.   Along with its normal number of residential building and renovation submissions, it has met and ruled on several Greensboro municipal and business projects.   The board, which is comprise of 8 members, meets on an as needed basis to rule on zoning variances within the Town.

1)   The Greensboro Grange Building   On September 30, 2014, the DRB approved a proposal for renovation of the Greensboro Grange Building, located next to the United Church of Christ in the village.   The variance was required since a renovation of the Grange Building requires two separate egresses from the premises to meet safety and fire codes.   As the Grange lot is smaller than current zoning laws require and as it does not have an adequate setback from the adjoining Church Lane or from a wetland area along the side and back of the property, the addition of the second egress required a zoning variance.   After two prior attempts were not approved, the DRB agreed that the proposed 14’ by 11’ back stairway and landing was the smallest possible alteration to meet safety codes.   Prior submissions had asked for a much larger porch on the back of the building.

2)   The Greensboro Willey Beach Park   On November 5, 2014, the DRB approved a proposal to remove and reseed a large portion gravel pad located between the United Church of Christ rectory and the adjoining residence on Wilson Street.   The proposal reduces the size of the gravel pad to 35’ by 50’ next to Wilson Street.   This reduced parking pad will provide space for cars who wish to access the Willey land for recreational purposes.

The Town of Greensboro will be responsible for removing the gravel and reseeding the area.

The DRB rejected a proposal to place wooden walkways within the Willey land.   There are a number of paths throughout the land which includes a marshy and wet area as well as a wooded area adjacent to Caspian Lake.   Further development of the Willey land is under consideration by the Select Board, subject to funding, the need for handicap access and the recommendations of a committee formed by that group.   The full proposal and decision is here.

An article on the history and status of the park is available here.   Over summer and fall 2014, multiple discussions were held by the Select Board on how to proceed with developing the land, how much parking was needed, whether the land could be used for municipal parking and what the Park should be called.

3) The Greensboro Arts Alliance and Residency (GAAR) Mirror Theater project     On September 16, 2014, the DRB approved the proposal submitted by the GAAR to build The Mirror Theater on the property which currently is known as The Hazendale Farm.   The Approval, which is subject to some restrictions on use, came following a community wide public variance hearing to discuss the project and the submission.   During that meeting, presentations were given regarding the project by GAAR and by the project architects.   Many questions and comments were aired during the meeting and in writing by abutting landowners, interested community residents, fire district personnel, and arts supporters.

More information about the Theater project can be found in this article by the Burlington Free Press, or through the GAAR directly.   The construction schedule is, at this point, unknown.

Two recent DRB decisions and continuing discussions by the Select Board have paved the way for changes to sections of Greensboro Village, Shoreland, and Rural Lands.

First, the DRB gave conditional approval to the Greensboro Arts Alliance and Residency for their construction of the Mirror Theater.   The Theater will be located at the Hazendale Farm corner.    Further information is available on the town website, VPR, and the Burlington Free Press.

Additionally, the Greensboro Grange committee has received approval to renovate the Greensboro Grange building.   A $70,000 initial donation has been made to improve building access, meet fire codes, and install bathrooms.   More information is available here.

Third, the Select Board has been discussing the use of the Willey land purchased with State funding in the 1970’s.   This land is adjacent to the public beach along the shoreland of Caspian Lake, and must be used and available as recreational space.   Many good ideas are being considered.   The current parking adjacent to the Willey land, which was envisioned to be used as village parking originally, must be solely used for the recreational space – it’s size will be reduced from the current 10 spot gravel parking pad to something more in keeping with the recreational land requirements.   This project is ongoing and will require some planning and funding by the town.  Descriptions of the parcel can be found in this recent post.

Today – (and all Thursday afternoons) – Greensboro Farmers Market


TONIGHT (July 24)- PREMIERE!! PERFORMANCE of CAROUSEL by the Greensboro Arts Alliance and Residency.   Tickets and information (Tix available at the door tonight)


TOMORROW (July 25)- PREMIERE!! PERFORMANCE of THE MIRACLE WORKER by the Greensboro Arts Alliance and Residency.   Tickets and information


WEEKEND – Further performances of both GAAR productions

TUESDAY (July 29) – Food fair and Free concert performance by Lewis Franco and The Missing Cats Jazz Ensemble.   Sponsored by Summer Music from Greensboro, Cellars at Jasper Hill, Greensboro Arts Alliance and the Center for an Agricultural Economy.  Event details here.



July 2014

Dear fellow members:

I want to share with you important recent developments at the Greensboro Association (GA). Based upon the membership vote at the 2013 Annual Meeting, we filed a request to the Internal Revenue Service to designate your organization as a 501(c)3 public charity. The IRS has recently approved this change in our status, and this will enable 2014 and future contributions to the GA over and above dues to be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our officers and board believe that this change will allow the Greensboro Association to increase its membership support and to build a long-term endowment to support its mission.

The Greensboro Association mission is to conceive, advance, and support village initiatives and organizations that enhance our community and to protect Caspian Lake and its surrounding environment for both full and part-time residents of Greensboro.  With a Greensboro Association Endowment, our members and contributors can expand their support for initiatives that are aligned with this mission.

We plan to work with the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) to manage the Greensboro Association Endowment.  The VCF manages hundreds of charitable funds including many nonprofit endowment and reserve funds. With this arrangement, we can make available to our members expertise and services in structuring and stewarding major gifts.  We expect to build the fund deliberately.  We will facilitate discussions with members and friends who wish to have a lasting impact on Greensboro and several residents have approached us to inquire about how to provide long-term support.

We are in the process of establishing the specifics of the program, and we plan to share an update at our annual meeting on August 8 at 7PM – including a guest speaker from the VCF. We are developing a “fact sheet” to help answer questions you may have. Please get in touch with Clay Simpson, Linda Ely or me if you have questions or would like more information about the endowment. We will keep you posted as plans develop.

A substantial effort has gone into restructuring the organization as a 501(c)3 public charity and shaping plans for an endowment fund. For their lasting impact, I would like to thank all our board members and in particular, Clay Simpson, Day Patterson, Mike Cassidy, Robert Fairbanks, Clive Gray, Tara Reynolds and Linda Ely, who have provided countless hours and expert insights. Mary White invited us to explore the initial idea of a community fund.  We have benefited from the expertise of Trish Alley, Marcia and John Stone, Rick Lovett, Andy Dales, Tom Kehler, David Rahr, the VCF founding President, and many others.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

John C. Stone III

Association President