GREENSBORO – As residents have begun to express reservations about the advisability of a RuralEdge proposal to create a 20-unit affordable housing development at the town hall, a Save Town Hall Coalition has come together and presented the Greensboro select board with a petition signed by 180 people and retained an attorney who has presented those concerns in a letter.
Members of the Save Town Hall Coalition placed “Save Town Hall” signs on public and private property in July that have generated their own disagreements about sign placement, unrelated to the town hall redevelopment controversy, prompting the select board to take up discussion of establishing a sign policy or ordinance.
Green lawn signs reading “Save Town Hall” began appearing around town in late July. By the time of the July 24 select board meeting some of the signs had been removed. There is debate and conflicting reports about who and why those signs were removed, though in at least some cases it appears to be the result of an informal town policy prohibiting political signs on town property.
Some signs were removed several times from private property at the Tolman Corner ballfield where Breezy Avenue and Lake Shore Road intersect until a note was placed on them indicating that they were on private property with the permission of the owner, according to reports. The removal generated claims of vandalism.
A “Save Town Hall” sign on Thursday, August 15 has been altered with the addition of black paint covering the word “Hall.” Quite a few of the signs were similarly altered, causing those who placed the signs to be concerned about the vandalism and trespassing required to deface the signs.
Issues with the signs further heated up in August when yellow signs, offering conflicting sentiments, such as “Nimby Nonsense” and “Say ‘No’ To Affordable Housing!” were applied over some of those green signs. Others were placed on the post office window and historical society door.
Later, black paint was applied to a number of the green signs over the word “Town,” changing the message to “Save Town.”
Members of the coalition expressed great concern along with claims of vandalism and trespassing by whoever entered private property to apply the paint. An email message sent to Orleans County Sheriff Harlow on Friday, Aug. 16, had not been responded to by early Monday resulting in claims about a lack of response.
On the west side of Beach Road the morning of August 11, a yellow “Say ‘No’ to affordable housing” sign on private property covers a “Save Town Hall” sign placed by a member of the Save Town Hall Coalition that says they do not know who vandalized the original sign by placing the yellow sign over it.
Monday afternoon Sheriff Harlow advised email messages directed to her, especially over a weekend, were unlikely to receive her prompt attention. She reported she and her staff were then aware of the situation and working on it.
She recommended those with immediate concerns call 911 or the published contact number (802) 334-3333, which will be answered by dispatchers and responded to appropriately.
The town has had an informal policy prohibiting political signs on public property and has asked those wanting to place signs on town property to obtain select board permission.
According to Town Clerk Kim Greaves, Greensboro artist Elaine Cole-Kerr is the only person who has requested permission to place signs on town property. The select board has approved that request.
On the west side of Beach Road the morning of August 11, a yellow “Say ‘No’ to affordable housing” sign on private property covers a “Save Town Hall” sign placed by a member of the Save Town Hall Coalition that says they do not know who vandalized the original sign by placing the yellow sign over it.
A July 31 posting to the town website says, “The Town of Greensboro does not have a policy addressing the placement of signs on public property, but follows a Vermont League of Cities and Towns recommendation that, “No signs can be posted on town property without consent of the select board.
That post indicates town properties are the town hall, former Grange Hall, the historical society building, library, fire station, town garage, the green across from Willey’s and the community park in Greensboro Bend.
The select board has a proposed new sign policy it considered at the August 14 meeting, but no action was taken pending a decision on whether to create an ordinance or a policy.
An August 17 post to Front Porch Forum by Chad Sims and categorized as a crime report asked, “Do you also have doorbell camera footage of the mischief maker? Or perhaps they’d like to talk about what’s making them so mad as to vandalize other folk’s property. Either way, let’s chat.”
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
