GREENSBORO – Questions and concerns were raised over many of the discussion items on the Greensboro Select Board agenda last Wednesday, July 8.
photo by Paul Fixx
While the consent agenda and action items were quickly dealt with, a significant decrease in the assessed value of utility poles, changes to the town’s zoning by-laws, a report on the condition of the town hall and formation of one or more town meeting committees each resulted in discussion.
Members of the Greensboro Recreation Committee expressed concern about the time it might take for steps envisioned by the select board before access to the town hall’s third floor could be made available.
Having a fire marshall’s inspection and obtaining legal advice about the town’s liability in setting an occupancy limit to make the space available for activities such as pickleball are on the board’s to-do list.
Greensboro Select Board Chair MacNeil asked how many board members had read the amendments to zoning by-laws first presented to the board at its June 24 meeting. He heard only from member Tim Brennan, so suggested the detailed discussion of them be put off for a month.
photo by Paul Fixx
He also suggested taking up the miscellaneous changes first, and putting off the shoreland protection district changes. That proposal was not discussed further in any great depth.
Greensboro Planning Commission members Janet Patterson and Christine Armstrong, along with resident Peter Romans each expressed concerns with delays in attending to review of the by-laws.
A previous revision that had never been accepted was among their concerns, with Romans suggesting the reluctance of the board to take up discussion showed disrespect to planning commission members.
Patterson and Armstrong said they were available to meet individually, or in small groups, with select board members prior to the next meeting.
During discussion of creating a committee to study how town meetings are held, member Tim Brennan suggested the board needs to identify a specific charge.
Board member Judy Carpenter suggested soliciting letters of interest from those who wish to serve on the committee.
The board approved a motion reading, “A subgroup of the select board and staff will write up a description for a committee that will address ways to improve the effectiveness and inclusion of Town meeting, as discussed at the recent special town meeting, and will solicit letters of interest from those who wish to serve on the committee.”
Community member Liz Steel said strong leadership will be required for this committee to be effective, saying it can feel like a waste of energy for committee members when their ideas are presented yet not taken up.
Brennan said the committee would be tasked with gathering information and seeking out broad public input. It would report back by the end of November so changes can be implemented at the next town meeting.
Jay Barrett’s report on the condition of the town hall, for which he was assisted by structural engineer Tim Schall, indicated the building was in relatively good condition for having been built in 1913, 113 years ago.
Before Barrett’s report, during the time for public comments, Jennifer Ranz reported a very successful open house during the Funky Fourth on July 4, with over 100 people visiting the building’s third floor gymnasium.
She reported a great deal of excitement about the space, which some were unaware existed.
The recreation committee received dozens of post it notes on two large sheets of posterboard with suggested uses for the space.
They are preparing a report for the select board, said Ranz.
In looking at uses for the building, Barrett had been unable to identify any formal closure or condemnation of the building’s third floor and had no explanation for the restriction that has been placed on use of its third floor.
His primary concern was a structural issue in the building’s roofing design identified by Schall.
Insulating the roof might result in a higher snow load which could overstress the roof framing.
A break in one framing member might overstress others in the area leading to a more significant failure, though not likely a catastrophe that would affect the entire roof, he said.
His recommendation was to obtain quotes on reinforcing the roof, which might be a several hundred thousand dollar project.
Working to have the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places could lead to opportunities for grant funding. He offered to begin work on obtaining that designation.
Setting an occupancy limit of 49 people would limit the need to have a second exit available, not triggering work on the external fire escape, which would be necessary otherwise, he reported.
Barrett recommended having the fire marshal inspect the building, whom he agreed to contact.
The select board decided to check with an attorney with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, or the town attorney on the liability associated with that option before making a decision to open the town hall third floor for any community use.
Barrett volunteered his time to be on a committee looking into uses of the third floor if the select board decided to form one.
Fire Chief Dave Brochu told board members he and Hardwick Fire Chief Perley Allen have worked out an auto response policy that began July 1, with the dispatcher calling out both departments whenever either has a call.
It is hoped the new plan will overcome the lack of daytime firefighter availability in either department, he said.
Brochu said he had received a letter from the state late in June notifying him that he was to become the town’s fire warden, effective July 1, under Act 162.
He has since appointed Patsy Mercier, who had previously held the position, and John Moffat as deputies.
Moffat is to take on burn permitting for Stannard as well as Greensboro.
Later Mercier said she too had only been notified late in June that she no longer held her former position as fire warden.
She said she would continue as Brochu’s deputy, doing the same thing she’d been doing for years, with a chance that she might have to make few trips to sites where burning was underway without a permit because she expected Brochu would be handling that duty.
Brochu was authorized to solicit bids for the sale of the town’s Rescue 10 vehicle and research a broker to sell Engine 3, which he estimated might have a value for $45,000.
Two bids for a new firehouse furnace were roughly $20,000, said Brochu, who said they would try relying more on the Modine heaters.
Liz Steel, reported that the Greensboro Community Trust (GCT) is looking at converting the Methodist Church parsonage into two affordable housing units; investigating wastewater options for the church and parsonage projects and assisting Fire District No. 2 in Greensboro Bend with some of their challenges.
The GCT has received grant funding from the Village Trust Initiative and NVDA, she said.
Town assessor Brittany Butler reported a change in the way the assessed value of utility property will reduce their grand list value by approximately $3M, adding a greater school tax burden to other town properties.
Approval of a new procurement policy developed by Brennan was put off until the August meeting for other board members and town staff to review.
In other business, members agreed to engage Acrisure to advise the town on employee health care plans, approved an update to the town’s personnel policy and extended the contract with Vermont Appraisal Co. for another year at the same $1,458 monthly fee.
A flood hazard area bylaw update was approved, with MacNeil saying a majority of it is required in order for residents to be eligible for the national flood insurance program, and both the planning commission and the select board have held public hearings on the proposals.
After a private executive session, board members added Town Administrator Josh Karp to the year-two schedule of the town’s leave policy.
An agenda item to hear from the Friends of the Pollinators group during the public comment period was delayed due to an invasive species presentation nearby in Fellowship Hall running late.
Group members briefly joined the meeting, then left without making any comments.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
