TOWN OF GRANBY
GRANBY WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
(BOARD OF SELECTMEN)
PUBLIC HEARING
MINUTES
OCTOBER 5, 2009
First Selectman Adams called the public hearing conducted by the Granby Water Pollution Control Authority (GWPCA) to order at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, B. Scott Kuhnly, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
First Selectman Adams opened the hearing by stating there are conflicts of state statutes in regards to whether or not the town is required to hold a public hearing for this matter. In fairness to town residents, it was decided to hold a public hearing.
First Selectman Adams read the legal notice, as published in the Hartford Courant, stating the purpose of this meeting is to hear public comment regarding the Town of Granby considering the Canton Road Sewer Extension Construction Project. The sewer line would run along portions of Canton Road, Archie Lane and Burleigh Drive.
First Selectman Adams asked if there were any written communications received. Town Manager Smith stated he received no comments, either written or verbal, on the public hearing. There were two letters presented at the hearing from residents of Canton Road and Burleigh Drive that were both in favor of the sewer extension. There were also several other residents from the area that were in favor of the sewer extension. One of the residents of Canton Road stated she has been working very closely with State Representative Annie Hornish to find alternatives to funding in order to offset costs for residents who are finding this expense to be a hardship. Town Manager Smith responded that the STEAP grant she spoke of would not necessarily be the answer, but they would look into all opportunities available to the town
for this project. The town is looking into other state grants and a small cities loan.
One question asked was what authority the town has to require residents to hook up to the sewer. Town Manager Smith referred to C.G.S. § 7-247 which basically says the Water Pollution Control Authority has the authority by state law when it determines it to be necessary. It was also asked why the sewer couldn’t be run down Burleigh Drive instead of Canton Road. Fran Armentano, Director of Community Development spoke in response to that question giving an overall summary of the Canton Road issue. The town was originally approached last spring by seven Canton Road residents in regard to their failing septic systems. All property soils in the proposed project were determined poor by the town engineer and the Farmington Valley Health District. There was a proposal to run a sewer extension on Canton
Road with the right of way. There are only a few houses on Burleigh Drive and running a sewer line there would not be prudent. Mr. Armentano stated these are half-acre lots, with wells and septic systems that are failed or will fail in the near future. There were 19 bids on this project with the lowest bid coming in under what was expected. To delay this project would not be cost effective. One resident was puzzled with all the questions at this late date. He stated he has had very good communication with the town on this proposed project from the beginning.
No other public addressed the public hearing. The public hearing was closed at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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