TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
MAY 3, 2004
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by First Selectman John Adams at 7:37 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
I. PUBLIC SESSION
Wyman Ward, President of Holcomb Farm Learning Centers, Inc. (HFLC) began with a review of the history between the farm and the Town of Granby. The farm consists of 320 acres, which the town owns, as well as the buildings on the farm. The Holcomb Farm Learning Centers, Inc. has a long-term lease with the town until 2020, with an option to extend. The HFLC are responsible for the maintenance and any upgrades of the property.
The HFLC Board is currently experiencing some financial problems, as are many non-profit groups. Part of this is due to the State reducing some grant funding, one in the amount of $10,000. The HFLC Board is trying to absorb this shortfall because programs are already in place. They believe they will have succeeded by July 1, 2004.
Mr. Ward reviewed the format for appointments to the Board of Directors, thirteen of which are up for consideration this evening. The Board is increasing their membership from 16 to 21 members.
Additional discussion covered donor designation via the United Way, the Community Fund, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and other grant sources.
In conclusion, Mr. Ward stated he is resigning as President as of June 1, 2004. This will be the first time in 45 years he will not be serving on some Town Board, Committee or Commission.
Town Manager Smith stated he and the Town of Granby would like to thank Mr. Ward for his years of volunteer service and also stated the town has helped the Holcomb Farm Learning Centers as much as possible.
Jennifer Zeronsa, 23 Bradley Brook Drive, stated her husband, William Zeronsa has come before the Board twice before and she would now like to address the Board concerning the proposed Blight and Nuisance Ordinance. She was very disturbed to learn one of the members of the Board had spoken out against a Blight and Nuisance Ordinance at a past meeting.
Ms. Zeronsa continued reviewing the differences between small homes versus the new larger homes and what they will demand to maintain their property values while preserving the rural nature of Granby. She also described the property across from their home with broken down, rusty trucks, rolls of insulation, a partially collapsed pool, and other eyesores strewn about the property.
She encouraged the Board of Selectmen to further investigate the possibility of enacting a Blight and Nuisance Ordinance.
No other public addressed the Board and the Public Session closed at 7:44 p.m.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Judice, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 19, 2004 as presented.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing of April 19, 2004 as presented.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
A. Information or Updates on Building Committees’ Activity
John Latella, Chairman of School Building Committees, was present tonight to furnish the Board with updates on the various school building projects.
The paving of the Kearns School parking lot has been completed and the surrounding area has been seeded. The Committee is currently working with the contractor on needed signage. Once that is done, the parking lot project will be complete. Inland Wetlands and Watercourses were consulted about extending the pad near the west wing to allow for additional play area. Permission was granted and that project will be done following the closing of school for the summer.
The Wells Road School project is waiting for DEP approval. The rest of the project has been approved except for the flood plain under the jurisdiction of DEP. The Committee would like to go to bid by the middle of May.
The Kelly Lane School project originally started with three possible scenarios. Chairman Latella furnished an 8 x 10 drawing of the scenario chosen. It was color-coded with blue to show the existing area and black to show the proposed new addition.
B. Blight and Nuisance Ordinance Call for Public Input Session
Selectman King started the discussion indicating she would like to suggest a committee be formed to investigate the pros and cons of an ordinance. She proposed the committee should study what the community at large thinks of the proposed ordinance and try to get a better handle on what kind of an ordinance is wanted. All of the Selectmen concurred there will be strong feelings both for and against any ordinance.
Selectman Desrosiers stated he thought the Board should bear the responsibility of making a decision on the proposed ordinance. Whatever type of ordinance is chosen must be enforceable and what constitutes blight and nuisance must be clearly defined.
In conclusion, the Board decided to set up a committee to study the possibility of an ordinance. Town Manager Smith will draft a charge for the new Committee and have it available at the next Board of Selectmen meeting. The Board decided on a five member committee. Anyone interested in serving on this committee should contact the Town Manager, any member of the Board of Selectmen, or either of the Town Committee Chairmen.
IV. BUSINESS
A. Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
No resignations were noted.
ON A MOTION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the list of appointments and endorsements as submitted by President Wyman Ward earlier this evening.
Summary for Holcomb Farm Learning Centers – appointments and endorsements
REAPPOINTMENTS
Name Action to Take Term Length Expires
Al Wilke Reappointment 3 yrs. 05/05/07
RE-ENDORSMENTS
Name Action to Take Term Length Expires
David Rodney Reendorsement 3 yrs. 05/05/07
Carolyn Thomas Reendorsement 2 yrs. 05/06/06
NEW ENDORSEMENTS
Name Action to Take Term Length Expires
Frederic Jones New Endorsement 3 yrs. 05/05/07
Diane Kane New Endorsement 3 yrs. 05/05/07
Patricia Kelly New Endorsement 3 yrs. 05/05/07
Leslie Judge New Endorsement 1 yrs. 05/07/05
Mary Ellen Kahn New Endorsement 1 yrs. 05/07/05
Kathleen M. McCann New Endorsement 2 yrs. 05/06/06
NEW APPOINTMENTS
Name Action to Take Term Length Expires
Edward O’Hannessian New Appointment 3 yrs. 05/05/07
David Russell New Appointment 3 yrs. 05/05/07
Lowell Johnson New Appointment 2 yrs. 05/06/06
Christine Giannoni New Appointment 1 yrs. 05/07/05
B. Consideration By Granby Water Pollution Control Authority (GWPCA) Setting Sewer Use Rates for 2004-2005
ON A MOTION by Selectman Judice, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to discuss this item following the end of the regular Board of Selectmen meeting.
C. Consideration of Sale of Town Property
Town Manager Smith stated he is waiting for more information on this agenda item.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Judice, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to add an additional agenda item after the close of the regular meeting in closed session. This agenda item is to discuss the purchase of property.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
Town Manager Smith reported on a meeting to be held tomorrow with CRCOG and elected officials to work out a program to be endorsed for the distribution of money coming from the State Department of Homeland Security.
First Selectman Adams reported on a policy board meeting of CRCOG he recently attended. An article in the Hartford Courant did not accurately reflect CRCOG’s position on this same issue. Local, state, and regional needs must be identified when working out the allocation of funding.
In response to a question from the Board, Town Manager Smith indicated distribution of the budget surplus can only help the town. There are no formulas for distribution in place yet.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
The CRCOG Transportation Committee has identified some of the projects to be channeled through CRCOG, both regional and some in Granby.
As an update on the issue of an Ethics Code, the latest information seems to indicate that each town will have to enact an Ethics Code but will be allowed to draft and enforce their own code.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, & Mark Neumann)
Selectman Judice reported the Intra-Town Cooperative Advisory Committee has identified three opportunities to enhance town services. They are a consolidation of technology/communications, consolidation of ground maintenance, and a consolidation of building maintenance. The Committee was seeking input from the Board of Selectmen to determine if they approved of this approach.
The Board seemed to think the concept were fine but questioned how the Public Works Department could take on more duties when they were already short staffed. A consolidation of grounds and building maintenance would certainly require additional staff for the Public Works Department.
The Board thought the concepts of consolidation were positive and they would be willing to look at the findings of the Intra-Town Cooperative Advisory Committee but were not sure if or when the funding for additional personnel could be added to the budget.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to recess as the Board of Selectmen and convene as the Granby Water Pollution Control Authority (GWPCA) at 8:25 p.m.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the GWPCA voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adopt the Sewer Use Rates for 2004-2005 as follows:
Charge residential users a minimum of $102.00 for average gallons (55,000 gpy) used per year and $147 per year for commercial/industrial users (100,000 gpy). All gallon usage (residential and commercial/industrial) above the minimum shall be charged $.00247 per gallon.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the GWPCA voted unanimously to adjourn as the GWPCA and reconvene as the Board of Selectmen at 8:26 p.m.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting recessed to closed session at 8:27 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
First Selectman Adams called the executive session of the Board of Selectmen to order at 8:30 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
The discussion involved the purchase of land.
The executive session was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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