TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
MARCH 7, 2005
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by First Selectman John Adams at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
I. PUBLIC SESSION
No public addressed the Board.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Judice, the Board voted 3-0-2 (abstentions King and Judice) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 22, 2005 as presented.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
A. Information or Updates on Building Committees’ Activity
John Latella, Chairman of the Wells Road and Kelly Lane School Building Committees, indicated they are reasonably on target at Wells Road. A temporary roof has been installed over the media center; the rest of the roof is being framed. The masonry work has been blocked out and the wells have been drilled. There were some problems with the boiler room work due to bad weather. The contractor is working hard to meet the deadline. The project is still within budget but it will be tight. There have been some change orders on electrical work. The architect is trying to reach an agreement with the general contractor as to change orders.
There is no word from the state on the Kelly Lane School project as yet. It is expected to come in some time this week. The septic system and two wells have been approved.
IV. BUSINESS
A. Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board unanimously (5-0-0) approved the reappointment of the Town Treasurer, Roger Hernsdorf, and the Town Attorney, Donald Holtman. Their terms will expire January 9, 2006.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Judice, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the following reappointments.
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Ken O. Kuhl (U), 18 Moosehorn Drive
Mr. Kuhl’s appointment will expire January 8, 2007.
COMMISSION ON AGING
Bruce W. Sullivan (D), 21 Kelly Lane
Mr. Sullivan’s term will expire January 8, 2007.
B. Consideration of Call for Public Hearing on Proposed Park Ordinance and Proposed Rules and Regulations to Town Parks
Town Manager Smith indicated this is an effort to modernize the ordinance now in place, which dates back to the 1970’s. He has consulted with and is recommending repeal of the old ordinance and adopting an ordinance, which gives flexibility for promulgation of rules and regulations for parks. This will allow the Board of Selectmen to amend the rules as needed. The Director of Recreation and Leisure Services, the Park and Recreation Board, and the Police Chief have also been involved with the new proposed Ordinance and Rules and Regulations.
The Selectmen had several suggestions for additional verbiage or clarifications to be made to the proposed new rules and regulations. Town Manager Smith will incorporate their suggestions into the document.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to set a Public Hearing date for Monday, March 21, 2005 at 7:15 p.m.
C. Consideration of Older Americans Act Grant Application
The town’s senior transportation services have been supplemented by the North Central Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (NCAAA) grant for the past six years. The Director of Human Services would like to apply for a grant from NCAAA once again in the amount of approximately $6,000 for fiscal year 2005-06. Grant matching is through in-kind services.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the application for the grant from NCAAA in the amount of $6,000.
D. Consideration of Youth and Police Working Together Grant Application
This is a new grant offered by the Office of Policy and Management in FY 2005-06 for the town to support new projects that would increase the number of police officers’ experiences in working with youth. The approximate grant amount is $7,500. Town Manager Smith stated the grant may not be awarded to Granby but is well worth making an application.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve application to the Office of Policy and Management for a grant in the amount of $7,500.
E. Consideration of Participation in Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day and Electronic Equipment Recycling Program
Town Manager Smith stated the town has been participating in this program for several years and to continue must make a commitment with MDC (Metropolitan District Commission). This year the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be Saturday, September 10, 2005 at the Henry James Memorial School, 155 Firetown Road in Simsbury.
Granby’s share of the cost this year is expected to be between $6,000 - $8,000. The per household charge is the same as last year.
Also recommended again was to support the cost of the Electronic Equipment Recycling Program. The estimated cost for this program, which began last year, is a total of $14,000 for FY 2005 and 2006. Funds will come from the Solid Waste Sanitation Fund. This latest recycling program is expected to be offset by a reduction in tip fee costs and collection costs on a per pound basis. Revenues to the General Fund have amounted to about $5,300 as of February 2005.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Judice, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appropriate up to $8,000 for the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day and up to $14,000 for the Electronic Equipment Recycling Program.
Selectman Desrosiers noted the collection day last year was canceled due to a storm. It was rescheduled but that day was also canceled and never rescheduled. He would like to see that measures are taken to assure if a collection day is canceled that it be rescheduled sometime. Town Manager Smith will pass the request on to the MDC.
F. Budget Presentation – Fiscal Year 2005-06
Town Manager Smith began by extending a special thank you to Barbarajean Scibelli, Administration Finance Officer; Patricia Chieski, Town Manager’s Secretary; Susan Christian, Finance Office; as well as all the department heads for their participation in preparing the budget.
The Town Manager presented the budget differently than past years. He distributed two handouts. The first was entitled Revenue and Expenditure Overview and included Revenues (taxes and other revenues), Expenditures (BOS operations and changes, debt service, capital, CNEF use and Economic Development), and Mill Rate information (now and expected).
The second was entitled Expenditures Portion Overview and included Plus 1 requests, Formal Budget Requests, Board of Finance Guideline, Reductions Required to Meet Guideline, Town Growth Issues, Major Budget Increases Required, and Major Budget Reductions. The handouts provided summary information of the 2005-06 General Government Budget. The Town Manager’s proposed budget showed a 3.8% increase, which met the Board of Finance guideline. However, this was at the expense of losing an existing full-time position in the library. Detailed budget review will begin on Thursday March 10, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.
The Board members thanked Town Manager Smith and indicated their approval of the presentation format.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
A. Budget Operations Report – August 2001
The Board was provided with copies of the Budget Operations Report dated February 2005.
Barbarajean Scibelli, Administration Finance Officer, began by stating tax collection is at 100%. She provided updates on Special Ed/Excess and Telecommunication accounts and reviewed anticipated transfers that may be required and the associated dollar amount needed at this time.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
First Selectman John Adams stated he had received a letter from the Farmington River Watershed Association expressing concern over the west branch of the Salmon Brook.
Another letter received was from the American Legion outlining their plans to re-landscape the area surrounding the WW1 Monument.
First Selectman Adams reported on two pieces of legislation that are being considered. One is to appoint a task force to study unfunded mandates and another is to consider increases in funding for certain towns in abutting areas of the Indian Casinos such as Ledyard, etc.
On March 22, 2005 a Public Hearing on the re-licensing of Cox Cable Television will be held at the Enfield Town Hall.
The Public Hearing on the budget process will be held April 11, 2005. The next Board of Selectmen meeting, following the public hearing, is scheduled for Monday April 18, 2005. First Selectman Adams has a potential conflict with that date and therefore wanted to schedule a Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen for Thursday, April 14, 2005 in case any action is required by the Board prior to the Annual Town Meeting. If no Board action is necessary, the meeting may be canceled.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, & Mark Neumann)
Selectman King inquired if everyone had seen the article on Granby in the latest issue of the Hartford magazine. It was worth reading.
Selectman Desrosiers stated it is time to appoint a Selectman liaison to work with the nominating panel for the annual Volunteer of the Year award.
ON A MOTION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appoint Selectman Desrosiers as Board of Selectmen liaison to work on the Volunteer of the Year award.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Judice, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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