TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
MARCH 6, 2006
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, William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager, and Courtney McGuire, Student Liaison
I. PUBLIC SESSION
Jim Glenney, 33 Glen Road, addressed the Board regarding the sale of a building lot at Holcomb Farm. Mr. Glenney stated he was not in favor of the sale believing it would set a bad precedent. However, he also stated if it was decided to sell a building lot, the proceeds should only be used for building restoration and maintenance, not for programs. He indicated he felt programs should be self-sustaining.
Norman Council, 142 Simsbury Road, inquired if agenda item IV-F. was at all related to the sale of Holcomb Farm land. First Selectman Adams assured him it was not.
No other public addressed the Board. The Public Session was closed at 7:34 p.m.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 21, 2006 as distributed.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
A. Information or Updates on Building Committees’ Activity
Wells Road School, Kelly Lane School
John Latella, Chairman of the School Building Committees, was present this evening to update the Board on the two projects.
The Wells Road School project should be closed out soon although there are still a few issues to be resolved.
The well is still a problem with Kelly Lane and while the project started on a fast track, progress seems to have stalled recently. A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow night at which time the Building Committee will discuss maintaining the construction schedule. The school system is depending on using the new spaces in September 2006.
IV. BUSINESS
A. Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
Town Manager Smith stated a letter was received from Laura Wolfe resigning her position on the Library Board due to a change in her work schedule.
The Board accepted the resignation, with regret, and will forward the information to the Democratic Town Committee.
There were no appointments.
B. Consideration of Youth and Police Working Together Grant Application
Town Manager Smith stated the Director of Human Services would like to apply for a grant from the Office of Policy and Management for FY 2006-07. The approximate amount of the grant is $7,800 and no cash or in-kind match is required for this grant. He further stated the town has not been successful in securing this grant previously but the Director feels it’s a worthwhile program. Larger towns seem to have more success in receiving this grant.
Selectman Desrosiers questioned if the town would be obligated to maintain the program after the first year if the grant were awarded. Town Manager Smith replied it would fall to the town to fund if they wanted to continue the program and the grant was not approved again.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve application for the Youth and Police Working Together grant from the Office of Policy and Management as outlined.
C. Consideration of Appropriation Request for Solid Waste and Recycling Related Activities
Board members were provided with information from Town Manager Smith outlining those programs within the recycling related activities currently requiring funding. They are: Household Hazardous Waste Collection ($9,500), Electronic Equipment Recycling ($7,000), Backyard Composting ($12,000), and Recycling Education Material ($1,530.00) for a total of $30,030.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appropriate $30,030 from the town Solid Waste Fund to be used for recycling related expenses as outlined.
D. Consideration of Amending Resolution Establishing the Building Improvement Fund
At the last Selectmen’s meeting First Selectman Adams and Town Manager Smith reported on Board of Finance concerns about the broad purpose of the newly created fund. Therefore an amendment to the resolution was brought before the Board for action this evening.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to amend the resolution creating a Building Improvement Fund as follows:
COSSITT LIBRARY IMPROVEMENT FUND.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Granby establishes a fund known as the Cossitt Library Improvement Fund. Said fund shall be created to make repairs and renovations to the Cossitt Library. The sources of this fund shall be from gifts, grants, insurance reimbursements, and General Fund appropriations.
Funds shall be disbursed by the Town Manager in accordance with town policy and grantor requirements.
Any balance remaining in said fund, should the fund be dissolved, shall first meet the requirements of grants or, other legal obligations or, be returned to the town’s General Fund as determined by the Board of Selectmen.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to reorder the agenda to take up agenda item IV-F. following Selectman Reports.
E. Budget Presentation 2006-07
Town Manager Smith began the presentation by thanking the Board of Selectmen for their support in the preparation of the budget for FY 2006-07. He also extended thanks to various staff members.
The total General Fund Budget for ‘06 is nearly 34 million dollars moving towards 35.7 million with a 5% increase. Of that, approximately 22.4 million was for the Board of Education and 11.6 million was designated for the General Government section. Of the $11,550.056 an amount of $7,450.757 is identified as operational under the guideline process. A 5% guideline goal represents an increase of $372,538 as suggested by the Board of Finance. The presented budget brings operation increases to 5.9% or a shortfall of $68,619 away from the 5% amount. This 5.9% budget increase represents as close to the 5% guideline as possible and still provide ongoing services in a responsible fashion. The town’s operation budget started at 9.9%. An amount of $297,671 was reduced to reach the
current 5.9%.
Additional discussion between the Board and Town Manager Smith questioned the implementation timetable for GASB and the impact on the budget if the automobile tax is repealed. The latter was determined to be incredibly complicated and not predictable because of individual collection rates (by towns versus numbers used by the State), investment losses, etc.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
No reports.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
No reports.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, & Mark Neumann)
Selectman Neumann reported on the regular meeting of the Holcomb Farm Board of Directors held March 2, 2006.
Following discussion, the Board decided they should schedule review of the Holcomb Farm either as a regular agenda item or for a Board of Selectmen workshop.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting recessed to closed session at 8:30 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
First Selectman Adams called the executive session of the Board of Selectmen to order at 8:35 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Sally King, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss acquiring land.
The executive session adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was reconvened at 9:07 p.m. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
| 
