TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
AUGUST 7, 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, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
I. PUBLIC SESSION
Resident’s Suggestion for Veteran Medals
William Hart, 58 Buttles Road, was present this evening to address the Board of Selectmen with information on presenting Veteran’s Medals to Granby residents fitting that category. There are approximately 1,265 Veterans in Granby to be honored. The medals would be presented to the Veterans themselves, their spouses, or their next of kin. Veterans of all wars would be honored. The cost was estimated at $6,300. Mr. Hart thought it important that the town cover the expenses for the medals. He is willing to order the medals as soon as Board approval is received.
Mr. Hart also reviewed a plan for the distribution of the medals. The first award ceremony would be held at the High School with one representative from each of the wars. This would be followed by presentations by the Board of Selectmen on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the following week. Mr. Hart indicated he has spoken to many Veterans in Granby and they are all elated at the thought of receiving a medal from the town.
First Selectman Adams stated the Board would take the proposal under advisement and consider the various aspects of awarding the medals. They will be in touch with Mr. Hart in the near future.
No other public addressed the Board. The public session closed at 7:40 p.m.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 19, 2006 with one addition. Page two, paragraph one, line three, following the word “endorsements” insert “to the Board of Directors of the Holcomb Farm Learning Center, Inc.”:
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, indicated the committee is still waiting for state approval on the well at Wells Road School. They will drill once state approval is received.
The Kelly Lane School project is a real challenge, however, he feels they are slowly beginning to overcome and thinks the school may be ready to open for the fall session. The contractor is finishing up the tile work in the multipurpose room and existing rooms are also being completed. The concrete is being poured in the main entrance as well as other areas. Manpower used on the project has increased over the last several weeks but it is a very tight schedule. It is important to get rooms turned over to the school system because there will still be a lot of work for them to get done before school opens. The project is up to code on everything and they expect to come in below budget even though it won’t be by much.
Town Manager Smith commended Chairman Latella and his building committee for the fine work they are doing on the project. Mr. Smith stated the Committee consists of experts in several areas.
IV. BUSINESS
A. Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
No resignations were received.
Selectman Desrosiers provided background information on two candidates to fill vacancies on the Commission on Aging. The first candidate is Mary Keating, 15 Buttles Road, and the second is Attorney Neil Kraner, 19 Glen Road.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appoint Mary Keating to the Commission On Aging filling the vacancy created with the resignation of Elaine Lynch. Her term will expire January 8, 2007.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appoint Neil Kraner to the Commission On Aging filling the vacancy created with the resignation of June Asworth. His term will expire January 8, 2007.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to add an item to the agenda, Item IV. F – Consideration of a Resolution appropriating $24,450,000 for the Planning, Acquisition and Construction of Extensions, Alternations and Code Compliance to Wells Road Intermediate School and Kelly Lane Intermediate School.
ON A MOTION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to reorder the agenda to consider Item IV. E – after Selectmen reports in executive session.
B. Park and Recreation Survey Report
Robert Smith, Chairman of the Park and Recreation Board informed the Selectmen that on May 1, 2006 the Board began distributing a survey via the annual program booklet provided to residents.
Approximately 30 surveys were returned. Most comments were favorable and included on the positive side were hours, parking, programs, and facilities.
Negative comments included the entrance and exit to Salmon Brook Park and the bathhouse. Also noted were requests for a town pool. The survey provided statistical information such as how residents get information and input on how program fees should be paid. The later included user fees, tax dollars, and capital improvement plan funds.
Chairman Smith stated concerns over the condition of the bathhouse were a perfect segue way into the next agenda item. He indicated that repairs needed on the bathhouse are significant. Also, there are indications the state may start requiring licensing for town day camps, as they already require for private camps. If so, the bathhouse condition would be a major focus. The restrooms do not meet code, it is not handicap accessible, the first aid station is not adequate, and there is no privacy.
Another safety issue is thunder or lightening storms which roll in quickly. The children have to be spread out among park buildings for safety reasons; therefore, an expanded area is needed to address this issue.
C. Discussion Concerning Salmon Brook Park Pond House
The Board of Selectmen inquired what the next steps should be for the pond house and Town Manager Smith explained they could put the project on a “fast track” and treat it as a separate issue. There will most likely be a bond issue within a few years to address several projects but that bonding is part of the CPPAC plan and not imminent. The Board could bring this to CPPAC as a separate project.
An analysis is needed and this could be accomplished by engaging a professional architect or an independent. A small committee could be formed to look at some initial costs. Town Manager Smith thought $25,000 might be adequate to do an initial study.
The Board of Selectmen indicated to Chairman Smith that they would like to see a committee of not more than five formed to participate in a needs assessment and would like to see the formation of this committee in place in September. Suggested names for the committee, from Park and Recreation, would be appreciated.
D. Consideration of Information Pertaining to the “Rails-To-Trails Project”
Town Manager Smith provided the Board with a detailed memo outlining progress and projected costs for the Rails-to-Trails project. East Granby will be the primary leader and landholder. Imperial Nursery has donated up to $50,000 for the project to be shared by Granby and East Granby.
Mr. Smith stated he does not have firm numbers for the Board to act on, therefore, this memo is for informational purposes and no appropriation was being requested at this time. Granby will have to enter into an agreement with the state, as well as the Town of East Granby, and commit to a certain amount of money. Town Manager Smith was hopeful he would have firm numbers by next month.
E. Consideration of a Real Estate Matter
To be discussed during Closed Session.
F. Resolution Appropriating $24,450,000 for the Planning, Acquisition Construction of Extensions, Alterations and Code Compliance to Wells Road Intermediate School and Kelly Lane School
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adopt the RESOLUTION as follows:
WHEREAS, the voters of the town of Granby (the “Town”), on June 16, 2003, approved a resolution appropriating $24,450,000 for the planning, acquisition and construction of extensions, alterations and code compliance to Wells Road Intermediate School and Kelly Lane Intermediate School and authorizing the issuance of bonds and temporary borrowings in such amount for such purposes (the “Resolution”); and
WHEREAS, the Resolution provides that the bonds shall be sold by the Town Manager and, should such bonds be sold by negotiation, provisions of the purchase agreement shall be approved by the Board of Selectmen; and
WHEREAS, the Town intends to sell bonds authorized by the Resolution by negotiation.
NOW THEREFOR, BE IT RESOLVED, that the provisions of the Contract of Purchase by and between the Town and William Blair & Company LLC, attached hereto (the “Purchase Contract”) for the purchase of the Town’s $7,800,000 General Obligations Bonds, Issue of 2006, Series B (the “Bonds”) are hereby approved with such terms and conditions as shall be incorporated by the Town Manager in accordance with the sale of the Bonds and that the Town Manager is hereby authorized to make any changes in the provisions of the Purchase Contract as he deems necessary or appropriate to effect the sale of the Bonds.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
A. Consideration of Eminent Domain Information
Several months ago Mr. & Mrs. Mangold attended one of the Board of Selectmen public sessions asking the Board to consider an ordinance to protect property owners from abuses of eminent domain practices.
The State of Connecticut did take some action last session. They created a Property Right Ombudsman office to be run out of the Office of Policy and Management. With the creation of this new office, along with other local procedures and protections afforded property owners, Town Manager Smith suggested the Board might not want to adopt an ordinance at this time.
Selectman Judice indicated that he believed Granby’s form of government afforded several protections concerning eminent domain practices. The town requires many steps to be taken before eminent domain could happen. Discussion was held about the appropriated dollar amount that would necessitate a town meeting to enact eminent domain procedures. This dollar amount varies with circumstances and is calculated by a percentage of the grand list or the fiscal budget.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
No report.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, & Mark Neumann)
A. Discussion of Fields/Facilities Study Group
Selectman Judice reported the group has met twice and have discussed a number of issues on facilities and athletic fields on both the school and town side. Discussion covered public works needs, school maintenance facility, and the bathhouse. Also discussed was an inventory of all field space in total, an impact study of different users at different fields trying to solve everyone’s needs, and whether the bathhouse project should be expanded to include soccer needs, little league, snack shack upgrades etc. rather than just limit the scope of the project to the bathhouse. The group will do a walk around of the public works facility at their next meeting.
Selectman King congratulated the Granby Chamber of Commerce on their Parade of Horses noting how popular the different horse locations have been. The auction will be held November 11, 2006 at Arrow Concrete.
Selectman King also reported on an article in today’s Hartford Courant about an agriculture commission in Guilford working on an ordinance to protect agriculture. Town Manager Smith will contact Guilford to obtain a copy of the ordinance for the Board.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting recessed to closed session at 8:39 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
First Selectman Adams called the executive session of the Board of Selectmen to order at 8:42 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 the sale of land.
The executive session adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was reconvened at 8:58 p.m. ON A MOTION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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