TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
MAY 7, 2007
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, Sally King, Mark Neumann, William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager; and Knute Gailor, Student Liaison
I. PUBLIC SESSION
No public addressed the Board.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 16, 2007, as presented.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the minutes of the public hearing of April 16, 2007, as presented.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to add agenda Item F, under Business, to consider increased parking at Salmon Brook Park, at the request of Town Manager William F. Smith, Jr.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
None
IV. BUSINESS
A. Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
Town Manager Smith received no resignations.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the following appointments:
Granby Agricultural Commission
Samuel E. Hammer (D), 115 Simsbury Road
Anne E. Wilhelm (D), 329 North Granby Road
Jason E. Bogli (R), 198 Salmon Brook Street
Stanley A. Hayes (U), 151 East Street
Stephen Hayes (U), 359 North Granby Road
Gary F. Cirullo (U), 76 Simsbury Road
Maureen Eberly (D), 37 Silkey Road
ON A MOTION by Selectman Neumann, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the following appointments:
Salmon Brook Park Facility Building Committee
Susan M. Lasota (Turcotte) (R), 29 Whitman Drive
Karen M. Young, (D), 7 Black Oak Drive
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the following appointments:
Storage and Vehicle Wash Bay Committee
Daniel Pizzanello (R ), 7 Evergreen Drive
James W. Oates (R), 330 North Granby Road
Ronald G. Durej (D), 15 Reed Hill Road
Selectmen King, Neumann, and Desrosiers provided background information on the various candidates.
B. Consideration of Resolution Creating a Tri-Town Cable TV Government Access Committee
Town Manager Smith reported that after discussions with Cox Cable, several legislators, the Towns of East Granby and Hartland, and Granby Public Television it was decided to create a Tri-Town Government Access Committee comprised of two members from each of the three participating towns. A review of the resolution followed. It was determined that the initial terms should be changed to eliminate the possibility of all of the committee members leaving after the first two years. Each town would begin with a one and a two-year position with all terms lasting two years thereafter.
Selectman Desrosiers read the complete resolution for the benefit of the viewing audience and MOVED to Create a “Government Access Committee” to operate production, seconded by Selectman Neumann. The Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the resolution and create the committee as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
WHEREAS In conjunction with the Towns of East Granby and Hartland, there is hereby created a committee, to be known as the “Tri-Town Cable TV Government Access Committee" (hereinafter "the Committee") for the purposes hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS The Committee shall be comprised of two members from each of the participating towns, appointed for terms of two years by the boards of the selectmen of their respective towns; except that the terms of those first appointed shall be for one and two years each. At the expiration of these terms, all members shall be appointed to serve two year, overlapping terms; and
WHEREAS The Committee shall first meet at the joint call of the Town Manager of the Town of Granby and the First Selectmen of the Towns of East Granby and Hartland. At its first meeting and biennially thereafter, it shall elect from among its members a chairperson and a secretary and shall adopt rules of procedure for its proceedings, which rules it may from time to time amend. It shall schedule regular meetings, rotating their location among the participating towns; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Committee shall undertake a detailed study of what may be required to secure for itself or for a separate community-based non-profit organization answerable to the participating towns, the formation of which it may recommend, the responsibility of all governmental access and educational access programming within the participating towns on a community access channel provided by the cable franchise holder. It shall pursue an assignment of such responsibility to itself or to such separate organization. In carrying out its mission, it is authorized to contact and deal with the Department of Public Utilities, the cable franchise holder, and other entities (such as, but not limited to, Granby Community TV) in the name of the participating towns. It shall
report its doings to the Boards of Selectmen of the participating towns periodically but not less frequently than annually. It shall make such recommendations to the Boards of Selectmen of the participating towns as it deems advisable to further the goal of municipally controlled governmental and educational access programming within the participating towns.
Brooke Pielli, a long time volunteer of Granby Public Television thanked the Board for their support of this resolution. She stated volunteers have received extensive training but creation of this committee would open the door to a full time, paid Director of Operations.
C. Consideration of Call for Town Meeting to Purchase 175 Salmon Brook Street Property
Town Manager Smith stated the town has been looking at this property for some time and it was identified as a desirable property to obtain by the Open Space Committee.
The appraised value is $255,000 and the owner has agreed to sell the property at that price. The parcel is south of the Gables and north of McLean’s. Some of the property has some wetland issues; however, it should still support a couple of playing fields and some additional parking for Salmon Brook Park. Purchase of the property would be paid for from the Open Space Fund.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King (4-0-0) the Board voted unanimously to call a Special Town Meeting for approval of this purchase for 8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 21, 2007. The town meeting call was distributed among the Selectmen for their signatures.
D. Consideration of Fiscal Year 2007 Transfer of Accounts
For the past several months Town Manager Smith had indicated it was likely a transfer would be needed to cover the escalating price of gasoline, heating fuel, and electricity. A total transfer of $55,000 is being requested and will be taken from the General Maintenance account and transferred to Equipment Maintenance ($10,000) and Building Maintenance and Town Grounds ($45,000).
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to approve the transfers as outlined in the memo of May 7, 2007 and forward the request to the Board of Finance for their approval.
E. Consideration of Granby Water Pollution Control Authority (GWPCA) Setting Sewer Use Rates for 2007-08
A public hearing was held prior to this evening’s Board of Selectmen meeting to receive comments on the proposed sewer rates for Fiscal Year 2007-08. No comments were received, verbal or written.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to set the sewer use rates at $102.00 for average gallons (55,000 gpy) for residential users and $147.00 per year for commercial/industrial users (100,000 gpy) for Fiscal Year 2007-08. All gallon usage (residential and commercial/industrial) above the minimum is recommended to be charged $.00247 per gallon.
F. Consideration of a Plan to Provide Additional Parking for Salmon Brook Park
Town Manager Smith began by reminding the Board of the heavy use of Salmon Brook Park playing fields and the lack of adequate parking, as well as the difficulty of egress and ingress from the park.
Users of the fields have begun parking on Route 20, often on private property, and walking into the park from that location via a foot trail. No parking signs have been posted, however, people continue to park along Route 20. It is a real safety issue as they are parking along the edge of the road and then running across Route 20. On the other side, the town owns some property and would like to create a safer parking area. The Superintendent of Public Works estimates they could create a gravel parking area to accommodate approximately thirty parking spaces.
Some money had been allocated for replacement of the footbridge at Salmon Brook Park, however a grant was received for the footbridge freeing up approximately $15,000.
Selectman King expressed concern about the horse trail in that area and reminded the Board to be sensitive to that issue. She would like to see the Horse Council involved in the planning.
Town Manager Smith stated this additional parking area would not solve the parking problems at the park but would provide some relief.
The Board suggested the Town Manager move forward and have the Superintendent of Public Works put together a proposal.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
A. Budget Operations Report – April 2007
The Board was provided with copies of the Budget Operations report dated April 2007. Town Manager Smith indicated everything was pretty much as expected with the exception that building permit fees are only at 65% and he doubts they will reach their projected goal. The Town Clerk fees have, however, exceeded their projected goal. Short-term investments are doing very well at $239,843 or 278% higher than projected.
He also provided a Surplus and Fund Balance Analysis Preliminary Estimate for 6/30/07 showing a fund balance of $2,474,518 or 6.48% as of May 3, 2007.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
A. 2007 Summer Meeting Schedule
First Selectman Adams stated a single sheet was being circulated among the Selectmen to indicate their summer schedule and vacation plans.
B. Proclamation and Announcements (Memorial Day Parade)
First Selectman Adams reported the Memorial Day Parade would be held on Monday May 28, 2007. James O. Hall, Adjutant, is in charge of the parade and anyone wishing to participate should contact him at 653-3819. This would include concessions on the green, as well as floats and marchers. He has requested no candy should be thrown from the floats or by other participants.
A proclamation declaring May National Bike Month and the week of May 14-18, 2007 as Bike to Work Week was read by First Selectman Adams. Granby will participate and snacks, beverages, and gifts will be available at the Geissler’s parking lot on May 17, 2007, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, & Mark Neumann)
No reports.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
ON A M0TION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by First Selectman Adams, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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