TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
JULY 16, 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, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and Barbarajean Scibelli, Administration Finance Officer
I. PUBLIC SESSION
Presentation by the Granby School Readiness Council
Janet Ford, Chairman of the Granby School Readiness Council, furnished background information on the Council, noting they are now fully formed with a full membership and chairman in place. She reported on funding and grants received in the past, as well as grants currently in the application process. Her comments were followed by a power point presentation followed by a brief question and answer period with the Board of Selectmen.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
Action on the minutes of the regular meeting of June 4, 2007 was tabled due to the lack of a quorum of those Board members present at that meeting.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
No reports.
IV. BUSINESS
A. Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
First Selectman Adams stated two resignations had been received; Deborah Kulwich from the Park and Recreation Board and Paul Willis from the Library Board.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Neumann, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (3-0-0) to appoint William R. George, Jr. (R), 25 Zimmer Road, to the Storage and Wash Bay Committee.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (3-0-0) to appoint Megan Eberly (R), 37 Silkey Road, to the Granby Agriculture Commission replacing Maureen Eberly.
ON A MOTION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (3-0-0) to appoint Selectman Judice as BOS ex officio and John O’Connor as BOE ex officio to the Granby Athletic Field Long-Range Advisory Committee.
B. Consideration of Holcomb Farm Board of Directors Appointments and Endorsements
ON A MOTION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (3-0-0) to approve the appointments, endorsements, re-appointments, and re-endorsements as submitted in the letter received from Holcomb Farm Board of Directors President, Al Wilke, dated June 19, 2007 as follows:
· 3 year term reappointment: Ed Ohannessian (term expires June 2010)
· 3 year re-endorsement: Patricia Kelly, Brad Murray, and Fred Jones
(terms expires June 2010)
· 1 year term re-endorsement: Mary Alice Stielau (term expires June 2008)
· 3 year term, new endorsements: Pam Fish (replaces Diane Kane), Jim Lofink (replaces David Rodney) and Sally Rieger (new position) (terms expires June 2010)
· 1 year term endorsement: (to complete balance of Mary Ellen Kahn’s and Pam Kohan’s terms) Mike Mooney and Gary Whitehill (terms expires June 2008)
· 3 year term, new appointment: Linda Spevacek (replaces Al Wilke)
(term expires June 2010)
· 2 year term, new appointment: Jill Ford (replaces Dave Russell)
(term expires June 2009)
C. Consideration of Appropriation of $400,000 for STEAP Grant (Holcomb Farm)
The state awarded a $400,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant for renovations to the Holcomb Farm Learning Centers, Inc. An architect has been engaged to conduct an engineering analysis of the buildings. An appropriation is now needed to enable expenditures.
Additional discussion covered the $250,000 placeholder submitted to CPPAC for additional local funds for the Holcomb Farm project. Once the architect comes back with their report, CPPAC may want to assist with these or similar funds.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (3-0-0) to appropriate the $400,000 needed at this time.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
A. Town and School Services Sharing
The Board was provided with a memo from William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager, identifying sharing of services such as field maintenance, service agreements, coordinating equipment purchases, purchase of an emergency generator, and fiscal software as cooperative efforts.
Town Manager Smith and Superintendent of Schools Van Dorp have met several times to discuss services sharing for the town and school. Both will be reporting to their respective Boards from time to time on the services identified in the memo and other initiatives they might undertake. Mowing by the town of school property will be done this summer.
First Selectman Adams commended this combined effort as a great first step forward. He noted the fiscal software is also a very big step forward.
B. Budget Operations Report May 2007
The Board members were provided with copies of the Budget Operations Report for May 2007. Barbarajean Scibelli, Administration Finance Officer, reported the town ended the year on a favorable note; however, exact figures are not yet available. The approved state budget will provide the town with an additional $841,931 in revenue. First Selectman Adams indicated this additional revenue would be used to provide some tax relief next year.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
A. Update on Committees
1. Granby Agriculture Commission
First Selectman Adams attended the first meeting of this Commission while Selectman King attended the second. Selectman King reported this Commission has a lot of energy and discussed a lot of ideas, among which was a farm location map, since a farmer’s market wouldn’t work well because it would interfere with the farmers’ schedules. All in all Selectman King thought this was a very productive meeting.
2. Salmon Brook Park Facility Building Committee
The first meeting of this Committee was held and their main focus will be to determine the needs for a building facility at Salmon Brook Park, as it relates to summer camp activities. To some extent, they may coordinate efforts with the Granby Athletic Field Long-Range Advisory Committee.
3. Granby Athletic Field Long-Range Advisory Committee
This Committee will be looking at educational and municipal facilities to determine future needs. They will ultimately engage a consultant to come up with a plan.
4. Storage and Wash Bay Committee
This Committee is still short one member. Wash bay requirements are mandated by the State of Connecticut.
B. Bus Shelter Ad Program (CRCOG)
First Selectman Adams reported on a CRCOG program looking for unique ways to fund bus shelters, using advertisements. When more details become available, Granby may be asked if they would like to participate.
First Selectman Adams reported on a Model Practices for Municipal Government document put together by five active and retired Town Managers, along with a representative from a local government consulting company. Granby’s Town Manager, William F. Smith, Jr., was one of the five involved with this project. The document will assist leaders in government and the public in knowing what types and levels of service people should expect from their local government leaders.
An agreement has finally been signed to construct the Granby link to the pedestrian and bike path (rail-to-trail system). The project must be completed by June 1, 2008.
The Wild and Scenic Study Committee has voted to endorse the federal legislation and expect to formulate a report in about six months.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, & Mark Neumann)
No reports.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
ON A M0TION by Selectman Neumann, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (3-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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