TOWN OF GRANBY
THREE BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
JANUARY 22, 2008
First Selectman Adams called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. and thanked those in attendance for coming.
PRESENT:
BOARD OF SELECTMEN: John Adams, First Selectman; Ronald Desrosiers, Sally King, and Mark Neumann
BOARD OF FINANCE: Michael B. Guarco, Jr., Chairman; Gordon Bischoff, Alfred Wilke, and B. Scott Kuhnly
BOARD OF EDUCATION: James C. Heminway, Jr., Chairman: John P. O’Connor, Edward E. Ohannessian, Ronald S. Walther, and Matthew T. Wutka
ALSO PRESENT: William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager: and Gwen Van Dorp, Superintendent of Schools
First Selectman Adams started the meeting by discussing the current revaluation the town is finishing up that is required by the State of Connecticut every five years. Assessment values are up, more so for the lower end homes.
First Selectman Adams reviewed the Municipal Plus One Budget starting with those services the town is committed to maintain. Wages and salaries showed a 2.20% increase over the 2008 budget. Fringe benefits came in at 1.53% over, miscellaneous commitments were .61% over, and adjustments were just .13% over. A total for those committed items is $371,300 or a 4.47% increase over 2008. He further reviewed new staffing requests amounting to $177,200 with fringe benefits at 2.13%. The total committed and new requests came in at $548,500 or 6.60%.
First Selectman Adams spoke of the Granby Athletic Field Long-range Advisory Committee and how they are looking at athletic fields needs in town. The Storage and Vehicle Wash Bay Committee’s charge is finding a place for storage and an enclosed area for washing of town vehicles, including buses. The State of Connecticut is requiring this to be done with proper drainage so the water may be recycled under Department of Environmental regulations. Also the Salmon Brook Park Facility Building Committee is studying the possibility of a new building at the park to replace the older ones that are in great need of repair. These are necessary in order to keep the summer camp going.
Cal Heminway, Chairman of the Board of Education, spoke of the student population leveling out or even going down this coming year. The tuition from the 50 Hartland students has been good income in the past with each one bringing in $10,000 and new students every year. It now seems to have flattened out with no new enrollment. The rental income from the Church has also been good.
Mr. Heminway stated the Board would like to improve the international language program. It would start by including the program in the first grade and continuing through the twelfth grade. They would also like to raise credit requirements for graduation and maybe have an exit exam.
Michael Guarco, Chairman of the Board of Finance stated that it is mid-point in the financial planning process. With the multi-year planning process they can see better what is in the future and have better stability in operations and cost. The Board of Finance is looking at no more than a 1% increase in the mill rate. They will look at everything, modify, and confirm information for the budget at their meeting in February.
Gordon Bischoff, member of the Board of Finance said that the mill rate examples that were given by First Selectman Adams earlier in the meeting were good illustrations. He also commented because of the financial crunch everyone seems to be feeling lately, attitudes towards any increase in taxes this year will be strong.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board of Selectman adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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