TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
OCTOBER 20, 2008
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
First Selectman Adams introduced the new 2008-09 Student Liaisons. Nicholas Moon, a sophomore at Granby Memorial High School who is active in the Boy Scouts and Christopher Kempf, a junior at Granby Memorial High School who is active in student government. First Selectman Adams welcomed them, and extended this opportunity for them to learn about town government and to report on their school news.
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 October 6, 2008 as presented.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
- Consideration of Comment from McLean Game Refuge on Discontinuance of a Portion of Broad Hill Road and Weed Hill Road
Town Manager Smith reported that Mr. Wetzel, on behalf of the Board of Trustees for McLean’s, has expressed interest in keeping Broad Hill Road open and maintained by the town and in some form continue to provide access for the Carpenters’ and the Reynolds’. First Selectman Adams would like Town Manager Smith to provide him with the State Statute that says the town can close the road. There does not seem to be an issue with the closure of Weed Hill Road.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to table the matter until all the information has been received.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to move agenda item IV. E to Executive Session following Selectman Reports.
IV. BUSINESS
- Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
No resignations or appointments were received.
- Registrars of Voters 2008 Election Review
Peter Goff, Republican Registrar of Voters, reported there are 300 new registered voters since September. The town now has 7,140 registered voters, the most ever registered. He expects a 90% turn out on Election Day. He then reviewed the registration deadlines to be able to participate in this election. Postmark deadline is October 21, 2008 and in person by Tuesday, October 28, 2008. The Registrars office will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on October 28th. The exemptions, being military, handicapped, and new residents, can register to vote in person on Monday, November 3, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mr. Goff also talked about the paper ballots and voting tabulator machines, as well as the telephone voting system and curbside voting that will be
available for the handicapped.
First Selectman Adams wanted clarification on the two districts and how the ballots are different. Mr. Goff explained that Granby Voting District One is the 7th Senatorial District and Granby Voting District Two is the 8th Senatorial District.
- Presentation Report by Storage and Vehicle Wash Bay Committee
Jim Lofink, Chairman of the Storage and Vehicle Wash Bay Committee gave a summary of the Committee’s findings and introduced Jeffrey Alberti, consulting engineer of Weston & Sampson to further explain their final report to the Board. The main considerations were a Department of Public Works wash bay, a truck bay, storage areas for Department of Public Works and the Board of Education, and a maintenance facility for the Board of Education. The plan that seemed most doable without moving Public Works to another site was to add a wash bay, truck bay, and cold storage to the existing Public Works building, add a Board of Education maintenance facility on this site with access from the school side and move the Public Works gas and diesel tanks to another area with new above ground tanks. The Public
Works parking area would be moved to another area on site and additional space would be provided in another area for the Board of Education facility. The projected cost to do this would be in the neighborhood of $11 million.
Town Manager Smith questioned Mr. Alberti regarding his comment that the Town Garage building was approaching 2/3 of its useful life. The response was major upgrades will be needed to meet today’s codes. First Selectman Adams questioned the rough cost estimate that worked out to be $400 a square foot. Mr. Alberti stated the square foot cost is really a high estimate and it doesn’t take all things into consideration, therefore they don’t like to give estimates by square footage. Selectman King wanted to review just what the town’s priority was. She stated the original consideration for a wash bay was estimated to be $200,000, and now there is a very large price tag on the table.
The committee was thanked for the time and effort they put into this project.
- Consideration of Resolution for Vendor Change for the 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan
The town administers several retirement funds for its employees. One of them is a 401(a) program. The town has looked into changing vendors because of high fees, expensive administration costs, and a lack of onsite education to employees. The recommended new vendor is ICMA-RC. They are a nonprofit organization that provides direct customer support in a variety of ways, including a local representative who makes frequent visits to the town and is available by phone and Email.
In order for this transition to take place, a resolution needs to be adopted by the Board of Selectmen.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted 4-0-1 (Selectman Desrosiers abstained) to adopt the attached resolution for a vendor change for the 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan.
- Consideration of Real Estate Matters (Item Deemed Appropriate for EXECUTIVE SESSION)
This item discussed during Executive Session.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Judice, the Board voted unanimously to add, Consideration of FY 2009 Emergency Management Performance Grant Application as item IV. F.
- Consideration of FY 2009 Emergency Management Performance Grant Application
This grant program will enable the town to purchase several pieces of equipment to assist in preparing for and operating in an emergency situation. Granby’s Local Emergency Management program budget is $5,000 and will be used as our local match for the grant. State guidelines require municipalities to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the individual authorized to enter into contracts for the municipality. If the grant application is approved, an appropriation for the state match will be requested. It is requested that a resolution be adopted authorizing the Town Manager to enter into a MOU.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adopt the following resolution authorizing Town Manager Smith to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
RESOLVED: that the Town Manager, William F. Smith, Jr., be and hereby is authorized to act on behalf of the Town of Granby in executing a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, for preparation in the FY 2009 Emergency Management Performance Grant program.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
- Budget Operations Report – September 2008
Town Manager Smith reported tax collections were close to past years. There are no real concerns at this time, however, with the economy the way it is, there is concern with the number of Lis Pendens being filed with the Town Clerk. First Selectman Adams asked Town Manager Smith to look into just how many have been filed in recent months. Town Manager Smith said he would. Selectman Desrosiers asked Town Manager Smith to go over the budget with the two new liaisons to give them an understanding of how it works. He explained Revenues, Expenditures, Capital Improvements, and the Board of Education total budget expense that is designated for education purposes only.
- CRRA – Solid Waste and Recycling
Town Manager Smith explained how single stream recycling works, and that this will be happening in our future. All recycling items are put into one large receptacle and collected every two weeks and will be sorted at the recycling plant. This will save on labor costs, time, and energy. The plant cannot take the high volume right now but is expected to be able to accommodate the volume in a few months.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
First Selectman Adams reported some concerns he has with the way CRRA operates. One of the issues is the fact that CRRA has a four million dollar surplus, and our rates are not being reduced. Our contract will expire in 2012, and in the meantime he thinks we should explore alternatives to find the most cost effective way to go in the future.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, & Mark Neumann)
No reports.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting recessed to closed session at 9:03 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
First Selectman Adams called the executive session of the Board of Selectmen to order at 9:08 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr. Town Manager
The purpose of the meeting was to review real estate matters.
First Selectman Adams closed the executive session at 9:20 p.m.
The Board reconvened its regular meeting at 9:22 p.m., but there being no further business the regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was adjourned at 9:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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