TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING
NOVEMBER 3, 2008
First Selectman Adams called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
OTHERS: Granby Athletic Field Long-range Advisory Committee (GAFLAC), J. Lofink, Storage and Vehicle Wash Bay Committee Chairman, David White, Salmon Brook Park Facility Building Committee Chairman, J. Cal Heminway, BOE Chairman, Kay Woodford, Director of Recreation and Leisure Services, James Klase, Director of Public Works, Richard Boston, Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc. Consultant
First Selectman Adams opened the workshop by welcoming and thanking everyone for attending. He commented that GAFLAC will present their findings from the Master Plan report, questions would then be answered, and the two other project committees would give an overall view of the findings they presented to the Board of Selectmen previously.
Granby Athletic Field Long-range Advisory Committee (GAFLAC) Master Plan Presentation
GAFLAC Chairman Ben Perron began his presentation with a video showing a day at the fields or parks in Granby. Then a slide presentation provided a number of facts, findings, and recommendations. Some highlights were:
- Priorities identified by survey respondents:
- Improving existing GMHS athletic fields and facilities
- Improve Salmon Brook Park vehicle entrance/exit (proposed easement)
- Ensure fields and facilities are well maintained
- Improve existing town athletic fields and facilities
- Increase parking at Salmon Brook Park
- The HS/MS campus will continue to struggle to host all sport teams on campus. Designate Ahrens Park as the primary site to host off-campus HS/MS teams practices/games.
- New field capacity off campus needs to occur first to accommodate sporting events during the HS/MS campus renovation.
- Maintenance recommendations should be implemented as soon as possible.
- Transition DPW land to the adjacent HS/MS campus within the next 5-8 years.
- Renovating HS/MS campus, Salmon Brook Park, and Ahrens Park will meet current demands.
- A phased approach in order of priority, flexibility, and feasibility was established.
Mr. Boston of Weston & Sampson Engineers reviewed aerial maps of the High School / Middle School campus, Ahrens Park, and Salmon Brook Park showing placement of improved fields, new fields, and related new facilities.
Mr. Perron thanked his committee members, support staff, professional services, and video services for all their hard work in developing the master plan.
First Selectman Adams asked whether Salmon Brook Park and Ahrens Park increased field capacity. Mr. Perron indicated that both parks have many proposed improvements and new fields to be developed. Mr. Adams also asked for clarification of “unified scheduling”. Mr. Perron said “unified scheduling” would allow one coordinator better scheduling of field usage (calculating hours of use for minimum and maximum usage of fields) and managing fields for maintenance issues.
Selectman Derosiers asked for a comparison of artificial turf and natural turf for dealing with maintenance and replacement values. Mr. Boston indicated that it would be 1/3 less of the cost for maintenance of the artificial versus the natural turf. As far as replacement of the artificial turf, it would be 8-10 years and most probably the cost would rise maybe up to $900,000.
Mr. Haggerty from the Gables Condo commented that their association would have liked to given their input about the proposed easement earlier, and he feels this proposed easement affects the condo residents’ privacy with more visibility of traffic from the park.
Mr. Squire Bressor, a Granby resident, invited town residents (committee members and interested persons) to visit the University of Massachusetts to look at their field turf. It is a type of synthetic turf and considered to be improved artificial turf that has a longer life.
Mr. Russell St. John, a Granby resident, commented that the Granby community gardens have been relocated several times for different reasons, one being that the gardens used too much fertilizer at Salmon Brook Park. Mr. Perron’s answer was that the committee wanted to improve areas at both parks and thought the community gardens could be relocated at Ahrens Park and another community garden would be created back at Salmon Brook Park away from the aquifer. Two community gardens and a baseball field are proposed. With this recommendation, the committee felt everyone would benefit (two gardens to choose from and a baseball field to play on).
SALMON BROOK PARK FACILITY BUILDING COMMITTEE
David White, Salmon Brook Park Facility Building Committee Chairman, gave a short synopsis of his presentation previously given to the Board of Selectmen. The committee engaged the firm TLB Architecture, LLC to do a site analysis, programming study, and conceptual design for a park house. In summary, the existing park house would be used as a storage facility and three new buildings would be constructed. The cost of the project is estimated at approximately $1.5M including site work. Mr. White indicated that a 7% increase per year should be added to the estimate cost if this project does not start soon. This project should be considered a high priority, as it will affect the Recreation Department’s ability to offer programs.
STORAGE AND VEHICLE WASH BAY COMMITTEE
James Lofink, Storage and Vehicle Wash Bay Committee Chairman, gave an overview of his committee’s work and study. A formal presentation was given earlier to the Board of Selectmen. He commented that the vehicle wash bay was not necessary for school busses as previously thought and was scaled down for that reason. The vehicle wash bay is mandated by the Connecticut DEP and they will soon be forcing compliance of this requirement onto towns. The estimated cost of this project is $346,900. This amount does not include additional design fees, insurance, bond cost, contingency, and escalation costs.
TRANSMITTAL OF REPORT INFORMATION TO CAPITAL PROGRAM PRIORITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CPPAC)
First Selectman Adams thanked the Committee Chairmen for their reports. He commented that these reports were the beginning stages of the project process and should be considered as a start of public conversations. Further reviews will be conducted to assist in moving these projects forward.
A handout outlining a phased approach of the recommendations and its estimated cost by the Granby Athletic Field Long-range Advisory Committee, Salmon Brook Park Facility Building Committee, and the Storage and Vehicle Wash Bay Committee are attached.
First Selectman Adams mentioned that the complete reports by the three committees will be made available to view at both libraries and the Town Clerk’s office. The process for these projects will be started with submission of the reports to CPPAC to review models for long-range planning.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to transmit all three reports to CPPAC for an early review process to begin.
ADJOURNMENT
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adjourn the special workshop at 7:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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