TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
JANUARY 4, 2010
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, B. Scott Kuhnly, Sally King, Mark Neumann, William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager, and Nicholas Moon and Nicholas Ohannessian, Student Liaisons
I. PUBLIC SESSION
After a brief reception before tonight’s meeting, First Selectman Adams presented plaques to three people in recognition of their service to the Town of Granby. The first plaque was presented to Frank Judice for almost 20 years of combined service. Mr. Judice began serving the town as a member of the Kelly Lane School Building Committee, then onto the Board of Education, Board of Selectmen, and Holcomb Farm Advisory Committee. The second plaque was presented to Don Wilmot who served the town for 28 years. He was elected as our first Town Moderator due to a charter change in 1991. He was also a member of the Granby Library Board. The last plaque was presented to Put Brown who has served the Town of Granby for 39 years starting as a Selectman and then serving on the Planning and
Zoning Commission for 37 years. He is also active with the Granby Land Trust, Holcomb Farm, and very passionate about Open Space in the Town of Granby. He was elected as Probate Judge in 2007.
The meeting recessed for five minutes to allow those attending the presentation to leave.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted (4-0-1) with Selectman Kuhnly abstaining, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 7, 2009 as presented.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
No unfinished or tabled business was before the Board.
IV. BUSINESS
- Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
No resignations or appointments were received.
- Consideration of Resolution Endorsing Nomination of Salmon Brook Greenway Designation
Jeff Bolton, from the Farmington River Watershed Association, spoke to the Board in hopes of gaining their support to participate in obtaining a State Greenway nomination for the Salmon Brook and its eastern and western branches. The nomination will place the Salmon Brook on record with the state as being officially designated as part of the Connecticut Greenway System for recreation and resource protection. The Planning and Zoning Commission is also supporting this endeavor. First Selectman Adams asked if there was any legal responsibility for the town as well as any kind of restrictions. Mr. Bolton responded no to both questions. It was determined that there was no downside for the town.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to authorize Town Manager Smith to submit the resolution below and Granby’s endorsement of the greenway nomination to the Farmington River Watershed Association.
RESOLUTION
TO ENDORSE THE TOWN OF GRANBY’S PARTICIPATION IN THE NOMINATION OF THE SALMON BROOK AND THE EASTERN AND WESTERN BRANCHES AS A STATE GREENWAY
WHEREAS, the Salmon Brook and the Eastern and Western Branches and related tributaries, associated headwaters, water bodies and open spaces provide significant benefits to our communities, including surface and ground drinking water, angling and recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat, connections to hiking trails, and protection of our landscape and cultural heritage; and,
WHEREAS, the Town of Granby’s 2005 Plan of Conservation and Development includes the recommendations to provide adequate corridors adjacent to wetlands and watercourses to provide linkages between open space parcels and to utilize wetlands, streams and floodplains for linking open space areas; and,
WHEREAS, the Town is actively engaged in the protection of open space along the Salmon Brook and other open spaces along watercourses, including ownership and conservation management of large parcels; and,
WHEREAS, significant additional lands along these watercourses are owned by the Town of Granby and other public and private entities, including the Granby Land Trust, Mclean Game Refuge and Connecticut DEP, for the sake of open space preservation or conservation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Granby Board of Selectmen supports the concept of working regionally to link and protect open space and natural resources by endorsing Granby’s participation in the nomination of the Salmon Brook and the Eastern and Western Branches as state greenways; and,
FURTHERMORE, BE IT RESOLVED to authorize Granby’s Town Manager to submit this resolution and Granby’s endorsement of the greenway nomination to the Farmington River Watershed Association, which will coordinate this initiative with other corridor towns.
- Consideration of Participating in a “Bicycle Friendly Community Project”
With an increased interest in bicycle use within the past few years, it is suggested that the town MOVE to authorize the Town Manager to participate with other area towns in the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) Bicycle Friendly Community Project. This grant is for a start-up program to promote bike safety and bicycle programs. There would be no cost to the town and it could only benefit the town.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to authorize the Town Manager to participate in the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) Bicycle Friendly Community Project grant application.
- Consideration of Capital Lease Program for 2009-10
The town is going to enter into an Equipment Lease/Purchase Agreement (“Promissory Note”) and a Loan Agreement in an amount up to $665,000 with Simsbury Bank and Trust Company. Under this lease program, the town can spread purchase costs over several years. A very favorable rate of no more than 2.2% has been obtained. The 2009-10 Town Budget allows for the lease purchase of buses and computer and technology equipment, as recommended by the Board of Education for small capital purchases. The town capital plan includes replacement and purchase of one heavy-duty truck with dump body, a mower, asphalt roller, and curbing machine. To initiate this plan, a resolution by the Board of Selectmen is needed.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the resolution as follows:
WHEREAS, the Town of Granby has entered or is entering into an Equipment Lease/Purchase Agreement (“Promissory Note”) and a Loan Agreement in an amount up to $665,000, with The Simsbury Bank and Trust Company;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that these Agreements are hereby approved, and that the action of the official of the Town of Granby in signing these Agreements on behalf of it be, and is hereby, ratified, confirmed, and approved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Manager of the Town of Granby, be, and is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to sign on its behalf the Agreements and any addenda, schedules, notes, UCC financing statements, or other instruments issued under the provisions of the Agreement, and any other instruments or documents which may be necessary or expedient in connection with agreements upon or in fulfillment of the provisions of the Agreements.
- Consideration of Board of Selectmen 2010-11 Budget Workshop Dates
Budget workshop assignments and dates were set as follows:
Administration – Ronald F. Desrosiers – March 4, 2010
Personal and Property Protection – John Adams – March 4, 2010 and March 8, 2010
Libraries, Rec. and Social Services – Mark Neumann – March 4, 2010
Public Works and Environment – B. Scott Kuhnly – March 8, 2010
Capital Budget and Debt Service – Sally King – March 8, 2010 and March 11, 2010
Revenues and Other – All – March 11, 2010
All Workshops will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room. An additional workshop will be held March 15, 2010 if necessary.
- Fiscal Year Audit 2009 Report
Town Manager Smith reported that the Audit Report for fiscal year 2009 has been completed. It will go to the Board of Finance for review at their meeting on January 12, 2010. There were no significant findings this year and Town Manager Smith stated he is very proud of the staff that helped work on this audit. He hopes the town will again be recognized for their outstanding abilities in financial accounting.
- Consideration of Personnel Matters (Items Deemed Appropriate for EXECUTIVE SESSION)
ON A MOTION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to move Agenda item IV, G, to Executive Session following Selectman Reports.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
- Budget Operations Report – November & December
Town Manager Smith reported collections are slightly ahead of last year at this time. Revenues for the Elderly Tax Relief are a bit higher than anticipated, and coming in from the state are grant payments for Social Services and Bridges. Town Clerk Fees are ahead at mid-year, probably due to the increase in recording fees as of October 1, 2009. Application permit fees for Planning and Zoning are also above expected projections.
- Probate Court Consolidation Update
Effective January 5, 2011, the Probate Districts in the State of Connecticut will be changed. Granby will be grouped with Simsbury, Avon, and Canton, with Simsbury being the likely spot to accommodate all the towns for court proceedings and use of their vault. The cost of this consolidation has not yet been determined, but it will be split between the towns. The proposed name is Farmington Valley Probate District. Judges of Probate appearing on the ballot in November 2010 will be elected and hold office according to these new Probate Districts.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
- Three Board Meeting – January 19, 2009 Senior Center Community Room
There will not be a Board of Selectmen meeting on January 19, 2010. A Three Board Meeting, including the Board of Selectmen, Board of Education, and the Board of Finance, is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2010, and will meet at the Senior Center at 7:30 p.m.
- Update on Central Connecticut Solid Waste Authority
First Selectman Adams reported there are now 52 towns that have joined together to form a new regional solid waste authority, the Central Connecticut Solid Waste Authority, and are committed to investigating their solid waste management needs. Their goals include cost savings and better service for solid waste disposal and recycling services. There will be a legislative meeting to learn more about this on January 25, 2010.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, B. Scott Kuhnly, & Mark Neumann, and Nicholas Moon and Nicholas Ohannessian Student Liaisons)
No reports.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting recessed to executive session at 8:41 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
First Selectman Adams called the executive session of the Board of Selectmen to order at 8:45 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, B. Scott Kuhnly, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr. Town Manager
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss personnel matters.
First Selectman Adams closed the executive session at 9:10 p.m.
The Board reconvened its regular meeting at 9:11 p.m. and there being no further business, the regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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