TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
APRIL 5, 2010
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by First Selectman John Adams at 7:36 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, B. Scott Kuhnly, Sally King, Mark Neumann, William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager; and Nicholas Moon Student Liaison
I. PUBLIC SESSION
Resident Richard Caley, 17 Cedar Drive, a member of the Salmon Brook Watershed asked the Selectmen to restate the resolution from 2008, reminding residents to refrain from using pesticides in their yards, especially this spring with all the rain we have had and the runoff from yards that eventually ends up in the streams.
II. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 15, 2010 as presented.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
No unfinished or tabled business was before the Board.
IV. BUSINESS
Selectman Desrosiers wanted to add an agenda item EXECUTIVE SESSION following Selectman Reports.
A. Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
No resignations or appointments were received. First Selectman Adams reminded the public that there is one vacancy on the Library Board as well as on the Commission on Aging. Anyone interested in serving on a board should contact Town Manager Smith’s office or one of the town committee chairmen, B. Scott Kuhnly (R) or Margaret Chapple (D). You need not be registered with a party to serve on a board.
B. Consideration of Resolution Supporting a Granby Land Trust Grant to Acquire Open Space Land
The Granby Land Trust would like to apply for a grant to acquire property located off the former Old Messenger Road. They are requesting the town’s support by adopting a resolution that will be forwarded to the state once adopted. Director of Community Development Francis Armentano spoke to the Selectmen about the property and stated they are not asking for money from the town. Funding would come from a state grant. This property is a former farm that consists of 35 acres that falls between land already acquired by the land trust, which makes it a great acquisition. The land trust would add trails for passive recreation and exploration.
WHEREAS, The property located at 138R Old Messenger Road is a very important open space linkage as it connects existing preserved properties including the Catherine Marshall Preserve, which the Town of Granby purchased in 2007 with partial funding from a State Open Space and Land Acquisition Grant; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Granby and the Granby Land Trust are working together to preserve a significant area of the former Old Messenger Road; and
WHEREAS, The town and the Granby Land Trust believe that this preserved area can become a regional resource for recreation, forestry, fishing, and more; and
WHEREAS, The preservation of this property will aid in reducing the forest fragmentation, while protecting wildlife habitat and promoting hiking and nature study; and
WHEREAS, The extensive network of stonewalls found within the re-grown forest demonstrates the struggle of Granby’s original settlers to convert the area to farming; and
BE IT RESOLVED: That the Granby Board of Selectmen strongly supports the acquisition of property located at 138R Old Messenger Road by the Granby Land Trust and recommends that the State of Connecticut approve their application for an Open Space and Land Acquisition Grant; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The preservations will aid in protecting for future generations the history of a former farm community that was abandoned over 100 years ago.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the adoption of the resolution supporting a Granby Land Trust Grant to Acquire Open Space Land.
C. Consideration of Adopting an “Ordinance to Create and Become a Member of the Central Connecticut Solid Waste Authority”
A public hearing took place earlier this evening and no public comment for or against the proposed ordinance was received.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the adoption of the “Ordinance to Create and Become a Member of the Central Connecticut Solid Waste Authority”. This will become effective 20 days after publication.
D. Consideration of Naming the Newly Consolidated Probate Court
Granby has been asked to formally vote on the name of the newly approved probate court. The court will be located in Simsbury and it is suggested that the name be “Simsbury Regional Probate District” or “Simsbury Regional District Court”. The Towns of Simsbury, Avon, and Canton have already approved the name. If the towns do not agree with the name, the only other alternative is “District #9”. There was some discussion by the Selectmen, and all agree on the name as approved by the other towns. A resolution by the Board of Selectmen is suggested.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED:
That the Board of Selectmen agrees that the name of the newly approved probate court be “Simsbury Regional Probate District” or “Simsbury Regional District Court”.
E. Consideration of Resolution for Historic Documents Preservation
Town Clerk Karen Hazen is making application to the Connecticut State Library for Historic Documents Preservation grant funds in the amount of $3,000 to continue the back file scanning of land record indices. A resolution needs to be passed authorizing the Town Manager to enter into contract with the Connecticut State Library for the Historic Documents Preservation Grant for the eligible amount. An adoption of the following resolution is recommended.
RESOLVED:
That William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager, is empowered to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of the Town of Granby a contract with the Connecticut State Library for an Historic Documents Preservation Grant.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That upon approval of the grant an appropriation in the amount of $3,000 is authorized.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the resolution authorizing the Town Manager to enter into contract with the Connecticut State Library for the Historic Documents Preservation Grant.
F. Consideration of Resolution and Compliance Statement Supporting Fair Housing
In an effort to reaffirm the town’s commitment to fair housing and equal opportunity, it is recommended that the Board of Selectmen re-adopt the following Fair Housing Resolution and also the Fair Housing Policy Statement and Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
WHEREAS, All American citizens are afforded a right to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice; and
WHEREAS, State and Federal Fair Housing laws require that all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, lawful source of income, sexual orientation, familial status, be given equal access to rental and homeownership opportunities, and be allowed to make free choices regarding housing location; and
WHEREAS, The Town of Granby is committed to upholding these laws, and realizes that these laws must be supplemented by an Affirmative Statement publicly endorsing the right of all people to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Town of Granby hereby endorses a Fair Housing Policy to ensure equal opportunity for all persons to rent, purchase, and obtain financing for adequate housing of their choice on a non-discriminatory basis: and
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the Fair Housing Resolution noted above and also the Fair Housing Policy Statement and Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as presented.
G. Call for Annual Town Meeting
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the call for the Annual Town Meeting on April 26, 2010.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
A. Salmon Brook Street Field
A town owned parcel of land located at 175 Salmon Brook Street has been cleared and mowed by Public Works. The Maple View Farm across the street, owned by the Bogli’s, has offered to mow the field for hay until the town is ready to create a playing field at that site. This would eliminate having Public Works maintain the property. Michelle Niedermeyer, Chairman of the Agriculture Commission, was asked their opinion and she responded the Commission is in favor of this concept. After discussion among the Selectmen, it was recommended that approval be granted to Maple View Farm to mow the field as long as they hold the town harmless from their activity and are willing to mow on a year to year basis. Selectman King asked that the horse trails leading from the park to McLean’s Game Refuge, be left alone.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Kuhnly, seconded by Selectman King, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve Maple View Farm to mow the field at 175 Salmon Brook Street on a year to year basis and that they hold the town harmless from their activity.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
A. Board of Finance Public Hearing on budget will be held on April 12, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Auditorium
Anyone interested in discussing the upcoming budget is welcome to attend.
B. The Annual Budget Town Meeting will be on April 26, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Auditorium
There must be at least 230 eligible voters checked in at the meeting in order to hold a vote at the Town Meeting, and there needs to be at least a two-thirds majority of those present and voting in order to pass the budget. If the budget is not passed by ballot, it will go to a machine vote on the following Monday. A majority vote is all that is needed to pass with a machine vote. If it doesn’t pass by machine vote, the annual town meeting shall continue on the next succeeding Monday and the process shall continue in a like manner until a budget is adopted.
It was also announced the Board of Selectmen will hold a reception for various volunteer recognitions on their regularly scheduled night of April 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Senior Center.
VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, B. Scott Kuhnly , & Mark Neumann)
No reports.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting recessed to executive session at 8:03 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
First Selectman Adams called the executive session of the Board of Selectmen to order at 8:10 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 labor issues.
The executive session adjourned at 8:24 p.m.
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was reconvened at 8:25 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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