TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
MAY 3, 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, Student Liaison
I. PUBLIC SESSION
No public addressed the Board.
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 April 19, 2010 as presented.
III. UNFINISHED OR TABLED BUSINESS
No unfinished or tabled business was before the Board.
IV. BUSINESS
A. Resignations and Appointments to be Considered
No resignations or appointments were received. First Selectman Adams reported that Joe Zafian is no longer on the Park and Recreation Board. He is now serving as a member of the Conservation Commission. He also 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 don’t need to be registered with a major party to serve on a board; you may be registered as unaffiliated.
B. Consideration of Appropriation Request for Funding Household Hazardous Waste Collection
This year’s household hazardous waste collection site will be at Henry James Memorial School, 155 Firetown Road in Simsbury on August 14, 2010. The Public Works Department and volunteers from the Conservation Commission will be assisting.
MegaBin recycling containers were placed at our two parks last year to encourage recycling around the playing fields. They have been successful and a purchase of six more bins is requested.
The amount requested this year for the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is $10,000, which is $500 more than last year due to expected volume. Also requested is $900 for promotional giveaways and $600 for MegaBin recycling containers. The total amount requested is $11,500.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve an appropriation of $11,500 from the Solid Waste Fund for the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, promotional giveaways, and the purchase of six MegaBin containers.
Selectman Desrosiers wanted to know what happens to funds not used. The money would go back into the Solid Waste Fund. Also a question as to other dates and locations of hazardous waste collections was asked and replied to noting the MDC website and Granby town website as places to check.
C. Consideration of Formal Closeouts of Various Project Funds (Granby Trail Link, Holcomb Farm, and Wells Road School)
The projects Granby Trail Link, Holcomb Farm, and Wells Road School have all been completed and need to be closed out. The Granby Trail Link had $340,000 budgeted and $91,562.25 was spent with $248,437.75 remaining. Selectman Desrosiers asked why there is such a disparity between the amounts. It was explained that the funds were borrowed from the General Fund and the reimbursement amount from grants was much greater than anticipated. The money goes back into the General Fund except for $10,000 that will be returned to the Sidewalk and Beautification Fund where it was originally appropriated.
The Holcomb Farm project has no remaining funds and the Wells Road School project has $205,601, which came from a higher return from the state than anticipated and $65,690.95 was left from the original appropriation. A total of $271,291.95 from the Wells Road School project will go back to the General Fund.
ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the closeout of Granby Trail Link, Holcomb Farm, and Wells Road School project funds.
D. Consideration of Action Regarding Granby Municipal Employees Association (GMEA) Council 4, Local 399 Agreement
Town Manager Smith reported the town is currently in negotiations with three unions. A tentative agreement between the town and Granby Municipal Employees Association (GMEA) Council 4, Local 399 has been negotiated. The terms are favorable for the two-year contract. There is a set aside account in next year’s budget that will handle increases. First Selectman Adams wanted to thank Town Manager Smith and GMEA employees for working together to come to an agreement.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to ratify the agreement.
V. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
A. Public Hearing – May 17th Sewer Use Rates
Last year sewer use charges were changed to a direct gallon use charge. This new practice proved to be very cumbersome for the tax office and did not yield sufficient amounts to meet expenses and reserves are therefore being depleted. The new proposed rates for residential are: minimum $120.00 per unit for up to 55,000 gallons per year and $.003 per gallon over 55,000. All residential users must be metered by water meter or sewer meter, unless they pay a surcharge for not having a meter at an amount of 50% above the minimum charge. Commercial/Industrial: minimum $170.00 per unit for up to 100,000 gallons per year, and $.003 per gallon for anything over 100,000 gallons. Water or sewer meter must meter all commercial users.
Granby’s rates are about 50-75% less than most every town surveyed. It is expected that user fees will increase further in the coming years in order to come closer to meeting new debt payments due Simsbury without having to have non-users (town residents) pay for usage. Increases will help to stabilize and eventually help to add into reserves. We need to make ends meet.
ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to call for a public hearing on May 17, 2010 at 7:45 p.m. to discuss sewer use rates for 2010.
VI. FIRST SELECTMAN REPORTS (John Adams)
No reports.
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
ON A M0TION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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