Town of Granby - Board of Selectmen's Meeting 11-01-2010

PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, B. Scott Kuhnly, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager, and Student Liaison Sara Eckhardt

ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted 4-0-1 (abstention Selectman Desrosiers) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 4, 2010 as presented.

Selectman Desrosiers stated he was not here for the previous meeting and asked if there was a time line of when the flags were to be removed after being put up for an occasion. Town Manager Smith responded he believes it was suggested they would be put up for Memorial Day and removed after July 4th. Also, they would be put up again for Labor Day and removed after Veterans Day.

ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0), with regret, to accept the resignation of Peter Goff Republican Registrar of Voters.

ON A MOTION by Selectman Neumann, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appoint Maureen F. Wolf (R), 14 Old Field Road, as the Republican Registrar of Voters to fill a vacancy following Peter Goff’s resignation effective the end of the working day November 17, 2010.

ON A MOTION by Selectman Neumann, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appoint Jennifer Bilodeau (R), 20 Halwood Drive, to the Park and Recreation Board to fill a vacancy left by Joe Zafian. Her term will expire January 9, 2012.

The Friends of Granby Public Library have made a generous offer to financially support keeping the Granby Public Library open on Sundays during the months of January, February, and March from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This would be a “one time” donation in the amount of $3,025, with the hope that the town will restore some funds cut from this year’s budget to continue this service in the future. Joan Fox, Director of Library Services, and Carol Bressor, Library Board member, both thanked the Friends of Granby Public Library for their generous offer. Sunday is usually the busiest day of the week.

ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appropriate $3,025 to the Library account. The request will be presented to the Board of Finance for their approval.

C. Consideration of Water Pollution Control Authority Proposed Assessment of Benefits to Properties Serviced by the Canton Road, Burleigh Drive, and Archie Lane Sewer Line Extension

The Selectmen discussed the issues that were presented at the public hearing and agreed to provide two equal installment payments per year, being the same time as property tax payments, July 1st and January 1st. Notices will be sent as a reminder when payments are due. It was decided that there would be no discount to pay the full assessment up front. A lien would be placed on the property until such time as the full assessment has been satisfied.

ON A MOTION by Selectman Desrosiers, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to accept the assessment of benefits for the construction of a sewer line extension along a portion of Canton Road, Archie Lane, and Burleigh Drive. Payments may be made in two equal installments per year for a period of ten (10) years.

ON A MOTION by First Selectman Adams, seconded by Selectman Desrosiers, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adjourn as the Granby Water Pollution Control Authority (GWPCA) and resume as the Board of Selectmen at 7:46 p.m.

After months of mediation and arbitration sessions, the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration has issued an award for the Town of Granby and MEUI, Local 506 (Public Works and Dispatchers Union). There were 20 issues left for the Arbitration Panel to decide. The town prevailed on 15 of the 20 last best offer issues. Town Manager Smith stated the town wound up with a fair agreement and he recommended the Board accept the award. Selectman Desrosiers asked if there would be a cost associated with continued arbitration, and Town Manager Smith roughly estimated it would cost $15,000 to $20,000. Selectman Desrosiers stated they must be reasonable and fiscally responsible. It was determined that a decision needed to be made tonight.

E. Discussion of Action on Small Town Economic Assistance Program (Pond House) and Grant Discussion of Capital Program Priority Advisory Committee (CPPAC) for Priority and Project Lists Review

The town was awarded a $250,000 STEAP grant. The grant application was for $500,000, and it was expected that an additional $200,000+ would be added to the grant with local funding for the building of a new bathhouse. Since the award was cut in half, the local share request would have to be supplemented by $450,000 of local funds or the project would have to be modified.

The Selectmen discussed their options and it was determined there are many projects that are pending and they need to determine those that need to be done first. They talked about scheduling a meeting with Senator Witkos, the Department of Transportation, and Department of Environmental Protection to work out their differences in regards to getting the Silver Street Bridge project going next spring. Bond rates are said to be very favorable right now so that is an incentive to put a package together to get the most urgent projects done before the rates go up as well as the cost of the projects.

It was agreed they need to set a time frame to get the pond house done and put together a realistic package by the first of the year. Selectman King stressed they need real figures now. First Selectman Adams suggested Superintendent of Public Works James Klase come up with some figures and then we could submit to CPPAC what we want to do, ultimately combining all these projects to finally get them done. They won’t be any less expensive in the future.

The town has an agreement with the Granby Ambulance Association (GAA) to administer their payroll. They are asking for approval to add two more full-time employees. Granby Ambulance Association (GAA) reimburses the town for the salaries and the town provides the administrative services. There seems to be a decrease in volunteers and the trend is moving toward hiring more full-time employees. The town and GAA both benefit from this cost saving relationship.

ON A MOTION by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Kuhnly, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the request to add two full-time personnel to the Granby Ambulance Association.

Town Manager Smith began by reviewing the tax collection data chart, showing the last five-year comparison of tax collections. He reviewed the budget operations page by starting with the adjusted budget column, which is the projected budget and then revenue received column which shows many funds at $0.00 because we are still early in the fiscal year and some payments are due later on. Any figures in the balance due column that are in red are dollars that are over and above the adjusted budget projection. The Library fund is showing an excess balance already, due to Hartford Foundation for Public Giving grant money.

On the expenditure side, Mr. Smith explained the high figures in the encumbered funds column are for expected salaries that are set aside. We are in line with expectations and there are no major issues to present.

First Selectman Adams reported that Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz called to notify him that the photos that were taken at the Korean Veterans award ceremony have been lost. She suggested veterans could have their photos retaken in East Granby after their ceremony that will take place on November 15, 2010 and the estimated time for picture taking would be 3:30 p.m. She apologizes to everyone involved and will be working with Town Manager Smith’s office to coordinate sending letters to the veterans to let them know of the situation. Selectman Desrosiers suggested Granby could help coordinate transportation if needed, possibly using the senior van.

VII. SELECTMAN REPORTS (Sally King, Vice Chairman, Ronald Desrosiers, B. Scott Kuhnly, & Mark Neumann, and Sara Eckhardt and Nicholas Moon, Student Liaisons)

Selectman Desrosiers reminded everyone awhile back when they created the blight and nuisance ordinance, they agreed to periodically give it a review. This seems to be a good time and it was agreed that it would be done in the next meeting or two.

Also, First Selectman Adams reported the public hearing for the dirt bike issue was recessed to the next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. This hearing is the result of the action that was taken by the Zoning Enforcement Officer Bill Volovski. There were two issues at the public hearing. One being the appeal not being done in a timely matter, and the second, if an appeal is granted, will they be allowed customary use of dirt bikes.