TOWN OF GRANBY
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
DECEMBER 14, 2009
Electors and citizens qualified to vote in Town Meetings are hereby warned that a Special Town Meeting will be held in the Senior Center Youth Services Community Room at 15 North Granby Road, Granby, Connecticut at 8:00 p.m. on Monday December 14, 2009 for consideration of the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that in accordance with Section 10-153d(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes, the AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GRANBY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE GRANBY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, dated July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2012, which was filed with the Town Clerk on November 23, 2009, be rejected.
Dated at Granby, Connecticut, this 7th day of December 2009.
The warning was duly signed by a majority of members of the Board of Selectmen.
TOWN MODERATOR, William Simanski, called the Town Meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. and thanked everyone in attendance for coming this evening. He then reviewed the requirements for voting this evening and also reviewed the purpose of tonight’s meeting.
MODERATOR Simanski then called on Town Clerk, Karen I. Hazen, to read the call as recorded on page 210.
The RESOLUTION as recorded on page 210, was introduced by Diane Neumann Hernsdorf and duly seconded.
The Board of Education started off tonight’s proceedings with a presentation by Board of Education member Matthew Wutka. He introduced the negotiating team for both the Granby Board of Education and Granby Education Association. The Board of Selectmen made the decision to send this item to a Town Meeting for action at their December 7, 2009 meeting.
Mr. Wutka presented a summary of the major changes in the negotiated contract between the Granby Board of Education and the Granby Education Association for the period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012. There are no changes in 2010-2011 for Health Benefits. In 2011-2012, the premium cost share percentage for the Preferred Provider Plan (PPO) will increase from 17% to 17-1/2%. Co-pays for emergency room visits will increase from $100 to $125 and office visit co-pays will increase from $25 to $30. Salaries will have no wage increase for 2010-2011 and no step movement. The wage increases, including step increases, is 2.85% in 2011-2012. The step increases will not move until mid-way through the pay year. He concluded by urging the residents in attendance to support and approve this contract.
John Adams, First Selectman, was the next presenter speaking on behalf of the Board of Selectmen. He commented the Board of Selectmen extended their thanks to the Board of Education for their work on this contract. He stated the Board of Selectmen had reviewed the contract and supported the contract as well as the Board of Education for their efforts.
He reviewed the three choices available to the Board of Selectmen. They were, do nothing and the contract would automatically be approved after thirty days, they could vote to reject the contract or, send it to Town Meeting for voter action. They chose the last of the three options.
First Seletman Adams indicated the agreement is a good one and he feels it is in the best interest of the town to accept it. If this contract gets rejected, it would automatically go to arbitration where too many other variables could come into play before a settlement is reached. He urged the residents to support the contract and vote to reject the Resolution.
Michael B. Guarco, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Finance, addressed the meeting next. He stated that arbitration would not favor the town, and he could not see that a settlement would come out any better than already decided in the contract. He did agree that in the second year of the contract there might be a problem finding money to support the salary increases, but it will have to be addressed at that time. The Board of Education may be looking at some decreases in staff.
MODERATOR Simanski then opened the meeting to questions and/or comments.
Approximately one dozen residents addressed the Town Meeting. There were some negative comments as well as positive. For the most part, people were concerned with the uncertainty of the economy.
There was a comment on the confusing wording of the resolution. First Selectman Adams responded that the wording comes from the Connecticut General Statutes.
Resident Lowell Johnson of 289 Simsbury Road thanked the Boards for their hard work and made a MOTION, duly seconded, to now vote on this contract.
MODERATOR Simanski called for a voice vote. It was too close to call on the above motion; therefore, it was declared to have failed. Discussion continued.
Cal Heminway, Chairman of the Board of Education spoke to residents reminding them that this is the best contract that they could hope for. He urged them to favor this contract tonight.
After several more people spoke, MODERATOR Simanski recognized Jerry Ledger of 89 Bushy Hill Road who made a MOTION, duly seconded, to vote by paper ballot. This motion was approved by voice vote.
Town Registrar Peter Goff explained the procedure they must follow to do a paper ballot and also who was eligible to vote tonight. The eligible voters were checked in and the vote took place.
The results of the voting were tallied by the Registrars of Voters and announced by MODERATOR Simanski. Seventy-five (75) residents cast a vote with sixty-six (66) voting to reject the motion, and nine (9) voting to accept the motion. The motion was rejected and therefore, the contract approved.
There was no other business to come before the Town Meeting. MODERATOR Simanski declared the meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
ATTEST: Karen I Hazen, Town Clerk
Dated at Granby, Connecticut this December 15, 2009
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