TOWN OF GRANBY
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
APRIL 28, 2008
Electors and Citizens qualified to vote at Town Meetings of the Town of Granby, Connecticut are hereby warned that the Annual Town Meeting will be held in the Granby Memorial High School Auditorium, 315 Salmon Brook Street, Granby, Connecticut on Monday, April 28, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following resolution:
TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION:
That the Annual Budget for the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year as recommended by the Board of Finance for the Town Meeting, including appropriations from the General Fund, Dog Fund, Cossitt Library Fund, Local Capital Improvement Program Fund, Capital Equipment/Improvement Fund, Town Aid Road Fund, Sewer Utility Fund, Recreation Events Fund, Education Quality and Diversity Fund, and Other Funds, be adopted.
The above was signed by all of the members of the Board of Selectmen.
MODERATOR DONALD WILMOT called the Town Meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. and introduced himself as the Town Moderator. He then welcomed all of the electors in attendance and thanked them for coming to tonight’s town meeting.
A minimum of two hundred and thirty registered voters are required to be in attendance to allow for a vote on the budget at tonight’s meeting. If there are two hundred and thirty (or more) electors in attendance a vote will be taken on the budget. The budget must be approved by a two-thirds majority.
MODERATOR WILMOT called on the Town Clerk, Karen I. Hazen, to read the call as recorded on page 170.
The RESOLUTION, as recorded on page 170, was then introduced by Roger Hernsdorf, and seconded by AnneMarie Winsor.
John Adams, First Selectman, began the Board of Selectman presentation by introducing the other Board members, Sally King, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice and Mark Neumann. He thanked them for all their help and also thanked William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager, Barbarajean Scibelli, Administration Finance Officer, Department Heads, the Board of Finance, and the Board of Education for all their time and hard work putting this year’s budget together.
First Selectman Adams reviewed the accomplishments made in the past year. The town received a $400,000 STEAP Grant for Holcomb Farm. They were awarded $200,000 from a Federal COPS Grant that went for school security. They secured an emergency vehicle preemption grant for some signal lights. Revaluation, being state mandated every five years has been completed. They have expanded the local share of tax relief for the elderly and disabled citizens. First Selectman Adams mentioned the hiring of two new Department Heads, William Volovski, Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement Official, and Karen Hazen, Town Clerk.
Selectman Adams stated some of the future demands for Granby as Salmon Brook Pond House replacement, a town and school storage facility and wash-bay, a master plan for town and school future fields and recreation related needs, a public library expansion study, and capital needs at Holcomb Farm.
He noted other matters that were in process for completion as Rails-to-Trails link, Bank Street lighting and sidewalks, energy plan of 20% less energy use by 2010 through the Conservation Commission, and the Silver Street Bridge replacement.
In summary, First Selectman Adams mentioned the budget uses increased state revenues to supplement municipal needs, long-range planning equals stability, municipal services is 4.46% increase, debt service requirement is 8.7% increase, and all of which result in balancing the needs of Granby while maintaining an adequate General Fund balance.
The Board of Selectmen presentation concluded at 7:40 p.m.
Cal Heminway, Chairman of the Board of Education, was the next to present. He acknowledged the members of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools, Gwen Van Dorp.
Chairman Heminway indicated he expected the student growth for the next year will be flat and this helps avoid deeper reductions in the budget. The school is experiencing inflation for books and instructional supplies at a 9% increase and paper has increased at 30% over a two year period. The rising cost of fuel, electricity and health benefits are also contributing to increase the budget.
Chairman Heminway noted that under the administrative budget, 2.2 (FTE) full-time teachers have been eliminated and new programs and positions are possible only through the re-allocation of funds within operating budgets. This is in response to the change in enrollment. First grade will have seven rather than eight sections. The kindergarten reading teacher position will be replaced with a grant funded tutor.
The goals for the Board of Education FY ’09 are to maintain a positive environment and support for continuous improvement of student learning. Support the development and implementation of international education programs. Promote extended educational opportunities, enrichment, and support for student learning, and support district infrastructure and operational needs.
Chairman Hemingway’s presentation concluded at 8:20 p.m.
Chairman of the Board of Finance Michael B. Guarco, Jr. began his presentation by reviewing the process the Board goes through to set the guidelines for both the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education to adhere to in their budget process.
Chairman Guarco stated the total for the town budget is $40,073,566. The revenues are made up of 6.7% local revenue and fund transfers, 17.8% intergovernmental revenues, 74.1% property tax levy, and 1% other property tax. The expenditures are made up of 65.5% education and 34.5% municipal services. He indicated the proposed town and school budgets, along with small capital represent a 4.04% increase and a Debt Service increase at .87%. The overall budget increase is 4.91% for a proposed mill rate of 29.35. Chairman Guarco stated that in a revaluation year, while the average real estate tax bill may go up by 1%, the vast majority will see changes higher and lower than that number, the sum of all the changes aggregating towards that 1% percent. Chairman Guarco commented the continued goal of the Board of
Finance is to hold the budget line items tight.
Chairman Guarco’s presentation concluded at 8:35 p.m.
MODERATOR WILMOT then opened the meeting to questions and answers or statements.
Approximately five residents came forward to comment and ask questions about tax bills, safe walking paths, Board of Education budget cuts having a negative impact, opposition to passing the budget, and clarification of the voting process as stated in the Charter. All comments and questions were acknowledged and answered.
Lowell Johnson, 289 Simsbury Road, thanked all the Boards for their hard work and detailed presentation and made a MOTION, duly seconded, to now vote on the budget.
MODERATOR WILMOT then explained the procedure for voting stating there would be ballot boxes for the ballots at the end of each aisle.
The Registrars conducted the vote for budget approval. The vote was YES - 199 NO - 56 a percentage in favor of 78.04%. The Budget for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 was approved. The RESOLUTION was adopted.
There being no other business before the meeting MODERATOR WILMOT adjourned the Annual Town Meeting at 9:13 p.m.
ATTEST:
Dated this 29th day of April 2008.
Karen I. Hazen, Town Clerk for the Town of Granby
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