September 6, 2022
Present: Mark Fiorentino, Frederick Moffa, Mark Neumann, Kelly Rome, Margaret Chapple, Town Manager Erica Robertson and Director of Public Works Kirk Severance.
Recognition of Sally King
First Selectman Mark Fiorentino recognized with appreciation Sally King for her many years of service to the Town of Granby, and read into the record a proclamation in her honor.
Representative Mark Anderson also recognized King with an official citation on behalf of the Connecticut General Assembly.
Public Session
Reinhard Maier (138 Day Street) inquired about the conveyance of sewer usage to the Town of Simsbury. Maier indicated that he does review work professionally and that after reviewing information on the water treatment plant in the Town of Simsbury he noted that the Town of Simsbury owns 60 percent, the Town of Avon owns 30 percent, and the Town of Granby owns 10 percent. However, Maier was concerned that he was not able to find an equity contract, that the plant was beginning to reach capacity and that a moratorium should be put into place until the Town Attorney and the Town Engineer have a chance to review the sewer capacity.
Robert Flanigan, Jr. (24 Woodcliff Drive) expressed concern of the sewer usage capacity. He also inquired about what he believed was hazardous waste material on the side of Route 202/10, which is being covered with a tarp and he was concerned that the hazardous material wasn’t being secured properly.
Maureen Eberly (37 Silkey Road) spoke of concern about the goals and objectives of the strategic plan and asked clarifying questions about what the next steps would be.
Glenn Ballard (289 Granville Road) spoke about the affordable housing plan and the strategic plan and expressed concern over the current format of the strategic plan; he would like to see the information presented in a different format as he felt that the average Granby resident was not going to be able to read and connect the dots with the current format.
Ballard asked what was going on with the plan of the Conservation Commission and noted that they were overdue for an update. Ballard felt that the Town Manager and staff members should not be writing the strategic plan and that it was premature to hand this project off.
John Morrone (15 Maple Hill Drive) expressed concern that the $100,00 being spent on the commercial kitchen for people in need was too much. Morrone inquired if quotes had been collected. Morrone indicated that members of the Board of Selectmen are either being played or paid for these deals and that they are not doing a good job representing the people of Granby.
Robert James Flanigan, III (24 Woodcliff Drive) indicated that due to his career traveling around the state speaking with numerous First Selectmen, from what he can see the Granby Board of Selectmen are just a bunch of “yes men” for the State of Connecticut. Flanigan further indicated that members of the Board of Selectmen didn’t really care and that they needed to step up and have some backbone to impose a moratorium or tell the State “No”. Flanigan noted that he did not want to see the Town of Granby become another town like Farmington and said that our town manager could not go to a single meeting without saying “Farmington.”
IBAC recommendations for the use of ARPA Funds
Robertson explained that the Intra-Board Advisory Committee (IBAC) recommendations for the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds is the third of several action items to move funded projects forward. She noted that the board approved two technology projects in June that include the CAD/RMS system for the Police Department and the online permitting system for the Community Development Department. Robertson reminded members that in August they approved the HVAC projects at GMHS and Wells Road School. With those projects funded, Robertson is requesting advancing part of the town technology infrastructure and equipment upgrades (#2), part of the Communications Updates projects (#8), support to the Farmington Valley Health District (#9), and the AXON Fleet Cruiser cameras for the Police Department (#10). The board voted (5-0-0) to approve, for a total allocation of $330,775.
Budget Amendment for the Absentee Ballot Support Grant
Town Clerk Scott Nolan informed members that the Town of Granby would receive grant money from the Connecticut Secretary of State to support the November election. Nolan noted that the grant monies received will be used to support the absentee ballot process at the discretion of the Town Clerk and the Registrar of Voters and will be used to help aid in what is expected to be a large request for absentee ballots. He noted that the grant money was allocated in accordance with absentee ballot data collected in 2018 and in 2020. The Town of Granby received $4,297 of federal grant money to assist with absentee ballots.
Strategic Plan Review
Fiorentino reminded members of the Strategic Plan process and that the goals and objectives are still in the planning stage. Members of the boards and commissions, and the public will have another opportunity to weigh in on the strategic plan. He asked members of the public to submit feedback via the Town Website and explained that, before focusing on action steps, the draft needs to be finished. At this time, it was important to send a written copy of the proposed strategic plan to the boards and commissions to review and he suggested that the boards and commissions and members of the public have 30 days to review the current proposal.
Robertson went over the draft of the Strategic Plan Review. Fiorentino proposed a few slight changes to the outline and asked that corrections be made that include:
Under Enhanced opportunities to allow Granby to be a safe and livable community to all—changing “vision statement” to “mission statements”.
Delete the third bullet point, “Enhance collaboration between various evaluating services”.
Moffa noted that he would like to see the word “customers” changed to “citizens” throughout the strategic plan.
Town Managers Report
Robertson reported that the police department has been busy this summer working with the Board of Education on security and access control to prepare for the new school year. She further reported that the Granby Police Department has had two positive officer-involved incidents in town including the North Central Municipal Emergency Services Team (NCMEST) assisting with a domestic assault situation along with the successful use of naloxone to revive an overdosing motorist involved in an accident.
Robertson reported that the Granby Social Services Elderly and Disabled Renter’s Rebate closes at the end of September and currently the town expects to assist the same number of residents as last year. She also noted that the Granby Private Fuel Bank has a healthy balance and that she is confident the town will be able to ensure no one is cold.
Robertson reported the Public Works Department will be busy with many construction projects until the asphalt plants close for the season and town funding is expended. She noted that Loomis Street in its entirety and 2,300 feet of Quarry Road and three-quarters of Kelly Lane were overlayed in August.
Robertson reported that the Moosehorn Bridge replacement has changed from a one-year to a two-year project and the inspection and construction contracts have been chosen. Wetlands permitting is underway on Donahue Road and will be going out for design later this year with replacement scheduled for 2023. The Simsbury Road Bridge is still on the schedule for replacement in 2024.
Robertson said that Donna Moody has retired from the position of Payroll Coordinator after 27 years with the town. Robertson thanked Moody for her many years of service and wished her well in retirement. Robertson said that Susan Magoon-Klein recently started in the Finance Department and has now taken on the payroll function.
First Selectman Report
Fiorentino reported that the board received a letter from the American Legion indicating that the Sgt. Ricky Emmons Memorial Bench was moved as it was getting too close to the ongoing construction on the Town Green.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott Nolan, Town Clerk