June 20, 2023
Members present: Mark Fiorentino, Kelly O. Rome, Mark Neumann, Margaret Chapple, Frederick Moffa. Others: Town Clerk Scott A. Nolan, Finance Director Kimi Cheng, Edward Ohannessian and Charter Commission members Mark Lockwood, Rebecca Brewer, Anthony McGovern, Benjamin Perron, Francis Brady and Lynn Guelzow.
Charter Revision Commission
First Selectman Fiorentino said that the commission has filed a Draft Report with the town clerk. Ohannessian said that the town charter is reviewed every ten years and detailed the recommendations being proposed. To read the full report, please log onto granby-ct.gov select Agendas and Minutes and scroll down for BOS minutes.
Granby Center Advisory Committee
This committee was established on May 1. The following members were proposed and appointed by the board: Eric Myers (R), Martin Schwager (R), Mark Fiorentino (R), Margaret Jabaily (D) and John Oates (U).
July 10, 2023
Public Hearing input on the proposed edits and revisions of the draft report to the Granby Town Charter
Public Comment
Maureen Eberly, Silkey Road, said she felt there were many things in the Draft Report that were valid and justifiable. Eberly said she would like to see an additional item added to the Town Charter regarding the sale of public property in section 11, and that she would like to see a provision that does not allow bundling items at town votes. Eberly would like to see an ethics commission created to ensure that elected officials, boards and commissions, and town employees are being held accountable to a code of conduct. Eberly also noted that she believes that language should be added to the Town Charter to ensure that elected officials are serving their full term of office after being elected.
Reinhard Maier, 138 Day Street, spoke about access to a red-line copy of the revisions of the Town Charter and noted that he had trouble downloading the Draft Report from the website and that he would like to receive a red-line copy of the proposed revisions. Maier also noted that he would like to see a head-to-head election for the First Selectmen seat on the November ballot. Maier said he would like to see equivalent party representation on each board and commission that accurately reflects the number of registered voters.
Robert Flanigan, Jr., Woodcliff Drive, spoke about town expenditures and that he would like to see language added about prohibiting the bundling of items at town votes and that items should be put in the budget as line-item votes. Flanigan also spoke about proposed development projects and inquired why the town no longer takes town-wide votes on development projects and felt that language should be added to the Town Charter to ensure that this continues.
Laura Wolfe, Democratic Register of Voters, spoke about her concern about the length of the ballots when it comes to itemized votes on a ballot. Wolfe thanked members of the Charter Revision Commission while also expressing her concern about the changes made to the Board of Selectmen election, explaining that she believes the change of voting for two vs. voting for four will make it harder for minority parties to get elected.
Michael Ware, 45 Hungary Road, said he was not able to locate the red-line version of the Draft Report on the town website and requested that the document be made easier to find.
July 17, 2023
Present: Mark Fiorentino, Kelly Rome, Mark Neumann, Margaret Chapple, Frederick Moffa. Others present: Town Clerk Scott Nolan, Finance Director Kimi Cheng, Town Attorney Richard Roberts, Public Works Director Kirk Severance, LAFD Chief John Horr, Library Services Director Amber Wuzik, Edward Ohannessian, Rebecca Brewer, Benjamin Perron, Francis Brady and Lynn Guelzow, from the charter commission.
Charter Revision Update
The board discussed the draft Charter revision, and considered comments made at the July 10 Public Hearing.
Fiorentino, noting the Charter Revision Committee’s discussion of bond items sent to a referendum ballot individually, said he favors flexibility; it would be a poor decision to limit the BOS’s ability to package bonding requests for a referendum vote.
Some members felt that voting on each charter revision question on the November ballot would be cumbersome, and phrasing the questions would be difficult because several items impact or relate to one another.
On the issue of elected officials completing their current term of office before becoming a candidate for another municipal office, some members felt that, if added to the town charter, it would be unenforceable because it would be difficult to force volunteers to finish out their term of office.
Party representation on boards and commissions to reflect the number of registered voters in each party—Connecticut State law has a mechanism for ensuring minority representation. Additional language in the town charter that increases this representation may be challenging.
Members felt additional restrictions, such as mandating all development projects go to a referendum, should not be added to the town charter, especially since the planning and zoning commission is heavily regulated by Connecticut General Statutes.
Although several members are not opposed to an Ethics Commission, it may not be suitable to add it to the town charter. Chapple would like clarifying language in section 3-11 of the Charter as the term “financial interest” is not clearly defined and parts of this section may contradict general state statutes and the State Code of Ethics.
Sending all sales of town-owned property to a referendum vote was discussed. Fiorentino said the town attorney has told him that new state legislation would prohibit adding this change. Members felt the language added to section 11-3 (c) needed to be reexamined due to current law.
Members also discussed municipal officers holding more than one office during overlapping terms. Most members wanted this issue sent back to the commission to be further clarified in section 3-1 of the town charter.
The board decided the charter commission should revisit the draft, with additional consideration to 3-1(b) General Powers and Duties of Elective Officers, 3-11(a) Conflict of Interest, and 11-3(c) When a Town Meeting is Required.
The board requested the commission complete its work and return a final draft report within 30 days.
Editor’s Note: The Charter Revision Commission met on July 26, made modifications to the draft report and approved its completion and filing with the Town Clerk.
Emergency Response Equipment Infrastructure
John Horr outlined the Radio System Committee’s progress with an existing system analysis, needs assessment, review of existing technology options, and evaluating potential tower sites. The committee asked for approval to seek and evaluate proposals to complete the design, installation, and support of a radio communication system, including removal of old equipment. The board unanimously approved.
Public Session
Reinhard Maier, 138 Day Street, inquired about the assessment appeal process and is advocating for the residents who may not have money for legal counsel to fight assessment appeals. He inquired about The Grand, which he said had flipped hands again and the assessment value changed. Maier spoke of his concerns about affordable housing.
Carolyn Flint, 54 Barndoor Hills Road, expressed concern about the walkability of Salmon Brook Park. She had read an article in the Granby Drummer that said the proposed inner walking path was delayed and would not be completed until next year.
August 7, 2023
Members present: Mark Fiorentino, Margaret Chapple, Frederick Moffa. Absent: Mark Neumann, Kelly Rome. Others present: Town Clerk Scott Nolan, Finance Director Kimi Cheng, Student Liaison Charles Orluk, Edward Ohannessian, Rebecca Brewer, Benjamin Perron, Anthony McGovern and Terri-Ann Hahn, from the charter commission.
Appointments
The board unanimously approved the appointment of Julie E. Haefner to the Park Commission for a term beginning immediately and ending Jan. 14, 2025, as recommended by the Democratic Town Committee.
The board unanimously approved the appointment of Katherine H. Leenders to the Board of Education to fill a vacancy term beginning immediately and ending Nov. 20, 2023, as recommended by the Republican Town Committee.
Charter Revision
The Charter Revision Commission’s Final Draft Report was received by the Town Clerk on Aug. 1. The board unanimously accepted the report and approved placement of the following on the Nov. 7 ballot: “Shall the Granby Town Charter be amended as recommended in the Final Draft Report of the Charter Revision Commission of July 26, 2023, as approved by the Board of Selectmen?”
Editor’s Note: That report is printed in this issue of the Drummer, pages 33-36.
Public Session
John Marrone, 15 Maple Hill Drive, asked about police activity at The Grand, tenant damage, burglaries, etc.
Michael Fusick, 55 Northwoods Road, asked about a pond on his property that is connected to town-owned catch basins. He said the infrastructure is beginning to fail, and since the drainage system is jointly shared, he asked who was responsible for the continued maintenance.
Robert James Flanigan, Jr., Woodcliff Drive, asked if the town police logs could be more specific about the crimes occurring in Granby. He said that when someone is arrested it should be in the log and public information.