The following are highlights from recent commission and committee meeting minutes. To read the full reports, please visit the Town of Granby website, choose Agendas and Minutes and choose the board or committee.
Development Commission
January 8, 2024
Present: Chairman Marty Schwager, Matt Brady, Jim Caldwell, Ken Kuhl, Rob Rome, and Anna Sogliuzzo. First Selectman Mark Fiorentino, and Director of Community Development Abby Kenyon.
Fiorentino provided background about 83 Salmon Brook St., which is owned by the Town of Granby. Since 2011, the town leased it to a restaurant, and the lease expired in December 2023. The unoccupied building needs improvements, including foundation work.
Fiorentino was looking for commission feedback as to whether the town should issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a broker to list the property for sale or lease, or both. Caldwell asked about advantages to retaining the property, or a portion of it, such as the right-of-way where Murtha’s Way is located. The commission discussed access to the property and the right-of-way that provides access to the apartment development to the rear of 83 Salmon Brook St.
Kenyon provided maps of the property, including an as-built plan showing all improvements; a map showing easements and utilities that extend across the property to the apartments located to the rear; and an aerial map showing the property in the context of the surrounding area.
When questioned about next steps, Fiorentino said the Board of Selectmen would be asked to authorize the issuance of an RFP to hire a broker to market the property and the commission should consider any parameters to put into the RFP and report back.
Town Bridges Building Committee
January 9, 2024
The committee updated the status of five bridge replacement projects.
Moosehorn Road: Construction is complete. Installing a temporary one-way bridge was advantageous. Even with the additional expense of a traffic light, this decision reduced the cost of the project.
Griffin Road: Construction is complete. A retainage is being held on the construction contractor, Arborio, due to CHRO guidelines that have not been met. Reimbursement requests have been submitted to the state.
Hungary Road: Construction is complete. Submission of reimbursement paperwork is pending.
Donahue Road: Construction is complete and reopened in early December. The replacement went well. Support walls and elevation issues were worked out. Final detail work is shut down for the winter and will resume in April.
Simsbury Road: CHA Consulting, Inc. is working on a preliminary design of the project. The construction work will require the road to close during construction. It is anticipated that the work will begin in 2025.
Granby Center Advisory Committee
January 31, 2024
Present: Mark Fiorentino, Meg Jabaily, Abby Kenyon, Eric Myers, John Oates, Martin Schwager
The Center Advisory Committee heard a presentation by Stacey Vairo of Preservation Connecticut regarding establishment of a local historic district and how it would differ from State and National Registers of Historic places. Possibly pursuing this designation as part of a plan for the town center is under consideration and would require a vote to approve it by property owners within the district.
Kenyon presented a statement consolidated from member input for why the study is being done: “To provide a framework that supports an inviting, connected, healthy, vibrant and resilient town center for its businesses, residents and visitors as discussed in the 2016 Plan of Conservation and Development.” Public input is invited.
School Projects Building Committee
January 18, 2024
Present: Toby Proctor, Eric Brown, Bill Kennedy, and BOE Business Manager Mark Migliaccio, Anna Robbins, and BOE Director of Facilities Shannon Sullivan.
High school roof project,
leaks and other issues
After the Christmas break, roof leaks were found in many classrooms. Slush and water pooling on the roof was causing water to back up against the flashing. The manufacturer determined that defective material was supplied to the roofer and used on this job. A temporary solution has been put in place and repairs are being made at no additional cost. The project is not complete, and the final inspection has not been done. Two change orders submitted to the state for flashing and additional drain work have been denied and rebuttal has been sent back. Robbins reviewed the change order process; the project must be completed before paperwork for reimbursement can be started and submitted. It was determined that the roof drains were plumbed wrong and need to be fixed.
Moving forward, final numbers are needed for the complete roof project. State reimbursement on the roof project—there are still questions, but Robbins and Silver Petrucelli are working on this matter. Before any further payments are made to Nutmeg, all work, and repairs due to water damage are satisfactorily completed and the roof has no identified leaks.
Use of remaining bridge funds
There are remaining funds from the bridge projects; the committee is exploring ideas for best use. The BOS suggested replacing the boilers at the middle school. Sullivan explained Gordian, thru CRCOG, did a physical assessment and provided a quote of $487,761 to replace the boiler. CRCOG has a bid process annually and the contractor is an approved bidder. If the project moves ahead, work could be done during the summer vacation.
Selectmen thought the project should go out to bid, but the quote from Gordian, a CRCOG approved contractor, seems to make putting the project out to bid redundant. Proctor suggested speaking with Selectmen moving forward.