July 1, 2024
Present: Mark Fiorentino, Mark Neumann, Kelly Rome, Frederick Moffa, Margaret Chapple, Town Manager Mike Walsh, Finance Director Kimi Cheng, Town Clerk Scott Nolan.
Appointments
Rosemarie Weber resigned from the board of education and a recommendation was received from the Republican Town Committee to fill the remainder of the vacancy. The board approved the RTC recommendation and appointed Syed Ali Zafar to fill a two-year vacancy beginning immediately and ending Nov. 18, 2025. Fiorentino administered the oath of office to Zafar.
Presentation from Citizens for a Better Granby
Kathy Norris, chair of the Citizens for a Better Granby, and Jen Bell, managing editor of The Granby Drummer, spoke of CBG’s mission and current goals. The organization has grown in its 55 years from the monthly printed paper to a presence on social media and a website. Norris and Bell spoke of the challenges that CBG and the Drummer face.
Alcohol Permit
Granby Parks and Recreation Department has a request from Courtney Corrozzo to host an event with alcohol consumption in the gathering room at Salmon Brook Park on Aug. 10, from 11:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. The board approved the request.
Kearns School Property
As discussed at the March 18 board meeting, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was to be considered for the former Kearns School property, with affordable housing one possibility. The board has discussed expanding the scope to consider assisted living or other senior housing options. The board approved authorizing Walsh to issue the RFP.
IBPO Labor Contract
The board approved the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Local 581 collectively-bargained labor agreement dated July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029, and directed Walsh to sign and execute the contract and to make any funding transfers necessary.
Public Session
Maureen Eberly (Silkey Road) spoke about the past practices and suggested that if the board of selectmen is considering changing the process for appointing members to boards and commissions, they get the input of the various town committees. Eberly noted that she supports the RFP for Kearns School and that she likes the component of affordable housing. Referencing the IBPO Labor Contract, Eberly said she would like to see different types of insurance offered to town employees.
Robert Flanigan, Jr. (Woodcliff Drive) spoke about the Methodist church and inquired whether it was on the board’s agenda.
William Regan (Hungary Road) spoke of his support for Syed Ali Safar’s appointment to the board of education and that this adds to the diversity on the board.
John Morrone (15 Maple Hill Drive) spoke of the solar project and that Eversource could be making roughly 80 million dollars a year and that the town should reconsider the deal being formed. Morrone also expressed concerns regarding the board of education.
August 5, 2024
Present: Mark Fiorentino, Frederick Moffa, Margaret Chapple. Absent: Kelly Rome, Mark Neumann, Town Manager Mike Walsh, Finance Director Kimi Cheng, Town Clerk Scott Nolan, Public Works Director Kirk Severance, Community Development Director Abigail Kenyon.
Presentation from Farmington River Watershed Association
The association’s Executive Director Aimee Petras spoke of the value of water quality reporting in protecting the Farmington River. Petras explained some of the challenges in protecting the river, including stormwater, algae blooms, runoff into the river, issues with the dam and the fishway.
Natural Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adoption Plan
The plan was adopted, and officials designated in the mitigation strategy are directed to implement the actions in their purview. An annual report on implementation will be presented to the board.
Alcohol Permit
Granby Parks and Recreation Department has a request from the Connecticut Air National Guard to host a work event with alcohol consumption in the gathering room at Salmon Brook Park on Aug. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. The board approved the request.
Fiscal Year 2023-24 Transfer of Accounts
Cheng spoke about the need for funds to be transferred each fiscal year between departments to cover over-budgeted conditions in specific departments. At its July 22 meeting the board of finance approved these transfers. The board of selectmen approved the transfers.
Presentation from Key Capture Energy
Representatives from Key Capture Energy (KCE) presented on the proposed battery facility project, explaining that KCE has 623 megawatts (MW) of projects in operation and construction and development pipeline of 9+GW (gigawatts) in 17 states across the country. KCE is backed by SK E&S, which has invested over $2 billion in the US energy transition and brings deep industrial expertise. Representatives explained that battery storage enables more wind and solar energy and keeps the grid even when the sun isn’t shining, and the wind isn’t blowing. Representatives explained the benefits of energy storage, which include enhancing power reliability, servicing peak demand, greater penetration of renewables, and deferral of upgrades to transmission and distribution infrastructure. Representatives of KCE explained that Connecticut State Goals for energy storage included 1,000 MW of deployed energy storage by 2030. Representatives of KCE also explained the inner workings of the battery storage park along with the selection process of the proposed location.
Public Session
Robert Flanigan, Jr. (Woodcliff Drive) addressed members of the Board of Selectmen regarding Key Capture Energy on the Proposed Battery Facility and inquired about zoning laws, siting council, and whether any environmental studies had been done on the proposed location. Flanigan expressed concerns regarding the lithium batteries and the fire hazard they create, the lack of Personal Protection Equipment, and that first responders were not properly equipped to address a major incident at the site. Flanagan inquired whether the town would see the direct savings of the energy collected.
Reinhard Maier (Day Street) spoke of concerns about the Siting Council process and whether a member of the public could file for intervening status with the siting council to interject themselves into the process. Maier further addressed members of the Board of Selectmen regarding his concerns about the environmental impact of the storage facility and the combustibility of the batteries, including the first responder’s response.
Michael Fitzgerald (Strawberry Fields) asked who Marty was and how the site was selected and what the dynamic was. He further inquired what other sites were considered for the project.
Deborah Roe (Woodland Drive) said she was in favor of clean energy, however, maybe this wasn’t the safest technology being proposed or the best site. She said that the proposed safety guidelines weren’t enough and that we should be asking for more.
James English (67 Hunt Glen Drive) spoke about his concerns of the location, and noise level suggesting that noise level tests should be done as inverters make a lot of noise.
Toni Flanigan (Woodcliff Drive) spoke about noise, PPE, and batteries overheating. She noted that the fire department lacks the appropriate PPE and inquired as to where the funding would be coming from to train the fire department in an appropriate response.
William Regan (Hungary Road) thanked Fiorentino for standing his ground at the previous board meeting regarding the BOE appointment. Regan noted that solar farms are better than windmills.
Lost Acres Fire Department Chief John Horr, Jr., asked about access to the Key Capture Energy Battery Storage Facility. Horr said the fire department gets training for emergency response regarding these types of fires and would be open to working with the manufacturer to learn more. Horr raised concerns about the lack of fire hydrants in area of the proposed location, and about the cybersecurity systems that Key Capture Energy offers.
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