October 21, 2024
Members present: Mark Fiorentino, Mark Neumann, Frederick Moffa, Margaret Chapple
Members absent: Kelly Rome
Others present: Town Manager Mike Walsh, Town Clerk Scott Nolan, Student Liaison Ben LaVigne, Student Liaison Zainab Zafar, Finance Director Kimi Cheng.
87 Simsbury Road Acquisition
87 Simsbury Road is a 4.8-acre property formerly the location of the West Granby United Methodist Church. When the church was closed, it reverted to the Hartford Foundation of Public Giving (HFPG). The town has been in discussions with HFPG to acquire the property to rejoin it to the Holcomb Farm. The town expects to execute an agreement with the Granby Land Trust (GLT) so that sufficient funding is available should the church building need to be demolished.
In repatriating the parcel to Holcomb Farm, the town will also execute an agreement with Holcomb Farm, Inc., which will be solely responsible for the maintenance of the property and building until such time, about six months, as the board of selectmen consider a recommendation for the final disposition of the church building. The board unanimously approved the following resolutions: the acquisition of 87 Simsbury Road for no monetary consideration; the agreement with the Granby Land Trust whereby it pledges up to $100,000 for the demolition of the church building and restoration of the land; and the agreement between the town and Holcomb Farm for the maintenance of the property and buildings.
Public Session
Ms. Johnston (Barn Door Hills Road) spoke about harmful pesticide sprays on the farm at 16 Barndoor Hills Road, explaining that the pesticide is harmful to bees and butterflies, and pollutes the stream, and the chemicals are dangerous to human beings.
Stephanie Harper (48 Barn Door Hills Road) spoke about the spraying of harmful chemicals at 16 Barn Door Hills Road that is a town-owned property being leased for farming and further explained that cardboard debris has been found in the woods on the property line. Harper further noted that there is an issue of unsanitary conditions along with the use of harmful pesticides outside of DEEP regulations.
Lee Shaw (1 Barn Door Hills Road) noted that the property at 16 Barn Door Hills Road is an important property for horse riders who use the property as a cut-through to access other trails. Shaw further explained that she was alarmed when she learned that harmful chemicals had been sprayed and that the type of chemical that was sprayed shouldn’t come into contact with people for several hours after the chemical is dispensed and they are unsure when it was sprayed.
Eric Meyers (22 Barn Door Hills Road) spoke about the lessee of 16 Barn Door Hills Road, noting he would like the town not to allow lessees to use harmful pesticides. Meyers also noted that the Trunk-or-Treat event went well and that the Granby Grunts were in attendance.
Avis Cherichetti (31 Barn Door Hills Road) spoke about the access to 16 Barn Door Hills Road. She is alarmed about the amount of traffic up and down the right-of-way easement. Cherichetti also expressed concerns about the erosion.
Celeste Johnson (27 Barn Door Hills Road) spoke about 16 Barn Door Hills Road and that she often hikes the area with her dogs and was surprised that the farm fields had been flattened.
Ken Faroni (62 Barn Door Hills Road) spoke about 16 Barn Door Hills Road, raising concerns about the spray zones of harmful pesticides.
Michael Johnston (42 Barn Door Hills Road) spoke about his concerns about 16 Barn Door Hills Road and the pesticides being sprayed and whether or not the town had any recourse in addressing this with the lessee.
Matthew and Laura Nicholas (58 Barn Door Hills Road) spoke about 16 Barn Door Hills and the concern of harmful chemicals being sprayed. Laura Nicholas indicated that they spent more than one year searching for a home and they might have reconsidered their decision to purchase the property had they known this was happening.
Carolyn Flint (54 Barn Door Hills Road) spoke about 16 Barn Door Hills and that Salmon Brook has a wild and scenic designation and that the chemical spraying may ultimately be harmful to the environment.
Jim Szipszky (19 Stonewall Drive) spoke about his concerns of 16 Barn Door Hills and the harmful chemicals being used on the property and knowing that Salmon Brook is designated as wild and scenic that DEEP may also need to be notified.
November 4, 2024
Members present: Mark Fiorentino, Mark Neumann, Frederick Moffa, Margaret Chapple, Kelly Rome.
Others present: Town Manager Mike Walsh, Town Clerk Scott Nolan, Student Liaison Zainab Zafar, Lost Acres Fire Department Chief John Horr, Jr.
229 Mountain Road
229 Mountain Road is a 16.91-acre property that is currently vacant with the exception of a radio tower and assorted equipment. The town would like to acquire a portion of the property to locate a new emergency telecommunications tower to improve emergency communications. Town Manager Mike Walsh explained that the town would need to purchase approximately 5.6 acres along with an easement area that would encompass the fall zone of the tower, and that the full easement area would be located on the remaining 11.21 acres retained by the property owner. The expected purchase price is $99,750. The acquisition was unanimously approved.
Redeployment of the Capital Program Priority Advisory Committee
On April 14, 1984, the board of selectmen created the Capital Program Priority Advisory Committee (CPPAC). The current board approved redeploying the committee for the purpose of annually developing a definition of a capital improvement, developing criteria for prioritizing capital improvement projects, and recommending a capital improvement program schedule to the board of selectmen.
Mark Neumann, Peggy Chapple, Kevin Hobson, William Kennedy, Heather Lombardo and David Peling were approved as voting members. The chairs of the boards of selectmen, finance and education, the town manager, the school superintendent and the town treasurer were approved as non-voting members. The town treasurer becomes a voting member for the purpose of breaking a tie.
CPPAC meeting dates will be the first and fourth Mondays of each month at 5 p.m. in the town hall meeting room subject to the approval of the members of the committee.
Looking for additional information?
You can access the entire minutes from any town meeting by visiting granby-ct.gov/AgendaCenter