Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/author/shirley-murtha/page/3/)
The Finance Board conducted a public hearing on April 10 to discuss the proposed budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, available on the town website, in the Town Hall and in the Library since April 6.
In the summer of 2020, Granby Land Trust president Rick Orluk asked Steve Perry if he would make a simple bench-type seat for the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, set to open that October.
The website revision project made great progress during the month of February and early March and will be launched soon. Town Manager Erica Robertson and her team have been working with CivicPlus, a website development business that specializes in building city and county e-government communication systems.
On February 13, the Board of Selectmen hosted a second Open House. The attendance wasn’t nearly as large as the first one, when residents were confused and a bit upset about what the state’s mandate to make a plan for affordable housing actually meant for Granby but, for those who participated, it was a chance for real communication.
During this past summer, the Granby Department of Public Works was notified by a resident that there “was a problem” with the light poles along the Rte. 10/202 sidewalks in the historic district.
On January 24, the Granby Board of Selectmen and the Planning and Zoning Commission met to discuss the Affordable Housing Plan objectives. Connecticut state statutes require that each town in the state prepare and adopt an affordable housing plan that specifies how that town intends to increase the number of affordable developments. The plan is to be updated at least once every five years.
At the Sept. 19, 2022, joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the Planning and Zoning Commission, it was decided to develop a plan to study long-term growth of the town center, an important consideration in Granby’s strategic plan going forward. This became known as the Center Study, and P&Z was asked to create a process for the scope of a study.
The Town of Granby recently accepted the promise of $500,000 from the Granby Land Trust to create a restricted investment account to support the operation, maintenance and capital expenses of Holcomb Farm.
Granby has at least five cemeteries, which may be a surprise to residents who are familiar with only the large one near the town center. Some of these cemeteries could use some restoration.
Over the years, the Town of Granby set up special funds for specific purposes. Recently, the town auditor recommended closing out those funds.