Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/author/shirley-murtha/page/8/)
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.
Held in the Town Hall Meeting Room for the first time, the annual Three-board Meeting to review expenditure needs and fund balance expectations for the upcoming year was well organized and available to all residents due to the room’s Zoom capability.
At the Dec. 5 meeting of the Granby Board of Selectmen, Town Manager Erica Robertson presented an update on the town’s Technology Plan. The primary goal of the plan is for the town to strive to be a “smart town,” that is one that leverages technology to increase efficiencies and improve the quality of services for its residents.
The first 2023 meeting of the Granby Charter Revision Commission took place on Jan. 12 in the Town Hall Meeting Room.
Most Granby folks today remember Tom Wutka sitting on the porch at Lost Acres Orchard, peeling his apples for the many delectable ways they would be used in the family bakery, including his own specialty, Tom’s Dried Apples. Perhaps, especially if they had children, those same folks would remember him driving the tractor that pulled the wagon filled with sightseers for a trip through the orchard on Open Farm Day. Those memories will have to do, for sadly Tom passed away early in December.
Since the Fiscal Year 2022-23 adopted budget did not include an amount designated for preservation of historical documents, Town Manager Erica Robertson requested the Granby Board of Selectmen to authorize a budget amendment of $5,500 for this purpose.