Town/Govt

Governor’s executive orders could decimate municipal aid

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By Michael B. Guarco,Chair, Board of FinanceAs the new state fiscal year opened on July 1, high drama intensified in Hartford. Governor Malloy took aim at changing the overall municipal aid categories given to towns while simultaneously looking to prod the legislature to do its job in passing a budget. In late June, an executive order came down from the Governor’s office and is still in place that reduced state aid to Granby by $3.1 million from the $5.5 million budgeted in April. The $5.5 […]

Town/Govt

Residents opposed to town’s use of RoundUp

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By Shirley MurthaAt the Aug. 7 meeting of the Granby Board of Selectmen, resident Marge Goslee requested that the town look into the Public Works Department’s use of the herbicide glyphosate (RoundUp) to control roadside vegetation. She noted that it is being sprayed on the vegetation on the bridges over various town streams and brooks, thereby entering the watercourses where it can cause harm to the animal life as well as good vegetation and presumably eventually make its way to residents […]

Town/Govt

Town manager institutes spending freeze

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Also pulled would be funds from the Mashantucket and Pequot Funds (distributions from the state casinos) and the Municipal Revenue Sharing Account, among others.The total loss in income to Granby from these cuts would be $5.5 million. In addition, this is the year that Governor Malloy has proposed that cities and towns pay one-third of the cost of teacher pensions, an expense to Granby of $1.5 million.At the meeting, Finance Board Chairman Mike Guarco noted that the $5.4 million represents […]

Town/Govt

Municipal Complex roads named for retiring town manager

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The culmination of Bill Smith’s retirement party was the announcement that the two drives into Granby’s Municipal Complex, the development of which Smith had overseen, would be known as William F. Smith, Jr. Way. The crowd rose to applaud the announcement and honor its recipient.It was standing room only, with every seat in Holcomb Farm’s North Barn occupied and people two or three deep around the perimeter for the June 4 celebration honoring Smith’s almost 40 years of se […]

Town/Govt

New town manager selected

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John D. Ward of Vernon has been appointed as Granby’s new town manager, effective July 13. Ward will replace William F. Smith, Jr. who retired after 39 years.Ward has served as chief administrative officer for the Town of Vernon since January 2009. His responsibilities were very much the same as a town manager except he reported to the mayor and not a council or board of selectmen. He previously served on the Vernon Town Council and Board of Education. He was a practicing attorney from 199 […]

Town/Govt

Wilhelm Farm awarded U.S.D.A. grant

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By Shirley MurthaThe Wilhelm Farm on Rte. 189 in North Granby has been awarded a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) of the United States Department of Agriculture for the period March 1, 2017 through September 30, 2019. The official title of the project is Wilhelm Farm: Demonstrations of Silvopasture and Other Agroforestry Systems. The NRCS demonstrations will include web pages, videos, fact sheets and onsite activities. They will be used by a […]

Town/Govt

YOU ARE NEEDED

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A Granby resident is needed to fill a vacancy on the Agricultural Commission. If you are interested in this position, call the Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jim Lofink at 860-810-0274, Republican Town Committee Chairman Mark Neumann at 860-978-4808, or the town manager at 860-844-5300. […]

Town/Govt

Let’s Golf!

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It’s time for the 2017 Joseph B. Nilsen Memorial Golf Tournament. Join the Granby and Bradley Regional Chambers of Commerce for another fun-filled day on a great course for a great cause at Crestview Country Club, 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam, Mass., on Monday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Registration Includes: putting green, 18 holes of golf, greens fees and golf cart, social hour, deluxe dinner buffet, contests and raffle prizes. Fees are $600 for a foursome, $750 for a f […]

Town/Govt

BOE looks to the future

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By Kim BeckerPressure is mounting on the schools and Town in light of the revenue shortfall facing the State. Governor Malloy’s revised budget demands almost $4 million from Granby, including cuts to the ECS and shifting the cost of the State’s contributions to the teachers’ pension fund to municipalities. Though the Town passed a budget last month, deep funding cuts will make it difficult to maintain services. The Board of Education and the school administration ha […]

Town/Govt

Two Granby Democratic Town Commitee Scholarships in 2017!

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By Jim LofinkThe Granby Democratic Town Committee (DTC) would like to thank Congressman John Larson for supporting it in offering a second $1,000 scholarship to recognize a Granby student who best exemplifies the DTC mission of making Granby a better community, and has demonstrated engagement in the political process.This year, the DTC increased it’s annual scholarship from $500 to $1,000 due to increased community support. With Congressman Larson’s support this year, DTC will offer […]