Focus On Education

​Maintaining our educational investment while realizing savingsBy Alan Addley, Ed. DNow that the holiday season is over, the school budget season is in full swing. The economic challenges faced by the town and school district over the past several years have been significant. While the economy has shown some recent signs of improving, it is still a slow process. As always, the board of education (BOE) has been committed to the wise stewardship of funds and the realization of a high re […]

Board of Ed debates 

Plus-One budget planBy Kim BeckerDr. Alan Addley, Superintendent of Granby schools, presented the annual Plus One Budget to the Board of Education. This document provides a five-year outlook at the priorities the administration wants to implement, sustain or expand, as well as estimates of annual budget increases to support the schools, students and staff.Although all the board members agreed that the budget priorities align with the goals they set for the administration, strong disagreement sur […]

Deadlines to Register for the Presidential Preference 2016 Primary are coming!

To be eligible to vote in the presidential primary on Tuesday, April 26, you must be a registered member of the party you wish to vote for. State law prohibits cross voting in another political party’s primary. You can check your party affiliation 24/7 online at: voterregistration.ct.gov/ The majority of Granby voters are currently unaffiliated. To gain party affiliation, unaffiliated voters can go online to fill out a voter registration card and check the box marked party enrollment chang […]

​Decision point 2015  

By Michael B Guarco Jr.Chair, Board of FinanceThe boards of selectmen, education and finance have forwarded a proposal to town meeting that recognizes the current and long-lasting decline of Granby school enrollment. Board members believe it provides the rationale to close one of the town’s three elementary schools. Doing this will cost some upfront money for building modifications and moving between the schools, but will create projected savings of approximately $1 million dollars in oper […]

Winter Hints

Following these town ordinances, safety rules and suggestions will help ensure a safe winter season. Please check the Public Works page at www.granby-ct.gov for more information.Trash Barrels: During a winter storm, it is imperative that trash and recycling barrels are placed at the end of the driveway – not in the street! Barrels in the street pose a danger for drivers and do not allow safe snow removal operations. Paine’s rarely cancels trash services due to inclement weather so pl […]

District studies achievement gap 

By Kim Becker ​In  response  to  a  Board  of  Education  query  earlier  this  calendar  year,  district  administrators  presented raw  data  relating  to  the  systems  achievement  gap. The  data  focused  on  problem  areas  for  students  with special  needs  and  those  from  the  Open  Choice  progra […]

Barns, garages, operating hours and a land swap addressed by Planning and Zoning

By Elaine JonesAt its Sept. 22 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission heard and approved two applications for construction of barns-garages, and a special permit modification to expand operating hours at a farm store. It also discussed the possible transfer of land between the Granby Land Trust and a developer to improve access to land trust property.James Wood presented an application for a special permit to construct a barn/garage in excess of 1,000 square feet at 97 Peterson Road. The ga […]

Public Works Nov 15

Transfer Station Extended hours: The transfer station will be open on Wednesday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon through Wednesday, November 18.Hazardous Waste Collection: A hazardous waste collection will be held Saturday, November 7, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Simsbury DPW facility, 66 Town Forest Road, Simsbury.  Call the Granby DPW for details,  860-653-8960.Trash Holiday: Please be aware that Thursday, November 26, (Thanksgiving) is a holiday for Paine’s and all Thursday and Fri […]

Land use committee reaches conclusion

by Shirley MurthaReporting to the Board of Selectman for the Town-owned Land Use Study Committee, chairman Mark Higby said that after reading the resident surveys and discussing the situation with the town boards and commissions, it is recommended that the former Evonsion farmland remain in agricultural use. This is what the majority of residents desire, and there is no need at this time for any other town use of the property. The committee feels that using the land for both private and town agr […]

Student liaisons join Board of Selectmen

by Shirley MurthaEach year, the Board of Selectmen invites high school students to apply for the two available student liaison positions on the board. In addition to keeping the board and town apprised of significant goings-on at Granby Memorial, students are educated in the ways of town government, which may prove valuable in their roles at school and in their future.For the 2015–16 school year, the two students are Alex Domanico and Mark McDermott, both seniors.McDermott is returning for […]