Town/Govt

Desrosiers retires from BOS after 22 years

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By Shirley Murtha After serving for 22 years on Granby’s Board of Selectmen, Ron Desrosiers has submitted his resignation. Not afraid to be the voice of reason and caution, he will be remembered, among other things, for establishing the annual Community Service Awards in 1997. These awards recognize both adult and teen residents who have given special service to the town. Each spring, Desrosiers and representatives from the Drummer and Granby Community Television call for nominations from […]

Town/Govt

Residents recognized for service 

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Residents recognized for service by Board of Selectmen  By Shirley Murtha Prior to conducting regular business at the June 15 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, First Selectman Scott Kuhnly recognized several Granby residents for their service to the town. Before the annual Community Service Awards presentation, special awards were given to Russ St. John and Incy Muir. St. John began serving the community in 1963 on the Development and Industrial Committee and went on to sit on Planni […]

Town/Govt

Planning and Zoning meeting

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The Planning and Zoning meeting of May 26 By Elaine Jones On May 26, the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the Center Review Study Subcommittee report with a power point presentation by Director of Community Development Fran Armentano. Using maps showing specific areas of town, particularly the town center and the three zones that define it, and where the proposed zoning amendment would have the greatest impact, he reviewed the recommendation of the subcommittee and the effect on the tow […]

Town/Govt

Planning and Zoning Meeting

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Planning and Zoning meeting for June 9 2015 By Elaine Jones After accepting the Center Review Study Subcommittee’s report of an amendment to the Zoning Regulations Section 3.12.5 Comprehensive Granby Center Criteria, viewing three PowerPoint presentations showing maps of the Center area and the three zones that define it, and holding three public hearings to allow more input from residents, the Planning and Zoning Commission, by a 6-1 vote, approved the amendment to the Zoning Regulation […]

Town/Govt

BOE Rights Sinking Budget

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By Kim Becker Due to a huge increase in special education costs, the Board of Education has struggled this school year to meet a serious budget shortfall.  Over the past few months the Board has slowly managed to reduce the budget deficit with expenditure freezes in services and supplies.  Business Manager Harry Traver reported that a final reconciliation of special education forecasts to actual end of the year purchase orders showed a $92,000 reduction in outplacement costs. The fore […]

Town/Govt

12 students graduate from Granby Ambulance EMT program

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By Matt Heubner The Granby Ambulance Association congratulates this year’s EMT program graduates! These 12 students have dedicated the last five months to studying emergency medicine, which included observing and caring for patients in the St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Emergency Department, and spending dozens of hours assisting with patient care in the back of Granby’s ambulances. This year’s class included students from East Hartland, Granby, Simsbury, Somers, Stafford […]

Town/Govt

Vineyard special permit approved

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By Elaine Jones The application for a special permit to modify the existing permit for Lost Acres Vineyard was approved by a unanimous vote at the May 4 Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting. Compromises were reached as Commission members debated the requests of Vineyard owners Michelle Niedermeyer and Kevin Riggott and the concerns of adjacent property owners Carol Day and John Jenkins. The most contentious concerns expressed at previous P&Z meetings included hours of operation, […]

Town/Govt

Racial profiling data determined to be flawed

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By Shirley Murtha At its April 20 meeting, the Board of Selectmen was asked by two residents (Gerald Ledger and Mark Migliaccio) to look into the Central Connecticut State University study indicating that Granby engaged in racial profiling in conducting traffic stops. Town Manager Bill Smith subsequently met with members of the university department who collected and evaluated the data, collected from October 2013 through October 2014. The discussion made it clear that some errors in compiling […]

Town/Govt

School District Faces Shortfall

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By Kim Becker Due to rising special needs costs, the district will need the town to forgive an estimated $129,000 for the current fiscal year. According to the statement of accounts presented to the Board of Education in March, the general fund forecast changed by $52,000 because of a revised special education cost forecast and a freeze in spending in substitutes, purchased services, conferences, supplies, books, and library books. The district also had several unanticipated expenses including […]

Town/Govt

P & Z – Vineyard Hearing

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Decision pending after second vineyard hearing  By Elaine Jones On April 14, the Planning and Zoning Commission continued the public hearing that began March 25, for the application by Michelle Niedermeyer and Kevin Riggott, owners of the Lost Acres Vineyard to modify and expand the existing Special Permit, issued by the P&Z on Dec. 9, 2008, for a farm store and the sale of wine under a farm-winery liquor permit. After listening to the comments of all residents in attendance, P& […]