Town/Govt

LAFD Explorer Post

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LAFD establishes Explorer Post By Tim Riklis The Lost Acres Fire Department and the Connecticut Rivers Council, Learning for Life are pleased to announce the establishment of the Lost Acres Fire Department Explorer Post 1936. LAFD is accepting applications from Granby residents age 14–18 for participation in the Cadet Program. As members of the LAFD Explorer’s Post 1936, cadets train and serve alongside LAFD firefighters and will be trained to assist the firefighters with various […]

Town/Govt

Social Services Column

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Fuel Assistance: Applications for the CT Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and the CT Heating Assistance Programs (CHAP) will be accepted until March 15. The CEAP/CHAP help households pay for primary heating bills. Applicants must provide: proof of income for all household members for the 4 weeks prior to the application date, proof of all assets, social security numbers for all family members, proof of rental or mortgage expenses and the current month’s utility bill. Please call the office […]

Town/Govt

Zoning Amendment Denied

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Zoning amendment on historic overlay zone denied By Elaine Jones By a vote of 5­–1, with one member not in attendance, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to deny without prejudice an amendment to the Zoning Regulations that would have allowed, through a Special Hearing format, the possibility of an application for a restaurant at 261 Salmon Brook Street. Commission members were divided on the issue, resulting in an invitation to residents to attend a special meeting to express […]

Town/Govt

Spending Held Tight

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Spending Held Tight – Revenues Flat By Michael Guarco, Chair, Board of Finance Preparations for the FY2016 Budget are underway…against a backdrop of essentially flat revenues. At the three-board meeting held in late January both the school and municipal administrations presented their estimated budget requirements, both of which were in the 3.5 percent increase range. As work has continued on them and more and better information becomes available, both administrations and the boar […]

Town/Govt

GPD New Officer

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Jose Antonio Martinez, Jr. started his career with the Granby Police Department on Wednesday, Feb. 18. He received his new badge at a swearing in ceremony attended by family, friends and his new co-workers. Officer Martinez is not new to law enforcement. He had a successful 20-year career with the Bloomfield Police Department, having retired at the rank of sergeant. He brings extensive training and experience to the Granby Police Department. Officer Martinez has a strong interest in community p […]

Town/Govt

BOE Budget Overview

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On March 4, I will present the FY16 Administrative Budget to the Board of Education. The budget is a spending plan that is responsive to the slow recovering economy, the priorities established by the community, board-approved goals, the mission of the school district, and, the budget guidelines established by the Board of Finance. Next year’s budget is presented at a time of increasing special education costs; uncertainty about how the state plans to meet its budget deficit and funding to […]

Town/Govt

Bring Back Clean Elections

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Witkos, Simanski wants to bring back clean elections Connecticut can improve its so-called clean elections laws, according to Granby area state legislators Senator Kevin Witkos (R-8) and Representative Bill Simanski (R-62). Republicans recently called for a series of reforms to restore transparency and to level the playing field for those seeking state elected office. Since the original clean elections law was enacted in 2005, the program has suffered from numerous erosions. Republican leg […]

Town/Govt

CTVV Interviews FOIC

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CTVV interviews Freedom of Information Commissioner The Freedom of Information Commission is simply one of the most valuable entities available to people in the State of Connecticut. Tom Hennick, the Public Education Officer for the Commission is a dedicated veteran member of the FOIC and with a prior career as a journalist for his family owned newspaper, The Naugatuck Daily News, his desire to seek the truth and all the facts has been a key mission in his professional career. In fact, it […]

Town/Govt

CTW: AARP Makes Legislative Advances

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CTVV: AARP MAKES LEGISLATIVE ADVANCES CT seniors and their families are fortunate to have a support system to represent them through the well-established national AARP profile and the strong local voice of the AARP CT organization. Susan Regan, host of CT Valley Views recently visited with Claudio Gualtieri, Associate State Director for Advocacy and Jean Caron, an AARP volunteer and Advocacy Leader to bring CT residents up to date on the Public Policy Institute studies, research and legislativ […]

Town/Govt

BOE Faces Budget Shortfall

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BOE faces budget shortfall By Kim Becker The Board of Education listened with concern as Harry Traver, Business Manager, outlined shortfalls in the current budget. The $248,000 cost overrun is due to Special Education costs. Regular education is favorable by $45,000 due to spending freezes in “conferences, supplies, books, and library books”. At this point, the weather may not be a large cost factor as the schools’ roofs are bearing the snow load well, saving the District as […]