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 […]

Town/Govt

Granby PD Welcomes New Officers

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Granby chief with new officer Michael DeSimone Granby PD welcomes new officers Granby Police Chief Carl Rosensweig welcomed two new officers at police department ceremonies in December. Officer Michael DeSimone has been a resident of Southwick, Mass. for most of his life. His experience growing up nearby will serve him well as a Granby police officer. DeSimone graduated with honors from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., with a degree in criminal justice. He studied […]

Town/Govt

Public Works Director Named

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Kirk Severance, director of Public Works Public Works director named Town Manager William F. Smith, Jr. has appointed Kirk Severance as Granby’s director of Public Works. Severance served as deputy director of operations in Granby for seven years and has been with the Department of Public Works since 1984. Severance maintains several certifications relating to roads, hazard communications, tree-warden, and an environmental protection certificate to operate a landfill […]

Town/Govt

VNA Director Leaving Post

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VNA director Muir FIN Farmington Valley VNA director leaving post By Andrea Boyle After more than 25 years of service as Executive Director of the Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association, Incy S. Muir has announced her retirement from the agency, effective July 10, 2015. She and her husband plan to relocate to the White Mountain region in Maine next summer. A life-long resident of Granby, Muir describes this transition as “bittersweet” since she will be leaving a community […]