Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/category/voice/page/28/)
Unsigned editorials are the consensus opinion of the editorial staff and publisher. Commentary pieces express the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of the Drummer.
We’ve seen only one proposal for using decommissioned Kearns School, an asset owned by the town. Maybe that is because the town has done a poor job of ascertaining Granby residents’ usage preferences.
My focus in prior op-eds has been Granby’s economic fate relevant to the potential of its assets and the risks inherent in fiscal miscalculations.
I have written a number of op-eds on this subject and spoken at BOS meetings during public sessions over the past year or so. I acknowledge the objectives of a diverse public facility as proposed by the soliciting Facility Committee for the lease of Kearns School.
For many in town, as farm property has been passed along through the generations, zoning laws have become more restrictive and complicated each year. When an aunt or uncle dies, several family members may own the farm.
We are concerned that the condition of the state finances is going to cause the taxes in Granby to go up. We have watched the Kearns School sit empty for almost 3 years, requiring maintenance annually for $30,000–$50,000.
I am not the type of person whom accepts help; in fact I hate receiving help. Over the past three years I have had three major surgeries and two minor ones between Boston, Hartford and New York. I have had long recovery times at home with little ability to do things.
Early in November, an injured bear appeared in our backyard. Impaled in its right eye was a plastic dart, apparently fired from a toy crossbow.
The proposal by the Kearns School Committee, led by Elliot Altomare, is an altruistic objective; however, it must make dollars and cents for the Town of Granby, its citizens and its relative economic health. While a non-binding letter of intent is being drafted, there are several points to be considered.
As I, once again, sit at my kitchen table sending thank you notes to the Granby Community Fund contributors, I’m always thrilled by the community members who year after year make a donation and am even more excited when a neighbor or business donates for the first time. Nearly 5,000 requests are mailed out each year resulting in approximately 500 donations from our community, both residential and business.
The following is a letter sent on Nov. 11 to the BOS.