Drummer FO R I M ME DIAT E DE LI V E RY
2019-20 Budget Referendum PASSES 529 to 523
The Granby
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Volume XLIX, No. 8 • May 2019
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Maintaining our assets By Michael B. Guarco, Jr., Chair, Board of Finance One of the key responsibilities the town boards have is to maintain the physical condition of the town’s assets such as town-owned roads, bridges and buildings. Year in and year out this is accomplished through the maintenance component of the operating budgets as well as through the capital budget. Within these components are the expenditures that include the upkeep – service and repairs – for mechanical equipment in the buildings as well as for the trucks that plow the roads and the outlays for road reconstruction and putting down asphalt. Periodically, there comes a time when it makes sense to take on larger capital needs that are more reasonably bonded rather than putting a more direct and immediate pressure on the General Fund
and taxes. Generally, these are items with long useful lives, so that it makes sense to finance over time rather than drawing down cash or raising the mill rate more. We on the Board of Finance feel this is an appropriate time to tackle the greater priority capital needs as identified through the Capital Priority Planning Advisory Committee (CPPAC) process, particularly as we enter a time of declining existing debt service. Even with the new debt in place —if approved by voters—we will find ourselves in five years with the annual debt service expenditure running a million dollars less than it is currently. Note that the current year’s outlay for debt service is nearly a million dollars less annually than it was six years ago. At a town meeting to be held in late May followed up with a referendum a week later as prescribed in the Town Charter, three capital questions will be
Maintaining our assets cont’d. on p. 3
Memorial Day Parade Schedule Granby’s annual Memorial Day parade and program will be held on Monday, May 27. Parade Marshal James O. Hall announced that the honorary parade marshal this year is Allen S. Christensen, retired chief, Lost Acres Fire Department. The parade will line up at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot on Bank Street and step off at 10 a.m. sharp. Stops will be made to lay wreaths at the War on Terror, Legion and World War I monuments before continuing to the cemetery. Services there will include guest speaker State Representative Bill Simanski (R-62). The Rev. Taylor Albright, Trinity Episcopal Church, Tariffville, will offer the invocation and benediction. There also will be a firing squad salute and taps. Following the service, the parade will return to the green and disband. After a brief recess, the Marquis of Granby Fife and Drum Corps and the high school marching band will present short concerts. A number of concession stands on the green will offer food for sale as well. All vehicles, floats and concessions on the green must be approved by Parade Marshal James Hall. For more information, call him at 860-653-3819.
Inside Live on the Wild Side........ 17
Hungry Hearts Dinner........ 25
Humans of Granby............. 19
Waypoints....................... 30
Sunrise at Holcomb Farm
Eric Lukingbeal shot a spectacular photo of a peaceful, early spring sunrise looking over the open expanse of the east fields at Holcomb Farm. An early morning hiker and Friend of the Farm, Lukingbeal also serves on its board.
Light turnout at budget hearing By Carol Bressor It was Monday, Apr. 8, the night of Granby’s town budget hearing. The lights were on in the high school auditorium, the presenters in their places and public mikes up and running. Out of 7,737 eligible voters, there were about 63 residents in the audience to hear about the 2019–20 town budget that totals $46,766, 273. The proposal sets the mill rate change to 2.38 percent. Board of Finance Chairman Michael B. Guarco, Jr. presided over the hearing noting that the proposal looks to balance the needs of the community against its respective costs and the residents’ ability to pay. First Selectman B. Scott Kuhnly spoke on the municipal portion and Board of Education Vice-Chairman Mark H. Fiorentino presented the education budget proposal. After the presentation of the budget proposal, the hearing was open for comments from the public. There was one question: “What percentage of students
are represented in the special education segment of the educational proposal (the segment makes up about 20 percent of the education budget)?” Superintendent Dr. Alan Addley responded, “There are 274 students, or 14.7 percent.” Supporting special education activities is a state-mandated responsibility of the Board of Education. The Board of Finance held a special meeting following the hearing. While board members were disappointed with the turnout, they thought the lack of participation could be taken that residents appreciated that the boards held the line on spending in the face of uncertain state and federal funding help. The board unanimously voted to send the 2019–20 budget proposal as presented at the April 8 public hearing to referendum vote on April 22. Following the vote, individual finance board members signed a statement of intent in support of the concept of controllable annual expenditures regarding town capital needs through the 2019 bonding projects.
Photo by Peter Dinella