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Published by Citizens for a Better Granby a non-profit 501(c)3 organization
Volume XLVIII, No. 4 • December 2017
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Granby election results from Nov. 7 By Laura Wolfe and Paul Willis Registrars of Voters Enthusiastic candidates and hardworking supporters motivated many new voters to the polls on Nov. 7. Detailed results for the election were available on the Secretary of State’s website within hours of the close of polls. With a 45 percent higher turnout than in 2015, 2,708 voters cast their ballots. A total of 7,450 voters are currently registered in Granby, representing a 36.35 percent turn out. Thanks to the wonderful efforts of a well-trained poll staff of Granby residents, and the superb cooperation of both the staff of the Granby Memorial High School and Town of Granby Public Works Department, the election ran smoothly with a steady day of voting. Voter Registration Online voter registration is available for new voters or to make changes 24 hours a day – 7 days a week at: voterregistration.ct.gov Voter Registration can be verified 24/7 at: dir.ct.gov/sots/lookup.aspx
Town Committee Elections in January 2018
Both major parties will host caucuses in mid-January to elect Town Committee members. Details will be posted as soon as the dates are announced. You must be member of a major party to participate. New and unaffiliated voters have until noon the day before the caucus to join a major party. There is however a threemonth waiting period for those who are switching political parties to attain party privileges. Feel free to stop by to register to vote, figure out your voting district or make corrections in person at the Registrars’ Office in the Town Hall every Wednesday, regular office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note voter registration forms are also available at town halls, libraries, DMV offices and online at the Secretary of State’s website: www.sots.ct.gov Questions? Please contact the registrars, Laura Wolfe and Paul Willis, their office phone number/voice mail is # 860-844-5322 and e-mail address is: vr.granby.ct@gmail.com
Candidates elected in Granby First Selectman – 2 yr term B. Scott Kuhnly Board of Selectman – 2 yr terms James C Lofink, Sally S King, Edward E. Ohannessian and Mark Neumann Board Of Finance – 4 yr terms Frederick A. Moffa, Alfred G. Wilke and Gordon C. Bischoff Board Of Education – 4 yr terms Melissa E. Migliaccio, Sarah Thrall and Brandon C. Webster Board Of Assessment Appeals – 4 yr term Daniel Chapple and Celia Eggert Planning and Zoning Commission – 4 yr terms Eric Lukingbeal, Margaret Q. Chapple and Eric W. Myers Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate – 4 yr term Christine L. Chinni Zoning Board Of Appeals – 4 yr terms Wayne E. Chapple and Robert M. Lindeyer Zoning Board of Appeals Alternates – 4 yr terms Suzanne L. Yucha and William O’Leary Zoning Board of Appeals Alternates – 2 yr term David Hennessey Town Moderator – 2 yr term John E. Adams
Inside Land Trust Art Show.......... 17
Humans of Granby............. 27
Tobacco Barn Restoration... 22
Holidays in Granby............ 29
Girls Soccer State Champs!
Granby Memorial High School defeated Berlin High School 3-0 on Saturday Nov. 18 to capture the CIAC Class M Girls Soccer Championship. Led by Tournament Finals MVP Samantha St. Pierre’s two goals, the Bears captured their first title since back to back victories in 2000 and 2001. St. Pierre broke a scoreless game with 26 seconds left in the first half. She brought down a pass from Junior midfielder Lucy Jacobs, weaved through a couple defenders and put one past the Berlin goalkeeper. Sophomore Maria Nolan added the first insurance goal with 24:35 left to play in regulation. Her shot from the left 18 hit the right goal post and ricocheted into the back of the net. St. Pierre added the final goal with 7:22 remaining to seal the deal. The Bears defense was anchored by seniors Mackenzie Stahl and Madeline Attianese. Goalkeeper Felicia Fauteux made several spectacular saves to earn the shutout for Granby. Photo by Alan Addley
Approved state budget restores some municipal revenue By Michael B. Guarco, Jr. Chair, Board of Finance After months of protracted negotiations between legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle, both chambers of the legislature passed, by huge bipartisan margins, a two-year state budget plan that essentially provides state revenue to Granby at the level anticipated in our local budget when it was established back in the spring. Ultimately, the governor signed it to end, for the moment, the state’s budget crisis. It appears the state budget is already running a deficit that under the Governor’s rescission powers could lead to reductions in municipal aid as this fiscal year unfolds. The now-approved state budget negotiated between the evenly-divided chambers provides flat funding for this year and next to Granby, and includes some initial steps towards structural reform at the state and local level. The modification to binding arbitration and raising the threshold at which the antiquated so-called “prevailing wage law” applies on municipal projects, are steps long called for by the municipal advocacy groups Granby belongs to: Connecticut Association for Boards of Education (CABE), Connecticut
Council of Small Towns (COST) and Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM). They are the pillars of the cost management agenda set forth in recent years by the Connecticut Municipal Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility. This is a locally inspired grassroots initiative formed in collaboration with the three municipal advocacy groups ultimately drew bipartisan support statewide from some 230 elected boards in 120 of the 169 towns and cities in Connecticut. As one of the people who spent many a day and night travelling the state securing that local-level backing, seeing these initial reform steps in the now-approved bipartisan budget package comes as a satisfying affirmation of the hundreds of hours spent building such statewide support at the local level that resulted in this initial legislative action. Because the chambers are now so evenly divided there is now the political fortitude to challenge the special interest groups that benefit from blocking such mandate reforms at the taxpayer’s expense. Our current state representative and state senators looked after our interests not only supporting a state budget that maintained our share of state
State budget cont’d. on p. 2
Photo by Peter Dinella