F o r I m m ed i ate Deli very
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The Granby
Your hometown volunteer newspaper
Volume XLIV, No. 8 • May 2014
Only about 60 residents attended the public hearing April 14. Referendum is set for April 28. Photo by Peter Dinella
Plan of Conservation and Development Committee hears from the public Over the next 10 years Granby and the state of Connecticut will experience a much slower rate of growth than in past decades. There will be less development, fewer children and less need for large homes. This was the finding of the Connecticut Data Center and is the challenge for a newly appointed sub-committee charged with revising Granby’s 10-year plan of Conservation and Development. Every Connecticut city and town is required to prepare or amend and adopt a new plan at least once every ten years. Granby’s Development Commission created this subcommittee of volunteer
residents to develop a plan that will guide the town from 2015 to 2025. The group will hold informational meetings to inform residents about the process and to hear public comment, every first and third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Holcomb Farm. Twenty-five residents who attended the committee’s first public feedback session were asked to share their thoughts, observations and concerns about the town. They shared concerns including uneasiness about additional high density housing units in the center that they felt would add to the existing congestion, heavy traffic and noise issues. Many expressed concern about more development Plan of C & D cont’d. on p. 6
Learn how Sunshine Laws affect you
Granby municipal elected and appointed officials, and the general public, are invited to a public service seminar sharing the best practices on governing in an open and transparent fashion. Specifically, this free session will focus on understanding what are often referred to as “Sunshine Laws.” The seminar will be conducted on May 8 at the town hall meeting room from 7 – 9 p.m. Avoiding legalese, Tom Hennick, the public education officer at the Freedom of Information (FOI) Commission will make the FOI Act come alive, explaining the duties of public officials and the rights of members of the public as they relate to transparency and accountability in government. Granby Democratic Town Committee (DTC) chair Jim Lofink said they are sponsoring this seminar to help support the many residents recruited for town service. “Did you know that Granby municipal government
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Published by Citizens for a Better Granby
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Quiet night at budget hearing
by Elaine Jones
FREE
Noise factor an issue for Lost Acres Vineyard neighbors By Elaine Jones At the public session of the April 3 Planning and Zoning meeting, Attorney Mark Branse, speaking for Carol Day of 96 Lost Acres Road, read a letter written by her in which she stated her opposition to the activities going on at the Lost Acres Vineyard, and her disappointment that the commission did not adequately address the special permit issue at its last meeting when vineyard owner Michelle Niedermeyer presented an account of the products and activities of her business. The issue of what is allowed at the vineyard and the noise during certain activities was presented to the commission last fall by Mrs. Day’s husband, the late John Day. At that time, the commission, asked for a review of the issue, and that was what Niedermeyer presented at the March meeting. She also asked the commission to change the hours of the farm store to 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday instead of noon – 6 p.m. from April through December. Day’s letter states she supported the vineyard as limited by the initial farm store special permit. She feels that the
current activities are not compliant with the special permit approval as now written. She cites the concert schedule for 2014 that includes 22 concerts scheduled to begin after 6 p.m. and asked if they will be indoors or outdoors, if there will be live music, if charging a fee makes it a commercial endeavor. She states that if commercial concerts were allowed as part of a “farm store” approval, it would be legally impossible to regulate concerts of any type or size as an accessory use for every farm. She asks for a complete investigation into the events being held at the Lost Acres Vineyard and for confining the activities to those authorized by the current special permit: the sale of wine and other farm products during the hours of noon and 6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday plus holidays. Commission Chairwoman Paula Johnson said this was a future agenda item. Solar Panels The commission debated the pros and cons of erecting ground-mounted solar panels erected on the town’s East Street farm (the Evonsion property). The Board of Selectmen asked the commission for its comments. The solar panels would
P & Z cont’d. on p. 4
Twilight egg hunt brings the crowds
operates with over 200 elected or appointed volunteer, non-paid residents performing public service on boards, commissions and committees?” asked Lofink. “These contributions in time, energy and talent are vital to a wellrun town, and we would like to help prepare these important volunteers and support their professional development for the benefit of all residents.” The Freedom of Information Act guarantees all citizens the right to have access to public records and public documents. From meeting agendas and public notices, to email communications, public input at meetings and FOI requests, Hennick will cover how both citizens and officials can best serve the public good while respecting rights and obligations under the Act. For further information contact Jim Lofink, Chair, DTC at granbydemocrats@gmail.com. Visit the website at www.granby.dems.info
Pedals for Progress
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Salmon Brook Park was host to the Twilight Eggstravaganza. Jack the Bunny (left) helped corral the youngsters. Photo by Kristy Earl
FV Chorale concert
Page 14
Bears Booster 5K Page 15
GLT Bird Walk Page 25