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Published by Citizens for a Better Granby a non-profit 501(c)3 organization
Volume L, No. 10 • July/August 2020
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Making history, every day
What a month it’s been. What a time we are living in. While the Drummer is showcasing its 50 years of history, we are creating new history every day. How will future residents view these times? Let’s all seek awareness, stay safe, become even better neighbors and continue to support our local community. And, enjoy summer! Community Conversations. The Granby community has responded to the national conversation on racial injustice with a number of opportunities to engage, as covered here in the Drummer. The town, under the leadership of First Selectman Scott own Kuhnly, sponsored an online meeting for an all “open dialogue so our community can have alk their voices heard.” by Jim Lofink Over 130 residents participated on June 11 “to share their stories, experiences, thoughts and ideas.” Kuhnly reported it was very healthy discussion with some very worthwhile suggestions, and it was unfortunate that after 1 hour and 26 minutes, the Zoom meeting had to end with a ‘bot’ attack (google ‘zoombombing’). As public meetings by law have to be open to any and all who wish to attend, this is a liability of the online format. He plans to continue these inclusive conversations
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with face-to-face meetings, in compliance with social distancing guidelines. Watch for them to be posted at granby-ct.gov COVID re-opening plans continue. Re-opening teams have been working on specific plans for the schools and town buildings and services, as well as individual department plans. See Granby.k12.ct.us/ news or Granby-ct.gov, respectively, for up-to-date news. With Phase 2 just starting as I write this, these plans will continue to evolve. The Board of Selectmen appointed Dave Watkins, a Granby native and retired Chief of Police, as the volunteer Long Term Recovery Coordinator. Watkins and a committee of 11 other residents will be working to identify unmet needs, and then help seek resources to address them. Thanks to all those helping with this planning for their service. Taxes are due July 1, or pay within 90 days with 3 percent interest. A reminder that the Board of Selectmen adopted the Governor’s “Low Interest Rate Program” executive order granting all taxpayers an additional 90 days (until Oct. 1) to make payments subject to only a 3 percent annual interest fee, versus the standard 18 percent rate for late payments. This is open to all Granby taxpayers, individuals and businesses. There is no requirement of proof of “significant economic impacts by COVID-19” or other
Town Hall Talk
cont’d. on p. 5
Preparing for when the other shoe drops … By Michael B. Guarco, Jr. Chair, Board of Finance Life has been very different—if not surreal—for all of us through this initial pass of the pandemic. It locked us down in our homes to varying degrees, is impacting our family incomes just as erratically with some making more not working than when they were working, while others have seen their income reduced or totally dried up. It’s been a hell of a ride and we are not necessarily through it yet. This fall and winter we can anticipate enduring a second wave of the virus joining the echoing effects of this first round and compounding the effect on how we live and work. Next year may bring a sense of déjà vu—a feeling that we are living through more of the same surreal experience while waiting for life to return to normal. Government at all levels, including public sector unions,
needs to be sensitive to the economic stress and collateral damage brought on by the pandemic and ensuing shutdowns. As the nation prepared for the spread of the pandemic and state-level lockdowns were put in place, the Board of Finance chose to hold the current year’s mill rate flat for the upcoming fiscal year as well, even as costs crept up by 1.83 percent. The consensus was that at this moment in time, a zero percent change in the tax rate was appropriate given the uncertainty in both the lives and incomes of our townspeople. The real impact of the shutdowns on the overall town budget has yet to manifest itself and will do so to a greater degree in FY21, which begins on July 1, and in the following fiscal year. While the municipal and school business offices will close current FY20 books that reflect an improved financial strength, what we encounter through the upcoming fiscal
Pandemic’s impact on Granby
cont’d. on p. 11
Residents of Granby and their friends and neighbors from nearby towns gathered in Granby center in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Photo by Amy Geigner
Granby gathers in a show of support for Black Lives Matter By Sarah Merrill The June 3 “protest” in Granby center began as one resident’s heartfelt desire to manifest support for the black community. The original idea, a humble gathering of friends and like-minded community members, quickly burgeoned into an impassioned assemblage of over 400 people. Social media certainly has its downfalls, but one of its obvious advantages is spreading the word. Thus, the message spread like wildfire that there would be a “peaceful gathering in support of the Black Lives Matter movement” in the center of Granby at 5 p.m. And despite a few instances of miscommunication and negativity, the overriding emotion that built around town was enthusiasm. It became clear that a significant portion of Granby’s population had a desire to gather in order to speak out against systemic racism and communicate a desire for change. Residents of Granby and their friends and neighbors from nearby towns— everyone dutifully wearing their masks—lined Routes. 10 and 202, Route. 20 and Hartford Avenue, fanning out from Granby center, carrying their homemade signs. While the mood at the beginning was quiet and somewhat tentative, as the crowd grew, so too did the energy. The signs carried a variety of messages. A great many read simply Black Lives
Matter, in support of the movement of the same name. Other messages included, “Acknowledge your white privilege,” “Silence is violence,” “Police history is racist history” and “Hate does not make America great.” A number of individuals penned signs to communicate their outrage regarding George Floyd’s death. A variety of chants were picked up and repeated by the crowd. As rush hour traffic moved through the center, the great majority of cars and trucks honked in support, feeding the positive energy. Attendees describe a number of very special moments, such as a black Fed-Ex driver who got out of his van to yell his thanks to the crowd. As captured in a wonderful collection of photographs by local photographer Amy Geigner, the crowd included many families with children of all ages. Geigner, who grew up in Granby, says she was “happily surprised” to see how large the gathering became, and she says that she found at times she became fairly emotional. When the crowd began to disperse, there was an impromptu gathering of speakers in front of the gazebo. About 50 people gathered to listen to four young black men share their thoughts. They had been spontaneously convened by Granby Bearcats football coach Jamaieke King, who says, “I felt it was very important that our voices be heard.” He was right—it was very important.
Black Lives Matter cont’d. on p. 9
Photo by Peter Dinella