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Published by Citizens for a Better Granby a non-profit 501(c)3 organization
Volume LIV, No. 8 • May 2024
www.granbydrummer.com
BUDGET REFERENDUM PASSED
On April 15 the Town Budget Referendum was held at Granby Town Hall, with 1,112 residents casting in-person ballots and 28 voting with absentee ballots. The result was 658 “yes” and 482 “no.”
Murder by Indecision was a decisive hit!
FREE
Still Pending: 37 Hartford Avenue By Chris Levandowski Months of public hearings for a 42-unit apartment building at 37 Hartford Ave. ended at the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission meeting on April 10. Vessel RE Holdings and Vessel Technologies, Inc., again presented its case for approval of a septic system and argued against the alternative—connecting to the town’s sewer system. Vessel Vice President Josh Levy argued that constructing a line to the Bank Street sewer hub would be too expensive, and that the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) wouldn’t approve it. Granby’s town planner had said there
was no plan to extend the sewer line. However, Director of Community Development Abby Kenyon clarified the DOT position. During her recent conversation with Ron Ferris at the DOT, he said a connection is possible. A heated exchange occurred between commission member Nicholas Dethlefsen and Vessel’s Levy and James Sipperly as they described a red maple swamp’s (the wetland) ability to attenuate nitrates from any source. Dethlefsen asked if theVessel representatives were saying nitrate seepage from the septic system would be absorbed by the red maples, thus confirming runoff would occur.
Still Pending cont’d. on p. 7
Learn about busy beavers at Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve Cast photo with artistic director front and center, Meaghan Farrell Front, from left: Carol Cisek, Patricia O’Connor, Beth Goodwin, Madison Bailey, Krista Krupa, Nick Parisi, Taryn Poe, Olivia LeBlanc. Back, from left: Linda Slozak, Cheryl King, Nicole Muller, Bob King, Masha Schmitt, Jason Black, Ray Pinault, Mags Campbell, Tara DeMoe. Submitted photo
Building relationships toward better municipal cooperation
Connecticut has 169 towns that all bout provide municipal own services like assessment, tax collection, with land records recording, building inspection services, public works services like trash collection, road maintenance and snow plowing, first responder services Mike like police and fire Walsh Town Manager protection, and, of course, education for the town’s children and young adults.
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While salaries to pay these municipally required employees is usually a town’s largest expense, each community is a major consumer of commodities like gasoline, diesel, electric, natural gas, and professional services including electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, architects, and engineers of various disciplines. If each of the 169 Connecticut towns went it alone to secure these services, the town would usually issue a request for proposal (RFP) and identify local vendors who can meet the town’s consumer needs. And that process is highly inefficient as 169 towns issuing individual RFPs for unique needs is slow,
Come join the Granby Land Trust for a roughly 90-minute, family-friendly walk at the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve to investigate the world of beavers. See firsthand how these industrious creatures profoundly affect the surrounding environment. No dogs, please. This walk will be led by board member Dave Emery on Saturday, May 18, starting at 12 p.m. Register in advance by emailing DWEmery79@gmail. com
About Town cont’d. on p. 5
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE SCHEDULE
Make your plans to attend Granby’s annual Memorial Day Parade and program to be held on Monday, May 27. Parade Marshal and American Legion Post 182 Commander Wayne Adams announced that this year’s honorary parade marshal is United States Navy veteran James O. Hall. 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 American Legion District 1 Commander Joe Haney as guest speaker. The invocation and benediction will be offered by St. Therese’s Father William Agyemang. There will also be a 21-gun salute, and Taps will be played in remembrance of all who served. Following the service, the parade will return to the town green and disband. After a brief recess, the Marquis of Granby Fife and Drum Corps will present a short concert. A limited number of concession stands on the green will offer food for sale. All vehicles and floats and concessions on the green must be approved by Parade Marshal Adams. For more information, call him at 860-234-7919.
Read the Drummer online at GranbyDrummer.com