Granby $11.4 Million Capital Improvements Referendum Passes

In a relatively close vote marked by a high turnout, Granby residents approved an $11.4 million capital improvements package at a referendum at Granby Memorial High School on Tuesday.

A total of 787 were in favor of the plan, with 648 opposed, as 1,435 residents or just over 20 percent of the town’s voters showed up at the polls.

The capital improvements package (a list of the projects can be found ), which will cost the town $8.4 million after federal and state reimbursements are taken into account, includes 11 projects, nine for town and two for the school district, with some being more popular than others. The projects will be funded with a 20-year bond.

Among the more controversial measures is the proposed $3 million acquisition of Evonsion Farm, which clearly divided voters. Resident Edward Geigner Sr. said that he voted against the resolution because he believed that buying the farm was an unnecessary use of taxpayer money.

Other residents disagreed, however.

“It’s long range planning and I believe in long-range planning,” said Celia Camilleri, who voted in favor of the measure.

Town officials were clearly pleased, as well as somewhat relieved, that the entire spending measure passed.

“I think it’s the right thing to do...costs are very competitive, the bids are very competitive, interest rates are at historic lows and this work needs to be done and this is the time to do it,” said Michael Guarco Jr., chairman of the Board of Finance. “It would cost more to do in bits and pieces through the years than moving ahead with this this way.”

First Selectman John Adams agreed, while trying to allay the concerns of those who were not in favor of the spending measure.

“Obviously, I’m very happy; it was a close vote, we recognize that,” Adams said. “We will be good stewards of our community’s money. If you still have questions, we’re here to answer them. These were important projects to the town. We would not have put them forward had they not been important projects to the town. Ultimately, in the end, the town will be better off with the passing of this resolution.”

The school district will be the beneficiary of a $3.2 million athletic fields upgrade at the high school/middle school campus, and the high school will also have a $165,000 computer/electronics lab installed.

“Obviously for the school system, I’m glad that the years of work have come to fruition, where we’re able to have some 21st Century athletic facilities,” Superintendent of Schools Alan Addley said. “It obviously wasn’t a slam dunk. We understand that that is a reflection of the economy. But we can’t help but be pleased. It moves the town and moves the school system forward.”

Not everyone was pleased with the outcome of the vote.

Sharon Alleman, of 231 Salmon Brook St., was an of one of the projects - the installation of sidewalks from the town center to Salmon Brook Park.

Alleman, who will be one of the affected residents with sidewalks installed in front of her property, said that she and her neighbors did not want to be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the sidewalks.

Specifically, Alleman said that she and many of her neighbors were physically unable to shovel the snow and ice off of sidewalks after a storm; a town ordinance requires that sidewalks be cleared within eight hours after a weather event ends.

While the town has proposed maintaining the sidewalks for the first five years of their installation, Alleman said that the town should pick up the bill entirely, particularly considering that it is asking taxpayers to pick up the tab to purchase a large piece of property - Evonsion Farm - and removing it from the tax rolls.

“I’m disappointed, but I don’t know what else I can do,” Alleman said in a telephone interview Tuesday evening. “I guess we’re out of luck.”

Prior to the announcement of the referendum result, a moment of silence was observed for the , a Granby resident and frequent volunteer during elections and referendums.

“We extend out sympathies to the family of Mrs. Duncan,” Adams said. “She was a friend, a colleague and really a brilliant journalist. We mourn her passing.”