Day Street Danger?

Traffic on Day Street in Granby has gotten so bad, according to resident Dottie Woodsome, that her son won’t let her walk on the side of the scenic road any more.

Woodsome, a resident of 150 Day St., told the Board of Selectmen at its regular meeting on Tuesday evening that her son has also purchased for her a reflective vest for safety purposes in the event that she does walk on the road.

The Selectmen are currently considering an ordinance that limits the type of traffic permitted on Day Street, as well as other town roads. Specifically, the ordinance would prevent trucks and other commercial vehicles from using the street and other roads that start and end in town as connectors between major thoroughfares in Granby.

Several town roads — particularly Day Street — have seen more intense traffic conditions in recent years, with some anecdotally saying that the advent of GPS technology has led trucks to use the road as a connection between Routes 20 and 10.

The end result has been what residents call dangerous conditions that prevent walking safely on the street or letting pets out to roam around outside their homes. The recently had the limb that hung over Day Street removed in large part because it had been struck by commercial vehicles several times over the last two years.

The discussion drew several Day Street residents to Tuesday evening’s meeting to speak in support of the measure.

Day Street neighbor Doug Maus, a vocal proponent of the proposed ordinance, wanted to know the timetable for passing the measure, which has been under consideration by the selectmen for several months.

First Selectman John Adams said that the issue is properly drafting the ordinance to take into consideration other roads in town so that the Selectmen aren’t considering traffic measures in piecemeal.

Selectman Scott Kuhnly said that if the board took action with just Day Street in mind, then Bushy Hill Road, for example, would just see a similar problem instead.

“It’s there,” Selectmen Vice Chair Sally King said of the ordinance. “I live on Day Street. It’s not going to be shoved aside.”

“I don’t think anyone will disagree that there is a problem,” Selectman Ron DesRosiers added. “We want to make sure we’re doing it correctly.”

The measure was tabled by the Selectmen for further discussion.

Holcomb Farm Interim Memorandum

In other business, the Selectmen unanimously adopted an interim memorandum of understanding that gives the town the “full and exclusive authority to operate, manage, and use the property in a manner that it deems as in the best interest of the Town of Granby.”

The interim memorandum was necessitated due to Holcomb Farm losing funding through a Link and Learn grant. As such, the farm and the town must, according to Adams, restructure their relationship to maintain the 300-acre farm’s goals as an education, agricultural, arts and recreation center.

The memorandum, in part, cancels the current lease that the farm has with the town, effective April 1. The town will then take control of the buildings and the property at the farm, including the maintenance and capital improvements at the farm, and the town will be responsible for the farm’s utilities.

Jenny Emery, who called herself an “honest broker” in this matter, said that she will be working with the town and the farm to create a plan that makes the farm “financially sustainable.”

As such, a workshop will be scheduled at a later date, at which public opinion will be solicited.

The farm, pursuant to a 1993 Plan of Use with the town, has been a tremendous asset to Granby, with about 30,000 visitors last year, according to Emery.

Celebrate 225 Final Report

Finally, Ned Allen, co-chair of Celebrate Granby 225, gave a final report to the Selectmen that the event created a surplus of $12,413, which will be given back to the town’s Parks and Recreation Department for further special events.

Allen thanked the town, the sponsors, the volunteers and everyone else connected with Celebrate 225 in making the event an overwhelming success.