Granby Board Tackles Gravel Pit Concerns, Approves Event Licenses
-
Meeting Type:
City Council
-
Meeting Date:
06/03/2024
-
Recording Published:
06/04/2024
-
Duration:
99 Minutes
-
Towns:
Granby
-
County:
Hampshire County
-
State:
Massachusetts
- Meeting Overview:
In a recent Granby Select Board meeting, concerns over a gravel pit project and the approval of event licenses for local organizations dominated discussions. The board revisited the issue of the gravel permit application for a site on CY Avenue, which has been met with opposition from residents, leading to a rescheduled public hearing. Additionally, the board approved several licenses for community events and addressed significant town financial matters, including sewer fee increases and fund transfers for the fiscal year 2025.
The gravel permit application for CY Avenue sparked debate and was a focal point of the meeting. A resident’s letter opposing the project underscored the community’s concern, which led to the opening of a public hearing. However, due to the unavailability of the special Town Council attorney, the board postponed the hearing and discussed potential dates for rescheduling. A separate meeting dedicated to the gravel permit application was proposed to ensure a review of the matter, with the Select Board emphasizing the need to accommodate the citizens’ needs while considering the availability of the applicant and their attorney. The debate concluded with the decision to continue the discussion on June 17th to determine a suitable date for the open hearing.
During the meeting, the board also addressed a complaint about lot sizes being advertised for sale in the town water supply Protection District. The concern centered around potential non-compliance with town bylaws. The board contemplated notifying the lot owners about the issue.
Moving on to community events, the board approved an entertainment license for Jonathan and Naomi Simonic, allowing them to host a variety of special events at Deer Creek Farm. Additionally, the Granby Preservation Society LLC received a license to hold a craft fair at Kellogg Hall in September, with a rain date scheduled for October. The board also waived the permit fee for the First Presbyterian Church, recognizing their nonprofit status and the community service they provide.
The board’s discussions extended to the town’s financial health, with a review of sewer fees for fiscal year 2025. The review highlighted an increase in rates, attributed to factors such as rising electricity costs and fee changes in South Hadley. An approval was given to the sewer use charge system for the fiscal year, which included rate increases for the community septic system and the five corners area.
Furthermore, the board tackled the issue of fund transfers for various departmental budgets and the funding of the Municipal Solid Waste and Sewer departments. The necessity of presenting and deciding on these articles during the upcoming town meetings was stressed, with assignments made for specific individuals to read and present each article. Questions were raised about the ambulance department’s debt service and the funding sources for certain expenses, prompting a detailed review of the proposed motions.
The meeting also featured a discussion on town articles relating to the transfer of funds from free cash to reduce the tax levy for fiscal year 2025 appropriations. The board debated the level of explanation needed for motions, with varying opinions on the necessity of detailed explanations.
Other topics addressed during the meeting included updates on various town projects, such as the condition of the dam, the progress on Route 202 M, and the One Stop for Growth Grant. The board received updates on the Open Space Committee and the Green Communities initiative.
In terms of future events, the board discussed the Cops and Bobbers event and the upcoming 250th parade.
Christopher Martin
City Council Officials:
Richard Beaulieu, Crystal Dufresne, Glen N. Sexton, Cathy Leonard (Assistant Town Administrator), Dayle Clark (Selectboard Clerk)
-
Meeting Type:
City Council
-
Committee:
-
Meeting Date:
06/03/2024
-
Recording Published:
06/04/2024
-
Duration:
99 Minutes
-
Notability Score:
Routine
Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:
-
State:
Massachusetts
-
County:
Hampshire County
-
Towns:
Granby
Recent Meetings Nearby:
- 01/09/2025
- 01/10/2025
- 140 Minutes
- 01/09/2025
- 01/10/2025
- 28 Minutes
- 01/09/2025
- 01/10/2025
- 68 Minutes