Granby Selectmen Act on Charter Revisions, Land Use, Chickens

The Granby Board of Selectmen discussed the town charter revision commission's final report, town land use for agriculture, a signal light at the corner of Floydville Road and Salmon Brook Street (Route 10) and even regulations relating to keeping chickens in residential areas at it's meeting Monday night.

The Granby Board of Selectmen officially and publicly accepted the final report of the town's charter revision commission Monday night. That report's most significant suggestion will lead to town residents voting in November on whether or not to make the town's yearly budget decision via an automatic, machine-counted referendum each spring.

A prior revision suggested that the budget go to referendum when an increase of the budget levy — the amount of money that taxpayers are accountable for paying — represents more than a 4 percent increase over the previous year's budget. Following an outpouring of support for an unconditional automatic referendum, the selectmen recommended changes to the charter revisions, which now provide for that popular choice.

"It will be going to a machine vote," said charter revision commission chairman Francis Brady, assuming that the question on whether or not to hold an automatic budget referendum passes the November ballot.

In recognition of the many hours of work put in by the revision commission, First Selectman John Adams gave his board's appreciation to Brady and the rest of the revision commission. He said thank you to the commission and noted that the bulk of the revisions, which include changes to how the town acquires real estate, emergency fund appropriations and more, were "yeoman's work."

In other business, the board reviewed how town-owned property is being used for agricultural purposes, thanks to a report from the agricultural commission. That commission also presented a land use proposal, mostly containing common sense items for the agricultural endeavors on town land.

A debate over the precise language of keeping chickens on residential property, especially in densely residential areas, was passed on to the planning and zoning commission.

The term "keeping" is being questioned by a few town residents with abutting neighbors that keep chickens on their property but are allowed to roam and possibly cause a nuisance for abutters. The planning and zoning commission will review current town statutes and more clearly define the rules and responsibilities for raising the birds.

Additionally, a state study into the necessity of a traffic signal light at the corner of Floydville Road and Salmon Brook Street (Route 10) was discussed, with a decision made to put up $10,000 towards a Connecticut Department of Transportation study into the issue.