Granby Selectmen Work to Make Holcomb Farm Sustainable

The Granby Board of Selectmen moved quickly through its meeting Tuesday night, making more decisions about Holcomb Farm, reviewing budget concerns and handling a personnel matter in executive session.

The town formally appropriated in June 2012, according to a memorandum from Town Manager Bill Smith. The municipal government is now responsible for its management.

“It is the town’s intention that many activities at the farm become reasonably self-sustaining,” the memorandum said.

While the town is making strides by combining efforts from parks and recreation, department of public works and some social service workers along with Holcomb Farm, Inc. members and others, the memorandum said it will be some time before the farm is totally self-sufficient. Activities including haying and hosting new events are helping pay for some maintenance costs, although profits from haying have already been committed this year. Holcomb Farm, Inc., which transferred the property to the town, has also been asked to contribute funds towards operation.

A total proposed budget of $65,480 was presented by Smith and will be funded in the short term through the parks and recreation’s program events fund, which contains about $150,000. Smith said he expects a return of about half of that budget, roughly $32,700, through rent and user fees.

“The burden will not be on the taxpayers, but on the users and usages,” Smith said.

An interesting note is that the sufficiency of the farm’s community supported agriculture program (CSA) is being debated and, depending on its value to the town, may be put out to bid. . Those issues, along with various monetary concerns, were driving factors in the farm entering the town's ownership.

Smith also pointed out the need for capital improvements at the property, especially for the main barn and one of the southern barns. Small town economic assistance program (STEAP) grants for parking improvements and other needs are another consideration.

Additionally, an independent study on how to best utilize the property and make it sustainable is under consideration.

“We should really look into an analysis of what we’re doing here,” Smith said.

With an eye on self-sufficiency and effective utilization of the property, the selectmen are working with the Holcomb Farm board of directors to keep the farm’s operations running smoothly.

To that end, the selectmen approved the elections of three new Holcomb Farm board members and extended the terms of two others.

Bill Ryan and Jim Lofink are new to the Holcomb Farm board and will serve terms of three years. Bill Ryan, another new board member, joins them for a term of one year. Returning farm director Lynette Simpson, who will remain in her post for three more years, rounds out the current nominations. One spot was left vacant.

In financial news, Smith reported that 47 percent of town taxes were collected in July, which is about average. Granby has received 91 percent of state reimbursements from Hurricane Irene. The town hasn’t received its 80 percent reimbursement for the late October 2011 snowstorm, although first selectman John Adams noted that other towns had started to receive their payments.