GRANBY — As voters head to the polls Monday to choose between Jeff Lawson and Ro Rosen for a seat on the Select Board, both candidates say Granby faces significant challenges in the coming years, including financial pressures, the possibility of a Proposition 2½ override and improving communication between town officials and residents under a new town administrator.
Elections will take place 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. at the Granby Jr/Sr High School, 385 East State St.
Jeff Lawson
A 31-year town resident, Lawson, 56, is married with two children, both of whom have gone through the Granby education system from grades kindergarten to high school.
Lawson works evenings as a dispatcher, spent 10 years as a part-time police officer in town, and is also a retired Connecticut corrections officer.
“I’m just a regular guy, and have been in public service my whole life and want to bring common sense and pragmatism. I really care about the town, and public service has always been my thing,” he said in an interview.
Lawson was first drawn to the seat after Glenn Sexton, whom Lawson described as “excellent,” did not seek reelection for his Select Board seat.
Lawson wants to see the new town administrator work alongside the Select Board and town officials to form a team effort. As far as an possible override, Lawson said that while increasing the tax levy may be a tool in the appropriate circumstances, he emphasized the need to get ahead to prevent an override.
“If we can get the town health insurance under control and lobby for state aid, we can keep an override at bay for now,” said Lawson.
As far as capital investments, the high school is Lawson’s priority.
For the high school, he sees the town heading toward a fork in the road with three “R” options, namely, “renovate, replace or regionalize.” Of the three, he is most inclined toward renovating the facility, saying that the high school has “good bones.”
He said the town cannot afford to invest in a new $100 million building, regardless of whether those costs were split with the state. Lawson continues to have questions about regionalizing: Who would be the host town, what would be curriculum, or AP class offerings?
Lawson believes that resources would be lessened if the school were to regionalize. He is also an advocate for more options for vocational school students.
Ro Rosen
Despite not liking to boast about herself, Rosen, 79, believes her 30 years of experience in human resources and budgeting would benefit the town.
She moved Granby a number of years ago to join her daughter, who has been a resident for 18 years. Prior to that, Rosen’s career had her based in a couple of the country’s largest cities.
Rosen has worked as assistant deputy comptroller of the Division of Municipal Affairs for New York state, deputy superintendent of finance and administration for the Boston Public Schools, and chief of the Budget Office of the New York State Education Department.
“I have been on both sides of budgeting … and I have a lot of experience in finances and human resources,” she said.
Whether working closely with the new town administrator, discussing a potential override or talking about capital projects, Rosen stressed her mission is bringing people together to talk about these urgent topics.
Given her background, tackling a potential future override is a discussion that needs to begin now, before fiscal year 2028. Rosen sees the possibility of an override in the next fiscal year, which she said makes it imperative to come together now and mitigate impacts.
“I think in FY28, difficult decisions are ahead for the people of Granby,” she said, adding that current reserves will not be enough to cover a hypothetical override.
Rosen was on the town administrator search committee that landed on Ron Aponte, 25-year Belchertown Select Board member and former information technology professional.
“I think he’s going to be really helpful,” she said.
Both Forge Pond and the high school are in need of capital improvements, said Rosen.
Rosen doesn’t believe renovating the high school is the best move in the long run, but regionalization has the potential to expand resources for schools, including covering costs for transportation and other hefty expenses.
Dwindling school attendance will only impact the high school more, she said, adding that needs are already not being met. For example, there is no librarian at the high school.
Other races
For the Board of Health, which has a single three-year seat open, Richard Bombarier and Mael Walkowiak are competing.
Uncontested races include four candidates — Nita Abbott, Paula Beaulieu, Candace Ribeiro and Angela Chagnon — for four open three-year library trustee seats; Gregg Leonard seeks reelection as assessor; Matthew Skipton for a three-year term as Commissioner of Burial Grounds; Abbott for a five-year Planning Board seat, and Trevor Augustino for three more years on the School Committee.
Louisa Davis-Freeman is on the ballot for a one-year Library Trustee seat, and there is an empty slot for a one-year School Committee position.
