GRANBY — After narrowly avoiding a state takeover for failing to close the fiscal year 2025 books, the two-part Granby Town Meeting signals a clean fiscal slate for the upcoming year.
Residents passed a $24.5 million budget, added a playground mulching project to the list of capital improvements and committed to a contingency fund for the West Street Building. Despite questions about the cost of borrowing for new capital items, many voters expressed a desire to properly fund and maintain buildings before they fall into disrepair.
“Granby has a reputation that it does not take care of what we have,” Jim Pietras said. “Let’s not fall into that trap. It needs to be done now, regardless of who pays for it.”
The first part of the Town Meeting on May 11 approved new vehicles and building improvements. The second half on June 8 typically centered around the operating budget and town financial practices.
Out of the storm
Select Board Mark Bail broke tradition by addressing a major financial indiscretion on May 11. The town did not certify its expenses and revenue for fiscal year 2025 with the state until February, months after the September deadline. That led the state to withhold Granby’s state aid, putting the school department in a bind.
“Most of what we do in town government is like TV news, if it’s not on fire, people don’t see it,” Bail said at that meeting. “From last June to this February, our town finances were on fire, although only a few of us felt the heat.”
This was not a reprimand, but rather an moment of appreciation. Bail thanked former Town Administrator Christopher Martin for coming back to close the books. Police Chief Keven O’Grady served double duty as interim town administrator. Town Treasurer Steven Nally pitched in on accounting while the position remained unfilled. Lynn Mercier and Cathy Leonard provided a plethora of support, hard work and institutional knowledge required to keep the town steady.
“A handful of you know how difficult this last year has been,” Bail said. “Without these people, it would not have been difficult, it would have been impossible.”
With Ron Aponte officially appointed as town administrator and a new town accountant on board, Granby has escaped its financial struggles. At the June 8 meeting, Finance Committee Chair John Libera noted the town presented a balanced budget without a Proposition 2½ override, unlike what happened in 57 other communities across the state.
However, the same challenges motivating many of the override votes in other municipalities are brewing in Granby. The town used 80% of its free cash for operating expenses and dipped into stabilization funds, which Libera highlights is a risky approach. School Committee Chair Jennifer Bartosz said a 30% increase in health insurance premiums, rising special education costs and unfunded state mandates have delayed maintenance at East Meadow Elementary School, along with technology purchases.
“While the level of service budget allows us to maintain the programs and services we provide today, it may not always provide the flexibility needed to address future needs or opportunities,” Bartosz said.
Libera recommends the Select Board create a committee to prioritize town services, estimate available revenue in future years and analyze ways to match funding and services. This work will prevent any future financial storms, he reasoned.
Playground mulch
Most of the operating budget for fiscal year 2027 brought little objection from voters. However, science teacher Crystal Dufrense moved to amend the school budget by adding $30,000 for mulch at the East Meadow Elementary School playground. The wood chips were removed last year, leaving the playground without padding.
“East Meadow does not have a safety surface right now,” Dufresne said. “There’s no drop zone, so if a kid falls off the swings, they’re going to get seriously injured. That’s against [Department of Elementary and Secondary Education] regulations.”
The schools initially put a line item in the budget for the mulch, but it was removed to save money for a level-service budget, said Todd Dorman, Granby Public School director of finance & operations.
Ultimately, concerns about potential liability and playground closure prevailed. The $30,000 was taken from the General Stabilization Fund for the mulch.
Other items
In addition to the mulch, voters approved a new police vehicle, fire department radios, an enclosed UTV for ice rescues, a new wheel barrel and tractor for grave digging and a dump truck. Building improvements like flooring for the Public Safety Complex and lighting for the library also passed.
Two generators for the Pleasant Street pumping station and high school will provide power to town infrastructure. A pavilion at the Veterans Memorial will become an event space for residents. The nine capital items cost a total of $631,082.
The West Street Building Project asked and received a contingency of $81,300 to move staff and furniture into the new building in case current funding ran out. Several residents said the cost of movers was unnecessary for a three-mile trip down the road. Jeremy Carrier explained the process would take two weeks for the Annex alone, as many of the desks and filing cabinets need to be disassembled, moved and reassembled in the new building.
“What are we going to do? Build a brand new building and leave it empty because we don’t have enough money to move people into it?” Highway Department Superintendent David Derosier said.
Residents also approved a citizen petition submitted by Leonard Yakir to support the Advisory Commission of the Seal, Flag and Motto of Massachusetts. This group is currently working on a new state flag and seal to replace the current image of a Indigenous man below a saber and flexed arm.
