Granville residents attended the annual town meeting on Monday night. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
GRANVILLE – Residents of Granville attended the annual town meeting at the former Granville Village School on Monday night.
With a total of 25 warrant articles, some of the articles were more noteworthy than others. Early into the meeting, articles three and four pertained to the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District.
Before people voted on both articles, Steve Presnal, the school district’s business manager, did a presentation to clarify the articles to the crowd. Presnal went over the district’s initiatives moving forward and the needs they will focus on for Fiscal Year 2019.
Article 3 addresses Granville’s transfer of $1,860,670 for the school district’s assessment for Fiscal Year 2019. The crowd voted unanimously in favor of Article 3.
Based on the district’s FY19 capital improvement plan, Article 4 involved $600,000 for the cost of the plan to be borrowed by the district from all three towns. Presnal pointed out that Granville would be paying 13% of the $600,000, which is roughly $78,000. Borrowing of the $78,000 would be in effect until FY20.
Prior to the vote residents had the opportunity to ask questions or make comments.
“How is this going to affect our long-term debt service?”, asked Granville resident Steve Cook.
According to Presnal, future capital improvement plans will be anywhere from $500,000 to $700,000. Presnal couldn’t say if the next capital improvement plan will be higher or lower than the current $600,000 since there are several needs for the school district.
“Looking at the next five years, there’s always things that can be done,” said Presnal. “We’re spreading it out as best we can.”
The vote for Article 4 wouldn’t be unanimous, but it would pass.
Besides Articles 3 and 4, Article 21 was also an important topic at the meeting. Article 21 sought to allow the Select Board to go into an agreement for the purchase of net metering credits with the owner of a renewable energy facility. The agreement would be for 10 years.
The agreement involves Rockwood Farms LLC in Granville using an anaerobic digester, which will convert cow manure into locally produced renewable energy. This method is considered to be environmentally friendly as it reduces methane, smell, food waste, composts waste, and doesn’t contribute to landfills.
Pointed out that this will save Granville up to 15% on electricity each year, residents saw it as a no-brainer to vote in favor of it.
“I think this is awesome for our town to reduce our electricity costs,” said resident Pam Petchske. “I kind of see this as a win all around.”
Granville residents voted unanimously in favor of allowing the Select Board to go into agreement with Rockwood Farms.
After all 25 warrant articles were voted on, the Granville Select Board took that time to acknowledge Select Board member Richard Woodger. Serving on the Select Board for 40 years, Woodger’s tenure will be coming to and end after he was just beat out in the town election in April by challenger Nicole Berndt for an open seat on the Select Board.
Woodger’s 40 years on the board makes him the longest-tenured member of the Select Board in Town of Granville history. His time and hard work on the board didn’t go unnoticed.
“Richard it’s been an honor serving with you,” said Select Board member David Ripley. “You’ve done a lot for the town of Granville.”
Woodger (center) is seen receiving a proclamation from the Granville Select Board. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
The Select Board then delivered a proclamation to acknowledge Woodger’s time on the board. Woodger didn’t see this kind of support coming.
“This is more than I expected,” said Woodger.
Speaking in front of everyone in attendance, Woodger spoke about the great influence his father had on him first joining the Select Board. Woodger’s father was a member of the Select Board when Richard was on the Finance Committee.
Woodger’s father ended up passing away from cancer, but before he did, he informed Richard it was his time to join the board.
“He basically said, “I can’t help you anymore and that it’s all on your shoulders,”” said Woodger. “That’s how it all started.”
Sen. Don Humason and Rep. Nick Boldyga also presented Woodger with proclamations to show their appreciation for his long tenure.
A town-wide picnic on the Granville town green will be held on June 30 to celebrate Woodger’s 40 years on the Select Board.
