Joan Coe
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BOARD OF SELECTMEN - PUBLIC AUDIENCE - FEBRUARY 25, 2008 - 2008/02/25 21:08
Board of Selectmen – February 25, 2008
I would like to bring to the attention of this board that they are here to serve the people of Simsbury not the political interest of the party they serve. The members of the Democratic Party were elected by the people of Simsbury not for their good looks and likeability but to fulfill their promises made during the election process of changing the government from a First Selectman form of government to a professional Town Manager. I would like to have this board place this subject on their next agenda for discussion and then move forward in choosing a Charter Revision Commission.
We the people need professional management to ensure that the taxpayers are getting a cost effective government with high standards. The same old ways are not working; it is time for a change.
With all the discussions about timely postings of agendas, the Simsbury Performing Arts Center Task Force convened a meeting without notification on the town bulletin board, in violation of the Freedom of Information Act. Only through a Hartford Courant story was the public notified. I would suggest that persons asking for meeting rooms be given a check list of procedures to follow. Any manager chosen for the Performing Arts Center should have to file a conflict of interest form prior to employment.
I am happy to see that First Selectman Mary Glassman has initiated a workshop for members of all boards, commissions, Town staff and the public on Tuesday, February 26 at 3pm and 7pm at the High School Amphitheater with presentations from knowledgeable people in FOIA, Ethics and Document Retention. The people attending this workshop and others must take these issues seriously and there must be penalties for non-compliance.
At the last meeting I was concerned about many businesses at Simsmore Square not having Certificates of Occupancy. I was told by the building official that the files are now closed with all the permits given a certificate of compliance. I would hope that this broad brush approach to inspections and compliance that has been instituted will assure the businesses in the complex and the public that all the buildings are in compliance with the State building codes.
Recently with all the rainfall and snow my neighbor had to ask the highway department to shovel the snow that was causing a back up of water on her property. The highway department successfully used a backhoe to shovel the snow. All the water from the runoff came from the Culbro property on Barndoor Hills and Holcomb Street. This is the same property that the Town is now looking to acquire. I would like to have the town study ways to retain the water on the culbro property or divert the runoff so it does not impact neighboring residents. There is presently a vernal pool on the property that might be able to be expanded.
Presently there is a Capital expenditure of $330,000 for upgrading a road to the golf course. It is my feeling that this expenditure is premature since there is going to be a consultant report defining the needs, improvements and management of the golf course complex. I would suggest eliminating this expenditure from the Capital Plan until an entire plan is approved.
I have continued my investigation into the use of board of education property for disaster relief in exchange for “smart boards” given to the schools by Darwin Professional Underwriters where Jack Sennott is a member of the management team. According to Dave Holden, Business Manager of the BOE there is a policy for the Use of School Property which he has noted as giving him the authority to sign the contract. However, there is nothing in the policy that allows a publicly traded company the right to use town property as part of their disaster relief policy. Did Jack Sennott, Chairman of the Board of Education use his influence as an employee of Darwin Professional Underwriters in Farmington to receive this approval? How many other businesses have permission to use town property for disaster relief? Have there been other gifts given to the board of education in exchange for permission to use its property? Does this exchange of gifts comply with the board of education gift policy? Does the town have a disaster relief policy? Has First Selectman Mary Glassman forwarded my comments to the Board of Ethics?
Recently there have been several articles in the newspaper about the Cromwell police department and others highlighting problems with the some members of their police departments. Simsbury is also facing this challenge, how to get rid of Captain Sevetz. The Simsbury police department has a Captain with 30 years in the police department who has had a history of allegations of misconduct. Captain Sevetz presently receives a salary of $94,271 with approximately $30,000 in additional benefits. After the Simsbury police department received a 3 page letter of allegations of misconduct pertaining to Captain Sevetz in 2007, an investigation pursued. The Simsbury police department reviewed the allegations and asked the West Hartford internal affairs department to review some of the allegations and report back to the Simsbury police department. After several months a file was generated with all the information pertaining to these investigations. Sgt. Mathena of the Bloomfield police department as an interested party in this case filed an FOI complaint to access these investigation files. This complaint, FIC 2007-447, Daniel Mathena v. Chief, Police Department, Town of Simsbury is still pending. However, as a result of Mathena’s appearance at the FOI hearing, Captain Sevetz filed a complaint with the Bloomfield Police Department against Sgt. Mathena alleging misconduct….another internal affairs investigation pursued against Mathena in Bloomfield. When is behavior unbecoming a police officer enough to fire a 30 year veteran of Simsbury’s Police Department with a checkered past? The removal of Captain Sevetz appears to be a slam dunk.
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