Joan Coe
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Platinum Board Member
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BOARD OF SELECTMEN-PUBLIC AUDIENCE-MAY 12,2008 - 2008/05/12 23:19
Board of Selectmen- May 12, 2008
Many hours are being spent to correct a personnel issue pertaining to Tom Vincent’s challenging the personnel rules regarding his unused vacation pay and the town challenging his use of the highway department to plow his driveway and other issues that appeared to be ethical violations. This would have never come before the personnel sub-committee and the board of selectman had Simsbury been governed with a Town Manager under a very specific contract. During the campaigns for election to the First Selectman position, the Democrats publicly stated that Simsbury would be served better with a Town Manager. Many residents were persuaded to vote for the democrats on this single issue. What happened to these promises? When will First Selectman Mary Glassman and this board convene a Charter Revision Commission to change the town charter with a Town Manager as the CEO of Simsbury?
Tom Vincent as Public Works Director, while supervising the highway department, had his driveway plowed at 43 Drumlin Road. Since this issue was under scrutiny and publicly discussed, it is alleged that others on Drumlin Road had the highway department plow their driveways. It has also been alleged that these snowplowing favors were extended to others in Simsbury by town staff. These allegations are extremely troubling. Therefore, I am asking First Selectman Mary Glassman, as Public Works Director and Personnel Director of the town to investigate these allegations. An internal investigation. should be extended to all employees using town trucks with snowplows. This appears to be a violation of the public trust. First Selectman Mary Glassman should bring the findings of the investigation to the board of selectman in a timely manner.
Recently the Airport Study was made public. The report produced three scenarios of revenues and expenditures from 2008- 2017. The first scenario showed a loss of $98, 175, the second scenario showed a loss of $86,655 and in the third scenario there was a loss of $211,232. It appears to me that since the airport is a revenue loss year after year the town should not spend any more time and money pursuing this purchase and spend more time and energy in trying to access state money for reimbursement of money in lieu of taxes from all the tax exempt schools in Simsbury. That would include the loss of taxes from Westminster School, Ethel Walker, Masters School and St. Mary’s School. Our town representatives should say no to lobbyists and overturn the exemptions from property taxes on all airplanes and boats owned by Connecticut residents. Simsbury would be the recipient of large sums of money if these exemptions were eliminated. If Vermont can levy property taxes on boats and airplanes, Connecticut should be no different.
Recently I received a letter from a concerned citizen alleging concerns regarding many issues including only 90% of inspections were completed by the Fire Marshall as opposed to a mandate that every public building must have an inspection yearly. Also, that Simsbury has a Fire Marshall and an assistant Fire Marshall and the salaries are the highest in the Valley. Also concerns regarding issues for fuel savings.
These allegations are troubling. Our taxes go towards the Fire Department. Does the Fire Department have an outside audit to determine accountability?
Recently the news has broadcast many crane collapses due to alleged lax or lack of inspections. This only brings to mind how important it is for the Fire Department and the Building Department to vigorously enforce the codes that they are mandated to uphold.
It has been brought to my attention that many homeowners are concerned that the street sweeping is being done too early in the spring. Many homeowners don’t start working on their lawns until the middle of May. Therefore, much of the sand that has been swept up by the highway department is raked into the street by the homeowner and remains there as a hazard. Could sweeping take place later in the spring?
I would like to inform this board that the final decision of the Freedom of Information Commission, FIC 2007-447, regarding the investigation of the Simsbury and West Hartford Police Departments into allegations of misconduct by Captain Sevetz is now final and the reports are to be made public. The Commission stated, ”It is further concluded that the respondent ( Town of Simsbury) violated §§1-210(a)(1) and 1-212 (a), G.S., by failing to provide the complainants with redacted copies of the requested records and with copies of the pages in which no information is exempt from disclosure.” These files can now be accessed by the public for review.
I would like to urge everyone to vote yes on the $2.7 million open space acquisition on Barndoor Hills/Firetown Road. This property will be paid for in 5 yearly installments of $500,000 for four years and $700,000 for the fifth year. At the Town Meeting on May 9, all the Capital appropriations approved were more than $500,000. Saving the Barndoor Hills/Firetown Road property has much more merit. The 77 acres that the town will acquire connects the McLean Game refuge and Great Pond State Park and will add to the open space that has already been preserved. This property is on an aquifer that serves the north end of town and should be protected. The town has the opportunity to defray some of these costs by applying for grants and State funds used for this type of acquisition. This property is a treasure that should be preserved. Vote yes at the Referendum.
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