Board of Selectmen Meeting May 12, 2014 My Comments

Board of Selectmen May 12, 2014

On May 6, 12000 residents voted to approve a $91 million budget. How can so few people vote for these expenditures without a majority of town voters? How can anyone allow the minority lobbyists encumber so many residents with higher taxes this year and payment of debt for the next 10 years? Taking money from the General Fund to skew the expenditures only masks the amount of expenditures we the people will have to pay in the future. According to town staff, the Town appropriated $102,884,712 for the 2014/2015 expenditures. This is voodoo economics. Does First Selectman Mary Glassman think that the Marijuana Factory will bail us out?  It appears that The Hartford financial Group will leave Simsbury, with a great financial loss to the Grand List. Ensign Bickford Industries is replacing the President of the company with about 300 workers in limbo. The Big Y is still in a Catch 22 chess game with no contracts signed. It appears that the owners of Simsbury Commons are appealing their assessment with a $1,048,950 tax bill. Any reduction will reduce the Grand List. There is a deficit in negotiated salaries, $353,406.50, salary increases, $150,000, winter storm. $100,000, agreed upon procedures, $14,900, Simsbury Farms, $234,950 with a total of $553,256.50 taken from the General Fund. It is alleged that the Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund will again run a $200,000 deficit, while Gerry Toner and his cronies are playing free rounds of golf at the Simsbury Golf course.

During the naming process for plaques on various buildings and roads, I submitted my name for a gold plated plaque on the Paddle Courts for over 35 years of service.  However, due to the continued deficits in the Simsbury Farms budget, I would ask that my name be removed from the request so there wouldn’t be undue pressure on their budget.  Now that I am a single mom, I can relate to the financial pressures placed on budgets.

During the April 28, Board of Selectman meeting this board approved the renewal of the Town Attorney’s contract based on facts and figures presented from the Town’s pseudo Town Manager, Tom Cooke.  How can Bob Decrescenzo work thousands of hours as Simsbury’s Town Counsel while also working for East Hartford as Corporate Counsel?  How can Tom Cooke justify saying that Bob Decrescenzo has responded to issues in a timely manner, when he hasn’t given the town any opinion on my alleged determination that the doctor’s office on 33 Canal Street is in violation of Simsbury’s Zoning Regulations, several months ago? Why would our State Representative, John Hampton, want to live in a building with alleged zoning violations? Shouldn’t he be held to a higher standard?  Why would this board accept the recommendations of a pseudo Town Manager with skin in the game, without interviewing other Attorney Firms that responded to the RFP face to face.

Recently this board had as an agenda item, Endorsement of Solarize CT Program. According to the brochure this program is sponsored by the State and town supported.   I noticed a sign at Town Hall that shows “0” homes signed up for this program.  It appears that the town did not apply for a permit to erect the sign and therefore, it should be removed until it goes through the application process.  Solar energy is clean energy.  However, it utilizes a group purchasing model and a single installer chosen by Simsbury. The company chosen by Simsbury was C-Tec Solar. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, C-Tec Solar business address is 28 Pinnacle Mountain Road in Simsbury. The person living in that house is the owner of Bob’s Furniture Store and a neighbor of First Selectman Mary Glassman who resides at 40 Pinnacle Mountain Road. Is this neighbor helping neighbor?  Is  Bob’s Furniture Store now selling solar panels?  Have they submitted a business plan with their experience in this business? Why should the town select one business over others and then send a mailer encouraging residents to use this business for their solar energy?  Should the town be in the business of promoting private enterprise on Town stationery with the First Selectman’s signature? Is this business in a residential zone a zoning violation?

Since May is Bicycle Friendly Month, I am concerned that the bicyclists are not observing the same rules as automobiles as they are required to do. I have rarely seen any bicyclist stop at a Stop sign or stop for a red light. There have been serious accidents since it appears to me that on many of Simsbury’s country roads and heavily traveled roads, bicyclists are in danger. Many roads are incompatible with bicycling.   Many bicyclists ride two or three abreast on the road which is illegal.  We all want everyone to be safe and enjoy their surroundings. However, safety is two way street. Bicyclists have to obey the rules of the road. 

The Board of Selectmen has now instituted new hours for Town Hall. The town offices will be closed on Fridays after 1 PM and will continue to be open from 8:30-7 PM on Monday. Including the Selectman’s Office which has not observed the office hours and closed at 4:30 on Mondays when selectmen meetings were not scheduled. I would like to know why the Town departments on the website have direct phone numbers for all departments except the Selectman’s Office where there are no direct lines to the Administrators and the First Selectman’s Office.   Since they work for us, why no direct contact? Why are all calls filtered through the Executive Secretary? 

It appears that the new facility for MS patients is in the process of development. The rental apartments, when complete will be in close proximity to the high tension wires at the Northeast Utilities Sub-station. There have been many studies proving that stray electricity can cause health risks. When the town approved this facility, did it review the amount of stray electricity emitted from the facility and the risk to the town when residents live so close to the sub-station?

Someone recently took offence to my comment that the First Selectman has a ceremonial job with a salary of $113,850 a year plus $15,000 in benefits. Through my Freedom of Information request, several months ago, I received a copy of Mary Glassman’s Daily log. One entry was Deliver Chicken soup to Dave Ryan, many entries show 1-2 hours of work, entry for Mitchell’s Hair, heartworm pill for the dog, many ceremonial entries, and a very spotty work schedule.  Therefore, I stand behind my judgment that the First Selectman has a ceremonial position.