Board of Selectmen Meeting April 25, 2016

Board of Selectmen Meeting April 25, 2016

I would like to inform you that Steve Mitchell has not sued me for Slander since he threatened me at a Board of Selectmen meeting. Steve Mitchell was using the public forum to intimidate me from exercising my First Amendment Right to free speech. Telling the truth is not slanderous. Since the Mitchell Auto Group placed a “DO NOT SEVICE THIS PERSON,” in my file, I made a bumper sticker that is affixed to my car, “BOYCOTT MITCELL AUTO DEALERSHIP.”

Steve Mitchell’s actions probably encouraged Diana Moody to steal my ”BOYCOTT MITCHELL AUTO DEALERSHIP” bumper sticker after attending a Board of Finance meeting. All Diana Moody’s actions were documented with the Town Hall cameras. Diana Moody’s posting on LinkedIn states she works with Keep The Woods that preserved the Ethel Walker property. Member of Simsbury’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, volunteer for the Farmington Valley Trails Council, and Simsbury Free Bike and a Trustee for the Simsbury Land Trust. Under connections she has Steve Mitchell, Vice president Mitchell Auto Group. This pedigree has given Diana Moody the right to give a statement to the police when I asked that she get arrested that states, ”On 03/29/16, after years of frustration with Joan, I pulled the sticker off of her vehicle when I got out of a town meeting.” The Simsbury Police Department Warrant states, “That based upon the above mentioned affidavit with the facts and circumstances contained herein, I believe probable cause exist and respectfully request that the courts issue an arrest warrant for Diana Moody…for Larceny in The Sixth Degree 531-125b.”

The Simsbury Police Department sent the Warrant to the State’s Attorney Office and the arrest was denied on Prosecutorial Discretion. How can anyone deny a Warrant where the person admits to a crime? Were any phone calls made on Diana Moody’s behalf? Would the decision not to prosecute be different if the roles were reversed? Do Diana Moody’s actions typify the leaders of these groups?

I have called Attorney Grayson Colt Holmes, the Attorney that denied the Warrant for an explanation many times and to date I have not received a response.

Recently the town received over 70 items of furniture and cabinets from The Hartford building now owned by The Silverman Group. It appears that this “gift” is in violation of the Town’s gift policy.

Gifts and favors.

§ 13-7. Gifts and favors of the Town’s Code states,

.

“A. N o official, employee or consultant or any member of his/her immediate family nor any agency, employee organization or group of employees shall solicit or accept any valuable gift whether in the form of a service, a loan at a less than a commercially reasonable rate, a material thing or a promise, from any person or entity who or which is interested directly or indirectly in any business transactions or pending matters that are within the purview of such prospective recipient's official responsibilities. No official or employee shall accept any special favor, treatment, consideration or advantage beyond that which is generally available to citizens of the Town from any person who, to the official or employee's knowledge, is interested directly or indirectly in any business transactions or pending matters that are within his/her official responsibilities.”

The Silverman group is presently interested in developing the property previously owned by The Hartford. First Selectman Lisa Heavner’s husband is a senior Vice President of The Hartford. By taking the furnishings, the town would have a conflict of interest, when asked for a tax abatement from the Silverman Group or a special exception on the development of the property. All the furnishings are disbursed throughout the offices with First Selectman Lisa Heavner’s office getting the deluxe treatment. Many surplus furnishings are stored in the Library basement. I was surprised that Tom Cooke, a Harvard graduate, an attorney and First Selectman Lisa Heavner’s Director of Administrative Services would blatantly violate the rule of law by accepting these gifts from The Silverman Group in violation of the gift policy. The agenda reflects under Selectman Action (d) Acceptance of Gift of Furniture from The Hartford.

How can the board accept a gift retroactively and vote for a gift that is in violation of the policies that this board is required to uphold? It appears to me that Tom Cooke placed the town in a precarious situation by accepting these gifts and should be reprimanded for his actions. The end does not justify the means. Tom Cooke should obey the laws of the town. What is the position of the Board of Ethics on this gift?

I am concerned that all the articles referencing the revised charter, states an arbitrary salary for the Town Manager at $144,000. Eliminating the position and salary of the Director of Administrative Services and First Selectman would leave over $200,000 for negotiations. Having a professional manager would also save money through efficiencies in spending.

I will post my comments on Simsbury Patch, Twitter@joan coe, News Feed on Facebook and Simsbury Forum/Topix.