Board of Selectmen Meeting August 29, 2016

Board of Selectmen Meeting August 29, 2016

Now that the Final Charter has been approved with a Town Manager, I would urge all the voters in Simsbury to approve the Referendum on the Charter on November 8.

There is a very informative documentary on YouTube, “The Council-Manager Form of Local Government that should be reviewed by anyone interested in making an informative decision on having a professional government with a Town Manager.

It should be noted that three of our First Selectmen gave testimony to the Charter Revision Commission that Simsbury should have a Town Manager to protect the taxpayer’s from internal and external risk. Peggy Shanks, Anita Mielert and Mary Glassman all were in favor of professional Town Manager.

It appears that First Selectman Lisa Heavner, who was against giving the people a right to vote for a Town Manager, stated that she is grieving for the loss of a First Selectman. How can First Selectman Lisa Heavner grieve for professional management and giving the people an opportunity to vote for the proposed charter? Most of the residents in Simsbury are professionals with extensive training in their various disciplines. Why deny having a professional manager for Simsbury? Avon and Farmington have a Town Manager for decades and have a lower mill rate than Simsbury.

I am concerned that First Selectman Lisa Heavner has approved concerts that encourage the use of Marijuana. With the approval of a Slightly Stupid Concert that tells everyone to “light up,” during the concert, all the volunteers, security guards and the Simsbury Police Department were inhaling second hand smoke from Marijuana.

First Selectman Lisa Heavner has continued to allow “Johnny Six Pack” to use Simsbury Farms golf course, recreational activities and all Town land. Simsbury has an alcohol road to divert traffic from the golf course to the exit of Simsbury Farms. “Johnny Six Pack” can drink at Simsbury Meadows during concerts with a BYOB acceptance at the Harford Symphony. Before concerts there is acceptance of uncontrolled drinking and whatever while tailgating. Septemberfest that started originally as a drug-free activity has morphed into the sale of alcohol.

The Simsbury Police have been called to many incidents of family violence and other irrational behavior associated with alcohol use. There have been many infractions issued for the use of marijuana.

Package stores never go out of business in Simsbury.

As a result of these ongoing activities, condoned by the leaders in our Community, I have produced a sign, “Welcome to Sinsbury, A Dysfunctional Town” that will be posted with my comments on the internet.

Recently there has been an application for 155 housing units on the Sims-Croft Echo property. These units are in close proximity to the Performing Arts and the downtown area. It appears that this proposal is in conflict with the concerts. Since the concerts are not profitable and are a burden on our staff, will the Performing Arts concerts cease to remain in the area when the construction begins on the property?

Simsbury will be changing the light bulbs on the town streets with LED bulbs to save energy. There are LED light bulbs that have an integrated Wi-Fi repeater for extending Wi-Fi signals. Has the town reviewed this application since it would increase the Wi-Fi availability throughout the town?

Now that the town has had time to review the closing of the Town Hall Offices on Friday at 1 P.M. on the First Floor, with the Board of Education and Police Department continuing to remain open, does First Selectman Lisa Heavner have a cost benefit analysis on this change? It appears that employee’s benefit since they go home early for a long week-end while the taxpayers are not being serviced. It is also time to review the policy for the need to have all Town department employees remain at work until 7 P.M. on Monday. How many people use the services of the town until 7 P.M.? What are the costs associated with this policy? Should the town revert back to the past practice for town hours?

There has been much discussion on the need to privatize the Ambulance and Fire Department services. Volunteers are fewer every year and demands are greater. With increased need for ambulance service and an immediate response required, it is difficult at times to find ambulance volunteers to dispatch to a call. Several times there are multiple calls for an ambulance at different locations. When an immediate response is necessary and there is a wait time, public safety is in jeopardy. These issues should be reviewed during the budget process. .

I have noticed that there is a blue car that has continually hooked up to the town’s charging station at the Town Hall parking lot. How much has this cost the taxpayers?

All of my comments will be posted on Simsbury Patch, Twitter@joancoe, the news feed on Facebook and Simsbury Forum/Topix.