Board of Selectmen Meeting December 5, 2019
We the people of Simsbury pay taxes to Simsbury in order for the government to provide services to the Town.
It is the taxpayer who pays the employees’ salaries and therefore, the employees work for the taxpayers.
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One of the tools the residents have when the government does not represent their views, is to address the governing body in a public forum.
Expressing views that are not politically correct or might offend others is part of the Democratic process.
Find out what's happening in Simsburyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
I would urge more people to use Public Audience to express their concerns in a public forum.
At the November 25, 2019 Board of Selectmen Meeting Police Commissioner Mike Long and Mike Yenke, allegedly a political shill from New York, spoke in Public Audience to question my comments at Public Audience.
However, all of my comments were verified by Town documents, agendas and minutes of meetings.
I stand behind all my comments while this assault on my integrity is just an orchestrated attempt to, “KILL THE MESSENGER.” Truth will always prevail.
On November 25, 2019 there was a Personnel Sub-Committee Meeting to hear a “Grievance Hearing, Grievant; Robin Newton-Administrative and Professional Employees Represented by CSCA.”
The hearing was televised by SCTV and can be seen on Simsbury TV.
During the hearing the Attorney’s for the Town and the Union debated whether Robin Newton’s grievance was substantiated or dismissed.
The members of the Personnel Sub-Committee, Selectman Sean Askham and First Selectman Eric Wellman voted to dismiss the grievance and terminate Robin Newton.
The Union Attorney, stated that Robin Newton fulfilled all the requirements needed to promote her to full status as Assistant Town Planner.
The Union Attorney stated that the Investigation was biased and part of retaliation for questioning the special treatment of Janell Mullen, a past Mansfield employee as Zoning Enforcement Official.
It was brought out that Robin Newton was not given progressive discipline leading to her termination.
The termination was predicated on the Internal Investigation that has been referenced at several meetings that Town Manager Maria Capriola has not shared with the public under Attorney/Client Privilege.
The narrative for termination was determined by an Internal Investigation, that Town Manager Maria Capriola has accepted as truth and that has been challenged by the Director of Planning, Robin Newton’s immediate supervisor.
The Director of Planning refuted most of the findings with glowing reports on Robin Newton’s professionalism.
Has the Personnel Sub-Committee reviewed that Internal Investigation and the Director of Planning’s comments before coming to the conclusion that Robin Newton should be terminated?
Why has Janell Mullen’s comments been given more weight than the Town Planner?
Once these findings are presented before a fair and impartial arbitrator, Robin Newton will return as Simsbury’s Assistant Town Planner.
As a result of my Freedom of Information request, I received all of the interview tapes associated with Chief Boulter’s Internal Investigation of Sgt. Jason Trombly that is posted on the Internet.
After reviewing the tapes, it appears that Chief Boulter is consumed with the idea that Jason Trombly audio taped a conversation that he, Chief Boulter, said that Boulter would like to have some officers not work here or go someplace else. Chief Boulter was concerned that this conversation was discussed with other officers that Chief Boulter considered, “MALICIOUS GOSSIP.
The Officers witnessed that both Sgt, Corcoran and Sgt, Trombly received reprimands from Chief Boulter leading to another grievance from these Officers.
Allegedly Officers have received disciplinary actions and an Officer was on Administrative Leave pending a mental health assessment.
There remains an Internal Investigation on Sgt. Corcoran allegedly for his interaction with a Town employee that lead to the employee being placed on Administrative Leave for Medical reasons.
Officers knowing under this culture there was a target on their backs, their only recourse was to vote overwhelmingly for NO CONFIDENCE,”
On Tuesday November 25, at 1 PM, Town Manager Maria Capriola conducted a meeting to discuss the No Confidence vote. In attendance was Edwin Kusinski, Jr., IBPO National Representative, Chief Boulter and Police Commissioners Mike Long and Ed Cosgrove. Officer Gary Gray, Union President and Sgt. Thibault were present from the Union.
It is alleged that Officer Gray and Sgt. Thibault, representing the union were asked to leave the meeting since Town Manager Maria Capriola was not interested in their input and they remained in the hall during discussions.
Town Manager Maria Capriola would rather listen to appointed Commissioners Mike Long and Ed Cosgrove than hear the reasoning behind the No Confidence of the Chief from Union representatives.
Sgt. Trombly will eventually return to work, the environment in the police Department will remain toxic and the only recourse is to have Chief Boulter resign his position so that the Police Department can continue on a path to excellence under new leadership.
