Board of Selectmen Meeting December 16, 2019

Board of Selectmen Meeting December 16, 2019’

On Sunday December 8, 2019, the Hartford Courant published an article with a heading,” A ‘disturbing abuse of power’ Fired Simsbury town employee says officials tried to fake reasons for termination.” https://www.courant.com/community/simsbury/hc-news-simsbury-fired-assistant-town-planner-20191203-oql5sge4nzdv3nvw6g25ud4x7q-story.html

The Town Charter assigns the power to the Board of Selectmen to remove the Town Manager.

First Selectman Eric Wellman, Deputy Selectmen Sean Askham, Chris Peterson and Mike Paine has received all the documents from all parties involved in the removal of a town employee, along with alleged unethical conduct, of Town Manager Maria Capriola asking her supervisor for a change in job performance review.

This alleged behavior should be grounds for immediate removal.

According to town records, Town Manager Maria Capriola paid Janell Mullen, past Zoning Official for time allegedly not worked.

Janell’s last day was September 6, 2019. She quit without notice.

The town paid Janell Mullen’s salary of $1,518.63 when she didn’t work.

9/6 was for week August 26-30, worked 1 day

9/13 was for week September 1-7, she already quit

9/20 was for week September 8-15, she already quit

Did the Board of Selectmen investigate these alleged discrepancies?

According to town records Town Manager Maria Capriola selected Difference Consulting, Jen Roberts owner from Georgia to conduct a Leadership meeting with town employees for 2 days for 2 years at $5,120 per event. Jen Roberts, is allegedly a friend of Town Manager Maria Capriola since she stayed in Maria Capriola’s home.

This appears to be an ethical violation of cronyism.

Town Manager Maria Capriola has mandated that all the employees have all the credentials needed to perform their duties.

However, on the ICMA website (International City/County Management Association) of credentialed Town Managers, Maria Capriola is not on the list. Both Brandon Robertson, Town Manager of Avon and Matt Hart Town Manager of West Hartford are credentialed.

https://members.icma.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?WebCode=credentialedmanagers&Site=icmares

First Selectman Eric Wellman and Deputy Selectman Sean Askham are members of the Personnel Sub-Committee and received all information supporting the alleged unethical conduct of Town Manager Maria Capriola while drinking the Capriola Kool-Aid in order to enhance their egos and receive kudos from Town Manager Maria Capriola .

Knowing all the allegations against Town Manager, Eric Wellman, Chris Peterson, Mike Paine and Sean Askham gave Capriola rave performance reviews and a 2.35% increase. Are they serving themselves or representing the Simsbury residents?

Deputy Selectman Sean Askham was allegedly acting as a power broker in the grievance procedures and then voted to dismiss the grievance to make sure that he was chosen as Deputy Selectman.

Deputy Sean Askham has lost all creditability to serve the public and is underserving to be Deputy Selectman.

It is alleged that Town Manager Maria Capriola has asked the Tax Department not to collect property taxes for C-Tec Solar for delinquent taxes about $55,000.

Is this considered abuse of power?

Town Hall has become a toxic environment under the management of Maria Capriola and the Unions should vote for No Confidence since the Board of Selectmen appears not to be interested in asking for Maria Capriola’s termination.

On December 9, 2019 the Police Commission Meeting had a meeting with an agenda item #7 Citizen Complaint and Potential Action on Discussion (Snediker}

The Police Commission did not contact Patty Snediker to come to the meeting to discuss her complaint on the investigation of the Police Officers taking 6 hours to find her sister’s body and interactions with the Police Department.

Fortunately, Patty Snediker was alerted that her complaint was on the Police Commission agenda and she came to the meeting to discuss her issues before the Commission came to any conclusions.

A Hartford Courant article was headed with, “No action taken against officers.”

The Police Commission once again sided with Chief Boulter and dismissed the complaint.

The meeting was televised by SCTV.

https://simsburytv.org/v/lRP77HLgHMA

Between November 18, and November 21 the Police Union voted No Confidence in Chief Boulter.

November 25, 2019 the Police Commission hastily voted to support Chief Boulter Both Town Manager Maria Capriola and the Police Commission have stated that they have confidence in Chief Boulter. It was the Police Commission who allegedly corrupted the search for a Chief when they voted for Chief Boulter.

We have yet to hear from the Police Union on the reasons for their overwhelming vote of No Confidence.

Chief Boulter conducted an Internal Affairs Investigation on whether Sgt. Jason Trombly taped Chief Boulter saying that Boulter said some officers should not have been hired and that Boulter wished they would leave. Has Chief Boulter stated which officers should leave?

If these rumors are true Chief Boulter should be terminated for unprofessional conduct.

Sgt. Jason Trombly will be reinstated by the Union as a result of unfounded allegations and the taxpayers will pay thousands of dollars for Chief Boulter’s unprofessional conduct.