Board of Selectmen Meeting February 15, 2023

Board of Selectmen Meeting February 15, 2023

I just received my new assessment as of October 2022, that increased by $57,980.

Therefore, my taxes will increase in the next budget cycle, even with a reduction of the Mill Rate.

These increases will add to the tax and spend mentality of the Town.

Lowering the collection rate to 98% when the rate is 99%, giving the Town a slush fund.

The Town has received millions of dollars from the ARPA Funds that were used for many Capital projects with long-term expenditures.

Simsbury has the highest taxes in the Valley without any push back on expenditures from the elected boards.

We are living in an inflationary period, with talk of a recession that is imminent, placing undue burdens on the Simsbury residents and businesses.

It is time that the residents have a say in the development of the budget with a Taxpayers Group, that would have the expertise to lower the budget expenditures that will make the Town and the Board of Education accountable for their budgets.

Recently, through a Freedom of Information request I received the Union grievance of Henry Lacharite, an employee of the Parks and Recreation Department filed on 10/13/21.

It appears that he received a promotion without an increase in salary.

It has gone through Step 1 and 2 without any finality and is now on Step 3.

Why should a grievance take years to finalize, leaving the employee without an increase in salary for services provided?

It appears that this has become a continual pattern of denying increases in salary with additional responsibility, in violation of Union contracts.

A Police Officer filed a complaint against the Police Department in violation of the Union contract 11/7/2022.

Management unjustly removed the Officer from a scheduled assigned Private/Extra Duty job and assigned him to a shift in violation of the Union contract.

The remedy is to make the Officer whole, pay lost wages and not continue this practice.

According to the Memorandum of Agreement Section3, “the Town will pay Officer Cruz three (3) hours of pay at the rate of one and one half (1.5) times his base hourly rate of pay, subject to all appliable taxes and deductions. This payment will be made to the employee at the next practicable pay period.”

The Board of Selectmen went into Executive Session to discuss renewing the contract with Gifts of Love on January 23.2023 that is on the Town Farm of the Eno Trust.

On November 25, 1882 Amos R. Eno conveyed 140 acres of land to the Town of Simsbury “to be used for the occupation, maintenance and support of the Town poor of Said Town and for no other purposes whatsoever, and only for so long as it shall be so occupied and used. And only so long as the town shall care for the poor on the said farm without contracting out to any person or persons for their care and maintenance shall such farm belong to said Town.”

The Eno Deed has been violated by the Town, contracting the farm to the Gifts of Love.

The Deed specifically states that the Town cannot contract the property to any person or persons which makes the Eno Farms Affordable Housing under the ownership of CHFA a violation of the Trust. The Eno Farms Affordable Housing property should be maintained and managed by the Simsbury Housing Authority for compliance. The property should have the rents reviewed with compliance for low and very low incomes as written in the land records.

Both Town Manager Maria Capriola and Town Attorney Robert Decrescenzo have agreed to bring the Eno Farms Affording into compliance. Why the delay?

Town Manager Maria Capriola has assumed the responsibilities and management of the Police Department through the approval of an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between her and the Police Commission.

Chief Boulter, Town Manager Maria Capriola and the Police Commission should be aware of allegations of a consensual relationship between a supervisor and an employee in the same department.

These allegations have permeated throughout the Police Department leading to poor morale.

Does the Town have a policy for employee relationships?

Does the Police Department have a two-tier level of oversight?

Recently Chief Boulter appointed Sgt. Scott Sagan as the Detective Sergeant.

Sgt. Sagan’s past history of abusive behavior, intimidation, bullying and allegations of falsifying a report, should disqualify him from this position in the Detective Division.

Has Town Manager Maria Capriola approved of this assignment with the consent of the Police Commission?

Both Chief Boulter and Town Manager Maria Capriola should not violate Union Contracts that have been approved by the employees and management.