Board of Selectmen Meeting June 13, 2016

Board of Selectmen Meeting June 13, 2016

Before every meeting First Selectman Lisa Heavner states that each person speaking at public audience has 5 minutes to speak. First Selectman Lisa Heavner clicks the timer before each speaker speaks and spends more time looking at the timer than listening to the concerns of the public. I have not received any response from the First Selectman’s Office resolving my concerns that there is a sign on the Town barn at the Barndoor Hills triangle from Griffin Land that still remains on Trespassing on Town property. Has First Selectman Lisa Heavner given Griffin Industries the ability to have people arrested for walking on town property?

The Kiosk on Wilcox Street that I spoke to at the last meeting is still in disrepair and nothing has changed since I addressed my concerns. Why are my concerns ignored and others get a quick response?

I am very concerned that only 922 residents voted for $94 million budget. That does not included over $1 million dollars taken from the General Fund to lower the increase in spending. This is voodoo economics. The State is in chaos and we can no longer depend on the State for a trickle down revenue for Capital Expenditures. Many of the expenditures were frivolous or political in nature. Giving $15,000 to Dave Ryan for a Golf Cart/Utility Vehicle is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

At the last Board of Selectmen Meeting on May 23, there was an action item (h) Revision to Gift Acceptance Approval at the April 25, 2016 meeting. The reason for the revision was that incorrect information was transmitted through Tom Cooke, First Selectman Heavner’s Director of Administrative Services. The gift of furniture from The Hartford building did not come from The Hartford as stated previously but from The Silverman Group that contracted the Viking Demolition business to demolish the building. If the Board of Selectmen took the time to review the gift policy regarding the acceptance of the furniture, they would have known that §13-7 of the Town’s Gift Policy and Ethics Code was not followed and neither was §100-5, Administrative Procedures. This board is so afraid of offending anyone since the Mary Glassman debacle, that they collectively approve agenda items without questioning the validity of information that they receive. I believe that the taking of the furniture by town staff from The Hartford building is a blatant violation of the Ethics Code.

I would like to report an incident that took place in the Henry James parking lot during the voting process between me and Steve Mitchell. As I was going to the Board of Finance meeting after the Referendum vote, Steve Mitchell came over to me and accused me of “camping out” at the Mitchell Car Dealership. I do travel on Route 10/202 to go to West Hartford to play tennis at the Hartford Tennis Club and pass his dealership regularly. Does that qualify as “camping out”? Does Steve Mitchell spend all of his time looking out of the dealership window to review traffic patterns? Perhaps Steve Mitchell is concerned that the zoning official has fined the dealership for violations of the zoning regulations. This picture shows cars with balloons, posters, and parking on the grass, all violations of the zoning regulations. Is Steve Mitchell suffering from AFFLUENZA? My bumper sticker remains on my car, “BOYCOTT MITCHELL CAR DEALERSHIP.”

Over the years Simsbury has accepted the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages for all fundraising and social events. Although the use of alcohol is considered acceptable it has led to addiction, affecting many families. Simsbury has been an enabler in the use of alcohol on all town property except the High School grounds. There is a sign on the High School fence on the field that states, “no alcoholic beverages allowed on school grounds.” Why not all Town property? September Fest started as an alcohol free event for the enjoyment of the town. However, as soon as the Performing Arts group was formed the Hartford Symphony became a BYOB event and September Fest sells alcoholic beverages. With the increase in concerts and the sale of alcoholic beverages, tailgating with uncontrolled illegal activity is placing the town at risk. The Recreation Complex has tennis courts, Golf Course and Paddle Courts with alcohol consumption allowed on the property. Alcohol and other drugs are causing addiction and deaths in our community. The Senior Community at both Virginia Connolly and Owen Murphy apartments has many residents suffering from alcohol addiction. Many seniors use and abuse alcohol in epidemic proportions and this has not been addressed. There are numerous calls to the Police Department alerting them about friends and family that are alcoholics and many are transported to the hospital. The Community for Care is hypocritical in their efforts to care about addiction when there has been no effort to eliminate alcoholic beverages on Town property.

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