Board of Selectmen Meeting June 22 2020

Board of Selectmen Meeting June 22, 2020

I recently received my tax bill. There was an increase in my taxes.

The collection of taxes and revenues are sent to the Town to provide services.

The Taxpayers have the constitutional right to evaluate the services provided and register concerns about the failure of our government to meet our expectations.

On June 11, 2020 the Personnel Sub-Committee convened to discuss and evaluate extending Town Manager Maria Capriola’s contract.

First Selectman Eric Wellman and Deputy First Selectmen Sean Askham, both on the committee, asked the residents to send their comments to them on their evaluation of Town Manager Maria Capriola.

However, the public only received a short synopsis of the comments at the meeting.

I asked that my comments be read aloud and First Selectman Eric Wellman read my comments into the record.

These were my comments, asking the Sub-Committee Not to renew Town Manager Maria Capriola’s contract with legitimate concerns about abuse of power, working in a toxic work environment and alleged unethical behavior.

After many decades of promoting a Town Manager, I feel I was correct in establishing a Town Manager. Simsbury does need Professional Management. However, Town Manager Maria Capriola is wrong person for the job.

Simsbury could do better.

I would like to express my concerns that should be reviewed before the Board of Selectmen evaluates Town Manager Maria Capriola’s Contract.

Simsbury is part of a vast complex of Town’s that rely on reputation to fill jobs.

Communities all rely on the same pool of applicants for key positions.

Town Manager Maria Capriola has a reputation of creating a toxic work environment with a Union filing a Municipal Prohibited Practice complaint against her.

This reputation of Abuse of Power is widespread, leading to high level applicants not apply to serve the Simsbury community.

Town Manager Maria Capriola has abused her power by alienating the Police Commission with questionable opinions from the Town Attorney.

The abrupt resignation of Commissioner Jim Fleming from the Police Commission stating that he believes in the “rule of law,” is another indication of Town Manager Maria Capriola’s Abuse of Power.

Under the leadership of Town Manager Maria Capriola there have been many grievances and terminations of employment that are costly in legal fees defending the Town’s position when there is no legitimate defense.

Instead of streamlining Commissions, Town Manager Maria Capriola has instituted over 50 work groups with staff designating time to support these groups and attend meetings. This becomes all-consuming with other impending issues that require professional attention. Many of the meetings are clerked by staff and Town Manager Maria Capriola that creates a conflict of authority.

Our Town staff did not sign up for 24/7 employment.

The Board of Selectmen are more interested in getting reelected than tackling the issues in front of them.

It is easy to stay with the status quo but takes courage to vote your conscience.

The Town is not served well when our elected officials duck the pivotal issues, not to offend the vocal constituencies.

How can the Board of Selectmen after reviewing all the facts in good conscience vote to renew Town Manager Maria Capriola’s contract?

On June 15, 2020 Town Manager Maria Capriola’s daughter freaked out seeing a bear on her property alerting Town Manager Maria Capriola, who also freaked out and swiftly sent an email to our Animal Control Officer to immediately come into the office and patrol her neighborhood This is case #22067 and #22069.

Another example of abuse of power.

The Proposed Ordinance to Prohibit the Intentional Feeding of Wildlife should not be enacted because Town Manager Maria Capriola had an incident with a bear.

Bears are not predatory animals and due to increases in housing, bears have moved closer to where their primary habitat used to be.

Bears no longer hibernate and they now roam the area all year round

The prohibition will not eliminate the bears but create issues with neighbors and take the police away from medical and aided calls.

Recently there was a Black Lives Matter peaceful protest in front of the Police Department.

Many members of the Police Department came outside to make their presence known and talk with the protesters.

What was astonishing was that Chief Boulter, Lt. Sheehan and Lt. Sifodaskalakis” “Took a Knee” in front of Town Hall where the Black Lives Matter protesters were assembled.

These officers were in uniform and being paid by the taxpayers to perform their duties not to make political statements. The Simsbury Police Department should remain neutral during protests.

The unintended consequences of their actions will now provide all organizations that protest in front of Town Hall the ability to request that Chief Boulter, Lt. Sheehan and Lt, Sifodaskalakis, or any other officer to “Take a Knee” on their behalf.