Board of Selectmen Meeting June 26,2017

Board of Selectmen Meeting June 26, 2017

I would like to inform you that I have filed a complaint with the Freedom of Information Commission against Dave Ryan, President of the Simsbury Performing Arts Center (SPAC) due to his rejection of my request to see the invoice for the purchase of the Cushman Utility Vehicle he purchased with Town money for $15,000. Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I have to prove that the Simsbury Performing Arts Center is a public/hybrid entity.

Dave Ryan told me that the Simsbury Performing Arts Center is a private agency and he does not have to produce any information to the public.

I also asked the Freedom of Information Commission to impose a fine on Dave Ryan, the person with the files for $1000.

Dave Ryan has been wearing two hats. He is the Chairman of the Zoning Commission and the President of the Simsbury Performing Arts Center, where the Zoning Commission has to impose violations on the SPAC. It appears that this is a flagrant conflict of interest. It also places the Planning Staff in a precarious situation on imposing a violation on the SPAC. Is the Town Attorney and the Planning Staff working for Dave Ryan and the SPAC or the residents of Simsbury?

The SPAC has a website with a calendar of events. The website advertising the Blues Concert has a provision for purchasing on site camping at the 2 Left Feet Blues Festival. It appears that Dave Ryan did not consult with his board or the town on Camping on Town property. Tent field camping has 75 spaces at $75 per space, 2 tents per site. RV vehicles with 100 available spaces are $100 per RV with a maximum of 6 people per site; $15 per additional person. This requires a week-end Camping Pass. There are no electric hook-ups or sewers. Port-o-lets are provided and limited water. Showers are available off site. There are rules of conduct stipulated. There is a quiet time from 11 PM-7 AM. Food must be in containers, no firearms, no public intoxication or drug use. Above ground fire pits are available. Who will be enforcing any violations? Has the Simsbury Police Department approved this event? Will the SPAC be responsible if a person is mauled by a bear? Has Simsbury become a honky-tonk town with a trailer park on town owned land in the center of town? Dave Ryan has already collected money for camping although it is in violation of the Zoning Regulations. It appears that this in violation of the zoning regulations that Chairman Dave Ryan of the Zoning Commission should be enforcing instead of violating? According to a Wedding Website, there will be a reception for a Wedding at the Performing Arts on Saturday, September 30, 2017. According to the website, Brett Hollander of Hartford Distributors is getting married. Why has this event not been vetted by the town and his board for compliance with the SPAC contract? Dave Ryan should resign from the Zoning Commission and he should be removed as President of the SPAC for his apparent violation of the contract with the Town.

http://simsburymeadowsmusic.co... ( 2 left feet blues festival)

http://2leftfeetbluesfestival....

https://www.theknot.com/us/danielle-cottone-and-brett-hollander-sep-2017 ( Wedding)

According to the town contract with the SPAC the town receives $2,500 for the season.

I am concerned about having a Solar Farm on Farmland. Recently the town sold Pharos Farm to the Land Trust so that Farmland could be preserved. The Town was in favor of giving the farmers money for not developing their land and having them preserve farmland. However, now the town has sold out on their concerns about preservation of farmland by allowing Deepwater Wind, the Rhode Island developer to initiate a Solar Farm on prime agricultural land. The agent for this project is Pullman & Comley, the law firm that past First Selectman Mary Glassman’s husband is a member. It should also be noted that Pullman & Comely is the law firm for Governor Malloy. Is this coincidental that Simsbury was chosen for this project?

Has past First Selectman Mary Glassman been the “Rainmaker” for Andrew Glassman’s law firm, Pullman & Comley. Is past First Selectman Mary Glassman selling out the town for political gain?

Is is shameful that out of 17, 470 voters in Simsbury only 1, 139 took the initiative to vote for a $102.2 million budget. This raises our Mill Rate to 39.99, the highest mill rate in the Valley with a possibility of a supplemental bill when the State approves their budget and revenues are reduced to the town. Simsbury will become unaffordable for most people, property values will be reduced and Simsbury will be economically undesirable for economic development.

The taxpayers can no longer subsidize the Simsbury Farms Golf Course or the restaurant. The town should lease the golf course to a professional management company.