Board of Selectmen Meeting March 12, 2018

Board of Selectmen Meeting March 12, 2018

I would like to commend Town Manager Maria Capriola for requiring all department managers to present a budget to the Board of Selectmen on March 10, 2018, with a format that requires a presentation with structure, clarity and purpose.

Organizations that are asking for taxpayer money should be required to present a cost benefit analysis to the Town. I am concerned that the Ambulance Service is asking for $ 80,000 when Director Michael Delehanty received a salary according to the 990 finder in 2015, $141,788 and received a salary of $151, 883 in 2016 an increase of $10,095. If the Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association is in need of money, why these outrageous salary increases?

Avon has AMR ambulance service without any cost to the Town and is satisfied with the service. It is time to have an RFP for ambulance services before any money is allocated to a private organization.

The appropriation of $60,000 should be eliminated from the budget for Economic Development. The Charter Revision Commission recommends an Economic Development focus for the Town. Money should be allocated when there is a legitimate need for the expenditure after reviewing all previous studies and the Plan of Development.

I would like to suggest that all studies be placed in the operating budget since they are one-time expenditures and do not meet the guidelines for CNR or Capital expenditures.

Large expenditure for hardware and software should be reviewed on a cost analysis of lease versus purchase.

Boards and Commissions should not be combined since the members of the Commissions have different disciplines and expertise.

The Board of Education had an enrollment of 5017 students in 2004-05 There were 4110 students in 2017 a reduction of 907 students. They are reviewing adding a 6th grade to Henry James Middle School. The expenditure for a Capital Improvement to the Henry James Middle School of $23,903,620 should be eliminated until all options are finalized.

There have been many Capital expenditures supported by tax dollars for the Simsbury Golf Course. Bloomfield has contracted their golf course to professional management with good results. It is time to review the need for contracting for services from professional golf management. Many of these professional golf groups would allow Simsbury golfers the use of their nationwide courses.

200 Hopmeadow Street received a conditional permit from the DOT. This will allow the development to go forward.

Since the Silverman Group will increase the population in Simsbury and Simsbury has been forward thinking in providing a clean environment, I would like to suggest that all large developments introduce charging stations for their residents as an amenity for the residents with electric cars. Charging stations should be added to all large commercial and residential developments.

According to Town tax sale properties, 2 Hopmeadow Street Realty has not paid $90,782.57 in taxes. The Principal of the property is Mark Greenberg who is a candidate for State Comptroller.

Pursuant to my FOI request to review the reimbursement file of Jamie Rabbitt, Director of Planning and Community Development, I reviewed the files. After reviewing the files, I was concerned about several reimbursements that I found questionable.

On July13, 2017 the Town reimbursed Jamie Rabbitt for $603.33 for 16 books purchased through Amazon. The books were delivered to his home and there was a cost of $33.99 in taxes. If these books were ordered for a Town library they should have been tax exempt. Was this purchase approved by the Town? Why wasn’t the Town’s tax exempt number being used? Is this purchase personal or for the Town library?

There was a charge on November 8, 2017 for Hebron CT, Jamie Rabbitt’s home to Boston MA and Watertown with a charge for 248 miles, tolls of $14.40 and food for $8.56. Jamie Rabbitt’s reimbursement for the November 8, 2017 trip did not have any backup material and it appears he did not attend a convention in Boston on that date. Why the trip to Boston?

On January 12, 2017 there was a charge for 225.70 miles from Simsbury to Stamford with $9.90 for lunch with no back up for a convention.

On January 23, 2017, 26.40 miles were charged for travel to Nod Brook Road and Bushy hill Areas also West Simsbury.

On January 30, 2017 mileage was charged for travel from Town Hall to 85 Climax Road.

Why is Jamie Rabbitt taking his personal car for in Town travel when Town cars are available?

There was a charge for a purchase of a Display Port from Best Buy on September 13, 2016 for $31.89 with a charge of $1.90 in taxes. What was the need for the purchase since we have an IT department? Was this a personal purchase?

These reimbursements appear to be cause for concern. I am asking for a review of my allegations.