Board of Selectmen Meeting March 23, 2020

Board of Selectmen Meeting March 23,2020

On March 9, 2020 the Police Commission convened a meeting to discuss items in Executive Session Pursuant to C.G.S.Sec. 1-200(6) (B) pending Claims and Litigation and C.G.S. Sec. Sec. 1-200 (6) E Attorney Client Privileged Communication (Trombly Arbritation)

The minutes reflect that the meeting convened at 7:02 and in attendance were Commissioner Michael Long, Commissioner James Fleming, Commissioner Terry Fogarty, Commissioner Jenna Caulfied, Town Attorney Michael Harrington, Town Attorney Robert DeCrescenzo and Chief Boulter.

There are several inaccuracies in the minutes. Attorney DeCrescenzo did not appear in the room until 7:11 P.M. when they convened to Executive Session.

The minutes do not reflect the names of the persons in Executive Session to discuss the Trombly Arbitration. A violation of the Freedom of Information Act.

What information did Town Attorney DeCrescenzo provide on the Trombly Arbritation? Why was he in Executive Session for the entire session? What did he provide to the Commissioners?

Many of the members of the Commission have served on Public Agencies where they were required to adhere to the Freedom of Information Act but continue to violate the law.

I would suggest that the Police Commissioners get training on the Freedom of Information Act.

On March 9, 2020 there was an Arbitration Hearing on the termination of Sgt. Trombly as a result of a lengthy Internal Affairs Investigation where Chief Boulter initiated the Investigation on rumors that Sgt. Trombly recorded Chief Boulter alleging that he wished that several officers should not have been hired and that he wished they would leave. Chief Boulter did all the interviews with recorded testimony from many Officers and then determined that Sgt. Trombly was untruthful although there was never an admission by Chief Boulter that the rumors were true. Chief Boulter had the role of victim and prosecutor.

After the termination of Sgt. Trombly, 80% of the Police Union voted for a No Confidence vote on Chief Boulter with concerns that all members of the Police Union had a target on their back.

On the March 11, 2020 Board of Selectmen meeting there was lengthy discussion on Town Manager Maria Capriola’s budget.

The Board of Selectmen Operating Budget was presented with an additional wish list under the heading, Service Changes FY20/21. These expenditures of 6.69% are above the Board of Finance guidance of a 2.5% increase.

It was very disturbing to listen to the Board of Finance allow the Board of Selectmen to add a wish list to the over expended budget. The Board of Finance has the fiduciary responsibility to bring a budget to the taxpayers that reflects services that are necessary, not add additional wishes to the budget.

The largest expenditure was the Police Budget where Chief Boulter is asking for a Deputy Chief at a cost of $183,872 and an additional Lieutenant at $5,000.

This expenditure does not increase Public Safety. It adds to Administrators that are paper pushers. If Chief Boulter did not use his time having several Internal Affairs Investigations that were inconclusive, he would have time to manage the Police Department. With the additional activity with the Corona crises and additional increase in population, the Town should add Police Officers and Dispatchers to respond to increased activity and not promote a Sergeant to a Lieutenant and a Deputy that would reduce the daily activity on the front lines.

It is alleged that this a politically motivated change with the Deputy Chief already known and the Lieutenant position will allegedly be a childhood friend of Sean Askham.

The models used for the change in Administration are Town’s with large business footprints paying most of the taxes where Simsbury is a Bedroom Town with all the increases in taxes are paid by the residents.

This change in Administration will not change the institutional management failures but only exacerbate it.

Since the Service Improvement Priorities is a wish list, all the categories should be eliminated since we are in uncertain times with the Coroner Virus placing extreme financial challenges on the Town’s budget.

I am very concerned that Town Manager Maria Capriola has placed a $2 million expenditure for the purchase of the Meadowood residential property in the Capital Budget. The Meadowood project has paid taxes for years and has not been able to sell the land. Why would Town Manager Maria Capriola want to bail them out by reducing Town revenues and increasing the debt?

The Meadowood project pays over $200,000 a year in taxes. What benefit can be realized in this expenditure? This is a failure in priorities and a failure in the budgeting process and should be rejected.

All of my comments will be posted on Simsbury Patch, Twitter@joancoe and Newsfeed on facebook.