Board of Selectmen Meeting March 25, 2024

Board of Selectmen Meeting March 25, 2024

At the March 11, 2024 Board of Selectmen Meeting, I responded to comments made by Police Commissioner Mike Long that the choice, in my opinion, for Chief of Bouter was predetermined.

As a response, I gave background on the politics involving the decision, in order to justify my position.

My remarks were based on fact.

First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis interrupted my comments with the gavel, trying to limit my remarks.

Wendy Mackstutis should not be the free speech police.

According to Wendy Mackstutis, she was going to contact the ACLU to resolve the free speech issue at public audience.

Presently, there has been no retraction of the Rules of Conduct to comply with the Constitution.

When will First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis report her findings to the public?

There has been much discussion on the allocation of funds and studies for recreational activities.

Recreation has changed over the years with some sports in favor and others with a loss of interest.

This requires the ability to pivot from one sport to another.

Simsbury Farms has been the focal point for many of the sports supported by the public.

The Simsbury Farms pools should support all community swimming.

The Memorial Park pool should be demolished.

To continue with a water component at the park, there should be a splash pad as an addition that would service many children in the summer months.

To control the cost of the splash pad there should be a meter that regulates the time and length of use and the water should be recycled.

The Memorial Park skateboard area has lost the support of the community and is presently dangerous and in disrepair and should be removed.

The Town Forest Pond is tested for quality and is one of the hidden treasures in Simsbury.

The area is a perfect spot for water activity with sandy beaches, shade under the trees and a small play area.

There should be a task force in the Recreation Department that reviews all of the recreational land, and number of people participating in the sports.

Outside agencies using our land for recreation should be charged to capture the cost of maintenance.

Now that Pickleball had gained in popularity and tennis interest is wanning, lines have been added on the tennis courts to accommodate the Pickleball players.

The tennis courts at Tariffville Park are being repurposed for Pickleball.

Recently the Police Department contracted for a Staffing and Scheduling study by CERTUS.

They interviewed many employees and finalized the report with many positive recommendations that should be implemented.

Chief Boulter has reached his maximum years of service in the Police Department and should retire.

The retirement of Chief Boulter would give the Police Department an opportunity to hire a Chief with new ideas and different management skills.

Presently the Board of Selectmen are reviewing the Pension Plan for non-union employees.

Employees should be encouraged to retire, not encouraged to continue service to the town.

We have had many Chiefs managing the Police Department over the years with each one supporting the community and managing the department with differing styles.

Term limits gives the town an opportunity to promote from within or advertise for a replacement.

In a small department there is little room for advancement.

By encouraging retirement there will be an opportunity for promotions giving the Officers an opportunity for advancement.

These opportunities are rare, and now having the opportunity through retirement, our Officers will be well-served.

Many of the town residents have been impacted with the addition of affordable housing, increasing the population without proper planning for additional resources and infrastructure.

The Affordable Housing Act has been developed by Attorneys, lobbyists, and developers to increase their profits at the expense of the towns through legislation.

All these laws were passed without anyone aware of the unintended consequences.

We need our appointed and elected officials to advocate for the town when legislation is being highjacked to promote societal changes in the community.

Affordable housing should be determined by market rates, not imposed by legislation.

Now that the Town has passed an Ordinance prohibiting Cannabis on Town Property, the town should have signage on Simsbury Meadows fencing alerting the public to the Ordinance.

All tickets sold by the SPAC should have information pertaining to the prohibition of Cannabis on Town property and violations should have consequences.

The Town contract with the SPAC should be reviewed.

The SPAC should pay for usage on the Simsbury Meadows land and all costs associated with their programs.