Board of Selectmen Meeting May 22, 2017

Board of Selectmen Meeting May 22, 2017

At the last Board of Selectmen meeting First Selectman Lisa Heavner once again mislead the public with her misstatement of the rules of Public Audience that was determined by the court, not by First Selectman Lisa Heavner. First Selectman Lisa Heavner is in contempt of court as she recites her rules of engagement during Public Audience.

First Selectman Lisa Heavner has overstepped her authority by questioning the “decorum” of residents who speak at Public Audience by denigrating the residents in public. First Selectman Lisa Heavner was elected to listen to the public and uphold everyone’s First Amendment right to free speech, whether she agrees with the speaker or not. As an attorney and an elected official she is not the decider of “decorum.” According to the Merriam--Webster Dictionary, the definition of decorum is “propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance”. First Selectman Lisa Heavner has overstepped her authority by superimposing her standards of tolerance to others. My “DECORUM” will remain the same during Public Audience. If First Selectman Lisa Heavner is offended by my decorum she can leave the room and delegate the timing of public speech to others.

Next week Simsbury will be celebrating Memorial Day at the War Memorial at the Library. The Granite walk remains very slippery with a sign alerting people to be careful. That is not a permanent solution to a dangerous slip and fall. The missing “E” in “PEACFUL” remains misspelled. Is this the way First Selectman Lisa Heavner honors our servicemen with a misspelled tribute? By ignoring the problem, it will not go away. When is First Selectman Lisa Heavner going to remedy the Town’s disrespect to our gold star servicemen?

Was Mike Paine one of the representatives on the Board of Selectman to approve the misspelling of “PEACFUL” on the tribute to the fallen soldiers at Simsbury’s War Memorial?

I recently received an invoice from Paine’s Rubbish Removal. It appears that Mike Paine, a product of the Simsbury school system sent out an invoice to all customers that there are “6 Month Charges, in ADVANACE.” Why did he add an extra “A” in advance? Is this an example of garbage in garbage out mentality? This month we are celebrating Bike Month.

There is a proliferation of signage on the bike trails to alert the cyclists to safety concerns that they continually ignore. This is an accident waiting to happen on the trail in front of Ensign Bickford/ Dyno-Nobel on Hopmeadow Street. How can you read all these signs when riding on your bike without getting into an accident? The trail passes through the entry to Ensign Bickford/Dyno-Nobel where 18 wheelers, cars and trucks, enter and exit the facility. There are Stop signs, sign to alert cyclist to a Stop sign. There is a sign alerting the cyclist to go 12 miles an hour.

Since most cyclists don’t have speedometers how can anyone comply with this sign? How many cyclists dismount their bikes? Why place a trail in a dangerous and congested area? Who enforces the infractions?

On May 8 a Simsbury High School Senior and town resident was stopped on a motor vehicle infraction. According to Simsbury Patch, the person was charged with” illegal manufacture/distribution/sale of a controlled substance, weapons in a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia (three counts) and sale of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school, 6:18 p.m”. The Board of Education took appropriate action and moved, “that Student A be expelled from Simsbury Public Schools for the remainder of the school year or 21school days commencing on May 18, 2017 for violation of the Board of Education Policy #5133.

According to the Simsbury Police Daily Log there have been many infractions given to High School students and others with less than ½ oz. marijuana in their cars.

Wikipedia states, “ Cannabis is often used for its mental and physical effects, such as a "high" or "stoned" feeling, a general change in perception, euphoria (heightened mood), and an increase in appetite. Short term side effects may include a decrease in short-term memory, dry mouth, impaired motor skills, red eyes, and feelings of paranoia or anxiety. Long term side effects may include addiction, decreased mental ability in those who started as teenagers”.

Marijuana is a mind-altering substance with an active ingredient TCH that remains in the fatty tissue of the body for many days. Although many students use marijuana as a recreational drug, it has been considered an entry into more dangerous drugs. Mind-altering drugs just mask reality and does improve your mental state.

Mind-altering drugs have long-term effects. Marijuana use could affect your personal relationships and employment in the future.

My input to the PAC: Return the Meadows to the taxpayers and have the Recreation Department increase their programs. We can no longer encourage a private organization to squat on our property.