Board of Selectmen Meeting May 27, 2020

Board of Selectmen Meeting May 27, 2020

The Budget as presented at the May 19, 2020 Board of Finance Meeting was approved with the use of one time increase in revenues, General Fund Reserves, and increased debt to lower the Mill Rate.

There were increases for all staff when others who are paying the taxes are in financial distress. All high-level employees are not in the Union and could have not accepted the increase in salaries. They chose not to.

With so much uncertainty in the coming years due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the budget should not have included a Deputy Chief in the Police Department.

The staff addition will not only increase the longevity payments but will increase the operating budget.

When reviewing other Town’s salary structure for the Deputy Chief and other new hires, the Town should review the Town’s that have Pension Plans with others that do not and 401K’s with Defined Benefit Plans and those that don’t. These are additional perks not afforded employees in surrounding Towns and is a long-term benefit to the employees that should be included when determining the salary structure.

At this time with all the unknowns in future financial planning, the additional burden to the Town for Open Space in the purchase of the Meadowood Land is unacceptable.

The property tax for the Meadowood Land is about $500,000 a year. This revenue will be needed for future budgets.

I recently received my request from the Town for all information pertaining to the distribution of the N95 masks to the Police Department.

I was told that the letter from Sgt. Christian to other Sergeants was non-existent suggesting that Officer Cormier not receive a N95 mask since he was leaving.

However, included in the packet was an email from Sgt. Matthew Christian to Sgt. Corcoran on Friday April 3, 2020 that stated,” I placed cone N95 masks on your desk for your officers to be fit tested with. Cormier is not going to be fit tested so he will not need one.”

How can Officer Cormier continue working when he is not afforded the proper protection when on call during the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Officer Cormier’s last day of work was April 16, 2020 since he was hired as an Officer in another Town.

Ironically there was an email from Nicholas Boulter on Tuesday December 2, 2014 sent to Officer Cormier and Laurel Mandel stating, “I would like both of you to attend an instructor level class for the N95 particulate mask. After the class, you will be able to “fit test” members of the Department.

Most of the fitting for the N95 masks were done on April 3- 9, 2020 at the Doctors Treatment Center in Granby.

According to my review of the list of Officers fitted for the N95 mask, Officer Gray’s name did not appear.

How many other Officers did not get fitted?

Officer Gray is the President of the Simsbury Police Union.

Officer Gray is over 65 years of age and in the class of people who are susceptible to the Covid-19 virus.

If he has underlying health issues does this place him in a high-risk category?

Has Chief Boulter assessed whether Officer Gray is “fit for duty”?

Since Officer Gray has continued to interface with the public when performing his duties, is he placing the Town at risk for a Workers Compensation claim?

All First Responders and Healthcare Workers should file a Workers Compensation Form to protect themselves for future claims.

The models for Workers Compensation claims show that compensation could go beyond healthcare workers and first responders. There could be costs to defend against long-term medical implications that are unknown at this time.

Claims could be in the billions of dollars nationwide.

Past Police Commissioner Jim Fleming resigned his position on the Police Commission stating that there is an ongoing dispute with the Town Manager concerning the authority of the Police Commission. Fleming states, “I believe in the rule of law and find this situation untenable. Effective immediately I resign.”

The Opinion that Town Manager Maria Capriola asked from Town Attorney Bob DeCrescenzo about the duties of the Town Manager and the Police Commission are exempt from Freedom of Information.

However, since there was a resignation predicated on the opinion, the public has right to know what in the opinion caused Jim Fleming to resign.

As a result of Maria Capriola’s abuse of power there have been several grievances filed with the Unions.

An Officer was fired due to the abuse of power from the Police Department.

Outstanding complaints are:

Robin Newton, MPP from the Planning Department, Sgt. Trombly, the Police Department, Gertrude Adusei from the Library and Jim Fleming’s resignation.

Town Manager Maria Capriola’s contract should not be renewed.