Board of Selectmen Meeting September 12, 2016

Board of Selectmen Meeting September 12, 2016

We are approximately 8 weeks from the voting process for President and other electors on November 8. . Simsbury has an opportunity to vote for a Charter with a Town Manager as the CEO for Simsbury.

As part of the education process, SCTV is running an excellent documentary every Tuesday in September at 1:30 and 8:30 PM. The ½ hour documentary is called, “The Council-Manager Form of Local Government. Several elected First Selectmen were interviewed, giving testimony on the merits of having a professional Town Manager. Several of our past First Selectmen, Peggy Shanks, Anita Mielert and Mary Glassman gave testimony for the need for a professional Town Manager in Simsbury.

There was a 4-2 vote on the Board of Selectmen for forwarding the Charter to a Referendum vote on a Town Manager. The two dissenters were Elaine Lang and First Selectman Lisa Heavner who shared her grieving process for the loss of a First Selectman in an executive position during her half hour tearful display of explaining her grieving process to the public. First Selectman Lisa Heavner would rather have a “soccer mom” manage a $90 million budget than a professional Town Manager. Avon and Farmington have a professional Town Managers for decades and they have lower property values and lower mill rates.

This year Septemberfest was a bust due to an entrée fee of $5 per person. The vendors were all complaining about the low attendance and the high cost of tents. Many will not be returning.

First Selectman Lisa Heavner has allowed Dave Ryan, President of the performing Arts to display fund raising material in Town Hall. It states,” Ticket sales cannot cover all the costs associated with the Meadows. If ticket sales don’t cover the costs of the PAC, get a new business plan. Don’t ask the residents to play $100 for a chair with fund raising in Town Hall. There is nothing in their contract with the town that allows them to use Town Hall for their fund raising efforts. They should be treated like all other businesses in town who try to make a profit every day. They are not “too big to fail.” During the budget process the taxpayers paid $15,000 for a golf cart for Dave Ryan and the Performing Arts. Why should the taxpayers pay for a failing business? According to their contract with the town the Performing Arts is to provide a mission statement to the Town. Where is it? Under Responsibilities of SPAC , “SPAC shall be responsible for all costs required for its operation. Dave Ryan stated that the $15,000 Golf Cart/Utility vehicle was needed for his operation. This appears to be a breach of their contract. Has the town received monthly payments for electricity, internet and telephone bills? Under the contract the town could ask for an audit of the PAC’s finances. Since the contract is up for renewal in December, I would recommend having the PAC submit an audit of all revenues and expenditures.

I would like to inform you that my shirt, Welcome to Sinsbury A Dysfunctional Town received rave reviews. Now peole agree since we allow alcohol on all town property and marijuana use at all concerts, under First Selectman Lisa Heavne’s grieving process, Sinsbury has become a Sanctuary Town for the use and abuse of mind-altering drugs.

It appears that the Senior Center/Community Center has been removed from the Capital Improvements since there is no consensus for this ill advised expenditure.

Recently, Selectman Cheryl Cook fell in the Library parking lot after a Board of Selectmen meeting. It appears that the parking lot is in need of a complete reconstruction, with dangerous holes and gaps in the surfaces, placing people at risk. The lighting is inadequate for night activities. The Town Hall parking lot is in similar disrepair as are other town parking lots. Does First Selectman Lisa Heavner have a strategic plan for the reconstruction of parking lots in town and a cost analysis for all improvements. Money should be allocated to fixing a daily risk in town parking lots before we worry about allocating resources to the bike path and Ethel Walker property.

It is now approaching the Paddle season at Simsbury Farms. Last year there wasn’t enough interest to have an “A” level team. However, there are several players that are interested in becoming a team player. You do not have to be a Simsbury resident to participate. The practice time is Tuesday at 9:30 and team play on Thursday at 9:30. If anyone is interested they can contact me, Joan Coe at 860-658-0126 or Gerry Toner at 860-408-4682. The season starts in

October and ends in March.

All of my comments will be posted on Simsbury Patch, Twitter@joancoe, News Feed on Facebook and Simsbury Forum/Topix.