Simsbury Board of Selectmen Meeting May 8, 2023

Board of Selectmen Meeting May 8, 2023

Town Manager Maria Capriola is no longer Simsbury’s Town Manager, leaving with a record of failed leadership.

In transition there will be several Interim Town Managers until a permanent position is filled.

On May 1, 2023 the Board of Selectmen chose Chief Boulter to guide the Town until Lee Erdmann, a qualified Town Manager can take over the position on June 1, 2023 as Interim Town Manager.

Chief Boulter is the wrong person to assume this position with a failing record as Chief of Police in Simsbury. Interim Town Manager.

It is alleged that when the Police Commission was in the process of choosing a Chief, Commissioner Mike Long was instrumental in choosing Chief Boulter as Chief Invertsen’s replacement when he retired in 2018 ignoring other qualified candidates.

It is alleged that Commissioner Long is the force behind Chief Boulter’s decisions.

Commissioner Mike Long has become the shadow Chief and has been given the pass code to enter the Police Department at will.

Chief Boulter is aware that Mike Long’s car does not have a front license plate, giving Mike Long a pass on the State Law violation.

It is alleged that Commissioner Mike Long orchestrated not having Public Audience at the Police Commission meetings and was concerned about televised Commission meetings.

Are we now going to have a dual leadership with Chief Boulter and Commissioner Long as the Interim Town Manager?

On May 16, 2023 the taxpayers are being asked to vote on the budget with an increase of 5.18% with a Mill Rate of 31.82 .

This year we are experiencing an unusual increase in property values as the assessments of properties have been applied in what appears to be arbitrary and capricious.

The Assessor’s Office has 4 full time employees and 2 contractual employees, an unusual increase for the department.

What has been the cost benefit analysis by adding more employees?

With two assessments for the same property, leaves one to believe that there are issues with the values placed on the properties.

One could suggest that by increasing the assessments leading to an increase in taxes gives the budgeting entities more slush money for the special interest groups, leading to the passage of the increased spending budget while increasing the electability of the elected candidates.

The Town should enact Zero Based Budgeting.

Zero-based budgeting is a method of budgeting that starts each department's budget at "zero “and requires each line of expenses to be justified.

It is time for Simsbury residents to form a Taxpayers Group of knowledgeable people who challenge the elected officials and inform the public on the Town’s spending, collection of revenue and taxes.

The Grand List increased 2.45%, much less than the proposed budgets.

Budget Referendum2022 and 2023

• Board of Selectmen $30,260,354 $31,679,397 $1.5 million addition
• Board of Education $76,456,785 $81,576,437 $5 million addition
• Capital etc. $18,017,555 $17,149,

The Town’s spending is out of control.

This out-of-control spending will be the demise of Simsbury with business failing, apartments with unaffordable rents and residents moving to States with lower taxes or a migration to other Towns.

There are 28 homes in foreclosure in Simsbury on the Judicial Website.

The businesses that can afford to challenge the Town’s assessment policy have to have deep pockets; others will close their businesses.

Owners of commercial establishments will go bankrupt, unable to pass the increase to their clients, or sell the property at a loss.

It is alleged that one business owner had a 2-million-dollar assessment on his property that was reduced on a threat of a lawsuit to $1 million.

How can a property value be greatly reduced on a threat of a lawsuit?

The taxpayers of Simsbury are experiencing inflation with everyday expenditures and having to do with less but the elected officials are clueless on how to choose between need and greed.

The budget as presented for a vote should be voted down.

A NO vote will bring the budget back for review and lower taxes.

Financial pressures and addiction has families experiencing serious tensions leading to a break-up of the family structure.

Many people are using drugs to self-medicate their feelings of anxiety and depression.

Drugs in the home are readily available to the children, giving them access to mind-altering drugs.

With families in crisis, the schools have to deal with the student’s mental health that affects their learning.

Gambling addiction by adults and students are increasing, causing financial stress.

The elected officials should use their influence to promote treatment centers that are readily available and affordable.