Board of Selectmen Meeting November 14, 2022
Now that the election is over, it is time to review the performance of our elected officials.
Both Town Committees that choose the candidates continue to nominate the same candidates year after year.
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The performance of the Board of Selectmen has shown that they were more interested in getting reelected instead of assuming the role of representatives of the people.
The present Board of Selectmen has spent months evaluating Town Manager Maria Capriola in Executive Session without any results.
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The Board knowingly has enough information from residents, businesses and past employees that Town Manager Maria Capriola’s contract should not be renewed.
The Board of Selectmen September 28, 2022 Meeting agenda item: Creation of Work Group to Develop an Ordinance Prohibiting the Use of Tobacco, Vaping and Cannabis Products on Public Property
What is omitted on this Ordinance is Alcohol use on Town property.
Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health.
Alcohol, while often socially acceptable and legal for those over the age of 21, can turn into a problem for many. In fact, alcohol abuse affects millions of Americans each year.
It affects with brain’s communication pathways, Liver, Heart, Pancreas and immune system.
Alcohol consumption can impair driving, mood and judgement, with an increase of Driving Under the Influence.
Alcohol consumption has been documented as a public safety issue.
How can the Town have an Ordinance Prohibiting Tobacco, Vaping and Cannabis products with the omission of Alcohol on Town property?
Alcohol consumption is prohibited in town buildings, why not on all Town property?
The October 24, 2022 Board of Selectmen Meeting had an agenda item Proposed Bargaining Unit Change for Certain Supervisory Positions
The Board of Selectmen voted to approve the promotions and increased hours for the Supervisory positions.
According to the Job Description the Building Official reports to the Town Planner and the Deputy Town Planner.
Why was the Building Official who reports to the Town Planner and Deputy Town Planner promoted to a supervisory position when the Assistant Town Planner remains in the Administration Union?
The employees in these new positions were not congratulated on their promotion by Town Manager Maria Capriola.
A failure of management.
The Administration and Professional Union do not have a representative.
No employee came forward due to the punitive and vindictive behavior that has been displayed towards recent representatives by Town Manager Maria Capriola.
The Planning Department published a Public Notice of a Zoning Commission Meeting for Public Hearings on October 17, 2022 at the wrong address.
The meeting was canceled.
The notice also omitted for the text amendment to Section 2.6 of the Zoning Regulations to extend the Cannabis moratorium without noticing the timeline.
This too might be considered an illegal notice.
Mansfield Notice on Cannabis, “amendment to Article 3 Section A to establish a 9 -month temporary and limited moratorium on cannabis establishments.
The new notice for the Zoning Meeting was scheduled for November 2, 2022.
Town Planner George McGregor sent his subordinate employees to attend the meeting since he was on vacation.
The Board of Selectmen have had many executive sessions to discuss the performance of Town Manager Maria Capriola leading to the determination of her contract.
Recently there was an article in the Hartford Courant, “Want to retain more employees? 8 tips for becoming a better manager.”
- Be predictable
- Listen and ask questions
- Be willing to serve
- Show you have your team’s back
- Strengthen your communication skills
6. Treat everyone equally
7. Have empathy and compassion for your team
8. Get to know your employees
Town Manager Maria Capriola should receive a failure on most tips.
The DEI Council has had several meetings to discuss affordable housing in Simsbury.
There has been no discussion about the Eno Farms Affordable Housing Complex that is in violation of the Eno Trust.
CHFA, the owner of the complex has managed many of the units for moderate income renters when the Town Attorney and the land records reflect the use for low and very low-income renters, in keeping with the Eno Trust, “for the poor of Simsbury.”
When will the Town Attorney and Town Manager Maria Capriola order CHFA to change the leases to reflect low and very low-income residents?
When will the DEI Council review the management of the Eno Farms Affordable Housing Complex as one of their charges for compliance?
