Simsbury Board of Selectmen Meeting September 23, 2024

The Board of Selectmen Meeting September 23, 2024

First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis has used her position to try to block the nomination of a long-time library employee, now retired, for a position on the Library Board.

Susan Ray has the institutional knowledge of the library activities after working for decades at the library and would be an asset to the Library Board.

Public Audience is interrupted when the narrative is inconsistent with Wendy Mackstutis’s values while people with political clout are embraced.

The Town electors voted for First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis to be the voice of the people, not have her own agenda and values, displayed by her conduct at the Board of Selectmen meetings through intimidation.

It should be noted that I have not had any discussions with members of the Board after my comments at public audience, discussing a follow-up on my concerns.

The Board of Selectmen are silent on all the violations of the public’s First Amendment’s rights during public audience.

First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis retains a salary of $10,000 to listen to the public, not to create a hostile environment.

The recent art display of a political theme in the library was questioned by Wendy Mackstutis as creating a hostile work environment demanding the artist remove the comments associated with the art.

This is a violation of the artists right of free expression.

It is really concerning when Town Manager Marc Nelson refuses to comply with a lawsuit that clearly states the Town must place the contents of the negotiated settlement referencing public audience on the wall for all to see at the Main Meeting Room.

Simsbury should have a Town Manager that complies with the rule of law.

Town Manager Marc Nelson is not a dictator deciding what laws to follow and what to ignore but a manager of the Town to comply with the rules and regulations of the Town and the State.

Discissions that he makes can affect the character of Simsbury and could lead the town into continued legal chaos.

Recently the Board of Selectmen voted for the Town to approve a lease with Flamig Farm Products to take over the Town Farm on Wolcott Road.

It appears Town Attorney Bob DeCrescenzo approved the lease stating that the lease complied with the Eno Trust since they stated that the Flamig Farm Products will give the poor some vegetables in exchange for taking over the town farm as a business, a total disregard of the Eno Deed.

If Bob DeCrescenzo read the Eno Deed, he would not have allowed the transfer of the use to Flamig Farm Products and Chris Latz.

The Eno Deed is registered with the Town at the Simsbury Land Records, Volume 52.

It states, “ I hereby quit claim to the Town of Simsbury to be used for the occupation, maintenance and support of the Town poor of said Town and for no other purpose whatsoever and for only for so long as it shall be so occupied and used and only as so long as the town shall care for and support its poor on the said farm without contracting them out to any person or persons for their care and maintenance shall such farm belong to the town.”

The Board of Selectmen voted on the lease on the misguided information of Town Attorney Bob Crescenzo and should rescind the lease until the Town Attorney gives them accurate guidance for the use of the Town Farm.

According to Town records, Steven Antonio owns several properties on Wolcott Road and some contiguous with the Town Farm property.

At the May 13, 2024 meeting of the Board of Selectmen meeting the vote to approve the lease from the Community Farm to Flamig Farm Earth Products, Deputy First Selectman Steven Antonio did not recuse himself from the vote which appears to be a conflict of interest.

At the September 9, 2024 Board of Selectmen meeting I stated, “Recently a Bridgeport Police Chief was denied the ability to draw from his pension while serving as Chief in the same department, in violation of Federal law.”

An October 2022 amendment to a state statute which allowed the chief to collect his pension despite his having returned to lead the force was found to violate federal law.

Does this legal decision apply to Chief Boulter where he has retired and while receiving his salary is allowed to draw on his pension?

Is this another disregard for the rule of law?

Has this board reviewed my comments and taken any action on rescinding the approval of the Chief of Police, Nick Boulter withdrawing from his pension while continuing his employment with the town?

Is this another violation of the law that is ignored by our governing body?