Zoning Commission Meeting January 3, 2024 Public Hearing

Zoning Commission Public Hearing 580 Units 200 Hopmeadow Street

The Backgound on the Silverman Group.

I would like to read my comments at the Board of Selectmen Meeting March 14, 2016

I am very concerned with this agenda item, Appointment of Legal Counsel-Land Use Commission for development associated with 200 Hopmeadow Street, the Hartford Financial development.

“It appears that Simsbury’s Town Attorney, Bob Decrescenzo from Updike, Kelly, Spellacy is acting as a rainmaker for his legal office. As Town Attorney it appears that he has created conflicts with this present development, The Silverman Group and the Ethel Walker School both hired Updike, Kelly and Spellacy for legal counsel, placing our Town Attorney in conflict. As the rainmaker for Updike, Kelly and Spellacy , Bob Decrescenzo placed the town in conflict causing the taxpayers to pay $275/hr for Michael A. Zizka from Murtha Callina for legal work with the Silverman Group who purchased The Hartford and we had to pay for legal council during the land acquisition from the Ethel Walker School, to Chip Houlihan. Why did the town allow Town Attorney accept this apparent conflict? Either Bob Decrescenzo is working in the best interest of the town or he is working as the rainmaker for Updike, Kelly and Spellacy. He cannot have it both ways.”

Fast forward 2024 Town Attorney has once again a conflict with the Silverman Group, 200 Hopmeadow Street.

Has Town Attorney Decrescenzo based his opinions in the beat interest of the Town or the Silverman Group and 200 Hopmeadow Street?

As a result of these long-standing conflicts and alleged unethical conduct, Town Attorney Decrescenzo should no longer be approved as Town Attorney.

The Silverman Group has hired Town Attorney DeCrescenzo to represent them while DeCrescenzo was contracted as a Town Attorney for Simsbury.

Therefore, all expenses associated with these long-term conflicts, hiring outside Counsel created by the Silverman Group, should be paid by the Silverman Group not the taxpayers of Simsbury.

The Silverman Group recently submitted an impact study for the student population with additional 580 units.

There are more impact studies that should be initiated.

The original land on 200 Hopmeadow Street was farmland.

As we have learned over the years, chemicals used in farmland pollutes the land and water and should be investigated.

There should be a study on the chemicals used specific to the farmland. This should require an environmental impact study.

All the water supplied to the Town comes from aquifers.

All the additional units are supplied by a single pump station.

There should be an impact study on the water use and whether the additional water usage can be delivered by the present Aquifers .

The wells should be tested for the chemicals used on the land for the safety of water consumption.

There should be a list of chemicals used on the property for maintenance of plantings supplied to the Town.

Irrigation systems require a large quantity of water.

The amount of water capacity for the development should be approved by the Aquarion Water Company.

The additional increase in student population cannot be absorbed in a single neighborhood school, Latimer Lane.

The impact on the student population in a local area will lead to redistricting to accommodate the impact.

This will add an additional cost for a redistricting study and implementation.

There are too many unknowns until all impact studies are finalized.

Therefore, this development should not be approved as presented.