Board of Selectmen August 12, 2013 My Comments

Board of Selectmen August 12, 2013

 I recently received a letter from Town Attorney  Bob Decrescezo, explaining why  the Board of Selectmen have  chosen to give several politically connected people the first place on the agenda instead of public audience, under the guise that they have time restraints and would like to have preferential treatment. Decrescenzo’s interpretation of my lawsuit was that public audience had to be placed in the beginning of the agenda, not in first place. I guess when public audience is placed at the end of the meeting Decrescenzo will interpret the meaning of beginning and state that the beginning lasts until the end. This is the town attorney’s interpretation of semantics and law to the convenience of the First Selectman. The items in the agenda are usually placed at the discretion of the First Selectman. Is the town in contempt of court?  At the last meeting  first placement on the agenda  was given to presentations. .An Aging and Disability Award was presented. Bob Hensley gave an update on the Performing Arts because he was going out of town, he requested and was given preferential treatment. The Community Farms that is inconsistent with the Eno Trust on Town land for the poor of Simsbury also received double billing with an early presentation and a later agenda item. With all this praise afforded the Community Farm, First Selectman Mary Glassman not once stated that she is on the Board of Directors of Billings Forge, an organization that farms at The Simsbury Community Farm. They too had preferential treatment. . During The Community Farm presentation, there was discussion of a merger with Gifts of Love in Avon. Has this merger been approved by The Attorney General’s Office in keeping with the Eno Trust for the poor of Simsbury? It appears that the taxpayers who support the government are barely tolerated and do not deserve to be heard at the beginning of the agenda with their concerns.  All the people serving on the board are representing all of the people in Simsbury , not just politically active individuals who get top billing. Listening to the public should be foremost in a democratic society..

Recently there was an article in the newspaper discussing the Performing Arts concerts. The reporter mentioned the fact that a resident, a POW hero wanted to sit outside the perimeter of the Concert and was told that the contract with the Symphony gave away all the land in close proximity to the concert to the Symphony and he was not allowed on the premises without a ticket. How can the town give away taxpayer funded land and free air waves to a promoter?  Many towns have free concerts at their parks why is Simsbury so restrictive?

It appears that the Emmy Lou Concert did not have the projected attendance and ticket sales were lacking, so they reduced their prices The prices for the concert tickets were reduced up to 60%. The  Groupon coupon noted that lawn tickets valued at $37.45 were selling for $15, a reduction of 60% and the reserved orchestra seats selling for $52.80 were selling for $23, a reduction of 56%.  Before the Peter Frampton concert was cancelled there were discounts up to 40% off the ticket sales and it appears that the ticket sales were lacking, leading to the cancelation.  Did the PAC and the Board of Selectmen give permission to reduce ticket prices?   Do these reductions in ticket prices devalue the entire concert series?

Now with the Peter Frampton concert cancelled, it is time to take the consultant’s report seriously and stop wasting our time and energy trying to be Tanglewood and use the facility as a recreational venue under the direction of the Recreation Department. The old cliché, build it and they will come does not hold true for the Performing Arts Center. It is time to reevaluate the direction of this facility. Having a 501 c 3 organization taking over the management of the Performing Arts will not address the inherent issue that Simsbury is not Tanglewood.  The taxpayers of Simsbury should not have their land taken over by a non-profit organization.

According to the PAC minutes of July 25, the Hartford Symphony owes $16,900 and the town portion of ticket sales. How can the town renew a contract with an organization that is deficient on their payments?     

On Sunday, July 28 I drove past the area with the bicycle sculpture and the commuter parking lot and saw a table with promotional material from the Greenway, a Banner on the property and a trailer with Greenway promotional pictures on the trailer, parked at the commuter lot. I also saw Steve Mitchell on his bike waving to me as I passed.  All of this activity was illegal since there was no permission given from the town or the State. Why is Steve Mitchell so special that he has not and does not adhere to the permitting process? Is Steve Mitchell above the law? Why has the town allowed him to continually violate the zoning laws of our town without any disciplinary action?

This photo of the trails behind the Hazel Meadow development shows permanent structures to slow bicycle traffic but in fact it appears to add enormous risk to the people using this trail. Recently there was an accident at the MDC Reservoir where a bicyclist was hurt by plowing into a permanent structure and received over $2 million in an injury settlement. These structures not only impeded traffic but are dangerous to negotiate and places the town and the people using the trail at great risk. This is an engineering nightmare. Has CIRMA, the Town’s risk insurer been notified of these permanent structures and the risks associated with it?

It appears from the Department of Health’s 1st Quarterly Regulatory Action Report the elite Ethel Walker School  received a notification of noncompliance. The violation was failure to satisfy regulatory requirements related to the management of asbestos containing- materials in the school. Has this failure to comply placed any of the residents at the school at risk?

According to town records the town is delinquent on its IRS filings? Was there a fine associated with the delinquent payment?

Now that the Board of Selectmen is in election mode with Nancy Haase running against First Selectman Mary Glassman , I would like to know why we the people should vote for her since Nancy Haase has not contributed any new ideas during her tenure on the board,   What differentiates Nancy Haase from Mary Glassman? Nancy Haase has remained silent on all issues so why change? Nancy Haase  will continue having Tom Cooke as her pseudo Town Manager because she is against giving the people the  right to choose their form of government. What record does Nancy Haase have during her tenure on the Board of Selectman that distinguishes her from the present First Selectman?  We the people don’t need platforms with many generalities. We the people need professional management to guide us through a dismal economic future and a greatly reduced Grand List. Neither of these candidates is willing to change our form of government to a professional Town Manager. Given the choice, why change. We lose with both candidates.