Board of Selectmen April 22, 2013 I would like to report that I have reviewed my FOI request for all emails to and from Deputy First Selectman Lisa Heavner to staff that might be in violation of Section 411 of the Town Charter, Directions to employees…no members of the Board of Selectmen shall give orders to any administrative officer or employee. I reviewed 159 pages of emails for one year to and from Lisa Heavner. Many emails were questions but in some of the emails Lisa Heavner gave directions on implementation of town issues. Many of the emails have “can you” “update”, “add”, or “send information” which in my opinion is “giving direction,” in violation of the Town Charter. The Charter appears to direct all information and questioning of public policy issues from the elected Board of Selectmen to the First Selectman, not staff. I would like to request that the Board of Selectmen review my observations and take the appropriate actions. It appears that the Bicycle group has once again taken over town property with the Bicycle sculpture by adding landscaping around the bicycle. According to town staff none of these improvements were processed through town boards for compliance. Why can the Director of Public Works and the First Selectman override town regulations? Why should Simsbury residents have to go through intense scrutiny and the Bicycle group gets a free pass? I have brought to your attention on a number of meetings that Dave Richman, owner of 730 Hopmeadow Street is still not compliant with Handicapped access and CO for the 3rd story that he is using for his office. Why is Richman allowed to continue to thwart all avenues of compliance and never received a cease and desist order? Is this another town override of town regulations? I have a picture of the wall at Simsbury High School with writing on the wall “Anonymis.” Is this spelling part of quality education? Recently my husband as a member of the WPCA had a Special meeting at Town Hall instead of the Water Pollution facility which is wheelchair compliant. As you see in the picture my husband could not get up the platform with the wheelchair and had to participate from the floor below. This does not give handicapped persons equal access to participate equally on the town boards and commissions that have meetings in Town Hall Main Meeting Room. How can handicapped persons volunteer for boards and commissions when they don’t have access to the platform for the elected and appointed officials to conduct meetings? I have reviewed the concerns of teachers at Central School through my FOI request and found many of the same issues throughout the school system. The concerns are too much paperwork, more communication and guidance, Curriculum should be supplied in June so there is time to digest the materials, Change timeline for student assessments, more flexible teaching, improve teacher morale, travelling from one school to another reduces quality time with students., reduced staffing in Special Education, report cards should reflect new curriculum, more teacher mentoring, inconsistent support with media specialists, in kindergarten, provide age on report card. Scheduling programs need improvement. I was very surprised when I entered the Planning Department in Town Hall and saw a sign affixed to the entry stating : “Employees Only Beyond This Point.” This notice does not allow anyone to do business with the Building Department since this sign is before entry to the Building Department. Town Hall and its employees are paid by the residents of Simsbury and this sign does not promote a business friendly town. Why the signs? In November2012, Town, State and Federal police raided a home at 1 Hitchcock Circle in the Eno Farms Affordable Housing Complex. James G. Crooms was arrested on allegations of drug activity and possession of firearms. The judicial website states that he was arrested for possession of narcotics, possession of hallucinogen, operation of a drug factory, sale of Hallucinogen/narcotic, sale of controlled substance, Illegal Transfer of Pistol/Revolver burglary, stealing firearm, larceny 4th degree, Conspiracy to commit burglary 1st degree and more, all this under the auspices of CHFA, Konover and the Town. How long was this activity going on? During inspections, didn’t anyone see the guns and drugs in the apartment, placing the community in danger? Where was the oversight? At the last Board of Finance Hearing I was the only taxpayer questioning the budgets. The members of the Boards who are at the meeting did not have the courtesy to answer the questions posed to them. We the people pay the bills and we the people should have a voice on the expenditures. The economic indicators show a decline in the economy, the reevaluation shows a decline in all property values, the Grand List is greatly diminished, The Hartford, the town’s highest taxpayer is eliminating employees and leaving an empty building that will be demolished and the Board of Education has a reduction of 112 students and our taxes are increasing. Why are we the taxpayers asked to pay for all these Charettes and studies? The town paid for many consultants’ reports that stated that Simsbury should have a Town Manager with professional management. I am still waiting for that to be implemented. The Hartford will do what is good for their shareholders and bottom line. The Charette is a charade. There is nothing in this gloomy outlook that makes me comfortable with additional expenditures. I will vote NO. It should be noted that the Public hearing will be held in the High School Amphitheater on Wednesday, April 24 at 7:30 PM.. Why change the day from Tuesday to Wednesday? I would urge everyone to attend.
