Board of Selectmen October 28, 2013 My Comments

Board of Selectmen October 28, 2013

At the last Board of Selectmen meeting I asked with a show of hands how many selectmen would be willing to give Simsbury residents a choice in their form of government.  Not one person raised their hands. They were not interested in pursuing professional government with a Town Manager. Simsbury residents have paid for consultants that recommended a Town Manager for Simsbury.  A past Charter Revision Commission had a minority report written by the Democrats suggesting a Town Manager.  First Selectman Mary Glassman promised having a Town Manager, if elected.  Many residents voted for her with that promise in mind and now we have Glassman running away from the Town Manager issue. How can we believe anything that all these candidates propose in their expensive flyers when they are not committed to their promises made in their platforms? Simsbury needs professional management and the residents deserve a choice.  If this board is afraid to take a position on this important issue how can they tackle future positions on policy? We the people deserve candidates that take strong positions on challenging issues.  It is time that candidates take positions on varies issues that affect Simsbury residents not jut broad brush platitudes.  I ask again, what is the position of the members on this board on the Issue of Town Manager? If they can’t respond to the electorate, why vote for them?

There was an incident at Simsbury High School during Spirit Week causing  the “Pep Rally” to be canceled.  According to the police dispatch tape a person under the direction of  Neil Sullivan, Principal of Simsbury High School on October 18, asked for police cruisers to go to the High School because “ Senior class is going crazy. They are running through the halls yelling. They are outside at the football field. They are out of control.. .. the  entire Senior class”.    

The Simsbury police Report states that they were dispatched at 11:21 AM to assist with a large number of unruly students that had left the school.  The police reported that the students on the football field were calm and walking back to the main entrance of the High School.  Since everything appeared calm the police were dismissed. Neil Sullivan told police that “several senior class members were loud in the cafeteria and then did not listen to faculty instruction to turn down some music and leave the cafeteria.” “The students that had returned to school were instructed to return to the cafeteria.  School security notified Sullivan that there was a loud chanting coming from that location. Staff and police entered the cafeteria  where at least a few hundred students were being loud  and obnoxious. The police then called for more officers. There was discussion about canceling “pep rally.”  At that time Sullivan asked the police to remain to maintain order as he feared a possible reaction to his canceling   the” pep rally.” Sullivan reviewed the events with the police prior to their arrival. He stated that during first lunch seniors were allowed to play music in the cafeteria as part of them getting ready for the “pep rally.” At the conclusion of that lunch seniors were told by Mr. Patrina and Mr. Pera to turn the music off and head to their respective classes. The students refused to follow directions and would not turn off the music. Mr. Pera turned the music off and told the senior class to leave the cafeteria. The seniors then walked out of the cafeteria Yelling and screaming together, Sullivan said that the students went into the second floor hallway and  continued to walk around the school banging lockers, grabbing door handles, singing and yelling. They did this on the third floor as well and then walked onto the football field. According to the report tension was building between the junior and senior classes this past week and it blew up.  There was a flag football game that occurred between females from the junior and senior class also contributed to the tension.  According to the report the school administration advised the police that they would handle discipline for this incident. It appears from this report that the administration was aware of tensions within the junior and senior class and took no action.  There are many questions to be answered.  Why did the administration ignore the issue of tension before it blew up in their faces? Why were the students not summoned to Sullivan’s office to discuss the tension  between the juniors and seniors and resolve these ongoing  issues? Why did the students ignore the directions from the administration?  Why were the decorations for the “Pep Rally” taken down by the administration?  It was reported that expletives were used against the students by the adminisstration. Were these allegations investigated?  What lessons were learned from this incident?  What policy changes will be made? Leadership starts with the administration and the buck stops with Principal Neil Sullivan.  It is the responsibility of the principal to provide a safe learning environment for all the students and by kicking known issues under the rug, hoping they will go away shows a lack of leadership.   Since this incident shows lack of leadership, should Neil Sullivan remain as Principal of Simsbury High School?

It is alleged that the Big Y is no longer interested in dealing with the road through the skating center and will discuss an alternative traffic pattern. Has this traffic problem been resolved? To date there are no shovels in the ground and we are approaching winter weather.  What are the latest updates on Big Y?

 Since Attorney Eliot Gersten owns 2 acres of property on the Wagner land he is an abutter to the Big Y development. According to the Pullman and Comley  law firm where Andy Glassman is an Attorney, a news release states that Gersten’s practice focuses on complex litigation involving business, individuals and entrepreneurs from all aspects of business.  With this background how can anyone state that Gersten has remained silent on this issue since his property will become more valuable with the development ? 

On November 5, Simsbury residents will be asked to vote for candidates for all the elected Boards and Commissions. I suggest you take your vote seriously and not limit the vote to a popularity contest. Ask questions of your representatives and demand answers. This is not a popularity contest .We need candidates who will show leadership and take firm positions on public policy issues.  Everyone should make an educated vote on their choice of candidates. Vote November 5.