Board of Selectmen Meeting July 8, 2019

Board of Selectmen Meeting July 8, 2019

It is time that the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager reconsider having the concerts at the Simsbury Meadows due to the parking logistics when thousands of people converge in our Town. Every parking lot is full with concert attendees’ cars, leaving the businesses with no parking for their customers. There is parking on the streets without any enforcement. The parking lots at the Junior High and Simsbury High School have shuttle service. However, the Junior High had several cars parked for the concert and Simsbury High School parking lot was empty. Salters bus shuttle only had 1 or 2 people in the bus.

The Simsbury Police is responsible for traffic at the Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center (PAC), a private organization, is responsible for parking and has ignored their own rules to regulate parking.

The State Commuter lot was full with concert attendees’ cars which is a violation of their regulations.

According to the State Q & A What is the time limit for parking in a Connecticut Park & Ride lot? Answer: Department of Transportation regulations allow continuous parking for 48 hours at Connecticut Park & Ride facilities as long as the owner is using the facility for Normal Commuting.

The Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager have given special favors in reduced fees, waivers and a free office in Town Hall, while the PAC Manager’s salary is $79,177 according to the Audit Report.

According to the rules of the PAC.” Strictly prohibited on Festival Grounds; Smoking, hard liquor.” These rules that are not enforced and never questioned by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen.

The BYOB containers are not searched and the concert attendees are allowed to smoke pot and use e-Cigarettes with pods of unregulated substances, while the Simsbury police are on the outside and the private security ignores the prohibited regulations.

Selectman Cheryl Cook, the Chairman of Community for Care has continually approved gathering permits for the PAC knowing that certain concert attendees use illegal substances. Community for Care is concerned about addiction but approves the concert venues where pot is used on Town property and alcohol is purchased while some concerts have unregulated BYOB. How hypocritical!

Simsbury has a new Addiction, Mental Health Disorders Program started by Lisa Gray after the death of her 24-year-old son. Much addiction starts with the use of alcohol, a mind-altering substance and then continues to other substances at higher levels of dependencies. Why is Lisa Gray not concerned with the Concert attendees promoted by the PAC on Town property that openly uses addictive substances. Where is the outrage?

Maybe it is time to, JUST SAY NO.” to any promoter who allows illegal and mind-altering substances on Town land and not approve the PAC’s gathering permits when alcohol is distributed or used on Town grounds. It is time for our Leaders to lead by setting an example

There is an agenda item under Executive Session, Tobacco Valley Solar Tax Stabilization Request.” Prior to this submittal, the Solar Company asked for a waiver on building permits that were denied. The revenues from the Solar Company gave the Town over $600, 000. Now they are looking for an abatement which should also be denied.

The Town of Simsbury Business Development Incentive Policy describes the Types of Businesses or Industries Targeted by this Policy. It appears that Solar Panels and Solar Energy is not one of the criteria for abatement. Since the criteria has not been met, the Board of Selectmen should deny the request.

At the June 24, 2019 meeting of the Board of Selectmen Paine’s Rubbish Removal Company received a contract to continue the management of the Simsbury Town Dump on Wolcott Road. The entry free was increased from $10 a car to $20.

The Town Dump is on the Eno Trust, land given to the Town by the Eno family for the use of the “poor of Simsbury.” All the money from the dump goes to Paine’s Rubbish Removal, nothing to the “poor of Simsbury.” The Town has continually ignored the intent of the Trust by allowing the Gifts of Love, to use the Town Farm without any oversight for compliance of the Trust. Eno Farms Affordable Housing is on the Eno Trust presently owned by the Connecticut Housing Authority (CHFA) since they cannot get clear title to the property. The complex is managed by Konover and cannot be sold. The Charities Division of the Attorney General’s Office has deferred to the Town for compliance and the Town has ignored their responsibilities. Over the years the Eno Farms Affordable Housing Complex has had numerous lawsuits from the renters alleging fraud. There was no oversight from Richard Blumenthal who was the Attorney General at the time of the lawsuits.