Board of Selectmen Meeting May 10, 2021

Board of Selectmen Meeting May 10, 2021

Cancel Culture has permeated into the Public Audience section of the Board of Selectmen under the direction of Town Manager Maria Capriola and First Selectman Eric Wellman..

At the April 24, 2021 Meeting of the Board of Selectmen First Selectman Eric Wellman during the Public Audience section of the agenda mentioned the names of the people who sent their comments to be read aloud or were present at the Zoom Meeting. When my comments were to be read, First Selectman Eric Wellman did not mention my name, although it was past practice to name the person whose comments were to be read. Wellman stated and now Wendy will read the next submission without mentioning my name. This is a continual pattern of “cancel culture,” when there are diverse comments. Picture submissions have been ignored and not shown although this is part of the narrative.

The Board of Selectmen and Town Manager Maria Capriola have abused their power.

First Selectman Eric Wellman is running for the Board of Selectmen but not First Selectman. Wendy Mackstutis is running for First Selectman. The other Selectman have not committed to run at this time. Simsbury needs new faces on the Board of Selectman that believe in the Constitutional rights of the people.

Will the Cancel Culture continue under Wendy’s term?

The Police Commission also practices Cancel Culture when Commissioner Mike Long stated that he is suspending Public Audience as an agenda item.

All the other Commissioners, Chairman Jennifer Caulfield, Terry Fogarty, Tenesha Grant, and Travis Schweizer voted unanimously to suspend Public Audience at the Police Commission Meetings.

Commissioner Tenesha Grant is a member of the Spirit Council where their mission is inclusion and diversity.

Commissioner Tenesha Grant’s vote for suspending Public Audience was neither allowing inclusion of speech or diversity of opinion.

Town Manager Maria Capriola has stated that all requests for public information must go through an FOI request.

I have sent my requests to the Manager’s Office and there are over 10 requests that remain to be fulfilled.

On May 5, 2021 I received the resignation letter that Corey Thomas, the first Black Officer wrote after both Chief Boulter and Officer Corey Thomas thought was a “perfect fit.” Corey Thomas transferred from the New Britain Police Department and resigned after few weeks in the Simsbury Police Department.

Corey Thomas stated, “I do believe that officers who transfer in from other departments should be given the benefit of the doubt in more instances as to not make them feel as if they are recruits again. “

We have had many officers transferring from various departments.

Are these Officers encouraged to share their experiences and are treated with respect?

May has been designated Bicycle Safety Month.

As I drive around Simsbury the bicyclists do not stop at Stop Signs.

Since this is a Public Safety concern, I have asked the Simsbury Police Department to enforce the laws when the bicyclists run through stop signs.

There have been rumors surrounding the termination of Lorenzo Milledge’s contract as Indoor and outdoor track coach’s position at Simsbury High School.

Rumors were circulating that Lorenzo Milledge remained as a Security Guard, where he served for many years.

Rumors were also circulated that Lorenzo Milledge was going to take action against the Simsbury High School Administrators with a complaint with CHRO (Connecticut Human Rights and Opportunities).

On April 20, 2020 an Affidavit of Discriminatory Practice was filed with CHRO.

The Administrators named in the Affidavit are: Jeff Pinney, Athletic Director, Neil Sullivan, Human Resources and Steve Patrina, Principal of Simsbury High School.

It appears that DCF was investigating allegations of wrong-doing, and Lorenzo Milledge filed a report with the Simsbury Police Department responding to allegations made against him.

In the April 7, 2020 letter, Mr. Sullivan stated “Regardless of the ultimate DCF findings…we are terminating your contract as the indoor track coach and the outdoor track coach…you will be allowed to continue your assignment as a security guard for the Simsbury Public Schools... The question continues to be asked---if the complainant was such a danger to children, why was he allowed to remain in the position as security guard where he comes into contact with these same children?”

There are many allegations in the 16-page Affidavit that has not been resolved.

This is an ongoing claim against the Simsbury Public Schools while Lorenzo Milledge remains a security guard at the Simsbury High School.

If anyone is interested in reading the entire Affidavit, I have included a link on my comments.

https://www.dropbox.com/transf...