Board of Selectmen Public Hearing Minutes November 13, 2013 - DRAFT

DRAFT
TOWN OF SIMSBURY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
PUBLIC HEARING – NOVEMBER 13, 2013

CALL TO ORDER

The Public Hearing of the Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices.  Present were: First Selectman Mary Glassman; Board members Shannon Knall, Moira Wertheimer and Nancy Haase.  Others in attendance included Tom Cooke, Sean Kimball, Attorney DeCrescenzo, Dave Ryan and other interested parties.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC HEARING

Receive public comment concerning the proposed Amendment to Simsbury Code of Ordinances, Section 123-7 concerning the correction of blight ordinance violations by the Town

Ms. Glassman said the proposed change is to allow the Town to go onto property where there is a blight situation and there is no cooperation from the property, or the property owner cannot be found.  The corrections would be made and then a lien would then be placed on the property.

Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, said she is against any Town employee going onto private property without permission from the property owner.  They can view the blight from the road as most of it is in plain sight.  The Police are required to get a warrant to enter a person’s property and the Town should too.

Robert Kalechman, 971 Hopmeadow Street said there is no need for this amendment.  He said if the Town feels they are being harmed there is a Town attorney who can get a court order to take care of it.  He said the United States and State Constitutions are very explicit on these issues.  Property owners have a right to privacy. 

Ms. Glassman asked if there were any further public comments.  There were no additional comments, therefore, Ms. Wertheimer made motion to close the Public Hearing on the proposed Amendment to Simsbury Code of Ordinances, Section 123-7 at 7:05 p.m.  Ms. Haase seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Receive public comment concerning a proposal submitted pursuant to the Town of Simsbury Board of Selectmen Naming Rights Policy to rename Mall Way to Jim Gallagher
Way

Joan Coe said naming a road should be reserved for someone who is dead and made a lasting affect on the Town.  She feels it should not be used for someone who is a member of a Board or Commission for
TOWN OF SIMSBURY PUBLIC HEARING     DRAFT
NOVEMBER 13, 2013
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a long period of time as Mr. Gallagher.  She doesn’t feel his service to the Town meets the minimum requirements of a lasting legacy to the Town.  Renaming roads should be made very sparingly and she urged the Board to decline this application.

Robert Kalechman reminded everyone that he had asked that a little corner on Iron Horse Boulevard be renamed for a Sargent Felix DelGreco who lost his life for this country and this was declined.  Instead another road was named for him near the High School.  He feels this renaming would set bad presidencies.  Mr. Kalechman feels this issue is totally political.

Dave Ryan, 20 Westledge Road, was in favor of renaming Mall Way as Mr. Gallagher has volunteered for this Town for 45 years, which is totally incredible.  Mr. Ryan said when he and his wife went before Zoning in 1976 Mr. Gallagher had already been serving the Town for 9 years. He has spent many long nights at Zoning Commission meetings.  His 45 years of service on the Zoning Commission and all his other work for the Town is very deserving.  He thanked Mr. Gallagher for his tremendous service.

Mr. Ryan said that the Zoning Commission did vote and supported this application.

Chip Houlihan, 2 Somerset Lane is also in favor of Mall Way being changed to Jim Gallagher Way.  He feels the other comments about qualifications are well taken.  However, Mr. Gallagher has been very committed to this Town and it takes a tremendous amount of time to go through all of the issues.  His 45 years of service is just extraordinary and therefore, this change should be made.

Sue Bednarcyk, 119 E. Weatouge Street, spoke about a parking garage being named after someone and she thought that wasn’t much of an honor.  She wants to make sure that Mr. Gallagher is on board with this change.

With no further comments, Ms. Knall made a motion to close the Public Hearing at 7:18 p.m. Ms. Haase seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathi Radocchio
Clerk