First Selectman's Report - 03/26/2012

I HAVE MADE IT A PRIORITY TO KEEP THE PUBLIC FULLY INFORMED ABOUT BOTH THE SUBSTANCE AND THE SCHEDULE FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS.

TOMORROW NIGHT, THE BOARD OF FINANCE WILL HOLD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THE AUDITORIUM OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, BEGINNING AT 7:00 P.M. – THE FIRST ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND THE SECOND ON THE TOWN’S OPERATING BUDGETS.  I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED TO ATTEND AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE HEARINGS.

THE BOARD OF FINANCE WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE HEARINGS AND MAKE ITS FINAL DECISIONS BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED AT THE HEARINGS.

THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN WILL ALSO HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT RIGHT AFTER THE BOARD OF FINANCE HAS ITS FINAL MEETING.  THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN WILL:

*  APPROVE THE LEGAL LANGUAGE FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING ON THE BUDGET – 7:00 P.M. ON MAY 1, 2012 AT THE HIGH SCHOOL;

*  APPROVE A NOTICE OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING – TO BE HELD RIGHT AFTER THE ANNUAL MEETING – FOR CONSIDERATION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT DO NOT NEED        TO BE BONDED; AND

*  PASS A RESOLUTION SETTING THE DATE FOR THE REFERENDUM, WHICH WILL BE CONDUCTED AT HENRY JAMES MIDDLE SCHOOL ON MAY 15, 2012 BETWEEN 6:00 A.M.                        AND 8:00 P.M.

THEN WE ALL GET A BREAK FOR A LITTLE WHILE!

WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE BUDGET INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AS THAT INFORMATION IS ADDED OR MODIFIED.  YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE BUDGET WEB PAGE RIGHT ON THE HOME PAGE OF THE TOWN’S WEBSITE, WHICH YOU CAN FIND ATWWW.TOWN.SIMSBURY.CT.US.

A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS HAVE CONTACTED TOWN HALL ASKING WHY – IF THE TOWN NO LONGER USES SAND ON ROADS DURING THE WINTER – IS THE TOWN STILL SWEEPING THE STREETS.

THE PRIMARY REASON FOR CONTINUED STREET SWEEPING IS THAT WE NEED TO DO IT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR CT DEEP STORM WATER DISCHARGE PERMIT.  IT ALSO HELPS TO REMOVE LEAVES, STICKS AND OTHER DEBRIS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR – AND BY COLLECTING FLUIDS AND DEBRIS FROM CARS, WE’RE HELPING TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS.

WE ALSO USE THE SWEEPERS AS A MATTER OF NECESSITY – FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER AN ACCIDENT WHERE CLEAN-UP IS REQUIRED.

SINCE OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STARTED USING SALT ON THE ROADS INSTEAD OF SAND, THE TOWN HAS CUT ITS ROADWAY SWEEPING COSTS BY 75%.  I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR DOING ITS PART TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE EVERY BUDGET DOLLAR COUNT.

ON APRIL 9, 2012 WE WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO REMEMBER THE SOLDIERS WHO – SEVENTY YEARS AGO – WERE FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC EPISODES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

AFTER THREE MONTHS OF INTENSE FIGHTING, AMERICAN AND PHILLIPINO SOLDIERS, ALREADY HALF-STARVED AND EXHAUSTED FROM BATTLE, WERE FORCED TO MARCH UP THE EAST COAST OF BATAAN.  LITERALLY ALL OF THESE MEN WERE TORTURED ALONG THE WAY, AND THOUSANDS NEVER MADE IT TO CAMP O’DONNELL.

ONE OF THE HEROES WHO SURVIVED THIS ORDEAL IS SIMSBURY RESIDENT DAN CROWLEY.  DAN IS IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER A REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY WHICH WILL BE HELD FROM 2:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M. ON APRIL 9, 2012 IN THE LIBRARY’S PROGRAM ROOM.  WE WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ON THE EVENT AS IT TAKES SHAPE – IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND PLAN TO ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT TRIBUTE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DAN FOR SPEAR-HEADING THIS EVENT – I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL FOREVER GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR HIS UNSTINTING SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY AND FOR HIS PART IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE LIBERTIES WE ENJOY.