First Selectman's Report - 06/13/2011

I’M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (“GFOA”) HAS AWARDED ITS “CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING” TO SIMSBURY FOR ITS PREPARATION OF ITS 2009-2010 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.  THE GFOA CONSIDERS THE CERTIFICATE ITS “HIGEST FORM OF RECOGNITION IN THE AREA OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING,” NOTING THAT RECEIVING THE CERTIFICATE “REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT BY A GOVERNMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT.”

THE “CAFR,” AS IT IS CALLED,” WAS PREPARED BY KEVIN KANE AND WE CONTINUE TO BE GRATEFUL TO KEVIN FOR SETTING AND MAINTAINING A HIGH STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE FOR THE TOWN AND ITS FINANCE DEPARTMENT.  IN ADDITION TO MAINTAINING HIGH REPORTING STANDARDS, OUR CURRENT FINANCE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO SEEK OUT AND IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE CIRMA REFUND AND THE BOND REFUNDING OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND THE BOARD OF FINANCE EARLIER TONIGHT.

THE SIMSBURY FARMERS MARKET OPENED FOR ITS FOURTH YEAR OF BUSINESS ON THURSDAY, JUNE 2^ND ON THE GREEN AT SIMSMORE SQUARE.  THE MARKET’S HOURS ARE 3:00 TO 6:00 PM BUT, DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, THE MARKET IS GOING TO STAY OPEN UNTIL 6:30 FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – AND MAYBE BEYOND, IF THE ADDITIONAL TIME IS SUCCESSFUL!

THE MARKET IS A “PRODUCER ONLY” MARKET, WHICH MEANS THAT CONSUMERS CAN BUY THE SAFEST AND FRESHEST FOODS IN CONNECTICUT DIRECTLY FROM THE FARMER.  THE MARKET’S GOAL IS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO FIND AND BUY ALMOST ANYTHING THAT IS GROWN IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.

THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP IN SIMSBURY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK FOUNDER SHERRI FLAMINIO, THE PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES AND THE MANY, MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE FARMER’S MARKET A SUCCESS.  BE SURE TO VISIT THE MARKET THIS THURSDAY!

A NUMBER OF SIMSBURY RESIDENTS, INCLUDING OVER THREE DOZEN OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, TRAVELLED TO DOWNTOWN HARTFORD FOR THE WADSWORTH ATHENEUM MUSEUM OF ART’S “SIMSBURY DAY” ON SATURDAY THE 2^ND OF JUNE.

“SIMSBURY DAY” – WHICH HAS ITS ORIGINS IN A DISPUTE OVER OWNERSHIP OF A VALUABLE PAINTING FOUND IN ENO MEMORIAL HALL – PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE MUSEUM FREE OF CHARGE ONCE A YEAR.  THIS YEAR, TOWN RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE A DOCENT-GUIDED TOUR OF A SPECIAL EXHIBITION OF MONET’S WATER LILLIES.

KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR NEXT YEAR’S “SIMSBURY DAY” – IT IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE ATHENEUM, WHICH IS ONE OF HARTFORD’S GREAT TREASURES.

THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT PUSHED THROUGH SIMSBURY LAST THURSDAY LEFT TREES DOWN AND, AT ONE POINT, UP TO 12% OF OUR RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER.  BY FRIDAY MORNING, THAT NUMBER WAS DOWN TO 2% AND BY THE END OF THE DAY IT WAS BUSINESS AS USUAL.

THERE WERE SOME CLOSE CALLS – A TREE CAME DOWN ON A MOVING CAR ON WILDWOOD, BUT THE DRIVER MIRACULOUSLY WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY.  THERE WERE ALSO SOME ROAD CLOSURES ON FIRETOWN AND NOD ROADS.  COMPARED TO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, HOWEVER, SIMSBURY CAME THROUGH IN RELATIVELY GOOD SHAPE.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO CONNECTICUT LIGHT & POWER FOR THEIR PROMPT RESPONSE AND PROACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS – AND OF COURSE TO OUR SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS PERSONNEL FOR MOVING QUICKLY TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS WERE SAFE AND THAT OUR ROADS WERE QUICKLY BACK TO WORKING ORDER.