Hometown Hero

Complete the online Hometown Hero Nomination Form

OR

Print & complete the Hometown Hero Nomination Form

1.    Background Information
    The Program was initiated in 1986 by Governor William O’Neill as part of the 350th Anniversary of the founding of Connecticut.  Any municipality could designate residents as “Hometown Heroes” for any deed or service that made the community a better place in which to live.  State certificates were presented to the 42 individuals and 4 organizations on May 12, 1986.  The following year, First Selectwoman Margaret Shanks continued the program with certificates developed for Simsbury, naming 48 designates.  It has been continued since, with Hometown Heroes recognized at a ceremony during the month of May as May 12th is the date of Simsbury’s birth.
    
2.    Criteria for Selection
A.    A person(s) who is a resident, or who is active in the Simsbury community, or who lived in Simsbury during the time period that is under consideration.

B.    That the acts and services which are recognized have a real and perceived benefit to the Town of Simsbury; and that

C.    Individuals or groups that have been nominated for the Hometown Hero Award shall be duly considered with the following exception:

A nominee may not be a member of Town staff, nor a sitting elected official, or have benefited economically from his/her endeavors on behalf of the Town. Provided however that no nominee shall excluded from consideration when the qualities and activities under consideration are outside the scope of their official duties. The hero shall not be a member of Town staff, nor a sitting elected or appointed official.  Nor shall the hero have benefited economically from his/ her endeavors on behalf of the Town.   

D.    There will be no quotas or automatic selections by the Committee and the Committee shall use discretion to protect the special significance of the award when considering large numbers of nominees.

    
3.    The Selection Process
A.    Written nominations will be requested and received during a thirty (30) day period typically occurring in whole or part during the months of March and/or April.
    
B.    The Selection Committee shall review the names nominated for the Hometown Hero Award.  The Committee shall make selection and approve the list of award recipients no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled ceremony.
    
C.    The Town Manager’s Office shall notify all award recipients of the time and place of the award ceremony.
    
D.    The Town Manager’s Office shall complete arrangements for the ceremony such as scheduling, publicity, and refreshments.

E.     The names of award recipients will be engraved on the Hometown Heroes plaque displayed in Town Hall.
    
4.    The Selection Committee
The Selection Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen on a biennial basis.  The Selection Committee shall consist of the First Selectman, a Board of Selectmen member of the opposite party, a member of the Historical Society, a business leader, a previous hometown hero, and a member of a veterans or service organization, with the goal of non-partisanship in mind.

The membership of the Committee shall be recommended by the First Selectman and the Town Manager to the Board of Selectmen.  The Board of Selectmen is the appointing authority.

Staff assistance to the Selection Committee shall include reasonable requests deemed necessary by the Committee.