Board of Selectmen Special Meeting May 28, 2014-Approved

TOWN OF SIMSBURY – BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – MAY 28, 2014   

CALL TO ORDER

The Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order by Ms. Glassman at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were Mary Glassman, Michael Paine, Lisa Heavner, Nancy Haase, and Cheryl Cook. Absent was Sean Askham. Others in attendance included: Richard Sawitzke, Ed LaMontagne’, State Representative John Hampton, Tom Cooke, and other interested parties.

Ms. Glassman said this is a very special meeting where we honor Hometown Heroes for their significant contributions to the community.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRESENTATIONS

Hometown Hero Award Presentation Ceremony:

Dominique Avery
Frances Gauthier
Eunice Kelly
Brad Mead

Ms. Glassman welcomed everyone, especially the Hometown Hero’s families and friends. She said this meeting is always a special treat for everyone.

Ms. Glassman said this award was initiated in 1986 by Governor William O’Neill as part of the 350th Anniversary of the founding of Connecticut. Towns were invited to designate residents as "Hometown Heroes" for any service or deed that made their community a better place to live. Since that time, Simsbury has recognized its own Hometown Heroes at a special meeting.

Ms. Glassman said the Selection Committee, consisting of the First Selectman, representatives from the Board of Selectmen, the Historical Society and the business community, along with a previous Hometown Hero and a member of a service or Veteran’s organization review nominations who have demonstrated selfless and altruistic behavior which contributes significantly to the betterment of the Town.

Ms. Glassman said the 2014 Hometown Hero Selection Committee consisted of herself as First Selectman, Michael Paine of the Board of Selectmen, Tom Horan a business leader, Roger Spear from the Simsbury Historical Society, T.J. Donohue a former Hometown Hero and Len Lanza a Veteran.

Ms. Glassman thanked the Committee and everyone who was nominated for Hometown Hero. The vote for these four special people was unanimous.

Ms. Glassman asked Mr. Kelly, Eunice Kelly’s husband to stand for her. Mr. Paine said Eunice Kelly was actively involved as a volunteer for various organizations improving the life of Simsbury residents from 1969 until she passed away on February 2, 2014. Mr. Paine said Ms. Kelly began with the Simsbury Newcomers Club helping to welcome people to Simsbury, and continued with the League of Women Voters, the Connecticut Reader Information System, and the Simsbury Historical Society. She had a particular interest in helping the Simsbury Public Library and was a member of the Friends of the Simsbury Library for many years, consistently volunteering her time. Ms. Kelly assisted in raising more than $1,000,000 towards the renovation of the Library. Mr. Paine said Ms. Kelly also wrote a well read general interest article called "View From My Library" for 40 years, which was written about family life and was a humorous touchstone for many in the Farmington Valley. Mr. Paine said it was a pleasure to recognize Eunice Kelly as a Simsbury "Hometown Hero."

Mr. Kelly thanked the Committee for this award. He said his wife just loved Simsbury and sometimes she just "had to do it". She found someone who had just retired from raising money and she asked if he would help raise money for the Library renovation. Mr. Kelly said one week before Eunice passed away she had a meeting of the Library and she ran that meeting for one last time.

Ms. Glassman said a book will be donated in Eunice Kelly’s name and asked that Mr. Kelly help them pick it out.

Ms. Glassman asked that Dominique Avery step up with Ms. Heavner. Ms. Heavner said it was her pleasure to present this award to Dominique as she is a deserving citizen but also a friend. She also welcomed her family and friends,

Ms. Heavner said Ms. Avery is known for her vision and leadership that has so positively impacted the Town. She served as a founder of the Bridge of Flowers, that both residents and visitors may enjoy. She is an active member of the Simsbury Tourism Committee, continuing to support both the bridge and the Town as a tourist destination. Ms. Avery also has experience in news and journalism, which she utilizes as a member of the Board of Simsbury Community Television. Holding previous experience as both a teacher and journalist, she served as a member of the Simsbury Board of Education from 1997-2001, and is a former member and chair of the Simsbury Recycling Committee. We are proud to honor Ms. Avery as a Simsbury "Hometown Hero" for her dedication to volunteerism.

Ms. Avery said she just loves this Town. She wanted to thank everyone for acknowledging her contributions to this Town. She said she has known Ms. Glassman and Mr. Paine for many, many years at it means a lot that they are here. She thanked the people who nominated her and all the other people who were nominated. Ms. Avery also said her husband deserves this honor as much as she does after all he has put up with. She also thanked her family. She is very sorry that Ms. Kelly didn’t get his award before she passed.

Ms. Avery said that if residents feels the Town is worthy of the State Fan Favorite Still Revolutionary Town of the Year, please vote on June 12th. This contest highlights the Town that embodies the spirit of State tourism Still Revolutionary Brand as a place with new ideas and innovation. There will be more information to follow.

Ms. Avery also said she is going to do a show, on SCTV, about the state of local new media tomorrow.

She feels Simsbury is lucky to have a TV station that has three channels; however, they need more volunteers and financial support.

Ms. Avery said Simsbury is a great time with many great volunteers. They don’t just complain, they get involved.

Ms. Glassman asked Frances J. Gauthier to join Ms. Haase. Ms. Haase said it is her pleasure to present this award to Ms. Gauthier.

Ms. Haase said Ms. Gauthier is involved with many different volunteer organizations in Simsbury. In 2013, the Simsbury Lions Club decided to begin Pediatric Eye Screening for Simsbury schoolchildren in Kindergarten and Pre-school. Ms. Gauthier both proposed this project and accepted the responsibilities associated with it. Many of these vision problems can no longer be treated past the age of 7, furthering the importance of her work. In addition, Ms. Gauthier volunteered at Jack Bannan’s Turkey Trot, Red Cross Blood Mobiles, Simsbury Community Farm, and the Foodshare Truck at First Church of Christ. She has been active at her Church, having previously served as Vice President of the Congregation. Her husband, Bob, was nominated for this award in 2012. Our Town has benefitted in so many ways from Fran’s work, as we are pleased to present he with this "Hometown Hero" award.

Ms. Gauthier thanked everyone for this special honor. She feels other people deserve this more than she does, but is honored that they did catch several children with eye issues before it was too late. Ms. Gauthier also noted that there will be an Adult Eye Screening at St. Bernard’s tomorrow. She truly loves to volunteer and she introduced her family.

Ms. Glassman asked Bradford Mead to join her. Ms. Glassman introduced his wife and Bill Rice, who nominated him. She said the volunteer contributions by Mr. Mead have had a significant impact on the Town. He has served on numerous Town boards; including the Charter Revision Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission. He has been instrumental in helping to coordinate and assist in many Town events including the recent Simsbury Triathalon and as an ambassador for the Solarize Simsbury program.

Ms. Glassman said Mr. Mead’s most significant achievement is the impact he has had on the Boy Scouts program in Simsbury. He has been Scout Leader of Troop 175 since 2006 and has mentored more than 45 Eagle Scouts during that time, including his two sons, Ryan and Jeffrey. Ms. Glassman said recently, Mr. Mead was honored by the Boy Scouts of America as one of the top 54 scoutmasters out of 44,000 in the country; and traveled to the national meeting in Texas with his wife Dianne to receive this award. Mr. Mead also serves as chair of the National Eagle Scout Association for the CT Rivers Alliance and is also on the Board of Directors of the CT Rivers Alliance. We are all proud to honor Mr. Mead with the "Hometown Hero" award.

Mr. Mead thanked everyone very much and said this Town is a lot of fun to volunteer for. He said that those who volunteer get a lot of satisfaction out of it. He said as a Scout Master, there will be 22 Eagle Scouts in this senior year. He told a story about a young scout he was hiking with, who was having a hard time, but he still wanted to do it next year. This boy has gone so much further in climbing so

many other mountains. This boy actually won second place in the country out of 50,000 scouts for one of his Eagle Scout projects. He then won 55 badges. He is privileged to work with these kids. This is why he loves Scouting so much.

Ms. Glassman thanked everyone for attending and pictures were taken. There is a reception down the hall for everyone to enjoy.

Ms. Haase made a motion to adjourn at 6:55 p.m. Mr. Paine seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary A. Glassman
First Selectman