Simsbury First Selectman Upholds Resignation Decision Despite Pay Cut Reversal

While Simsbury selectmen voted to reverse its decision about a pay cut to the first selectman's position, First Selectman Mary Glassman said at a meeting Monday that she will still be stepping down.

The Board of Selectmen acknowledged the resignation of Glassman, who's served as first selectman for 16 years, and swore in sitting Selectman Lisa Heavner (D) to take the helm.

"By being here tonight, you have sent a signal that in our town and in every town, people need to pay attention to the decisions being made, to be involved and to help make sure good decisions are made and to speak out when you see something's wrong," Glassman said at the meeting.

Glassman resigned last week after the Board of Selectmen voted to cut her salary from $113,000 to $75,000 next summer, calling the decision from the largely Republican board, "personal and political." She remains in office for now and her resignation is effective Jan. 2, 2015.

Heavner will finish out Glassman's term, starting Jan. 3.

The board reconsidered their decision to reduce the salary for the first selectman's position this coming summer after a petition on Moveon.org asked the selectmen to reverse the decision and an uproar in the community over the news.

"Our voices and our votes have been extinguished," Simsbury resident Lisa Yeisley said.

Glassman made her decision to resign out of objection for the process, previously stating that she approved of the pay cut for the position effective the next election, not mid-term. She made an emotional speech at the meeting.

Meanwhile there was a call from the public for Deputy First Selectman Nancy M. Haase and Selectmen Cheryl B. Cook and Mike R. Paine to resign instead and a question was raised about impeaching board members. 

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