SIMSBURY – First Selectman Mary Glassman has announced resignation on Monday, effective Jan. 2, 2015.
Glassman, a Democrat, has led the town for 16 years. Monday, the Republican-controlled board of selectmen voted to cut her pay and benefits significantly during the middle of her term. Glassman’s salary is being cut 35 percent, from $113,850 to $75,000. Glassman said if she didn’t step down by the beginning of next year, she would risk losing her defined benefit plan in retirement.
Glassman made the announcement that she is stepping down at a noon press conference.
This job has been one of the most positive experiences of my professional life. However, every once in a while an event occurs which is so significant that an individual must speak up and be counted. The recent action of the Republican majority on the Board of Selectmen to cut my salary and impact my pension affects me personally and financially. What is most troubling is that the action the Republican board members took is a politically motivated abuse of power. It is a calculated step taken by the Republican party that should trouble the people of Simsbury.
Glassman added that the last time a Republican was first selectman, the board, which was also Republican-controlled, had given him a 16.5 percent raise.
Republicans categorically denied that the decision to make cuts in pay and benefits was politically motivated. “Our motivation here was to do what’s best for the town, and part of that is not to leave this gap in the salary into the next budget year,” Republican Selectman Cheryl Cook said.
