Post by chris on Jan 18, 2016 8:11:23 GMT -7
ADDENDUM TO GLA FORMAL COMPLAINT FORM - INITIATED BY CHRIS & IA WILLIAMS - JANUARY 17, 2016
The history is, or should be, well known by all GLA directors given the two Project Review meetings held prior to the monthly board meeting on January 11, 2016 when the board voted in favor of approving Marius Michael-George’s project review application while completely disregarding the concerns stated by the adjoining landowners, the Williams. Also disregarded by President of the Board Mizzi were the recommendations of the two co-chairs of the Project Review Committee, and the suggestions of the two landowner members of that committee, Keeler & Muto, to allow more time for the concerns to be addressed properly before the applicant moved a building over a private residential easement to his property with the potential intent of misusing the building for commercial purposes. The board also denied the request by the Williams that all “subject to” requirements that were agreed upon by the “property inspection” group concerning Marius’ responsibility for road repair, maintenance, and repair of any damage done by future water run-off or road erosion was documented in writing before approval was given.
The two meetings held by the Project Review Committee to address the application and the Williams’ concerns were: A telephone conference meeting held January 5, 2016 (official but unsigned minutes completed) and an on-site walk / review of the site the following day during which the applicant made numerous verbal exclamations that the building was not to be used for commercial or art school purposes, that it would have no electric or plumbing, that it would be used solely for storage and a workshop. Any electric power would be supplied by an extension cord from the house. He further stated that he would be liable for any damages to the easement and for cleaning up any disturbed or damaged vegetation after the move. Also discussed by the applicant and board members in attendance was whether the applicant would be willing to correct the surface water drainage problems and the washed out easement road resulting from those problems. The applicant said he would be willing to resolve those issues at his expense.
The Williams wrote three email letters to the board at the official info@glamontana.org address which we are told is distributed to all directors. These letters spelled out our concerns in detail and were dated January 5, 9 and 10.
At the monthly GLA board meeting held January 11, landowners were presented with a document titled “Meeting Decorum” at the orders of President Mizzi, which is a direct violation of policies and procedures. These unilateral guidelines limited all landowners to just three minutes to address the board either before or after the meeting, and were put in place to effectively gag landowners and the Williams from legitimately addressing their concerns to the board during the discussion and approval of this project in the meeting. In addition President Mizzi took over the functions and office of the co-chairs of the Project Review Committee herself, effectively silencing the two co-chairs and two landowner committee persons, and with the assistance of Secretary Murphy hastily pushed the application for approval by the board without due process and, we believe, against the co-chairs wishes as they wanted more time for fact finding. The request to have the applicant sign an agreement outlining what he had verbally agreed to do before the building was relocated to his property, which may have helped protect the GLA board from liability, was ignored. Consequently, the board voted to approve the application with the only condition that the applicant re-seeds any disturbed land on his property.
There are further disturbing facts or circumstances with this situation. President Mizzi is a minister of Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT). The applicant Michael-George is also affiliated with CUT. The Williams are in no way affiliated with CUT and are considered to be outsiders. Some members of CUT have been organized to actively decree on a regular and continual basis against the Williams and other outsiders. Mizzi has a prior ongoing relationship with Michael-George who has donated to CUT and the minister’s fundraising events. When the Williams expressed concerns that the true purpose of this building seemed to be for commercial purposes, an art school or classroom, because the applicant was actively advertising for same on his web site with a page copyrighted 2014, Mizzi advised the applicant to remove the advertisement because it was “confusing,” which we interpret as a message to Marius to hide the evidence. The page disappeared off the web site later that evening.
We have learned that this building that the applicant has since moved to his property has been on CUT affiliated property in North Glastonbury for many years and has been known to long-time church members as “Marius’ Studio” where he taught art classes to many members. Marius has claimed in these proceedings that he has not taught art classes in Glastonbury for more than 15 years. Is this really true?
We further believe that this is an example of reverse religious discrimination, as is regularly practiced by CUT and some of its members against non-members and former members, which is a violation of the Civil Rights Act and perhaps additional laws. A further example of religious discrimination is found in the opening of the January 11 monthly board meeting. The board had recently approved by vote to open meetings with “a moment of silence.” President/Minister Mizzi unilaterally decided to open the meeting with “silent prayer.” It is very clear that Mizzi is heavily influenced by her ministerial position with CUT to the extent that it clouds her objectivity as a board director and officer. The tradition of the separation of church and state in government at all levels in America needs to be honored. If Mizzi is not able to do this, she should resign from the GLA board.
One final observation: The board approved the application on January 11. On January 13 the applicant had his contractor move the building in two halves during nighttime hours starting around 7pm and ending around 3am with no prior notice to neighbors. We have been advised that a portion of Mercury Lane was completely blocked to neighbors at points during this time.
We believe that in addition to federal and state law violations, the GLA board has also violated the following GLA Governing Documents:
1) The GLA Road Standards adopted 2/2/2004 and posted on the official GLA web site. Mizzi simply blew them off by refusing to acknowledge that these had any bearing on the issues. Further violations are cited in the following complaints also filed with the GLA board of directors with specific reference to the appropriate governing documents:
2) Reference Leo Keeler Complaint dated January 12, 2016.
3) Reference Debbie Blais Complaint dated January 14, 2016.
4) Reference Dorothy Keeler Complaint dated January 16, 2016.
5) Reference Debbie Blais letter dated January 16, 2016 supporting Keeler Complaint.
Formal Complaint Form is attached.
Chris & Ia Williams, NG-33C
The history is, or should be, well known by all GLA directors given the two Project Review meetings held prior to the monthly board meeting on January 11, 2016 when the board voted in favor of approving Marius Michael-George’s project review application while completely disregarding the concerns stated by the adjoining landowners, the Williams. Also disregarded by President of the Board Mizzi were the recommendations of the two co-chairs of the Project Review Committee, and the suggestions of the two landowner members of that committee, Keeler & Muto, to allow more time for the concerns to be addressed properly before the applicant moved a building over a private residential easement to his property with the potential intent of misusing the building for commercial purposes. The board also denied the request by the Williams that all “subject to” requirements that were agreed upon by the “property inspection” group concerning Marius’ responsibility for road repair, maintenance, and repair of any damage done by future water run-off or road erosion was documented in writing before approval was given.
The two meetings held by the Project Review Committee to address the application and the Williams’ concerns were: A telephone conference meeting held January 5, 2016 (official but unsigned minutes completed) and an on-site walk / review of the site the following day during which the applicant made numerous verbal exclamations that the building was not to be used for commercial or art school purposes, that it would have no electric or plumbing, that it would be used solely for storage and a workshop. Any electric power would be supplied by an extension cord from the house. He further stated that he would be liable for any damages to the easement and for cleaning up any disturbed or damaged vegetation after the move. Also discussed by the applicant and board members in attendance was whether the applicant would be willing to correct the surface water drainage problems and the washed out easement road resulting from those problems. The applicant said he would be willing to resolve those issues at his expense.
The Williams wrote three email letters to the board at the official info@glamontana.org address which we are told is distributed to all directors. These letters spelled out our concerns in detail and were dated January 5, 9 and 10.
At the monthly GLA board meeting held January 11, landowners were presented with a document titled “Meeting Decorum” at the orders of President Mizzi, which is a direct violation of policies and procedures. These unilateral guidelines limited all landowners to just three minutes to address the board either before or after the meeting, and were put in place to effectively gag landowners and the Williams from legitimately addressing their concerns to the board during the discussion and approval of this project in the meeting. In addition President Mizzi took over the functions and office of the co-chairs of the Project Review Committee herself, effectively silencing the two co-chairs and two landowner committee persons, and with the assistance of Secretary Murphy hastily pushed the application for approval by the board without due process and, we believe, against the co-chairs wishes as they wanted more time for fact finding. The request to have the applicant sign an agreement outlining what he had verbally agreed to do before the building was relocated to his property, which may have helped protect the GLA board from liability, was ignored. Consequently, the board voted to approve the application with the only condition that the applicant re-seeds any disturbed land on his property.
There are further disturbing facts or circumstances with this situation. President Mizzi is a minister of Church Universal and Triumphant (CUT). The applicant Michael-George is also affiliated with CUT. The Williams are in no way affiliated with CUT and are considered to be outsiders. Some members of CUT have been organized to actively decree on a regular and continual basis against the Williams and other outsiders. Mizzi has a prior ongoing relationship with Michael-George who has donated to CUT and the minister’s fundraising events. When the Williams expressed concerns that the true purpose of this building seemed to be for commercial purposes, an art school or classroom, because the applicant was actively advertising for same on his web site with a page copyrighted 2014, Mizzi advised the applicant to remove the advertisement because it was “confusing,” which we interpret as a message to Marius to hide the evidence. The page disappeared off the web site later that evening.
We have learned that this building that the applicant has since moved to his property has been on CUT affiliated property in North Glastonbury for many years and has been known to long-time church members as “Marius’ Studio” where he taught art classes to many members. Marius has claimed in these proceedings that he has not taught art classes in Glastonbury for more than 15 years. Is this really true?
We further believe that this is an example of reverse religious discrimination, as is regularly practiced by CUT and some of its members against non-members and former members, which is a violation of the Civil Rights Act and perhaps additional laws. A further example of religious discrimination is found in the opening of the January 11 monthly board meeting. The board had recently approved by vote to open meetings with “a moment of silence.” President/Minister Mizzi unilaterally decided to open the meeting with “silent prayer.” It is very clear that Mizzi is heavily influenced by her ministerial position with CUT to the extent that it clouds her objectivity as a board director and officer. The tradition of the separation of church and state in government at all levels in America needs to be honored. If Mizzi is not able to do this, she should resign from the GLA board.
One final observation: The board approved the application on January 11. On January 13 the applicant had his contractor move the building in two halves during nighttime hours starting around 7pm and ending around 3am with no prior notice to neighbors. We have been advised that a portion of Mercury Lane was completely blocked to neighbors at points during this time.
We believe that in addition to federal and state law violations, the GLA board has also violated the following GLA Governing Documents:
1) The GLA Road Standards adopted 2/2/2004 and posted on the official GLA web site. Mizzi simply blew them off by refusing to acknowledge that these had any bearing on the issues. Further violations are cited in the following complaints also filed with the GLA board of directors with specific reference to the appropriate governing documents:
2) Reference Leo Keeler Complaint dated January 12, 2016.
3) Reference Debbie Blais Complaint dated January 14, 2016.
4) Reference Dorothy Keeler Complaint dated January 16, 2016.
5) Reference Debbie Blais letter dated January 16, 2016 supporting Keeler Complaint.
Formal Complaint Form is attached.
Chris & Ia Williams, NG-33C
