Simsbury Advances Charter Changes, Keeps Economic Development Commission

SIMSBURY, CT — Town efforts to tweak its governing document are now ready to be decided at the polls later this year.

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen voted last month to advance a package of charter amendments to voters in the November 2026 election, while rejecting a recommendation to remove the Simsbury Economic Development Commission from the charter.

The board’s discussion, which took place at the April 22 regular meeting, centered on the final report from the Simsbury Charter Revision Commission, which had revisited nine items previously sent back by selectmen for further review.

Topics included term lengths, language revisions, staff direction procedures, and notification requirements.

Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis said the board had asked the commission to reconsider several issues after reviewing its initial recommendations.

Board member Mike Paine raised concerns about language in Section 801a of the proposed charter.

Paine said the draft incorrectly stated that the Simsbury Board of Finance is the town’s budget-making authority.

“However, the budget-making authority is actually the Board of Education and the Town Manager,” Paine said. “The Board of Finance reviews the budget and recommends changes to the Board of Selectmen, who then approve the budget.”

Management Specialist Franklyn Barrueco reviewed the Charter Revision Commission’s responses to the board’s requested changes and distributed a summary of the revisions.

Simsbury Town Attorney Bob DeCrescenzo outlined the legal process required to place the revised charter before voters and reviewed the proposed language.

The board then split over the Simsbury Economic Development Commission, commonly known as the EDC.

Paine introduced a motion to reject the Charter Revision Commission’s recommendation to remove the EDC from the charter.

Board members Diana Yeisley, Kevin Beal, and Curtis Looney joined Paine in supporting the motion.

Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio and Mackstutis voted against it.

The motion passed 4-2, preserving the EDC’s place in the charter.

The board later voted unanimously to approve the remaining charter amendments, excluding the proposed change to Section 601 concerning reconsideration of the EDC.

Selectmen also unanimously approved sending the charter amendments to voters during the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The board said it will meet again before the election to finalize the wording of referendum questions.

In a final unanimous vote, the board authorized public notification of the proposed charter changes within the next 30 days, as required by law.

For the minutes of the April 22 Simsbury Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.

From Feb. 23: 'Simsbury Selectmen To Open Charter Hearing Tonight, Continue It To Later Date'

From Feb. 17: 'Simsbury Selectmen To Get Busy On New Charter'

From Jan. 16: 'Final Simsbury Charter Hearing Slated For Next Week'

From Jan. 5: 'Simsbury Government Changes Proposed In Charter Review'