Simsbury Board of Selectmen Meeting April 21, 2025

Board of Selectmen Meeting April 21, 2025

I would like to respond to the comments Deputy Selectman Steve Antonio read at the March 24, 2025 Board of Selectmen meeting, referencing my comments about alleged illegal signs on property owned by Steve Antonio.

December 4, 2023, the Board of Selectmen, including Deputy Selectman Steve Antonio established Rules of Procedure for the Board of Selectmen meetings.

§A 162-4. Decorum & Standards of Conduct

All meeting participants should address the Board, and should not impugn the motive, character, or integrity of any individual.

The minutes of the March 24, 2025 Board of Selectmen meeting states,

“Steven Antonio, 133 Holcomb Street, speaking as an individual, not a Board member, said he understands the right of free speech. He appreciates the FOI Act and the transparency it provides. He spoke about the injustice of harassing our community members and Town staff who we pay with tax dollars. He said he does his best to abide by all rules of the Town when doing business. He has been doing business in this Town for over 60 years and Antonio’s is a proud and active part of the community.

Mr. Antonio said he has recently been under fire by Ms. Coe, who says her comments are for the benefit of the Town. He feels she has much more sinister goals. Praise and appreciation are illusive to her. She loves to cause others aggravation. How many tax dollars and do we have to spend on her substantive and irrelevant claims.”

As a result of Deputy Selectman Steve Antonio’s actions, I would like to have the Board of Selectmen censure him for the violation for §162-4 of the Decorum and Standards of Conduct.

I included the link from the SCTV video of the March 24, 2025 Board of Selectmen meeting with Steve Antonio’s comments at Public Audience.

https://drive.google.com/file/...

Steve Antonio’s Resume on the Democratic Party website states,

“Past or present Boards/Commissions/Volunteer work: Zoning Board of Appeals, Chairman; Design Review Board, Chairman; Building Code Board of Appeals; Simsbury Main Street, Board Member

Education: South School; Tariffville School; Tootin Hills School; Henry James Jr. High; Simsbury High School - Class of 1981

Why I serve? To give back to my community and insure what makes Simsbury great is maintained. Also, to allow our residents to best use their own property while protecting the rights and concerns of neighbors”

Steve Antonio has served on boards that oversee signs for businesses and as a businessman, he must submit site plans with signs for approval.

With all this background, why does he have to be told about the Zoning violations on his properties?

Town Attorney DeCrescenzo’s opinion in the past stated that trees do not have 1st Amendment rights and all signs should be removed affixed to trees.

The Town appears to have selective enforcement of the Zoning Regulations.

Deputy Selectman Steve Antonio wants us to believe that he is stellar citizen and abides by all rules.

However, a few years ago, Steve Antonio had a large July 4th Celebration at his house with fireworks that were so explosive that it shook my house.

The Fire Marshall was alerted that dogs in the neighborhood were upset from the noise.

The Fire Marshall went to his house and confiscated boxes of illegal fireworks.

There have been allegations of illegal drug distribution at Hoops N Hops bar on Social Media Posts and allegations from others.

All allegations going nowhere.

Having a lengthy family lineage in town, should not make those persons entitled to what appears to be special privileges.

On several occasions First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis stated that the Board of Selectmen does not respond to comments made at Public Audience.

However, there is selective enforcement using this as a tool to choose their response, which is discriminatory.

Discriminatory practices lead to failed leadership.

The Budget as proposed is a bunch of smoke and mirrors taking from Peter to pay Paul.

The Board of Education is using the Non-Lapsing Fund to add revenues to the budget.

This slush fund is developed from money remaining from large Board of Education projects.

Excessive taxation leads to an increase in the General Fund which is unacceptable.

The Grand List has not increased, revenues are reduced and taxation is increased, adding to a 2.55% increase in taxes with additional future encumberments.

Reducing budgets for the long-term requires courage and none of our elected or contracted employees are willing to apply severe cuts to a spending budget.

When our officials propose a budget with additional expenditures, it is a call to the taxpayers to force reductions by voting NO on the proposed budgets and force reductions.