Simsbury Board of Selectmen Meeting September 28, 2026

Simsbury Board of Selectmen Meeting September 28, 2026

I would like to report that Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio has not lifted the No Trespass on his property on Hopmeadow Street including Antonio Restaurant and the Hideaway Bar.

Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio filed a complaint with the Simsbury Police Department, not allowing me to go on his property when I took pictures of many illegal signs on his property and reported them to the Code Compliance Officer.

The illegal signs had to be removed.

As a result of his vindictive behavior, I asked everyone to boycott both the Antonio Restaurant and the Hideaway Bar.

Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio was concerned that due to the boycott, employees had their wages diminished.

There was no concern that this was a self-inflicted wound.

During the reporting process, Deputy First Selectman asked the Police how he could file a restraining order against me.

This appears to be a veiled threat since no restraining order was issued.

The Town inspected many business establishments for ADA Compliance and produced an audit report on September 29, 2025.

On this list was several Antonio establishments: Sunrise Convenience Store, 1 new sign needed, Antonio’s, 2 new signs needed, Old Well Tavern, 2 double-signs needed and sign violations, State Farm near Big Y, 1 new sign needed.

This list had to be developed with employees entering the parking lots for violations of ADA compliance.

However, Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio did not file a No Trespass report on the town employees.

Recently there were many meetings with various boards and commissions with public comments on various land use applications.

When the Car Wash came before the Zoning Commission, they appeared to be more concerned about increasing economic development than complying with the regulations.

The Zoning Board of Appeals heard testimony about the LED sign at Simsbury Farms and deliberated about the color, texture, lights, time used, height, nothing about Hardship, their only concern.

They acted as if they were the Design Review Board.

It appears that many Boards and Commissions do not adhere to the strict interpretation of the application before them and deliberate on actions that should be reserved for other boards and commissions.

Town Manager Marc Nelson and Deputy Town Manager Tom Fitzgerald attend the Board of Selectmen meetings that is conducted by First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis.

The Town Manager and the Deputy Town Manager only participate when asked.

They have no standing at the meetings although First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis has assigned the timing task for all speakers, to the Deputy Town Manager due to her inability to conduct a meeting and follow the polices of the Town.

The Town Charter states: Section 412 Directions to employees.

No members of the Board of Selectmen, including the First Selectman or First Selectwoman shall give orders, either publicly or privately, to any administrative officer or employee as defined by Sections 503 and 701 of this Charter.

However, First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis has ordered Deputy Town Manager Tom Fitzgerald to perform the task of timer for public comment.

First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis should review the Charter that she has continually violated throughout her tenure as First Selectman.

This appears to be an unfair labor practice since this is not included on his job description.

The Friends of the Library recently held a Book Sale at the Simsbury High School gymnasium.

The tables for the placement of the books were placed on the newly renovated Gym floor with a rubberized] surface.

The books were extremely heavy causing the legs of the table to dig a hole on the floor making it unusable for school activities.

Many activities had to be rescheduled with no timeline for replacement to begin.

The Affordable Housing act 8-30g has created more housing that towns cannot assimilate.

This disruption in Zoning Regulations is a result of the Attorneys, building lobbyists and developers comingtogether to trash all Zoning Regulations by marketing a law that they developed on the theory that Towns need more affordable housing to our legislaturesthat they passed and should be held responsible for their poor judgement on the unintended consequences of the passage of the 8-30g law.

The Town has produced a document responding to this draconian law with pages of documentation asking the State for relief with a Moratorium on Affordable Housing construction.

The document has been forwarded to the Town Attorney Bob DeCrescenzo for approval before it can be submitted to the State and weeks have gone by without any response.

It appears that once again Town Attorney DeCrescenzo has caused a delay due to his professional commitments with other Towns.

This appears to be professional malpractice.