Simsbury OKs Pact To Hire Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Mayor To Be New Manager

SIMSBURY, CT — Last month, Simsbury officials announced the man they wanted to be the town's second-ever town manager.

This week, the Simsbury Board of Selectmen made it official, inking a new contract to formally give Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Mayor Marc Nelson the reigns at Simsbury Town Hall.

According to the contract, Nelson will be paid $187,500 annually and the initial terms of the deal are three years, from Jan. 9, 2024, to Jan. 7, 2027.

Other contract details include four weeks of paid vacation annually; a $500-per-month stipend for the use of his personal motor vehicle; and $5,000 to aid in moving expenses, among other items.

He will begin his new role on Jan. 8, 2024, in time for the Simsbury Board of Selectmen's first meeting of the new year, according to Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis.

"We welcome Marc to the Town of Simsbury and look forward to his leadership as our chief executive officer," wrote Mackstutis in her regular selectmen report.

Nelson's current title in Poughkeepsie is "mayor," though he was sworn into that role in January after that city's elected mayor left the office for a seat in the New York State legislature.

While still serving as the city administrator, his regular role in Poughkeepsie, Nelson announced intentions to seek Poughkeepsie's Democratic mayoral nomination last February.

But it appears those plans changed after Nelson lost a June primary bid to win his party's nomination to serve on the Poughkeepsie Democratic ticket.

Now, he's coming to Simsbury.

Last month, selectmen announced Nelson as the main choice after Nelson met with the public at a special meet-and-greet event on Sept. 26.

Prior to his current position, Nelson was the tax collector for the City of Hartford.

Nelson is Simsbury's second-ever town manager, replacing Maria Capriola, who left in May after being named the first town manager in December 2017 following a charter change.

Since May 1, Simsbury has utilized Simsbury Police Chief Nicholas Boulter and ex-Wethersfield Town Manager Lee Erdmann on an interim basis.

"Everyone is eager to get to work with Marc, although we will miss our interim town manager, Lee Erdmann, when he leaves in December," wrote Mackstutis.

The recorded Simsbury Board of Selectmen meeting from Monday, Oct. 23, did not include the vote as it ended when the meeting went into executive session prior to the decision to officially approve Nelson's contract.

Mackstutis said the pact was not included on the original agenda, but it was added to it prior to the meeting.

To read the full contract details and the resolution to approve the pact, click on this link and scroll to Page 133.

From Sept. 29: 'Simsbury Names Its Town Manager Hopeful'