[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6177807,"mediaKeyId","5332110-81913c8538dfec091a3648a4f8129e24","parentId",5332110,"title","Residents urge stronger Board of Finance authority and lower referendum threshold; commission hears public comment","audioSeconds",174,"startMs",128000,"endMs",302000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332110-81913c8538dfec091a3648a4f8129e24&start=128&end=302","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332110-81913c8538dfec091a3648a4f8129e24/thumbnail_128000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6177807/Simsbury-Center/Capitol-County/Connecticut/Residents-urge-stronger-Board-of-Finance-authority-and-lower-referendum-threshold-commission-hears-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177807-5e0cc34d47751120a165b7080334669f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771013501&Signature=lqWP0LNgH0MG4NXohvD8kLn~-XzK6C3~Mb9ih7sOX9Vde~aT2d9eLn0QvEN2VQPCSymbT24ZFIN3Z~5bySCFzpjv5jLnYC99tArwApTW7iUEEemYk7n1O~pbaHU1LiRSG03XJxyg7ylMU2D5mle983UwzEkAbZScWXhhmhFUS2QvugTpnVghucZIoJWKbBy9b64ybd1jZSRxjJl8zUtRyo29OHTp4gZNpKjtK0uUi0hRqXhxveL02na3I8EWMDyOOXnIkPGvZpBe87Lfp-S4TGNwfrQFbgDTpU43VuF3L4TPMP3c2MqRc0CzN3bqsLKZSuULoW-LZJ4HK~nopc3irA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Simsbury, CT","date","2025-07-09T01:08:20.527Z","article","Public audience at the start of the meeting included two residents who urged changes relevant to fiscal oversight and board composition. Arthur House, addressing the commission from 137 East Weetalk Street, told commissioners to \"Turn it loose and give it the equipment it needs to do its job,\" urging they empower the Board of Finance with staff, research authority and the ability to call for reports so it can act as a meaningful check on town spending.

Resident Laurie Waco raised several governance concerns in public comment including limits on boards creating their own subcommittees, ensuring appointed board members are electors (residents) rather than non‑residents or staff, and a request that the Farmington Valley Health District board representation be comprised of Simsbury electors rather than staff. Waco also said she did not favor extending many municipal offices to four-year terms because she worried longer terms reduce voters’ ability to enact rapid change.

Commissioners noted the charter currently includes a 2% threshold that would trigger a referendum on a single expenditure; members discussed whether that percentage should be lowered because the town’s overall budget has grown substantially. Commissioners asked staff to add a glossary definition of “annual budget” so the 2% trigger is computed against a clearly defined total going forward.

\"It is critically important that its board is comprised of Simsbury electors representing the town of Simsbury and not staff,\" Laurie Waco said when discussing regional health‑district representation.

Commissioners did not adopt any immediate changes during the meeting but recorded the public comments; staff were asked to include the Board of Finance’s written recommendations (to be presented later that evening) in the public materials linked from the commission’s web page.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Charter Revision Commission Meeting - July 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment speakers urged the commission to empower the Board of Finance with research authority and resources, and one resident suggested lowering the charter’s 2% threshold for obligatory referendums on single expenditures.","taxTitle","Simsbury Center, Capitol County, Connecticut","taxId",70146,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6177812,"Commission weighs which appointed boards belong in the charter, adds proposed rules for attendance and public audience",1575,6510000,8085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332110-81913c8538dfec091a3648a4f8129e24&start=6510&end=8085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332110-81913c8538dfec091a3648a4f8129e24/thumbnail_6510000.jpg","/articles/6177812/Simsbury-Center/Capitol-County/Connecticut/Commission-weighs-which-appointed-boards-belong-in-the-charter-adds-proposed-rules-for-attendance-and-public-audience","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177812-0ebf4e6dd0f241aab7d3cd80f3ac971a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771013501&Signature=WYn7HSx9AUZcxrmefVv~cjntjXX1WbG47oU8sII8a6uuEQOhLxrgD5MStvVsFSKofS6FAbSK2ECzmRoIfeHAbQ5lnZYiyd4QZCz9b2h1pecDonwcyqKxKmebK4vIP5SvMdJaH4O6qJ9l-Qs6zczqhMUfrY3F-rf4JJloG8BFX5Ad-27ujyrfVMIyUYj72u3~O4ZkyjWXqc9XfW72DH5~y48MXSN~kfda-jd7WFqdpIDEhmTGPv0enIeRDtRdD7~yr7mhU6ok~1HxqD6cPykbGHbNIBaxi6z~cJZNuD0fwJwTNkIAo92EveOaHFnZfScgUCnHktWDJdiq8VdtGhyidA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners reviewed chapter 6 — the list of appointed boards and commissions — and asked staff to determine which bodies are statutorily required in the charter and which may be moved to ordinance. Commissioners and staff agreed that a small number of bodies must remain because state law dictates membership and terms (for example, the Housing Authority and Historic District Commission) but that others (economic development, design review, some advisory committees) could be maintained by ordinance if the selectmen prefer.

Members also considered recurring public concerns about transparency. Several commissioners proposed adding a uniform attendance-and-removal rule so boards can remove inactive members after a chair recommends removal and the Board of Selectmen votes. One drafted provision the commission discussed would permit removal upon the chair’s recommendation and an affirmative vote of four selectmen if a member misses three consecutive regular meetings or more than 40% of meetings in the prior 12 months.

Commissioners also discussed a public‑audience requirement. A recommended sentence put forward by a commissioner reads: “All elected and appointed boards and commissions, as part of their procedures, shall allow for public audience at all regular meetings.” Members asked staff to refine that sentence so it fits legal constraints for land-use agencies (planning and zoning) where un-noticed remarks on pending applications could be treated as an illegal public hearing; staff will craft tailored language and carve‑outs for land‑use bodies.

The Economic Development Commission drew particular scrutiny because its powers are largely defined in ordinance and through an MOU with Main Street Partnership; commissioners noted that if the EDC’s functions are meant to be operational (e.g., negotiating incentives, soliciting developers) those powers must be specified in ordinance or an MOU, not just listed in the charter.

The commission approved a motion to defer detailed appointed‑board restructuring to the next meeting while staff verifies statutory requirements (membership counts and term lengths) for boards that must remain and prepares proposed language on removals and public audience.","The commission reviewed the long list of appointed boards and commissions, discussed which must remain in the charter versus those better created by ordinance, and asked staff to draft standard attendance/removal language plus a requirement that regular meetings include a public-audience opportunity.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6177817,"Commission debates limits on directing town staff, seeks charter language to guarantee timely board access to information",1071,2591000,3662000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332110-81913c8538dfec091a3648a4f8129e24&start=2591&end=3662","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332110-81913c8538dfec091a3648a4f8129e24/thumbnail_2591000.jpg","/articles/6177817/Simsbury-Center/Capitol-County/Connecticut/Commission-debates-limits-on-directing-town-staff-seeks-charter-language-to-guarantee-timely-board-access-to-information","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177817-52d2f6eeaa5e799a751b9f17e5fb9fe0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771013501&Signature=fIcKl3k~JwU1ve50BwmBxL5S0GtfEYvRUGk7hkXD5OZpBqAuT7ykuwaPx38031MLUexy2ar8QcbKximU9cC5G1rGHKQAAxKu23w3Mk8xEFXJoVkBwf8e7wYkQoolhpzgp7PjP2h65qLikghU1OglzM9covr1FdK9aFnKKc8a9nmN5qgYAOmPA7WQiirdTvbdUserLvvGHVkvYET-hZGd32BS~mVk6AIICE82vZkaAegVaGJgcO0AEugimvjYfiIuJzoUAmhgRhkBA3QyIdLuS7uxMxC2weFF~LAnfpDUxZ-nrV8SIOZVTj41SRqknjZd385bicwW1gLVVX~iZNycbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners spent extensive time debating a proposed charter sentence that would restrict elected officials from directing town employees while ensuring boards and commissions can obtain necessary information in a timely manner. The discussion centered on balancing the need to prevent ad hoc orders to staff with the practical requirement that boards — especially the Board of Finance and land-use bodies — be able to get reports and data to fulfill legal duties.

Commissioners and staff agreed on a core principle: the town manager should be responsible for ensuring town staff deliver information and support to elected and appointed boards. But several commissioners said that practice must be backed by clearer charter language and practical safeguards so a future town manager could not withhold information. One participant proposed adding that the town manager must \"provide such resources, information, analysis, staffing, and support to all elected boards and commissions as such boards and commissions require to fulfill their duties\" and that boards may request relevant, reasonably necessary information in a timely fashion.

Panel members noted exceptions and complexity for boards that have direct statutory access to certain staff (for example, the Board of Finance and finance director, police commission and police chief, or the public works director) and also discussed whether chairs or presiding officers should have limited authority to request information directly. Several commissioners said the charter can preserve the town manager as the primary conduit while allowing narrowly defined direct requests in sections that define relationships for specific boards.

Commissioners also discussed enforcement: one speaker noted that a charter duty without consequence is weak; commissioners suggested strengthening implementation by making timely information provision a performance standard used in the town manager’s annual review conducted by the board of selectmen.

\"They all relate to either transparency, accountability, or checks and balances,\" resident Lisa Abner told the commission as members discussed the draft wording.

The commission asked staff to add proposed text clarifying: (1) the town manager’s responsibility to supply timely information and resources; (2) a limited carve‑out permitting chairs of boards to request information directly when appropriate and defined elsewhere in the charter (for Board of Finance, police commission, etc.); and (3) that the board of selectmen will hold the town manager accountable through annual review if information requests are not timely.","Commission discussed whether the Board of Selectmen or other boards may direct staff, and how to ensure boards and commissions can obtain timely reports through the town manager; no final revision adopted, staff to draft clarifying language.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6177822,"Charter panel presses clarity on staggered terms, ‘‘first’’ title and party limits for selectmen",0,896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332110-81913c8538dfec091a3648a4f8129e24&start=896&end=896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332110-81913c8538dfec091a3648a4f8129e24/thumbnail_896000.jpg","/articles/6177822/Simsbury-Center/Capitol-County/Connecticut/Charter-panel-presses-clarity-on-staggered-terms-first-title-and-party-limits-for-selectmen","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177822-bc92c2feb383c3a7aa0a16d2e06c12c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771013501&Signature=dfk48OuOaiTKaSRQi~q0bHhzHPfs9C6RyP9kjZp0MRPGScoEDKpSKD4jSGiBsMbiIK1K4YOZgS1PC34OpptWbtIF2azi8S~QO~9cX3xYmMkJvPRjOiWs2Vx7pFNFabJxYCvFaZwbPaKHDPCBrx2NZNtW~5~V5cDHCsRp88TLAiH4YEhma0tMqvaCme8NFQTQW7g~oA7Yc-75E~w9m9BcVx2LXLCVDWgl0b-daI9ugtCfN~s~TdEwWNSZfvoZJ6T9TmzE0ZBL1pHYtbw38OSCeYQg2Ia5u8u0NYWUm7BjNDDCx6YA1mEEMzBDN6041WBVFYOFUwKjhf~0yNm5YNAHug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Simsbury Charter Revision Commission on Tuesday wrestled with how to implement staggered terms for the Board of Selectmen, including how initial two- and four-year terms should be assigned in the 2027 transition and how party-representation caps will apply during the changeover. Commissioners discussed drafting language that would make clear which seats are two-year seats in 2027 and which become four-year seats thereafter.

The discussion matters because the commission is proposing to change some selectmen seats from two-year to four-year terms to create longer, staggered service. Commissioners repeatedly flagged the trade-off between continuity and voters’ ability to replace a majority quickly: longer terms give institutional experience but limit the ability of voters to replace an entire board in a single election cycle.

Commission members asked staff to add explicit language to the draft charter clarifying that in 2027 all six seats will be on the ballot, that three of the seats will have initial two-year terms and three will have initial four-year terms (including the ‘‘first’’), and how those seats convert in 2029 so the staggered cycle begins. Several commissioners said the draft should state those mechanics plainly so voters and clerks can tell which offices are up in which year.

The panel also debated whether to keep the historical name “Board of Selectmen” and to change references from “first selectman/first selectmen” to a gender‑neutral “first” while defining that term in chapter 3. One commissioner suggested leaving the formal name intact for consistency with earlier chapters and defining in the first sentence that the board is the town’s legislative body to make its role explicit.

On party limits, members noted the charter language capping the number of selectmen from the same political party at four. Commissioners sought clearer text showing how that cap interacts with the transition: whether a 2027 election could temporarily produce three members of one party in one staggered group and what combinations are and are not permitted under the cap.

The commission did not vote on final wording but directed staff to insert specific transition sentences (e.g., naming which seats are two-year vs. four-year in 2027, and that the ‘‘first’’ will be among the initial four‑year seats) and to bring revised language back at the next meeting.

\"We should add the sentence that three members shall be elected to a four year term including the first,\" one commissioner proposed during the session.

Next steps: staff will redraft the staggered-terms subsection to add the clarifying sentence discussed and return the revised wording at the commission’s next scheduled meeting.","The Simsbury Charter Revision Commission debated how to stagger Board of Selectmen terms, whether to rename or define the ‘‘first selectman’’ title, and how party limits apply when offices transition from two- to four-year terms.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge stronger Board of Finance authority and lower referendum threshold; commission hears public comment

Commission weighs which appointed boards belong in the charter, adds proposed rules for attendance and public audience

Commission debates limits on directing town staff, seeks charter language to guarantee timely board access to information

Charter panel presses clarity on staggered terms, ‘‘first’’ title and party limits for selectmen