Board of Selectmen recommends purchase of 2 Farms Village Road; forwards deal to board of finance

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen voted 4–2 on Jan. 13 to forward a proposal to buy 2 Farms Village Road to the Board of Finance for a public hearing and further action, endorsing a purchase price cap of $1,000,000 and conditions that require specified pre‑closing renovations by the seller.

The buy‑and‑build proposal, driven by the Board of Education, would convert the building next to Simsbury High School into an in‑district special education program meant to reduce rising out‑of‑district placement costs, shorten student transportation times and create a tuition‑based slot model for surrounding districts.

Supporters urged the board to act quickly. Jessica Parise, who identified herself as a Board of Education member speaking on her own behalf, called the acquisition “a no brainer, win win solution,” saying it would let the district bring students home from out‑of‑district placements and provide budget stability. Board staff and school leaders told the board they had considered multiple properties before concluding this site offered operational advantages because of its adjacency to the high school.

Opponents and public commenters raised fiscal and process concerns. A number of speakers during public audience said they were alarmed by the cost and by communications about the sale. One commenter called the “spend to save” argument a “fallacy” and warned of open‑ended future costs; another raised concerns about earlier executive session notices and whether residents had been given full information. Town staff acknowledged the controversy and said the decision would go next to a formal Board of Finance public hearing.

Town Manager Mark Nelson briefed the board on the negotiated structure: an independent appraisal obtained in the summer valued the property at about $712,000; the owner and town negotiated a purchase price in the mid‑$600,000 range (town staff cited $625,000 as the negotiated figure in discussion); the parties also agreed the seller would perform a defined scope of renovation work before closing (town manager and staff set a combined cap for purchase plus seller work and initial town improvements that was discussed during the meeting). The board ultimately set a conservative maximum authorization—“not to exceed $1,000,000”—to be referred to the Board of Finance for a public hearing and final authorization.

Superintendent Matt Curtis and Board of Education members described a phased program plan the schools will operate if the town acquires the building: a staged three‑year program intended to bring students back in‑district, develop tuition slots for other towns, and expand specialized services. School leaders said the plan is deliberately phased so staffing and program capacity scale with enrollment, and that the proximity to the high school enables staff sharing, more efficient lunch and transportation arrangements, and quicker student transitions.

Board members pressed staff for details during debate: what renovation work the seller would commit to, how the town would enforce the scope and cost limits, and how the program would recruit and retain specialized staff. Town counsel and the manager said the purchase and sale will include closing contingencies that require the seller to complete specified work to the town’s satisfaction; the Board of Selectmen authorized the town manager and town attorney to finalize a purchase and sale agreement with those contingencies before referral to the Board of Finance.

The vote to forward the purchase recommendation to the Board of Finance and to authorize the town manager to finalize the sale documents passed 4–2. The motion directs the Manager and Town Attorney to finalize a contract that includes the pre‑closing renovation specifications and to present the transaction and supporting documents at the Board of Finance public hearing.

The Board of Finance will hold a public hearing on the purchase and the town will publish detailed project cost estimates and the final purchase agreement ahead of that meeting. Town staff said they intend to provide a full presentation of program plans, financial analysis and contractor quotes at that hearing.

If the Board of Finance approves the purchase and the town completes renovations and program build‑out, school officials expect to begin enrolling returning and new students on the phased timeline discussed by the Board of Education.

Votes at a glance: the Board of Selectmen approved forwarding the purchase to the Board of Finance with a not‑to‑exceed purchase authorization of $1,000,000 (vote 4–2). Individual yes/no votes were not recorded verbatim in the public transcript and are referenced in the Board of Finance public hearing record.

What’s next: the Board of Finance public hearing will be scheduled; town staff and school leaders plan a detailed public presentation and will provide contractor bids, timelines and the final purchase and sale agreement as part of that process.