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Simsbury charter review moves to public hearing after split over Economic Development Commission
Summary
After public pleas to keep the Economic Development Commission in the charter, the Commission voted Jan. 6 to send the revised charter to a public hearing Jan. 21; a motion to retain the EDC in the charter failed and commissioners agreed to a wording change in a police‑powers paragraph.
The Simsbury Charter Revision Commission voted Jan. 6 to send its proposed charter to a public hearing on Jan. 21 at the town library after heated public comment and internal debate over whether to keep the town’s Economic Development Commission in the charter.
Charmaine Seavey, chair of the Economic Development Commission, told the commission the EDC is “far from a dormant or stagnant commission and should not be taken off the charter,” arguing the body provides a public, bipartisan forum for work that affects the town’s taxes and business climate. Matt Arthur, who said he has served as the EDC’s vice chair, warned that “eliminating the economic development commission removes one of the town’s most transparent tools” for shaping economic policy.
Commissioners spent much of the meeting weighing two approaches: leave a requirement…
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