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Residents press Simsbury board for clearer notices, website accessibility and accountability on tax abatements
Summary
Multiple residents during public audience urged clearer agendas and calendar navigation on the town website, wider inclusion on advisory committees, and asked the board to reconsider long‑standing tax abatement deals that residents view as unfair.
During the Jan. 12 public audience several residents told the Board of Selectmen they have difficulty finding agendas and meeting notices on the new town website and urged better accessibility and more direct contact methods.
Diane Nash (identified) asked that residents be able to contact the board by email rather than routing messages through the town manager and urged the board to publish agenda context before votes. Susan Messino (identified) requested the town consult universal design guidance and raised a recurring problem with meeting postings and calendar formatting.
A different public commenter (Joan in remarks) alleged that a local deputy official had repeatedly violated zoning rules and raised concerns about a longstanding tax abatement deal relating to the International Skating Center property that one commenter characterized as a “sweetheart deal” with an in‑lieu payment that has not changed despite property sales; the board did not take immediate action on those accusations but staff noted records and next steps for review when appropriate.
Why it matters: Citizens said basic transparency and website accessibility are prerequisites for public trust and effective participation in civic decisions. The board responded by clarifying the intended scope of certain agenda items (for example, revisiting the abatement policy rather than selling public land) and committing to circulate relevant documents.
