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Simsbury Charter Revision Commission finalizes draft report, keeps Economic Development Commission out and retains 2‑year selectmen terms
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Summary
The Charter Revision Commission voted March 30 to approve a final draft reporting changes, personnel language and consultation rules; it voted not to reinsert the Economic Development Commission into the charter and to keep two‑year terms for the Board of Selectmen, and directed staff to submit the report to the town clerk no earlier than April 6.
The Simsbury Charter Revision Commission approved a final draft of proposed charter changes on March 30 and voted to keep several contested provisions intact, including the removal of the Economic Development Commission (EDC) from the charter and retention of two‑year terms for the Board of Selectmen.
The commission’s action followed a full discussion of edits suggested by the Board of Selectmen, legal clarifications about statutory exceptions and an extended debate over personnel provisions. Chair Jeff Persman opened the meeting and led commissioners through amendment-by-amendment review before the body voted to adopt the revisions as its final report.
Why it matters: The commission’s recommendations — if the Board of Selectmen and, ultimately, voters approve them — would change how the town codifies reporting duties, personnel rules and how the town manager consults with finance and bargaining partners. The decision about the EDC signals the commission’s preference to leave operational economic development choices to elected officials rather than entrench them in charter language.
Public comment and key testimony shaped parts of the discussion. Resident Joan Co., who spoke during public audience, urged the commission to preserve the traditional "first selectman" position and questioned whether the EDC has advanced the town’s tax base, saying the EDC had become "a political football and has not increased the grand list." Her remarks were entered into the record and the commission noted public feedback from multiple sources.
On legal and personnel language, commissioners added a clarifying phrase in Section 404(a) so compensation rules would read "except as prescribed by law," a change made to ensure the charter does not conflict with state statutes or required benefits such as workers’ compensation. Commissioners also revised Chapters 9.01 and 9.02 after detailed debate: the commission retained a requirement that the Board of Selectmen adopt an ordinance establishing position descriptions and directed the town manager to prepare statements of duties that are "consistent with the ordinance." Advocates for maintaining the ordinance said it provides permanence and public notice that a resolution would not necessarily guarantee.
The commission resolved ambiguity in language governing requests for information from officials (Section 403(e)) by leaving the recommended text as drafted after discussing staff‑burden concerns and options for routing requests through a board chair or liaison.
On collective bargaining and retirement-plan consultation, the commission revised Section 801(g)(1) to specify that "within 30 days before the date on which the town manager commences negotiations with any town collective bargaining unit or before the selectmen vote to approve a change to any retirement plan, the town manager shall meet and confer with the board of finance." The change reflects commissioners’ view that the town manager should be the operative negotiator while preserving Board of Selectmen oversight of retirement-plan approvals.
EDC debate and recommendation: Commissioners debated whether to reinsert the Economic Development Commission into the charter after the Board of Selectmen asked the commission to reconsider. Supporters argued for codifying oversight and accountability; opponents said the charter is not the right place to prescribe detailed economic‑development structures and noted confusion over EDC responsibilities and budget. The commission voted not to put the EDC back into the draft charter but added a recommendation in its report asking the Board of Selectmen to revisit and update the EDC ordinance within six months of any charter adoption so responsibilities, reporting lines and funding are clarified.
Terms of office: After hearing arguments about accountability, voter turnout and institutional stability, the commission voted to keep the draft’s two‑year terms for the Board of Selectmen and made no change to the draft on that point.
Final steps: Commissioners approved the final report as amended and directed staff to deliver it to the town clerk no earlier than April 6 to allow time for review and scrivener corrections. The commission also authorized staff to correct scrivener’s errors before submission. Under the statutory timeline, the Board of Selectmen will have 15 days after receipt to accept, reject or take other action on the proposed provisions; any provisions rejected by the selectmen may be the subject of separate decisions about what goes to referendum.
Quotes that capture the meeting tone include the town manager’s characterization of his role: "[T]hat's the board's charge to me as your town manager," and Chair Persman’s reminder about the commission’s role: "We are not elected officials," meaning policy decisions about economic development remain with the Board of Selectmen. Resident Joan Co. told commissioners that "the Economic Development Commission has become a political football and has not increased the grand list."
The commission adjourned after voting to approve the final report and to instruct staff to submit it to the town clerk on the April 6 timeline; the Board of Selectmen will next consider the draft and may accept or reject provisions or send items to referendum.
