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Board approves charter amendments, votes to keep Economic Development Commission in charter
Summary
After reviewing the Charter Revision Commission’s final report, the Simsbury Board of Selectmen approved manifold charter changes while voting 4–2 to reject the commission’s recommendation to remove the Economic Development Commission (EDC). The board set the referendum for November 3, 2026 and authorized publication of notices.
The Simsbury Board of Selectmen on April 20 approved the majority of changes recommended by the Charter Revision Commission but voted to keep the Economic Development Commission in the town charter.
Franklin, a member of the Charter Revision Commission, summarized the commission’s work and said the panel considered nine topics the board had sent back for review, including term lengths, staff-directive language, and the status of the EDC. The commission left most items unchanged, strengthened language preventing selectmen from directing town staff (new section 403e), and clarified the town manager’s role in union negotiations.
Why it matters: The vote preserves the EDC’s charter status, which supporters said signals the town’s long-term commitment to economic development and can help prioritize strategy for vacancies and commercial recruitment. Opponents argued removing EDC would give the board more flexibility to reconfigure economic-development efforts by ordinance.
Board discussion centered on those trade-offs. Selectmen favoring retention said the EDC provides institutional priority and continuity. Those favoring removal said charter language can become rigid and recommended leaving details to ordinance and staff to allow faster adaptation.
On the key motion to reject the Charter Revision Commission’s recommendation to remove the EDC — effectively retaining EDC in the charter — the board approved the motion on a voice vote recorded as 4 in favor, 2 opposed. The board then voted to approve the remainder of the Charter Revision Commission’s proposed amendments and directed staff to publish required notices and prepare the referendum question.
Next steps: The board scheduled the referendum to coincide with the November 3, 2026 general election and authorized publication of the required public notice within 30 days; final ballot wording will be prepared at a later meeting. Town Attorney D. Cresenzo and Franklin said they will assist with statutory timing and ballot language.
Board members and counsel emphasized that final ballot wording and the explanatory text will be prepared closer to the election; the board also agreed to conduct outreach and informational sessions in advance of the referendum.
