Preston resident questions equity of referendum communications; first selectwoman lists town channels

At the Preston Board of Finance meeting on June 18, 2026, resident Jill S. Keith raised concerns that reminders about a recent referendum appeared on the school website but were not visible on the Town of Preston website during the same period, and she urged broader and more equitable use of town-wide notification tools.

Keith clarified she was not accusing anyone of violating election law and said determinations about compliance rest with the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC). She questioned whether the school posting had been authorized by the Town and asked whether referendum information had been distributed equitably through official Town channels.

Chairman Andrew Sawyer acknowledged that municipalities face challenges communicating with residents across modern platforms. First Selectwoman Sandra Allyn‑Gauthier reviewed the town’s current communications, listing legal notices, website postings, Facebook announcements, the Town calendar, push notifications and physical signage, and she encouraged residents to subscribe to the Town’s notification services.

The exchange did not result in any formal direction or change in policy at the meeting; the Board acknowledged receipt of an email from Jill S. Keith and moved on to other agenda items. The SEEC was named in the discussion as the appropriate authority for any formal determinations about election‑related communications.

The Board scheduled a Special Meeting for July 9, 2026 to consider referendum results and related business.