Simsbury Charter Revision Commission approves Final Report with targeted language changes, recommends Selectmen revisit economic development code

The Simsbury Charter Revision Commission approved its Final Report on March 30, 2026, adopting several targeted edits to proposed charter language and voting to submit the report to the Town Clerk for transmittal to the Board of Selectmen no earlier or later than April 6 to allow Selectmen review at their April 20 meeting.

The Commission, chaired by Kris Barnett, left several Draft Report provisions unchanged but inserted or amended specific language. Members voted unanimously to leave Section 403(e) unchanged and to add the phrase "except as prescribed by law" to the end of Section 404(a). The group also agreed to add a requirement in Section 701 that officials "shall give timely notification to the Selectmen."

Commissioners amended Section 801(g)(1) to clarify the timing of bargaining consultations. The new wording requires that "within thirty (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 motion to amend Section 801(g)(1) carried unanimously.

On personnel language tied to local code, the Commission accepted the Town Attorney’s recommendation to keep references to Simsbury Code Chapter 48 (Personnel) and voted to replace the opening phrasing of Section 901 with "There shall be," to remove specified language in Section 902, and to add the phrase "consistent with the ordinance pursuant to Section 901" where noted. That motion carried 7–1, with Commissioner Jacqueline Maulucci voting no. Town Attorney Robert DeCrescenzo explained the legal distinction between ordinances (laws of general applicability) and resolutions (statements of legislative will) as part of that discussion.

The Commission debated Recommendation #5 concerning whether the Economic Development Commission should remain in the charter. After discussion about giving the Board of Selectmen more discretion to tailor that body and noting the ordinance guidance the Selectmen would issue, the Commission voted to keep the Draft Report as written (omitting a charter listing of the Economic Development Commission); the motion passed 7–1, with Commissioner Ronald Jodice voting no. Chair Barnett said the Final Report will recommend that the Board of Selectmen revisit Simsbury Code Chapter 9 within six months of charter adoption if the charter is approved.

On the question of Selectmen term length (Recommendation #1), commissioners reviewed local reelection data and weighed arguments for two-year versus four-year terms. Commissioner Robert Helfand moved to keep the Draft Report’s recommendation on term length unchanged; that motion passed 6–2, with Secretary Jeffrey Tindall and Commissioner Jacqueline Maulucci opposing.

The Commission approved procedural items: it unanimously approved the January 21, 2026 meeting minutes (motion carried 7–0–1; Commissioner Melissa Brett abstained) and unanimously voted to submit the Final Report to the Town Clerk for transmittal no earlier and no later than April 6 to permit Selectmen consideration at their April 20 meeting and to allow staff time to correct scrivener's errors. The Commission adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

Public comment at the meeting included a brief statement from Joan Coe, who urged the Commission not to alter recorded votes in its Draft Report. The Commission did not change recorded votes, and the Final Report reflects the amendments and votes taken at the March 30 meeting.