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Simsbury selectmen approve sending proposed charter amendments to November ballot, reject EDC removal
Summary
On April 20, the Simsbury Board of Selectmen voted to submit proposed charter amendments to the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, rejected a recommendation to remove the Economic Development Commission (4–2), authorized public notification, approved a Little League license agreement and adopted unaffiliated pay ranges.
The Simsbury Board of Selectmen on April 20 voted to submit proposed charter amendments to the Nov. 3, 2026 general election after rejecting a Charter Revision Commission recommendation to remove the town's Economic Development Commission.
The motion to reject the EDC removal, made by Selectman Mike Paine and seconded by Selectman Diana Yeisley, passed 4–2. Selectmen Kevin Beal, Curtis Looney, Yeisley and Paine voted in favor; Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio and First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis voted against the motion. Town Attorney Bob DeCrescenzo had reviewed the legal steps for new-charter voting and Management Specialist Franklyn Barrueco summarized the commission's responses to the nine items the board asked to revisit.
Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio then moved to approve all other proposed charter amendments except the proposed change to Section 601 that would have removed the EDC; that motion, seconded by Kevin Beal, passed unanimously. First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis moved — and the board unanimously approved — submitting the proposed amendments for the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot; the board also unanimously authorized public notification of the proposals within the next 30 days as required.
Other formal actions taken at the meeting included authorizing a license agreement with Simsbury Little League Baseball, Inc. for donor-funded improvements at Field 5, and approving updated unaffiliated wage-rate bands for fiscal year 2026–27. Culture, Parks and Recreation Director Tom Tyburski told the board a donor would fund a covered area, grilling section and improved access to restrooms at Field 5 to meet state hosting requirements; the League would build and maintain the improvements, provide a certificate of insurance and the license agreement was authorized subject to Town Attorney approval and required building permits.
Town Manager Marc Nelson and Human Resources Director Eric Gomes presented updated pay bands designed to create internal equity and align classifications; the board approved the proposed unaffiliated ranges on a motion by Curtis Looney seconded by Kevin Beal, with First Selectman Mackstutis recorded as abstaining.
The meeting also approved several routine consent-agenda items (appointments and reappointments, tax overpayment requests), accepted minutes from March 23 and April 9, and moved into executive session at 8:16 p.m. to discuss the Town Manager's annual performance review. The board adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
What happens next: the board will meet to draft referendum question wording before the Nov. 3 ballot and the town will notify the public of the proposed charter changes within the 30-day window required by state law.
