Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Ethics topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident accuses Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio of zoning violations and a lifetime trespass order during public comment
Summary
During the May 11 public comment period, resident Joan Co. accused Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio of repeated zoning violations, bullying, and filing a lifetime trespass order against her; she urged the board to vote no confidence and said the town attorney would document the actions. Other residents pressed for greater transparency ahead of the budget referendum and raised accessibility and bike‑safety concerns.
At the May 11, 2026 meeting of the Simsbury Board of Selectmen, resident Joan Co. used the public comment period to deliver an extended, detailed accusation against Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio, urging the board to vote no confidence in him.
Joan Co. alleged that "Deputy First Electment Steve Antonio has continually violated the zoning regulations," that he exercises preferential treatment and bullying, and that incidents culminated in a May 1 interaction after which she says Mr. Antonio filed a trespass complaint that lists multiple properties and forbids her from entering them. She described the reported trespass as a "lifetime trespass complaint" and said the town had circulated the notice to police and dispatch. "This appears to be the first time that anyone in Simsbury challenged his actions," she said, and she asked the board to hold Mr. Antonio accountable.
Joan also said that, following a conversation with Town Manager Mark Nelson, "town attorney Bob D. Cresenzo will produce a detailed list and description of all his activities," and she said she would post her comments publicly. The transcript does not record a substantive rebuttal from Mr. Antonio during the meeting.
The public comment period also included calls for greater transparency and clearer budget information. Chris Barnett, chair of the charter revision commission, urged the board to make written public comments part of the official record and to include them with meeting agendas so residents can see how input was handled ahead of a referendum. Diane Nash urged residents to vote in the upcoming budget referendum and criticized proposals that could allow a small minority to override votes, while Diana Moody and Alan Gilbert focused on bike‑month safety and accessibility concerns at Eno Memorial Hall.
Why it matters
Allegations against an elected official raised in a public meeting can prompt administrative review, ethics inquiries, or further board action. Joan Co. requested a formal response from the town attorney and asked the board to consider a no‑confidence action; the transcript records her allegations and the stated follow‑up but does not record any disciplinary action or findings.
What’s next
Joan told the board the town attorney would prepare a detailed list of the actions she described. The transcript records no subsequent response or formal board action at the May 11 meeting; any administrative review, police records, or formal ethics inquiries would be separate from the selectmen’s deliberations and are not recorded in this meeting transcript.
