Simsbury Board of Selectmen adopts four proclamations, authorizes transit contract and recommends truck appropriation

At its May 11, 2026 meeting, the Simsbury Board of Selectmen adopted proclamations marking May as Bike Month, June as Accessibility Awareness Month, June as Pride Month and the week of May 10–16, 2026 as National Police Week.

The board read each proclamation into the record and moved to adopt them. Members expressed support for bike- and accessibility-related outreach and for honoring police service; the Pride Month proclamation passed, and the board separately authorized raising a Pride flag at Town Hall on June 1 at 4:30 p.m. That flag‑raising motion carried with one member recording an opposition while stating support for the proclamation itself.

The board also took several administrative and contract actions that affect town services. After staff described a multi‑round procurement process, the board authorized the town manager to execute a new Dial‑A‑Ride contract with Martell Transportation LLC to continue paratransit and community transportation service. According to staff, the negotiated agreement shifts a larger share of routine vehicle maintenance to the town in exchange for a lower overall price; the contract language also references vehicle replacement timing tied to state 5310 grant assumptions (the draft language notes five years/150,000 miles as an earliest replacement target).

On capital equipment, public works reported proceeds of roughly $67,200 from surplus asset sales and proposed a supplemental appropriation of $63,100 to purchase a one‑ton dump truck with plow and sander for the highway division. The board moved to recommend that appropriation to the Board of Finance; members approved the recommendation on a voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Bike Month proclamation: adopted by voice vote (no opposition recorded). - Accessibility Awareness Month proclamation: adopted by voice vote (no opposition recorded). - Pride Month proclamation: adopted by voice vote; separate motion to raise Pride flag at Town Hall June 1 authorized with one member recording opposition. - National Police Week proclamation (observed May 10–16, 2026): adopted by voice vote. (Transcript contained a typographical date error; the proclamation text and earlier reading identify the May dates.) - Supplemental appropriation — $63,100 for one‑ton dump truck (to be recommended to Board of Finance): motion approved to recommend to BOF. - Dial‑A‑Ride contract authorization (Martell Transportation LLC): board authorized the town manager to execute contract documents and make administrative amendments as needed. - Public gathering permits for Farmington Valley Junth celebration and St. Mary’s Church carnival: approved. - Appointment of Trevor Patel to the Culture, Parks & Recreation Commission: approved.

Why it matters

The proclamations signal townwide priorities and outreach for bike safety, accessibility and community inclusion. The Dial‑A‑Ride contract affects paratransit service used by residents for medical appointments and local travel; shifting maintenance responsibility to the town could affect operating budgets and future vehicle replacement planning. The supplemental truck appropriation is intended to preserve reliability for emergency and snow‑response operations in the highway division.

What’s next

The recommended $63,100 appropriation will go to the Board of Finance for final approval. The Dial‑A‑Ride contract was authorized for execution by the town manager; if the town later modifies the agreement as allowed administratively, staff said the board would be updated. The public may attend a pending public hearing on a Neighborhood Assistance Act application on June 8, 2026, and town staff continue to post meeting materials online.