First Selectman's Reports
December 15, 2025
Dec 15, 2025
A public record published by the Town of Simsbury (simsbury-ct.gov). mySimsbury indexes it and makes it readable; it is not the official copy. View the original file.
First Selectman’s Report 12-15-2026 Tri-board Meefing The Tri-board meefing was held on Tues, 12/16, in the library program room to kick off the 2026/2027 budget season. Members of the BOE, BOF, and BOS shared their inifial thoughts and concerns about the upcoming budget. We are again facing a low increase in the grand list, along with rising costs nafionally. The updated grand list numbers will be available by the end of January. There are also changes at the federal level that impact Medicare costs, health care costs, and changes in funding headed to our state. We are waifing to see if there are any changes in state funding that we also depend on. You can find the meefing here. Guidance from the BOF is forthcoming for the Town Manager, Board of Selectmen, and Board of Educafion to develop their budgets in this fight economy. I shared my thoughts on the upcoming budget during the meeting when the BOF Chair asked me to weigh in. Feel free to listen! Nod Road Solar Lodestar has filed its application with the CT Siting Council. All the information is available at the link below. Planning Director George McGregor is leading this effort, and I am working with George, Town Manager Marc Nelson, and Town Counsel Robert “Bob” DeCrescenzo to draft our Municipal Comments to the council. I will be getting feedback from the Board, but I will submit my comments to the council and share them once they’ve been sent. The letter requests an extension of the public comment period, as this is a short window available only during the holiday season, which makes it difficult for many. We are also requesting information that was previously requested from Lodestar and has not yet been received, which makes it difficult to assess any negative impacts on the community and to balance those against any positive gains from the tax benefit, energy savings, and other factors. We would also like to see the Siting Council provide for a public hearing. The other communities involved include Bloomfield and Avon, which are considered abutters to the project, and the siting council has also sent letters to neighbors. Please share your personal concerns and comments directly with the Sifing Council. You are more than welcome to share concerns with me as well. hftps://portal.ct.gov/csc/3_pefifions/pefifion-nos-1601-1700/pe1698 Some informafion below I pulled from the filing regarding dates for comments: Bird Flu Update from the FVHD: Town leaders, We are reaching out with an update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, known more commonly as bird flu or H5N1. After a relatively quiet summer, bird flu activity is increasing across the United States and in Connecticut. Three dead black vultures from Hartford County tested positive for bird flu on November 13, 2025, so we know that the virus is circulating in wild birds in this area. We have reached out separately to town Animal Control Officers and Department of Public Works with specific guidance for individuals who work with potentially sick or dead wild birds. We are reaching out to town leaders for assistance in raising awareness among the public that residents should not handle sick or dead wild birds without taking proper precautions at this time due to the risk of bird flu in these animals. We have attached an infographic to this email that we are asking for help circulating, or you can reshare our Facebook post from December 10 on this topic on your town’s social media platforms. It is important to note that the risk of contracting bird flu among the general public remains low. The majority of people who have become ill report direct contact with infected animals, primarily poultry and dairy cows. However, handling potentially infected wild birds, a species known to carry bird flu, does increase risk for exposure. Thank you for your partnership on this topic. Regards, Stephanie Johnson, MPH Director Wreaths Across America Thank you I had the pleasure of being part of the ceremony on December 13th. This is a lovely annual event held by the Abigail Phelps Chapter of the DAR at Simsbury Cemetery. Board members Kevin Beal, Mike Paine, Diana Yeisley, and Deputy First Selectman Steven Antonio all joined me in represenfing the Town of Simsbury. Here’s the words I shared: I’m Wendy Mackstutis, and it is an honor to be here today representing the Town of Simsbury and our local elected officials for this meaningful tradition. I want to take a moment to recognize the members of our BOS who are here today. Thank you to the Abigail Phelps Chapter of the DAR for your ongoing dedication to Wreaths Across America, and to our local Metacomet VFW Post 1926, American Legion Post 84, and the Simsbury Police Department Rifle Squad for your presence and service. This event could not happen without your commitment. Today, communities across our nation gather for National Wreaths Across America Day, united by a simple yet powerful mission: to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach future generations the value of freedom. Here in Simsbury, we take that mission to heart. Throughout the year—on Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and today—we gather to honor our veterans, active military members, and their families. We remember those who sacrificed their lives in service to our country and thank those who continue to serve. This year, we held a special ceremony with the LG to pay tribute to our local Vietnam and Korean War veterans. What makes Wreaths Across America especially meaningful is that it asks more of us than just remembrance. It reminds us of our duty to teach—to ensure that future generations know not only who served but also why they served and what was sacrificed to defend the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. In a world that continues to face conflict and division – along with a never-before-seen use of our military, this responsibility feels even more important. Our freedoms and those of others are not guaranteed; they were earned and protected by brave men and women who stood up when it mattered most. Honoring them means carrying their values forward and standing with them. Standing here today, as we place wreaths and share this moment, we send a powerful message to our veterans and military families: that they are remembered, their loved ones are honored, and their service will never be forgotten. On behalf of the Town of Simsbury, thank you for being here, for honoring our armed forces past and present, and for helping ensure their legacy lives on. I hope you all have a happy holiday season with your friends and families. Trail Marker Project Simsbury has joined the other towns along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in signing on to a grant applicafion being coordinated by The Farmington Valley Trails Council. The Town of Simsbury signed on to the request, and State Senator Paul Honig provided a lefter of support for the towns in his district. Here is the request we received: The Farmington Valley Trails Council will be applying for a DEEP State of CT grant for a mile marker project along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. As part of the grant process, we are requesting formal permission from each landowner along the trail. Our Mile Marker Project involves placing 6 x 6 pressure treated wooden posts, approximately every ½ mile along the eastern edge of the trail. The posts will include the name of the city or town, the name of the trail (Farmington Canal Heritage Trail) along with the number of miles the post is from the boathouse in New Haven. We also plan on including some street crossing signs to aid in wayfinding and location identification for the trail users and emergency personnel. See prototypes attached below. Trail use has increased tremendously over the last several years. Residents and visitors appreciate the scenic beauty along the trail and the security of being off-road. We have heard from both trail users and emergency services that mile markers will improve the safety of those using the trail. EMS will be able to locate emergencies more easily. Trail users will be able to better judge their distances while running, walking and cycling. Attached is a form for you to complete to give us permission to use your public land for this project. If you agree with the benefits of this project for your community, a letter of support from a town administrator, such as the town planner, emergency personnel, or the parks department would be greatly appreciated. Respectfully, Fran Gurtman Farmington Valley Trails Council -Board Member, Trail Amenities Chair. Website Update and Tesfing period The new website was presented to the Board of Selectmen for the first fime, as requested, at our December 15th meefing. Tom Fitzgerald, Acfing Town Manager, walked us through the high level, answered quesfions, and shared the plans for the public Beta test. Please check it out and provide your feedback through the provided path so that correcfions can be made and turned around before it is released into producfion. The current website is also up and running as the LIVE site while tesfing is ongoing. Here is the link to the new site: hftps://ct-simsbury.civicplus.com This is the form provided for feedback or issues found: hftps://ct- simsbury.civicplus.com/FormCenter/New-Website-Content-QuesfionRequest-Form-10/New- Website-Content-QuesfionRequest-53 Franklyn earns his CCMO I want to congratulate our very own Franklyn Barrueco on earning CCM’s Cerfified Connecficut Municipal Official designafion and being awarded this at the CCM Convenfion on December 2nd. It requires complefing a set amount of training in various areas during a 1-year period and is a nice achievement and recognifion for any town staff and elected official to earn. Year End Insights while home sick with the flu I want to start by thanking you all again for your support in having me serve as your First Selectman for another term. I believe we have a board in place that represents all of us, and my ask of them is to focus on their vision for Simsbury, regardless of polifics, which has no place in doing what’s best for Simsbury and the future of CT. My ask of you is to parficipate so that we hear from all voices, not just the loudest. The last couple of weeks have been marred by so many disturbing events that it’s hard to put my feelings into words. More shoofings on a college campus, and the murder of Rob Reiner, someone beloved to many of us who created some of our favorite movies (mine include This is Spinal Tap, A Few Good Men, and When Harry Met Sally). A smart, creafive person who contributed to a culture of laughter to make us feel befter was murdered with his beloved wife. On top of that, an anfi-Semific mass shoofing occurred in Australia at the start of Hanukkah, when families innocently gathered for a fun, celebratory fime at Bondi Beach. What is this world coming to? What I see happening here is just downright depressing and frustrating, and it has to be said. The ongoing attack on people of various religions and ethnicities and on DEI; the stripping away of the legal right to immigrate and build a better life here; the overreach by the Executive Branch, ignoring Congress and the courts; the lack of attention to the affordability needs of the people; and changes to the concept of public health. This is not who we want to be, at least I don’t. I’m hoping for a better 2026. Speaking up is the first step, and I will do so when I feel it’s needed. I’m not being partisan – it’s called standing up for what is right, honest, moral, ethical, and compassionate, which I’m not seeing from our leadership. We are all impacted by what is happening, much of it negatively, and it will take years to correct. On another note, I’ve been home sick with the flu – today is day 6, and it’s still going, which is why this is later than my usual ‘late’. Hoping to get back to full strength by January 1, 2026. I want to thank the members of our board and staff for taking on the work I couldn’t do over the last couple of weeks. Take care of yourself and enjoy your families over the holiday. At least I’ve had Mabel and a Mad Men rewatch to get through it. So, to 2026 - it’s a fresh start for all of us! We have a new board, and we will be working on a new budget and charter. We’ll be sefting goals, figuring out how to improve economic development, and making sure we are meefing the needs of our residents as best we can in a tough economic climate, with rising costs and many funding unknowns ahead. I know I am going to do my best to operate on all cylinders – work, family, and friends – not to menfion some lifelong personal goals (checking them off the bucket list!) Merry Christmas, Happy Belated Hanukkah, and Happy New Year! Feel free to reach out! Wendy 860-543-3770 wmackstufis@simsbury-ct.gov