Minutes

Board of Selectmen - Minutes - Feb 9, 2026

Feb 9, 2026

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.

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CALL TO ORDER1
2
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order at 6:01 p.m. in the Main3
Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were: First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis;4
Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio; Board members Kevin Beal, Curtis Looney, Diana5
Yeisley and Mike Paine. Others in attendance included Town Manager, Marc Nelson; Deputy6
Town Manager Tom Fitzgerald; Finance Director Amy Meriwether; Town Engineer/Public7
Works Director Tom Roy; Deputy Town Engineer Adam Kessler; Interim Director of IT Brett8
Marchand and other interested parties.9
10
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE11
12
Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.13
14
PUBLIC HEARING (23:02)15
16
Proposed Amendments to Town Code Chapter 141: Taxation17
18
[ For the Purpose of Hearing Comments From the Public to a Proposed Ordinance to19
Exempt from Proposed Tax of Horses or Ponies of any Value]20
21
• Written comments can be emailed to towmanager@simsbury-ct.gov, but will not be read22
into the record, but forwarded to all Selectmen via email.23
24
Mr. Antonio made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to open the Public Hearing for the25
Proposed Amendments to Town Code Chapter 141: Taxation. Mr. Beal seconded the motion.26
All were in favor and the motion passed.27
28
Mr. Nelson said we are revisiting proposed changes to this ordinance from last year. Any time29
you change an ordinance a public hearing needs to be held per State law. The Board can adopt30
this ordinance, keep the public hearing open, or table the item.31
32
Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, spoke about the Connecticut Law on personal property and fair33
market value. She also spoke about tax exemptions. She feels the horses at Ethel Walker should34
not be exempt from taxation. She said they should give the Town an inventory of all the horses35
there. Ms. Coe said Ethel Walker doesn’t pay any property taxes now and they are now asking36
for more by not paying for the horses. Folley Farms and Wellaway Farm also has horses and37
should be paying taxes. She said the Assessor should review horse inventory and assess them per38
State Law. Ms. Coe said the burden of paying more taxes shouldn’t fall on other property39
owners as these are unfair exemptions and wants everyone to vote no on this ordinance.40
41
Susan Masino, 41 Madison Lane, said she is not in favor of giving tax abatements especially42
with our budget challenges. She said there was discussion on tax abatements for incentivizing43
specific things. Ethel Walker and Folly Farm have onsite housing and could be enrolled in the44
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affordable housing program. We need to think about this issue creatively. She also said she was45
not sure if this hearing was noticed properly as it was cancelled due to the snowstorm. She46
wasn’t sure if another legal notice had to go out about it. She also noted that she didn’t see that47
the last Board meeting was cancelled, just that Town Hall was closed.48
49
Linda Kriwitsky, speaking on behalf of Amy Kriwitsky who couldn’t be here. She read Amy’s50
comments, an equestrian proprietor, at Folly Farm, comments. She said she is not trying to avoid51
paying taxes at all but would like to discuss mutually beneficial situation where money can be52
collected from horses in an appropriate manner. She would like to help the Board understand53
issues that the current taxation is causing. There is no meaningful method to determine the54
values of horses in Town. Vehicles have year, model and makes, but horses do not. She said she55
spoke to the Assessor’s Office, and they are using Google AI to estimate the value of horses, and56
this is not a means to value a horse. The Assessor’s Office is inputting extreme values on very57
vague data. Owners submit forms for their horse with the age, bread and intent of use, but there58
are several other factors to estimate the value of a horse. One of her horses was valued at59
$65,000, when the actual printout on the horse values it between $20,000 - $75,000. She spoke to60
them again and said there are several factors that would influence his value much lower. AI61
search actually made it a much more appropriate value. She feels the office needs more62
information before assessing the horses. She feels this ordinance would harm her business and63
clients would benefit by removing their horses from her business and placing them somewhere64
else where they won’t be taxed.65
66
Brittany Watras, 11 Tootin Hill Road, who works at Folly Farm, said just before the October 1st
67
reporting deadline, a client moved her horse to another town, losing about $10,000 per month68
income, which is 10% of her annual income. She feels the Town should support local businesses69
She feels this entire process has been a burden to her business. She feels entire taxation process70
has been a tremendous burden on her and her time, energy, and effort to assist the Assessors to71
collect information is unacceptable. She said her mental health has suffered. She has explained72
several times that there is significant turnovers of horses on a month-to-month basis. She said it73
has been over a year dealing with this and she feels targeted. She did not sign up to help the74
Assessor tax her clients. Her idea is to tax horses like they do dogs with a flat fee as there is no75
infrastructure to value or tax the horses correctly.76
77
Gail Landesberg, 278 Old Farms Road, said she has had rescue horses at her property that are78
quarantined there. She will not be able to afford to take care of them if they were to be taxed.79
80
After no further comments, Ms. Yeisley made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to close the81
Public Hearing for the Proposed Amendments to Town Code Chapter 141: Taxation at 6:19 p.m.82
Mr. Beal seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.83
84
PRESENTATION (41:10)85
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a) Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association Annual Report87
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Ms. Mackstutis apologized for the Board’s comments at the last meeting on their operating and89
capital budget information. Some of the comments were skeptical and might have been90
insulting. No harm was meant, but the comments were out of concern. The Board is here to91
listen to their report tonight.92
93
Karin Stewart said this is a report in cooperation with the Memo of Understanding with the94
Town. She said their transports have only gone up 2% from last year and their 911 calls have95
gone up 10% (went to calls with no transport). This made a big difference in their income. She96
said they have a mutual aid agreement with Canton and Granby and they handled 91% of those97
calls. Canton or Granby came in for 9% of the calls. She said the second ambulance runs from 798
a.m. to 7 p.m., which has been very affective for covering call volume in Town. The other99
ambulance runs 24 hrs. per day. She then went through the facility calls including McLean,100
Firetown and Cooper Avenue, which increased their call volume quite a bit.101
102
Ms. Stewart showed a list of hospitals they transport to, including St. Francis, John Dempsey,103
Hartford, Children’s Medical, etc. She also showed the age group of people being transported,104
48% of which were people 75 years old or older. She said the average response time is 6:36105
minutes, which is well below the national standard. Ms. Stewart went through the rates they can106
charge, which is set by the State and what the standard billing looks like and what is actually107
being collected. She said the rates were only increased by 2% for 2026. She said payroll has108
gone up 31% from 2022 to 2025; medical support is up 30%; vehicle repairs and maintenance is109
up 76%; and Workman’s Compensation is up 61%. She said their fund drive raised $125,770 in110
2025, the capital fund drive raised $43,475 and there was $190,000 in Town funding.111
112
Ms. Stewart went through a list of completed projects, which included a grant reward for IV113
pumps, CPR, First Aid and EMT certification classes, and replaced their laptops with iPad due to114
a grant. They have switched their scheduling program to Connecteams. She said their goals for115
2026 include receiving their new ambulance by July; increasing EMT classes from 2 to 3 per116
year; holding monthly blood drives, etc. They are constantly looking for grants to purchase new117
equipment also. She said they received gold recognition from the American Heart Association118
for 2025 for their stroke care. She also went through some pictures of what activities they do.119
120
Ms. Stewart said some AMR ambulance staff took pay cuts to come to work here. They are well121
within line of what other towns do for services.122
123
After some discussion on their new ambulance, budget, metrics, and services, no motion was124
made at this time.125
126
b) Update of Website Enhancement Project by Interim Technology Director Brett127
Marchand (1:12:19)128
129
Mr. Marchand said he received feedback from the Board, Departments and the public on the new130
website, which really assisted them in this process. He went through the spreadsheet they131
developed. He said green means it is completed. He said the yellow/white means it is still under132
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evaluation, or they are looking for more feedback from the vendor on how to make it better. He133
said they are also working on some staff issues that were found as well.134
135
Mr. Marchand then went through the new website and showed how to find agendas and minutes,136
calendar of events, etc. He said the Board of Selectmen contact issue now shows their party and137
term dates. There is also an email form to contact each Selectman, or you can now contact all. He138
said the Boards and Commissions have also been updated and how to get in touch with them.139
They also made the calendar easier; however, he noted that they don’t host the events calendar.140
141
There was some discussion about digital access and Mr. Nelson said they are still working with142
the vendor on that. It has to do with ADA compliance and accessibility, and they want to make143
that correct. Mr. Nelson urged the Board and everyone to continue to give their comments on the144
new website. He said this update has been a lot of work and quality control work by all staff. He145
thanked them all for their hard work. He also thanked the public for all their comments. He146
noted that $40,000 out of the $50,000 that was budgeted has been spent. The rollout will be in147
about one month, but there will be constant checking/fixing of the site.148
149
After more discussion, there was no motion at this time.150
151
PUBLIC AUDIENCE152
153
• Email townmanager@simsbury-ct.gov by noon on Monday, February 9, 2026, to register154
to address the Board of Selectmen live through Zoom155
• Written comments can be emailed to townmanager@simsbury-ct.gov. They will not be156
read into the record, but forwarded to all Selectmen via email157
Tucker Salls, 11b Tunxis Place, Tariffville, said Bayard wanted to thank the Board for their158
consideration for his appointment to the Conservation Commission. Mr. Sauls said Mr. Faithfull159
is a Simsbury High School Social Studies teacher. He also oversees the Sustainability Club at the160
High School. He has spent 6 years working with and on the Sustainability Committee. He said161
Bayard has always been reliable and professional and works hard for what he believes in. He162
said the Commissions will be tasked with conserving the environment and water courses during a163
very difficult time with the climate crisis. He feels they need someone who can face the164
challenges of this Commission and Bayard will and he strongly urges the Board to accept him.165
166
Eric Wellman, 21 Madison Lane, spoke in support of Margery Winters on the Conservation167
Commission. He said she has been the chairman for at least 9-10 years, if not more. He said no168
one has her technical expertise that she has. His concern is that the Board may take a party-line169
vote tonight and she would be out due to politics. Mr. Wellman said this Town has a history of170
keeping appointments non-partisan. Simsbury makes decisions not because of politics, but171
because of people’s expertise, dedication, and what they bring to the Boards and Commissions.172
He asked the Board to vote on the person who is most qualified for the position. He said it is173
more about the process and precedence and what type of Town we want to live in.174
175
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Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, said Ms. Mackstutis is in violation of Town Charter/Rules of176
Law, by tasking the Deputy First Selectman, Tom Fitzgerald to time speakers during public177
audience. She feels Ms. Mackstutis doesn’t hold the minimum requirement of the First178
Selectman and wants the Board to remove her stipend completely. Ms. Coe feels the179
responsibility of the First Selectman and Town Manager have been blurred. She said Ms.180
Mackstutis asked the Town Manager to participate, as a representative of the Town, at public181
events. Ms. Coe also thinks that Ms. Mackstutis holds Democratic caucuses at secret locations to182
discuss agenda items prior to the meetings. She said the Democratic party has been sponsoring183
straw candidates with a clean record as candidates to land use committees and replacing them184
with candidates that appear to have conflicts of interest. She feels Ms. Mackstutis is working out185
of her authority and said the Board should censor her behavior.186
187
Ms. Coe said the Simsbury Ambulance should not be receiving public funding from taxpayers,188
and they should not be paying for another ambulance. The taxpayers should not be funding a189
failed business plan. She feels SVAA needs to use whatever means they can to increase revenues190
or partnership with a viable ambulance service such as AMR. She said Canton uses AMR at no191
cost to the taxpayers and provides good service. She feels this Board should invite AMR to a192
meeting to discuss their services. She feels the taxpayers should not be burdened with193
expenditures from private organizations.194
195
Ms. Coe also spoke about the Simsbury Performing Arts Center project. She doesn’t feel that the196
taxpayers should be paying as money should be used to lower taxes. She said the Board needs to197
reduce taxes and increase revenues.198
199
Charmaine Seavy, 18 Quarry Road, spoke on behalf of Bayard Faithfull, who she feels is very200
trustworthy. He has an important quality as he is a teacher K -12. She said he is a good, helpful201
person who has been on the sustainability committee. She feels he is an excellent person to be on202
conservation.203
204
Susan Masion, 41 Madison Lane, said she agrees with the flat rate on horses and ponies. She205
said whatever is the easiest way to reduce red tape so this issue isn’t being brought up again and206
again and incentivizing other things so we can get what we want she is in favor of. She said she207
is scared about the new website. She said she sent in 36 things about the website and none of208
them are reflected on their spreadsheet. Did they not get them? She doesn’t understand what209
happened to them. She noted that the website is down now, which will reduce confusion.210
Nothing has been fixed the last time she looked at it.211
212
Ms. Masino said the quickest way to destroy a town is to consolidate power, reduce and213
eliminate community engagement, use vague language, skirt around ordinances and laws, have214
“accidents” on how notices go out, and generally make sure that no one knows what’s going on.215
She feels nothing should happen until we fix what’s going wrong with information and notices,216
etc. She said Open Space is not noticed on the list serve. She said the Open Space meeting was217
going to be cancelled and wanted to know then the members were going to be notified and how.218
She said, “a functional website is fundamental.” She said she felt that new website was better on219
a phone and AI said the same thing. She feels you can’t find any information on the new website.220
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221
Ms. Masino said she wanted to speak about Margery Winters being on the Conservation222
Commission due to her expertise and scientific background. She is extremely non-partisan and223
well informed. She noted that Sustainability and Conservation are not the same. She said224
Sustainability is working on energy and trash while Conservation is about water and the natural225
environment. She said Sustainability did a report on solar, but they missed hundreds of acres of226
solar in Simsbury. She doesn’t understand why we are allowing this bad math in Simsbury. She227
said she was asked to help get farmers put solar panels on their land. She said no as she supports228
farmers for farming. She feels these committees are just apples to oranges.229
230
Steve Horvath, 426 Firetown Road, spoke in support of Bayard due to his work on Sustainability,231
being a teacher at the school and working with their groups. He has a long commitment as an232
environmentalist. Mr. Horvath is also an environmentalist and feels very comfortable with233
Bayard joining this commission.234
235
Amy McLean Sa1ls, 36 Elm Street, Tariffville, said Bayard Faithfull is a very dedicated person236
who is looking forward to serving the Town on the Inland/Wetlands and Conservation237
Commission. He is very qualified and she feels it is good to have fresh eyes on238
committees/commissions. She feels we need more people to get involved. People who are239
willing to step up to the plate should be given the opportunity to serve. She sees the value of240
having new people to work with the other dedicated members of the Boards and Commissions.241
242
Lori Fernand, 15 Camille Lane, came to endorse Bayard Faithfull to the Conservation243
Commission and Inland Wetlands and Water Course Agency. She said he has been an educator244
for over 30 years, in a vast array of different subjects. He has taught children about their role in245
society and is committed to professionalism. He has also been a community leader as a coach246
and is also on the Sustainability Committee. His passion and support of the human habitat is247
obvious. She feels it is good to work on both sustainability and conservation. She asked the248
Board to move his nomination forward and vote him onto the Conservation Commission.249
250
Diane Nash, 5 Merrywood, said all anyone needs to do to see that Margery Winters needs to be251
on the Conservation Commission is to listen to the February 3rd meeting. She wasn’t there, but252
after their decisions were made, the Board said they couldn’t wait for her to come back so they253
could get her guidance and expertise again. Her fellow members have looked to her and worked254
with her and they need that knowledge. Maybe we could remove one candidate so new one can255
serve, if needed, but don’t make this a political decision. She doesn’t want the Board to remove256
someone because they are on the wrong party.257
258
Ms. Nash spoke about the new website. She said she can’t send a message just to the Selectman259
without having to type if five times over and sending it to sort. This website does not help her or260
the public, but might help Town staff, who has to keep it updated. She wants a better format, like261
if there are changes to the agenda she can find right away or can get all of the Board of262
Selectmen email addresses directly.263
264
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She told everyone not to forget the standards as we don’t vote to change people because of their265
political party but their willingness to serve and to serve the best.266
267
Diana Moody, 7 Elsie Way, said she feels the Board is here because they want to make a268
difference and they spend a lot of personal time to get things done. She thanked them for that.269
Ms. Moody said she was endorsing Margery Winters as she has chaired the Inland/Wetlands and270
Conservation Commission since 2000. She has also been on Open Space. She works tirelessly to271
promote sustainable land, management practices, and advocates for the preservation of natural272
resources. She has an unwavering commitment to the community and its environment. She said273
Ms. Winters was an assistant director at the Roaring Brook Nature Center, where she taught274
science and nature, which is her passion. She delivers presentations and lectures on conservation,275
nature and landscaping. She feels Ms. Winters is the most qualified for this position. She is276
concerned about some decisions made about conservation, like the farmers giving up some of277
their land to support solar. She gave some instances that she found about farmers giving up land.278
She feels these decisions are directly connected to who we vote for to be on this commission and279
she feels Ms. Winters does have the expertise. She asked the Board to think about their decision280
tonight and feels that Ms. Winters would be a good move in the right direction.281
282
Ellen Gilbert, 126 Hopmeadow Drive, said she read about Vessel wanting to build apartments283
going before the Conservation Commission. She started to go to the meetings. After going to284
those meetings, she saw that Ms. Winters looks at the whole picture before making her decision.285
She also said the Commission said they couldn’t wait for Ms. Winters to come back to the286
meetings as she knows so much about conservation and they need her to play her part in the287
decision making. She has a concern that Ms. Winter’s position as chairperson of the288
Commission is in jeopardy and her losing that position would put Simsbury in jeopardy, which289
she doesn’t even want to imagine. She feels that there is a push to develop on any land and we290
need to keep her on that Board. She asked, for the sake of the Town, that the Board keep Ms.291
Winters on that Commission.292
293
Gail Landesberg, 278 Old Farms Road, said she graduated from the master gardener program in294
2024. She is very involved with gardening and everything nature related. She said Margery295
Winters “walks on water” in conservation, environmental, gardening, and anything else in296
gardening and wildlife. She knows so much and is really sought after for lectures and programs.297
She looks at all different angles and checks ordinances before making decisions. She feels Ms.298
Winters is a very trusted authority. While it is good to have new blood, no one could take her299
place, and it would not be good to replace her.300
301
Paul Hennault, 12 Wind Gate, said he has nothing against Mr. Faithfull, but said the Board has302
three people being put up for renomination, 2 Democrats and 1 Republican. He said their choice303
is to not reappoint Ms. Winters and appoint Mr. Faithful or reappoint all three members up for304
reappointment and wait until a spot opens on Conservation to appoint Mr. Faithfull. He thinks it305
is a little odd that four people have been put up for three spots. He does know the process, as he306
was on the Republican Town Committee before. He said the parties put up people who are very307
well credentialed for the spots and people who are good for the Town. They shouldn’t have a308
fight over political parties.309
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Mr. Hennault said Ms. Winters is President of the Simsbury Land Trust; Director of Renbrook;310
has a degree in Environmental Engineering. She knows the law when it comes to311
Inland/Wetlands and how to follow it. We don’t want to lose that expertise as it would be312
detrimental to Simsbury overall. The other two people who are up for reappointment have313
served very well and he feels they should also be reappointed. The Board should find a spot later314
for a new candidate to come in. This would preserve all existing capital that exists on315
Conservation. You don’t appoint by political appointments.316
317
CONSENT AGENDA (2:18:40)318
Ms. Yeisley made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to move items a) Appointments to the319
Aging and Disability Commission; b) Appointments to the Board of Assessment Appeals; c)320
Appointments to the Building Code Board of Appeals; e) Appointments to the Open Space321
Committee; f) Appointments to the Public Building Committee; g) Appointments to DEI322
Council; k) Appoint Chris Kelly to the Police Commission; l) Acknowledge Receipt of Two323
Resignations from the Economic Development Commission; under Appointments and324
Resignations and items e) Authorize the Town Manager to Issue Tax Overpayment Refunds; and325
h) Accept a donation from peter Askham with our thanks, under Action Items to the Consent326
Agenda. Mr. Antonio seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.327
328
FIRST SELECTMEN’S REPORT (2:20:55)329
330
First Selectman, Wendy Mackstutis, reviewed her Fist Selectman’s report.331
332
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT (2:23:40)333
334
Town Manager, Marc Nelson, reviewed his Town Manager’s report.335
336
LIAISON AND SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS (2:28:30)337
338
Mr. Beal had nothing to report at this time.339
340
Mr. Looney said Parks and Recreation has a new logo. He said the camp signup was sold out.341
342
Mr. Antonio had nothing to report at this time.343
344
Ms. Yeisley said the Board of Ed held a budget workshop which focused on the operating345
budget. They will discuss the CIP and CNR budgets at the meeting tomorrow night. She said 2346
Farms Village Road has had other interests from other districts wanting to know when they can347
apply for spots.348
349
Ms. Yeisley said DEI Council elected their chair, vice chair, and coordinator. They updated their350
policy and procedures, which will come before this Board for approval. They are hosting the351
human library again on March 28th at the Library. She said the public is invited to the DEI352
meetings if they want to discuss something.353
354
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Ms. Yeisley said the Library meeting is tonight, where they will be doing their strategic planning.355
She noted that the State cut the budget by $140,000 for the Connectcard program. This will356
affect our Library by about $17,000, but they are trying to mitigate that. The Library will be357
hosting a teen photo contest in March.358
359
Ms. Yeisley said Public Safety has had consistent cold weather protocols due to the severe cold360
weather. Eversource and plowing updates come in consistently as well.361
362
Ms. Yeisley said Aging and Disabilities had a “super Thursday” that was well attended. They are363
looking for accessibility in Town and parking lots. There will be more to come on this issue.364
365
Ms. Yeisley said the Youth Services Advisory Board intergenerational pizza and movie will be366
held this Friday at the Library at 1 p.m. and jobs for summer recreation are now open for367
applications.368
369
Mr. Paine said Economic Development Commission had a lively discussion and two members370
resigned. They are looking for direction from the Board of Selectmen as to what they should do371
now.372
373
Ms. Mackstutis noted that she did not direct staff to handle the timer during public audience. It374
was decided at the agenda prep, which was attended by the First Selectman, Town Manager,375
Deputy First Selectman and Deputy Town Manager.376
377
APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS (2:32:44)378
379
a) Appointments to the Aging and Disabilities Commission380
381
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda.382
383
b) Appointments to the Board of Assessment Appeals384
385
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda.386
387
c) Appointments to the Building Code Board of Appeals388
389
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda.390
391
d) Appointments to the Conservation Commission Inland/Wetlands & Watercourses392
Agency393
394
Ms. Mackstutis noted that there is a lot of value in having Ms. Winters on this Commission and a395
lot of value of having Mr. Faithfull on the Commission as well. She noted that if the Board does396
nothing, the names would ride over until the Board changes. She said it was just a timing matter397
for Ms. Winters. She asked if both parties would discuss this issue further and come up with the398
best group to move forward with regardless of party affiliate as this should not be partisan.399
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400
Mr. Beal made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to table this item until a future meeting. Mr.401
Paine seconded the motion.402
403
Ms. Mackstutis would like to refer it back to the parties so they can evaluate everyone from both404
parties and not make it partisan, but about their qualifications. They could also look at someone405
stepping down before their term expires as there are four applicants for three spots.406
407
Mr. Fitzgerald noted that people stay on Commissions/Committees until their terms expire or408
until someone else is appointed.409
410
After some discussion, Mr. Beal, Mr. Antonio, Ms. Mackstutis, and Mr. Paine voted to table, with411
Mr. Looney and Ms. Yeisley voting against. Therefore, the motion passed.412
413
e) Appointments to the Open Space Committee414
415
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda.416
417
f) Appointments to the Public Building Committee418
419
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda.420
421
g) Appointments to the DEI Council422
423
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda.424
425
h) Appointments to the Sustainability Committee (2:48:06)426
427
Ms. Mackstutis said there are five reappointments – 3 Democrats, but only 1 Republican. She428
said no one else was brought forward, but Sean McLaughlin was asked to be on the Committee429
and his resume was received. She called him and he was very excited to join the Committee, so430
she moved his nomination forward.431
432
Mr. Beal made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to approve the appointments to the433
Sustainability Committee as presented. Ms. Yeisley seconded the motion.434
435
Mr. Beal feels that more than one person should speak to nominees, like the Sustainability Chair436
or Personnel Sub-Committee. He also thinks there should be a process for this. Ms. Mackstutis437
noted that the process is evolving. Mr. Antonio also feels that in the future there should be438
interviews on new appointments, but for this appointment no one else was recommended by the439
parties so it is fine.440
441
After further discussion, Ms. Mackstutis asked if the 5 appointments to the Sustainability442
Committee could be moved forward. Mr. Antonio seconded the motion. All were in favor and443
the motion passed.444
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445
i) Appointments to the Technology Task Force446
447
Mr. Beal made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to appoint the slate as presented. Ms.448
Yeisley seconded the motion.449
450
Mr. Beal asked about Matthew Rankin. Ms. Mackstutis said she got his application and called451
him. He was very excited and his skill level is very IT as he works for ITSME for the State of452
Connecticut. She thought he would be a good fit as he was also a past member of the453
Technology Task Force.454
455
All were in favor and the motion passed.456
457
j) Appointments to the Water Pollution Control Authority458
459
Ms. Mackstutis said Abby Lawrence application was received. She said she had worked for a460
water pollution control. Ms. Mackstutis called her and she was very interested and excited to461
join the Authority. She was the only person to come forward to volunteer for this as an462
unaffiliated voter.463
464
Ms. Yeisley made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to approve all of the Water Pollution465
Control Authority members as presented. Mr. Beal seconded the motion. All were in favor and466
the motion passed.467
468
k) Appoint Chris Kelly to the Police Commission469
470
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda.471
472
l) Acknowledge the Resignation from the Economic Development Commission473
474
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda.475
476
ACTION ITEMS477
478
a) Approve Thrive Farm 2026 Agriculture Enhancement Grant Application (2:55:49)479
480
Mr. Nelson said we were initially requested to give them a letter of support for the grant481
application. Then they changed it to us becoming a fiscal sponsor, and then it changed to us482
becoming the grant applicant as the property owners. He said the grant would add a little flavor483
and additional resources for the benefit of the community and he is recommending approval of484
this retroactively. He noted that the letter of support and application have already been485
submitted. If the Board does not approve this, we would simply not accept the grant.486
487
Mr. Fitzgerald said he got an update and they don’t need the Town to be a fiscal sponsor488
anymore. He said the Board could amend the motion and just retroactively approve the489
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application. He said the Board doesn’t need to execute all documents and recommend it to the490
Board of Finance now.491
492
Ms. Mackstutis had a question about the one tier for $50,000 plus a match with in-kind493
contributions and matching funding coming from the Farm. Mr. Roy said this is to offset their494
paid staff member. They will now be more community outreach, and they are already paying for495
the farm manager.496
497
Ms. Yeisley made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to retroactively approve the application498
by Thrive Farm for the 2026 Agricultural Enhancement Grant Program through the Connecticut499
Department of Agriculture. Mr. Looney seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion500
passed.501
502
b) Authorize the Town Manager to Execute the Simsbury Farms Golf Course Restaurant503
Lease (2:58:54)504
505
Mr. Nelson said there have been some questions raised which he will have to find time to look at.506
He is asking the Board to table this item so they can get the questions answered. Only the Board507
can authorize the Town Manager to sign this.508
509
After some discussion, Mr. Looney made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to table this510
discussion until the next Board meeting. Ms. Yeisley seconded the motion. All were in favor511
and the motion passed.512
513
c) Authorize the Town Manager to Apply for a CRCOG LOTCIP Grant (3:01:18)514
515
Mr. Roy said every few years the Capital Reginal Council of Government has a solicitation for516
the LOTCIP grant. It is an infrastructure grant for towns like us. They have $45,000,000517
available, but we cannot get all of it. They have a very clear direction of where they are looking518
for this infrastructure to go. He and Mr. Kessler have a lot of discussions on what projects might519
be a good candidate for this. They have identified the intersection of County and Hoskins Roads520
for a safety program. They are proposing a round-about there. The Town would be responsible521
for the engineer/design fees, but the grant would cover 100% of the cost.522
523
Mr. Kessler said this is a Y intersection. This is an opportunity, since we own property next to it,524
and we have sufficient right of way. The Police Department did use radar and found most people525
travel at 42-43 miles per hour there, while the speed limit is 30. They feel that a round-a-bout526
would reduce speeds, create a little safer condition out there, and correct the sight line out there.527
The other option would be to make a T intersection. He feels the cost would be between528
$300,000 to $500,000 with the engineering and design. The round a bout design would cost529
about $200,000 to $230,000. The LOTCIP grant would cover the cost of construction. After530
reviewing with the consultant, the estimate is now about $2,300,000. If we go through the grant531
program, DOT gets involved. He said a T intersection would have to be Town funded.532
533
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After discussion, Mr. Antonio made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to authorize Town534
Manager, Marc Nelson to submit a proposal and funding request to the CRCOG under the 2026535
LOTCIP Solicitation to fund intersection improvements at the intersection of County Road and536
Hoskins Road.537
538
In the event that the grant is awarded, the following additional motion is in order: move to accept539
the LOTCIP Solicitation funding and authorize Town Manager, Marc Nelson, to execute all540
documents related to the grant award. Further move, to appropriate the grant’s funds and541
recommend said appropriation to the Board of Finance. Ms. Yeisley seconded the motion. All542
were in favor and the motion passed.543
544
d) Approve FY25/26 General Fund Mid-Year Transfer Requests (3:14:42)545
546
Ms. Meriwether explained the general fund mid-year transfer requests. She noted that these are547
not supplemental appropriations, but transfer requests from departments within the budget that548
have already been approve as part of the budget process. She said the contingency line is items549
that they went through during the budget process, which are mainly unsettled contracts that are550
negotiated and that are due after the budget process. She also said that the contingency line items551
went through the budget process and they are mainly unsettled contracts that are negotiated and552
are completed after the budget process. She is taking the value of the contingency line item and553
transferring it out to appropriate full-time items to reallocate them for the CSEA contracts, the554
ASME contracts and the unaffiliated employees’ contracts and to line up the budget with the555
contracts. She said the contingency line item is everything that has been approved through the556
budget process.557
558
Ms. Meriwether said the department request is where she looks at the budget and any559
departments that are showing potential savings and where there are other departments showing560
potential deficits, she adjusts those mid-year. This is done again at year end.561
562
Ms. Meriwether then went through the transfers. She noted that the Latimer Lane project had a563
separate construction capital project fund and had to have their own insurance policy. Now that564
the project is complete this goes back to the master insurance policy and the money is565
redistributed. They are now asking for reallocation of funds.566
567
She said the highway department is already over budget, so they are asking for an additional568
$85,000 for overtime and $85,000 for salt purchases to reestablish the supply, which would be569
coming from a Police line item. She said the $5,000 under community services is for the January570
referendum costs.571
572
After discussion, Mr. Paine made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to approve and573
recommend to the Borad of Finance, the General Fund transfers between departments as574
presented below and in accordance with the attached schedule. Mr. Beal seconded the motion.575
All were in favor and the motion passed.576
577
578
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e) Authorize the Town Manager to Issue Tax Overpayment Refunds579
580
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda.581
582
f) Enact Municipal Options to Exempt Horses and Ponies from Property Taxes’583
Ordinance (Town Code Chapter 141, Article 1X) (3:23:45)584
585
Mr. Nelson said there have now been two public hearings on this matter. At the first public586
hearing the item did not pass. He feels the issue is that the Assessor doesn’t have the experience587
or resources needed to perform the process of assessing living animals that range in value. He588
has never heard of a training program being offered on this issue either. He said we really only589
tax those who file and tell her what the value of the horse is. Those taxpayers who acted in good590
faith were billed and they paid. Everyone else did not pay. This imbalance made us go after those591
taxpayers who weren’t self-reporting or didn’t give us a fair market value. Mr. Nelson said there592
is no way we can administer the assessment of horses equitably and fairly across the board. He593
said he then recommended to the Board that we should opt out and not assess the horses.594
595
Mr. Nelson said we are creatures of the State, and the choices are to muddle through or opt in/out596
and forego the limited revenue of about $20,000.597
598
After some discussion, Mr. Antonio made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to enact the599
proposed ordinance of Town Code Chapter 141 Article IX: Municipal Option to Exempt Horses600
and Ponies from Property Taxes, as presented, which shall be effective with the 2024 Grand List601
21 days after publication in a newspaper having circulation within the Town of Simsbury.602
Further move, to authorize a summary of the amended ordinance be published. Ms. Yeisley603
seconded the motion. Mr. Beal, Mr. Looney, Mr. Antonio, Ms. Yeisley, and Mr. Paine were in604
favor, with Ms. Mackstutis not in favor. Therefore, the motion passed.605
606
Mr. Nelson called a point of order as this item was a carry-over from last year’s action and the607
date needs to be changed to 2025.608
609
Mr. Antonio made the following amendment to his motion: effective February 9, 2026, to enact610
the proposed ordinance of Town Code Chapter 141 Article IX: Municipal Option to Exempt611
Horses and Ponies from Property Taxes, as presented, which shall be effective with the 2025612
Grand List 21 days after publication in the newspaper having circulation within the Town of613
Simsbury. Further move, to authorize a summary of the amended ordinance be published and614
will reconsider the previous motion that passed. Ms. Yeisley seconded the motion. Mr. Beal, Mr.615
Looney, Mr. Antonio, Ms. Yeisley and Mr. Paine were in favor, with Ms. Mackstutis not in favor.616
Therefore, the motion passed.617
618
g) Acknowledge Receipt of the 2025 Charter Revision Commission Draft Report and619
Schedule a Public Hearing (3:45:54)620
621
Ms. Mackstutis said they received the revised Charter, and a public hearing needs to be done622
before March 8th. The public hearing will be held on February 23rd, before the regular Boar623
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meeting. She noted that everything needs to be done 14-15 days before March 8th so it can go624
back to the Commission for them to changes.625
626
Ms. Yeisley made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to acknowledge receipt of the 2025627
Charter Revision Commission Draft Report and Proposed Charter. Further move, to set a public628
hearing regarding the 2025 Charter Revision Commission Draft Report for 6:00 p.m. on Monday629
February 23, 2026. Mr. Beal seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.630
631
h) Accept a Donation from Peter Askham632
633
This item was moved to the Consent Agenda with our thanks.634
635
APPROVAL OF MINUTES (3:47:18)636
637
a) January 12, 2026 Regular Meeting638
639
Ms. Yeisley made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes640
of January 12, 2026, as presented. Mr. Beal seconded the motion. All were in favor and the641
motion passed.642
643
COMMUNICATIONS644
645
a) Memorandum from the Town Manager re: “ClearGov” Software Use dated January646
22, 2026 – There was no discussion at this time.647
b) Memorandum from the Town Clerk re: Notification of number of Electors and number648
of Polling Places, dated February 9, 2026 – There was no discussion at this time.649
c) Community Projects Update by Director of Public Works/Town Engineer Thomas E.650
Roy, P.E. – There was no discussion at this time.651
652
ADJOURN (3:50:14)653
654
Ms. Yeisley made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 9:28655
p.m. Mr. Paine seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.656
657
Respectfully submitted,658
659
Kathi Radocchio660
Clerk661