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.
T O W N O F S I M S B U R Y – B O A R D O F S E L E C T M E N S P E C I A L M E E T I N G M I N U T E S – F E B R U A R Y 9 , 2 0 2 6 P a g e | 1 • CALL TO ORDER1 2 The Special Joint Meeting of the Board of Selectmen and the Police Commission was called to3 order at 5:31 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were: First4 Selectman Wendy Mackstutis; Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio; Board members Mike5 Paine; Diana Yeisley; Curtis Looney and Kevin Beal. Others in attendance included Town6 Manager, Marc Nelson; Deputy Town Manager Tom Fitzgerald, Police Chief Nicholas Boulter,7 Police Commission Chairman Eric Lemke, Commission members Tenesha Grant, Jennifer8 Caulfield, James Traficante, and other interested parties.9 10 • PRESENTATION11 12 • Police Commission FY 2026/2027 Budget13 14 Mr. Lemke, Chair of the Police Commission, presented the FY 26/27 budget. He said the15 budgets fund and support for 42 sworn officers at this time, which is still below16 recommendations. He said all contract agreements from existing collective bargaining17 agreements with all three unions in the Police Department. The crossing guard compensation18 will increase 2.5% for each year since the last increase in July of 2022.19 20 Mr. Lemke said the labor rate for external vehicle repair has increased approximately 50% since21 2021. He said the regional emergency service team’s increase in contributions went from $5,00022 to $7,500, which supports S.W.A.T., Crisis Negotiations, Accident Reconstruction, and Drone23 teams.24 25 He said they are looking to replace evidence appliances that are 20 years old. There is also26 training throughout the department, including mandated certification training and continued27 education. He noted that this will be the third year of providing state-required police certification28 training in-house as opposed to regional training.29 30 Mr. Lemke said they will renew the existing roadside camera lease and enhance coverage by 1-231 intersections. They will also replace 2 hybrid marked police cruisers and 2 unmarked32 administrative vehicles. He noted that there is a reduction in fuel based on usage and efficiency33 in the hybrid fleet.34 35 Chief Boulter said there are currently cameras at 3 intersections, which is 6 cameras. He also36 explained why they have in-house training and regional training. He said the increase to the37 budget is 3.6%, which is mostly GWI. They do not have any new capital items in their budget,38 however, there are some vests that need to be replaced. They would like to replace 4 vehicles39 total, with 2 being unmarked.40 41 There was some discussion on overtime and how that should be handled. Chief Boulter noted42 that there are 5 vacancies in their department right now.43 44 T O W N O F S I M S B U R Y – B O A R D O F S E L E C T M E N S P E C I A L M E E T I N G M I N U T E S – F E B R U A R Y 9 , 2 0 2 6 P a g e | 2 After some discussion, Ms. Yeisley made a motion, effective February 9, 2026, to adjourn the45 Special Meeting at 5:53 p.m. Mr. Beal seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion46 passed.47 48 Respectfully submitted,49 50 Kathi Radocchio51 Clerk52