Simsbury Board of Selectmen Meeting March 23, 2026

Board of Selectmen Meeting March 23, 2026

At the March 9, 2026, Board of Selectmen Meeting First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis spent most of the meeting challenging the decisions made by the independent Charter Revision Commission during the draft review.

A Charter Revision Commission is a temporary, independent body mandated to review a municipality’s foundational governing document.

Their mandate includes updating governing structures, improving efficiency and ensuring the charter reflect current community needs.

First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis was upset that the Charter reflected a 2-year term for the Board of Selectmen and the First Selectman, in direct conflict with Wendy’s position of giving herself 4 years in her narcissist attempt become a dictator.

The Charter Revision Commission should not change their deliberations and votes in the draft charter to a political document serving the power-hungry elected officials.

Deputy Town Manager Tom Fitzgerald was tasked by First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis to regulate the 5-minute rule for public audience, in direct conflict with the rule of law, ordering employees.

An additional task should be instituted by First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis, ordering Deputy Town Manager Tom Fitzgerald to administer a breathalyzer to ensure that all Selectmen are not under the influence of alcohol.

The administration of the breathalyzer would require very little training; therefore, Deputy Town Manager Tom Fitzgerald would be ready for the additional task at the next Board of Selectmen meeting.

This task would enhance his resume with continuous improvement and give confidence to the public that none of their elected officials are impaired while deliberating and voting on public policy.

First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis should require all boards and commissions to institute the breathalyzer test before all meetings, ordering a staff person to administer the task.

When the breathalyzer registers above the limit, the person should be excused from the meeting.

This would ensure that all people serving on their respective boards and commissions would not be impaired when instituting public policy through discussion and/or vote.

There are many Town Ordinances that regulate behavior, this should be no different.

It appears that the town has removed the fairness doctrine when businesses are on town property.

The Simsbury Performing Arts Center rents Simsbury Meadows for events at a cost of $2500

Chris Latz pays $1 for the use of the Eno Trust Property, for the “poor of Simsbury” on Wolcott Road.

The Thrive Farm, a recycling business on the property is not required to show any financials to the Town, although it is a thriving business.

Hall Farm operated by Daren Hall, is required to pay $5000 to rent a Town barn.

This inequity in securing funds for use of Town property is apparent when all the above businesses, with exception of the Hall Farm can pay more for rentals, while Daren Hall’s income is lower than the others.

In fairness to Daren Hall, the rental property should be reduced to $1.

Chris Latz’s Thrive Farm and the Town Dump, located on the Eno Trust property should be required to pay 10% of their gross income.

All the revenue from the payments should be allocated for Social Services.

The SPAC should have a gross revenue sharing requirement with the Town for the use of the Simsbury Meadows.

The International Skating Center in Simsbury, on Town property, should pay the taxes on the building at fair market value, $288, 955 not the $85,000 in lieu of taxes.

Artificial Turf field should not be replaced at the High School.

Turf fields are dangerous primarily due to safety, health and environmental risks.

Heat can burn extremities, contain forever chemicals (PFAS), high injury rates and ingestion of crumb rubber is a health hazard.

Returning to grass fields would eliminate these issues and provide a safe environment for the athletic programs that use the fields.

Drainage Swails are used in many areas to divert the water from the fields and should be engineered on the High School fields.

This project should be eliminated from the Capital Improvements until the fields are reconstructed with a grass field that is safe.

All professional sports have returned to grass playing fields, replacing the turf fields.

The $2.2 Million for the turf fields should be eliminated from the Capital Improvement budget and replaced with the reconstruction of the Junior High Tennis/Pickleball courts that are in total disrepair and unsafe for the students and the community.

The turf fields are not an addition for community use as the fields can only be used by the High School sport teams.

The cost of the reconstruction of the much-needed Junior High courts would cost about $650,000, a savings of $1.55million which would reduce taxes.