Simsbury Board of Selectmen Meeting September 24, 2025

Board of Selectmen Meeting September 24, 2025

The Constitution states, “Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.”

Simsbury’s government has instituted regulations and policies that curtail free speech and censor free expression.

The Simsbury Public Library’s Mission statement states, “The Simsbury Public Library educates and enriches the community by providing free and equal access to information, resources, and experiences.”

Recently there was a story written by Steven Goode pertaining to the censorship of the Art Work of Sarah Schneiderman approved by the library.

The article quotes, “Simsbury Public Library edits art installation critical of Donald Trump after town leader complains

Art work critical of former President Donald Trump that was taken down by the public library after First Selectwoman Wendy Mackstutis complained has been re-hung without the controversial text.

The library board of directors determined after it was removed that the installation violated the library's policy that art work must be suitable for family viewing and not hostile to the work environment.

The installation titled “You're Fired! I Quit!" casts a critical eye on Trump's term in office, with portraits of him and members of his cabinet. The portraits, crafted from non-recyclable trash and re-purposed materials, were accompanied by text related to the subjects of the portraits and their work in Trump's cabinet.

Mackstutis, a Democrat, said Thursday that she was in the library during the micro-burst storm over the weekend when the building was opened as a cooling center and noticed the artwork.

"I got up to read the blurbs under each one and most were derogatory and the artist's view of each member of that administration," Mackstutis said. "I honestly can't imagine any municipality displaying this with the wording of the artist."

Mackstutis added that she felt the installation was inappropriate in general because of its political nature during a presidential election year, and that she did not believe a public library was the place for politically skewed art at any time.

Mackstutis has been criticized for enacting changes to public comment at public meetings that some say infringe on the First Amendment.

Miceli (Library Director) said she understands that some will view what the library did as censorship.

"The library stands for First Amendment Rights, but we have to balance that with our policies," she said.”

This appears to conflict with the Library’s Mission Statement.

Another instance of censorship is the Town’s Rules and Procedures, §A162-4. Decorum & Standards of Conduct

All meeting participants should address the Board, maintain a civil tone and should not impugn the motive, character, or integrity of any individual. The Board reserves the right to curtail any speaker addressing the Board in a manner that is not consistent with this Section.

Dan Barrett, legal director for the Connecticut ACLU, said that if it is only a suggestion that it is OK, but added that it was not his interpretation.

"This does not read as a mere suggestion," he said in an email, noting the language of the new rules: "The Board reserves the right to curtail any speaker addressing the Board in a manner that is not consistent with this Section."

"The language reads to me as if the board can, at its choosing, enforce the decorum standards," Barrett said.

Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis defended the board's intent to protect appointed employees from harassment and possible defamatory remarks.

Firs Selectman Wendy Mackstutis is a candidate for First Selectman.

Her record exemplifies a constant distain for free speech and her actions with the Art Exhibit, has shown her to be an active participant of Censorship.

These are not the qualities of a candidate for First Selectman and her actions should not qualify her for another term as Simsbury’s First Selectman.

Once again, the library censored Sarah Schneiderman’s exhibit, More Garbage Than Fish, and refused to display the Art exhibit in October.

An alternative was given to Sarah Schneidermanin in an email to display her Art Work in a church stating the church was, “not at all concerned about the issue of global warming being too controversial.”

After the censorship of the Art Exhibit at the Library, other artists boycotted Simsbury Public Library.

Town Manager Marc Nelson should review the policy of the library for art displays and the Mission statement that appears to be inconsistent with the censorship displayed by the library and report his findings to the Board of Selectmen in public session.

Abraham Lincolln stated, “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

The residents of Simsbury should expect all our elected and appointed leaders to embrace free speech and reject censorship in speech and actions.