Town Manager's Reports
September 8, 2025
Sep 8, 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.
Telephone (860) 658-3230 Facsimile (860) 658-9467 An Equal Opportunity Employer townmanager@simsbury-ct.gov www.simsbury-ct.gov 8:30 am - 7:00 pm Monday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 8:30 am - 1:00 pm Friday Town of Simsbury Town Manager’s Report September 8, 2025 Hydraulic Oil Spill Remediation Efforts and Environmental Sampling Update: This summary provides an update on the ongoing efforts following the hydraulic oil spill of approximately 75 gallons on August 29, 2025, in a neighborhood impacting Howard, Gordon, Centerwood, and Willard Streets. We understand the neighborhood remains concerned, and we want to assure residents that we are diligently investigating all aspects of this situation. Environmental Assessments and Preliminary Analytical Results: o Environmental Services, Inc. (ESI), the Licensed Environmental Professional (LEP) hired by USA Hauling, has collected soil and water (catch basin) samples from the impacted area. Additionally, samples were taken from an adjacent area (Wescott Road) that was not impacted by the spill to serve as a control o Preliminary analytical results from these soils and catch basin samples show no indication of hydraulic oil contamination in the impacted neighborhood o Trace amounts of petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in the catch basins above allowable levels. However, ESI's initial analysis, which uses techniques like chromatography to identify the unique "fingerprint" of different petroleum compounds, indicates these match the results from the control samples collected from Wescott Road. This suggests the presence of these trace pollutants is consistent with compounds commonly associated with runoff from asphalt-paved surfaces, rather than the specific hydraulic oil from the spill. This type of petroleum compound is commonly found when rain washes accumulated materials from roads into storm drains o These results will be further evaluated by the Town’s independent environmental consultant o Once all finalized laboratory paperwork is received, a formal report from ESI will be prepared, detailing these findings. The Town will share these results when we receive them o Atlas Environmental, the Town's independent environmental compliance consultant, is expected to provide their comprehensive report by Friday. This report will offer an objective overview and incorporate ESI's data, particularly evaluating any potential impacts to drinking water wells Residual Oil and Remediation Efforts: o Following the recent rain, some residual oil surfaced from cracks in the roadway, creating slick conditions. In response, ESI promptly conducted a second cleanup of the affected streets CT DEEP - Compliance and Communication: o The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) remains fully aware and involved in this process. We continue to maintain open communication with them to ensure all necessary regulatory requirements are met and that the situation is managed appropriately Community Engagement: o We understand the community's ongoing concerns, particularly regarding well water safety. The Department of Public Works is actively monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates as new analytical results and comprehensive reports become available. We remain committed to keeping residents informed throughout this process Next Steps: We anticipate reviewing the finalized detailed findings from ESI and the comprehensive assessment from Atlas Environmental early next week, which will guide if any further remediation actions or future monitoring is warranted. We will continue to maintain open communication with DEEP and the affected residents, providing information as it becomes confirmed. Town Clerk: Please note that the Town Clerk’s Office will be closed on Thursday, September 18th for the Town Clerks to attend the Connecticut Town Clerks Association. Police: For a fifth time, our Police Department has been awarded the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies’ (CALEA) ‘Advanced Law Enforcement Advanced Accreditation’ designation under the leadership of Police Chief Boulter and Deputy Police Chief Davis. CALEA Accreditation serves as the International Gold Standard for Public Safety Agencies and I couldn’t be prouder of our officers, Sergeant Tracy Dunne, Accreditation Specialist Christina DelTatto, Professional Standards Lieutenant Matt Christian, and everyone working in the Police Department to make Simsbury safe. CIRMA & CCM: On August 18th, April and Kristin from the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) presented the Town with a check for $58,304! Culture, Parks & Recreation: Happy Retirement John! Please join me in congratulating John Thibeault for thirty-nine years of service to the Town. We wish him a wonderful and healthy retirement. Thanks John! Welcome to our new Recreation Supervisor: Jaimie Clout! We are excited to welcome Jaimie Clout to our team. Jaimie comes to us with many years of valuable experiences leading comprehensive aquatics and recreation programs in both municipal and commercial settings. Ms. Clout has a tremendous background in facility and risk management and she has developed incredible leadership and organizational skills that will be great assets to us in her new position with the Town. Registration for fall and early winter programs is open and most programs are beginning soon. We have new Kindermusik classes for ages birth-four, and returning favorites such as Tumble Tots with Playstrong, Little Makers, Food Explorers, and Mad Science. HJMS Ski Club registration will be posted soon. For adults, we have a few openings in the Paint and Sip night that will held this Thursday (9/11), as well as seasonal cookie decorating classes coming up for teens and adults. Free adult pickleball drop-in nights at Simsbury Farms will continue on Mondays and Wednesdays through October. More programs, info, and registration can be found at www.SimsburyRec.com. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME): On September 4th, I signed a successor collective bargaining agreement with the union represented our Parks & Rec. and Public Works staff. Library: September is Library Card Sign Up Month. Your Library card is your ticket to savings and sustainability. Borrow items instead of purchasing them. Gain access to thousands of eBooks and audiobooks. Stop by the Simsbury Public Library to get a card for yourself and everyone in your family or register online at https://www.simsburylibrary.info/services/get-a-library-card/. Our Aging-In-Place Expo is on Friday, September 12th at noon. More info can be found here. Public Works: Underground Storage Tank Removal: Simsbury Public Library Public Works recently completed the removal of the underground diesel storage tanks at the Simsbury Public Library, replacing them with above ground tanks. These tanks provide fuel for the standby generator for the facility. Removing the underground tanks was a proactive measure, eliminating the risk associated with a leak, and eliminated annual inspection and reporting requirements. With the tanks now above ground, they are more easily monitored. The new tanks have a 30-year warranty, ensuring many more years of safe containment for the fuel for the generator. Please note that the image is not Simsbury - Thank you for reading my Town Manager’s Report. To reach me, and my office, email townmanager@simsbury-ct.gov or call (860) 658-3230. Remember that you can stay up to date with important Town news by subscribing, public meetings by looking at the Town Calendar, see Simsbury Main Street Partnership’s Community Calendar for new events, and please follow our Facebook page. Sincerely, Marc Nelson Town Manager