First Selectman's Reports

February 10, 2025

Feb 10, 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.

First Selectman’s Report 2-10-2025
SVFC items
Kevin Kowalski was presented with a Proclamafion from the Board last night, and members of
the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company and the Fire District aftended in support.
Here is the wording that was on the proclamafion:
I was also honored to have been invited to aftend the 2025 Lt. Richard Kelleher Awards Dinner
on Friday night, joining our Town Manager Marc Nelson, Police Chief Nick Boulter, Deputy Chief
Chris Davis, Emergency Management Director Mike Berry, and State Representafive Melissa
Osborne at the District Table.
The following members were honored for their years of service:
All of us on the Board of Selectmen send our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of
Firefighter Chris Burkeft. We are thankful for the dedicated service he provided to all of us as a
community.
February is Black History Month
Black History Month celebrates Black and African American history, culture, achievements, and
excellence. It also draws attention to the lived experiences of Black and African Americans
within the United States, including by celebrating Black and African American communities and
creating awareness about issues these communities face. This celebration began in the United
States in 1926, when the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)
head Dr. Carter G. Woodson recommended that schools use the second week of February—
which holds the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass—to ensure students are
exposed to Black history.
This is a great fime to expand your knowledge and understanding of our collecfive history, by
heading to this website created by the US Library of Congress, that includes many links to audio
and video presentafions, along with exhibits ongoing this month.
hftps://blackhistorymonth.gov/
Stay tuned: Planning is already underway by our DEI Commission for this year’s Juneteenth
Celebrafion at the Performing Arts Center.
FY 2025/2026 Budget Process
Our Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget Cycle is underway. Town Manager Marc Nelson will be
presenfing his budget on Monday 2/10 to the Board of Selectmen.
The next step after that is the Board of Selectmen Budget Workshop that will be held on 2/24
beginning at 5:00 PM. (Note the fime change making it a Special Meefing. )
A BOS Special Meefing will be scheduled for any Workshop confinuafion and Budget Adopfion
discussions needed, with nofice to the public in advance.
Public Hearing on 2 Farms Village
The Board of Finance will hold a public hearing regarding the purchase of 2 Farms Village to
support the Board of Ed proposal to create a special educafion space to the alleviate costs of
sending students out of the district for educafion. Informafion on this project and hearing can
be found at this link. hftps://www.simsbury-ct.gov/2farmsvillage
Food Pantry Relocafion and Ribbon Cufting
The Food Pantry will be moving to First Church of Christ in Simsbury. There will be a ribbon
cufting ceremony this Thursday 2/13 at 4:00. Please join us!
Open Space Commiftee
As designated Chair of this commiftee, I’m sharing a few key highlights from our members.
Invasive Species Removal Informafion and Parficipafion
Invasive Plant Workshop at the Simsbury Apple Barn
April 19 9 – 11 am
Join us to learn how to ID invasive plants and why they need to be removed from our properfies. After a
45-minute presentafion we head out to the Simsbury Farms Exercise Trail for hands-on experience on how
to remove these plants from our own properfies.
Bring loppers, garden gloves, sturdy footwear, eye protecfion, bug spray, and water.
Please contact director@simsburylandtrust.org for more informafion or to volunteer.
Workshop is sponsored by the Simsbury Land Trust
Burning Bush Removal Workday at Onion Mountain Park
71 W Mountain Rd, West Simsbury
April 26 9 am to Noon (April 27 rain date)
Volunteer efforts are underway to eliminate and control further spread of the invasive burning bush that
are taking over Onion Mountain Park. This is a big project and many hands are needed. No prior
experience is needed – just a willingness to pitch in to help restore the ecological health of the park.
If you can’t join us, removing these plants from your own yard will greatly help these efforts to control
their spread to our town’s wild areas.
Bring loppers, garden gloves, sturdy footwear, eye protecfion, bug spray, and water.
Please contact director@simsburylandtrust.org for more informafion or to volunteer.
Sponsored by the Simsbury Land Trust
Simsbury Grange Informafion
Please join the Simsbury Grange for live music for Music Mondays on the first Monday of
the month, with the next one scheduled for March 3rd, along with Film Fridays on the
first Friday of the month, starfing on April 4th . For detailed informafion, visit
www.simsburygrange.org.
Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz engaging town in Veterans Events
Our Lieutenant Governor made a quick stop at Town Hall a couple weeks ago to meet with the
First Selectman (me), the Town Manager and our Assessor to discuss mulfiple veterans events
to honor those who served during the Vietnam War, the Korean War and WWII. We will be
pufting together a list of those that have served, finding a space and sefting a date(s) for the
Vietnam and Korean ceremony to be held later this year. The WWII event will be state-wide on
May 19th at the State Armory. Details to come.
Mabel Update
“Loves Snow”
7 months old – 50+ pounds and growing.
Office Hours by Appointment
Feel free to reach out to me for office hours via my cell or town email.
860-543-3770 / wmackstufis@simsbury-ct.gov
Thanks, Wendy