Minutes
Open Space Committee - Minutes - Jun 3, 2026
Jun 3, 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.
Page 1 of 2 Opens Space Committee and Policy Work Group1 Regular Meeting2 June 3, 2026 – 5:00 P.M.3 Meeting was held on ZOOM4 5 MINUTES6 7 I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Masino called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.8 9 Present: Chair, Susane Masino; Vice Chair, Margery Winters; Committee Representative10 Members: Chair of Zoning, Tony Braz, and Chair of Culture, Parks and Recreation, Lori11 Coppinger; At Larger Committee Members: Tyler Archer and Helen Peterson; and Director of12 Culture, Parks and Recreation, Tom Tyburski.13 14 II. PUBLIC AUDIENCE15 16 Diane Nash 5 Merrywood, advocated for improved announcements of Open Space meetings.17 The important work of the OS committee, that our land is our most valuable asset and its18 preservation should impact the decisions of the commissions and boards.19 20 Chair Masino stated she will send a note to the Board of Selectmen about the Open Space21 Committee’s meetings being announced on the calendar on the Town website. Committee22 Member Peterson recommended including Ms. Nash’s letter23 24 III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES25 26 April 8, 202627 28 Chair Masino amended “Deposition” on Lines 35 and 36 should read “Disposition”29 30 Committee Member Peterson stated Lines 35 and 36 have “Dispostition Form” too repetitively.31 32 Vice Chair Winters amended “Big Old Belden” on Line 62 to read “Belden”.33 34 MOTION: Chair Masino made a motion, without objection, to approve the April 8, 2026,35 Regular Meeting Minutes as amended. (6-0-0)36 37 Committee Member Archer introduced himself as an attorney who practices land conservation38 law, land use real estate, environmental energy, and anything to do with property.39 40 The Committee Members introduced themselves to Committee Member Archer.41 42 Open Space Committee and Policy Work Group Regular Meeting Minutes June 3, 2026 Page 2 of 2 IV. OPEN SPACE INVENTORY UPDATE43 44 The Committee discussed the various policies, ordinances, regulations, and codes, and agreed45 to put the Open Space Inventory at the end of the document and include a map.46 47 V. ARBORETUM UPDATE48 49 Vice Chair Winters stated that they are still waiting for the identification of plants and she will50 contact Bruce Powell. Chair Masino stated that Michele Jenks has photos that could be51 submitted with the application.52 53 VI. INVASIVES UPDATE54 55 Vice Chair Winters stated FRWA and the Simsbury Land Trust removed invasives near the56 Pinchot Sycamore Tree.57 58 Chair Masino stated there is the annual Grange Fair on June 13th.59 60 VII. EVENTS61 62 Vice Chair Winters invited anyone interested to join the Simsbury Land Trust in invasive63 removal each weekend.64 65 Chair Masino stated there is the annual Grange Fair on June 13th, 10 A.M. – 3 P.M.66 67 VIII. OTHER BUSINESS68 69 Committee Member Archer proposed having a river front park or wildflower meadow near70 Owen’s Brook (Southwest corner of Owens’s Brook and Hopmeadow Street) that doesn’t need71 to be regularly mowed. Chair Masino stated she will contact FRWA and Public Works about72 it.73 74 Chair Masino stated she is going to advocate for invasive plant removal near the small wetlands75 on the southeast corner of Iron Horse Boulevard and Hopmeadow St. and it would be a great76 showcase project.77 78 IX. ADJOURNMENT79 80 MOTION: Chair Masino made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair Winters, to adjourn the81 meeting. The motion carried unanimously. (6-0-0)82 83 Chair Masino adjourned the meeting at 6:14 P.M.84 85 Respectfully submitted,86 87 Amanda Blaze88 Commission Clerk89