Agenda
Sustainability - Agenda - Jun 4, 2026
Jun 4, 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 1 Sustainability Committee Regular Meeting (Remote) June 4, 2026 - 6:30 P.M. Virtual Format Only; Zoom Meeting ID: 309 653 9930 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3096539930 AGENDA Call to Order & Roll Call 1) Public Audience a. Participants may address the Committee virtually and have five (5) minutes to speak b. Written comments can be emailed to fbarrueco@simsbury-ct.gov. Comments will not be read into the record, but forwarded to the Committee via email 2) Approve Minutes a. April 9, 2026 Regular Meeting b. May 7, 2026 Regular Meeting 3) New Business a. New England Smart Energy (NESE) Update: Mailing, Landing Page, and Town Events b. Newsletters: June & July c. Simsbury Public Schools Carton Recycling & Food Waste Discussion d. Charette Planning 4) Chair(s) Report 5) Ex-Officio Reports a. Board of Education b. Planning Commission i. Planning/Zoning Commissions Informational Update c. Recycling Committee i. Murphy Road Recycling Center Recap d. Economic Development Commission e. Town Manager’s Office 6) Open Forum Adjourn Sustainability Committee Regular Meeting Minutes April 9, 2026 - 6:30 P.M. Attendees: Jami Lewchik, Chair (At-Large Member) Bayard Faithfull, Vice Chair (At-Large Member) Brian Burkhart (At-Large Member) Shawn McLaughlin (At-Large Member) Michael Schulitz (At-Large Member) Nick Criscitelli (Ex Officio Member, Planning) Joe Daly (Ex Officio Member, Recycling) Charmaine Seavy (Rotating Ex Officio Member, EDC) Steve O’Brien (Ex Officio Member, BOE) Mark Scully (Public) Kim Haidenger (Public) Jenn Weymouth (Public) Marc Nelson (Town Manager) Chris Petron (Town Liaison) Agenda/Minutes: 1. Call to Order a. Motion – Jami Lewchik @ 6:32 p.m. 2. Roll Call of Voting Members and Declaration of Quorum a. Quorum identified 3. Approval of Minutes a. March 2026 Regular Meeting minutes i. Motion – Brian Burkhart, 2nd – Jami, all are in-favor 4. Public Audience Comments a. No public audience comments 5. New Business a. Waste Working Group Updates i. Jami discussed being on-plan to forward updated plan to Board of Selectman before end of year. ii. Jenn Weymouth discussed how the previous plan is being resurrected and updated. Not creating a new plan from scratch. iii. Joe Daly updated that he is actively researching additional actions and goals that fit into the working group goals and objectives. b. Michael Schulitz announced that he is relocating due to work and is resigning from the Committee. c. Zoning public opinion process updates i. Jami discussed that there is a consulting group helping the Zoning Board with their process to collect public feedback on potential zoning updates. a) At recent Zoning meeting they set up stations for small groups to engage with consultants b) One group was dedicated to collecting input on sustainability d. EV speaker event April 27, 2026 i. Mark Scully discussed the session and that Barry Kresch will be the keynote speaker a) The presentation component of the event will be short. Will spend more time on Q&A so residents can have their questions addressed. ii. Jami Lewchik will be the moderator e. Sustainability Fair planning i. Joe Daly announced that he has the new date stickers and wants to distribute them to sign holders so they can get the correct date affixed. ii. Jami communicated that the sign permit has been approved. It includes permission to post at all seven schools. iii. The group quickly reviewed 2024 and 2025 attendance numbers so everyone has an idea of what to expect. f. NE Smart Energy Campaign i. Jami discussed that the normal rate for a home energy audit is $75 but she is trying to negotiate it down to $50 for event attendees/Simsbury residents. a) March 31 was expiration date for $0 audits. ii. Nick Criscitelli recently went through the audit process and shared his personal experience. He expects to see a measurable reduction in energy costs/bills. g. Newsletter i. Shawn McLaughlin shared that he is working on a 3-month communication plan. ii. Goal is to have a forward-looking plan that can help with the review and approval process and improve timeliness and consistency of postings. 6. Reports from Ex-Officio Boards a. Economic Development Committee (Charmaine Seavy) i. No updates to report ii. Invited all members of the Sustainability Committee to attend EDC meetings b. Marc Nelson (Town Manager) i. Introduced himself and spoke highly of the Committee and the Town’s interest in continuing the support. c. Planning Commission (Nick Criscitelli) i. The PC has been focused on the budget process for the past couple of meetings. No additional updates. d. Recycling Committee (Joe Daly) i. Joe has been looking into solar activity and food scraps activity in West Hartford. ii. Spoke about the upcoming tour of the recycling facility tour (aka Murphy Road) and how seeing the facility will help this committee promote and educate the town on recycling. iii. Swap Shop at the Bulky Waste Facility is open for the season. iv. Jenn Weymouth suggested that the Town works to make sure what’s happening at the Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) is communicated out to the Sustainability Committee. e. Board of Education (Shawn O’Brien) i. Gave an update on the RFP for solar installation at the High School. a) Vendor selection is on-going. Team is negotiating the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). b) There is a short window for construction - BOE requires a summer installation. Due to the delay in executing a contract/PPA it’s looking like the project may move to summer 2027. c) Marc Nelson offered to reach out to TOS Legal and check on status. 7. Open Forum a. Bayard Faithfull gave a Sustainability Fair update (late arrival to meeting - provided his update at this time) i. Also addressed the sign project and the stickering. ii. Flyer will be ready no later than Saturday iii. He will issue a sign-up sheet for volunteers iv. Marc Nelson will look into offering incremental volunteer Town manpower 8. Adjournment a. Motion – Bayard Faithful @ 7:29 p.m., 2nd - Brian Burkhart, all are in-favor.