Minutes
Open Space Committee - Minutes - Jul 8, 2026
Jul 8, 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 3 Open Space Committee1 Regular Meeting2 July 8, 2026 – 5:00 P.M.3 Simsbury Town Hall – Main Meeting Room4 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 060705 6 MINUTES7 8 I. CALL TO ORDER – Madam Chair Masino called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.9 10 Present: Chair, Susan Masino; Vice Chair, Margery Winters; First Selectman, Wendy11 Mackstutis; Culture, Parks, and Recreation Commission Chair; Lori Coppinger; At-12 Large Open Space Committee Members: Tyler Archer Helen Peterson; Parks and13 Recreation Director, Tom Tyburski; and Eagle Scout, Madoc McGee.14 15 II. PUBLIC AUDIENCE16 17 No public audience.18 19 III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES20 21 May 6, 2026, Regular Meeting22 23 MOTION: First Selectman Mackstutis made a motion, seconded by Conservation24 Chair Winters to approve the Minutes of the July 8, 2026, Regular Meeting as amended.25 The motion carried unanimously. (6-0-0)26 27 IV. DISCUSSION ON EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT WORK28 29 Eagle Scout Madoc McGee explained that his project’s intent is to improve local trail30 access. Upon the Eagle Scouts Committee’s approval he plans to begin work in mid-31 August at the trail head of the Blue Trail located between Massaco State Forest and32 Onion Mountain. He plans to improve parking by marking a two or three car lot. There33 will be a kiosk with maps and information. The entrance will be weeded, have a base34 layer of dirt, a layer of gravel, and will be sprayed to prevent future growth. The gate35 will be spray painted and given a new post. He hopes to complete the project by mid-36 September.37 38 Open Space Committee Regular Meeting Minutes July 8, 2026 Page 2 of 3 Chair Masino recommended instead of a kiosk having a post with a QR code that links39 to the proposed map and information.40 41 V. DISCUSSION ON DRAFT WORK PLAN FOR SIMSBURY OPEN SPACE42 43 Chair Masino stated that she has worked on the Executive Summary and at the end of44 the overview would like to add a list of National Designations with informational links.45 46 Committee Member Archer recommended making a grid system of open space parcels.47 48 First Selectman Mackstutis recommended referencing the Planning Commission by49 sanctioning or participating in the work.50 51 VI. IVASIVES UPDATE52 53 Conservation Commission Chair Winters stated there are several groups still54 brainstorming on how they will effectively handle invasives. She would like to make55 signs available to raise awareness.56 57 Committee Member Archer recommended working with businesses and properties in58 own that have invasives to raise awareness. Parks and Recreation Director Tyburski59 stated Conservation Commission Chair Winters has given very well received talks and60 recommended her giving one to the Chamber of Commerce.61 62 VII. ABORETUM UPDATE63 64 Conservation Commission Chair Winters stated there was no update but will check in65 with Bruce Powell about the status of identification.66 67 VIII. POTENTIAL DATE FOR PRESENTATION TO BOS68 69 The Committee decided October 26th would be the BOS meeting to present at.70 71 IX. OTHER BUSINESS72 73 None.74 75 X. EVENTS76 77 Chair Masino stated the Simsbury Land Trust, the Grange, Real Artways, and the78 Library have partnered to show films at the Library on Thursdays. The Simsbury Land79 Trust has many upcoming hikes.80 81 Open Space Committee Regular Meeting Minutes July 8, 2026 Page 3 of 3 XI. ADJOURNMENT82 83 MOTION: Madam Chair Masino made a motion, seconded by parks and Recreation84 Chair Coppinger, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously. (6-0-0)85 86 Madam Chair Masino adjourned the meeting at 6:06 P.M.87 88 Respectfully submitted,89 90 Amanda Blaze91 Commission Clerk92