[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6576479,"mediaKeyId","3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa","parentId",3095211,"title","Commission approves minutes for Jan. 28 and March 25 and adjourns meeting","audioSeconds",5467,"startMs",60000,"endMs",5527000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa&start=60&end=5527","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa/thumbnail_60000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576479/Torrington/Northwest-Hills-County/Connecticut/Commission-approves-minutes-for-Jan-28-and-March-25-and-adjourns-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576479-f5fc905e3f16924bbd478607a756fabc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190344&Signature=VHCYMEIXCeSFTfThzofSldZA1j0MW766u8VAkwQ4~KXwqyJUQWCu0bNk817X6I3VyYv7IJCt7719tAObM9uEnDfO2GZ4~MPH-BkMnSIVa3~f4eoBix5gq7C--5npsRvlNhMO9ZpSFuF8z12U9~4O2RkU447DTdnHvb6HGqplaxDBVx0pl-ijXzBn4M1sGkLO8iva7bLQaDpwOmyYNQF2CQWC19aQQNoPKtTLpco9uV266fiFcphyRsePm~oBCn7N8L2dqhaQWqOZnRfTt5IoS2o8CKNCKClMSxhkI1iaqBH5U4YEK4SVAtfBKTmGp2lr9hqf8XTO365KiDO1tyap3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Torrington CT","date","2025-04-23T13:53:58.953Z","article","The Torrington Conservation Commission took routine procedural votes at the start and end of its April 22 meeting. The commission voted to approve the minutes for the Jan. 28 regular meeting and separately approved the minutes for the March 25 regular meeting. Both motions were seconded and the chair announced \"motion carries\" after members responded \"Aye.\" No individual roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

At the conclusion of business the commission moved to adjourn; the motion to adjourn was seconded and the chair announced the motion carried.

Why it matters: These are routine procedural actions that approve the official record of prior meetings and formally close the April 22 meeting. The transcript records the procedural motions and chair confirmations but does not list a full, named vote tally for each item.

Actions recorded from the transcript appear below; where the transcript did not name individual movers or record a roll-call tally, the article lists outcomes as recorded in the meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 22, 2025 | Conservation Commission Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Torrington Conservation Commission approved minutes for the Jan. 28 and March 25 regular meetings and adjourned the April 22 meeting; motions carried with assent but roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.","taxTitle","Torrington, Northwest Hills County, Connecticut","taxId",52777,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576484,"Commission hears about Fit Together microgrant opportunity for community health and agriculture projects",135,2643000,2778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa&start=2643&end=2778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa/thumbnail_2643000.jpg","/articles/6576484/Torrington/Northwest-Hills-County/Connecticut/Commission-hears-about-Fit-Together-microgrant-opportunity-for-community-health-and-agriculture-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576484-3561f5e46dbb35fd628c18a627beefa6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190344&Signature=S4k2LxLlrfAu-uzmuXR0FHX3vQVcIIC1MBMMeB2FOGFcdQnQSosFBbDZY5j-nqNOtR3Nr7JnnQb8yh2tm~9VMWvxDK~9r1KedF~z3Im53wy5rgBYiO3skDW-M-ob6Jst0X735NQMl5jcgazO~6jkhhiGEi-0jDLH34Zv~0LwqhkRFsDGDHGKNfi2h6vXJYxKGpwAJqSyti6gXQMh2rxal3fybDZzbhjcA8WDOgWDDNGc71Vo~YTcG2Ouzfy2jS7PKy5Ox42kHiIyBaZQE35k1XiHNOU-lmPfvHGzCGhnFYKiOzLnmwmMXrMD7ZXnmY3wyVpjgyP0855A1YwbWvDNJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Torrington Conservation Commission received a briefing on the Fit Together partnership — a collaboration involving Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Torrington, Winsted, the YMCA and local parks-and-rec staff — that offers small grants to support education, community-agriculture initiatives and active-living events.

A commission member described Fit Together as primarily focused on education and outreach rather than capital projects, with microgrants in the $5,000 range and some programs that can reach $10,000–$15,000. The program runs a request-for-proposals (RFP) process; a steering-committee member on the commission said they will circulate the RFP when it is released and avoid reviewing applications in a public meeting to respect procurement rules and committee responsibilities.

Why it matters: Commissioners discussed whether the city or the commission could apply for grant funds for projects such as community gardens, food-forest outreach, or bike-safety education. Because Fit Together is education-focused the commission suggested the program could support outreach, volunteer training, or microgrants for school- or neighborhood-based initiatives.

Next steps: Commission staff will circulate the RFP when it is released and consider brainstorm sessions for proposals for future cycles. No action or formal application was initiated at the April 22 meeting.

","Members were briefed on a Fit Together program that offers small grants (about $5,000 to $15,000) to support education, community agriculture and active-living projects; a commission member said they sit on the steering committee and will circulate the RFP when available.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576488,"Commission finalizes logistics for May 10 Jigs Donahue food-forest planting",421,4359000,4780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa&start=4359&end=4780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa/thumbnail_4359000.jpg","/articles/6576488/Torrington/Northwest-Hills-County/Connecticut/Commission-finalizes-logistics-for-May-10-Jigs-Donahue-food-forest-planting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576488-dd4b0adf4cd76ab74eb2cf439ffd4807/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190344&Signature=kN8waBeHt9Dm0YucAn6EO0Y9gjsVdViHgjSuicrYkgccYcjzaRy9ts4GY7dX~crfqDDoAd5TrVJS3R2RM-pY7iQbsFvlfVWcZUDb3W0iGIZaohtkMmHwUdNuyLJHiVEDABydmSk7PYVUzeNJ6YcbnPynkWiPJKrwGOYlqmC0xItqMD0XJ6xkTkwSb8p8JitD~-BB5X1yr0VsFH7EOfiHCrn8n3M2L1RxnOvQLFJ79H-WEg9Sy5Z0kEWZI3xxAZVSZ77pFJQMATHF3lh5q752wrviZA6W-UpQlgCV2izX6fbOpYL14Rqjo2TZtBbGf5lkyyKPo2KeCEFeKr-iyhmWjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Torrington Conservation Commission members finalized logistics and outstanding tasks for a food-forest planting scheduled for May 10 on the city-owned Town Farm parcel off University Drive (the Jigs Donahue site), agreeing to a planting plan, partner roles and a short timeline for site preparation.

The commission reviewed a draft planting layout that replaces apples with pawpaw trees for better shade tolerance, and includes highbush blueberries, currants and other shrubs spaced for mulched beds. Commissioners discussed increasing spacing for some shrubs and creating organic-looking clusters rather than strictly geometric rows to ease mowing and maintenance. \"We have the event on May 10,\" one member said; partners and staff confirmed the date and an event window of roughly 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Partners and logistics: The Northwest Conservation District will lead some educational and planting activities; Ed Advance (noted in discussion) and the community garden group were identified as potential partners. Public Works agreed to provide wood chips and a porta-potty and to fill water for volunteers. The commission plans to stage materials and park volunteers at Torrington Area Health (350 Main Street) and walk participants down a trail to the site; signage for parking and route will be prepared for the event day.

Site prep and materials: Commissioners identified two remaining site-prep tasks before the event: (1) dig test holes to assess compaction and rock content and (2) secure cardboard and compost/amendments to sit under wood chips in planting areas. The group discussed using mattocks or mechanized tools for compacted soils and arranging wheelbarrows/pitchforks to move chips. Public Works will be asked to drop chips on site; volunteers will place cardboard as a smother layer before spreading chips and planting. Several participants volunteered hand tools (mattocks, wheelbarrows) and suggested pre-event site prep days for hole-digging if the soil is hard.

Plant palette and maintenance: The plan lists pawpaw (tree), highbush blueberry, currant and other shade-tolerant shrubs; spacing for shrubs was discussed (commissioners suggested 5-foot spacing for shrubs and 10-foot spacing for trees as reasonable defaults). Commissioners agreed to mulch heavily and minimize frequent weeding, recognizing wood chips will slowly break down over time.

Follow-up actions: Commission staff will confirm chip delivery, secure cardboard donations (outreach targets include local businesses), coordinate with Northwest Conservation District on activities and finalize signs for parking and volunteer check-in. The commission did not take a budget vote at the meeting; partners are covering some materials and the city is providing Public Works support.

","The commission reviewed final plans for a May 10 food-forest planting on the Town Farm parcel, confirmed partners, supply needs (wood chips, cardboard, porta potty) and site-arrival/parking plans, and identified site-prep tasks (dig test holes, secure amendments and tools).",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576493,"Commission debriefs Earth Day cleanup; organizers report high turnout and logistical lessons",873,2813000,3686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa&start=2813&end=3686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa/thumbnail_2813000.jpg","/articles/6576493/Torrington/Northwest-Hills-County/Connecticut/Commission-debriefs-Earth-Day-cleanup-organizers-report-high-turnout-and-logistical-lessons","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576493-f81090c8a209752acf8c4fc806ca5328/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190344&Signature=YkZf9aD-jrtHsHj5CvicmEBEVzp1xWxo1NU2b1uC8gD7eM7yUY4GrYeiVk9uw88ZRN~1oWvDZan06-UJfsFZOLcidxNAEVXHi9VkxqSpYDlVsotbBJfbU97VVOOWDOi-G7L3VHRDHuyjmtUg9Qgftrd-6VK2Li2fU2xfzCb74EUOK61DuJLFaSgFwMpllDqKTwQaiEdlRcULC5xvIMZFybTn5m3oejnQV~mzIhNchJkMjdkHVaKTw33CapvnRdDLKe4ujf7wjE9oyWtcjYPNHM4RoVnvnD-BaWOme6IMOISBIp84b36WXvNrcfB~~HJ4ef8csz~ztnHki5uyMaFEoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Torrington Conservation Commission on April 22 debriefed its recent Earth Day cleanup, reporting a larger turnout than in previous years and a heavier-than-expected volume of collected trash. Commissioners and volunteers described operational successes and a list of improvements for next year, including earlier staffing, clearer check-in procedures, additional trash grabbers and better plans for biohazard incidents.

Chair Christine Altman said the cleanup drew a strong early crowd. \"We had over 80. I wouldn't be surprised if we had had a hundred people in that beginning part,\" Altman said, summarizing attendance and the large volume of collected material.

Why it matters: The event mobilized community volunteers but exposed gaps in volunteer intake, site assignments and safety guidance. Commission members said the downtown walkable sites consistently generated the most trash — including cigarette butts and abandoned bulky items — and recommended adjustments to staffing and logistics for future events.

Operational notes and concerns: Commissioners suggested opening a single funnelled sign-in line, assigning two to three trained people at the check-in table from 8:30 a.m., and giving clear location assignments before issuing gloves and grabbers. Organizers proposed a single location-first, sign-in-second step so volunteers know where to go. The commission said some trash grabbers were not returned and recommended adding an item on the sign-in sheet to record equipment issued and to follow up by email with participants who took equipment home.

Safety incident and policy implications: Organizers reported a volunteer sustained a needle stick while picking up litter and was treated at a hospital; medical staff advised the volunteer the immediate risk of HIV was low but recommended follow-up testing for hepatitis because it can survive longer outside the body. Commissioners discussed advising volunteers to avoid handling syringes and to report suspected encampments or hazardous waste to city staff rather than attempting removal themselves. They recommended stronger guidance that volunteers bring their own thick gloves, avoid handling suspected biohazard items, and that the commission work with city public-safety staff to formalize a protocol for biohazard discoveries.

Equipment and supplies: The commission discussed obtaining additional trash grabbers, bulk bags, water/drink supplies (the group suggested using a small contingency gift card to purchase drinks later the morning of an event to avoid waste), and protective gear. Public Works will be asked about providing wood chips, porta-potty service and pickup logistics for larger volumes of collected material. Commission members also discussed the value of recruiting a truck or partner to haul bulky refuse from remote dump sites and arranging construction-equipment assistance for river or encampment cleanup in coordination with Deep or other agencies when heavy lifting is needed.

Follow-up: Commission members will compile a checklist of logistical improvements (check-in funnel, trained morning volunteers, inventory tracking for equipment, walkable-site assignments and a communication plan for hazardous finds) and add it to the commission's event folder for next year. No formal policy changes or budget approvals were made at this meeting.

","Torrington Conservation Commission members reported more volunteers and more collected trash than last year, discussed crowd management, safety (including a needle stick), equipment needs and plans to improve next year.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576498,"UConn intern presents interactive natural-resources inventory for Torrington",462,584000,1046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa&start=584&end=1046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095211-333c50ba62ba1b7daa76a1fa6059f8fa/thumbnail_584000.jpg","/articles/6576498/Torrington/Northwest-Hills-County/Connecticut/UConn-intern-presents-interactive-natural-resources-inventory-for-Torrington","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576498-8a55fe8abcfb8cf08aa03d7be3b54bdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190344&Signature=KLwHWpSfbdEtdPgBivdYXOVsc7jW3WwLmOS16zXRtyXLaJiC4o6lhUTuh5epy7n5eJISyp3KYXt7Mtxb2mk-u3S0PYXPgffR~wwYiud4VUZ6XBRxCTev7qkgPmaZckzQ4kosMgKDRhGtZXv1rhZestZsZCHgSJ8Rn1xzeFBfhrVeYNmBg1R5uOD4tNpkfFd-E~EebAZITkJ5hODMSy92YmkvVNt4wh~W2iw9Efn-W5U-v5WnQTSis-2nVi73c9wf5i42wYGJM81-f6PG2Vbg2E0BLUtaq8eLWmg61z5BEaZdlF44vfgm~DGbHWXQwyMbm9vT5M96oy3LpovOYFPWyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emma Dutil, a junior at the University of Connecticut, presented an interactive natural-resources inventory (NRI) to the Torrington Conservation Commission on April 22, demonstrating an ArcGIS StoryMap that assembles maps and metadata for land cover, soils and geology, water resources, wetlands, drinking-water reservoirs, forest canopy, endangered species and climate resiliency.

The presentation gave the commission an overview of layers and tools they can use for planning and grant applications. \"A story map is an interactive tool that combines geospatial data, interactive media, and text to communicate information,\" Dutil said as she walked commissioners through land-cover change maps, an aquatic connectivity assessment and a heat-island model.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the NRI could support permit reviews, grant writing and outreach. The StoryMap centralizes multiple datasets — including North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative fish-survey points, FEMA flood zones, I-Tree canopy results and state-surficial-aquifer mapping — and can be embedded on the city's GIS/website for ongoing updates.

Details from the presentation: Dutil showed a land-cover time series (ending in 2021) highlighting recent development; bedrock and surficial-geology layers (including mapped mines); an aquatic-connectivity layer with red dots indicating significant fish barriers and survey points showing species such as sunfish, brown bullhead and chain pickerel; and maps of drinking-water reservoirs identified on the StoryMap as Reuben Hart Reservoir, North Pond, Wisspond and Allen Dam. She reported an I-Tree assessment finding tree canopy covers about 62% of Torrington and demonstrated Nature Conservancy habitat-resiliency and US Forest Service wildfire-vulnerability layers.

Commission discussion focused on local uses and limits of some datasets. Renata Bertotti, an assistant extension educator who works with CLEAR and the Land Use Academy, and Owen Casido, an assistant extension educator with Connecticut Sea Grant, joined remotely and described the academic program that places students with municipal partners to produce resources like the NRI. Commissioners and staff asked about the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) mapping of surficial aquifer potential and whether Torrington has a designated aquifer-protection zoning district; presenters said the StoryMap shows statewide surficial-aquifer potentials but noted Torrington has not designated a regulated aquifer-protection area.

Commissioner Nathan Ortiz and others suggested using the NRI as an official city reference or directing applicants to it for project-level resource summaries. The presenters and staff discussed next steps including refining zoning overlays, adding imagery basemaps, expanding narratives in the StoryMap and embedding the link on the city site.

The commission praised the work and agreed the map could be updated iteratively. \"This can be a starting point to look into what variables were modeled,\" a commission member said, noting the StoryMap's metadata sections. The group discussed pursuing a formal city resolution to adopt the NRI as a referenced resource for permitting and outreach.

Provenance: presentation excerpts in the meeting transcript document the StoryMap walkthrough and commissioner questions; the StoryMap files and ArcGIS Online link were developed by the student in coordination with commission staff and UConn extension educators.

","A University of Connecticut student demonstrated an ArcGIS StoryMap that compiles land cover, soils, water resources, habitat, flood and climate data for Torrington; commission members discussed use for planning, grants and public outreach.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves minutes for Jan. 28 and March 25 and adjourns meeting

Commission hears about Fit Together microgrant opportunity for community health and agriculture projects

Commission finalizes logistics for May 10 Jigs Donahue food-forest planting

Commission debriefs Earth Day cleanup; organizers report high turnout and logistical lessons

UConn intern presents interactive natural-resources inventory for Torrington