Simsbury charter panel hears public concerns on open-space “stewardship,” recommends code clarifications

The Simsbury Charter Revision Commission debated whether to enshrine an Open Space Committee’s stewardship role in the town charter or to leave detailed definitions and duties to the town code, after resident Susan Messino urged clearer language and protections during the public-audience portion of the commission’s Oct. 9 meeting.

Messino, who identified herself as “Susan Messino, 41 Madison Lane,” told the commission that the committee’s recommended use of the word “stewardship” was intended to be nonpolitical and practical. “I want to first preface it that this is not spending money or anything like that,” she said, adding that the committee’s stewardship work has focused on reducing mowing, timing maintenance to save money, and using low-red-tape contracts for farmers to manage certain parcels.

The commission’s discussion focused on two connected questions: what “open space” means in Simsbury, and whether the charter is the right place to define stewardship and related categories of land. Commissioners noted the town already has multiple categories of open land — including parcels deeded to the town, land purchased and protected by the town, state-owned parks and properties, and land owned by nonprofits such as the Simsbury Land Trust — and said those categories complicate a one-line charter definition.

Commission members said the charter should…