Simsbury open space committee asks Charter Revision Commission to clarify membership, stewardship and review role

The Charter Revision Commission on April 15 heard from representatives of the town’s Open Space Committee, who asked that the town charter explicitly name the partisan composition of appointed committee seats, add stewardship language, and consider strengthening review of town land disposition.

The request to specify party affiliation would formalize the current practice of appointing three electors — one Democrat, one Republican and one unaffiliated — to the committee, a speaker said. Susan Nasino, who submitted written comments to the revision commission, and other Open Space members argued the change would reflect existing practice and make it clear in the charter.

Why it matters: Open-space policy touches town land, farmland and public trusts that committee members said are central to Simsbury’s character. Committee members said clarifying membership and stewardship responsibilities in the charter would help ensure consistent review and preserve the committee’s ability to provide timely, substantive input on land decisions.

Committee members described the role and limits of the committee’s budget. "We don't have much in the fund," an Open Space member said, adding that money on hand has been used for stewardship work such as invasive-species control and maintenance rather than land purchases. The member said acquisitions have continued on a case-by-case basis, and that adding the word "stewardship" to the charter was meant to cover both maintenance and acquisition in brief language being proposed.

The commission and Open Space members discussed where and how to place disposition rules. Charter counsel and others noted town code Section 21-8 already sets a process for sales, transfers and other disposals of town open space; that code section requires a disposition procedure and a disposition data sheet. Some Open Space members said the town might benefit from that review applying more broadly to town real estate, not only parcels formally designated as “open space.”

Open Space members also said they plan to bring one additional, succinct implementation proposal to the full Open Space Committee for vetting before submitting it in writing to the Charter Revision Commission. Several commissioners urged the committee to submit finalized language in writing after their June 4 full-committee meeting so the revision panel can review it alongside other proposals.

A number of procedural points were raised during the conversation: some commissioners recommended placing operational rules such as public-audience frequency or procedural specifics in the town code rather than the charter; others noted a four-year term for appointed members would align with other commissions. The Open Space chair noted the committee has a 25-question disposition data sheet used in practice and recommended stronger, earlier review of town real estate to avoid gaps in due diligence.

The commission said it will continue to accept and review the Open Space Committee's written proposals; if the committee formally votes to endorse language it can then be returned to the Charter Revision Commission for consideration.