Simsbury sustainability panel adopts 2026 goals for newsletter, energy support and waste plan timeline

At a Simsbury Sustainability Committee meeting (date not specified in the transcript), members approved a package of 2026 goals aimed at sustaining the town’s energy and waste work and expanding public outreach.

The committee voted to adopt language committing to continue publishing the existing sustainability newsletter on a regular cadence, collaborating with local groups such as the Pollinators, the Farmington River Watershed Association and the land trust to supply content. "We continue to publish our existing newsletter with a regular cadence, subjects to be determined along the way," an unnamed committee member said during the vote; members responded with "aye" and no abstentions were recorded.

Separately, the committee added a new goal to consult with and support the board of education, the department of public works and the board of selectmen in achieving the town’s self-generated energy objective endorsed in the sustainability plan (the plan aims for roughly 50% locally produced energy by 2030). Members said formalizing that support would establish accountability while recognizing implementation rests with those stakeholders. Mark Scully, the committee’s former chair who led earlier energy drafting, was noted for his role in advancing the Part 1 energy plan.

The panel also formalized a timeline for the sustainability plan Part 2 (waste): the committee set a target of having the Part 2 waste plan endorsed by the board of selectmen by Oct. 31, 2026 — one year after the Part 1 endorsement. Members debated feasibility but adopted the deadline as an accountability measure.

The meeting launched several work streams to support these goals. Joe Daley volunteered (via email) to help lead drafting on waste; other members offered to support school recycling programs and editorial tasks. The committee also authorized formation of a working group to draft voluntary building and planning guidelines intended to prompt earlier consideration of solar siting, zero‑emission HVAC, dark‑sky lighting and other sustainability measures for large projects. Britney McGalpin, referenced in the meeting as an assistant town planner who helped craft dark‑sky language for planning, was cited as a model resource for that work.

Members confirmed plans to recruit volunteers and begin organizing the annual May sustainability fair (this will be the third year; prior attendance was reported at over 1,000) and to run a separate business-focused Solar Charette to identify barriers and financing/permitting information for companies considering solar. The committee discussed partners for the charette including the town EDC, Simsbury Main Streets, the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses such as Mitchell Auto Group and Big Y.

Committee members also noted several community items tied to the committee’s work. An emailed note from Tom Earl reported that the Economic Development Commission had paused a resolution supporting the McLean Meadow Homes project pending an economic impact study, citing wetlands and wildlife impacts and the clearing of about nine acres of trees. Members discussed a contested church solar-array application near Simsbury Farms that drew neighbor concerns and a planned site visit; they suggested clearer pre-development neighbor engagement could reduce such conflict. A member raised a concern about the town’s single trash vendor and a hydraulic‑fluid spill last summer; discussion included exploring alternatives and the transfer station rules for household waste.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn. The committee agreed to recruit volunteers for the fair and solar charette, pursue stakeholder outreach to support the energy goal and begin drafting the waste plan with the Oct. 31, 2026 endorsement target as the stated timeline.