CEC presses for POCD farmland role clarity

Other Committee 2026-10-08 Part 2 · Meeting of October 8, 2026

Bloomfield's CEC learned the town center's Community Investment Fund application was denied for a second time, and pushed back on its assigned farmland-preservation role in the draft Plan of Conservation and Development. Member David Hagar asked "is there any explanation" for the grant denial and separately objected to the POCD's proposed cover photo pairing the Drummer Boy statue with the Congregational Church, calling it "inappropriate." Nancy Bowden said the committee needs direction on its POCD-assigned duties, noting Bloomfield is certified Sustainable CT Bronze with 325 points, 175 short of Silver. Staff reported a possible pilot to bring reusable cafeteria utensils to Carmen Arace Middle School, funded through a bottle-deposit "nip fund" or a nonprofit, Plastic Free America.

Members also flagged an unresolved bear-feeding complaint, calling it "a real potential public safety issue," noting Bloomfield has no wildlife-feeding ordinance. Public comment on the POCD is expected to open December 17.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,072 words

Source: the Other Committee 2026-10-08 Part 2 meeting of October 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

Call to Order, Attendance and Minutes

The meeting opened at 4:31 p.m. with a roll call naming Paula Jones, Nancy Bowden, Bob Dickinson, Claudia Guardiak, David Hagar and Jessica White, with some banter over whether White, reportedly on vacation, was actually present. The committee added one item to the agenda: approval of July 9, 2026 minutes, which had not been taken up because the committee lacked a quorum at its September 10 meeting. David Hagar moved to approve the July minutes, Claudia Guardiak seconded, and the committee approved them without objection or abstention. The committee then approved the September 10 minutes as amended, correcting a sentence about a library program to reference "plastics and CEC projects (including trees for Bloomfield)" rather than listing plastics and trees as separate, unrelated items.

Environmental Planner's Report: Grants, Seabury Signage and a Recycling Facility Inquiry

Background and stakes: The committee receives a standing monthly update from the environmental planner on grant applications and land-use matters relevant to conservation.

The question before the body: Members were asked to hear, not vote on, updates regarding three active matters.

Substantive content: Environmental Planner Nick reported that a decision on a resilient urban forestry grant is expected around mid-October. He said the Arbor Day Foundation's corporate partner declined to fund a proposed project at La Salette Park this fall but left the door open for spring. He also said the town, working with the Board of Education and the manager of Slow Park Farm, is investigating an application to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's "CT Grown for Kids" grant, which supports linking local agriculture to education.

On the Seabury Conservation Area, created by a Town Council resolution tied to Seabury's donation of 191 Wintonbury Avenue, Nick said the sign design is in the building-permit review stage. He read from Parks and Recreation Committee minutes stating that the sign's wording must "accurately indicate that the land is associated with the town of Bloomfield," not owned by Seabury.

On the Mucker Road recycling facility, formerly known as Windsor Sanitation, Nick said the operator applied for both an annual special permit, which it received after being found compliant, and a site plan renewal it did not actually need because its site plan does not expire until 2034. He characterized the situation as "business as usual." A colleague, replying to an inquiry prompted by a public legal notice, added that no complaints had been raised by neighbors or the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection regarding the facility's operations.

Procedural steps and outcome: No votes were taken; the updates were informational.

Plan of Conservation and Development: Grant Denial and the CEC's Assigned Role

Background and stakes: The POCD is Bloomfield's long-range land-use and policy document, now in draft form with public comment anticipated to open December 17. The CEC receives a monthly planner's report that touches on POCD status, and this report disclosed that a Community Investment Fund application for town center redevelopment was denied for a second time.

The question before the body: Whether the committee understood, and should seek clarification on, both the reasons for the funding denial and its own assigned responsibilities within the POCD's strategies and actions section.

Substantive content: David Hagar raised the CIF denial first, noting it was the second rejection for the town center application and asking whether the town receives feedback explaining deficiencies. Nick said he did not know but that a colleague, referred to only as John, had told him the town is "still considering our options." The question was recorded for a written follow-up.

Hagar separately objected to the proposed POCD cover photograph, which shows Bloomfield's Drummer Boy statue framed with the Congregational Church, proposing instead that the image be reoriented to pair the statue with Town Hall or the new library. "I think having this picture on the front of the POCD for the town of Bloomfield ... I think having this picture for the town of Bloomfield is inappropriate," Hagar said, adding that Nick, the environmental planner, is "intricately involved in formulating the POCD" and could relay the concern.

Hagar then raised what he called a bigger question: the POCD's strategies-and-actions section lists the CEC as the "leading entity" for developing a farmland preservation program, among other assignments, without specifying what that entails. "Now, I don't really know what that means," he said, adding later, "I think it's good that the CEC has these responsibilities, but I think it's very important that we understand what our responsibility is in carrying out the lead supportive entity for the strategies."

The deliberation: Nancy Bowden responded that she had reviewed earlier POCD drafts and flagged a few instances where the CEC was attached to strategies she felt the committee was not suited to lead, and that those changes were incorporated. She said she views the committee's growing list of POCD responsibilities as "a testament to the effectiveness of this committee over the years," but agreed the committee needs direction from the town on priorities, and acknowledged needing continued support from the environmental planner position to do any data collection. Bob Dickinson asked whether the CEC's role was instead limited to advising the Town Council broadly on environmental issues; Bowden replied that all appointed town committees are structurally advisory to the council, but that the CEC has taken initiative on projects as a natural outgrowth of its interests, including informal ties to the Trap Rock Ridge Land Conservancy, on whose board several members serve.

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken. The committee agreed informally to continue tracking the issue and to seek clarification from town staff on both the CIF denial and the scope of its POCD-assigned duties.

Implications and what is next: The committee's assigned responsibilities under the POCD will take effect once the plan is adopted, and public comment opens December 17. Unresolved questions about scope, data-collection capacity and staffing support remain live heading into that comment period.

Agricultural Policy and the Case for a Farm Commission

Background and stakes: Connected to the POCD discussion, the committee returned to a recurring debate over whether Bloomfield should form a dedicated agricultural or farm commission, rather than route farmland policy through the CEC.

The question before the body: Whether existing town policy against creating new commissions should be revisited given the scope of agricultural responsibilities assigned to the CEC.

Substantive content: Nancy Bowden said the traditional answer to forming a farm commission has been that "the town doesn't want to create any more commissions or committees or councils," which she suggested may explain why the POCD instead assigns farmland duties to existing bodies like the CEC. She noted many Connecticut towns do have agricultural commissions and said she believed fewer than a third of towns statewide maintain one, based on a list she had seen previously. "I'm just throwing that out there," she said, arguing that if agriculture is referenced as often as it is in the POCD, "we should have one" if a policy gap exists.

The deliberation: Claudia Guardiak suggested recruiting a farmer onto the CEC directly, noting one prospective farmer had previously declined to apply. Environmental Planner Nick said he and the committee chair had discussed identifying Bloomfield residents who farm elsewhere, citing farmers who work land at the Howard Preserve in Granby, a Trap Rock Ridge Land Conservancy property, while living in Bloomfield. He described this identification work as part of the data-gathering process referenced in the POCD strategy.

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote. The topic will continue under the standing "agricultural policies and support" item.

Implications and what is next: The committee plans to circulate a one-page summary document on agricultural data collection, developed previously by the environmental planner, to keep the topic active without discussing it at every meeting.

Duncaster Development: A Historical Note, No Committee Role

David Hagar described joining neighbors on Loeffler Road in opposing a since-apparently-shelved Duncaster plan to build new housing on a field, citing a 1982 promise by the facility not to develop that land. He said the CEC "had no role in this case" and raised the episode only as background. No action was taken or proposed.

Sustainable CT Certification Progress

Background and stakes: Bloomfield was certified at the Bronze level under the statewide Sustainable CT program this year, and the committee is tracking progress toward the next tier.

The question before the body: An informational update on point totals and upcoming recognition events.

Substantive content: Environmental Planner Nick said Bloomfield was certified with 315 points against a 200-point threshold for Bronze. Silver requires 500 points. One certified action expired at year's end, costing 15 points, but Nick said he has since completed actions worth 25 more points, putting the town at 325 points, 175 short of Silver. A certification ceremony is scheduled for November, open to the public with registration. A family planting workshop at La Salette Park on October 17 (rain date October 18) will count toward a pollinator-pathway action.

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote; informational.

Implications and what is next: The committee will continue identifying qualifying actions, including waste-reduction projects discussed later in the meeting, toward the 500-point Silver threshold.

Extreme Heat Team Update

Background and stakes: A subcommittee of Bowden, Guardiak and White has worked on public heat-safety outreach, previously including a Senior Center presentation.

The question before the body: Status update on a stalled initiative.

Substantive content: Bowden said the team paused work "because of the turbulence among town staff," leaving no clear point of contact for proposals. She is now pursuing, pending the return of Bloomfield Public Library contact Sarah Ray, an Earth Month event built around the book "The Heat Will Kill You First," possibly paired with a presentation from local ambulance crews who respond to heat-related medical calls. She said attempts to reach the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut have gone unanswered, though a contact at the regional health district has a connection there.

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote; the team will continue outreach.

Implications and what is next: A tentative culminating library event is targeted for April, pending confirmed partnerships.

Artificial Turf Alternatives Analysis

Background and stakes: The town manager directed Building and Land Use to compile a comparison of natural grass and artificial turf.

The question before the body: Progress update on data collection ahead of a more complete report.

Substantive content: Environmental Planner Nick said the analysis weighs five factors: need, usability, health, environmental impact and finances. He has gathered staff testimonials from Parks and Recreation, the Department of Public Works and the Board of Education, and is seeking one more staff perspective before drafting the report's body. Asked by Claudia Guardiak whether the comparison covers both turf types, Nick confirmed it focuses specifically on Bloomfield's circumstances, noting the two artificial-turf infill alternatives under discussion nationally are plastic-based and rubber-pellet systems.

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote; an updated report is expected at the next meeting.

Community Interest: Plastics, Store Drop-Off Programs and a School Cafeteria Pilot

Background and stakes: The committee maintains a standing "community interest" item tracking waste-reduction initiatives, including a "Skip the Stuff" effort to curb unsolicited single-use plastic utensils, discussed but tabled in September for time.

The question before the body: Whether to pursue incentive-based engagement with the Chamber of Commerce rather than an unenforceable ordinance.

Substantive content: Bob Dickinson said research into other Connecticut towns, including Norwalk and Westport, shows anti-plastic-utensil ordinances go unenforced for lack of funding and become "a paper tiger." He proposed engaging the Chamber of Commerce to identify what would motivate businesses to participate voluntarily, and suggested recognition tools such as window decals or a "business of the week" photo feature in the town's Messenger newsletter, an idea he credited to Nancy Bowden. Claudia Guardiak offered to help find a Chamber contact; Environmental Planner Nick said staff in his department meet with the Chamber periodically and could help establish a connection.

Separately, members discussed store drop-off plastic film recycling, noting Whole Foods and other retailers collect plastic bags for an organization called Trex, which converts the material into decking and park benches; Seabury participates, and the Lions Club has also collected bags, with 500 pounds of material once qualifying for a donated park bench.

On schools, Environmental Planner Nick reported a September meeting with Nick Carambelas, the Board of Education's director of food services, and Superintendent Dr. Tracy Youngberg, who proposed piloting reusable utensils and a dishwasher-based washing program at Carmen Arace Middle School, which already has washing infrastructure. He said costs could likely be covered by the town's bottle-deposit "nip fund," earmarked for waste-reduction projects, or by a nonprofit called Plastic Free America that funds conversions from single-use plastic to stainless steel tableware for schools without an existing state mandate to do so.

The deliberation: "I think what I'm hearing is we have multiple potential sources for this, which is even better news," one member said in response to the funding options.

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote; Nick said he is awaiting a follow-up from the school district on next steps.

Implications and what is next: If finalized, Carmen Arace would serve as a pilot site potentially funded without new town appropriation, using existing bottle-deposit revenue or outside grant money.

Pesticides and Wildlife Feeding Concerns

Background and stakes: Two placeholder items carried over from prior meetings: a pesticide-use inquiry and an unresolved complaint about a resident feeding bears.

Substantive content: On pesticides, Nick said he had been reminded of the topic while visiting Seabury and noted possible legislative advocacy opportunities this session; he said the town does not currently use bait boxes, though a school previously did. On wildlife feeding, members reviewed September minutes noting "Ms. Jones will follow up to see if the Simsbury ordinance has been effective," which she had not yet done. Members said the complaint involves a resident whose year-round bird feeding is attracting multiple bears to a neighborhood where people walk, raising what one member called "a real potential public safety issue." Bloomfield has no ordinance addressing intentional or unintentional wildlife feeding; members discussed whether an animal control officer could act in individual cases without a new ordinance.

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote; follow-up on the Simsbury ordinance and possible public-safety department input was assigned informally to Paula Jones.

Shred Day and Landscape Ordinance

Shred Day is set for November 14 at Bloomfield High School, 9 a.m. to noon, with a new flyer and a call for volunteers. Separately, the landscape ordinance update remains in a research phase; Environmental Planner Nick said it could eventually address pollinator pathways, pesticide application and habitat conservation, noting the current ordinance's vegetation-height rules sometimes conflict with intentional wildlife plantings, such as uncut goldenrod mistaken for neglect.

Announcements: Story of Plastic Screening and Tree City USA

A "Story of Plastic" screening and panel discussion drew 37 participants, including Superintendent Dr. Tracy Youngberg, with guest speaker Catherine Owens of Beyond Plastics. Organizer Brad said feedback suggested a shorter film and more time for audience questions with Owens, who expressed interest in returning, possibly annually. Separately, the Tree City USA photo contest closes October 22 with entries running behind prior years.

Paula Jones, member (roll call present; context suggests she presided as chair, addressed once as "Madam Chair," though the transcript does not explicitly confirm this title) Nancy Bowden, member Bob Dickinson, member Claudia Guardiak, member David Hagar, member Jessica White, member (attendance affirmed amid banter about a vacation) Zalene (also referenced as "Selene"), apparently a committee member or associate who arrived after roll call; surname not given Brad, committee associate who organized the plastics screening; surname not given Environmental Planner Nick, staff, gave the planner's report; surname not given Ms. Weisel, credited with designing the Shred Day flyer; first name and surname spelling unconfirmed Lynn, thanked for press and publicity support; surname not given Nick Carambelas, Director of Food Services, Bloomfield Board of Education; discussed secondhand regarding the cafeteria pilot, not present at this meeting Dr. Tracy Youngberg, Superintendent of Schools; attended the "Story of Plastic" screening, not this CEC meeting Catherine Owens, speaker representing Beyond Plastics at the earlier screening event; not present at this meeting Susan Blinker, referenced as present at the September meeting; not present October 8 Vicki Reski, referenced historically as a past POCD contributor; not present

Arbor Day Foundation — prospective funding partner for a La Salette Park project; corporate sponsor declined for fall, open to spring. Connecticut Department of Agriculture — administers the "CT Grown for Kids" grant under consideration with the Board of Education. Seabury — donated land now designated the Seabury Conservation Area; involved in sign-design review and in the Trex plastic-film collection program. Parks and Recreation Committee — reviewed and commented on Seabury Conservation Area sign wording. Windsor Sanitation / Mucker Road recycling facility — subject of a special permit and site plan inquiry; found compliant. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) — cited as having raised no concerns about the recycling facility; also cited as a potential data source for bear-feeding policy. Sustainable CT — statewide certification program; Bloomfield holds Bronze status with 325 points, pursuing Silver at 500. Trap Rock Ridge Land Conservancy — regional land trust; several CEC members serve on its board, informing open-space discussions. Korey Stringer Institute (University of Connecticut) — contacted for heat-safety resources; unresponsive to date. Bloomfield Public Library — potential partner for a planned Earth Month heat-awareness event. Carmen Arace Middle School — proposed pilot site for reusable cafeteria utensils. Plastic Free America — nonprofit offering funding to convert school food service to reusable tableware. Beyond Plastics — national advocacy group; speaker Catherine Owens represented it at the "Story of Plastic" screening. Trex — manufacturer that recycles collected plastic film into decking and park benches. Lions Club — participates in plastic film collection locally. Chamber of Commerce (Bloomfield) — proposed partner for an incentive-based "Skip the Stuff" approach. Town of Simsbury — cited for its ordinance on intentional wildlife feeding as a possible model. Public Act 490 (Connecticut) — state farmland use-value assessment law referenced in agricultural data-collection discussion. Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) — town's draft long-range plan; public comment anticipated to open December 17, 2026. Community Investment Fund (CIF) — state grant program; town center redevelopment application denied a second time.