STATE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INVITES PUBLIC AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO SPEAK AT FORUM IN SIMSBURY

HARTFORD -- The Council on Environmental Quality is inviting everyone with an interest in environmental affairs to say what’s on his or her mind at a public forum on Wednesday, February 22 at 10:00 AM in Room 123 of the Simsbury Town Hall.  The forum will follow the Council’s brief regularly scheduled monthly meeting (9:00 to 10:00).

        “We want people to tell us how well they think the state is doing its job in protecting the
environment,” said Thomas Harrison of Avon, Chairman of the Council, “and which state

environmental programs they believe need improvement.”

“People can come and speak informally about what they think the state’s environmental priorities need to be, whether those relate to open space, enforcement of environmental laws, rivers, economic development, or the quality of life,” added Harrison. “This information will be very useful to us as we set priorities.”

The Council on Environmental Quality is the state agency that reports to theGovernor and the legislature on the status of Connecticut’s environment, and makes recommendations for new laws or improved programs where state environmental programs are found to be inadequate.  The Council’s nine members are appointed by the Governor and leaders of the legislature.  At the beginning of the public forum, at 10:00, Harrison will speak for just a few minutes about the Council’s current priorities for improving state environmental programs.

“We want to know what people in this part of Connecticut think are the state’s biggest environmental problems, and which state policies need special attention,” said Harrison.

Harrison said the forum will be relatively informal.  People will speak in the order in which they arrive and sign up to speak.  It is not necessary to register in advance to speak at the forum, but people who may need special arrangements, or have any questions about the forum, should call the Council’s staff at 860-424-4000 prior to February 22.  The Simsbury Town Hall is located at 933 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Directions and more information can be found at the Council’s web site at www.ct.gov/ceq.