Written by Juliana Simone

April 2, 2023

Barkhamsted – The Barkhamsted Republican Town Committee welcomed our new Senate District 8 Senator Lisa Seminara and District State Representative Mark Anderson (R-62) during our March meeting, so they could inform attending committee members and town residents about important legislation being proposed this 2023 session. Both legislators delivered very thorough reports.

Senator Seminara discussed the most relative bills in the four committees she has been appointed to serve her first term: Aging, Childrens, Education and Human Services. Giving her views on each, she gave insight into how these bills would be positive or negative for Connecticut citizens.

Representative Anderson addressed the primary topics of the committees he serves on: Commerce, Environmental and Veterans. Anderson also detailed the three different gun bills being proposed by Republicans, Democrats and the Governor, and the language that differed in terms of Second Amendment rights.

He also spoke about MDC (Metropolitan District Commission) and DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Program) in re water and land issues, including our neighboring town of Colebrook. He offered insight and solutions into how these problems could be effectively resolved. 

Seminara and Anderson worked together during their presentations and showed they were an effective knowledgeable team for all people in their districts.

During the question and answer period after their reports, Barkhamsted Selectman, Nick Lukiwsky, inquired about the Public and Safety Committee’s House Raised Bill 6863, which addresses the need for recruitment of police officers. BRTC Vice Chair, David Moulton, and BOF Chair, Richard Winn, both gave suggestions on how to keep the Greenwoods 350 acres protected from MDC through DEEP.

The Barkhamsted RTC welcomes our new member, Dan, and sends thanks to our State Senator and Representative for engaging our committee with their Connecticut General Assembly update.