Willimantic — Gov.-elect Ned Lamont and Lieutenant Gov.-elect Susan Bysiewicz held a policy summit at Eastern Connecticut State University on Tuesday, bringing together 15 themed committees they formed.

The opening remarks and first 45-minute breakout sessions were open to the public, while the two hours of sessions after lunch were closed.

Elsa Núñez, president of the university and co-chair of the transition team, said she expected attendance of about 200 but wound up with about 300.

"We have brought together smart, competent, experienced people, Democrats, Republicans, unaffiliates, people from all different backgrounds, from every corner of the state," Bysiewicz said.

The 15 committees — which Lamont and Bysiewicz announced last Wednesday — are jobs/economy, arts/culture/tourism, housing, health care, human services, criminal justice, public safety, education, women, shared services, transportation, energy, environment, agriculture, and digital strategy.

Each committee will meet again before the Dec. 12 deadline of providing recommendations to the transition team.

"I don't want this to be one of those things where you write a really great report and it ends up on some bookshelf somewhere, because what a shame that would be," Lamont said.

He said the committees will also look at the "budget ramifications of each and every one of our amazing ideas" and will meet with the outgoing commissioners.

After opening remarks from Lamont, Bysiewicz, transition co-chair Rep. Toni Walker, and Núñez, the committees convened individually.

The jobs/economy committee began discussing thoughts on suggestions to fit in the framework of the Lamont campaign's five-point plan for creating jobs: cutting taxes and reducing regulations, increasing job training and workforce development, ensuring a fair economy for all, investing in Connecticut's strengths and sparking an urban renaissance.

The co-chairs of the committee are Fran Pastore, CEO of the Women's Business Development Council, and Joe Gianni, market president of the Hartford Region for Bank of America.

Gianni stressed the importance of coordinating with other related committees, like education, housing and transportation.

Members agreed with the assertion of Comcast Director of State Government Relations Bob Earley that "we're not structured as a government to achieve the goals that we've been tasked to achieve."

Mickey Herbert said that as CEO of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, he worked a lot with the economic development directors in individual towns to attract businesses, but "it's almost like the state was absent in that process."

CT Center for Arts and Technology President Erik Clemons stressed the importance of having "a real conversation about poverty," and voiced support for a portion of money going toward biotech and bioscience to instead go toward economic development in poor communities.

The committee also listened to concerns from members of the public in attendance.

Jim Bellano, economic development director for the Town of Windham, said the state offers a number of incentive programs for businesses on the back end, but businesses are saying they're getting hurt on the front end.

Speaking to The Day at lunchtime, Núñez said the education committee focused on increasing financial aid, as that would "make a difference in terms of building the workforce."

Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut President Maryam Elahi later noted that the women committee discussed family medical leave, minimum wage, pay equity and protecting victims of sexual violence.

e.moser@theday.com