Minutes

Connecticut River Estuary Metropolitan Planning Organization

                                                                                                                        March 12, 2008

 

Attendance:

Chester:                       Tom Marsh                                                                                                       

Clinton:                       Willie Fritz

Deep River:                 Dick Smith

Essex:                          Phil Miller

Killingworth:               Richard Cabral

Lyme:                          

Old Lyme:                   Tim Griswold

Old Saybrook:             Mike Pace, Bill Peace

Westbrook:                 Noel Bishop                                                                                                                                               

ETD:                           John Forbis     

Guests:                        Kasey Faraci, DOT,   Jeff Nelson, representing Gov. Rell

CRERPA Staff:           Linda Krause, Jean Davies, Janice Ehle-Meyer, Wini Olson        

 

I.                   The meeting of the Connecticut River Estuary Metropolitan Planning Organization was called to order by Chairman Mike Pace at 9:45 AM in the CRERPA Conference space of the Marketplace, Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook.

 

II.                 Public Comment

There were no comments from the public.

 

III.             Minutes

            Rich Cabral moved that the minutes of the February 13, 2008 meeting be approved as circulated. The motion was seconded by Willie Fritz and unanimously approved.

 

IV.             Federal and State Programs           

A.                Resolution of Expenditures

            Jean Davies circulated copies of the resolution for expenditures. The resolution was reviewed line by line by Chairman Pace. Phil Miller moved that the resolution be approved and that the chairman be authorized to sign it. The motion was seconded by Rich Cabral and unanimously approved.

B.                  Linda Krause announced that Kasey is transferring to Highway Safety and Rich Corona is retiring.

C.                    REPT

              It was agreed that the REPT program had been adequately covered in the LCVSA meeting.

D.                   Town Projects

              Chairman Pace stated that the Town of Old Saybrook has withdrawn the North Main Street request. The town will do the project itself at 1/3 the cost.

Chester has withdrawn its request.

Tim Griswold reported that Old Lyme using a STEAP grant.

Essex is proceeding with the Transportation study.

E.              TIP Amendment

           Jean reported that she must send a letter formally acknowledging the withdrawal of the requests from Old Saybrook and Chester. This constitutes an amendment to the TIP agreement.

F.               Municipal Grant Program

                      The Town of Essex has requested that the requested grant be reduced to                                    $150,000, thereby reducing the required matching funds.

           Tom Marsh moved that the grant request for Essex be reduced from $300,000 to $150,000. The motion was seconded by Willie Fritz and unanimously approved.

 

V.     New Business                         

A.              Report from the Governor

           Jeff Nelson reported that the governor is acting slowly and being careful. The surplus is shrinking. We will not know what it is until after June.

Jeff reported that the Governor was in Old Lyme Friday. Her topic was safety on the highways.

          The legislature is quiet. At this point, everything is in committee.

Jeff suggested that the bill to forbid lobbyists from serving on boards or commissions might cause some problems at the; local level.

          The Heart and Hypertension bill has a grandfather clause that could prove expensive.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 AM

 

           

              Respectfully submitted,

 

       Timothy C. Griswold, Secretary