Minutes

Connecticut River Estuary Metropolitan Planning Organization

December 10, 2009

 

Attendance:

Chester:                                               

Clinton:                       Willie Fritz

Deep River:                 Dick Smith

Essex:                         

Killingworth:               Richard Cabral

Lyme:                         Ralph Eno

Old Lyme:                   Tim Griswold

Old Saybrook:            Mike Pace

Westbrook:                

ETD:                           Kim Morton, Executive Director, ETD

Guests:                        Carla Iezzi, DOT Representative                               

                                    Jeff Nelson, Governor Rell’s Representative                                    

                                   Ellen Paul, Rep Courtney’s Office

                                   Paul Nonnenmacher, CRRA

                                   Helena Halyna, ETD

                                              

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

 Call to Order:

            The meeting of the Connecticut River Estuary Metropolitan Planning Organization was called to order by Chairman Mike Pace at 8:45 a.m. in the CRERPA conference space, Suite B, of the Marketplace, Boston Post Rd. Old Saybrook.

 

           1. Public Involvement Period:

                       No public comment. 

 

           2. Adoption of Minutes:  Motion to approve the minutes for November was made by       Rich Cabral and seconded by Tim Griswold.  All were in favor.

 

           3. Federal and State Programs: 

                       Jean Davies distributed a staff report for transportation.  This report will be            updated each month.

           a. STIP Amendments:  Amendment to the bridge project on Route 1 in Lyme noted.

           b. Certification Review – update:  The review went well.  Jean gave a summary of the       the all day certification process

                        Carla Iezzi, DOT representative, commended on the fine job the MPO was           doing.

                       Linda praised Jean on her superb presentation and noted that anyone wishing to    view the presentation could do so on power point. She also forewarned the Association       of over regulation of small town projects...        

           Jean suggested a letter be sent to state senators and to Joe Courtney concerning the issues             and presented a draft of a letter to the selectmen.  Basically, it was felt that the towns succeed well on their own, and the problem is with the process.         

c. CTDOT Correspondence:  Carla Iezzi, DOT, gave a summary of upcoming anticipated projects. There are no changes moving forward. Jean asked the selectmen to keep the MPO informed regarding small projects within their respective towns.

            Alternatives for Arrigoni Bridge:  It was suggested that the 17 town selectmen meet regarding the effects of the projects and the interruptions in the traffic flow.

d. Transportation Survey:  Jean said this was an ongoing project.  Some of the information will be used for LCHSTP and later, when the new executive director is on board, for the ETD.

             Staff is working on putting together a regional multi-use corridor plan to be completed in phases and in tandem with the local and state bike planning.         

e. REPT – Transportation ESF#1 Update:  At the State level, staff attended the regional coordination meeting in October where the transportation and better coordination between state and regional entities was noted and ESF#1 may get more attention on a statewide basis.

f. CTDOT Procedures, Contracts and Resolutions (Safe Route to Schools):  Mike mentioned he received a letter from Jeff Crete concerning a report on Hammonasett Beach’s on-going erosion problem Willie Fritz said he had also been contacted by Mr. Crete. 

 

5. Other Transportation Issues 

            ETD:  Interim Executive Director Kim Morton reported that the ETD had received $40,000 from DOT for the operating budget.  $10,000 is earmarked for the new Executive Director.

            Kim stated that the 9 towns have approved the assessment, and letters are in readiness for the 2010 allocations. Senior Resources Grant is approved.  They will be paying $2.50 for the dial-a-ride fare.

            The Board of Directors allocated $3,000 for seniors, and there will be full tracking for the program which will be on-going.

            A contract management firm has been hired.  The new director is re from a Louisiana transit district similar to the size and scope of ETD.  December 22nd is his   start date, and Kim’s last day is December 31st.  The new hire is a CT native and a UCONN graduate.  The management company is the hiring function for the ETD.

            Rich Cabral praised the diligence and tenacity of Kim Morton and thanked her for the outstanding job performed as the interim director. Kim will be on call for the new director to make the transition as easy as possible.

            Ellen Paul, Assistant to Cong. Courtney, said that a list is being comprised regarding transportation issues, and a letter will be going out to the selectmen concerning these projects.  Mike cautioned that the projects should not be burdened by bureaucracy.

            It was suggested that CCM lists from the towns should be discussed at the next meeting.  CRERPA has received information from Old Saybrook and Chester at this point.  Next month’s agenda will be for this purpose only.

            Jeff Nelson, Governor’s Rell’s representative, was asked by Mike to check on the money for his STEAP grant. Jeff asked Mike for more details.

            A Motion to adjourn made by Willie Fritz and seconded by Dick Smith.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Pat Anthony, Clerk