Minutes
February 4, 2008
Attendance:
Chester: Sally Murray
Clinton:
Deep River: Bruce Edgerton, Rob Wylie
Essex:
Killingworth: Jere Adametz
Lyme: Ning Rich
Old Lyme: Jane
Marsh
Old
Saybrook: Dick Tietjen, Karen Jo Marcolini
Westbrook:
Staff: Linda
Krause, J. H.
I.
Chairman
Bruce Edgerton called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM, in the
II. Minutes
Ning
Rich moved that the minutes of the January 7, 2008 meeting
be approved as
distributed. The motion was seconded by Jere
Adametz and unanimously approved.
III. Correspondence
Linda reported that she was asked to respond
on behalf of all Regional Planning Organizations Directors to the recent
findings of the Legislative Committee report on the status of regional planning
throughout the state. She read excerpts from her letter. She thanked the Committee
for recognizing that “one size does not fit all” RPOs. Linda noted in her
comments that the report focuses on the ability of the Regional Planning
Organizations to implement state policies but fails to recognize the value of
information flowing from the bottom up.
Linda is
still one of three candidates to represent RPOs on the Advisory Committee for
the Inter-governmental Relations.
Linda
reported that she has a dilemma. She received a letter from Under Secretary W.
David LeVasseur asking each region to
establish a Regional Round Table to steer growth. It is suggested that each
round table include about ten people selected from the Regional Planning
Agency, the Chief Elected Officials, people concerned about housing, economic
development, conservation minded people and others. After discussion, it was
decided that, in this region, the Regional Planning Agency will serve as the
nucleus for the Round Table. Representatives of the various disciplines will be
invited to attend. Meetings of the Round
Table will be every third month at the normal meeting time for the RPA. CRERPA
will meet at the close of the Round Table session.
Jane
Marsh asked what the Round Table is to do, other than discuss issues.
It was agreed that the initial action of
the Regional Round Table should be to invite someone from OPM to attend a
CRERPA meeting and more fully explain what is expected.
IV. Staff
Report
Frank
Skwarek had a bad adventure at the dentist today.
A.
Clinton
Economic Development Commission
Linda reported that she met with the
Economic Development Commission in Clinton. The commission believes that it is
their responsibility to appoint the Clinton Selectmen’s representative to
CRERPA. Linda explained some of the services that CRERPA is
providing
to Clinton, such as Torrance writing specific regulations for the Planning and
Zoning Commission, Margo assisting Mary Jane Engle with mapping for the Health
District and also helping Selectman Willie Fritz write an RFP for GIS. She explained that additional services are
available upon request. Linda reported that Commission member Christine Hagan
is interested in serving on CRERPA. She was unable to attend.
B. HHW
Linda reported on behalf of Janice Ehle Meyer that
there will be four collections of electronic materials this year. There will be
fourteen collections of HHW, including a satellite collection in Clinton in
late April.
V. Treasurer’s
Report
A.
FDIC Insurance
Dorothy
Papp reported that because CRERPA has $177,000 in various accounts, it is desirable
to use three banks to keep all balances under $100,000 at all times and thereby
remain insured by the FDIC. Dorothy
asked to open an account at the Washington Trust in Stonington with $50,000.
Jane Marsh
suggested that it is more practical to do business with local banks.
It was agreed that convenience is more important than return. Short term CDs were
recommended. Sally Murray moved that $50,000 be placed in New Alliance and $50,000
be deposited in another local bank. The
motion was seconded by Ning Rich and unanimously approved.
B.
Cash Flow Reports
Cash
Flow reports were distributed and reviewed. Ning Rich moved that the reports be
accepted as presented. The motion was seconded by Jere Adametz and unanimously
approved.
VI. Transportation Matters
Linda reported that she, Dorothy Papp and Ralph Eno
attended the meeting in Hartford when the FOI hearing officer heard the
complaints against the Estuary Transit District.
They found it disappointing. The FOI admitted to various violations but the
officer
indicated
that the violations should have no effect on the decisions made.
The ETD is scheduled to meet again on February
15. New officers will be elected.
The Selectmen
from Killingworth, Deep River and Lyme now serve as members of the ETD. A
letter has been sent to DOT asking for technical assistance.
VII. Committees
A. Referral
Torrance Downes distributed copies of the
Referral Summary sheet.
In
Clinton, Henry Resnikoff has petitioned for larger coffee houses and ice cream
parlors that could include drive in facilities.
Clinton asks not only for an inter-municipal referral but for a critique
of the proposal. Tor checked drive in regulations from Guilford to Old
Saybrook. Other than on I95, drive-in eating facilities are allowed only in a
small area of Old Saybrook. The effect of drive in services on traffic and the
neighborhood were discussed.
B.
1. Cell Tower
Ning
Rich moved that the staff recommendations be forwarded. Dick Tietjen seconded
the motion with commendations for Tor. The motion was unanimously approved.
Tor reported that Mid State representative
Raoul De Brigard, alerted him to a cell tower proposal in Haddam. It has been
proposed since 2006 but neither CRERPA, Mid State, the Gateway Commission nor
the DEP had been notified. The responsibility for reviewing cell tower applications
has been removed from local zoning commissions and given to the Sitting
Council. The Haddam Zoning Regulations
still refer to cell towers in the Gateway Zone. The Sitting Council Hearing has
been postponed.
2. Updating regulations
Tor reported that the approval of the
revisions to Old Lyme Zoning regulations has been delayed by the Planning
Commission.
Chairman
Vollono believes that this may be an appropriate time to re-approach the Essex
Zoning Commission about adopting the updated regulations.
IX. OLD
BUSINESS
A. Regional Plan of Development
Linda
distributed copies of the work assignments for the Regional Plan of
Development. She encouraged board members to contribute articles or Letters to
the Editor.
B. Jane
Marsh reported that she just received the decision of Judge Ellen Burns on a
motion to dismiss portions of the lawsuit involving the Old Lyme prohibition of
the winterization of cottages.
Ning Rich moved that the meeting be adjourned. The
motion was approved with Dick Tietjen abstaining from the vote.
The
meeting adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Wini Olson