CONNECTICUT RIVER ESTUARY REGIONAL PLANNINING AGENCY

Saybrook Junction, 455 Boston Post Road

Old Saybrook, CT 06475

860-388-3497 FAX: 860-395-1404

Minutes

February 1, 2010

Attendees:

Bruce Edgerton, Chairman

Jane Marsh, Vice Chairman

Rob Wylie

Ning Rich

Frank Skwarek

Bob Laundy

Karen Jo Marcolini

Richard Tietjen

Bill Neale

Anthony Chirico, Essex Selectmen Designee

CRERPA: Linda Krause, Pat Anthony

1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chairman Edgerton at 7:32 p.m. in the Conference Room at CRERPA Headquarters, Old Saybrook CT. Chairman asked for a roll call and introduced Anthony Chirico, Essex, as the Selectman Designee from the town of Essex.

2. Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the minutes of December ’09 was made by the Chairman. Bob Laundy seconded the motion. All were in favor.

3. Treasurer’s Report: Linda reported that the cash flow is adequate at the moment. Staff is continually looking into how we can make up for the shortfall in State OPM funding. Motion to accept the cash flow report was made by Jane Marsh and seconded by Ning Rich. All were in favor.

A. Town Assessments: Linda briefly explained how assessments were made according to the population estimates as of July 2008. Linda took the liberty telling the towns that CRERPA would be requesting FY 10/11 assessments per capita based on last year’s assessment of $2.00. Motion to accept the per capita assessment was made by Jane Marsh and seconded by Ning Rich. All were in favor.

Linda asked for authorization to work on behalf of CRERPA for both the updating of the hazard mitigation plan and to put the new flood information into a regional format. She further asked that she act on our behalf for grant negotiations with the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to administer DEMHS funds. We are in Region 2, which comprises 30 towns. Jean is a member of REPT, and Phil Miller of Essex is the Chairman. It’s expected that our staff and Valley Council of Government will be receiving transportation (ESF) money. CRERPA is the lead agency for this grant. “Function follows funding” is the reality for survival in these difficult times.

Carl Amento is the director at SCRCOG in New Haven and is not yet up to speed; therefore, CRERPA may handle the administrative area for the grants for DEMHS. Linda briefly discussed other considerations for grant opportunities.

Motion to authorize Linda to act on behalf of CRERPA in the acceptance of DEMHS grant and other related planning grants for the coming year was made by Bruce Edgerton and seconded by Jane Marsh. All were in favor.

4. Correspondence: CRERPA received a verbal resignation from Pat Smulders. Linda said she would like to send Pat something in appreciation of her tenure with CRERPA. Bill Neale thought it might be good to submit an article on her life and years on the Board to the newspaper. The Board proposed that the decision of how to recognize Pat’s years of service be made by Linda and the staff.

5. Staff Report: Margot has been awarded funding from the Eastern Connecticut RC&D for two meetings of the Land Trust Collaboration Initiative.

6. Committees/Liaisons:

A. Referrals: Westbrook: Strengthening regulations: (1.) Expansion of Nonconforming Structures,( 2) Replacement of Nonconforming Structures after Casualty. Clarification is necessary to identify Vertical expansion in a setback is a nonconforming expansion. For casualty, regulation clarifies what being as “structurally unsafe” is, and that it must be from normal wear and tear. Structure must be rebuilt within 12 months, if not, it’s conforming. After staff comments and Vice Chairman’s Marsh’s suggestions, the motion to accept the staff recommendation was made by Bill Neale and seconded by Bob Laundy. All were in favor.

7. Business:

A. Regionalism: Linda read an article on regionalism that was published in the Hartford Courant. The basic premise of the article was that creation of fewer planning agencies; for example, from 15 agencies at present to 5 agencies in future, would save the State money and enable cost saving throughout the State. Linda did agree that regionalism in some instances does work; however, in the long run, it would not be cost effective. Bigger is not always better. Some 25 democrats in the State have formed an organization called MORE (move on regional efficiency) that supports regionalism.

The 17 town CRVCEO group is positioning itself to form a COG in the foreseeable future. Linda said she expects there is a 2-year window before any decision is made. The survey the Office of Policy Management is conducting will not be published until 2012. The 17 town CRVCEO is considering sending a letter of intent to the OPM regarding procedures in forming a COG to ensure their request is in place preparatory to any decision made in Hartford about future regional boundaries.

B. Regional Plan Status: The format will be a magazine type format. Things are constantly changing; however, issues have been identified and the staff is persevering. No publication date has been determined.

8. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn was made by Frank Skwarek and seconded by Bob Laundy. All were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Pat Anthony, Clerk