Minutes
August 8, 2007
Attendance:
Chester: Sally
Murray, Steve Williams
Clinton: Jeff
Morse
Deep
River: Bruce Edgerton, Rob Wylie
Essex: Tom Danyliw
Killingworth: Jere Adametz, Pat Smulders
Lyme: Frank Skwarek, Ning Rich
Old Lyme: Jane
Marsh
Old Saybrook: Dick
Tietjen, Karen Jo Marcolini
Westbrook: Bill
Neale, Lee Bridgewater
Staff: Linda Krause, J. H.
I.
Chairman Bruce Edgerton called the meeting to
order at
New
members were introduced to everyone present.
II. Minutes
Karen
Jo Marcolini advised that the reference to the Department of Emergency Management
on page 3 should read DEMHS. Linda assured here that she has corrected the
error. Bill Neale moved that the minutes
of the June 4 meeting be approved as corrected.
The motion was seconded by Jere Adametz and unanimously approved.
Linda asked to report on correspondence under the Staff
Report portions of the agenda.
IV. Reports
A. Treasurer
Linda reported that Financial Administrator
2007/2008 were distributed and reviewed. Linda reported that CRERPA is
in
the
early stages of audit. The town money is coming in. Bill Neale asked if
Westbrook has caught up. It has.
Jane Marsh asked about the Accounts Payable of
$42,267.99 in June. Linda was unsure as to what is included in that amount. Jane
Marsh then moved that the Treasurer’s report be accepted for audit. The motion
was seconded by Bill Neale and unanimously approved.
B. Staff
Linda distributed
copies of CRERPA Notes for the August 6, 2007 Regular
Meeting
and addressed items thereon.
1. Regional
Planning
The first item is a reference to a questionnaire being
sent to the CEOs of all municipalities in the state by the Program Review
Committee of the legislature. The questionnaire
seeks information for three studies – regional planning, homeland security
and long range planning.
Linda
reviewed the basic forms of regional planning: Regional Planning Agencies
(RPAs) which includes CRERPA, Councils of Governments, which also have
concurrent RPAs, and Councils of Governments, that have concurrent Regional
Planning Commissions. The nine CRERPA Towns
are somewhat unique since the Selectmen have met informally for nearly four
decades as the Lower Connecticut Valley Selectmen’s Association. The same towns
formed CRERPA in 1968 and later joined with the Midstate
municipalities to form the Connecticut River Valley Council of Elected
Officials. The CRVCEO is the only multi RPA Council of Elected Officials in the
State. Its creation required specific permissive legislation. The CEOs of the
same nine towns also meet formally as the Connecticut River Estuary
Metropolitan Planning Association, an organization devoted to transportation
issues.
It has been suggested that all
Regional Planning Organizations should follow the same follow the same format. A
proposed form is to be presented to the
legislature.
2. Emergency
Management
Linda explained that the state is
divided into five Emergencies
Management
Regions. Most of
Lyme are in District 4.
For 2007, each DEMHS
region has been asked to designate a lead
RPO to prepare a regional emergency management plan. South Central, which includes New Haven and is the
largest RPO in District 2 has declined so far the
honor of taking the lead position. The
Director of the New Haven area RPO mentioned concerns that include open ended
requirements, delayed funding, being responsible for performance of other RPOs and
the need to invest $800,000 and wait for reimbursement. Funding for the 2005
program has not yet been distributed.
3.
Jean
Davies has been attending meeting of the Regional Emergency
Planning Team that is responsible for fifteen
functions such as
shelters
and transportation. Jeff Morse asked if
the Selectmen are
aware
of the program. Linda mentioned that Mary Rose Dubarek is
in
contact with the Selectmen. Each town also has an Emergency
Management
Director.
4. Hurricane Debris Management
DEMHS and DEP recently asked CRERPA to
coordinate a
meeting to discuss debris
management. There is preponderance
of
mature trees in the region. If a category 3 hurricane made a
direct
hit, 70% of the trees could be destroyed.
Plans are being
made to separate
fallen timber from construction debris before it is
collected.
Disposal sites are being considered.
5.
The Questionnaire asks in a
yes/no format whether the state is
adequately
addressing long range planning. Linda noted
that the state formerly had a planning staff. It was dismantled by Gov. Rowland
and the staff were dismissed. Gov. Rell assigned the
task to Under Secretary W. David LeVasseur who is now building a planning
program.
6. Responsible Growth
The LPRIC questionnaire asks each CEO to
comment on the
Office of Responsible Growth.
7. DOT
Since
the I-84 debacle, Gov. Rell has established a Special Task
Force on
Departmental Organization at DOT. The task force does not
seem to include anyone who is familiar with the organization
of
the department.
8. HHW
Linda announced
that the recent electronic collection was too
successful. CRRA has sponsored electronics collections in
the
region and will do another one this fall. The Selectmen
decided to
add two additional collections. The first was so popular
that it cost
three times the budgeted amount. Another collection will be
held
Saturday, August 11th. There is a general
decline in the disposal of
chemical wastes.
9. Fish and
Wildlife Grant
CRERPA and
Tidewater were jointly awarded a $35,000 grant
for “ground-truthing” which involves a physical inventory of
land and an evaluation of stewardship.
10. ETD
Discontent has erupted between staff members.
The Board of
Directors have
become involved in management issues.
11. Affordable
Housing
The CTHOME bill was passed. The incentives
for a zone
change
and building permits remained intact. The reimbursement for additional school children living in
housing created under this act was
eliminated.
12. Local Assistance
Linda is working on the Chester Plan of
Conservation and
Development.
She and selected staff members were asked to meet with Selectman Bishop to
discuss helping in Westbrook. Linda explained to him that the decision rests
with the Planning Commission. She also urged him to adopt the
Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
13.
Linda announced that Jean Davies passed
her AICP exam and is now a qualified design professional.
C. Transportation
Linda reported that the upright supports of
the Baldwin Bridge are cracking, but DOT representatives assured area selectmen
that the station is not dangerous.a
D. Referrals
Tor reported that he had four rather simple
referrals and one that had
been previously addressed.
1.
A
proposed addition would require that all fees be paid before a
Special Permit is issued. This appears to be an internal issue that
will not affect any other town.
2. Fenwick
The
Borough of Fenwick referred an update of the Plan of
Conservation and Development for review and comment. Tor
found that it met most of the legal requirement but
suggested a few
additions. Ning commented on the possible impact of the
proposed
privatization of the outer light. Dick Tietjen asked Tor to
investigate the legality of the sign that prohibits vehicles
from
being driven out to the inner light.
3.
Clinton submitted a 2005 update of the 2000
Plan of Conservation
and Development with the belief that it is advantageous to
do
plans when updated census information is available.
4. Haddam
Haddam
abuts Chester and Killingworth. An amendment is being
Being proposed
to that an owner of a corner a lot would be allowed to choose which street side
would be considered the front set back.
5.
north side of
Saybrook town line. The proposal for an Active Adult
Community
involves a zone change, a regulation change and a
special exception.
Tom Danyliw shared
information given to the Planning
Commission about a traffic
study. The Planning Commission
is considering a two phase subdivision of the land.
It was
suggested that the matter should be considered as part of
an overall plan for
the entire community after the current town-wide
transportation plan is completed.
Dick
Tietjen has considered that matter from the standpoint of
the Old Saybrook Planning Commission. The Old Saybrook
Commission considered the possibility of
straightening
would have to be minor.
Jane
Marsh suggested that the Essex Planning Commission
demand disclosure of the plans for the remaining portion of
the
parcel.
Tom Danyliw doubted
the legality of such an action.
Steve
Williams asked about accessibility for mutual aid. There
is only one legal access. Tom explained that a second access
is
available
from the other side.
The board asked that the matter be held
open and asked for
access to the traffic reports. No determination was made.
A
preliminary note of explanation will be sent to all of the
boards involved.
Bill
Neale moved that the staff comment be forwarded on the
first four referrals. The motion was seconded by Jane Marsh
and
unanimously approved.
E. Liaison
Linda reported Gateway recently
received a bill from a neighbor who
had a tree
removed from Gateway property. No permission was sought
prior to the cutting. She commented that perhaps Gateway
property
should be included in the ground-truthing project.
V. Old
Business
There was no old business.
VI. New Business
A. Election of Vice Chairman
Chairman Edgerton called for nominations from the
floor for vice-chairman. He explained that Vice-chairman Stu Fairbank
frequently had to work on meeting nights and was unable to attend meetings. He
has resigned. Karen Jo has been appointed to serve the balance of his
term. The Vice-chairman conducts
meetings when the Chairman is unavailable and signs documents and/or checks as
needed. Jane Marsh offered to serve. Nominations were closed. Jane was
unanimously elected to serve.
B.
September meeting
Due to Labor Day, the September meeting will
be held on the second Monday of the month.
This results in a conflict of meetings for some members, including the
vice-chairman and the secretary.
Bill Neale moved that the meeting be adjourned.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:27 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Neale, Secretary