Attendance:  Please see attachment

Connecticut River Valley Council of Elected Officials

Minutes

January 24, 2007

I.                Secretary Alan Bergren called the meeting to order at noon in the banquet room of the First and Last Tavern on Main Street in Middletown.

             Round table introductions were given to the entire group from each of the three tables. The group was welcomed to Middletown by Mayor Seb Guiliano. Lunch was ordered and enjoyed prior to proceeding with the rest of the meeting.

II.    Guests

A.         Office of Policy and Management Undersecretary for Inter-

Governmental Affairs W. David LeVasseur      

               Secretary Bergren introduced Under Secretary LeVasseur, who, as First Selectman of Killingworth, was instrumental in forming the Lower Connecticut Valley Council of Elected Officials.

                Undersecretary LeVasseur chose to focus on the Executive Order 15 that established the Office of Responsible Growth. He has been assigned the responsibility of administering the new Office. One of the more interesting and challenging aspects is chairing an Inter-agency Steering Council.

                David assured members that the State Plan of Conservation and Development is built on local plans. He alerted Selectmen that it is important to notify his office of local policy changes. To encourage input, he will be holding a series of Regional Round Tables. He noted that the market recognizes profitability rather than boundaries.

                 Education will be a prime theme.  He noted that Land Use Training opportunities for local commissioners abound but need to be inventoried and coordinated.

                 DEP has been charged with the update of the Green Plan that was described as a statewide GIS aggregation of open space.

                Transportation policies will be reviewed and mass transit will be encouraged.

                Housing opportunities will be explored.  Both economic incentives and preservation areas will be targeted.

               Undersecretary LeVasseur intends to establish a Green and Growing Web Page that will serve as a tool kit for available state programs as well as non- profit efforts. It will reference programs such as CEDF which offers targeted investment for hard to mortgage entrepreneurs.

            He is in the process of hiring two additional people to carry out the program.

B.                       Chairman Phil Miller arrived and assumed the Chair.  He explained that Selectman Michael Pace was unable to attend because the Town of Old Saybrook is receiving a national Healthy Youth Award.

C.                       Chairman Miller introduced David Fink of the Partnership for Strong Communities. Mr. Fink, who addressed the CRVCEO on the need for housing at a meeting in Chester early last fall, distributed literature and explained the program that is being introduced by Hone Connecticut to encourage affordable housing through a voluntary program involving overlay districts.  Further information is available at HomeConnecticut.Org. Homes built under the program would be deed restricted for 30 years.

III. Minutes

               Chairman Miller asked that the minutes for the November meeting be approved. Tony Bondi moved that the minutes of the November meeting be approved as circulated. The motion was seconded by Brad Parker and unanimously approved.

   IV. Business

A.     Legislative Report

               Chairman Miller introduced State Rep. Jim O’Rourke, State Rep. Linda Orange and Jennie Contois who represents Rep. Joe Courtney. Ms. Contois announced that, in addition to the Norwich office, Rep. Courtney will have a satellite office in Killingworth.

  V.  Old Business

      Tony Bondi reminded the Chair that a joint letter was to be sent asking that large groups of bikers conducting charity rides on Route 154 have police escort, especially at major intersections. He mentioned that emergency vehicles were not respected during a recent rally. Chairman Miller will draft a template letter and circulate it for signature.

VI. New Business

                  Chairman Miller announced that the Eagle Festival will be in Essex on February 17 and 18.

   The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Wini Olson, Staff