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Connecticut River Valley Council of Elected Officials

Minutes

                                                            February 28, 2007                             

I.                                Chairman Phil Miller called the meeting to order at noon at Lupo’s on Route 154 in Chester.  Round table introductions were given.

II.           Guests

    A. Housing

            Chairman Miller introduced Kevin J. Wilhelm of the Middlesex United Way who addressed the county wide effort to end homelessness. Mr. Wilhelm explained that formerly, the United Way addressed solving problems at the one on one level. While not abandoning the organizations that provide personal services, the Middlesex United Way is now focusing on community level change with a three pronged approach- substance abuse, school readiness and housing. The board is investing $150,000 in Project HOPE in Old Saybrook with the goal of providing permanent housing for the families now living in motels. In 157 of the 169 CT towns, people earning the median income cannot afford the median cost of housing. Mr. Wilhelm noted that this area was selected for a demonstration project because towns in this region have a good history of working together.  

            Mr. Wilhelm distributed copies of the Middlesex County Ten Year Plan to end homelessness and circulated copies of plans to eliminate homelessness in Bridgeport and in Southeastern Connecticut. He described the Middlesex Plan as a business model of how to solve the problem with both prevention and intervention. He asked for volunteers for the four subcommittees that will meet twice a month for 3 months. When asked for statistics for homelessness in   Middlesex County, he mentioned that the one night count last month found 354 people under bridges and in other similar places.

           Mr. Wilhelm alerted members to ITN, a transportation network that allows seniors who are no longer able to drive to donate their car and receive credits that are applicable to rides.

        B. Health Care

        Chairman Miller introduced Jim Hite, M.S, CHE who is the Emergency Manager for Middlesex Hospital and Dr. Randy Goodwin, M.D. who is Chief of Infectious Diseases at Middlesex Hospital.

        Mr. Hite reported that Middlesex recently ran a model of a possible outbreak pf pandemic flu, using current demographic numbers for Middlesex County. It predicted that 93,000 would be infected. 47,000 would seek medical help. 548 would need hospitalization and 108 would die. He noted that Middlesex Hospital would be overwhelmed and unable to cope. Active support from all of the towns is needed including the cooperation of the health departments and emergency managers. In the case of pandemic, emergency operations centers would have to be activated. Towns should share their plans and their communications.

        Dr. Goodwin stressed that plans need to be in place long in advance of a pandemic.

Selectman Klein asked for precise percentages that would indicate a pandemic and suggested that the strain that breaks out might be different from the one that preparations were made for.

        Dr. Goodwin agreed that strains vary and explained that there is no precise number that would indicate the need for action. He noted that the hospital is willing and eager to work with the communities.  In case of a pandemic, help from outside the region should not be anticipated. If the Selectman is not involved early on, the system will not work and the hospital will be overwhelmed.

         Mary Jane Engle explained that many of her peers have found that hospitals will not even return phone calls from the directors of area Health Districts. She reported that Jim Hite contacted her as soon as she had an office. She stressed that this region is fortunate to be working with a hospital that is eager to reach out to the communities.

        Mr. Klein asked if the hospital has sufficient staff for the anticipated situation. Dr. Goodwin replied, “Absolutely not.”        

   III. Business

A.     Legislative Report

               There was no legislative report.

 IV. Old Business

Phil Miller asked Tony Bondi for a contact person for the motorcycle rally.             

V. New Business

         Chairman Miller announced that the lunch averages $13.00 per person.

VI. Minutes

                Selectman Brad Parker noted that Congressman Courtney will be establishing an office in Killingly, not in Killingworth as recorded. The minutes were approved as corrected.

     The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 PM.

     Respectfully,

     Wini Olson, Staff