Minutes

Connecticut River Valley Council of Elected Officials

Sept 23, 2009

Attendance: Please see attached list

1. Call to Order:

The CRVCEO meeting was called to order by Chairman Marsh at 12:30 at the Durham Fair Grounds , Durham , CT.

2. Durham Fair:

A. Laura Francis, Durham First Selectman introduced Gene Chiappetta, Durham Agricultural Fair Association, President. Mr. Chiappetta greeted the Selectmen and spoke about the events that will occur this year at the Fair.

Geen Thazhapallath, Assistant to the Mayor of Middletown, asked about the relationship between the Fair and the Town of Durham.

Gene Chiappetta explained how the Fair is independent from the town. He spoke about different issues including water.

Laura Francis explained how the: fire, buses, sanitation and building officials all work together at the fair.

3. Approval of August Minutes:

Motion to approve the Minutes of August was made by Phil Miller. Motion was seconded by Richard Cabral. All were in favor.

4. Business:

A. Speaker: Bart Russell, Executive Director, Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST) was introduced by Chairman. He discussed how the big cities have dominated and heading back to “Grass Roots”, how the towns know what they need and want. He spoke about the Governor, legislative leaders, and local government officials need to come together to establish new decision making principals, how action needs to be taken at District level and there needs to be town forums. He discussed how the laws need to be reevaluated and how important regionalism is. He spoke about health districts and how each area is different.

Tim Griswold, Selectman from Old Lyme asked about the town clerk fund that has decreased and how it will catch up with the towns.

Bart Russell’s response was having local options for taxes and letting the towns decide. He discussed a partnership idea with the state and local officials to discuss the needs or priorities of the towns, to work as a team and not as advisories. He talked about the need for citizens to express their wants and to be educated about issues and that the towns need to educate the public about the common goals.

B. Legislative Forum:

a. Govenor Rell’s Representative, Jeff Nelson spoke about mandate relief. He also spoke about the importance of the public health issue with mosquitoes. He discussed the Economic Stragic Plan and having the Governor require legislative action. He spoke about ‘Heroes for Hire’ career Fair for veterans, and about STEAP grants granted.

b. Laura Francis spoke about voluntary regionalism. She spoke about looking for models of success in CT towns. She passed out the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials model where they formed a coop and purchased equipment that they share. She explained that one town housed the equipment and the other towns rent from that town. She explained that rental fees for equipment could be reduced by 20% using this model.

5. Other Business:

A. Richard Cabral spoke about a Davis Bacon meeting and that there would be another one on October 16^th at Central Connecticut State University at the student center. He spoke about a $2,000 threshold that is still the same since 1930.

B. Noel Bishop asked that the Selectmen think about the programs and topics that they would like to cover for the coming meetings.

C. Bart Russell announced that on December 9^th at the capitol, there will be a Municipal Leadership Meeting and that on January 20^th there will be a 35^th Anniversary COST Town meeting.

D. Tim Griswold announced that on October 8^th at the Convention Center there will be a CCM meeting. He discussed the police overtime confusion.

E. The next CRVCEO meeting will be, Wednesday, October 28^th in Middlefield at the Lyman Golf Course.

6. Adjournment:

The motion to adjourn was made by Chairman Marsh and seconded by Rich Cabral at 1:30 p.m. All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Janice Ehle/Meyer, Clerk