Minutes

Lower Connecticut Valley Selectmen’s Association

                                                                                                January 13, 2010

Attendance:

Chester:                       Tom Marsh

Clinton:                       Willie Fritz

Deep River:                 Dick Smith

Essex:                          Phil Miller

Killingworth:               Cathy Iino

Lyme:                         Ralph Eno

Old Lyme:                   Tim Griswold

Old Saybrook:             Mike Pace

Westbrook:                 Noel Bishop                                                                                                                      

Guests:                        Stephen Livingston, DOT

                                    Joe Comerford, ETD Executive Director

                                    Larry Smotroff, Ian Canning, Middlesex Community College

                                    Virginia Raymond, Tom Kirk, Paul Nonnenmacher, CRRA

                                    Paula Ferrara, Estuary Council of Seniors, Inc.

                                    Rep. Jamie Spallone

                                    Richard Cabral, Killingworth

CRERPA Staff:           Linda Krause, Janice Ehle-Meyer     

 

 

1.  Call to Order: Chairman Mike Pace convened the meeting 8:45 a.m. in the CRERPA Conference       Room in Old Saybrook CT. Roll call was taken.

 

2.  Minutes:  Marsh moved and Miller seconded a motion to approve the November meeting minutes.      All members were in favor.

 

3. Speakers:  Dr. Larry Smotroff, Dean, Middlesex County Community College and Ian Canning, Director, Center for Business & Industry Services.

             Smotroff talked about customized training for municipal employees.  There is a learning curve for any new employee and at MCCC the staff will fine tune a curriculum specifically tailored to individual requirements and will bring the class to the towns.

            Every organization has employees that can use new information and skills.  The Center for Business and Industry Services (CBIS) delivers customized training and provides free consultation and assessment. 

            Mike said that there was a special program to train workers in area nursing homes as CNA’s, and it was hugely successful. It is imperative to “grow ourselves out of this mess.”  Education should be the emphasis in the coming year.  

            Larry said he would be happy to work with the towns to develop educational programs suitable to the needs of the people.  Joe Comerford, Executive Director ETD, noted that ETD has a run to Middlesex Community College should anyone need transportation to classes.

            A further discussion ensued concerning combining high school level and college level courses.

            Larry said MCC and Work Force Alliance have worked together in presenting training programs.

 

 

            Mike asked Linda to form a committee on education. Willie, Phil, Noel and Tom volunteered to serve on the committee. The committee is to work on a list of goals, to connect with the Middlesex Chamber and the Old Saybrook Chamber, to seek sites for “floating” campuses. The superintendents of schools are to be invited to attend these meetings.

 

4. CRRA—Speakers Tom Kirk and Virginia Raymond

            Tom presented an overview of the CRRA and how it works with the area towns.  He distributed a draft of a letter concerning Municipal Solid Waste Management Services (MSA) regarding Wallingford RRF capacity. He discussed capacity restrictions and alternative solutions. He did not perceive any increase in fees per ton.  Tom said the letter is not an amendment or modification of the MSA and any solid waste delivered to the Wallingford Facility shall be subject to the uniform, per-ton Service Payments provided under the MSA.  It is simply an administrative requirement.  The tip fee would likely remain the same.  Each town will ultimately decide what’s best for them.

            Mike Pace noted that he is Chairman of CRRA.

             There is 2012 expiration on the current contract and a draft of the municipal agreement will be coming by the end of the year.  Tom asked that each selectman show this draft to his/her town attorney. All towns are treated equally per the agreement – no one receives favoritism.  It’s best to think long term on this.  CRRA will have a booth at the upcoming COST meeting, and the selectmen were invited to visit the booth and ask questions.

 

5. Legislative Reports

            A. Rep. Jamie Spallone:  There will be a regular legislative session beginning on February 3rd.  In late December the legislature passed a bill delaying a cut in the estate tax.  The Governor vetoed the bill. We are now dealing with a $337-500 million deficit.  Municipal aid cuts were NOT enacted.

            Jamie said he is co-chairing a committee on enhancing agency outcomes (trying to make state agencies more efficient).  He asked for ideas from the selectmen to help improve the efficiency of State agencies and to save money.  Noel suggested that working through COST and CCM would streamline the process.

            2010 is projected to be a budget nightmare.  Tim commented on the Resident State Trooper Bill.  In its present form, it will cost local towns approximately $80-90 per hour per trooper. There are many issues that are not beneficial to the towns.  A discussion ensued.

            Tom Marsh said that the CRVCEO is having a meeting on the 27th and encouraged the legislators to attend.  The immobility waiting for outcomes is the confining factor for not moving forward.

            Jeff Nelson, Liaison for Governor Rell:  The Department of Social Service requests are up 18%.  The Governor is expected to present expanded rescission ideas.  The selectmen said that TAR issues should be on the agenda.

            B. HHW – Electronics Recycling

                        The budget was presented by Janice Ehle-Meyer.  The first topic was host community funding ($30,000).  After a discussion concerning salaries vs. overhead, Willie made the motion to approve this expense as stated, and Phil seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

                        The next item discussed was the tipping fee surcharge to CRRA for the recycling coordinator, in the amount of $28,000.  After a brief discussion, Tim made the motion to approve this item, and Willie seconded the motion.  All were in favor. Janice said that Veolia’s fees were to remain the same.  The State’s electronics proposal is not scheduled to be implemented until the fall of the year.

            Noel made the motion to approve the HHW Budget for 2011.  Tom seconded the motion.  All were in favor. 

            Ralph said that he thought our “5-year plan” was over, and we should vote to continue with the site.

            C. Probate Issues:  Jamie wanted to clarify that in his newsletter to several towns he stated that the new seat of operation was Old Saybrook.  However, he want rescind that statement.  There has been no decision at this point of Old Saybrook being the Probate Court central Estuary site.  The selectmen responded by saying they had proposed this site and were led to believe that this was a “done deal”. 

            Mike said that all judges were invited to see the offices and that the site could easily accommodate the requirements of the probate offices. It is move-in ready. The selectmen were deeply concerned about where the town records are to be housed, who will be paying related costs, and what is the timeline. Ralph said he wanted the town records to be kept in the towns.  Where are the guidelines?  They also queried Jamie as to whether the selectmen have any legal paths to take.  It appears that no one knows for sure just who is making the decisions regarding probate.  Jamie said he would research the questions proposed by the selectmen and report back to them regarding the issues.

 

6. Pump out Boat

            Joel Severance reported that the Pump out boat spent $70,000 for the summer.  $43,000 was spent on labor for the two boats.  $83,000 was the budget.  48,066 gallons were pumped.

            The State has cut the allocations for boater fees in half.  Joel said a new boat will be bought and that they had an offer of $15,000 for the old boat.  However, that money would have to be returned if the boat was sold.  It was decided to retain the old boat as a “spare”. The cost of the new boat is $85,000.

 

7. Adjournment

            Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mike and seconded by Tom at 11:10 a.m.  All were in favor.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Pat M. Anthony, Clerk