Minutes

Lower Connecticut Valley Selectmen’s Association

March 10, 2010

Attendance:

Chester: -------------

Clinton: -------------

Deep River: Dick Smith

Essex: Phil Miller

Killingworth: Cathy Iino

Lyme: Ralph Eno

Old Lyme: -------------

Old Saybrook: Mike Pace

Westbrook: Noel Bishop

Guests: Stephen Livingston, DOT

Joe Comerford, ETD Executive Director

Paula Ferrara, Estuary Council of Seniors, Inc.

Paul Nonnenmacher, CRRA

Rep. Jamie Spallone

Jeff Nelson, Governor Rell’s Representative

Rep. Brian O’Connor

Rob Bradway, Operations Manager, Valley Rail Road

Ed Dombrowski, Chairman of Valley Rail Road Board

Bob Bell, President of Valley Rail Road

Christine Nelson – Old Saybrook Town Planner

CRERPA Staff: Linda Krause, Jean Davies, Janice Ehle-Meyer

LCVSA

1. Call to Order: Chairman Mike Pace convened the meeting in the CRERPA Conference Room in Old Saybrook CT.

2. Minutes: Mike Pace moved and Cathy Iino seconded a motion to approve the February meeting minutes. All members were in favor.

3. Probate Courts:

Chairman Pace noted that Representative Jamie Spallone had to leave the meeting shortly, and asked that he report on probate court reorganization before he left. The VRR discussion would continue after Rep. Spallone gave the results of his research. Mr. Spallone reported that he had sought answers to five specific questions from the Probate Administrator.

A. Are Towns mandated to have meeting space available for the probate court even if they are not the host community? He found that it is not mandated. There just needs to be a private space to hold a hearing, if desired.

B. Are the records mandated to go to the state library? No, it is not mandated. The State is offering to take them if the towns do not have adequate space or the storage conditions are not good (temperature, humidity, circulation).

C. Who decides the actual Court location? It is up to the area chief elected officials working together to decide where the court should be located. LCVSA members reaffirmed their commitment to locating the Court in Old Saybrook.

D. Is state funding available for moving costs? The Court Administrator said it is up to the towns to move their own materials. The towns have an obligation to furnish the court.

Mike Pace said it would be logical for each town to use a public works crew to move to Old Saybrook according to a pre-arranged schedule. Old Saybrook has adequate furniture on site already.

E. Who is responsible for naming the new court district? It is a regional decision. Spallone suggested that the “District of Saybrook” might be a suitable named, based on the history of the Saybrook Colony. The Town of Deep River was, in fact, named Saybrook until 1947. There was unanimous agreement that the name should be “The District of

Saybrook”, and Jamie was asked to inform the Court Administrator as to the decision.

4. Legislative Reports:

Jeff Nelson or the Governor’s Office reported that TAR funds should be on the next Bonding Commission agenda. Discussion ensued on legislation addressed at changing the makeup of the Board of CRRA. The effort to form an alternative solid waste authority in the greater Hartford area was discussed in some detail.

5. HHW-

Janice Ehle/Meyer reported that she has spoken with the Haddam First Selectman about Haddam’s paying its share of the recycling fund. Members who use the Essex Transfer Station for their waste pay a surcharge on the tipping fee to cover the host community benefit and the recycling coordinator. Lyme and Old Lyme pay accordingly, based on their tonnage at the Southeast Facility in Montville. Members agreed that Haddam should pay the fee, based on their tonnage. Janice reported that there have been concerns about possible traffic problems at past electronics collections. Traffic has backed up onto Route 154. A policeman may be needed to direct traffic. It was agreed that an officer will be hired for the first electronics collection, with further action based on that experience. Funding will come through the tipping fee surcharge.

6. Future topics

A. It was agreed to follow up on the possibility of training through Middlesex Community College.

B. An informational meeting will be arranged to discuss support for CRRA, as the Hartford area attempts to form a separate waste authority. The region’s towns are well-served by CRRA and efforts to subvert its work may be costly to towns in this area.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11:10 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Janice Ehle/Meyer, Clerk