Minutes

Lower Connecticut Valley Selectmen’s Association

May 14, 2008

Attendance:

Chester: Tom Marsh

Clinton: Willie Fritz

Deep River:

Essex:

Killingworth: Richard Cabral

Lyme: Ralph Eno

Old Lyme: Tim Griswold

Old Saybrook: Mike Pace

Westbrook: Noel Bishop

Guests: Chuck Still, Executive Director of Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, ECSI Executive Director Paula Ferrara, Jenny Contois, representing Congressman Joe Courtney, Jeff Nelson, representing Governor Rell

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

I. Call to Order

Chairman Mike Pace called the meeting of the Lower Connecticut Valley Selectmen’s Association to order in the CRERPA Conference space, Suite B of the Marketplace, Boston Post Rd. Old Saybrook at 9:20a.m.

II. Minutes

Rich Cabral moved that the minutes of the April 9, 2008 meeting be approved as circulated. The motion was seconded by Tom Marsh and unanimously approved.

III. Katherine Hepburn Center

Chairman Pace introduced Chuck Still, new Executive Director for the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. Mr. Still provided his background, which included working for the last ten years as a theater director in Vero Beach, Florida. He observed that most small theaters derive their audiences from within a 30 mile radius. The theater is a regional asset. The theater building was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places. He wishes to promote movies (due to the Hepburn connection), comedy, and children’s theater. It will take a while to establish the appropriate emphasis for this area. Mike noted that the theater can be part of a regional tourist synergy, particularly if packaged with lodging and dining. Old Saybrook is emphasizing “the arts”. Linda stated that several towns have a similar focus. The region could be promoted as a theater center. Mike asked if CRERPA could assist with regional cooperation on its arts image. Rich Cabral moved and Willie Fritz seconded a motion to request CRERPA to assist with such regional efforts. The motion was approved unanimously.

IV. Old Business

A. Emergency Management

Rich Cabral commented on last Monday’s meeting of the Regional Emergency Planning Team, which acted on the DEMHS funding allocation for Region 2. Twenty-six of the thirty Region 2 towns were represented at the meeting. Rich was disappointed that no funding was earmarked for transportation planning within the Transportation Emergency Support Function. All but $60,000 was allocated to projects, primarily for the purchase of equipment. Jean Davies said that she felt this first allocation effort was successful in that it got the participants thinking regionally. Transportation is likely to be funded in the next round. Rich reminded others that there is a big DEMHS meeting in Cromwell tomorrow.

B. Household Hazardous Waste:

Janice Ehlemeyer reported on the first three HHW collections and the first electronics collection. The electronics collection on April 19, funded by CRRA, drew 426 vehicles, of which 326 were from the Estuary Region. One Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG), a hardware store in Old Saybrook, participated in the collection. Janice reported that the State is considering a separate disposal program. The draft State regulations for electronics collection is aimed at only four types of electronic waste. The group discussed what to do with other electronics items, and the possible resulting confusion for the public. Ralph Eno said he had talked with DEP’s Tom Metzner about collecting all electronics at the Estuary facility. Those present agreed that a regional approach made sense, using the existing facility. It was agreed that Ralph and Janice would follow up on the regional approach with DEP.

Linda suggested that the region might also look into major debris management from a hurricane, since the event would eventually occur and the state was making little progress with that program.

V. Regional Planning

Linda reported that the Legislature had passed a bill (HB5324) on various regional matters. Regional planning agencies were not deleted from the type of regional planning organizations which could apply for the RPIP (Regional Planning Incentive Program), but no money had been allocated to the RPIP this year due to the projected state budget deficit.

Noel Bishop asked if any towns used public relations consultants. No one did.

VI. Federal and State representatives

A. Congressman Courtney’s Office

Jenny Contois reported that the President has signed the legislation designating the Eightmile River Watershed as a federal Wild and Scenic River, after a long local effort from many people. Ellen Paul is attending a forum on the sale of surplus equipment in Massachusetts. Courtney’s office would like to have a similar program in this area. The Office will be scheduling a grant-writing workshop and a Congressional Town Meeting. Michael Pace urged the Congressman’s office to be more active on alternative energy, and nuclear energy in particular. Ralph Eno felt there was a need to address the issue of spent fuel storage before additional plants were constructed. It was noted that the storage of spent fuel rods at Connecticut Yankee will occupy that site virtually forever. Jeff Nelson reported on his visit to the proposed waste storage facility at Yucca Mountain and its remote location.

B. Governor Rell’s Office

Jeff Nelson reported that the Regular Session of the Legislature was concluded, but there is expected to be a Special Session to deal with several unresolved issues. One such issue is the conveyance tax, which provided $40 million to local governments. Jeff reported that the Budget passed by the Legislature included an $80 million deficit. It would be up to the governor to close the gap. Ralph said the State should not cut appropriations to towns in mid-fiscal year, since the towns would have no way of making up the shortfall. Jenny Contois noted that many towns were approving bare bones budgets now, to get a budget passed, and that there would be no money in town budgets for emergencies such as bad weather.

VII. Estuary Council of Seniors

Paula Ferrera thanked the First Selectmen for including the ECS in their budgets. There is an upcoming Fair for volunteer workers in June.

VIII. Adjournment to Office of Connecticut River Area Health District

By consensus, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50a.m. and reconvened at the office of the regional health district on Main Street in Old Saybrook.

IX. Connecticut River Area Health District

Several Selectmen met with Director Mary Jane Engle, Clinton Information Technology specialist John Krovo, and CRERPA Director Linda Krause at the new office of the CRAHD at 166 Main Street, Old Saybrook, Unit 2. The gathering began discussion at 10:15a.m.

John described the IT setup at the Health District and spoke about the effort to unify Clinton’s IT services. The Town of Clinton and the Board of Education have a combined system. He stated that every town needed to look toward professional management of their IT, including growth plans, replacement costs, tying the technology plan to the capital plan, and personnel. He said most towns were spending far more than they realized on IT, because it was distributed within individual department budgets. Linda spoke about the practical need for a regional GIS program that was consistent with State efforts.