Lower Connecticut River Valley Selectmen’s Association

June 13, 2007

Minutes

Attendance

Chester:

Clinton:

Deep River: Dick Smith

Essex: Phil Miller

Killingworth:

Lyme:

Old Lyme: Tim Griswold

Old Saybrook: Mike Pace

Westbrook:

Staff: Jean Davies, Wini Olson, Janice Ehle-Meyer, Judy Preston,

Margot Burns

Guests:

ECS Director Paula Ferraro

ETD Director Brad Beecher, ETD Chairman Doris Sanstrom

Jeff Nelson, representing Gov. Jodi Rell

Gene Tewksbury representing Cong. Joe Courtney

Rep. James Spallone

At 9:04, Chairman Mike Pace reconvened the meeting as the Lower Connecticut River Valley Selectman’s Association in the conference space of the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency at 9:05 AM.

I. Minutes

Phil Miller moved that the minutes of the May 9, 2007 meeting be approved as circulated. The motion was seconded by Dick Smith and approved.

II. Legislature

Chairman Pace asked Rep. Spallone to continue with other news of the Legislature.

Jamey reported that there is no budget in place. The negotiations require “heavy lifting”. Jamey summarized the three positions. He believes that the financial system needs so be restructured. The pressure on the property tax is unsustainable. A progressive income tax is needed. The question is when.

Jamey reported that he is pleased with the reform of the Probate system. He was cautious at first but now feels that there will be sufficient oversight by the Judiciary.

The environmental legislative program was not very successful this year however there is a new law affording the public increased input in the sale or transferal of public property to private individuals.

Dick Smith commented that mandates NEVER get repealed. He stressed the importance of being involved. He acknowledged that all Selectmen are busy but insisted that they must pay more attention to the legislature and encourage their constituents to do the same.

Phil Miller suggested that this group make better use of their influential representation on both COST and CCM.

Tim Griswold commented that it takes all day to testify for three minutes. Even then, the committee members are not all there.

Paula Ferraro commented on the frustration of testifying and added that she does not intend to do it again.

Jamey assured members that testifying is indeed worth the effort, even if there only a few committee members there. He noted that the Chairman will always be there. He/she is the most important. Jamey noted that he is on three committees that meet on the same day. He reads the testimony that he does not hear or listens on CCN after he gets home. He assured them that testimony does affect votes.

Chairman Pace asked about Broadwater. Jamey assured him that although Connecticut has very limited jurisdiction, officials are paying attention.

III. Speakers

A. Connecticut River Riparian Mapping Project

Judy Preston, President of Tidewater and Margot Burns, Environmental Planner at CRERPA presented an overview of their recently completed Riparian Mapping Study of the shores of the Connecticut River in the Gateway towns. The study was done at the parcel level. 900 sites were photographed. The accompanying handouts include maps and pictorial examples. Vegetative cover is a cost effective way of improving the water quality. Regulations have been included in the updated Gateway Standards and in the Eight Mile River portion of the Haddam regulations. The town of Old Saybrook increased the buffer from 50 feet to 100 feet. The study can be found online at CRERPA.ORG.

Phil Miller asked if any reservations have been expressed.

Neither Essex nor Old Lyme has incorporated the new standards into their zoning regulations. In Essex, the Planning Commission has expressed interest in incorporating them into the subdivision regulations. The Essex Conservation Commission is interested. They had not previously been aware that Essex is a participating member of the Gateway. In Old Lyme, Judy and Margot have been invited to meet with representatives of the Rogers Lake Association. The invitation was the result of a presentation to the Old Lyme Conservation Commission.

Judy explained that the tributaries are just as important as the Connecticut River. The principles apply to the entire watershed. Fertilized lawns too often extend to the waters’ edge. Margot used the former URARCO parking lot adjacent to the Deep River as a different example of a site crying for remediation.

Phil Miller mentioned that in Middle Cove, purple loosestrife is thriving where the DEP so carefully removed the phragmites. He was assured that this is not a common occurrence. The Conservation Commission is considering introducing beetles.

Doris Sanstrom mentioned that since Messerschmidt Pond became state property, loosestrife has invaded that area.

Tim Griswold asked if the Riparian Mapping Project includes follow up education. Margot explained that she and Judy have gone to each land use commission is the region. She mentioned the difficulty of identifying the full membership. Phil Miller suggested that the Land Trusts should also be involved.

IV. Old Business

A. Emergency Management Update

Margot distributed copies of Parcel Data and Hurricane Isobel a Case Study Prepared for the FGDC Cadastral Subcommittee by David Stage and Nancy von Meyer July 2004 and mentioned how useful GIS can be in emergency situations. She referred to the study Mike Pace is preparing of the potential loss of revenue and cost of restoration in case of a hurricane. She mentioned that the CAMA Data gives a good overall picture of the real property on each parcel.

Phil Miller mentioned that Essex will host a conference on debris management on Friday, July 13, 2007. It is anticipated that 75% of our trees could be destroyed by a severe hurricane.

Mike Pace mentioned that he is particularly interested in participating. CRRA

needs to be involved. Beyond the trees, there will be houses to dispose of. Material must be sorted and trucked out. He is looking into using the rail siding at Donnelley’s. He is unable to attend on July 13. He will ask Bill Peace to attend in his place.

Jean Davies explained that the meeting was initiated by Wayne Sanford of DEMAS and the DEP. CRERPA was asked to arrange the meeting and invite the Selectmen. It was Linda Krause that suggested including the Emergency Management team.

B. HHW

Janice Ehle-Meyer announced that she is meeting with Tony Bondi tomorrow to discuss Haddam’s participation in the HHW collection.

Phil Miller mentioned that he believes the proposal has been amended to eliminate the necessity of paying an initial fee to join. Janice assured him that that is the case. Haddam is in the throes of building a transfer station.

Westbrook is participating again.

Janice reported that there is a case in Old Lyme of two mystery barrels. She had been warned that they were to be delivered to the Saturday collection. They did not arrive.

There will be an electronics collection on Saturday, June 23.

V. Other Business

A. ECSI

ECSI Director Paula Ferrara reported that things are going well at the Senior Center. She is working on more programming. The center is in the black.

Bob Ballard appeared at a very successful fund raiser.There were 125 participants.

Meals are increasing. One hundred breakfasts were served on Saturday. There were 30 walk ins for lunch. The Westbrook site will be served once a week with fifteen to forty participants. . The Chester site is increasing. The move from Deep River initiated an increase in the need for meals on wheels.

B. Legislation

Jeff Nelson reported that the Legislature is in a holding pattern.

C. Future meeting

Chairman Pace would like to devote an entire meeting to the silting issue in the Connecticut River and the adjacent coves. The reduction in commercial traffic has resulted in increased silting and decreased dredging. Chairman Pace does not approve of dumping silt in the Long Island Sound. The silt in this part of the river tests as fairly clean. There are many on land uses for the silt. The Hartford Landfill will need enormous amounts of cover. The EPA has ordered that the Hamden tire pond be covered, tires and all.

The meeting was adjourned at 10: 35 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Timothy C. Griswold, Secretary