Selectmen’s
Association Old Telephone: 860-388-3497 FAX:
860-395-1404 Email: CRERPA@snet.net
Immediately
Following CREMPO Meeting at 8:30 AM
Wednesday,
September 10, 2008
CRERPA HEADQUARTERS
455 BOSTON POST ROAD
SAYBROOK JUNCTION
SUITE 2
AGENDA
1.
Call
to Order
2.
Approval
of August ‘08 Minutes
3.
Speaker:
Tessa Gutowski, DEP, Debris Management
4.
Old Business
1.
ETD
Update: Kim Morton, Acting Executive
Director
a.
Financial
Status
b.
Executive
Director Search
c.
Fare
Adjustments Update
2. Emergency Management
3. HHW Updates (Janice Ehle-Meyer)
4. New
Business
a. Any Other Item
5. Adjournment
Next scheduled meeting is October 8, 2008
Minutes
Lower
Connecticut Valley Selectmen’s Association
September
10, 2008
Attendance:
Chester: Tom Marsh
Clinton:
Deep River:
Essex: Phil Miller
Killingworth: Richard Cabral
Lyme: Ralph Eno
Old Lyme: Tim Griswold
Old Saybrook: Mike Pace
Westbrook: Noel Bishop ETD Kim Morton, interim Executive Director
Guests: ECSI Executive Director, Paula Ferrara
Bill Buckridge, Emergency Management Director
Carol Lord, Emergency Management Director, Essex
Bruce Edgerton, CRERPA Chairman
Ellen Paul, Congress. Courtney’s Office
Jeff Nelson, Governor Rell’s Office
Tessa Gutowski, DEP
Frank Gagliardi, DEP
Carla Iezzi, DOT
Roy Piper, DEMHS
Paula Ferrara, Estuary Senior Center
CRERPA Staff: Linda Krause, Janice Ehle-Meyer, Margot Burns
1. Call To Order:
Mike Pace, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 9:51 a.m., in the CRERPA Conference Room, Suite B of the Marketplace, Old Saybrook
2. Minutes:
Rich Cabral asked that the August minutes be amended regarding comments by Dick Smith concerning ETD. Mike made the motion to table the minutes until clarification was made on the elimination of text from the August minutes. Rich Cabral seconded the motion. All were in favor.
3. SPEAKER:
Tessa Gutowski, DEP, Debris Management (tessa.gutowski@ct.gov) and Frank Gagliardi, Supervising Environmental Analyst with the Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance were introduced by Margot Burns.
In her presentation, Tessa noted a category 3 hurricane is the most probable, worst-case scenario. Hurricanes have the greatest destructive potential of all natural disasters in CT.
Estimated amount of debris generated from ’38 hurricane was 20 million tons.
DEP has a revised their Disaster Debris Plan and has resubmitted it to FEMA for approval and expects an approval in Sept. 08.
DEMHS-Coordinates Emergency response
DEP-Advises state and local officials on debris disposal.
DOT-Clears and/or removes wreckage and debris from state-owned facilities.
Mike Gagliardi discussed the phases of clearing debris and suggested that each town should have an individual plan for debris removal.
Potential TDSRS areas are major state parks. A discussion ensued on suitable sites and the importance of establishing pre-existing baseline condition for local sites.
Towns will be on their own for the first 72 hours. A plan must be in place for each town for initial debris removal. Mike Pace suggested towns use landfill areas which may be more practical.
On the last page of the presentation are categories for key resources and state contacts, and the selectmen were urged to make note of these important contacts.
Towns must take care of their own debris.
Towns must take hard look at their own operations. How would town remove debris? Do they have enough equipment?
Joel Severance has been working on debris removal with several area towns.
CRAHD is also working on a plan.
It may be advisable to pool contractors among the towns. It is mandatory to have a contractor(s) monitor the debris removal.
It’s important to define what towns can and cannot do.
Linda said that Margot is working on the coordination of the Estuary towns. Public Works officials and Emergency Management Directors were asked to an initial meeting and few showed up.
Joel Severance has been diligently working on a Marine Hurricane Prevention and Protection module, which would identify the correct methods or securing boats and related criteria during a hurricane. $13,500 allocation would require CEO approval. The selectmen voted in favor and approved.
3. Old Business
1. ETD Update
a. Financial Status: Kim will present her final analysis to the Board on the 18th and will have definitive information for the Selectmen at the next LCVSA meeting.
b. Executive Director Search: Ralph, Leslie, and Rich Cabral will be interviewing with an individual and a management firm this Friday. A recommendation will be made. The interim director will not be involved in the interview process, per se.
There will be a transition period, but Kim is looking to end of November to leave the ETD.
Mike Pace will serve on the board as a rep from Old Saybrook.
c. Fare Adjustments: Kim discussed the Public Hearing and the fact that one person showed up in the 10-hour period. She noted the $30,000 from Senior Resources was for the purchase of a bus.
The senior fare decision has cost ETD $15,000 and another solution must be sought.
She noted that there was a $100,000 reserve and now there is nothing.
Paula expressed her concern for the seniors who cannot afford the increased fare. Possible resolutions will be discussed between Kim Morton and Paula.
2. Emergency Management – Discussion on Debris Management so noted above.
3. HHW Updates:
Janice distributed latest numbers on the HHW Collections.
Next Electronics Collection is November 8th.
Medical Prescriptions Collection scheduled for the 20th of the month in Clinton at the CT Water Company facility from 10:00 to 2:00.
HHW Facility Updates: Ken Kells, Engineer, will inspect the facility, painting will begin. Janice noted that the contract negotiations for next year will be coming up shortly.
Earth Charter Climate Change Summit: Saturday, October 11th, Noon to 5:00 p.m., at the Nathan Hale-Ray High School, 15 School Drive, East Haddam, CT. Keynote speaker is Dr. Gary Yohe, Co-winner with Al Gore of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
4. Business:
Paula Ferrara, Executive Director, ECS, extended an invitation for a January Breakfast Meeting at the Estuary. However, the site and times of the meetings are a matter of record and the site of the MPO meetings cannot be changed.
Silent Auction is on the 21st, which is one of the main fund raisers for the Senior Center. Invitations have been sent to the CEOs.
National Accreditation has been delayed due to the changeover on the Board.
Budget continues to be in black.
The dining Room renovations are progressing nicely.
Jeff Nelson, Governor Rell’s Liaison:
FY ’09 budget reflects a $145million deficit. The deficit partly due to fuel, and revenues are down.
State’s Emergency Response System was given an award.
Linda Krause discussed the Ethics Reform/FOI issue effective October 1st and said that the CRERPA website will be closed as of that date due to the new mandatory requirements. Linda is going to an ACIR meeting and will further discuss this new ruling.
5. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn was made by Richard Cabral, and seconded by Phil Miller. The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Anthony, Clerk
4. New Business
a. Heating Oil Crisis: A seminar sponsored by Marilyn Giuliano, is being held at the Estuary Council of Seniors this month. Date and time will be advertised in the Courant.
Selectmen noted they are concerned about fuel assistance, but town budgets are very tight. Bill Peace of Old Saybrook said the town has a $5,000 grant. A quote from one oil company was $5.49 a gallon. The Towns may have to go to organizations in town to seek additional funds such as the Rotary and Lions Clubs.
b. Any New Item: Phil Miller announced that Jennifer Janelle, Attorney, will be speaking at Noon at the CRVCEO about smart energy choices and solutions. He suggested the Selectmen ask Emergency Personnel in respective towns to attend this important meeting at the Middletown Town Hall on August 27th.
5. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Rich Cabral; seconded by Phil Miller. All were in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Anthony, Clerk