Lower Connecticut River Valley Selectmen’s Association

September 13, 2006

Minutes

Attendance

Chester: Tom Marsh

Clinton: Willie Fritz

Deep River: Dick Smith

Essex: Phil Miller

Killingworth:

Lyme:

Old Lyme: Tim Griswold

Old Saybrook: Bill Peace

Westbrook:

Guests: Director Mary Jane Engle, Connecticut River Area Health District

Director Patty Dowling, Shoreline Soup Kitchen

Staff: Linda Krause, Janice Ehle-Meyer, Jean Davies, Wini Olson

I. Vice-Chairman Dick Smith called the meeting to order in the CRERPA conference space at 455 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, at 9:12 AM

II. Minutes

Phil Miller moved that the minutes of the July 12, 2006 meeting be approved as circulated. The motion was seconded by Tim Griswold and unanimously approved.

III. Guests

A. Shoreline Soup Kitchen

Vice Chairman Smith introduced Patty Dowling, Director of the Shoreline Soup Kitchen. Ms. Dowling distributed informational cards to be distributed within each town. She explained that the congregate sites provide food and fellowship. The pantry locations provide three meals for three days. The Shoreline Soup Kitchen is designed to serve the area between Madison and East Lyme as far north as Chester.

In 2001, the Pantry was providing 14 thousand meals per month. It now provides 38,000 meals per month. She sees a change in the clientele. The Pantry is serving more elderly. It is serving dual income working parents who earn $10 to $12 per hour, new immigrants who have limited English, and an increasing homeless population.

Tom Marsh reported that he works once per quarter at the Chester meal site. He has not noticed an increase in numbers or a change in the demographics. Patty agreed that there has been no significant growth at the meal sites. They have gone from 10,000 meals per year to 11,000 or 12,000 per year. At the meal sites, the fellowship is deemed as important as the food. They serve people who otherwise would eat alone.

Tim Griswold asked if she sees an influx of people from the New London

Area. She does. She explained that people tell her that they are treated differently at the Shoreline facility. People have complained to her that”They are not nice” and”They are unfriendly”. In government facilities, a voucher is needed and food can be obtained only once in six months.

The Old Lyme Pantry crew is giving Technical Assistance to faith based groups in Groton and Norwich. Food is only one problem. A need is perceived for affordable housing, medical insurance and jobs with enough money.

Under the five strategic plans the Soup Kitchen anticipates receiving half of its support from individuals, 30% from corporations and foundations and 30% from faith groups. Tim Griswold asked if there is coordination with the Senior Center. Patty replied that there is. Mitzi contacted her when she was applying for funds.

B. Connecticut River Area Health District

Vice-Chairman Smith introduced Director Mary Jane Engle.

Mary Jane gave a brief summary of her qualifications including a Master of Public Health degree from Yale, service as Health Director in Clinton, and Director of Ledge Light Health District. Most recently she held three positions simultaneously in Westbrook. She has been encouraging a Health district in the region since she addressed the Lower Connecticut League of Women Voters in 1980.

Mary Jane emphasized that the Connecticut River Area Health District is a separate entity of government. It is currently renting space in the Old Saybrook Town Hall. It has a logo, a domain and is setting up its accounting system.

The most familiar part her duties is environmental health including septic systems, restaurants and wells. To assist in this, the District has assimilated the sanitarians that previously worked in the member towns of Clinton, Deep River and Old Saybrook. The District is currently standardizing policies and procedures.

Public Health Planning is part of the responsibility included in Emergency Preparedness. The towns of Killingworth, Westbrook, Deep River, Essex, Clinton, Old Saybrook and Chester had previously been as POD (point of distribution) site under the Chatham Health District. They are now a separate site under the Connecticut River Area Health District. Mary Jane explained that when a pandemic occurs, the Health district is responsible for isolation and quarantine and has the authority to shut schools and businesses. The District is already receiving information on all reportable diseases.

Linda Krause asked if the District has acquired a nickname or uses an acronym such as CRERPA. It has not. It uses the full name but sometimes answers the phone simply as “Health District”. They can be reached at 395-2482. The Board meets at 4PM on the fourth Monday of each month.

Dick had to leave for another meeting and gave the chair to Secretary Tim Griswold.

C. CRRA

Mr. Nonnemaker of the CRRA failed to arrive.

D. Ambro Amendment

Tim explained that Bill Spicer of Spicer’s Marina in Noank had asked to address the Association. He is attempting to have the “Ambro Amendment” repealed. The amendment is one of the Ocean Dumping Act provisions. It complicates the disposal of dredged material and he is attempting to have it repealed.

IV. Old Business

A. HHW

Janice Ehle-Meyer reported that the Lyme collection ran smoothly. The two previous collections were great with 140 and 150 households per collection.

The contract with Clean Harbors needs to be reworked. Tim Griswold mentioned the problem of having to pay for the 100 household minimum.

Phil reminded Janice to put notices in all of the town newsletters. Janice noted that she is developing a Power Point presentation that will be appropriate for presentation at Rotary clubs and other organizations.

B. Emergency Management

Linda Krause announced that David LeVasseur of the Office of Policy and Management has arranged a conference to be held on September 21 at Central Connecticut State University on the Role and Responsibility of Local Government and Business Leaders in Pre-Event Planning and Post –Event Recovery.

Tim commented that CCM recently had a similar conference.

Additional NIMS training sessions will be held on September 19 for personnel that have not yet taken the course.

D. Haz Mit

Jean Davies announced that FEMA has clarified the requirement for adoption. After the Public Informational Meeting, Board of Selectmen approval is sufficient.

Tom Marsh asked that she send a memo to that effect. Tim mentioned that the public meeting date has been established for Old Lyme.

V. New Business

Betty Wagner distributed information prepared in the office of Representative Simmons on Energy Assistance. She also distributed a sheet of information about agriculture in Connecticut.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:03 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Timothy C. Griswold, Secretary