December 12, 2007
Minutes
Attendance
Chester: Tom Marsh
Clinton: Willie Fritz
Deep River: Dick Smith
Essex: Phil Miller
Killingworth: Richard J. Cabral
Lyme: Ralph Eno
Old Lyme: Tim Griswold
Old Saybrook: Mike Pace
Westbrook:
ETD: Doris Sanstrom, Chair, John Forbis, Treas.
Staff: Jean Davies, Janice Ehle-Meyer, Wini Olson, Dorothy Papp
Guests: ECS Director Paula Ferraro, DOT Transit Administrator Mike
Sanders, Jeff Nelson, Ellen Paul, Mr. Manville, Lucy Eno
I. The meeting was called to order at the close of the MPO meeting by Vice Chairman Dick Smith. Chairman Pace was delayed by officiating at ceremonies for the 10,000 Wreath Tour.
II.
Minutes
Phil Miller moved that the minutes of the October and November meetings be approved as circulated. The motion was seconded by Richard Cabral and unanimously approved.
III. Emergency
Management
Jean Davies reported that the Regional Emergency Planning Team (REPT) was created on Monday, December 3, through a unanimous vote of the 17 member towns present. Many of the CEOs had sent their proxie letters for the vote. They also adopted the bylaws and the REPT Steering Committee was formalized. Skip Thomas of DEMHS gave an over view of the state and regional emergency planning process.
Phil Miller mentioned that he believed that minor changes had been made in the by-laws on Monday. Jean explained that there were minor changes. Proxies must bring a letter of authorization with them. One option that was discussed was the option of not dating the proxy letter so the proxies would not have to get a new letter for every meeting. There are now sixteen RESF support groups. Each has RESF committee has a Chairman. The REPT steering committee will meet formally on Friday morning, December 14,2007. Jean asked that if the selectmen knew of people that would be interested in helping support the ESF committees to forward those names to her.
IV. HHW
Janice Ehle- Meyer handed out packets of information, including a copy of the form that each participant is asked to fill out.
Janice explained to new comers that a household is less than 20 pounds or 15 gallons of material. The fee in 2007 is $37 per household. Small amounts are aggregated. The packet included a table for the year giving counts per town as compared to other years. She noted that Westbrook did not participate until June 9.
Budget
Discussion
Janice reviewed the proposed budget line-by-line. It includes: a conference in Vermont, a 4% increase in Clean Harbors charges, figured on the basis of 16 collections as a worst case scenario and a print ad to augment the public service announcements. The A frame signs must be monitored for condition. There will promotional items to give to volunteers. A new tarp must be purchased every year. The three-year insurance payment was last year.
Tim Griswold suggested that 1/3 of the insurance should be set aside each year.
Since it a small amount (about $400 per town), Ralph Eno would prefer to leave it in the town budget.
Janice asked the Selectmen to discuss the SLAM Fund. Willie Fritz suggested that the equivalent of three households be considered normal. Janice noted that there were three significant cargoes this year that equaled between fifteen and thirty households each. It was agreed that the fine tuning of the formula should be assigned to the Household Waste sub-committee. Ralph cautioned the committee members to make sure that the recommendation is allowed by the permit.
Dick Smith asked if there is a capital non-recurring fund. Dorothy Papp contributed information about the inter-action with the CRERPA Recycling Fund.
Ralph Eno suggested that the facility be professionally inspected for possible future maintenance concerns.
Ralph asked if asbestos is still considered acceptable. It is.
Electronics
Janice announced that Amodi services will remove Electronic equipment for 17 cents per pound. Clean Harbors charges $1.20 per pound. “We recycle” charges 14 cents per pound plus other charges that bring the total to about twenty five cents. It is uncertain whether CRRA will again be offering two expense paid collections.
It was agreed that here should be four electronics collections in 2008 one way or another, if economically viable. Janice will submit the budget as is with the SLAM fund and Electronics collections pending.
IV. Miscellaneous Business
A. Reports of other Governmental Bodies
1.
ECS
Paula Ferraro reported that the ECS budget is in the black for the first time in several years. Funding requests will be sent out in December with no increase.
As part of the national accreditation, the ECS is doing a self assessment. It will involve about forty five people. Nine criteria are being scrutinized. She is counting on the Selectmen serving for the governmental component. She anticipates three or four 4:00 p.m. meetings.
Paula reminded the group that they have agreed to meet at the ECS for their January meeting.
2. Governor Rell
Jeff Nelson offered his congratulations to members for their election/re-election. The Legislature will meet in Special Session in January to consider Justice Reform. The regular session will begin in February.
Ellen Paul reported that Congressman Courtney held a Town Hall forum in Waterford on Monday. About 100 people attended. Energy rates were a primary concern. He hopes to hold two more forums - in Vernon and Killingly.
Ralph Eno asked about progress on the home heating issue. A letter has been sent to the President asking him to release appropriated funds. There has been no response.
Mike Sanders asked about the Omnibus Appropriation bill. Ms. Paul noted that the question of Iraq is delaying action. Mike explained that DOT cannot apply for funds until the Omnibus Bill is passed and signed.
Richard Cabral asked to speak to her later about Social Security concerns.
CRRA et al
Mike Pace arrived, explaining that he, Lt. Governor Mike Fedelli, Nancy Wyman, and Joe Lieberman all took part in a ceremony at the Old Saybrook high School honoring Wreaths across America. He alerted Jeff Nelson that CCM is submitting a bill to aid Veterans and the homeless. Providing homes and services for needy veterans is a priority. At I PM today, he will be in Middletown for the 10 yr. Plan to Eliminate Homelessness.
Phil Miller asked about CRRA.
Mike reviewed the situation, from the Christmas party decision in New Hartford to the appeal to the Supreme Court, where ALL of the judges recessed themselves. Since he took office, the company has become solvent. All court rulings have agreed that CRRA has acted in good faith. It never – the –less has disallowed all reserve funds and ordered funds returned to towns. 25% of all money sent to towns is awarded to the lawyers. He is particularly concerned that 25% of the fifteen million that CRRA had previously allocated to the towns is now being diverted to the attorneys.
CRRA will issue the money to the towns and attorneys as ordered. CRRA is still challenging the class action. The cost of the CRRA attorneys is being covered by insurance.
VI.
ETD
It was agreed to revert to item 3 on the agenda ETD Resolution/Future Plan.
Chairman Pace expressed some concern about the day to day operations of the ETD. He mentioned that he had received some answers from John Forbis yesterday. He asked if everyone had received a copy. Mr. Forbis noted that he had only sent one copy to the chairman. Chairman Pace asked that copies be made for the other members.
Chairman Pace asserted that rather than address the symptoms, the ETD needs to be totally revamped. The Board of Directors should not handle day-to-day operations.
He mentioned that he “has talked to the state”. HE assured ETD members that their employees would not be discussed in executive session. The session has been called to address the structure of the board and legal strategy.
Chairman Pace noted that he has purposely not responded to emails that he has received from numerous parties concerning this issue.
The right of appointment will be discussed. Phil Miller added “the right of removal”.
John Forbis explained that the pages he has submitted are a working draft. Input is needed.
Dick Smith mentioned that in the past, the ETD had been instructed by the Selectmen not to take certain actions. He asked if it is the ETD’s intention to listen or to do as the board pleases.
John replied that he spend two or three days of his personal time drafting answers before he gave it to the HR consultant. He will have the LCVSA comments interjected into the proposal.
Phil Miller asked if the ETD members were to stay for the Executive Session.
Dick Smith suggested that it might as well remain open.
Chairman Pace noted that since litigation will be discussed that the towns will be liable for, only the towns and the state CTDOT representative should stay for the Executive Session
ETD indicated that they would go to their own office and be called back if need. CRERPA staff left the building or would remain behind closed doors during the duration of the Executive Session.
Meeting was recessed by Chairman Pace for five minutes to clear the room.
Dick Smith made a motion to enter Executive Session at 10:23AM. Seconded by Ralph Eno.
The LCVSA came out of executive session at 11:32 AM and was adjourned.