Minutes
March 3, 2008
Attendance:
Chester: Sally Murray
Clinton: Christen Horan
Deep River: Rob Wylie
Essex:
Killingworth: Jere Adametz, Pat Smulders
Lyme: Frank Skwarek, Ning
Rich
Old Lyme: Jane
Marsh
Old Saybrook: Dick Tietjen
Westbrook: Lee Bridgewater,
Bill Neale
Staff: Linda Krause, J. H.
I.
Vice- Chairman Jane Marsh called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM, in the
Potential new member Christen Horan of
Clinton was welcomed with introductions around the table.
II. Minutes
The
minutes of the February 4, 2008 meeting were approved with corrections.
III.
Treasurers Report
The Treasurer’s report was distributed and
reviewed. An apparent discrepancy was
noticed and discussed. Acceptance of the report was deferred. Linda will check
with the bookkeeper.
IV. Correspondence
Linda reported that she is waiting for a
letter from Tom Danyliw, who is now Chairman of the
Essex Planning Commission. Tom has asked
CRERPA to supply a part time planner for Essex. To do so, a part time planner
will have to be added to the CRERPA staff.
V. Staff Report
Job
descriptions are in progress.
Linda
reported that W. David LeVasseur was to have been the
speaker at the February 27 meeting of the CRVCEO. His topic was the function of
the CRVCEO and the future of Regionalism.
Unfortunately Under-Secretary LeVasseur became
ill and was unable to attend. The
Council decided to continue the topic at the March session when David expects
to be able to join them.
The CRVCEO
jointly endorsed the mitigation of unfunded mandates.
Linda
noted that proposed legislation requires all regions with RPAs to have at least
a quarterly meeting of CEOs. CRERPA has, from its inception, functioned in parallel
with the informal Lower Connecticut Valley Selectmen’s Association. Midstate has no similar arrangement. It has been determined
that the CRVCEO will satisfy the legal requirements for Midstate.
The
Governor is also sponsoring the proposed review of Projects of Regional
Significance by regional planning organizations.
Regionalism
is being publicized as a way to save money. Linda believes that it does not necessarily
save money but can provide services not otherwise available, with a built-in
economy of scale.
Linda and Jean are completing the Chester Plan of
Conservation and Development. They will meet with the commission every Thursday
during the month.
Linda
noted that the speaker listed on the agenda spoke to the LCVSA in February. She
represents the Regional Emergency Planning Team. The REPT includes the CEO of
each of thirty towns or a representative of the CEO, the Director of each RPO,
or her representative, and a representative of the Emergency Management team
from each RPO. Linda has appointed Jean
Davies to represent her. Bill Buckridge of Essex is willing to represent the
Emergency Management Directors for CRERPA. Bill is the Emergency Management
Director for the Town of Essex and is Chairman of the Regional EM Directors.
Dick
Tietjen moved that Bill Buckridge be appointed to serve as the EM
representative to REPT from CRERPA. The motion was seconded by Ning Rich and
unanimously approved.
VI. Transportation Matters
Linda reported that the ETD joined LCVSA in asking the
DOT for interim administrative assistance prior to hiring a new Director. Linda will accompany several Selectmen when
they meet with the Deputy Commissioner of DOT Hartford on Friday, March 7.
Four First Selectmen representing Deep River, Essex,
Killingworth and Lyme are now members of the ETD.
VII. Committees
A. Referral
As he distributed copies of the Referral
Summary sheet, Torrance Downes reported that he had spent the day in Hartford. At the Gateway Commission meeting, he had
learned about a bill being heard today by the Environment Committee that will
allow local Harbor Commissions to set standards and guidelines for private
residential docks. He testified on behalf of the bill.
Torr explained
to Christen that the RPA is required to review map or zone changes within 500
feet of an inter-town boundary.
1. Clinton
Motel owner Tom Patel has submitted proposals that
eliminate all consideration of hotels in Clinton and modify the standards for
motels. Chairman Marsh noted that motels in our region have tended to be used
as housing.
Tor noted that the proposal allows no more than 5% of the
units to include kitchens. Occupancy in a transient unit is limited to 14 days in
any 90 day period. A discussion centered on state authority and the need for affordable
housing.
Dick Tietjen asked to invite the HOPE Partnership to
speak to CRERPA.
Chairman Marsh suggested that
the CRERPA recommendation to Clinton should simply recognize the potential use
and ask that it be taken into consideration. Motels are allowed in the
contiguous portion of Westbrook.
There appears to be no
inter-municipal concern.
2.
Essex
The
Essex Economic Development Commission has suggested that certain recreational
uses be allowed in Limited Industrial Zones. There are two such zones, one on
Plains Road and one on the Essex/Westbrook town line.
Linda
suggested that they could be designated Limited Industrial A&
B.
Torrance
questioned whether Light Industrial and Recreational uses are compatible.
Bill
Neale moved that the staff comments, as modified by discussion, be sent to the
appropriate parties. The motion was seconded by Pat Smulders
and unanimously approved.
B.
Liaisons
1.
Town Planner Jay Northrup
will begin work in Clinton on Thursday.
2.
On behalf of the Gateway Commission, Tor
announced that Old Lyme adopted the updated form its Zoning Regulations. This
means that seven of the eight towns have now approved the newer version of the
Gateway standards.
3.
Linda announced that at the CRVCEO she was
asked if a town can switch its membership and join CRERPA. RPOs adhere to a
policy of not “raiding” one another’s membership. OPM is developing criteria for realigning RPO
boundaries by 2011. There does seem to be interest in combining Midstate and CRERPA.
VIII. OLD
BUSINESS
A.
Plan of
Development
Linda explained that she believes we are in a
time of change. With an energy famine, climate change, a monetary crisis and a
global economy fueled by information technology, she does not want to lean on historical
statistics and predict a continuation of past trends. She noted that she is using the Chester Plan
of Conservation and Development as a test case. She is writing it with an eye
on sustainability. It takes into consideration the cost of traffic congestion
and noise levels as well as the value of beauty and gathering places.
Linda
initiated an active discussion of the potential effects of global warming
exacerbated by any anticipated crisis.
Bill Neale moved that the meeting be adjourned.
The meeting adjourned at 9:07
P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Neale,
Secretary