Minutes
June 2, 2008
Attendance:
Chester:
Sally Murray, Steve Williams
Clinton:
Alan Kravitz,
Vacancy
Deep River:
Bruce Edgerton, Rob Wylie
Essex: Alan
Miller, Vacancy
Killingworth: Jere Adametz, Pat Smulders
Lyme: Ning
Rich, Frank Skwarek
Old Lyme:
Jane Marsh, Vacancy
Old Saybrook:
Dick Tietjen, Karen Jo Marcolini
Westbrook: Bill
Neale, Lee Bridgewater
Staff: Linda Krause, Dorothy Papp
Call to Order
Chairman
Bruce Edgerton called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM, in the
Minutes
Ning Rich moved that the
minutes of the May 05, 2008 meeting be approved as
distributed. The motion was seconded by Ning
Rich. All were in favor.
Correspondence / Staff Report
Linda
reported that Wini Olson resigned from CRERPA last week after almost 40 years
of service and recurring medical issues.
There was general agreement that the Board would like to do something
more extensive than a simple statement of appreciation. Members will send individual notes to CRERPA
and the staff will put them together with some pictures to present to Wini at a
future Board and/or staff meeting.
Linda
then discussed future staffing needs for CRERPA, noting that office manager,
Pat Anthony, was planning on leaving at the end of 2008. She will be looking for someone who is adept
at various data technologies to help out with GIS mapping, census data, and web
page updates.
Treasurer’s
Report
Copies
of the CRERPA Monthly Cash Flow Report 2007/2008 were distributed.
Dorothy
noted that CRERPA has almost $9,000 more cash than this time last year. Accounts receivable are primarily due from
DOT. Jere Adametz moved to accept the report as
presented. Ning
Rich seconded. All were in favor.
Transportation Matters
Linda
reported that she and Jean Davies met with the interim executive director of
ETD and CRERPA is once again providing planning support to the transit
district. The LCVSA is scheduled to
receive a comprehensive report on ETD’s progress under the new director at its
meeting June 11. The deficit resulting
from extensive legal fees has been compounded by the discovery that there have
been significant ridership income discrepancies due to double counting and
mischarges. The deficit to be made up by
the towns is expected to be about $50,000.
On
a related note, the Beechers delivered an art print
to CRERPA last week in gratitude to Linda and staff for their non-partisan
support of the embattled former ETD director through the difficult negotiations
of Brad’s termination.
Referrals
There
was one referral from the Essex Zoning Commission to modify their flood
regulations to comply with federal regulations.
Jane Marsh moved to support the
finding of no negative intermunicipal impacts. Ning Rich
seconded. All were in favor.
Old Business
Linda
reported that the staff is moving full steam ahead with CRERPA’s Regional Plan
of Development. It will be done in a
magazine format, and the list of who will be responsible for what topics has
been distributed. Dick Tietjen asked if there would be public input. Linda explained that Jean Davies and Margot
Burns have developed a list of commissions in each town for that purpose. Ning Rich noted the
challenge of working through common problems both inter- and intra-regionally.
Linda
agreed, noting that Haddam has voted to become part of the CRERPA region’s
Household Hazardous Waste program in the coming fiscal year, and has expressed
interest in the ETD as well. Haddam is
also officially looking for a town planner, separate from the support they have
been using from Midstate’s Executive Director.
Chester
is ready to go to public hearing with their Plan of Development. Linda expressed specific gratitude for the
work Jean Davies put into the plan the last 18 months.
Linda
has a meeting later this week with several people in Essex to clarify the
town’s need for planning services and the role CRERPA may or may not play in
meeting them.
Linda
was happy to note that Westbrook has hired Meg Peroulis
of East Lyme as their town planner.
Several people at CRERPA know and/or have worked with Meg in the past
and look forward to having her on the regional team. Similarly, Jay Northrup
has accepted the planner position in Clinton.
Linda
reported that CRERPA staff attended the joint meeting of DEMHS and DEP on
debris management with high hopes that the region might benefit from an
education program this summer to let people know how to separate and dispose of
debris most effectively in the event of a hurricane. Unfortunately, the DEP said they though the
towns were developing their own plans.
In response, Margot Burns has begun mapping locations, sites and routes
in our region, Janice Ehle/Meyer is looking into
using the HHW site as a possible collection site, and CRERPA will develop a
preliminary public education program to focus on the issue.
There
being no further business, Jere Adametz
moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Dorothy Papp for Bill Neale, Secretary