CONNECTICUT RIVER ESTUARY REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY

Regular Meeting of December 7, 2009

MINUTES

Attendance:

Sally Murray – Chester

Rob Wylie – Deep River

Robert Laundy – Essex

Jere Adametz - Killingworth

Frank Skwarek – Lyme

Jane Marsh – Old Lyme

Karen Jo Marcolini – Old Saybrook

Dick Tietjen – Old Saybrook

Lee Bridgewater – Westbrook

William Neale - Westbrook

Linda Krause, Jean Davies, Janice Ehle-Meyer, Dorothy Papp, Margot Burns

1. The Meeting was called to order in the CRERPA Meeting area at 7:40 pm by Vice Chairman Marsh after a brief Holiday Gathering that was enjoyed by all.

2. Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Jere Adametz and seconded by Rob Wylie to approve the minutes of the October meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.

3. Treasurer’s Report/Finances

INCOME:

a. Dorothy reviewed the monthly cash flow report. Linda reviewed this year’s budget in anticipation of setting the towns’ per capital dues for FY 2010/2011. Town dues are $2.00 per capital currently and should remain the same.

Gateway Commission revenues are $43,000, of which $28,000 is paid to Tidewater Institute.

Transportation is the largest revenue source at $232,320.

CRERPA is actively seeking other grant sources to mitigate the loss of SGIA funds. CRERPA previously received $68,000 from SGIA for FY ‘08/’09. The Governor has rescinded all SGIA funds for FY ‘09/’10.

Other revenue comes from HHW/Recycling

EXPENSES:

Staff medical Insurance costs $65,000; HHW/recycling. $19,020 (shared by towns; rent, $25,000 (several towns have offered space in the future when the lease expires); the audit, $13,000; and salaries are 77% of expenses for staff compensation..

OVERVIEW/UPCOMING YEAR:

Linda said that we have applied to upgrade the Natural Hazard Mitigation plans for the region, and Torrance is working on securing this grant. Homeland Security may be another source of income, and Jean is working diligently in pursuit of this grant.. Gateway Commission revenues will be divided between Torrance and Judy. Margot is working on Land Use grant opportunities, and Janice is working on a small community garden grant.

Transportation, as noted, is our largest source of income at $232,000, and Jean is working on several areas for grant opportunities.

4. Discussion – Future Planning

Linda said that the 15 agency directors met last week and discussed a limited amount of options – the consensus was that things will get worse for the coming year.

She explained several options for survival for CRERPA. The State is looking to consolidate the RPAs/RPOs into 5 organizations from 15 organizations. Jean presented a chart listing several possible outcomes for consolidation.

The Office of Policy Management is scheduled to have a report completed in 2011 concerning the boundaries of the future RPO/RPAs. .

The CRVCEO voted unanimously at their December meeting that they would like to pursue some sort of consolidation. A suggestion was made to keep two Regional Planning Commissions in place with a COG. There will be many issues to resolve should CRERPA and Mid States merge.

Linda and Geoff Colegrove are to write a position paper on the conversion and will present their paper at the January CRVCEO meeting for perusal and debate by the Selectmen.

A lengthy discussion ensued concerning this issue, and Linda said she would report back to the Board about any decisions made by the CRVCEO.

She said that many of our selectmen serve on several State and regional boards and commissions, such as CCM and COST. She volunteered to create a questionnaire concerning membership by the selectmen on these boards and email it to the selectmen. Once the selectmen have completed the questionnaires and emailed them back to CRERPA, we will compile a completed list. We will then have a resource inventory of selectmen affiliations for future use.

4. Staff Report

All members of the CRERPA staff are back on board and healthy.

5. Referrals – Using Torrance Downes’ notes, Linda reviewed two pending referrals from Clinton.

1. Clinton P&Z: Farm Tourism. A request was made for revisions for farm friendly regulation by the Chamard Vineyards for additional activities outside traditional farming based on standards so as to insure the financial viability of existing operations.

2. Clinton P&Z: Establish better standards for Mobile Manufacture Homes. The new regulations allows for retention of nonconforming status while allowing modifications of some homes. This request was made by the Clinton Fair Rent Commission.

Torrance suggested that there would be no significant inter municipal impact for either of these requests.

Linda suggested that after a lengthy discussion by the Board she would read the referrals more thoroughly and forward additional information via email to the Board. However, the Board wished to take action this evening.

Jane Marsh cautioned that the referral on manufactured homes is somewhat dangerous legally speaking, in that it deals in an unusual way with the non-conforming uses.

She made the motion that while the referral may not have a significant inter municipal impact, Clinton should consult a Land Use attorney to research the issues.

Motion to accept Jane’s recommendation was made by Bill Neale and seconded by Lee Bridgewater. All were in favor.

7. Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn was made by Jane Marsh at 8:55 p.m. and seconded by Jere Adametz. All were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Pat Anthony, Clerk