Minutes

Connecticut River Valley Council of Elected Officials

May 26, 2010

 

Attendance: 

 

Members Present: Tom Marsh, Chair, Chester;  Mark Walter, Vice Chair, East Haddam;  John Flanders, Cromwell;  Laura Francis, Durham;  Phil Miller, Essex;  Paul DeStefano, Haddam;  Catherine Iino, Killingworth; Ralph Eno, Lyme;  Jon Brayshaw, Middlefield;  Tim Griswold, Old Lyme;  Michael Pace, Old Saybrook;  Noel Bishop,  Westbrook

 

Members Not Present: Sebastian Giuliano, Middletown;  Willie Fritz, Clinton;  Dick Smith, Deep River;  Jeff O’Keefe, East Hampton;  Susan Bransfield, Portland

 

Legislators Present:  Jenny Contois

 

Legislators Not Present:  Andrea Stillman; Ed Meyer; Gail Hamm; Jim O’Rourke; Joseph Serra; Marilyn Giuliano; Paul Doyle; Thomas Gaffey; James Spallone;  Linda Orange; Brian O’Connor; Mathew Lesser, Eileen Daily

 

Staff:  Jean Davies, CRERPA

 

 

1. Call to Order:

            The CRVCEO meeting was called to order by Chairman Marsh at 12:20 a.m. at the Gelston House,  8 Main Street,  East Haddam, CT

 

2. Approval of Minutes: 

            There was no meeting in April to approve the minutes for.

3. Business:

Chairman Marsh asked if there were any specific issues to be discussed, and the Energy Bill not passing was raised, the need for a full and open process was discussed.  DECD Grant Requirements and Economic Development areas were voiced. Chairman Marsh suggested that a list of bills that pertain to the region be made and at each meeting some of will be discussed.

 

Chairman Marsh spoke about the bridge in Chester on Rte. 154 that is having work done on it.  He said that June 25th is a proposed completion date and that the road work done off of exit #7 will stop after Friday until the bridgework is complete.

 

Chairman Marsh opened the discussion about combining the Connecticut River Estuary Planning Region and the Midstate Planning Region.  A draft letter had been written prior to the meeting for review.  Issues were; each RPA now serves the needs of the precise region and has developed it’s own culture; form, function and funding are all issues that will change; lots of issues have to be resolved.  Linda Krause, CRERPA director, recommended getting a letter sent to the State to start the process.   A motion was made to initiate the process of combining the regions by sending a letter requiring assistance from the state, Mark Walter 1st and John Flanders 2nd the motion. Signatures for the letter will be the Chairman of the CRVCEO and the two Chairmen of the RPA’s. A vote was made with all approving and none apposed.

It was suggested that a list be made of the issues involved in combining the regions, during future CRVCEO meetings these can be discussed.

 

Jenny Contois from Representative Courtney’s office talked about:

-A list of concerns regarding the 2010 Census. A list was passed out from Representative Joe Courtney’s office

- a “Round Table“ meeting on June 1st at CRERPA for all of the Selectmen with Representative Courtney.

-Clinton’s and Westbrook dredging will start soon.

 

There was a discussion about weed control in the different lakes and ponds. Each town is doing something to control their individual problem.

 

Laura Francis discussed what was involved in jointly getting bids for different town projects.  It is important to have uniform specifications and to mitigate the differences to achieve maximum results.  It is also important to work with Public Works Directors. A standing subcommittee will be formed for the next meeting to work on these issues.

 

Chairman Marsh announced that the next meeting of the CRVCEO would be on June 23rd in Old Lyme, details to be announced.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m. by Chairman Marsh