REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, June 11, 2015 at 3:00 P.m.
1st Floor Conference Room, Town Hall
302 Main Street, Old Saybrook
I. Welcome to Town Directors
The following were in attendance: Town Planner Christine Nelson, Zoning Enforcement Officer Christina Costa, Environmental Planner Sandy Prisloe, from the CT River Area Health District (CRAHD) Registered Sanitarian Scott Martinson, Ryan Grenon and Steve Yenco, Town Treasurer Robert Fish, Fire Marshal Donn Dobson, Town Assessor Norman Wood, First Selectman Carl Fortuna, from the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) Program Manager Steven Mongillo, Town Engineer Geoffrey Jacobson, Zoning Commission Vice Chair Madge Fish, SLRCAC Members Larry Ritzhaupt, Robert Yust, Janice Holland, Tom Gezo, Michael Momparler and Recording Clerk Kathy Noyes. Also in attendance was Marci Balint from the CT DEEP Long Island Sound Program.
Chairman Larry Ritzhaupt explained the mission of the CC SLRCAC. He also gave an introduction before the presentation. He explained that their report has been divided into three sections: environment, economy and community. The questions the committee has been using as a guide from the beginning are as follows: Where are we? Where are we going? and How do we get there? He talked about the different professionals who have presented to the Committee and the town hall staff who has been involved.
II. PRESENTATION of Findings
R. Yust presented his section “Sea Level Rise 101.” He talked about the different factors contributing to sea level rise, how they affect Old Saybrook specifically and what studies were used to determine the sea level rise predictions, estimates and projections.
Old Saybrook is unique due to its geology, orientation of its beaches, built up environment and because Old Saybrook is the place where the CT River meets the Long Island Sound.
R. Yust explained that at some point during this century, we can expect Super Storm Sandy level water monthly. He showed slides of maps illustrating how much of Old Saybrook would be underwater in this instance. Different models show the projection is 1’ to 6’ of sea level rise within the next 100 years. This Committee has used the Army Corp of Engineers projection of 1’ of sea level rise in 20 years and 4’ of sea level rise by 2100.
III. DISCUSSION of Recommendations
The strategies for recommendations can categorized as follows: adaptation, mitigation and retreat. Sea level rise threatens coastal geology, plants and animals. Therefore, the recommendations include protecting the marshes and living shoreline against erosion, hiring a coastal engineer to put together a master plan, acquiring land for the migration of salt water marshes and proactively working to maintain Old Saybrook’s wetlands.
The community and culture of Old Saybrook need to be protected. It’s important to maintain the shoreline village ambiance. The SLRCAC recommends that the town monuments and historic dwellings vulnerable to sea level rise be identified, that the public be educated about sea level rise and that a contingency plan be developed to preserve the town’s sites, monuments and historic dwelling places.
S. Mongillo recommended the town have a resiliency study done to see how sea level rise will impact the entire town not just the shoreline.
Public Health was discussed. The run off of pesticides, herbicides, phosphates and nitrogen needs to be mitigated as well as the increased stress on the septic systems with potential contamination of the water table and coastal waters.
The economy will be affected by sea level rise because a significant portion of Old Saybrook’s tax base is at risk. There have been increased expenses for residents because of the increase in flood insurance rates, the costs related to the septic system upgrades, the costs involved in complying with FEMA regulations and the costs involved in infrastructure upgrades. There will be impacts on transportation and infrastructure. Roads will have to be upgraded.
Town plans have not previously included sea level rise. Old Saybrook cannot solve this problem on its own. It will require funding from the state and federal government.
It is recommended that the town develop and prioritize criteria for projects, prioritize capital improvement, and include sea level rise the in the 5 year Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan update. C. Nelson said the next Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan is due to be updated in 2017.
Attendees received a SLRCAC Fact Sheet which outlines the mission of the Committee, more information about sea level rise, what is at risk in Old Saybrook and recommendations for what people can do to make a difference.
L. Ritzhaupt asked attendees if they had any comments and questions. Discussion ensued about various topics such as geology, the increased intensity of storms that will occur, septic systems, wave action and possible funding sources.
Audience feedback was very positive, and suggestions were made about how to improve the presentation for the public on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 6:30 p.m. at the Pasbeshauke Pavilion, 150 College Street.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. until the special meeting of the Conservation Commission’s Sea Level Rise Climate Adaptation Committee on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 3:30 p.m., Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen Noyes, Recording Clerk
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