SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
302Main Street
2nd Floor ConferenceRoom
I. CALL TO ORDER
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: BobMissel, Planning Commission; John Talbott, Zoning Commission; Janis Esty,Planning Commission; Thomas Stevenson, Board of Finance
Absent: CathyFlanagan, Planning Commission; Jerry Brophy, Conservation Commission; StevenGernhardt, Board of Selectmen
Staff: ChristineNelson, Town Planner; Sandy Prisloe, Environmental Planner; Jay Northrup, Planner, CRERPA
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to accept the minutes from meeting 2/22/2012; MADE by J. Talbott; SECONDED by J. Esty;APPROVED by B. Missel, J. Talbott, J. Esty, T. Stevenson. (4-0-0).
B. Correspondence
Ms.Nelson received communication from the Chalker Beach Improvement Association offering to help implement the Plan once it is finalized.
C. Staff Report
Mr. Prisloe reported that RobertYust, a Navy engineer, attended the Conservation Commission meeting the previous day and offered his expertise to the Natural Hazard Mitigation Committee (NHMC) since the Navy is also looking at the effects of sea levelrise on its facilities. The Committee welcomed input from the community.
Mr. Prisloe has not seen the newest data he supplied to The Nature Conservancy added to the Coastal Resilience web site as of yet, showing roads prone to flooding and GIS data.
IV. INVENTORY
A. Collect Data on Other Natural Hazards
The Committee discussed natural hazards, other than flooding, aiming to complete the list of hazards that might be mitigated. Committee members also discussed community notification systems that were in place in the past for fires or air raids. Mr. Northrup suggested that an inventory of such broadcast systems be included as an action item in the Plan.
Ms. Nelson displayed a Fire Fighting Resources Map, used by the Town for planning purposes, which showed areas serviced by water sources. Areas without water sources within 1000’, mainly in the North / Northwest area of Town, were discussed. One possible action item is to retrofit cisterns for fire fighting in areas not served by a water source.
Data collection is now complete and can go the review stage.
(Mr. Stevenson left the meeting at 3:00 pm.)
V. MITIGATION ANALYSIS
A. Summarize Impacts on Critical Facilities& Infrastructure
The Committee agreed to move on to the next agenda item.
VI. PLAN REVIEW
A. Read Draft Text about Social Demographics& Cultural Characteristics
B. Read Draft Text about Structures &Economic Development
C. Read Draft Text about Ecological Resourcesand the Environment
Mr. Northrup has a draft of the Plan, but will add items from today’s discussions and distribute at or before the next meeting.
VII. ADOPTION
A. Adoption Process
Mr. Northrup handed out an adoption process checklist. He will try to have the completed draft ready within one month. Methods for presenting it to the Town Commissions were discussed. To keep printing costs lower the draft will not include photos. TheCommittee expressed concern that the timing of the release of this Plan mightconfuse residents, since the awareness campaign to inform residents of the updated FEMA maps is also due to begin soon. Ms. Nelson called First Selectman Carl Fortuna into the meeting to discuss any grant applications that wouldhinge on the finalization and adoption of the
NHM Plan, so that the releasedate would not be the same as the FEMA awareness campaign.
(Mr. Talbott left the meeting at 3:30 pm)
Mr. Fortuna joinedthe meeting to discuss grants. After a discussion with the Committee it wasdetermined that delaying the Plan would not interfere with any pending grantapplications. It was decided that a final draft of the Plan by the end of Mayfor adoption by the end of June would be desirable.
B. Outline Outreach and Public InformationalMeeting
Ms. Nelson suggested that since the action items in the Plan are to be carried out by staff members, the Committee should present the draft to them as a group. It should also be presented to each Commission, either individually or at one meeting. Copies of the Plan should be posted on the Town web site and placed in the Library, TownHall, and other public places and copies given to home associations in the community. The Planning Commission would be responsible for approving the finaldraft and then the Board of Selectmen would adopt it. Mr. Fortuna requested that copies be distributed two months ahead of time to the Selectmen to allow time for review.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn at 3:50 to a specialmeeting on Wed., April 11, 2012 at 2:00 p.m., 2nd Flr. Conf. Rm.,302 Main St.; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by B. Missel;APPROVED by B. Missel, J. Esty, (2-0-0).
Respectfully submitted,
SusanGraham
AdministrativeClerk
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