REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street, Old Saybrook
Chairman Janis Esty called the regular meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Members Present
Janis Esty, Chairman
Robert Missel, Vice Chairman
Cathryn Flanagan, Secretary
Kathleen Sugland
Kenneth Soudan, seated for D. Shearer
Michael Urban, seated for D. Ranaudo
Members Absent
Donald Ranaudo
David Shearer
Staff Present
Christine Nelson, Town Planner
Meryl Tsagronis, Recording Clerk
III. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes
MOTION to approve the minutes of September 18, 2013 with the following amendments: pages 1 and 3 the Commission approved both Motions by a vote of 5-0-0 and page 3 paragraph VI. A, ‘DEP’ should be spelled ‘D.E.E.P.’; MADE: by R. Missel; SECONDED: by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None;
APPROVED: 5-0-0.
MOTION to pay invoice #78377 for $688.98 to Nathan Jacobson & Associates, Inc. dated 9/25/2013 for expenses relating to Shore Ave; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
- 2014 Schedule of Meetings
MOTION to approve the 2014 meeting dates as presented on the November 1, 2013 memo from Chairman Esty to the Town Clerk and to revisit the meeting date of January 2nd, 2014 at the December 17, 2013 meeting; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by M. Urban; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
- Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
For RiverCOG, Cathy Flanagan reported that the group is moving along on the regional plan of Conservation and Development.
For the Route One East Task Force, Christine Nelson reported that David Shearer will present the Task Force’s report to the Board of Selectman next Tuesday, October 8, and to other boards and commissions in the following weeks.
For Inland Wetlands and Water Courses, Janis Esty reported that they are investigating how to raise and widen Mulberry Street.
IV. WORKSHOP
A. Reg’l Plan of Conservation & Development
C. Flanagan suggested various topics for consideration to respond to the RiverCOG request regarding its update to the Regional Plan. The Commission offered their concerns of local significance and visions for Old Saybrook in the context of the region:
Hazard Mitigation
- municipal buildings in region (outs of flood zone) as a system of evacuation sites
- a regional facility to locate pets during evacuation
Route 1
- sharing the recent Route 1 East Task Force study with RiverCOG (and previous studies), especially as relates to transportation
The Preserve
- habitat conservation with public access
Greenways
Scenic Roads
- linking State or local scenic road designations
- scenic loop of the River crossing at the Baldwin Bride and the Swing Bridge
- elevate scenic road designations to Scenic Byway
Education
- a desire to have more Community College extension for the shoreline towns
- a desire for a regional technical college
Economics
- informing RiverCOG of Max’s Place development
- an examination of labor force skill sets & needs (training, housing, social services)
- an examination of infrastructure for transportation of labor and goods/services
Demographics
- characterization of all segments of people in the region
- wants, needs, offerings, exactions
Transportation
- bikeways
- bus/train
- trolleys
MOTION to send a report to RiverCOG regarding the Planning Commission’s local concerns of regional significance; MADE by J. Esty; SECONDED by C. Flanagan; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
V. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission which will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2013, at 7:00 P.M., Town Hall, 302 Main Street, 1st Floor Conference Room; MADE: by C. Flanagan; SECONDED: by R. Missel; VOTED IN FAVOR: J. Esty, R. Missel, C. Flanagan, K. Soudan, M. Urban; OPPOSED: None; ABSTAINED: None; APPROVED: 5-0-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Meryl Tsagronis
Recording Clerk
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