NECCOG elects officers, honors outgoing chair; Senate leader delivers keynote

The Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments unanimously approved a slate of officers and celebrated regional accomplishments at its 27th annual meeting Dec. 19, 2014, at NECCOG’s offices in Dayville.

Mr. Walker, NECCOG chair, opened the meeting at noon and called the business session to order at 12:40 p.m. The Nominating Committee presented a slate of officers: Russell Gray for chair, Maureen Nicholson for vice chair, John Hallbergh for treasurer, Daniel Syme for secretary and Allan Walker for member-at-large. "Motion by Mr. Sweet and Second by Mr. Ives to accept the nominations and the vote was unanimous to accept," the minutes record.

The officer vote was taken by motion: Mr. Sweet moved to accept the nominations and Mr. Ives seconded; the council’s vote to accept the full slate was unanimous (individual tallies not specified). Following the election, Russell Gray presented a special award to Mr. Walker for his service as NECCOG chair. Additional "Thanks and Appreciation" awards were given to Sandy Richmond (Animal Services Volunteer), State Representatives Brian Sear and Steve Mikutel, and State Senator Donald Williams (to be presented by Paul Sweet).

In remarks to the assembled members, Mr. Walker reviewed NECCOG’s portfolio of regional programs and priorities. He described the organization’s "Regional Revaluation Program," entering a second round in 2015, and the "Regional Engineering Program," which he said saves money and provides expert services. He called NECCOG’s "Regional Animal Services Program" the largest in Connecticut and noted that it has placed more than 4,000 animals in its first ten years. He also recapped the Regional Paramedic Program and said NECCOG had completed a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan to be submitted to FEMA. The council plans to unveil a new GIS Regional Viewer and has launched a Regional Trap/Spay/Neuter/Release/Maintain program to address feral cat populations.

"Good Afternoon and welcome to the 27th Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments," Mr. Walker said in opening remarks. He thanked members for their participation and added, "I thank you for the opportunity to serve as the Chair of NECCOG and I look forward to 2015 as an active member of NECCOG." He listed a series of regional initiatives under consideration, including facility expansion for animal services, value-added agriculture exploration, regional back-office functions, a possible household hazardous waste facility in Brooklyn, regional economic marketing support, and a Phase III implementation plan for Chaplin, Hampton and Scotland’s school system.

The meeting recorded the attendance of its member towns and adjourned at 1:40 p.m.