Commission Appointees
Old Lyme River's Edge, Kathleen DeMeo
The membership of the Connecticut River Gateway Commission is comprised of two representatives from each of the eight member towns appointed by their municipal governments for two-year terms, plus two representatives and two alternates selected by the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG). A representative of the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) also serves on the Commission.
The Gateway Commission conducts much of its work through subcommittees which include Communications & Outreach, Finance, Grants Review, Land, and Rules & Procedures.
Officers
Suzanne Thompson
Chair
Old Lyme
William Webb
Vice Chair
Old Saybrook
Michael Farina
Secretary
Haddam
Erin Ortega
Treasurer
Haddam
Officers
Suzanne Thompson
Chair
Old Lyme
William Webb
Vice Chair
Old Saybrook
Michael Farina
Secretary
Haddam
Erin Ortega
Treasurer
Haddam
Connecticut River Gateway Commission Appointees
Chester
Misha Semënov-Leiva
Tom Brelsford (alternate)
Deep River
Jerry Roberts
John Cunningham(alternate)
Essex
Peter Fleischer
James Hiller (alternate)
East Haddam
Crary Brownell
Deborah Langdon (alternate)
Haddam
Mike Farina
Erin Ortega (alternate)
Lyme
Susan Fox
Lisa Wadge (alternate)
Old Lyme
Suzanne Thompson
Greg Futoma (alternate)
Old Saybrook
Bill Webb
Ellen FitzGerald (alternate)
RiverCOG
South
Gail Reynolds
Anne Redfield (alternate)
North
Raul Debrigard
Alan Ponanski (alternate)
DEEP
Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection
Kathleen Perzanowski
Environmental Analyst, Commissioner’s Representative
Commissioner Emeritus
J. Melvin Woody
The Commission is represented in legal matters by Attorneys Mark Branse and Matt Willis of Halloran & Sage.
Let Your Lawn Filter Our Water
A Gateway standard included in the zoning regulations of all eight member towns requires a “vegetative buffer” between lawns or upland property and the river. The purpose of this “riparian buffer” is to allow storm or irrigation runoff, which may contain traces of fertilizer or pesticides, to soak into the ground before reaching the Connecticut River. The earth is a great filter, and plant buffers make the river cleaner and healthier for us all.