Draft: May 18, 2005
Approved: May 25, 2005
TOWN OF LYME
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
May 18, 2005
MINUTES
Attending: Selectmen Dick Jones, Pete Bleyler and Judy Brotman; Administrative Assistant Carole Bont, Tax Collector Joanne Coburn, and public Earl Strout (Green Mountain Studio) and Jessica Lee of the Valley News.
The meeting opened at 8:00 am.
1. Earl Strout appeared before the Selectmen to discuss storing the Town’s Pay-As-You- Throw bags at the Green Mountain Studio building. The Selectmen approved renting storage space from Green Mountain Studio at $35 per month.
2. The Selectmen and Earl Strout discussed the possibility of putting the Town Offices (Selectmen, Planning & Zoning, and Town Clerk) and the Police Department into his Green Mountain Studio building. At this point, a number of options are open – lease, lease/purchase, purchase w/partial donation, purchase. Earl is flexible and welcomes some suggestions. The Selectmen will review the structure and the Town’s needs, and revisit the site with a building consultant to get a preliminary idea of costs and requirements (such as ADA accessibility). The Selectmen will also try and work up a timeline for a projected move, if
feasible, and get back to Earl with the preliminary estimates.
3. Joanne Coburn appeared before the Selectmen to discuss the timing of next year’s tax bills. The final date is set by the DRA (Department of Revenue Administration), who often does not set the tax rate until mid to late October – this year the rate wasn’t set until late November. It was agreed to develop a plan to insure that the required Town preliminary work is done and reports submitted to DRA on a schedule that will permit mailing the 2005 t6ax bills by November 1st.
4. In a related issue, the Selectmen authorized the Tax Collector to collect pre-payment of taxes.
5. The Selectmen approved the Public and Non-Public Minutes of 5/11/05 as corrected.
6. The Selectmen noted with regret Elizabeth Waterbury’s passing and will be reviewing the list of the Town’s senior citizens before awarding the Boston Post cane.
7. The Selectmen approved adding our Emergency/Safety officer Wallace Ragan to the State’s Surplus List of authorized purchasers. Any town representative should review a prospective purchase with the Selectmen before purchasing.
8. The Selectmen approved a berm and fence at Post Pond recreation parking area which will serve both as a skating area berm and a fence to keep vehicles out of the pond recreation area. Pete Mulvihill and Dian Cutting will coordinate the final implementation.
9. The Selectmen approved the rate and hiring of the life guards for this summer
10. The Selectmen will respond to the question raised in the last issue of The Lyme Beat. The flag at the pond is illuminated according to federal regulations.
11. The Selectmen approved “haul rates” for Witcher, retroactive to the first pull, of $175 for glass. Other rates approved as per the 5/13/05 memo.
12. The draft letter to the Bargain Barn (with a copy to the Lyme Center Baptist Church ladies aid) was approved.
13. The Selectmen voted to approve a retirement gift for Luane Cole.
14. The draft purchasing policy will be forwarded to the department heads for their review and comment.
15. The Selectmen reviewed and approved the use of the checklist to aid in verifying exemptions and credits for tax purposes. The Staff may revise as appropriate.
The meeting adjourned at 9:52 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith Lee Shelnutt Brotman
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