Town of Lyme
Board of Selectmen
Minutes for September 12, 2007
1. The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen convened at 8:00 AM in the Fire Station training room. The following attended the entire meeting: Bookkeeper/Secretary Dina Cutting, Police Chief Pauline Field, Simon Carr, Dick Jones and Charles Ragan. The following attended parts of the meeting: Ray Clark, Library Trustees Judy Russell, Margot Maddock, Steve Campbell and John Kuniholm, Librarian Betsy Eaton, Fire Chief Michael Hinsley and Putt Blodgett.
2. Ray Clark came in to discuss the discontinuance of Cellar Lane as passed at the 1925 Town meeting. The actual point of discontinuance has a bearing on the setbacks relating to his planned barn. There are two possible points and it was agreed to ask town counsel whether there was any specific legal basis for the limit of a road when related to “a place” such as “the Band place”.
3. The following administrative matters were discussed and actions taken:
a. The minutes for September 5 were approved with minor amendments.
b. The non-public minutes for September 5 were approved.
c. The manifest was reviewed and signed.
d. A Land Use Change Tax assessments for Joseph and Kristin Pekala, Map 402, Lot 18.2000, value $14,532.00 was signed.
e. Intent to Cut applications were signed for:
i. Frances Lee Trust map 407, lot 76.1
ii. Richard & Lucie Bourdon map 402, lot 21 (storm damage)
iii. Richard & Lucie Bourdon map 402, lot 21 (not storm damage)
f. Dina reported that Dennis Thorell had come in and discussed the forestry services. It was agreed that, with regard to the storm damage, he should only need to be addressing plots in excess of 15 acres, unless there were special circumstances.
g. A letter to Habitat for Humanity regarding the property tax on the Pleasant Street house was signed.
h. Dick reported on the Conservation Commission meeting on September 10, when they voted to set the upper dam “Castor Master” mid-point at the 2’ 6” level.
i. The revised MS-1 was approved and signed.
4. The Library Trustees came in to discuss issues and review the Memorandum of Understanding:
a. Air exchanger/air quality. There was a discussion on the air exchanger. The Trustees confirmed that they will take control of the maintenance and ensure that the necessary janitorial cleaning is also undertaken. Steve asked for the maintenance documentation for review. He and Dina will liaise. The Trustees asked for a statement from the Board to confirm that the air quality was safe. The Board had had several specialist studies and these confirmed the quality.
b. Selectboard/Library liaison. Dina and Betsy are the designated liaison. Betsy noted that there were times when she got separate messages from different staff members.
c. Snow plowing and shoveling. It was confirmed that the town will plow and sand the parking lot. The 8th grade will shovel. We would ask Fred to make provision for a 55gal sand drum and for it to be replenished as necessary so that the 8th grade can re-sand as necessary.
d. Betsy and Dina will review and, as necessary, re-draft the Memorandum of Understanding. Betsy noted that some of the current provisions of the Memorandum were not being followed, especially in respect of some budget issues. These should be resolved in the re-draft.
e. Future usage:
i. The board has been looking hard for potential temporary accommodation, with little success. We were still continuing this search. The Trustees asked that we give them as much notice as possible if we vacated any part of the offices.
ii. Simon gave a summary of the present progress on the building committee. They are focusing on two sites: Recreate on High St. and Ben Barrowes on High St./Route 10 and are currently working on the costs for these. There will be a public meeting, October 10 to present progress. The Trustees have set up a committee to consider long-term usage of the office space.
5. Putt Blodgett came in discuss his research on the right of way from Hardscrabble Lane to the Connecticut River Watershed Council land. Simon noted that the ROW crossed his land and that he was an abutter and Dick noted that he was a next abutter. There was a discussion on the right of way and the Board agreed that they would require any purchaser to produce satisfactory documentation of the existence of a ROW as shown.
6. Sallie Ramsden had emailed regarding the Lyme Center Academy Building swings, their replacement and the safety warnings placed on them at Old Home Day. It was agreed that Dina would respond to her, confirming that we had already approved the relocated position of the swings, but that Sallie should discuss with Dina the new swings. Dina will contact our insurers before the replacement swings are installed to ensure that they were acceptable. We had no knowledge of who placed the warning notices.
7. Transfer Station:
a. The Board unanimously agreed to open the Transfer Station on Wednesdays from 4:00 – 6:00 PM starting October 10.
b. It was agreed that we should ask Al to continue working until Sunday October 7.
c. Simon will prepare a notice for the notice boards, introducing Dan and stating these changes. Subsequent to this, Dan, as head of department, will be responsible for publicizing such issues and bringing them to the Transfer Station Committee or Selectboard, as appropriate.
8. The Building Committee had determined that they needed a better idea of traffic counts (visits) within the offices. The Board agreed that the staff should keep a log of the number of visitors to their departments. This breakdown is that there should be separate counts for the Town Clerk’s Office, Tax Collector, Assessor, Zoning Administrator and Selectmen’s Office.
9. Pauline proposed an alternative layout for the assessor’s office and the Selectmen’s office, which was discussed briefly. It was agreed that, in order that the discussion of office working conditions, hours and location not be truncated, we should place notices that the Selectmen’s office and Zoning administrator will be opening late next Wednesday.
10. Michael Hinsley came in discuss first response fire-fighting equipment in town-owned buildings. The Board agreed that town buildings should have the appropriate equipment installed. The fire chief was responsible for determining the specific equipment required and the relevant department or building committee had the responsibility for including the items within their budgets.
11. The Meeting adjourned at 10:08 AM.
Simon Carr
Recorder
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