Minutes of the Board of Finance meeting held on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall Meeting Hall.
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~Present:~~~~~~~~~ Regular Members:~Andrew Russell, Wayne Devoe, H. P. Garvin, III,
Christopher Kerr, Janet Sturges, David Woolley
Alternate Members:~ Judy Read
Nicole Stadjuhar, Finance Director
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Absent:~~~~~~~~~~~ Regular Members:~
~~~~~~~~~Alternate Members:~ David Kelsey, Maggie Ward
Timothy C. Griswold, Ex-Officio
Guests: Ed Adanti, Director, Public Works
Ann Brown, Zoning Enforcement Officer
Jane Cable, Chairman, Zoning Commission
Gail Fuller, Sound View Committee
Steve Ross, Chairman, Flood and Erosion Control Commission
Paul Graml, President, Old Lyme Beach Association
Paul Rowean, Vice President, Old Lyme Beach Association
Bonnie Reemsnyder, Selectwoman
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Mr. Russell called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.~
Zoning R-10 Status
Mrs. Brown highlighted the situation of the 1,700 houses that are in the R-10 district. The estimated costs for the Registry of $96,624 include disks, labels, envelopes, postage for decision letters, staff to copy information onto disks and to stuff and label envelopes. There was a discussion on a professional staff to evaluate applications for 650 hours at $25 per hour. Other expenses include the recording secretary to attend ZBA meetings and do minutes, the attorney for attendance at ZBA meetings, with an estimate of 400 hearings at 15 minutes a hearing (100 hrs. @ $150/hr). Significant expense ($30,000) is the legal advertising and mailing for ZBA hearings, reimbursed through application fees, and $2,216 for postage on certified mailings. Revenue items include the $260 that will be
collected per ZBA application, however, $58 must be sent to the State of CT. There was $33,000 appropriated for the Registry and $10,950 has been spent from this line on Laserfiche work.
Mr. Russell stated that in order to accommodate this evenings guests, a motion was made by Mr. Garvin, seconded by Mr. Woolley to review and move the minutes of February 23rd and March 2nd to the end of the meeting. Motion carried.
Board of Finance Meeting March 16, 2010
Mrs. Fuller had an update on the Sound View restroom trailer. Therefore, Mr. Devoe made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Sturges to add Sound View restroom trailer as well as to move this time up under Other Business. Motion carried.
Mrs. Fuller wanted to update the board that she has solicited to local businesses for support on the restroom trailers in the Sound View Beach area. She stated that Frank Maratta committed $1,000 a year and Mr. Corto committed $500 for this coming year for the restroom trailer. Mrs. Reemsnyder asked if one was leased for this coming season, could it be a situation of lease to buy for the future. There was extensive discussion on the expense and feasibility of funding restroom trailers and its future impact on the budget.
Mr. Russell stated that in order to accommodate this evening’s guests, a motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Kerr to move Public Works up on this evening’s agenda. Motion carried.
01-203-0300 Public Works
Mr. Adanti highlighted the Five year Capital & nonrecurring budget for Public Works. He stated that $5,000 is added every year for various small equipment items. The Mason Dump with Plow is included in this next budget, as well as a tractor and flail mower. There was discussion as to financing options available to the town.
Mr. Adanti detailed the Public Works Roads and Projects Roads stating that 5,200 feet of Oakridge and Wildwood overlay and reconstruction of Homestead Circle is on the schedule. Mr. Adanti stated that he has shifted the Johnnycake Hill Road to 2013 and moved Library Lane reconstruction from 2013 to 2012.
202 Boards and Commissions
202-0200 Harbor Management Commission
Last week Mr. Delinks highlighted the functions of the Harbor Management Commission. There is a Capital request for $20,000 for a study to dredge waterways. The $850 expense represents removing, storing and replacing the dinghy dock at Ferry Road each year.
A motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mr. Garvin and passed unanimously to approve $850.
202-0210 Economic Development Commission
Mr. Russell stated that the EDC expenses include supplies and postage line items for $10 each.
Board of Finance Meeting March 16, 2010
A motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mrs. Sturges and passed unanimously to approve $20 for the EDC budget.
202-0215 Ethics Commission
Mr. Russell stated that the Ethics Commission is a fairly new Commission.
A motion was made by Mr. Kerr, seconded by Mr. Woolley and passed unanimously to approve $25 for the Ethics Commission budget.
202-0220 Water Pollution Control Authority
The WPCA budget of $24,613 was already discussed and approved at the March 9, 2010 meeting.
202-0230 Board of Finance
Mr. Russell stated that $500 has been added into the postage line.
A motion was made by Mr. Garvin, seconded by Mr. Devoe and passed unanimously to approve $10,871.
202-0240 Flood and Erosion
Mr. Ross explained that the Flood and Erosion Commission has been more active this past year due to work at Sheffield Brook, Mile Creek and Swan Brook. He explained that the Commission has been working to identify the areas to be primarily addressed and to look into Grant options. Each grant program has its own requirements for application. And its own list of activities for which funding is available. Therefore, to potentially be eligible for grants to construct improvements at Sheffield Brook the town must first fund a study to fully define the problem and identify potential solutions. The Capital request is for the Sheffield Brook Engineering ($19,000) and drainage study ($10,000). Within their regular budget, the primary expense is for clerk expense.
A motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Devoe and passed unanimously to approve $630.00.
Board of Finance Meeting March 16, 2010
202-0250 Historic District
Mr. Russell said that all line items would be the same as last year, except for the legal advertising for Public Hearings has decreased.
A motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mrs. Sturges and passed unanimously to approve $4,550.
202-0260 Tree Commission
The Tree Commission is charged with caring for Town trees and shrubs, dealing with hazardous trees, public or private, and other tasks. Road tree trimming goes out to bid and private tree contractors are hired to perform the necessary work. Other projects include tree assessment, as well as area beautification.
A motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Woolley and passed unanimously to approve $27,260.
202-0270 Assessment Appeals
A motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mrs. Sturges and passed unanimously to approve $300.
202-0280 Land Use Department
Mr. Russell highlighted the Land Use Department budget. Land Use encompasses expenses relating to Conservation, Inland Wetlands, Planning, Zoning, Open Space and Zoning Board of Appeals. There was a discussion on the fees relating to the engineering and counsel lines because they have consistently increased.
A motion was made by Mr. Garvin, seconded by Mr. Woolley and passed unanimously to approve $277,786.
205 Fire Services
205-0560 Fire Marshal
Mr. Russell stated that there has been no significant change within this budget.
A motion was made by Mr. Garvin, seconded by Mr. Devoe, and passed unanimously to approve $60,141.
Board of Finance Meeting March 16, 2010
205-0570 Emergency Service Retirement
This line item funds the Town’s annual contribution to the Emergency Services Retirement Plan for the members of the OLFD and the South End Volunteer Ambulance Association. The Town’s contribution is placed into individual accounts for each eligible, active volunteer, subject to a seven year vesting schedule. The purpose of the Plan is to encourage people to become members of the OLFD and the South End Volunteer Ambulance Association and to retain existing members. The contribution for each active member will be $660 plus fees of $2,600.
A motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded by Mr. Devoe to approve $41,540. Mr. Kerr abstained from voting. Motion carried.
Revenues
Mrs. Stadjuhar detailed the Revenue for Property Tax, Charge of Services, Investment Income, and Intergovernmental. She highlighted various line items within the charges for services, and investment income. She stated that under Intergovernmental various grant amounts are down from previous years.
Capital Expenditures/Non-Recurring
Mrs. Stadjuhar distributed the Five Year Capital and Nonrecurring Budget. She itemized various expenses relating to Info Tech, Town Hall, Park and Recreation tennis courts and Soundview portable toilets, Land Use, Flood and Erosion and the Senior Center. explained the under General Government, the Town Hall improvements, Sound View Portable Toilets, Little League fields, Harbor Management Dredging Study,
The Public Works Capital highlights the age and replacement of various trucks and mason dumps with plow, a tractor and flail mower, as well as small equipment expenses.
Under Public Safety, the Animal Control Shelter expenses relate to a water filtration system and a furnace. The Fire department has included a rescue boat as well as various portable and mobile radios and rugged laptops. There was discussion on Cross Lane roof replacement and Lyme Street roof and floor work. Emergency Management equipment will only get spent if Grant monies are received. The Police expenses relate to hiring of an additional police and related accessories.
Two Tankers are already included in the Capital Projects Fire Apparatus funds. A police vehicle and accessories are included each year in the Capital budgets. The Public Works Roads and Projects include Oakridge/Wildwood (5,200 ft) overlay and Homestead Circle reconstruction road projects as well as a drainage project on Johnnycake Hill and Meetinghouse Lane.
Board of Finance Meeting March 16, 2010
Minutes of February 23, 2010
Minutes of February 23rd were reviewed. There were two corrections noted. Page one, first paragraph, third sentence, substitute the word “Statue” for “Statute”. On page two, second paragraph, first sentence, delete the word “on” from that sentence.
There being no further corrections, a motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Woolley and passed unanimously to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried.
Minutes of March 2, 2010
Minutes of March 2nd were reviewed. On page four, first sentence, add the word “works” after the word “public”.
There being no further corrections noted, a motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Kerr and passed unanimously to approve the minutes as modified. Motion carried.
In light of the late hour, a motion was made by Mr. Devoe, seconded by Mr. Kerr and passed unanimously to defer items on the agenda to next week’s meeting. Mr. Russell stated that the next Board of Finance meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
A motion was then made by Mr. Kerr, seconded by Mrs. Sturges and passed unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele Hayes-Finn
Secretary
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