Minutes of the Board of Finance meeting held on Tuesday, February 02, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall Meeting Hall.
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Present:~~~~~~~~~~ Regular Members:~ Christopher Kerr, Bennett Bernblum, H. P. Garvin, III,
Janet Sturges, David Woolley
Alternate Members:~ Adam Burrows, Bob Jose, David Kelsey
Bonnie A. Reemsnyder, ex-officio
Nicole Stajduhar, Finance Director
Mary Jo Nosal, Selectwoman
Absent: Regular Members: Andrew Russell
Alternate Members:
Guest: Resident State Trooper First Class Gary Inglis
Tom Risom, Chief, Old Lyme Fire Department
Mike McCarthy, Assistant Chief, Old Lyme Fire Department
Several representatives from the OLPD, OLFD, and EMS
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Mr. Kerr called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m and stated that Mr. Russell would not be present this evening.
A motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded byMr. Garvin to move the Police discussion up on the agenda. Motion carried.
205 Public Safety
205-0580 Resident State Police
Mrs. Stajduhar highlighted the Resident State Trooper expense stating the the FY 16/17 contract is estimated by Trooper is $166,800 which includes a 3% raise. Resident State Trooper Gary Inglis stated that the Town is paying 85% of salary of the Resident State Trooper salary and 89.54% of the fringe benefits, per State
Contract with the town. The amount discussed is $187,500.
No action was taken.
205-0590 Municipal Police
Resident State Trooper Inglis reviewed the town's proposed police budget for fiscal year 2016/17. It was noted that police overtime wages ($10,000) and DWI wages ($5,000) shifted from the Municipal Police budget to the Resident State Police budget. The DWI Grant consists of 71 8-hour shifts from 11/20/15 to 09/10/16. The town is reimbursed by the state for 75% of the total ($33,525), which leaves the balance of $11,175 as the town’s contribution. The amount discussed is $688,290.
Board of Finance February 02, 2016
The School Crossing Guard’s hours decreased by 50% due to the change in use of Center School and the reduction of hours needed. Building expenses and vehicle maintenance remain the same as FY15/16. The vehicle fuel line has decreased due to the lower fuel prices and using less than half of this fiscal year’s gas allotment thus far.
No action was taken.
Under the Police Five Year Capital, Trooper Inglis stated that after reviewing with neighboring towns, the surrounding towns use dashboard video cameras. Use of the cameras not only protects the town, but it protects the police officer and protects citizen rights as well. To outfit all six full time officer’s cars is approximately $43,800. Trooper Inglis proposed outfitting three cars in this coming fiscal year ($21,900), and three cars in the following fiscal year ($21,900). He explained the various methods that other towns use and commented that State policy is that if your vehicle is outfitted with a video dash camera, it would have to be on for all motor vehicle stops. Mrs. Reemsnyder explained that when citizen complaints are received at town level, it has to be
investigated internally at the barracks, which takes a lot of time and energy to review. With the installation of video dashboard cameras, this time and energy would be minimized.
No action was taken.
OLFD: Fire/Police Boat Presentation
Chief Tom Risom stated that the Board of Selectmen has requested a proposal to replace the existing Old Lyme Marine Patrol Privateer that is no longer serviceable. The Board of Selectmen voted to put a $1,000 refundable deposit with the vendor to hold the boat for sixty days. He outlined the requirements of the Selectmen in wanting to have Police (OLPD) presence to patrol the waters of the Town beaches and the CT River. The Fire Department (OLFD) requires a seaworthy and safe platform from which to perform search and rescue in inclement weather and at night. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) requires a reliable seaworthy platform to get to medical calls in and on the water, and the Harbor Commission requires occasional use of a Town boat for the purpose of inspections and surveys.
Presently, the Fire Department has two 14-foot zodiac inflatable boats, both rigged for ice rescue in the winter.
Members of the OLFD and EMS developed specifications for a vessel that would meet the various requirements outlined above. A management team was proposed made up of an equal number of representatives from the OLPD and OLFD that would provide policies and procedures, annual budgets and budget reporting, hands-on maintenance, asset replacement and forming Mutual Aide agreements. A maintenance program was proposed outlining weekly, monthly and annual maintenance as well as after each use. A training program was proposed to properly qualify operators, document certifications, renewals, and ensure an adequate supply of trained operators for police, fire, EMS and harbor operations.
The list of specifications was worked out with a vendor from Florida for a turn-key refurbished 2002 25’ SafeBoat Police/Fire/Rescue platform and triple axle aluminum trailer, minus engines. The boat was formerly a response boat operated by the Coast Guard in 2002 for Port Security, Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue and powered by twin 225 hp outboards.
Board of Finance February 02, 2016
The boat requires a minimum crew of two but has the capacity for ten. In the proposal, features include repainting for salt water use, new non-skid decks, rooftop A/C and a heater for summer and winter use, pre-piped for use of town’s existing fire pump and monitors, searchlights, floodlights, and installation of existing OLPD navigation equipment and Whelan lighting.
The pricing breakdown for hull and equipment is $152, 000, $48,000 for Atlantic outboards installed, 5% contingency, with the total turnkey, delivered price of $210,000. The Board of Selectmen made a motion to present to the Board of Finance and to move this $210,000 funding request to a Town Meeting. The OLFD/OLPD/EMS would like to schedule to Town Meeting towards the end of February to take advantage of the reserved asset and to potentially get the boat in time for the coming season which starts in May.
No action was taken.
Minutes of December 15, 2015 Regular meeting
The minutes of December 15th were postponed until next week.
Minutes of the January 19, 2016 Regular meeting
Review and approval of the meeting minutes of January 19th was postponed until next week.
01-211-1200 Private Beach Associations
Mr. Bernblum explained the recommendations from the Beach Stipend Committee last year developed a formula that is 50% cap of the amount spent on security. The Private Beach Association is as follows:
7007 Point O’Woods
7008 Old Lyme Shores
7009 Old Colony Beach
7010 Miami Beach
7011 White Sand Beach
7012 Rogers Lake West Shores
7013 Hawks Nest Beach
7014 Federation of Beaches 0 (now included within the Police budget)
7015 Edge Lea
Total $71,700
No action was taken.
A motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Woolley to move Salaries up on the agenda. Motion carried.
Board of Finance February 02, 2016
Salaries
Mrs. Stajduhar highlighted the salary increases and adjustments due to Step grading increases and a general increase of 2.25%. Notable increases include Selectmen’s clerk for meeting attendance and minute hours adjusted, Finance Assistant hours from 19 to 25 hours/week, Open Space clerk didn’t have a separate line and was included under Miscellaneous, therefore, a payroll account was created. Public Works had a full time and a part time employee retire, however, just added one full time new employee. The Health department’s employee went from part time to full time and the WPCA part time assistant resigned and wasn’t replaced. Police decreases include the Crossing Guard reduction of required hours and the DWI and Overtime funds moving out of the Municipal Police to the Resident State
Trooper budget. All other departments received a 2.25% increase with several receiving step increases as well.
No action was taken.
205 Other Public Safety
205-0500 Emergency Management
Mr. Garvin stated that David Roberge, Emergency Management Director has requested the same amount as last year. There was a slight increase in the telephone line. The new emergency call system, Everbridge/Reverse 911 Annual License Fee is $2,450 and $3,000 for the Everbridge education for a public education program for Everbridge/Reverse 911. The amount discussed was $18,650.
No action was taken.
205-0510 Valley Shore Communication
Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that she has not received the figures for Valley Shore Communications yet. The amount last year was $149,000.
No action was taken.
205-0520 Volunteer Ambulance Association
The Ambulance budget was discussed and is all salaries and is based on the number of hours. There is a decrease in fuel, which is reimbursable 100% to the town. The amount for Ambulance is $139,482.
No action was taken.
Board of Finance February 02, 2016
205-0530 Animal Control
The Animal Control budget was reviewed and there was little change in their budget. There was a decision to delete the Animal Control Cleaning line, as the staff will be responsible for cleaning because it works better with their individual schedules. The amount discussed is $69,161.
No action was taken.
205-0550 Fire Protection
Mrs. Stajduhar stated that the Town pays the fire protection expenses to Connecticut Water Company, as approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, to cover the cost to provide the necessary pipeline capacity necessary to meet high volume demand that is required for fighting fires and to maintain and keep fire hydrants in working order. Connecticut Water’s approved public fire protection charges include a rate per linear foot of pipe within public fire protection boundaries, and, charges for the number of fire hydrants located within the town. As of January 2016 there are a total of 20 hydrants and a total of 19,885 linear feet of underground pipe in Town and State roads. The cost is calculated on linear feet. The amount budgeted is $29,000, however, Mrs. Stajduhar felt that $27,600
would be sufficient.
No action was taken.
Other Business
NEC Federal Rail Future Plans: Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that she submitted a statement to the Federal Railroad Adminisration in regards to the NEC Future Plan (NorthEast Corridor). Alternative 1, with an approximate capital cost of $66 billion, provides for upgrades to the existing rail line, but also adds a 50-mile line from Old Saybrook to Kenyon, RI, right through the heart of Old Lyme. She explained this would severely impact the commercial area, Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and the Lyme Art Association, as well as other areas. The new rail would cut through several neighborhoods, wetlands, open space, and areas of archaeological significance. There will be an informal meeting held for stakeholders that may be impacted by the NEC Alternative
1’s future plans.
Grant Reimbursement: Mrs. Reemsnyder reported that the town was approved for Grant reimbursement for the landfill closure project in the amount of $600,000. Official notice is expected soon.
LED Streetlights: Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that she received a quote from a company to purchase LED lights to replace the old, existing streetlights. To change over all of the lights, the energy costs would decrease from $28,000 to $6,000, and maintenance would decrease from $13,000 to $4,000. The cost to change over the town-owned streetlights would be $120,000 with an energy rebate of $45,600, bringing the net cost of the town to less than $75,000.
Board of Finance February 02, 2016
Mr. Kerr stated that the next Board of Finance meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. Budgets for Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Sanitation, CRRA, Capital Project Funds, Interest on Debit, and Principal on Debt are scheduled for discussion.
A motion was then made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Woolley and passed unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele E. Hayes
Secretary
Michele E. Hayes
Office Manager
Selectman's Office
Town of Old Lyme
52 Lyme Street
Old Lyme, CT 06371
tel. 860.434.1605, x-212
fax. 434.1400
M-F, 9-4pm
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