Minutes of the Board of Finance meeting held on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall.
~
Present:~~~~~~~~ Regular Members:~ Andrew Russell, BJ Bernblum,
David Kelsey, Janet Sturges, David Woolley
Alternate Members:~ Adam Burrows, Judith Read, Anna Reiter
Bonnie A. Reemsnyder, ex-officio
Mary Jo Nosal, Selectwoman
Nicole Stajduhar, Finance Director
Absent:~~~~~~~~~~~ Regular Members:~ H. P. Garvin, III
~Alternate Members:~~
Guest: Town Attorney John Collins
_______________________________________________________
Mr. Russell called the Finance meeting to order at 7:32 p.m., and Mrs. Reemsnyder called the Selectmen meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. Mr. Russell stated that the meeting will commence with an Executive Session with the Board of Selectmen to discuss pending claims/litigation and/or matters subject to attorney/client privilege regarding pension plan for Volunteer Fire and Ambulance organizations.
Mr. Garvin is absent, therefore, a motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Kelsey to have Ms. Read vote for Mr. Garvin in his absence. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Mr. Bernblum, seconded by Mrs. Sturges to move into Executive Session at 7:34 p.m. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Nosal, seconded by Mrs. Reemsnyder to move into Executive Session at 7:35 p.m. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Ms. Read to adjourn from Executive Session 9:10 p.m. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Reemsnyder, seconded by Mrs. Nosal to adjourn from Executive Session at 9:10 p.m. Motion carried.
Mr. Russell called the Regular meeting to order at 9:12 p.m. Mr. Woolley made a motion to have Mrs. Reiter vote for him in his absence from the Regular meeting. Mr. Bernblum seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mr. Woolley left the meeting.
Board of Finance Meeting January 16, 2018
Approval of December 19, 2017 Special Meeting Minutes
The minutes of the Special Meeting of December 19, 2018 were reviewed. The only change noted is that Anna Reiter was present and not absent, as reported in the roster of the minutes.
There being no further changes noted, a motion was made by Mr. Kelsey, seconded by Mrs. Sturges to approve the minutes, as amended. Motion carried
Approval of December 19, 2017 Minutes
The minutes of December 19, 2018 were reviewed.
There being no changes noted, a motion was made by Mr. Kelsey, seconded by Mrs. Sturges to approve the minutes, as written. Motion carried
Review of Monthly Financial Reports
Mrs. Stajduhar outlined the Financial Report Notes for November 2017. Under Revenues, the Property tax, total tax collections were $6,670,534, 75% of budget collected. Interest income collected $10,200. State funds was $114.748 – Town Aid Road. Other funds included $2,500 in donations to the Hains Park Improvement Project, $3,500 in donations to the Social Services fund, and $1,939 Grant Reimbursement was received for the Sound View Bike Path/Improvement Project.
Expenditures included the Public Works overtime which was $11,714 for December snowstorms. Also, $20,000 of $35,000 that is budgeted for that line was spent. The Resident Trooper DUI spent $6,000 (75% reimbursement). The Resident Trooper overtime has only 14% left of the $18,500 budget due to overtime that was used to supplement the town police shortage during the summer months. The second payment to LYSB, beach associations, the other non-profits and OLVNA was paid out to them.
Under Capital, Cross Lane Playground paid out $64,890 for paving, playground equipment and excavating with $257 left in town’s budget. Dam Inundation paid $3,800 to Nathan Jacobson. Other funds included Hains Park Improvement Fund - $24,042 final due to Scope Construction, and Sound View Bike Path/Improvement Project -$4,608 to WMC.
The percentage of general government budget spent to date is 49.1% and does not include Capital or RSD#18.
Board of Finance Meeting January 16, 2018
FY2018/19 Budget Review
Mrs. Stajduhar distributed a budget review sheet highlighting the major drivers to the budget The Budget Review Increase over prior Year detailed five-year history of increases/decreases of General Government, RSD#18, Salaries and Capital – net. The projected increase for FY2018/19 is 0.38% or $36,494,274.
Mrs. Stajduhar itemized the open items for the FY2018/19 budget stating that General Government decreased by $27,000. Possible increases to Capital totaled $286,000 which included Town Hall shades ($2,000), hot water coils ($12,000), heat pumps ($30,000), Lyme Street firehouse spray foam ($19,000), Boughton Road firehouse door replacement ($19,000), Senior Center insulation of attic ($19,000), Social Services copier ($2,600), and Lower Mill Pond Dam ($200,000).
Mrs. Stajduhar reminded the Board of the increase payment of $1,100,000 to State for one-third of the State Teacher Retirement plan.
Old Business
Nothing to report.
New Business
Nothing to report.
Other Business
Nothing to report.
Selectman’s Report
Mile Creek Road Bridge Replacement: Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that there is discussion on moving this project to June 2019 to be able to fund $600,000 over the next two years since the town isn’t anticipating much in the way of State funding. The cost of bridge repair with lead abatement versus bridge replacement work out to be the same. An inspection will be done to determine if this is prudent.
Monthly Facilities Manager’s Report: Mrs. Reemsnyder distributed a report put together by Phil Parcak, the Town Facilities Manager, last month. The report outlined work completed and work scheduled for the Town Hall building, Senior Center, Police Station, Public Works, Transfer Station, Fire houses, as well as the Mile Creek Road Bridge project. Mr. Parcak is away and Mrs. Reemsnyder will meet with him for an update when he returns.
Board of Finance Meeting January 16, 2018
Halls Road Improvements: Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that the Halls Road January meeting was cancelled due to a snowstorm. The committee will continue to have presentations about the future plans of Hall Road, looking for community feedback. An application for a TOD grant for federal funds has been submitted but the committee has not heard back on it yet.
WPCA Sound View Sewer Project: Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that the draft EIE (Environmental Impact Evaluation) has been submitted to DEEP, and they responded with their suggested edits. The WPCA will review the proposed edits and respond to the DEEP.
Contract Negotiations (Police/Public Works): Mrs. Reemsnyder reported that the town’s contract attorney has reached out to the Union in an effort to extend the old contract until June 30, 2018. This is still being worked on.
Evaluating Ledge Light for Renewal: Mrs. Reemsnyder reported that the town is obliged to stay with Ledge Light Health District until November 2018. At that time, the town could then give notice that they are no longer interested in being part of the district. Effectively, the town could be part of the district until at least June 2019. Mrs. Reemsnyder commented that continued discussion will be deferred until after the FY18/19 budget meetings.
Solid Waste/Recycling Contract: A committee will be formed soon. The RFP that was used for vendors when the town went out to bid on the Single Stream Recycling is being reviewed and will be used as a starting point to develop the RFP. Mrs. Reemsnyder asked if there was a conflict of interest on having an OL Sanitation representative on the committee. The town’s contract with Old Lyme Sanitation expires June 2019.
Police Services Options: Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that the Board of Selectmen discussed forming a committee to look at the option of combining Old Lyme Police Services with East Lyme, list the pros and cons of both models and research any other options that might be available to provide the best police services for the town.
Board of Selectmen Budget meetings: Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that the preliminary budget meetings started today, with meeting scheduled for January 22nd and 29th as well.
Blight Ordinance: Mrs. Reemsnyder reported that the Board of Selectmen approved the final draft of the blight ordinance. The draft will be put on the town’s website and informational meetings will be held in the near future. She is anticipating having a Special Town Meeting sometime in March to propose the ordinance and any other matters that may come up within the next couple of months.
Cross Lane Playground: Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that the playground equipment arrive today.
Board of Finance Meeting January 16, 2018
Annual Town Meeting: Mrs. Reemsnyder reminded everyone that the Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 22nd at 7:30 p.m. at the Memorial Town Hall. Agenda items include 2017 Citizen of the Year, acceptance of the Annual Town Report for fiscal year July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 as submitted by the Board of Finance, and, a request by the Board of Selectmen to appropriate $200,000 for Road Overlay projects, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
Mr. Russell stated that the next Board of Finance meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 06, 2018.
Scheduled budget meetings start at 7:00 p.m. Budgets for Private Beach Associations, Police Services, Other Public Safety, Ambulance and salaries will be reviewed.
A motion was then made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Bernblum to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 p.m. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele E. Hayes
Secretary
| 
