Minutes of the Board of Finance meeting held on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall Meeting Hall.
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Present:~~~~~~~~~~ Regular Members:~ Andrew Russell, Bennett Bernblum, H. P. Garvin, III ,
Christopher Kerr, Janet Sturges, David Woolley
Alternate Members:~ Bob Jose, David Kelsey, Gil Soucie
Bonnie A. Reemsnyder, ex-officio
Mary Jo Nosal, Selectwoman
Skip Sibley, Selectman
Nicole Stajduhar, Finance Director
Absent: Regular Members:
Alternate Members:
Guest: Scott Shea, Brown & Brown Insurance
Skip Beebe, Old Lyme Fire Department
Rick Sullivan, White Sand Beach Association
Tom Risom, Chief, Old Lyme Fire Department
Tony Vallombrosso, Purchasing Agent, Old Lyme Fire Department
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~Mr. Russell called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Russell stated that due to guests present, he requested that Old Business be moved up on the agenda. A motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Woolley to move Old Business up on the agenda. Motion carried.
Old Business
Fire Department/VFIS – Insurance Limits: Mr. Beebe stated that the Fire Department has been working with the Town’s Emergency Service organizations and with VFISto increase the insurance limitations in Accident and Sickness coverage. He stated that VFIS is the only insurance company which handles insurance needs of ambulance and fire departments exclusively. Part of the policy that they have also includes full equipment replacement as well as accidental death and dismemberment benefit. loss of life, and a weekly disability benefit. A detail of the various increases include the following: Accidental Death limit from $50,000 to $100,000 ($1,623 additional), Weekly Income Limit from $150/450 to $250/500 ($328 additional), Weekly Income Limit from $150/450 to $500/750 ($1,588
additional), Medical Expense limit from $10,000 to $50,000 ($402 additional), Medical Expense limit from $10,000 to $100,000 ($905 additional). The increases requested were presented and discussed a few years ago however were never voted on.
A motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Woolley to increase the limits in the amount of $2,353, breakdown as follows: Accidental Death limit from $50,000 to $100,000 ($1,623 additional), Weekly Income Limit from $150/450 to $250/500 ($328 additional), and Medical Expense limit from $10,000 to $50,000 ($402 additional). Motion carried. Mr. Kerr abstained from the vote.
Board of Finance Meeting August 19, 2014
White Sand Beach Road Repair: Mr. Sullivan explained that extensive road work is constantly needed on a low area of White Sand Beach Road leading into the town parking lot. The reason for the constant erosion is due to water and traffic as well as the low elevation of the road. The Association has been been trying to keep up on patching the problem areas, however, the road has eroded substantially and is above and beyond patching. The repair of the road cost the White Sand Beach Association $2,800, and they have requested the town assist with 50% of the repair cost. He stated that the town residents use that road exclusively to access the town parking lot .
A motion was made by Mr. Kerr, seconded by Mr. Bernblum, to approve $1,400, half of the expense of the White Sand Beach Road repair, to the White Sand Beach Association. Motion carried.
Minutes of the July 15, 2014 Regular meeting
The regular meeting minutes were reviewed. One correction was noted on page 1, under the approval of the May 8, 2014 Special Meeting minutes should read, “The minutes of the Special Meeting held between…”
A motion was made by Mrs.Sturges, seconded by Mr. Woolley, to approve the regular meeting minutes of July 15th, as amended. Motion carried.
Review of Monthly Financial Reports
Mrs. Stajduhar highlighted the Finance Report notes for July.
Under Revenues, the Property tax, total tax collections were $16,243,448 or 51.46% of total budget. The Sound View street parking and lots revenue is $32,249. The Lyme Senior Center Board Fund collected $3,236 for programs.
The Expenditures were highlighted. Under Insurance- Fire Department: $37,519 was paid for the annual insurance amount ($40,000 budget). Under Land Use – CRERPA dues - $8,796 annual amount was paid. For all nonprofits/beaches – half the the annual stipends were paid. Under the Capital – 100% was paid to non profits and $20,949 was paid for the John Deere tractor and plow.
Other funds include: Revaluation Fund, $13,758 – partial payment on contract to Vision Appraisal; and, Boathouse Project paid $29,325 to Nina Peck Architect.
Carryovers
Mrs. Stajduhar reviewed the Carryovers stating that one of the carryovers included car equipment for Fire Chief Tom Risom’s vehicle. Chief Risom explained the rationale for having Fire equipment (i.e., light bars and siren) installed on his car. After discussion, the amount of fire equipment would come out of the 2013/2014 fiscal year.
Board of Finance Meeting August 19, 2014
A motion was made by Mrs.Sturges, seconded by Mr. Garvin to reimburse the Fire Department for the lights and siren installed on the chiefs car. Mr. Kerr abstained. Motion carried.
Mrs. Stajduhar highlighted the proposed carry overs to FY2014/15. There is a questions regarding a $5,000 WPCA Engineering (Community Well Testing) and $1,000 carryover under Town Hall Furniture and Fixings to be used for the new WPCA position. A discussion ensued regarding the request for WPCA to have its own line items and to have all WPCA related revenues and expenses coming from its own budget line.
Mrs. Stajduhar concluded with stating that the total carry over is $372,617, however it was decided unanimously by the Board to remove the $5,000 WPCA carryover as well as the $1,000 TH F&F carryover. Therefore, $372,617 minus $6,000, plus $2,009 (OLFD car equipment), the total carryover request is $368,626.
A motion was made by Mr. Woolley, seconded by Mr. Garvin to approve Carryovers in the amount of $368,626 as presented and amended. Motion carried.
New Business
Mr. Russell stated that the Fund Balance update has been postponed until the September Board of Finance meeting.
Selectman’s Report
Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that the Midsummer festival held at the end of July was a great success. The weather was perfect as was the fireworks display. It was a wonderful event for the community to attend the various happenings throughout the town, ending with the town band and fireworks show.
The Town Meeting was held on July 29th to accept a vacant parcel of land from DEEP ,for no cost, on the northerly side of Halls Road and abutting the Lieutenance River to be used solely for recreational and related parking purposes, including public fishing and crabbing and the launching of non-commercial boats into the Lieutenant River; and to authorize the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $30,000 for the Rogers Lake Weed Sturdy to be conducted by New England Environmental, Inc.
Because Old Lyme is located within the 10-mile zone of Millstone and if there was ever a nuclear accident or the threat of a radiation release, the Town needs to be prepared. There was a Millstone practice drill on August 5th at the Boughton Road Fire Station with the Town’s emergency responders. There will be another drill with FEMA observing and the Town will be graded on their preparedness.
Board of Finance Meeting August 19, 2014
Mrs. Reemsnyder reported that the Beach Stipend committee has had several meetings. The committee is very objective and works well together discussing and collecting documents and ideas. The committee is presently looking at the history of how the stipends originated and what other towns and private associations do. At the next meeting, the beach associations will be presenting to the committee an account of how the stipends are spent and how it benefits its association. The goal is to have a recommendation ready for the Board of Selectmen by November/December, before the budget process begins. Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that if anyone would like to review the Beach Stipend Committee minutes, they can be found on the Town’s web page, under Current Projects – Beach Stipend
Committee.
Mrs. Reemsnyder stated that the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved by FEMA and was adopted by the Board of Selectmen. This plan is important for the community to have so that the Town can identify the natural hazards that are within the community and to identify the physical areas that are most at risk and include plans for mitigation within those areas. The benefit to having a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan is to qualify for funds or grants from the government that would help the Town with the mitigation plan. Therefore, the Town has to have a plan with those items included within the plan in order to receive various funds or grants in the future. According to the Town Attorney, the Board of Selectmen can approve the resolution to adopt the Town of Old Lyme Natural Hazards Mitigation
Plan Update. The resolution was signed and adopted at the August 18th Selectmen’s meeting.
Mr. Russell stated that the next Board of Finance meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs. Sturges, seconded by Mr. Kerr to adjourn the Regular meeting at 9:05 p.m. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michele E. Hayes
Secretary
Michele E. Hayes
Office Manager & Payroll Administrator
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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