Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting April 14, 2002
1. Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Bice made a motion, which was seconded by First Selectman Griswold, to approve the minutes of March 18, 2002 and April 1, 2002. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. Legislative Progress – Reg. Dist. School Governance
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee. The Connecticut General Assembly recently voted to undertake a study of Regional School District Governance. The bipartisan committee is charged with evaluating the efficiency, effectiveness, and statutory compliance of selected state agencies and programs. The study will evaluate the impact of the current statutory formula apportioning local share of education costs among towns that belong to regional school districts. The study will also focus on how regional school districts are governed by examining their statutory authority and their relationship to local legislative bodies, and the state Department of Education. Connecticut has 17 regional school districts that encompass 47
towns and educate over 25,000 students. There have been concerns raised about regional school district governance structures and fiscal oversight. The Selectmen will follow the progress of this group.
b. Sid Holbrook – New Governor’s Eastern Office Director
A letter was received from Sid Holbrook stating that he is the new Governor’s Eastern Office Director. He is a Westbrook resident, and we are happy to have him in our area to help us with matters dealing with the Governor’s Office.
c. Dept of Public Safety – CMED Credit to Valley Shore
A letter was received from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety. Each year the Dept of Public Safety requests a designation for the regional telecommunication service credit for coordinated medical emergency direction (CMED). The Selectmen agreed that Valley Shore Communications will be the recipient.
3. Appointments:
Resignation of Kevin McTigue (D) – Alternate – Harbor Management Commission.
Motion was made by Selectman Sibley, seconded by Selectman Bice, to appoint George Calfo (U) as Alternate to the Harbor Management Commission for a 4-year term ending January, 2004. He has been a member of the Lions Club, worked with LYSB, avid sailor. SO VOTED.
Motion was made by Selectman Sibley, seconded by Selectman Bice, to appoint Steven Ross (R) as a member of the Flood & Erosion Control Board for a 2-year term ending January, 2004. He has been working with the DEP on the salt marsh on Rte. 156. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business:
a. Beach Access Policy
The Town of Old Lyme will provide for public access to its beaches without charge but it will charge residents and nonresidents to park in town-owned parking areas. The Town of Old Lyme will continue to offer season parking passes to its residents and other eligible property and vehicle owners at a new annual fee of $20.00 ($15.00 for seniors). Nonresidents will not be offered a season pass and will continue to pay the applicable daily rate (currently $8.00 on a weekday and $10.00 on weekends and holidays) to park in a town parking lot, on a space available basis. The charge is for the vehicle only and there is no per person charge. In the case of White Sand Beach, nonresidents may pay the daily rate to park in the town’s 40-space lot (space available), they may walk or ride a bicycle to the
beach or they may be dropped off at the beach. There will be a limited amount of public parking permitted along the north side of Old Shore Road, should the
40-car parking lot be full. Selectman Sibley made a motion to accept the beach access policy. Selectman Bice seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. Open Space Grants
On April 4, 2002, First Selectman Griswold and George James, Chairman of the Open Space Committee, attended a meeting at the Wallingford Town Hall concerning two State of Connecticut Open Space Grants. For the Peterson property, $357,675 was received and for the Lay property, $175,759 was received.
c. Fairfax Property Proposal
The south parcel of 204 acres has been appraised at $857,000. If the state awards a grant,
it will be in the amount of $385,650 or 45%. The balance of $471,350 would be shared equally between the Town of Old Lyme and the Nature Conservancy. The north parcel of 64.5 acres has been appraised at $490,000. If the state awards a grant, it will be in the amount of $220,500 or 45%. The balance of $269,500 would be shared by the Town of Old Lyme and the Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy would contribute $67,375 or 25%. The town’s share would be $202,125. Applications to the State of Connecticut for the municipal grant must be sent by April 25, 2002. These two parcels are the middle pieces in creating a greenway through Old Lyme. Selectman Sibley questioned why the Nature Conservancy is contributing only 25% for the north parcel. George
James answered that the Nature Conservancy has an overall Forest Acquisition Plan with limited funds and has other properties they are interested in obtaining. Selectman Sibley also asked if there are other agencies interested in participating in this project. George James answered that the neighbors of the northern parcel will be contacted for contributions. First Selectman Griswold added that the Board of Selectmen encourages the Open Space Committee and the town to pursue the acquisition of the two parcels, and the Board will do what it can to assist in the preservation of open space. Selectman Sibley made a motion to recommend to the Board of Finance and to the Planning Commission an endorsement from the Board of Selectmen that they are in agreement with the Open Space Committee’s directive. Motion was seconded by Selectman Bice. SO VOTED.
d. Noyes Property
First Selectman Griswold received a Quit Claim from Atty. Marylin Clarke regarding the Noyes property. The transaction will be a 50% undivided interest from the Town of Old Lyme to the Old Lyme Conservation Trust in return for a payment of $12,500.
e. Landfill Closure Status
First Selectman Griswold sent a letter to the State of Connecticut to obtain the permit needed to operate a transfer station. The town will need a plan to close the landfill and engineers will be contacted. A request has been sent to the State of Connecticut to obtain approval to receive and store 12,000 to 15,000 cubic yards of material from Norwich at no cost suitable to cap off the landfill.
f. Lyme Street Grant Application
Lyme Street is a connector road to I-95 and is eligible for a grant to improve certain aspects of the road. The grant is for $190,000 and may be available for two years. The project will be for resurfacing and curbing.
g. Drug Free Community Coalition Grant
Deb Gray of LYSB sent a memo stating that the Community Coalition to raise Awareness on Underage Drinking is applying for a grant to expand the coalition to include all substance abuse issues. She requested a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) needed from the town as well as other agencies for the grant application. First Selectman Griswold will reply.
5. New Business:
a. Beach Safety Zone Designation
The Board of Selectmen has been working with Trooper Todd on a way to discourage and fine people who operate vehicles on the beaches. Trooper Todd has recommended creating a pedestrian safety zone which will allow the police to take action. Attorney Marylin Clarke will determine whether an ordinance is needed.
b. Rogers Lake Weed Study Resolution
DEP representative Chuck Lee asked that the town consider a resolution. A study to control the weeds at Rogers Lake has been put in the budget for the next fiscal year. The study will cost approximately $40,000 of which the State will reimburse $30,000 and the Towns of Lyme and Old Lyme will pay $5,000 each. The resolution regarding the grant from the DEP Bureau of Water Management states that First Selectman Griswold is authorized to execute and deliver in the name of and on behalf of the Town of Old Lyme
a Personal Service Agreement with the DEP, Bureau of Water Management for the Rogers Lake Diagnostic Feasibility Study. A motion was made by Selectman Bice to proceed with the Rogers Lake Weed Study subject to a Town Meeting if required. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
6. Public Comment:
None
7. Other Business:
First Selectman Griswold distributed a draft of the budget to the Selectmen. The general government will increase 6.09%. Capital will decrease 11.5%. The town government will increase 5.29%. The town’s portion of the school budget will increase 7.33%. The entire budget for the town will increase 6.41%. The new mill rate will be 23.16 from the present rate of 21.5, an increase of 1.6. The Board of Finance may use $400,000 of the surplus toward balancing the budget. The Town budget hearing will be on Monday, May 20, 2002 at the Middle School at 7:30 P.M. The school budget vote will be two weeks before the Town budget vote.
Resident Jack Alexander stated that $75,000 is allocated yearly to the Open Space Fund and perhaps the same amount could be applied to Affordable Housing on an alternate year basis. First Selectman Griswold replied that the Open Space is an ongoing commitment. As long as the State of Connecticut is honoring its commitment to assist communities through its grant program, we should do everything possible to utilize those funds. To use town money, a specific plan for the money would be needed. Affordable Housing is in the budget this year for a modest allocation.
Selectman Bice added that Mr. Alexander was proposing not to appropriate funds but to have a reserved fund.
8. Executive Session:
None
9. Adjournment:
A motion was made by Selectman Sibley and seconded by Selectman Bice to adjourn
at 8:40 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
| 
