Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting June 3, 2002
1. Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the minutes of May 6, 2002 as written. The motion was seconded by Selectman Bice. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. CRERPA-Schedule Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from the Connecticut River Estuary Regional Planning Agency (CRERPA) regarding the scheduling of a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day which last occurred two years ago. Money has been set aside in the budget. More information will follow when a definite date has been set.
b. Jack Alexander-Adelphia Cable Refranchise
A letter was received from Jack Alexander concerning DPUC recertification of Adelphia in which he posed two questions: 1) Would you enter into a long-term contract to buy your electricity from Enron? 2) Would you object to the DPUC forcing residents of Old Lyme to enter into a long-term contract to buy their cable service solely from Enron of the cable industry? Mr. Alexander further stated that the Selectmen could stand for our town against the business practices incorporate ethics that disqualify Adelphia from serving our community. First Selectman Griswold spoke with Chuck Lynch, Chairman of the Cable Advisory Committee, whose group is having a meeting at the library on Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. regarding the same topic. Mr. Lynch advised Selectman Griswold that the Rigas Family is no longer
in any administrative position and their stock has been placed into a trusteeship. There is a plan to make restitution of the various funds that were used for unusual purposes. He further stated that the franchise of which Old Lyme is a part may be on the market and could be sold. He recommends continuing the support for the Proposal for Renewal (PFR). Mr. Lynch said that Comcast has been uncooperative in respect to distance learning. Recently at the DPUC hearing, First Selectman Griswold reported that from his perspective Adelphia has been very gracious to us. They have televised the Board of Selectmen meetings, have improved hardware, taped the School Board meetings, supplied staffing and equipment for distance learning.
c. Patricia Kus-Proposal to Purchase 13 Alpha Avenue
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from Patricia Kus, a realtor with the Beasley Company, inquiring whether the town would be interested in purchasing 13 Alpha Avenue. This is a small parcel in the Rogers Lake area and the town owns adjacent lots. The listing price is $3,200. Selectman Sibley inquired whether the land would be suitable as an affordable housing site. First Selectman Griswold stated that if combined with the other town-owned lots, it could be considered. Selectman Bice suggested asking Les Reynolds, Chairman of the Affordable Housing, if there is any interest.
d. Curt Askelson-Advertising Signs on Halls Road
A letter was received by the Zoning Enforcement Officer from Curt Askelson regarding a number of advertising signs along Halls Road. This is contrary to zoning regulations and the Board of Selectmen will ask the Zoning Enforcement Officer to contact the sign owners.
3. Appointments:
None
4. Old Business:
a. Town Woods – Design Firm Selection and Discussion with Lyme
The committee, which has been working to recommend a design firm, selected Vollmer
Associates from Hamden. They were chosen out of six firms that had submitted proposals. The design firm will complete a master plan for the whole project suitable to be given to a contractor. The plan will incorporate phasing points. Vollmer’s fee is $48,750. If they were to oversee the first phase of construction, there would be an additional fee of $11,500. In the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year, $300,000 has been budgeted for work on the fields. There is a pending application to the State of Connecticut for a STEAP grant of $450,000. The Town of Lyme is considering joining in as a partner. The initial work would be a design followed by a road and utilities. The preliminary design work may take six to seven weeks. The plans will be
presented to the Conservation Commission for approval. First Selectman Griswold met with Lyme Selectman Koch who indicated that Lyme was interested in joining Old Lyme on this project. Selectman Bice stated that he would like to have some sense that when this is all done, what will be spent by whom. Selectman Sibley made a motion to accept Vollmer as the design firm at $48,750 and further to accept their bid of $11,500 for construction management when the project reaches that point. Selectman Bice seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. Point O’Woods – Status of Sewers
Point O’Woods Association met on Saturday, June 1, 2002 at 7:00 P.M. They voted to accept the DEP suggestion regarding sewer hook up with East Lyme. The pipe will be from the railroad bridge, up Rte. 156 past the Bayberry Motel to East Lyme. The material will be shipped to New London. The report issued indicates that the cost of the project will be $11,000,000 paid by the residents of the Point O’Woods Association. There is a 20 percent grant in the offing and the Clean Water Fund would fund the rest at a 2% rate. The average homeowner will be paying about $1,300 per year for the debt service and the operating expense is estimated to be $250 to $350 per year. Selectman Bice recommended that the Board of Selectmen hold a joint executive session of the Board of
Selectmen, WPCA and the Zoning Commission to discuss other litigation regarding sewers. First Selectman Griswold suggested that Atty. Marylin Clarke could
arrange a meeting with the attorney who is representing the town through the insurance company as well as Attorney Branse who is working with Zoning.
c. Landfill Closure Plan – Draft of RFP
A draft request for proposal is being prepared for the closure of the landfill. The town has been accumulating money in a fund for this purpose. The proposal will be mailed to approximately six firms to get information on cost, design, time line, etc.
d. Sound View Task Force – Status
Letters will soon be mailed to various people who indicated interest in serving on the Task Force. Selectman Bice requested to make two amendments to the Hartford Avenue Task Force motion.
1. Everywhere the word redevelopment occurs or any derivative thereof be changed to revitalization.
2. Initially it was suggested that two property owners from Sound View would be on the Task Force but the Sound View Beach Association requests that be made three. Selectman Sibley seconded the two amendments. SO VOTED.
Selectman Bice made a motion to accept the three representatives from the Sound View Beach Association. The motion was seconded by Selectman Sibley. SO VOTED.
The Board of Finance has nominated Claire Helmboldt. The arts community has nominated Henry Putsch with Diana Atwood Johnson as alternate.
5. New Business:
a. Shoreline Sanitation – One year Extension of the Contract
Each June the Board of Selectmen consider extending the contract of Shoreline Sanitation to collect refuse in the Town of Old Lyme to make it a three-year contract. Selectman Sibley made a motion to extend the contract one year. Motion was seconded by Selectman Bice. SO VOTED.
b. Fireworks
Selectman Bice was reminded by Skip Beebe to recommend to the Board of Finance to act on the $2500 from the fireworks last year. The Board of Finance had previously voted not to fund it. The matter will be on the agenda for the June 11, 2002 meeting.
c. Tax Abatement
Selectman Bice stated that Skip Beebe reminded him of the two fire volunteers who reside in Lyme and are not eligible for the tax abatement. First Selectman Griswold stated that if Lyme were to adopt a tax abatement program, there would be a reciprocal arrangement. Lyme has a retirement plan so this would be an additional benefit. Old Lyme is looking at a retirement plan as well.
d. Town’s Budgeting Process
Selectman Bice proposed a change in the town’s budgeting process. The budget is projected for a couple of years and the school budget will soon reach a peak due to repayment of the bond. The town’s budget is becoming a smaller portion of the total expenses and that puts pressure on making long-term commitments and also to understanding now what those long-term commitments are such as the Town Woods fields, the Hartford Avenue revitalization, the closing of the landfill, etc. We must begin the process now by putting before the Board of Finance the proposals that come up with a projection of the budget to get a sense of where we are and what might need to be cut. First Selectman Griswold stated that the town has little debt. The departments with long range spending would
be Public Works, Fire Dept and Police Dept. The town could look to a 5-year capital budget.
6. Public Comment:
Jack Alexander stated that the DPUC is voting on a 15-year monopoly for Adelphia Corporation. The DPUC is deciding that the citizens of Old Lyme will for 15 years buy their cable services from a disreputable company. He further stated that with Adelphia’s financial debts, the Board of Selectmen cannot look at past history of the franchise operating performance as giving weight whatsoever. The documented business practices and demonstrated ethics of Adelphia corporate management are inconsistent with community standards of the towns it is asking to continue to serve. Mr. Alexander strongly requested that the Board of Selectmen not be silent and let the DPUC decide at their meeting on Thursday, June 6, 2002 in New Britain, that Old Lyme will deal with this company for the next 15 years. Mr.
Alexander did feel, however, that he concurred with the positive testimony of the Advisory Council regarding the cooperation and responsiveness of the local management team to our community needs and desires caveat except when otherwise restrained by Adelphia corporate management. Looking to the future, the progress that our Advisory Council and local management team have achieved should be the baseline of expectations for the franchising of an alternative cable service provider.
Selectman Bice recommended that following the Cable Advisory Council meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2002, the Board of Selectmen should hold an executive session to determine the next course of action with the DPUC. First Selectman Griswold will post a meeting for Wednesday morning, June 5, 2002.
Marilyn Osman was concerned about parking at White Sands Beach for Old Lyme citizens. She questioned the $8 weekday and $10 weekend fee when other towns are charging more. First Selectman Griswold stated that the rate was set to be equal to Sound View which is a mixture of town and public. We must provide access to the beach and seasonal passes are not available to non-taxpayers.
A resident remarked that if Old Lyme does not have to legally provide parking to non-taxpayers, let’s not. If we have to provide parking, let’s make it as near to unrealistic as possible legally. First Selectman Griswold stated he would call the Town Attorney regarding the matter.
Selectman Bice made a motion to close parking at White Sands Beach to those who are not residents of Old Lyme and subject to the legality of that. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
A representative from Energy Options, a group started in 1997 to study the viability of renewable resources, stated that the use of renewable resources could be increased together with energy efficiency if it were made a priority making people less dependent on fossil fuels. With the deregulation of the electric industry, Connecticut Light & Power will no longer be our electric supplier. They will still provide the transmission and distribution, but we have to choose a supplier such as Connecticut Energy Cooperative which has two offerings. One is Echowatt which is drawing on 100 percent renewable resources and is slightly more expensive than the CL&P rate. The other choice is Valuewatt which is less expensive than CL&P. She requested that someone come from the Energy
Cooperative and give a presentation during the monthly nine town selectmen meeting.
Dimitry Tolchinski was concerned about why Zoning and ZBA denied his request to build a two-car garage with storage on his property. He was told his lot size does not conform to Zoning regulations because it cannot contain a 100-ft. by 100-ft. square within his boundary. The requirement is 10,000-sq. ft. and he states he has 15,000 sq. ft. A request for a variance was denied. He feels he is being discriminated against. First Selectman Griswold said he would ask Zoning for their reasons in this case.
Peter Grimaldi stated that Miami Beach has seven barrels which are full every weekend and the trash collector said he will not take the barrels. Mr. Grimaldi had previously talked about Miami Beach problems such as dogs and cars and thought the problems would be solved by Memorial Day weekend. First Selectman Griswold stated there is an ordinance regarding dogs and the Animal Control Officer does make spot checks. The Town Attorney has been asked to draft something up regarding the pedestrian safety zone. First Selectman Griswold will get John Roach and Peter Lodi to help dispose of the trash. It was suggested Peter Grimaldi have a conversation with Gary Yuknat to arrange a time and place for trash pickup.
7. Other Business:
None
8. Adjournment:
A motion was made by Selectman Sibley and seconded by Selectman Bice to adjourn at 10:24 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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