Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Special Meeting September 12, 2002
The Board of Selectmen held a special meeting at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 12, 2002 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. Those present were First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Tom Bice and Selectman Skip Sibley.
The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the participation of the Old Lyme Day Care on the Town Woods property. In the past, there have been discussions between the Day Care officers and supporters and the Board of Selectmen about the concept of joining in to be partners in a building which would be for the use of the Day Care operation and for Park & Recreation. The Day Care offered to construct a building using their funds that would include the building, septic system, well, roadway, etc. The Vollmer master plan sites a location for a building which is not part of the cost estimate of the project. If the Day Care were admitted to the project, the building would be erected sooner rather than later. The Board of Selectmen needs to make a decision soon as to whether the Day Care should
be part of this project or not.
Selectman Bice stated he would base his decision on the following three criteria:
1. Is there a compelling public interest to be served by locating the Day Care Center
on the Town Woods site?
2. Is there a substantial compatibility of use?
3. Details of arrangements such as the well, septic, liability, ownership that could impact either of the previous two.
Bonnie Reemsnyder, former director of Old Lyme Day Care, stated that the Day Care Center has been looking for some time for an ideal location for an after school program that is presently being held in the Center School cafeteria. Each property they have considered has had obstacles, such as too close to residences, although the center must be in a residential zone. The government encourages communities to support after school programs. The U.S. Dept. of Education has combined with the After School Alliance which is a coalition of public and private organizations dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of after school programs and advocating on their behalf. They have been evaluating programs and one of the criteria is the use of community based organizations and facilities. The Old
Lyme Day Care Center is not asking for funding. They are offering to help with the development of the fields by putting up a building for 50 children which would be shared with Park & Rec.
Selectman Bice asked how many children are enrolled in the after school program. Bonnie Reemsnyder answered 50 children. The Center was licensed for another program at Lyme Consolidated School for 30 children. There is a waiting list of 200 children. The ages currently are from kindergarten through fifth grade. In the future they would like to consider including the middle school age. All the children will not necessarily be at the Town Woods facility. They would still use school locations. The bus company that transports children to school would be used to transport to the Town Woods facility.
They would use two buses in the morning and two buses in the afternoon. The children would use the fields when not in use for sporting events.
Gail Roth asked whether they are looking only for space for the after school program? Bonnie answered that the space could be used for a pre-K program during the school day for about 20 children.
First Selectman Griswold asked how the town would be protected in terms of liability? Bonnie answered that the Day Care Center carries insurance now and is covered for high liability.
First Selectman Griswold asked what would be the hours of operation and the number of days per week? How much time do the children spend outside? Bonnie stated the hours are 7 A.M. to 6 P.M., Monday through Friday. The children leave for school at 8:30 A.M. and return at 3 P.M. Half of the children will be outside while the others are inside and then they switch.
Debbie Wells, an abutting neighbor, stated that this project represents an enormous change for the neighborhood. The concern is that allowing this private non-profit organization and could open the door for other private non-profit organizations that need a site. There is concern about noise bothering the neighbors across Mill Pond and traffic congestion on Town Woods Road where the traffic pattern is narrow in some areas.
Selectman Sibley asked about ownership of the building. Bonnie answered that legal advice would be needed.
First Selectman Griswold asked whether there would be separate bathrooms in the building used by the teenage sports players and the young children? Bonnie said that the presentation given by the Day Care Center showed two entrances to the bathrooms that would be shared by the program and Park & Rec. Suggestions could be made to make them separate. It may be necessary for each group to have a budget for cleaning the areas used.
First Selectman Griswold asked about the amount of building space for each group. Bonnie stated ideally out of 5000 sq. ft., the Day Care Center would use 3500 sq. ft. and Park & Rec. would use 1500 sq. ft.
Park & Rec. Director Don Bugbee said that 1500 sq. ft. would be very adequate for Park & Rec storage.
Board of Finance Chairperson Gail Roth stated that she polled the board members for their opinion on the Day Care/Town Woods project. The result was concern about ownership of the building on town property and the liability connected with it. The Town Woods project was defeated twice by the citizens of Old Lyme. In order to spend any of the money for the project, it must go before the voters. There is concern that if there is mention of fields as well as buildings, the voters will not support it. The Board of Finance supports putting in the fields.
Bonnie Reemsnyder stated that the waiting list of 200 shows a need for more after school programs, and there will be support for it.
Debbie Wells stated that when the last two plans were presented, the issue of development of open space was raised and it was explained that recreational fields are considered open space. She feels that the placement of an after school day care building on a field is not open space usage.
First Selectman Griswold mentioned that the Roche property next door to Center School on 1.2 acres of land with a house that has a main floor of 1200 sq. ft. could be modified for day care use. District #18 would like to use the house for administration offices. Bonnie stated that it would be nice to be located next to the school. She expects problems such as resistance from neighbors, house would have to be enlarged, a lot of work would be needed to bring it up to code, and the school is interested in it.
First Selectman Griswold stated there is about $250,000 available after paying for the design work. Vollmer’s second phase calls for two fields plus a roadway and parking at an estimated cost of $700,000. The $250,000 on hand plus the STEAP grant of $450,000 equals the $700,000. The Town of Lyme has also applied for a STEAP grant that would be additional money if awarded. If Lyme joins in the project, they would invest money for their share of the land value and match funds what Old Lyme has invested. If there were additional money, there would be a third phase of an additional field and parking.
Carolyn Gilbert asked how much Lyme is applying for in the STEAP grant? Lyme First Selectman Koch answered the application was for $500,000 based on twenty-five percent of the $2.8 million.
Selectman Bice asked when would the storage facility for Park & Rec would be built? First Selectman Griswold answered in a future phase.
Debbie Wells asked whether the decision to include the Day Care Center on the Town Woods property would go before the voters or is that a Board of Selectmen decision? First Selectman Griswold stated there is no legal advice on that. It is probably an administrative decision made by the Board of Selectmen. The citizens could appeal the decision to a town vote. Selectman Sibley stated a stretch of road would be needed to connect the end of the road/parking under phase II to the proposed Day Care building. He asked if the Day Care is prepared to fund that cost. Bonnie answered the Day Care expects to fund the additional parking and road expenses.
First Selectman Griswold asked Bonnie whether the Day Care has exhausted all sites? Bonnie answered they have spent months looking at suggested sites to no avail.
First Selectman Koch said that hopefully Lyme will participate in this project.
Selectman Bice stated that it is not known why people turned down the last vote. He wanted to hear statements as to why this project should not be done. First Selectman Griswold answered there is a liability factor, noise generation, idea of allowing a non-profit concern to be operating on town property, and traffic problem on roads to name a few.
Selectman Bice asked whether other towns provide after school service via public agency. Bonnie said there are after school programs in town buildings, schools, and community buildings.
Selectman Sibley suggested exploring adding a wing to the Lymes Senior Center for the Day Care use. Bonnie said that a lot of communities combine seniors and youth, and there are successful cross generational programs.
First Selectman Griswold said there is a Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday, September 16, 2002 and there will be more discussion at that time.
Selectman Bice made a motion to adjourn at 6:40 P.M. The motion was seconded by Selectman Sibley. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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