Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting December 2, 2002
The Board of Selectmen held its regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, December 2, 2002 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. Those present were First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Tom Bice and Selectman Skip Sibley.
1. Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the minutes of November 18, 2002 as written. Selectman Bice seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. Letter to Gov. Rowland – Open Space Funding
First Selectman Griswold wrote to Gov. Rowland congratulating him on his reelection to the office of Governor of Connecticut and thanking him for continuing the State’s Open Space and Watershed Land Aquisition Grant Program. Old Lyme has leveraged its money with the State of Connecticut, the Nature Conservancy, the Old Lyme Conservation Trust and the Connecticut Gateway Commission to maximize the conservation efforts. Old Lyme has closed or is awaiting closing on six properties consisting of 796 acres.
b. Maureen Plumleigh – District #18 Graffiti
A letter from resident Maureen Plumleigh was printed in the New London Day regarding the graffiti at the Lyme/Old Lyme High School in which she admonished the town for this act. First Selectman Griswold reassured the Old Lyme residents that District #18 is a separate governmental entity. Trooper Olsen and the school administration have governance on the school property.
3. Appointments:
a. Resignations from Gloria Pendleton and Sylvia Peterson from the Lymes Senior
Center Board
Letters of resignations from Gloria Pendleton and Sylvia Peterson of the Lymes Senior Center Board were received. At the present time there are five vacancies on this Board. Frank Balboni previously expressed an interest in being on the Senior Center Board.
b. Francis Balboni (R) – Lymes Senior Center – 3 Year Term to July 2005
Selectman Sibley made a motion to appoint Francis Balboni to the Lymes Senior Center Board for a 3-term expiring July 2005. Motion seconded by Selectman Bice. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business:
a. Town Woods Park - Update
John Eberle of Vollmer Associates submitted an amended application to the Conservation Commission which included the third field. The Commission amended the application and approved the three fields. They had previously done a site walk and held a public hearing. The buying and selling of the 45 acres between Lyme and Old Lyme and approval of the expenditure will be done at the Annual Town Meeting on January 27, 2003. No additional money, other than what was appropriated, will be required from Old Lyme.
b. Roche Property – Update
First Selectman Griswold stated that information on asbestos, oil, tanks, etc. on the property would be necessary before the Town Meeting in anticipation of questions of this kind. Mr. Sibley will have Bob Reemsnyder inspect the property.
c. Hartford Avenue Task Force – Update
Selectman Bice reported that the Task Force has not met since the last Board of Selectmen meeting.
d. Library Lane/Lyme Street 3-Way Stop – Implement after New Year
The Historic District is in favor of the proposed the 3-way stop at Library Lane and Lyme Street. They requested the signage on the north side be combined with the school sign. The 3-way stop will be implemented in January, 2003.
5. New Business:
a. Fairfax Properties Closing
The Fairfax Properties closing occurred on November 27, 2002.
b. Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Richard Goss
First Selectman Griswold attended a Court of Honor for Eagle Scout Richard Goss. For his project, Richard selected to improve a riding trail at High Hopes. Congratulations to him.
c. Trooper Rob Derry - Reassigned
Trooper Rob Derry has been reassigned to another post. Trooper Judd House, who worked as a trooper in Old Lyme during the summer, will be filling in until January when a permanent trooper will be assigned.
d. Holiday Newsletter – Mailed Last Week
The town’s quarterly newsletter, edited by Cathy Frank, was mailed out last week.
e. Town Audit Received
The Town of Old Lyme has received its annual financial report. The Board of Finance reviewed the report with the auditor. Tax Collector Judith Tooker received an impressive collection rate of 98.87%. The town surplus is $2,838,000 which is 12.5% of the current budget. Previously, the amount of $500,000 of the surplus had been earmarked to help with the fiscal 2003 budget.
6. Public Comment:
Resident Jack Alexander called to the attention of the Board of Selectmen Adelphia’s motion of November 26, 2002 to the DPUC which was to modify the company’s existing cable television franchise agreement for the Old Lyme franchise area in order to extend the term for a period not to exceed nine months or until December 29, 2003. Mr. Alexander feels this is a full year’s delay in the commencement of work on the service enhancements that area residents deserve. Adelphia has already had two extensions of the date for filing the information that is required for the DPUC to act on Adelphia’s request for franchise renewal. Mr. Alexander does not believe that it is in the best interest of the Old Lyme residents to grant Adelphia a one-year delay in the date for commencement for the
proposed 30-month installation process that will bring broadband access. Mr. Alexander asked that the Board of Selectmen request the Cable Advisory Council to object to the franchise extension that Adelphia is requesting. He urged the Board of Selectmen as well as local residents to attend a meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday, December 7, 2002 at the library.
First Selectman Griswold asked about the certainty of Adelphia being forced to supply the DSL service as a cable company versus continuing the services they are now offering if the extension was denied. Mr. Alexander answered they have committed in the record to internet service provided by the upgrade in their proposal over a 30-month period.
First Selectman Griswold questioned whether the Adelphia bankruptcy would frustrate that timetable? Mr. Alexander responded that the advent of the bankruptcy throws their entire capability to provide any improvement in question.
Selectman Sibley will represent the Board at the meeting of the Cable Advisory Council.
7. Other Business:
Selectman Bice referred to the question about a full time assistant fire marshal. First Selectman Griswold spoke with Fire Marshal Phil Bliss and his assistant Dave Roberge. There will be a meeting with Bill Swords to further refine the responsibilities and pay scale, etc. The outcome of that meeting should enable the pros and cons of full time versus part time and the proposed compensation of a full time person.
Selectman Bice mentioned the letter from OPM stating there is almost $100,000 for Old Lyme. First Selectman Griswold stated that it is a two-year accumulation. In the past, the accumulation of money allowed the town to do a more extensive project.
8. Executive Session:
None
9. Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to adjourn at 8:28 P.M. The motion was seconded by
Selectman Bice. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
| 
