Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting February 3, 2003
The Board of Selectmen held its regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, February 3, 2003 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. Those present were First Selectman Griswold and Selectman Skip Sibley.
1. Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the minutes of January 21, 2003 as written. First Selectman Griswold seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. LOL Junior Women’s Club – Fundraising for Town Woods Park
First Selectman Griswold expressed his appreciation to the Lyme-Old Lyme Junior Women’s Club for choosing the Town Woods Recreational Facility project as one of the recipients of the LOL Jr. Women’s 2003 Expressions Art Show and Benefit Sale. The town will receive 20 percent of the net proceeds from the show on May 16, 17, and 18 at the Lyme Association. Other recipients are Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut, scholarships to the LOLHS students, and various organizations in town.
b. Letter to Frank Maratta – Sale of Town’s 10-ft. Alley
In a letter to Mr. Frank Maratta, owner of the Pavillion, First Selectman Griswold stated that the Selectmen decided not to consider his request to sell the town-owned 10-ft. alley between the Pavillion and the Ocean Spray at this time. The Hartford Avenue Task Force is working to create a planned development district in hopes of stimulating revitalization activity in the Sound View area.
3. Appointments:
a. Resignation of Bruce Josephy from WPCA
Bruce Josephy resigned from WPCA because he has been appointed to the State Properties Review Board in Hartford.
b. Resignation of Greg Carnese from Economic Development Commission
Attorney Greg Carnese resigned from the Economic Development Commission due to a civic and community service and other volunteer efforts.
4. Old Business:
a. Action Items from the Town Meeting
The ordinances which were approved at the Annual Town Meeting on January 27, 2003 will be in effect fifteen days after publication in the newspaper. The Town of Old Lyme will be working with the Town of Lyme on the timeline for the improvements on the Town Woods property once the Town of Lyme has a Town Meeting to authorize the purchase of an undivided 25 percent interest. It will be necessary to work on the structure of the two State grants. The Roche property purchase was approved and a closing will be scheduled.
b. Town Woods Building Committee Meeting - Update
Vollmer Associates Project Engineer John Eberle met with the building committee and explained that certain decisions have to be made. The State funding has to be worked out with both Old Lyme and Lyme to start using the grant proceeds. Construction is projected to begin April, 2003.
c. Recommendations from the Sound View Parking Committee
The Sound View Parking Committee has completed its task and one of the items considered by the committee concerned the handling of traffic patterns. The police decided a one-way pattern would not be necessary at this time. The committee also worked on the uniformity of signage and the location of the signs. It was also agreed that repermitting would be allowed upon the change of ownership or operator of lots, which have permits to park cars. It was recommended that the fees the permitted lots pay be increased from $5.00 to $10.00 per parking space and that the town lot increase its fees from $8.00/weekday and $10.00/weekend to $10.00/weekday and $15.00/weekend. The parking ticket fines will be at a minimum of $40.00. It was agreed that the enforcement staff would periodically observe whether
the permitted lots are operating in accordance with the ordinance. The police and the staff will work on the non-permitted lots by enforcing provisions of the ordinance that allows for fines up to $100.00 for violations. The parking on Hartford Avenue is a two-hour limit up to 5:00 P.M. and in a tow zone. The committee recommended that the handicap spaces on Hartford Avenue be increased from one to two spaces. There are also two spaces on Swan Avenue and in the town parking lot. There will be signage at the Cross Lane Park stating that parking there is only for Cross Lane recreation. An amendment was approved at the Town Meeting to the parking regulation that provides for a hearing process for fines. Motorcycles will be required to use parking spaces. It was recommended that out-of-state cars be charged the same as in-state cars. It was agreed there would be enforcement on coolers to be sure there is no alcohol. Letters will sent out
to the permitted lot owners and to the residents of Sound View by the First Selectman summarizing the recommendations that have been accepted. It was agreed that the Park & Rec staff would be provided with radios that will enable them to contact police. The Old Lyme trooper is checking with the State police to see if Old Lyme could contract for coverage from that source which would include a boat and two policemen to patrol in front of the beaches and the rivers. It was also recommended that deliveries be made to the rear of the Pavillion on Swan Avenue for pedestrian safety. It was recommended that the town beach on Swan Avenue be free of beach chairs and rental boats. It was urged that the Board of Finance consider an annual contribution of $2500 to Miami Beach from the parking lot fund to assist in beach cleaning. Action on these recommendations will take place at the next Selectmen’s meeting.
d. First Selectman to Testify about DSL Service in Old Lyme
SNET informed First Selectman Griswold that its capital budget was approved to install the equipment in the Beckwith Lane station for DSL service in Old Lyme. SNET will be conducting direct mail solicitations to those in the service area. First Selectman Griswold will testify in Hartford about small towns desiring DSL service.
e. “Conversation” Meeting of Community Coalition on MLK Day
The selectmen attended a program on the Content of our Characters hosted by the Community Coalition on Martin Luther King Day. Selectmen Sibley reminded the citizens that meetings are held by this group at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 P.M.
f. Budget Information from District #18 and Timing for Town Budget
The Selectmen and the Board of Finance were invited to a meeting with the Board of Education to review its budget. Of the 8.2 percent increase of the 5.2 percent is debt service and the remaining 3 percent is the operating budget. The school is being minimally impacted by the State cutbacks. The Board of Finance will start the town budget process later this month and will be finalized in April. It is expected that accumulated capital will be used for the landfill closure as opposed to having to bond it. The Roche property will be purchased by the town for $363,000 and will be funded by the town surplus. The Board of Education will remit funds to the town related to the demutualization of the Blue Cross Anthem stock conversion which amounts to over $300,000. The Board of Selectmen
will have a special meeting this month to review the operating expenditures.
5. New Business:
a. October 2002 Grand List
The Grand List is increased 1.65 percent up from $888.6 million to $903.3 million. The increase comes in part from Kellogg Marine expansion, the new house construction at Beach Farms and Peppermint Ridge, and motor vehicles. The town will likely have an interim reevaluation in 2004.
b. Public Act 02-137 – Additional Property Tax Exemption for Veterans
The Assessor Walter Kent informed First Selectman Griswold that public act 02-137 concerns an additional property tax exemption for veterans who are entitled to an additional exemption applicable to the assessed value of the property up to the amount of $10,000 provided that such veteran qualifying income does not exceed $14,000 if unmarried or $16,000 jointly with a spouse. A Town Meeting would be required to approve that tax exemption for Old Lyme.
c. State Trooper Interview – Selection by February 5, 2003
Three candidates applied for the position of Resident State Trooper in Old Lyme and the results should be announced this week. This opening is to replace Resident Trooper Rob Derry.
d. Senior Center – “Clothing Closet” Proposal
Senior Center Director Kay Mennetho suggested operating a “clothing closet”. There are senior citizens willing to volunteer their time to help with this effort. The Lymes Senior Center does not have the room for this project and that might necessitate a separate structure or trailer on the property. More information will follow.
e. Video on New Refuse System
The new refuse system video will air on Monday, February 17 at 7:30 P.M., Monday, March 3 at 7:00 P.M., Saturday, March 15 at 5:00 P.M. and Monday, March 17 after the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on the cable channel. Copies of the video will be available next week at the library. A copy of the video will be on hand at the Lymes Senior Center. There are sample refuse containers in the Old Lyme Town Hall for inspection.
Cards are available for those who wish to receive a size smaller than the 95-gallon container which will be issued by the town or wish to purchase an additional container.
6. Public Comment:
None
7. Other Business:
None
8. Executive Session:
None
9. Adjournment:
A motion was made by Selectman Sibley and seconded by First Selectman Griswold to adjourn at 8:23 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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