Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting March 17, 2003
The Board of Selectmen held its regular meeting at 4:00 P.M. on Monday, March 17, 2003 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. Those present were First Selectman Timothy Griswold and Selectman Tom Bice.
1. Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Bice made a motion to approve the minutes of February 18, 2003 as written. First Selectmen Griswold seconded the motion. SO VOTED. First Selectman Griswold said the minutes of February 3, 2003, at which Mr. Bice was not present, will be voted on at the next meeting as well as minutes for the Special Meeting on February 26, 2003.
2. Communications:
a. State DEP – Trees for Arbor Day Plantings
The town received a letter from the State concerning the availability of white pine seedlings. First Selectman Griswold thinks the Tree Commission should have a program for school children to observe Arbor Day on April 30th.
b. Letter to Deep River and Chester Board of Selectmen regarding Valley Shore
Emergency Communications Network
First Selectman Griswold and other area First Selectmen sent letters to the Deep River and Chester Boards of Selectmen encouraging them to carefully consider Valley Shore Emergency Communications as their emergency dispatching service. Old Lyme has found Valley Shore to have very satisfactory service. If Deep River and Chester joined, that would have the positive effect of reducing Old Lyme’s costs by as much as $12,500. The decisions will be made by the end of the month.
3. Appointments:
None
4. Old Business:
a. Lymes’ Senior Center Clothing Closet Proposal – Update
Kay Mennetho, Social Services Coordinator and Director of the Senior Center, informed the Board of Selectmen that good, used clothing is free to those in need and has been housed in the basement of the South Lyme Chapel on Mile Creek Road. There are problems with dampness, as well as difficult accessibility because it is down a flight of stairs, and not open on a consistently scheduled basis. The Social Services Dept would like to relocate the clothing closet to an air-conditioned, heated detached structure to be located on the grounds of the Lymes’ Senior Center on Town Woods Road. The used clothing would continue to be dropped at the Old Lyme Town Hall, and Kay would transport it to the clothing closet where it would be sorted by volunteers. This would be a year-round operation. First
Selectman Griswold stated that Zoning approval would be on an administrative basis. It will be necessary to get several proposals on the sizes and costs of the structure. Selectman Bice raised the question on who will be responsible for the electric bill? Kay thought it might be worth asking groups who donate to charitable needs. First Selectman Griswold stated that Lyme might want to participate.
b. Town Woods Building Project - Update
First Selectman Griswold stated that, according to Chairman of the Board of Finance of Lyme Gary Reynolds and Lyme First Selectman Bill Koch, there is an impasse as to the discussion funding the Town Woods Facility building project. Old Lyme’s point of view is that there are two State grants totaling $950,000 approved and the grant money would be used first to fund the project and the remaining costs would be divided between the two towns on a 75%-25% basis. Lyme is of the opinion that the grant money should be put into the project in the same ratio as the town funding which would have the effect of preserving their town funds for a longer period. First Selectman Griswold pointed out to Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Koch that the first phase of the project costing $1,400,000 was approved at the Old Lyme town
meeting. If using the ratio that Lyme is referring to, there could be $150,000 that would not be used of their grant money in the first phase of the project. If we did not get to the second phase, that money would be lost. The grant must be used within three years or it expires. The State grant is not money from either town. This money is available to be spent on the project right away without regard to percentages or phases. Since it is State money, it should be considered first and the towns should deal with the balance.
c. Hartford Avenue Task Force - Update
Selectman Bice reported that the Hartford Avenue Revitalization Task Force has concluded its work and drafted a list of Sound View Development District recommendations to be available at the next meeting. This is a proposal for a new zoning designation. Selectman Bice has had discussions with ZEO Chairperson June Speirs and Zoning Enforcement Officer Ann Brown about the recommendations. He will also present the information to Zoning Commission members Joan Bozek and Tom Risom for comments. First Selectman Griswold suggested adding the Health Dept to the list.
Selectman Bice pointed out that Vice-President of Sound View Beach Association Gail Fuller was present at the Board of Selectmen meeting. The Association purchased the Emporium property. She explained that the building would be rezoned to assembly. It is hoped to have board meetings and bingo this summer. The Association will be before the ZBA is to get a variance for on-site parking. One of the recommendations is for the town to purchase the two properties next to the Emporium for additional parking spaces for the town and for the community center. Selectman Bice stated that the Task Force did not recommend the town buy the two properties because parking should be district wide and not building by building.
d. Interviews regarding Town computer system - update
Selectman Bice reported that he has interviewed most departments with the exception of Probate, Selectmen’s Office and Treasurer. He needs to contact most of the boards and commissions. He has visited CRERPA to talk about GIS. There are isolated sub-systems in the town hall which are interrelated in their function but not connected to each other. He does not see any extraordinary expenditures for the 2004 fiscal year, but he will estimate the costs.
e. Automated Trash Collection - Update
Old Lyme citizens are invited to come to the Town Hall to see the trash cans on display and select a size suitable for their needs. The 95-gallon size will be delivered to Old Lyme homes in April unless a card is filled out selecting a different size.
5. New Business:
a. Enacted Mid-Year State Budget Cuts: Impact on Old Lyme
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities in regard to the mid-year cuts which the State of Connecticut has implemented in their budget. For the Town of Old Lyme, the cuts amount to a decrease of $108,700 from the original budget. First Selectman Griswold arrived at this amount by taking the CCM estimates of what the adjusted grants will be and compared them to the original budgets given. The principal changes are the Pequot Mohegan Grant decrease of $8,500 (from $46,300); town aid roads decrease of $67,600 (from $126,700 to $59,000); and ECS decrease of $31,300 (from $317,900 to $286,600) for this fiscal year ending June 2003.
b. Real Choice Grant
Three communities will be selected to receive the Real Choice Grant being offered through the State of Connecticut. ADA Coordinator Greg McMahon and High Hopes are working on this grant. A press release has been issued which states that the Town of Old Lyme is seeking community members interested in participating in a task force that will work collaboratively toward the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life in Old Lyme. The aspects include access to municipal buildings, community services, affordable housing, transportation, health care, education, recreational opportunities, and more. The community inclusion task force must include representatives with disabilities and family members of children with disabilities in addition to representation from town government,
regional district #18, community service organizations, art organization, social services, public housing, public transportation and agencies that work directly with persons with disabilities. Persons interested in participating are asked to respond in writing by Monday, March 24, to The Community Inclusion Task Force, Town of Old Lyme, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or email. This will be an effort to focus on the ADA in Old Lyme. This will be $25,000 grant per year for three years for those communities selected. The deadline is April 18, 2003.
6. Public Comment:
Jack Alexander asked if there was an agreement between the Selectmen and the two Boards of Finance on how the Town Woods project would be financed before it was presented to the town meeting? First Selectman Griswold answered no. He further stated that the Town of Old Lyme call specifically mentioned that it was contingent upon the two grants and the remaining amount to 75%/25% be funded. Old Lyme’s intent was clear from the beginning. The Lyme town meeting occurred a month later and the call was quite different. Old Lyme was not aware there was a misunderstanding. When Old Lyme talked with OPM and the DEP which would supervise the grant, the question was whether the grant money could be used first before using town money. The answer was yes. Mr. Alexander said he
could not understand that after Old Lyme had voted on a proposition in the presence of the First Selectman of Lyme, that a different proposal would be placed before the Town of Lyme. Selectman Bice added that this matter was discussed at two leadership meetings where the entire Board of Selectmen from Old Lyme, the chairman of Old Lyme’s Finance Committee, the chairman of Lyme’s Finance Committee, and Lyme’s First Selectman. All agreed that grant money would be put on the table first from each town. The remaining costs would be divided 75% -25%. Mr. Alexander stated that he would like to appeal to the parents of children from Lyme who basically have an opportunity to play on improved fields to fulfill the agreements that existed between the Selectmen and the Boards of Finance to go to the town meeting in Lyme on Friday and help ratify the agreement that was presented to the people of Old Lyme in the presence of the Selectman of Lyme.
7. Other Business:
None
8. Executive Session:
None
9. Adjournment:
A motion was made by Selectman Bice and seconded by First Selectman Griswold to adjourn at
5:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
| 
