Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting May 5, 2003
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, May 5, 2003 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. Those present were First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Tom Bice and Selectman Skip Sibley.
1. Approval of Minutes:
Motion was made by Selectman Sibley, seconded by Selectman Bice, to approve the minutes of April 21, 2003 as amended: Page 3, under 4e, 5th line, delete percentage signs on the mill rate increase of 22.8 to
23.6. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. CTDOT – Baldwin Bridge Repair
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, which states that the CTDOT is preparing to make repairs to the Baldwin Bridge in the fall of 2003.
3. Appointments:
None
4. Old Business:
a. Transfer of Land to MacCurdy Salisbury Foundation
The MacCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation has a State grant to sell 180 acres of land located in both Lyme and Old Lyme to the State of Connecticut for $620,000. At the Town Meeting, it was approved that both Lyme and Old Lyme would contribute an additional $25,000 making the total amount to the Foundation $670,000. The original appraisals were in the range of $750,000 and the added contributions gave the Foundation an amount closer to what was expected. The Lyme and Old Lyme students benefit from the Foundation in awards for scholarships. A suggestion from the Foundation was for the Town of Old Lyme to consider donating a 46,000 sq. ft. sub-standard parcel to the Foundation in order to offset the perimeters of the land which adjoining landowners have been using for improvements on their
properties. The assessed value of the parcel is $5900. In a memo to the Board of Selectmen, First Selectman Griswold suggested reducing Old Lyme’s $25,000 contribution by the assessed value of the parcel. Rowland Balleck, President of the MacCurdy Salisbury Foundation believes that the difference would be closer to $3,000, and he pointed out that the majority of the funds realized from the sale would be awarded to the Old Lyme students. Mr. Balleck asked if the town would consider paying the full $25,000. First Selectman Griswold made a new recommendation that the Board of Selectmen approve a quit claim of the 46,000-sq. ft. parcel to the MacCurdy Salisbury Foundation, with no payment or credit to the town, subject to the approval of the Planning Commission and by Town Meeting. Selectman Sibley made a motion to approved as outlined in First Selectman Griswold’s memo. Selectman Bice seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. Household Hazardous Waste Facility – Bid Opening
The Lower Connecticut River Selectmen’s group, which includes nine towns, has been working on getting a household hazardous waste facility constructed. It involves a State grant in the amount of $250,000 and a STEAP grant from Lyme for $200,000. The facility will be built in Essex. Residents of the various towns could use the facility to dispose of household hazardous waste 16 times a year. Out of the eight bids received, G. Donovan Associates in Lebanon, Connecticut was the winning bid for $336,458. The goal is to complete the project by the middle of September. Selectman Sibley asked whether there would be funds left over after using the grants for this construction. First Selectman Griswold stated unused funds would probably be returned to the State.
c. Town Woods Park – Update
Bid packages have been delivered to contractors and are due back on May 22, 2003. The plan is for construction to start mid-June, 2003 and be completed in October, 2003. A Clerk of the Works will be chosen to represent both towns.
d. Roche Property Committee - Update
The Roche Property Committee reports that the current Center School driveway could be used as the drop off. John Rhodes suggested speaking to the State of Connecticut to change the width of the corner in the driveway by means of an easement from the Grange. Parents picking up children in the afternoon will use the area behind Center School.
e. Real Choice Grant – Status
A letter was received from the State through the University of Connecticut stating that Old Lyme’s application is one of nineteen to be considered for a grant award. The grant is a three-year award of $25,000 each year. The town will receive more information on May 16, 2003.
f. Form Information Systems Advisory Committee
Selectman Bice reported that an Information Systems Advisory Committee needs to be formed and District #18 is willing to contribute expertise to this committee. They offered names of townspeople who assisted the school in the past.
g. Hartford Ave. Task Force - Update
Selectman Bice will present the information gathered by the Task Force regarding the Sound View Design District to the Economic Development Commission and Planning Commission for their input. The draft will be submitted to Zoning at the June meeting.
h. Rogers Lake Dam - Update
The DEP and the town are working to analyze the integrity and status of the Rogers Lake dam. First Selectman Griswold, ZEO Ann Brown, and Engineering Consultant George Roberts attended a meeting on dam safety. The critical point will be to determine the condition of the dam’s underpinnings and foundation. There is potentially State grant money for dam repair.
i. Approval of FEMA Snow Grant - $10,900
The town was awarded the FEMA Grant in the amount of $11,337 for the blizzard on February 17 and 18, 2003. The amount includes administration of $436.00.
5. New Business:
a. Receipt of LOCIP Funds ($99,872)
First Selectman Griswold reported that the town received LOCIP Funds (Local Capital Improvement) in the amount of $99,872 for completed road projects. In the past, the town has been eligible for approximately $50,000 of LOCIP funding which is allowed to accumulate in order to do more meaningful projects.
b. Regional Telecommunications Service Grant – Valley Shore Communications
Every year the Dept of Public Safety gives the town a Regional Telecommunications Service credit to be allocated to another entity. It is called Coordinated Medical Emergency Direction Services. In the past, the town has designated Valley Shore as the recipient of the $1122. Selectman Bice made a motion to execute paperwork that designates Valley Shore as the recipient of $1122. SO VOTED.
c. Pumpout Boat - Proposal
The State of Connecticut has operated a septage pumpout boat for the past three years which has been available free of charge to boats on the Connecticut River from Chester to Old Saybrook and Lyme to Old Lyme. There are approximately 1,000 pumpouts during the twelve weeks of operation. The federal government funded 75% and the DEP funded 25%. The State has eliminated the State funding this year. At a regional selectmen’s meeting, it was suggested that the six towns (Essex, Chester, Deep River, Saybrook, Lyme and Old Lyme) put up the 25% that would amount of less than $1600 per town. This amount could be reduced further by having marine trade businesses contribute items. The Town of Lyme has volunteered to be the administrative liaison this year.
d. Town Budget Meeting – Monday May 19, 2003
The town budget meeting will occur on Monday, May 19, 2003 at the LOL High School. The town budget will be voted on provided the school budget (to be voted on Tuesday, May 6, 2003) passes.
6. Public Comment:
Russ Carlow of 64 Swan Avenue would like to see an aesthetically pleasing view of the sound while driving down Swan Avenue. The barrier and fence detract from the view. He was concerned about a pay loader moving sand from one beach to another beach. The chain link fence has been discarded.
Jack Alexander attended the second hearing on the gravel pit excavation of 900,000 cubic yards of gravel out of Beaver Creek in Lyme which is going to involve 80 to 100 truck trips per day through Old Lyme to and from the exits of I-95 for ten years. Mr. Alexander asked if there was anything the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen could do to dissuade Lyme from granting a permit for this project.
First Selectman Griswold answered that this is a State road and Old Lyme has no jurisdiction unless the trucks use Grassy Hill Road. The impact to our town if the trucks traveled south would be evident. The selectmen could then ask the State DOT the consequence of heavy trucks on the roads as well as traffic, pollution, etc.
7. Other Business:
None
8. Executive Session:
None
9. Adjournment:
A motion was made by Selectman Bice and seconded by Selectman Sibley to adjourn at 8:41 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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