Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting June 2, 2003
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, June 2, 2003 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectman Tom Bice were present.
1. Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Sibley made a motion, seconded by Selectman Bice, to approve the minutes of May 19, 2003 as written. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. Real Choice Steering Committee – Model Community ADA Grant
Three ADA grants were awarded to cities and towns in Connecticut by the State. Bridgeport, Groton and New Haven were the recipients and Old Lyme received honorable mentioned status. The Old Lyme ADA Committee will be working on a welcome wagon brochure, access ability for town events, education workshop for businesses, public access issues, and software available in the library related to this topic.
b. Letter Honoring Diane Pettit – Governor for Lions District 23-C
Diane Pettit, a member of the Lions Club since 1986, is retiring as a District Governor for the Lions Club International District 23-C. The district covers Middlesex, New London, Windham and Tolland counties. First Selectman Griswold wrote a letter honoring Diane’s commitment on behalf of the Board of Selectmen to be read at her testimonial on June 21, 2003.
3. Appointments:
a. Janet Bechtel (U) – Conservation Commission – 3 Yr. Term Ends Jan 05
b. Eleanor Czarnowski (U) – Conservation Alternate – 3 Yr. Term Ends Jan. 04
A vacancy exists on the Conservation Commission because of the resignation of Geraldine Golet who moved from the area. The Conservation Commission requested that the Board of Selectmen move Janet Bechtel (U) from an alternate position to a member whose term would end January, 2005 and to appoint Eleanor Czarnowski (U) as an alternate whose term would end January, 2004. Selectman Sibley made a motion to make the appointments as stated. Selectman Bice seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Michael Mackey (U) – Harbor Commission – 4 Yr. Term Ends Jan 05
It has been recommended by the Harbor Commission that Michael Mackey (U) be appointed to fill a four-year alternate term ending January, 05. Mr. Mackey is the owner of a marina in Clinton and a four-year resident in Old Lyme. Selectman Sibley made a motion to as stated. Selectman Bice seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
d. Deborah O’Meara (R) – Lymes Senior Center – 3 Yrs. Term Ends July 04
The Senior Center Board requests that Deborah O’Meara (R) be appointed to fill a vacant
term on the Senior Center Board. She has been an Old Lyme resident for nine years, is the Deputy Registrar of Voters, and past president of the Duck River Garden Club. Jerry LeFleur’s resignation will be in effect at the end of June that will create another vacancy. Selectman Sibley made a motion to appoint Deborah O’Meara to fill a vacancy on the Senior Center Board. Selectman Bice seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business:
a. Town Budget Approved
The town budget of $23,689,257 was approved at the Annual Town Budget hearing. The school budget is $17,230,288 and the town budget is $6,458,969 including capital of $828,000. The mill rate of 22.8 is increasing to 23.6. The Board of Finance designated $425,000 of surplus to assist with the budget and the school surplus of over $600,000 also helped to reduce the impact to the mill rate.
b. Town Woods Park – Bid Opening Results & Closing w/Lyme
The ten bids for the Town Woods Park were opened on May 22 ranging from $922,000 to $2,000,020. The Town Woods Building Committee concentrated on the three lowest bidders and voted to accept the bid from Machnik Brothers, Inc. The other two low bidders, Intergolf Designs, Inc. and Milton C. Beebe & Sons, Inc. were rejected because they did not comply with the bid specifications. The Boards of Selectmen of Lyme and Old Lyme are asked to consider the Building Committee’s recommendation. If approved, the next step is to prepare letters to all bidders indicating the results. The estimated date for the project to begin is June 13, 2003. Selectman Sibley stated that he feels comfortable with the Building Committee’s recommendation and would support their choice.
Selectman Sibley made a motion to reject the bid of Intergolf Designs Inc. due to not complying with the bid specifications. The motion was seconded by Selectman Bice. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley made a motion to reject the bid of Milton C. Beebe & Sons Inc. due to not complying with the bid specifications. The motion was seconded by Selectman Bice. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley made a motion to accept the base bid of Machnik Brothers, Inc. of $979,212. The motion was seconded by Selectman Bice. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley made a motion to authorize the engagement of Eastern Materials Testing Labs for purposes of monitoring the soils and other aspects of the project. The motion was seconded by Selectman Bice. SO VOTED.
c. Roche Property Committee – Update
The Roche Property Committee had conversation with the Grange concerning acquiring an easement on a portion of the school driveway for access. The Grange will meet to vote formally, but spokesman Jean Stands thought the plan was fine. The Grange may lose one or two parking spaces but the school feels it should be able to provide two parking spaces on the school property. A decision will be made on the use of the Roche house.
d. Hartford Avenue Task Force – Update
The purpose of the Hartford Avenue Task Force is (1) to assist the Economic Development Commission in encouraging revitalization of the Sound View Design District “SVDD”. (2) To advise the Board of Selectmen regarding special considerations involved in specific development opportunities and projects. (3) Provide liaison to SVDD residents and organizations and to town boards, commissions and departments. New activity in the Sound View area includes the opening of the Jib (new name of the Ocean Spray) on June 15, 2003. In the Arcade, there is an ice cream parlor under construction proposed to open on June 14, 2003. In place of Key West Pete, a Mexican restaurant is under construction. The Cool Moose is now opened as a coffee shop. The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to go
before the Zoning Commission on June 9 regarding the verbiage of the SVDD.
e. Information Systems Advisory Committee – Update
Selectman Bice, Charlie Delinks, and Ted Crosby attended a CCM sponsored workshop in New Haven on electronic governmental services. Selectman Bice reported there were many exhibitors with software of interest. SNET provides the State of Connecticut good photographic system services. Other vendors had information on digitized mapping. The current software will be upgraded. The total cost will be approx. $46,000. District #18 is interested in the GIS system only if Lyme and Old Lyme are included. The advisory committee will meet to review the various products.
5. New Business:
a. Senior Center – Clothes Closet
The budget reflects $15,000 for a clothing closet structure that would be housed behind the Senior Center. Clean clothing would be brought to the site and given away free. The seniors would man the clothing operation. Kay Mannetho suggested that a 12’ x 24’ prefabricated structure, including preparation for air conditioning, at a cost of approx. $4,600. Additional costs would be insulation, air conditioning unit, electricity, and heat. Lyme is expected to contribute 25%. More information will follow.
b. Swan Avenue Planters
Russ Carlow and Seth Bartolotta have been working on a schematic to make the end of Swan Avenue look more presentable. It is contemplated to have four benches installed at the end of Swan Avenue for seating as well as serving as access deterrents for four-wheeled vehicles on the beach. Two rectangular planters for flowers and shrubbery will be placed parallel to the sidewalk on the westerly side of Swan Avenue, and they
will prevent parking on the sidewalk. The dumpster near the Pavilion will be moved, and this will enable delivery vehicles to pull in behind the building. The Board of Finance has authorized $2,000 for the project. Selectman Sibley and Selectman Bice agreed with the plan.
6. Public Comment:
None
7. Other Business:
Selectman Bice asked what the status is on the new signage on Hartford Avenue/Swan Avenue by the Sound View Parking Committee. First Selectman Griswold responded the intention was to have uniformity in signage along Hartford Avenue, striping the parking spaces and numbering them, and signage at Cross Lane to tie in to the plan. Selectman asked if the town has entered into a contract with a towing company to enforce the tow zone restrictions. First Selectman Griswold answered that it was suggested to hire someone to be there at all times or to have a rotation on call to remove vehicles.
First Selectman congratulated resident Glenn Sulmasy who was promoted to commander in the U.S. Coast Guard. Governor Rowland declared June 2 as Glenn Sulmasy Day.
John Leahy will present two shows on cable related to our area. On June 10 from 9 P.M. to 10 P.M. a program will feature Deb Gray, Director of the Lyme Youth Service Bureau, who will discuss the services offered at LYSB and the Tech-no-tics will be presented. On June 17 from 9 P.M. to 10 P.M. Representative Marilyn Giuliano will speak on her service in Hartford as a State Representative. The second part of the program will be on the robotics team at the high school explaining the design, building, testing and competition. They will show a video of their trip to Houston, Texas where they finished fourth in the nation in the first robotic competition.
Selectman Sibley asked about the three-way stop at the end of Library Lane on Lyme Street. First Selectman Griswold replied that the crosswalk has been painted and the signs and stop bars will soon be installed. There will also be temporary cautionary lights.
8. Executive Session:
None
9. Adjournment:
A motion was made by Selectman Sibley to adjourn at 8:32 P.M. Selectman Bice seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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