Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, December 1, 2003
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, December 1, 2003 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
1. Approval of Minutes: November 17, 2003
Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the minutes of November 17, 2003 as written. Selectman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
Attorney General – Govt. Acquisitions Inc.
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal reporting that Government Acquisitions Inc. of Charlotte, North Carolina has contracted with municipalities in Connecticut and throughout the United States to provide cities and towns with emergency vehicles such as fire, police and ambulance. In return, the towns and cities agreed to have advertising on the vehicles to cover the cost associated with the purchase. GAI has failed to deliver a single emergency vehicle to any municipality. This failure could have a significant impact on towns and cities that did not budget for the cost of emergency vehicles.
Appointments:
Thomas Keogh – Alternate Historic District – 3-Yr. Term Ending Jan 2004
An alternate position on the Historic District Commission occurred when James Bechtel moved from alternate to regular member. Chairman O’Connell recommended Thomas Keogh who has expressed an interested in filling the position. Selectman Sibley made a motion to appoint Thomas Keogh as an alternate on the Historic District Commission for a 3-year term ending January, 2004. The motion was seconded by Selectwoman Reemsnyder. SO VOTED.
Old Business:
Sound View Community Center – Recommendation
Gail Fuller, Vice President of the Sound View Beach Association, listed the work on the Sound View Community Center that will be done during the months of January and February, 2004. In December, 2002 the Board of Finance approved contributing $19,000 from the Parking Lot Fund toward the project, but the Association is requesting another $53,000 so the center may open in the spring. First Selectman Griswold asked Gail Fuller’s opinion on the success of a matching concept as a second stage. The idea is to give up to $10,000 from the Parking Lot Fund now and the remaining $43,000 would be approved at Town meeting on a match basis of perhaps 2-1 to be achieved by the Association. Gail agreed. Selectman Sibley recommended giving $19,000 now leaving a $34,000 2-1 match balance. Selectwoman
Reemsnyder was in favor of a 2-1 match. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to recommend to the Board of Finance and ultimately to a Town Meeting that the Board of Finance appropriate $19,000 from the Parking Lot Fund to the Sound View Community Center and that an additional $24,000 be made available subject to Town Meeting approval on a 2-1 match basis for the Sound View Beach Association Community Center. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. Town Woods Park – Interviews of Architects and Design/Build Firms
Six architect and design firms have been invited to come to an interview process tomorrow night at 7:00 P.M. allowing one half hour for each interview. Members of the Town Woods Park Building Committee will discuss the scope of the building, timeline, etc. and the architect firms will present reasons on why they should be selected.
c. Town Woods Park – Playscape
The Board of Finance agreed to fund $14,609 toward a playscape at Town Woods Park. The sum will be matched 100% by Game Time Inc. who will supply the playground equipment. Fundraising efforts are underway. Additional costs include $5,400 for installation, wood chips of $4,000, and a fence estimated to be $4,000. It is anticipated that donations will be received from the Women’s Club, the art exhibit next spring and additional fundraising.
d. Roche Property Committee Recommendation
The Roche Property Committee recommended that the town does not need the Roche property for additional offices. It was decided that the school may need the property and would like to have right of first refusal. Selectman Sibley stated the property should be owned by either District #18 or the town, but not resell it. Selectwoman Reemsnyder said that if District #18 cannot use the property now, the town should not hold onto it. First Selectman Griswold was concerned about any use of the building that would generate traffic and he believes the school must be specific about its need for the property. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion that, based on the Roche Property Committee recommendation, the Board of Selectmen recommends the Roche property be liquidated subject to concurrence with the
Board of Finance and the Planning Commission with the school having the primary option between now and March 31, 2004 and, failing their taking action, the town would then be able to offer it to the market. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Town Hall – District #18 Utility Crossing
At a meeting attended by First Selectman Griswold, John Roach, Ron Rose and John Rhodes, the discussion centered on water, septic, emergency power and information technology connections from the school to the town hall. There are two water possibilities: one is domestic water and the other is water that could be used for fire suppressing systems in town hall. The water and septic utilities would be accessed between Middle School and Center School. There will be a meeting with SNET regarding the economic feasibility of town hall using the school’s phone system. The engineer will give an approximate cost of what his services would be for water and septic approval including the cost of bringing pipes to the street. The town would be responsible for bringing the pipes down the street. More
information will follow.
Information Technology Committee – Future Meetings
Selectwoman Reemsnyder agreed to be involved with the Information Technology Committee for a GIS system.
g. Sound View Development District Committee – Future Meeting
Selectman Sibley agreed to be involved with the Sound View Development District Committee.
New Business:
a. Old Colony Beach Borrowing Authorization
The attorney for the Old Colony Beach Association contacted First Selectman Griswold by mail regarding the necessity of having the town’s concurrence when borrowing money. The Association has a loan in the amount of $90,000 that matures in December, 2003. The Association wishes to pay down a portion of the loan and refinance approximately $70,000 by its issuance of a one-year bond anticipation note. The Connecticut statutes state it is necessary to have the consent of the town. A consent resolution was supplied by the Association for the Board of Selectmen to sign. First Selectman Griswold stated he would have Town Atty. Marylin Clarke read the paperwork. Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the requested resolution submitted by Old Colony Beach Association subject to the
town attorney approval. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. Receipt of Police Vehicle Grant
The second police car funding in the amount of $18,090 has been received. Previously the town received $16,984.
Holiday Schedule for 2004
First Selectman Griswold presented the holiday schedule for 2004 consisting of 12 holidays, conforming to the State holiday schedule. The schedule is written in two union contracts. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the holiday schedule for 2004 as presented. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Open Space Signage – Approval of Text
The Open Space Committee would like to have signage on the open space properties to say, “Land Preserved - No motorized vehicles, no firearms, no fires or littering, no cutting or removing of materials, no camping, closed at sunset. Per order of the Old Lyme Selectmen.” Selectwoman made a motion to accept the wording. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. Selectman Sibley questioned whether there would be a fine for violators. First Selectman Griswold suggested having Open Space Chairman George James and Atty. Marylin Clarke review the enforceability. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to table the motion to the next meeting. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED
6. Public Comment:
None
7. Other Business:
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from District #18 requesting the use of the Roche property garage to store certain equipment for the duration of the ownership by the town. The equipment is to be insured by the school. Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve District #18 use of the Roche property garage subject to the insurance and other things that meet the standards of the town while the town owns the property. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Executive Session
None
Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 P.M. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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