Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, December 15, 2003
Moment of Silence for Deb O’Meara – Deputy Registrar of Voters
Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the minutes of December 1, 2003 as written.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
Letter to District #18 – Roche Property
First Selectman Griswold read a letter from the Board to District #18 stating that the Roche property is not useful to the town as additional office space and recommended the property be offered for sale to the district. If the district cannot justify using the property, the Roche Property Committee recommended the property be sold as a single-family house. The purpose of the letter was to notify the district that the town offers the Roche property to the district at a purchase price to be determined (town purchase price was $363,000). The offer stands until March 31, 2004.
Appointments: Status of Response Letters
The Board has received most of the requested responses of the incumbents as to whether they want to continue in their positions on boards and commission. Most have elected to continue. First Selectman Griswold sent a letter to Chris Oliviera who is Chairman of the Republican Town Committee and David Woolley, Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee indicating the responses of the incumbents. Chris Oliviera requested the appointments be made at the second Board of Selectmen meeting in January to give the town committee more time to consider the vacancies.
Old Business:
Town Woods Park – Interviews with Design Firm
The Town Woods Park Committee has been interviewing design firms for the proposed building. The goal is to have cost information on the building available for a vote at the annual Town Meeting in January.
Town Hall/School Utilities Connection – Engineering Proposal
The First Selectman met with District #18’s consulting engineer, WMC, Inc., to evaluate the requirements to bring water and sewer connections from the school campus to the town hall. A domestic water line would be for the building use and another water line would be used to hook into the fire suppressant system for sprinklers; each requiring different size pipes. The engineering firm quoted a cost of not more than $5,000. First Selectman Griswold will bring this information to the Board of Finance to request this fiscal year budget cover the cost. Also, a meeting with the SNET representative discussed combining the town’s phone system with the school, but this is not likely since the town hall and school have different needs. Selectman Sibley made a motion that the Board of
Selectmen recommend to the Board of Finance an expenditure not to exceed $5,000 for the engineering costs for the water and sewer connection. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Information Technology Committee – Status
Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that she met with Ted Crosby and Charlie Delinks who have been working on the GIS system and also an accounting package. They will be visiting towns which currently use GIS software to evaluate their systems. Ted Crosby stated that the committee is trying to have budget figures available by mid-January. When the Tax Assessors office compiles the final grand list for the year, it will be given to the present contractor, James Soule, who will integrate the information into the new GIS plan. First Selectman Griswold suggested having part of the committee work on information about the GIS system and another work on the financial aspect.
Sound View Design District Committee – Status
Selectman Sibley would like the SVDD Committee to meet on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 to go over the draft that was put together by the Task Force so the information can be submitted to zoning in February, 2004.
Household Hazardous Waste Facility – Operator Selection
Clean Harbors has been selected to be the operator of the regional household hazardous waste facility. The towns from which the vehicles come will be charged on a per vehicle basis. The cost per vehicle will be determined annually.
Open Space Signage – Update
First Selectman Griswold asked the police about the enforcement of signage. The trooper responded rules are now used to handle violators in parks. An ordinance might be necessary for town violations not covered under the existing ordinances but we will see how things go before drafting any new ordinances.
New Business:
Millstone Drill
The town performed well in an emergency Millstone drill last week. There will be a more significant rated exercise in September, 2004.
Baldwin Bridge – Scheduled DOT Repairs
First Selectman Griswold attended a meeting with the DOT in which plans were discussed to make repairs to minor cracks on the Baldwin Bridge. This work will be done between the end of December to mid-May.
6. Public Comment:
Evan Griswold, a member of the Conservation Commission, spoke on the proposal to separate the Inland Wetlands Commission and the Conservation Commission. The Inland Wetlands Commission would remain as a regulatory commission hearing applications and issuing permits for activities in regulated areas. The creation of a separate Conservation Commission would act as an advisory commission to the town. There are a number of issues that come up in the course of the Inland Wetlands applications that do not always address some of the conservation issues. It creates a situation whereby members of the Conservation Commission would like to speak to issues pertaining to conservation that do not necessarily have a direct impact on inland wetlands and water courses or the regulations that the State has
promulgated to regulate those areas. The original intent of the Conservation Commission was to be an advisory and a regulatory body but it now needs to function independently of the Inland Wetlands. Open space would be relegated to the Conservation Commission to manage and provide stewardship. It would assess the needs of areas such as the Fairfax and Ames properties, providing recreational trails, timber management for woodland improvement and wildlife, watershed protection, protection of the town’s drinking water, air quality and inventories of natural resources. The Open Space Committee would remain a separate subcommittee of the Conservation Commission. The Conservation Commission would educate the public via pamphlets, books, and closed access television on town conservation issues such as ground water protection against pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. The complexity and number of applications to the Inland Wetlands Commission
allows no time to spend looking at other conservation issues. First Selectman Griswold stated that drafting new regulations would not be difficult. Ellie Czarnowski stated that the intention of creating a separate commission is not to be a resource drain on the current commission so there will not be a loss of personnel on the current commission. First Selectman Griswold stated that a recommendation and endorsement from the Conservation Commission and Ann Brown would be important. Evan Griswold gave the Board of Selectmen a draft ordinance to be followed up by a formal memo signed by Chairman Tom Degnan.
First Selectman Griswold reported that the Long Island License Plate Fund is accepting new proposals up until March 17, 2004 for development of public outreach and education programs to increase the public’s awareness of the need to preserve and protect Long Island Sound resources, increase or enhance public access, protect and restore habitat and support scientific research.
The Assessor suggested that the Social Services Director take over the renter’s rebate program for the elderly and totally disabled. The Assessor’s office has no direct involvement in qualifying people for the program since it is based on income. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to transfer the renter’s rebate program obligation to the Social Services Director. The motion was seconded by Selectman Sibley. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley recommended a workshop on the Freedom of Information legislative changes. Members of the boards and commissions would be invited. More information will follow.
Other Business:
None
Executive Session:
None
Adjournment:
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:43 P.M. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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