Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, March 1, 2004
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, March 1, 2004 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Approval of Minutes: February 17, 2004
Selectwoman Reemsnyder requested the minutes of February 17, 2004 include the definition of the Community Coalition activities on page 3 under 6. Public Comment: The Community Coalition is a group of Old Lyme and Lyme citizens who gather every month to discuss how we can make a difference in our community and serve as catalysts for advancing the greater good. Over the past two years, topics have ranged from public trust and personal responsibility to adolescent substance abuse and the power to reach across generations in our community. The Community Coalition has no official authority or political agenda. The monthly dialogue is the Coalition’s work and the value of that work is measured by our individual and collective ability to put our core values into practice. Selectman Sibley made
a motion to accept the amended minutes of February 17, 2004. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
Rep. James Spallone
A letter was received from State Rep. James Spallone informing First Selectman Griswold there will be a public hearing on bill no. 5526 that could be important to the lower Connecticut valley region. The bill would retain the conveyance tax increase from last year and would require that the difference between the old tax and the new tax go into a designated fund to be used for open space acquisition, farm land preservation, brown field remediation and/or recreational land acquisition. The bill would result in towns’ banking funds for these important surfaces. It would also specifically authorize harbor management commissions in drafting harbor management plans to develop standards and criteria for the construction and location of residential docks and standards and criteria for management of scenic
resources and visual impacts within their municipal waters. First Selectman Griswold agrees with maintaining the tax.
USS Connecticut Scholarship Program
Information is available in the Old Lyme Town Hall for dependents and/or persons who are past or present crewmembers of the USS Connecticut for submitting applications to access money for further education.
Appointments:
Anne Bing (D) – Alternate – Tree Commission – 1 yr. Term to January 2005
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to appoint Anne Bing as an alternate member
on the Tree Commission for a 1 yr. term to January, 2005. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Old Business:
a. Town Woods - Update
The Town Woods Committee will meet to discuss the cost of the building. A proposal will be presented to the Lyme and Old Lyme Boards of Selectmen, Boards of Finance, and town meetings.
b. Town Forum
Departments, Boards and Commission chairmen spoke on their areas of responsibilities. There was a special presentation by Bob Dunn, Chairman of the Town Woods Building Committee about the possible recreation building. Teri Lewis and Katie Balocca discussed the fundraising activities for a playground at the park. The Forum, which is held every six months, is a way for citizens to learn what is going on in town.
c. Approval of Smith Barney to Manage the Emerg. Services Incentive Plan Funds
The Emergency Services Incentive Plan for the Fire Department and Ambulance Association will involve an annual funding by the town to be divided by the number of active volunteers. This point system would apply to those who are approved and certified to be eligible. The idea is to attract and retain volunteers. The sum of $35,000 is in the current budget and would probably increase based on additional volunteers and inflation. Each volunteer would have his/her own account in which the funds would be deposited and would have a choice of ten investment vehicles they would select. At age 65, the volunteers would have access to the accumulated funds. The Pension Committee interviewed six firms to manage the plan and recommended Smith Barney be selected. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion
to approve Smith Barney to manage the Emergency Services Incentive Plan funds. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the firm of Kissel, Neal and Tobin for the annual administration. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
d. SVDD – Update
Selectman Sibley reported that there is an SVDD special meeting with Zoning on Wednesday, March 3 at 7:30 P.M.
e. Sound View Parking Committee – Schedule Meeting and Agenda
First Selectman Griswold would like the Sound View Parking Committee to meet during the next few weeks to review the activities of last year and listen to citizen input.
f. Roche Property – Status
It is expected that more information will be discussed at the Leadership meeting at the school on Friday, March 5, concerning the Roche property.
g. Info. Tech
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that cost figures for the GIS system are being gathered to be presented to the Board of Finance. Two companies will do presentations on software during the month of March or April. At the Leadership meeting with the school on Friday, March 5, the accounting update will be addressed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder and Ted Crosby have been looking at companies that can give more flexibility in the updating of information. It is expected that each department in the town will be able to update its own information.
New Fire Truck Delivery
The new fire truck is due to arrive in a week.
New Business:
a. Clean Harbors – Resolution – Reg. Household Hazardous Waste Facility
First Selectman Griswold read a resolution agreement prepared for the approval of the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen regarding the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Selectman Sibley made a motion to accept the resolution. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Old Lyme Fire Dept - $104,000 Grant
The Old Lyme Fire Dept was a recipient of $104,000 grant from U.S. Government. The grant will enable the department to upgrade its radio capability. John Mittleman prepared the grant and Congressman Simmons’ office moved the grant through the process.
Paramedic Service – Regional $10,000 Grant
The Regional Selectmen’s Association, through the Town of Chester, submitted a grant application for $10,000 to study the paramedic service options. In the case of Old Lyme, Middlesex Hospital requested the town pay $17,000 for paramedic services. The regional towns would like to know what options exist.
Bioterrorism Plan
The Town of Old Lyme received two grants from the State of Connecticut to assist in the preparation of a Bioterrorism Plan.
Public Comment:
Gail Fuller, Vice President of the Sound View Beach Association, reported that she will have to go before the Bond Commission again on March 26, 2004 regarding paying of the mortgage on the Sound View Community Center. She must also get two appraisals to show the value is actually more than the price paid. Gail will prepare a list of the items that will be covered by the grant as well as items that are needed but not covered. Gail also referred to a previous request to use the bocce court land for a septic system and parking lot. It is necessary to get written permission from the town to have a deep hole perk test done. First Selectman Griswold will speak with John Roach about getting the perk test done.
Dino DiNino from Hartford Avenue would like to be notified about revitalization meetings in Sound View. He also feels the 78 on-street free parking spaces on Hartford Avenue fill up by people attending the beach, not by people shopping in the stores. This has an effect on the owners of the permitted lots.
Diana Johnson spoke about making the town hall more accessible to the handicapped for meetings. First Selectman Griswold replied that to make the building more accessible it would require sprinklers throughout the building, changing the lobby area in compliance with the fire code, etc. One option would be to build an addition to the building that could be self-contained with fire doors, fire walls, etc. An elevator is an option. Mrs. Johnson suggested a study committee to evaluate the options. She mentioned Christ The King property on Lyme Street that will be for sale as an option.
Other Business:
First Selectman Griswold stated there would be a significant number of dump trucks bringing material to the leaching field behind the school.
Selectman Sibley asked whether First Selectman Griswold sent a letter to Linda Krause regarding the DOT planning grant for Sound View. First Selectman Griswold responded that he has not written the letter yet. Selectman Sibley made mention of setting up an FOI meeting.
Executive Session:
None
Adjournment:
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:32 P.M. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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