Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, April 5, 2004
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, April 5, 2004 at
Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Approval of Minutes: March 15, 2004
Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the minutes of March 15, 2004 as written. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
Letter to DOT – Rte. 156 Access to Christ The King Construction Site
The Board of Selectmen sent a letter to the DOT on behalf of Christ The King Church regarding a temporary access to the construction site from Rte. 156. During construction, truck traffic will be able to come in from Rte. 156 into the construction site rather than using Lyme Street from I-95 or Ferry Road or McCurdy Road. While the church construction is going on, the Town of Old Lyme will also be working on the Lyme Street reconstruction.
b. Hon. William Koch – Partner in State Police Grant
First Selectman Koch requested partnership in the Old Lyme State Police Grant to reduce the cost of obtaining police coverage for Lyme. Lyme would pay 100 percent of the time and charges incurred by their town. Old Lyme will be billed by the State for 100 percent of all police coverage and will then bill Lyme for their portion of the invoice. The sargeant at the barracks will be responsible to allocate time to Lyme.
Appointments:
None
Old Business:
Town Woods Park – Grounds Maint. Bid Acceptance
The Town Woods Park Building Committee recommended the selection of Country Lawn and Garden Landscaping Company Inc. (Ron Tyler) to do the grounds maintenance for the three soccer/lacrosse fields and surrounding grass areas. This will not include the ground area around the proposed building. The bid from Steven Carroll of Turf Management for the year 2004 was $51,499 and for 2005 was $58,963. Ron Tyler’s bid was $26,025 for 2004 and $38,320 for 2005. Phil Neaton examined the Tyler bid,and it was felt that not everything was included so adjustments were made. For the year 2004 the cost will be $35,115 and for 2005 the cost will be $50,895. This will be a two-year contract. The actual cost will be affected by changing from a calendar year to a fiscal year. It will be necessary to
get the figure from the time Macnik Construction is finished, which includes six cuttings and a fertilization, to the end of the fiscal year as well as for the fiscal years of July 1 to June 30, 2005 and 2006. First Selectman Griswold suggested informing the two bidders the fact that the Tyler bid would be accepted subject to allocating the costs in the proper fashion and that the other bid would not be accepted based strictly on price consideration. First Selectman Griswold stated that the Town Attorney thought this item must be presented at a Town Meeting because it commits the town to a two-year time frame. Selectman Sibley suggested that the Turf Management bid be carefully reviewed.
Sound View Dev. Dist. – Update
Selectman Sibley reported that the Sound View Development District meeting originally scheduled for April 7, 2004 has been rescheduled to April 14, 2004. First Selectman Griswold stated that the Sound View Community Center is trying to establish a proper septic system. One idea is to put the septic system under the town’s bocce court property across the street from the center. The perk test result was good and the gravel is perfect. The Dept of Health will have to obtain DEP clearance to allow a septic system to be situated on a non-contiguous parcel. There was other discussion about additional parking on a portion of the property that is not used by the bocce court. Dennis Melluzzo, President of Sound View Beach Assoc., stated that it may be necessary to seek a variance to use town
property as a parking area. The Health Director is not in favor of using the existing septic system on the property. It was recommended that Sanitarian Ron Rose and Shoreline Sanitation President Gary Yuknat design a system to present to the State. Concerning the $350,000 State grant for the center, two appraisals have been completed and will be forwarded to the Grant Administrator at OPM as well as the Atty. General for approval. The Community Center grant will be on the OPM April agenda for clarification on the wording. First Selectman Griswold suggested creating a timeline on the sequence of events that have to be done involving the Town of Old Lyme, the Board of Selectmen, the State of Connecticut, etc.
c. Sound View Parking Committee - Recommendations
Discussion at the Sound View Parking Committee meeting concerned changing the length of parking time on Sound View Ave. The Committee proposed the west side (right side going down Sound View Ave.) be a one hour parking limit to accommodate the merchants by having a higher turnover of cars and the east side coming up be a two hour limit. There was discussion about restriping and numbering of all spaces and having a uniform length of 20 feet. The signage will be checked to be sure the signs are up and that a minimum number of words give the necessary message. Towing will be added to the signs. The towing company must have the proper equipment to handle difficult situations. It was proposed that four spaces will be available for handicap parking – two at the north end of the street and two at the
south end on the east side. DOT will be contacted regarding trailers with lighted signage to be placed on Rte. 156 near the bridge and near Four Mile River Road to inform people that the beach is full. The next meeting will be on April 12, 2004 at 8:30 P.M.
Info Technology – Update
Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that there was an informative presentation on a company called Final Site for a website. Their interest was to work with the District #18, Lyme and Old Lyme to reduce the cost. One accounting package proposal has been received and she is still waiting for more quotes.
Roche Property – Update
First Selectman Griswold stated that the District #18 Roche Property Committee will be making a recommendation at the next school board meeting to purchase the property. Dan Hagan appeared before the Historic District and related the fact that the committee does not have a current use for the property and would like to form a campus master plan group that would consider what the property might do for the campus. This decision may take four to eight months. First Selectman Griswold maintained his steadfast objection to anything that would increase parking or traffic in the vicinity of Old Lyme Town Hall.
Dist. 18/Town Utilities Connection – Update
After evaluating the emergency power connection, it was concluded that connecting the power would be costly and will not be done. The town received a proposal from the school’s engineer and the cost would be approximately $30,000 to connect the town to the school’s septic plus operating costs. The Health Dept thought the costs would not be worthwhile. The town will connect to the water line from the school. Selectman Sibley raised his concerns about First Selectman Griswold stating no interest in hooking up to the school septic system since the town hall tank has not been inspected. Selectwoman Reemsnyder agreed with Selectman Sibley. Selectman Sibley made a motion to proceed with the water hookup and to obtain cost estimates. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Reg. Household Hazardous Waste Facility – Opening Date
The Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility is targeted to open the first of May. The first collection will be in Essex.
New Business:
DEP Nonpoint Source Pollution Program – EPA Approval
First Selectman Griswold and Ted Crosby attended a function at the DEP where Connecticut was approved by the Federal Government for its Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program. In November, 2003 the program was developed by the Connecticut DEP to protect coastal waters from nonpoint sources of pollution. It received full approval from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Nonpoint source pollution is pollution picked up and carried by rain and melting snow from diffused sources including lawns, parking lots, farms, city streets and ultimately discharge into the wetlands water courses and coastal waters.
FEMA – Approval of Snow Removal Assistance (Dec 5-7, 2003)
Congressman Simmons’ office informed the towns in New London County that they will be included in the Snow Removal Assistance FEMA Program for the time period of December 5 to December 7, 2003. The town will itemize the costs of manpower, sand, etc. incurred by the storm and submit a claim to FEMA.
Possible Special Town Mtg. in April – Lyme St. Project & Town Woods Building
The Town Woods Building Committee will present the proposed building costs at the Annual Budget Meeting. Two other issues will require action. The Lyme Street reconstruction project will be done during the months of July and August. A Special Town Meeting will tentatively be held on April 19, 2004 at 7:30 P.M. to present the total cost of the project and sources of funding. It will be necessary to approve the gross budget for the project and inform people that a State and Federal grant will pay for about half of the project. The other funds have been accumulated so there will be no impact on the mill rate or next year’s budget. Also, the grounds maintenance contract for Town Woods project for 2005 and 2006 will be presented.
d. Ben Franklin Road – Sale of Portion to Adjacent Land Owners
Four landowners along a portion of Ben Franklin Road requested the town to consider selling them that part of the road that is a “paper street” and that is not utilized. Ben Franklin Road is a “paper street” from about 50 yards in from Mile Creek Road to where Meetinghouse Lane and Johnnycake Hill Road join. One of the owners has a well in the middle of Ben Franklin Road. It will be necessary to get statements from each landowner of their wishes to buy that portion of the road adjacent to their property. The town will need to quantify the value of the land since it varies in width. Approvals will be needed by the Selectmen, Board of Finance, the Planning Commission and a Town Meeting. Selectman Sibley asked if survey work will have to be done. First Selectman Griswold
stated that any incidental costs would be the responsibility of the purchasers.
e. Road Sweeping in Beach Areas – Approval & Fees
Old Colony Beach Association asked whether or not the town would entertain sweeping the beach roads for a price. John Roach of Public Works thought it could be done on an overtime basis costing Old Colony $75/hr for labor and use of the vehicle. This service may be offered to other beach associations as well as private homeowners associations on a time-available basis. Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she trusts John Roach’s judgment as to whether his department has the time to devote to this work. Selectman Sibley was concerned about the amount of projects assigned to Public Works. Selectman Sibley felt the hourly rate may be low.
Town Clerk - $7,000 Historic Preservation Grant Application
The Town Clerk will be submitting paperwork for a $7,000 grant for historic preservation of records. Previously a $5,000 grant was secured.
Public Comment:
None
Other Business:
Selectman Sibley will not be able to attend the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting on April 19, 2004 and requested the meeting be held on Friday, April 16, 2004 at 3:30 P.M. A special Board of Selectmen’s meeting will be held on April 12, 2004 at 8:00 A.M. for the purpose only of setting the agenda for the Special Town Meeting.
Executive Session:
None
Adjournment:
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:14 P.M. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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