Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, June 7, 2004
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, June 7, 2004 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Approval of Minutes: April 11 (Special Meeting) and May 17, 2004
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the minutes of April 11, 2004. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED. Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested the minutes of May 17 be amended as follows: 2.b. Old Lyme Rowing Association: change the name of Ann Selvino to Nan Selvino. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the amended minutes of May 17, 2004. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
Secretary of State – Electronic Voting Machines
The Secretary of the State informed the Board that it is premature for her office to recommend an allocation of funds by the municipality at this time to purchase electronic voting machines. The State of Connecticut is requiring the purchase and installation of one electronic voting machine per polling place by January 1, 2006. The Federal government has already distributed $5,000,000 to the State to meet this requirement. The Secretary of the State’s office has not decided on the type of electronic machines that will be purchased nor is it requiring any budgetary allocations by the municipalities at this time. First Selectman Griswold stated that the touch tone electronic machines will accommodate 250 voters per machine. The optical scanning machines we now own accommodate the whole
town. The new machines incorporate the handicap requirements that the optical scanning machines do not. The Town of Old Lyme has not budgeted for a new machine. Selectman Sibley asked whether there was anything the town could do proactively to voice our concerns. First Selectman Griswold answered that the Registrars do not favor the touch tone technology and have informed the Secretary of State. First Selectman Griswold added that perhaps the Registrars Association should take a position and communicate that position to the Secretary of State.
DEP – Ecological Experiment in Rogers Lake
The DEP received a request for a permit from a professor from Yale University to study alewife and water quality in Rogers Lake. He wishes to have a raft with buoys from which to conduct experiments. Selectman Griswold wanted to inform the residents that this work would be going on in the lake.
Appointments:
a. Richard Smith, Sr. (U) – Rogers Lake Authority – 3 Yr Term to January 2007
Several members of the Rogers Lake Authority recommended Richard Smith, Sr. (U) of 24 Rogers Lake Trail be appointed to their group. Mr. Smith is a concerned environmentalist, a Connecticut State forest practitioner, licensed boater for 40 years and has a State of Connecticut DEP applicator certificate. Selectman Sibley made a motion to appoint Richard Smith, Sr. to the Rogers Lake Authority for a 3-year term ending January, 2007. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Old Business:
Roche Property – Recommend Sale of Property to Dist. 18 at a price of $381,000 to Board of Finance and to Town Meeting
The Town of Old Lyme purchased the Roche property on Lyme Street fifteen months ago at a price of $363,000. In concert with the Board’s prior statement, it is proposed that the town sell the property to District #18 at a price of $381,000 to reflect the expenses incurred by the town such as insurance, the lost interest on the funds at 1.46% and other direct expenses. Selectman Sibley made a motion to recommend the sale of the Roche property at 47 Lyme Street to Regional District #18 at a price of $381,000 subject to the approvals of the Board of Finance and the Town Meeting. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED. The proposed Town Meeting is tentatively scheduled for June 28, 2004 at the Middle School Auditorium at 7:30 P.M.
Town Woods Park – Update
A meeting was recently held to determine where to place the building at the Town Woods Park. In attendance at the meeting were the surveyor, the builder, an Inland-Wetlands representative, and a Sanitation representative. Another meeting was held this morning with Mr. Machnik to review the work to be done on the site for Phase I, which is almost completed. First Selectman Griswold reported that the State of Connecticut STEAP Program is still active. The Towns of Lyme and Old Lyme will apply for grants again to this program to offset the costs of Phase II of the project.
Sound View Design District – Update
Selectman Sibley reported that at the last meeting on June 3, 2004, the SVDD committee discussed five or six points they want to incorporate into the original draft of modifications of zoning regulations for the Sound View Design District. The next meeting is June 24, 2004 at 7:30 P.M. at the Sound View Community Center.
d. Info. Tech. Committee - Update
A meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2004 to look at another website development company that was introduced at the E Gov Expo in New Haven. A recommendation will be made for the company that will be implementing the GIS system.
Town Hall Sewer Connection – Letter to District #18
First Selectman Griswold sent a letter to Chairman of the Board of Education Lynn Fairfield-Sonn explaining that the town hall does not need the sewer connection with the school. Shoreline Sanitation tested soil samples at the town hall property and reported the soil is suitable for any future repairs. Additional space will be available on the property since the town hall will no longer be using the well. The Old Lyme Town Hall will be hooked up to the school’s water supply.
f. Church Corner Committee - Update
At the last meeting of the Church Corner Committee, discussion centered on sidewalks and parking issues on Ferry Road, McCurdy Road and Lyme Street. One thought was to move telephone poles on McCurdy Road closer to the houses. Other issues to be discussed are architectural plans and funding.
Town Hall Facilities Committee – Update
An engineering company looked at the structure of the town hall and will put together specifications to go out to a broader group of engineers to make the town hall compliant with ADA, fire codes and more available space.
h. FOI Training Session
The FOI training session was held on May 27, 2004 and information was distributed to the various committees and commissions.
Halls Road Sidewalk
Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked about the update on the Halls Road sidewalk. First Selectman Griswold replied that company that will install the rail is in the process of obtaining a permit from the State. It is hoped the work will begin in July.
New Business:
Request for Temporary State Trooper to Cover for Officer Wojcik
Officer Wojcik has not worked for the town since April, 2004. First Selectman Griswold wrote to Lt. McClean of Troop F requesting a temporary trooper effective June 1 for a time frame to be determined.
Sound View Beach Assoc. – Septic System Agreement
Town Attorney Marylin Clarke has prepared a proposed easement agreement for the Sound View Community Center septic system on the bocce court property. A separate agreement will be prepared that will apply if the property ceases to be a community center giving the town the right to impose a charge for use of the septic system.
Fleet Bank Deposit Account Resolution
Treasurer Bea McClean has asked that the Board pass a resolution to open three new checking accounts at the auditors request:
Landfill Closure Account
Town Woods Park Account
Lyme Street Reconstruction Account
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to open the three above-mentioned accounts.
Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Boston Post Road Tree Work for Northeast Utilities
First Selectman Griswold notified the Old Lyme Tree Commission and Tree Warden that trees are being trimmed on the Boston Post Road for Northeast Utilities.
Thomas A. Fox Memorial Bridge Sign
One of the sons of Mr. Thomas A. Fox approached State Senator Ciotto in Hartford and requested a bridge be named in honor of his father who was a former summer resident. Senator Ciotto is on the transportation committee and this became part of a transportation bill passed by both houses and signed by the Governor. The Thomas A Fox Memorial Bridge sign is located on Route 156 on the Lieutenant River. First Selectman Griswold wrote a letter to the editor of the DAY newspaper questioning how something of that significance could be designated in our town without town officials having knowledge or approval of it. First Selectman Griswold recommended that the system be changed to require the local community approval. It is an official act signed by the State Legislature and Governor. Local townspeople have
expressed dissatisfaction with the process. It has been suggested to contact the Fox family and see what their view is in light of the controversy.
Mark Diebolt requested that the Board of Selectmen propose a resolution to show the Board’s disapproval without consent. Mr. Diebolt designed a petition to gather signatures from the citizens of Old Lyme during the next couple of weeks. It is hoped State Senator Melodie Peters who lives in Old Lyme will sign the petition and rescind what she had previously voted for. The petition states: We the undersigned citizens of the Town of Old Lyme petition the members of the State, House and Senate. We strongly disapprove of their renaming of our local Lieutenant River Bridge without the advice, consent or even notification of our local government. Furthermore, we call upon them to immediately amend the process by which such decisions are made. We respectfully request that they act to
insure that the advice and consent of local elected officials throughout the State is obtained before their sites in their towns are named or renamed by the legislature. First Selectman Griswold suggested preparing an official letter or resolution for the next Board meeting to be sent to Hartford.
Public Comment:
Heidi Fields, a concerned storeowner, spoke about the parking problems on Hartford Avenue. The commercial parking spaces are being used by people going to the beach who sometimes remove garbage cans, cones and construction tape to make room for parking. She suggested eliminating the 15-minute parking signs and rewording the area to commercial parking only. She is also concerned about vandalism in the area. First Selectman Griswold stated that the parking area should soon be striped and see if that makes a difference.
First Selectman Griswold reported that the Pleasant Valley Association located in Lyme is the organization working against the gravel pit. Public hearings will be held on June 14, 22, 28 at 7:30 P.M. at the Lyme Consolidated School to review the importance of the issues surrounding the proposed gravel operations of industrial proportions on Beaver Brook Road.
There is a proposed information meeting scheduled for Wednesday, June 23, 2004 for Lyme Street residents and business owners concerning the Lyme Street project to be done this summer. The Zoning Board of Appeals is considering an application from Kathy Boulanger who want to have a licensed parking lot at the end of Portland Avenue and Swan Avenue. First Selectman Griswold will write a letter to ZBA stating that the Board does not support an additional parking area because the extra crowding would put more of a strain on services, sanitation and public safety.
The next Board of Selectmen meeting will be held on June 21, 2004 at 4:00 P.M.
Selectman Sibley expressed his appreciation to all who worked on the Memorial Day parade and the celebration at the cemetery. A special thanks to Tony Hendriks and the students who wrote essays.
Other Business:
None
Executive Session:
None
9. Adjournment:
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:08 P.M. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
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