Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, July 19, 2004
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, July 19, 2004 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Approval of Minutes: July 2, 2004
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the minutes of July 2, 2004. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
Lynn Fairfield-Sonn, District #18 – Response to Septic Fill Letter
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from Chairman of the Lyme-Old Lyme School Board Lynn Fairfield-Sonn in response to the questions the Board of Selectmen had concerning the septic system fill at the high school. In her letter, Lynn stated that the difference between the estimated cost of adding six inches of material to the septic field for the town’s possible use and a proposal from the contractor to reduce 12 inches of material is simply the difference between a planning estimate and a contractor’s proposal. The town will not be using the septic connection, but will connect to the water supply at the school.
Appointments:
None
Old Business:
Roche Property – Interest from Potential Bidders
A sign has been put on the Roche property indicating that the Town of Old Lyme is the seller and to call the Old Lyme Town Hall to schedule an appointment. Bids will be opened on August 16 at 2:00 P.M. and should be accompanied by a bank check representing 10 percent of the offer. The check from the successful bidder will be non- refundable. If the highest bidder fails to close in accordance with the terms, the Board of Selectmen will have the right to award it to the next highest bidder or possibly reject the bids if they are too low and start the process again. The closing will take place on or before September 30, 2004. A revision has been made to the terms applying to the transaction. There is no underground oil tank. The contents will be sold with the house. The property will be sold “as
is”. The inspection report will be made available. If a realtor brings in the successful bidder, the realtor’s commission will be three percent paid by the town. The high bid by a realtor will be determined by comparing the net proceeds to the town after the commission to the next highest bid.
Town Woods Park - Update
The new survey on the building site presented to the Inland/Wetlands Commission by the Town Woods Park committee was accepted. The survey showed the building in its revised position out of the 100-ft. wetland area. A water test is being obtained on the drilled well. It is expected that Todd Machnik will start the site work for the building this week and Steve Hallahan will commence construction soon thereafter. The committee will determine whether games will be played this fall on the fields.
Sound View Parking Committee - Update
The Sound View Parking committee discussed violations by the licensed parking lot owners. Some of them were observed parking cars in excess of the maximum spaces in the lot. Discussion was on the number of cars the owner/operator can have on the site in addition to the allowed spaces. The permit stipulates a certain number of cars depending on the number of lined spaces. Cars have been towed from spaces on Hartford Avenue that are marked 15-minutes only. There has been a number of parking ticket appeals. Sound View has closed twice this summer due to Rocky Neck closing and people then go to beaches in Old Lyme. Trooper Todd said using the I-95 information signage is not working out. The committee would like to meet with the bar owners to remind them that over serving patrons is illegal and could
result in tragedy. The committee is trying to get letters from business property owners along Route 156 to enable the police to ticket and tow vehicles that park in empty retail establishments primarily on Sunday. Curtailing the amount of parking will lower the number of people at the beaches. The next meeting will be August 2, 2004 at 8:00 A.M. Selectman Sibley suggested inviting the two bar owners to the next meeting.
d. Sound View Community Center – Parking Proposal and Funding Proposal
The State of Connecticut has rescinded the grant of $350,000 for the Sound View Community Center earmarked to fund many of the improvements. Gail Fuller, Vice President of Sound View Beach Association, stated that State informed her that the request did not comply with the statutory requirements. Gail sent a letter to the Board of Selectmen outlining that, in December of 2003, the Selectmen had voted to approve $53,000 of which $19,000 would be recommended to the Board of Finance for approval and the remaining $34,000 would be a 2-1 split and would go to a town meeting for approval. At a later meeting, that was deferred because of the expected State grant. Gail requested to continue the process that was voted on in December, 2003. Now that the town has allowed the community center to build a new septic
system on the bocce court property instead of repairing the old system, the $13,000 previously requested will not be enough. From last fall until now very little work has been done. Gail will attend the next Board of Finance meeting. First Selectman Griswold said the total proposal should be evaluated at a town meeting. Gail would like to get the septic system and bathroom in as soon as possible and will contact Ron Rose and Gary Yuknat to see what the septic system will cost and will get a timeframe for the work to be done.
e. Info Technology – Funding Proposal
Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the GIS System will be put on hold while she and Ted Crosby get more information on comparison pricing. Concerning the town website, Virtual Town Hall and Final Site are two website companies of interest. Final Site works with school districts and is branching out to work with towns. When initially talking about the website with Virtual Town Hall, the cost of $5,750 would be used to develop and get the website online plus an annual fee of $3,000. Virtual Town Hall agrees to prorate the annual fee from September 1 through July; bringing the cost down $2,500. The Final Site fee is $10,000 yearly plus the calendar modular for $2,750 totaling $12,750 each year. Virtual Town Hall pricing includes first year additional service hours cost of $8,000 for developing the website that includes the calendar. Selectwoman Reemsnyder is in favor of using Virtual Town Hall. Selectman Sibley suggested asking District #18 and Lyme if they would be interested in
using the Virtual Town Hall system for their use. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to hold the GIS accounting package and the training until a later time. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
f. Lyme Street Reconstruction – Update
The town has not received State clearance to advertise the Lyme Street reconstruction project in the newspaper, trade magazines, etc. As a result, the project will not be accomplished before school starts. The State funds have been approved, but the paperwork is being held up by the Attorney General’s office.
g. Town Hall Facilities Committee – Update
The Town Hall Facilities committee meeting was held on July 8, 2004. Laura
Champion from of Gibble, Norden, Champion and Brown of Old Saybrook stated that her services would include finding the town hall problems and then quantifying what has to be done. This work would include a general code review of the building and what would trigger costly code compliance work. A floor plan of the building will be created. When her report is complete, the town can request proposals from architech-engineering firms if it wants. She also indicated that there is a free resource from Quality Base Selection that are facilitators and advisors to towns that are put together by trade associations. First Selectman Griswold sent a memo to the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance detailing what Laura reported and indicated there was a cost of $2,800 for her work and $1,500 to create a plan of the building.
Selectman Sibley made a motion to recommend to the Board of Finance to spend an amount not to exceed $4,300 to get the report on the feasibility study and also get drawings of the present floor plan of the town hall. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Thomas Fox Bridge – Scheduled Meeting with Senator Ciotto
First Selectman Griswold scheduled a meeting on Monday, July 26, 2004 with Sen. Ciotto, Sen. Peters, Rep. Giuliano and the Commissioner of Transportation or a designate regarding the naming of the Thomas Fox Bridge on Route 156.
New Business:
a. Hillhouse Property Homeowners Assoc. – Private Road Agreement
Jeff Flower was scheduled to talk about a declaration of private road and maintenance agreement. Since he was not in attendance at the meeting, the topic will be carried over to the next Board of Selectmen meeting.
Adelphia Cable Advisory Council – Meeting with Management
First Selectman Griswold met with Mike Leone who is the regional representative of Adelphia in Andover, MA. The new regional manager for our franchise is Maureen Goslin. The staff at Adelphia will work with people producing shows by making the studio available. Adelphia is still on a temporary extension on their franchise. Broadband is available from Adelphia throughout Old Lyme, especially for those who are not in the SNET area. Bankruptcy is having an impact on the operation, but the business is operating and refranchising will be next.
c. MacCurdy Salisbury Educ. Foundation – Sale of Property to State
The State of Connecticut and the MacCurdy Salisbury Education Foundation closed on the 180 acres on Town Woods Road at a price of $620,000. Old Lyme paid a $25,000 contribution from the Land Acquisition Fund that was approved at a town meeting a couple of years ago and Lyme will do the same. The sale will liquidate the real estate and put $670,000 into the endowment fund that will help the amount of scholarship money given to Lyme and Old Lyme students.
Mid-Summer Festival & Fireworks – July 31, 2004
The Mid-Summer Festival will feature Russian Wranglers at the Florence Griswold Museum on Friday, July 30, 2004. On Saturday morning and early afternoon, activities will be held at the Art Association and Florence Griswold museum. The town is sponsoring fireworks behind Center School on Saturday, July 31 after 9:00 P.M.
e. Halls Road Sidewalk
Selectman Sibley asked about the sidewalk on Halls Road. First Selectman Griswold stated the guardrail will be moved to accommodate a macadam sidewalk and the sidewalk will be paved. Extra police help will be required for pedestrians.
Public Comment:
None
Other Business:
None
Executive Session:
None
Adjournment:Selectman Sibley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:39 P.M. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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