Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, October 4, 2004
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, October 4, 2004 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Presentation by invited guest Dr. Camie Jain of Old Family Practice.
Governor M. Jodi Rell, as Lt. Governor, had espoused the month of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She encouraged all the towns to have a program to heighten the awareness of breast cancer and the necessity of examinations. The wreath over the front door of the town hall is in recognition of breast cancer awareness. A quilt made for the National Breast Cancer Awareness Week by Pat Chadwick, a breast cancer survivor, was presented to the Town of Old Lyme by a program sponsored by the Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Dr. Jain stated that American women have a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer. Mortality from cancer of all types is secondary only to heart disease. She spoke about the risk factors involved including genetics and the genetic testing that is available. Dr. Jain
encourages her patients with a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer or prostate cancer to go to genetic counseling sessions for information and/or testing. Dr. Jain emphasized that self-examinations and mammograms are the core of screening for breast cancer.
Approval of Minutes: September 20, 2004 and October 1, 2004
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the minutes of September 20, 2004 as written. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
Lyme Art Association – The Plein Air Painters of America Proclamation
First Selectman Griswold read a proclamation welcoming the Plein Air Painters of America back to Old Lyme for another workshop and seminar from October 10 through October 16, 2004. They will present over 120 water color and oil paintings scenes of Connecticut at the Lyme Art Association gallery at a public opening on October 16 and will continue through October 27, 2004. October 16, 2004 is proclaimed as the Plein Air Painters at the Lyme Art Association Day in the Town of Old Lyme.
National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut – Proclamation
First Selectman Griswold read a proclamation in honor of the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut, founded in 1940, to end discrimination of the blind and to secure first class citizenship for all blind persons. The federation represents more than 50,000 members and has developed a special education campaign, Meet the Blind Month, to create opportunities for people of Connecticut to learn first hand about the blind. Connecticut State law secures the rights of blind persons to carry and use a white cane or be accompanied by a guide dog. First Selectman Griswold proclaimed October as the National Federation of the Blind, Meet the Blind month and encouraged citizens of Old Lyme and surrounding areas to accept an invitation to meet members of the National Federation of the Blind.
Appointments:
None
Old Business:
Town Woods Park – STEAP Grant Application Were Not Approved
Sen. Eileen Daily informed First Selectman Griswold that the two STEAP grants for the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme were not acted upon. STEAP grant applications for the Town Woods Park will be resubmitted in the future.
Lyme Street Reconstruction - Update
The Town of Old Lyme was given the authorization to award the Lyme Street reconstruction contract to American Industries. The next step is to arrange a pre-construction meeting concerning the project. First Selectman Griswold and John Roach are concerned about how much time would elapse between now and the time of paving. The possibilities are 1) Postpone the project until the spring. 2) Complete the curbing and apron work now and postpone the paving until spring, 3) Do the entire project this fall. A meeting was held with Anchor Engineering who is an inspecting engineering firm. The DOT verified that the engineering expense could be submitted as part of the job, but Old Lyme would have to go through a time consuming process. The town has the choice of proceeding and sustaining the full
expense of the inspecting engineering firm (approx. $30,000) or postponing and completing the time consuming process of paperwork and advertising. Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked how the bid would be affected if the work had to be done in the spring. First Selectman Griswold responded that if the work were postponed until the paving plants reopen in the spring, the contractor would be asked to sign a price protection document, and if they are not willing to hold the price over, the project could be up for rebidding.
Information Technology Committee – Update on GIS
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated the Information Technology Committee met last week and looked over three separate quotes on the GIS system for towns. The end decision was to look at what each company provides by checking out websites designed by each. The town website will soon be available. www.oldlyme-ct.gov
Academy Lane Fire Dock - Update
At the end of Academy Lane, there is a fire dock that the Fire Dept. maintains is important for fire protection for the central part of town. Over the years, the fire dock has fallen into disrepair. The DEP could approve a permit for the work within 45 to 90 days after a consulting engineer submits a plan that conforms to the DEP requirements. The town will get a cost proposal from a firm that will help with the process.
Consumer Electronics Collection Day – Sat., October 9, 2004 9 A.M.-1 P.M. Essex Exit 4 Off Rte. 9
The Consumer Electronics Collection Day will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2004 from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. in Essex to dispose of telephones, television sets, computers, answering machines, etc. There is no charge. Brochures are available in the town hall.
New Business:
Regional Emergency Preparedness Meeting
Representatives from seventeen Connecticut towns attended a Regional Emergency Preparedness meeting in Old Saybrook. The purpose was to open a dialogue between directors of Emergency Management and Boards of Selectmen. This was an overview on where the towns are and where they are going and what the towns can do in a regional fashion. One observation was there are 22 geographic boundaries in our area in the emergency planning. More meetings and information will follow.
Lower the Level of Rogers Lake in October for Seawall Maintenance
The Board of Selectmen has received requests from citizens living around Rogers Lake to lower the level of the lake to repair seawalls. On a four-year cycle, the lake is lowered for that purpose. First Selectman Griswold will speak with members of the Rogers Lake Authority to request lowering the lake 12 to 18 inches. Selectman Sibley inquired about the dam. First Selectman Griswold reported that a meeting took place with Steve Gepart, of the Fisheries section of the DEP, about fixing the gate at the dam. A decision must be made about whether a fish ladder will be added at the same time. Mr. Gepard recommends the town include a provision for the fish ladder when it submits its application to repair the dam. It would consist of a concrete exit structure at the top of the dam, and it
would not require the construction of the entire fishway until all relevant parties were in agreement. If the fishway were included at the outset, funding would be available through the Connecticut Watershed Council for the fishway. If the town failed to provide for a fishway and the DEP required the same, the town would have to bear the cost for the fishway. Thus, it is wise to provide for the fishway.
Public Comment:
Democrat Registrar of Voters Pat McCarthy stated that next week the registrars would be registering the 18-year-old students at the high school who want to become voters. She made an appeal to parents to encourage their 18-year-old young adults to register. Special voter making sessions will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2004 from 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. and on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. October 19th is the last day to register to vote for this election. Only those who become 18 years old after that date, or someone who has just moved into town, or someone who becomes a U.S. citizen after October 19 can register. Seventeen-year-olds can register to vote in the next election. Those who apply for an absentee ballot must be out of town the day of
the election, ill and, therefore, cannot vote in person. An application must be filled out before the Town Clerk can issue an absentee ballot.
First Selectman Griswold stated that a supply of gunlocks will be available in town hall and at the police station at no cost. They are designed to make a gun inoperable.
Selectman Sibley stated that the next SVDD meeting will be held in the Probate Court in town hall on Wednesday, October 6, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. instead of the Sound View Community Center.
First Selectman Griswold reported that the town hall cat, Marmalade, was featured in the TV section of the DAY newspaper on Sunday, October 3.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked about the two political town committees’ gentlemen’s agreement regarding no political signs. First Selectman Griswold stated that Old Lyme has had a long and proud history of not having political signs.
On Thursday, October 21, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. at Cherrystones Restaurant, the Chamber of Commerce will host State Senate candidates Mark Diebolt , Andrea Stillman, State Rep. candidates Marilyn Guiliano and Edward Wilhelms.
Other Business:
None
Executive Session:
None
Adjournment:
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 P.M. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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