Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, October 18, 2004
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, October 18, 2004 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Approval of Minutes: October 4, 2004
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the minutes of October 4, 2004 as written. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to accept the minutes of special meetings of October 1, 2004 and October 13, 2004. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
First Selectman Fraser – Preservation Partnership for the Niantic River Area
First Selectman Griswold received a copy of a letter that East Lyme First Selectman Wayne Fraser sent to Gov. Rell, Congressman Simmons, and the DEP Commissioner. Mr. Fraser requested a meeting be held on October 25, 2004 to form a Preservation Partnership. He stated that with funds from all levels of government and working with all interested land trusts and special interest organizations, a partnership to preserve could be established. Grants and appropriations would help pay fair land prices to the landowners and offer tax incentives for donated land or reduced selling prices. Also included with the letter was a map showing 600 acres of environmentally sensitive land along the westerly shore of the Niantic River.
Appointments:
None
Old Business:
Lyme Street Reconstruction – Update
On Friday, October 15, 2004, the Town of Old Lyme signed a contract with American Industries. The work will begin on Lyme Street on Monday, October 25, 2004. Once the curbing work is done, the decision will be made whether or not to pave. Selectwoman Reemsnyder inquired about a crosswalk in front of the Day Care Center and Youth Service Bureau.
Information Technology Committee – Update
Distict #18 and the Town of Old Lyme are working together on computer training for the town hall staff. High school teacher, Tammy Stearns, will teach the courses after the election and will be using the high school computer lab in the library. The staff will be divided into two groups to provide for coverage in town hall departments and will meet at the high school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2:30 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. On Friday, when there are teacher workshops, the lab will be available. In the near future, staff members in each department will update the website. The Information Technology Committee is working on GIS proposals.
Academy Lane Firedock – Engineering Proposal
Docko Inc. from Mystic, Connecticut is prepared to submit a proposal to the DEP regarding the engineering work to be done on the firedock at the end of Academy Lane. If accepted, the DEP will issue a Certificate of Permission. Docko estimates the engineering costs will be $6900.
Town Woods park – Update
The cement slabs have been poured for the building at Town Woods Park. Builder Steve Hallihan will start the framing this week. Dogs have become an important issue, and it is agreed that dogs not be allowed in the park. Signs will be posted.
Rte. 156 Bike Path – Discussion with DOT
White Sand Beach resident Tom Zipp had previously inquired about a bike path on Rte. 156. There will be a meeting with a representative from the DOT to discuss the possibility of a bike path. There is no funding at this time. Selectman Sibley stated
that the Hartford Avenue Task Force spent time discussing a bike path that would link the residents in town to the beach community area.
Hazardous Household Waste Collection – Last Dates Are Oct. 23 & Oct 30
The Household Hazardous Waste Collection facility will close for the season after October 30, 2004.
5. New Business:
a. Flexible Spending Account (Sect. 125) for Full-Time Employees
The town hall employees are entering into a Flexible Spending Account in which the employees put money into an account in their name on a pre-taxed basis may be spent on medical, dental, parental, and day care expenses not covered by insurance.
b. Probate Court – New Funding Proposals by Judge Lawler
Judge Lawler’s first proposal for the Probate Court system was to consolidate 123 courts into 50 courts. His second proposal provides that courts which serve over 50,000 people would be supported entirely by the Probate Court system and courts that do not would be given a per capita reimbursement of $2 per person (based on the town’s/city’s population) ($15,800) and would be responsible to pay all the court costs including salary of the Judge, the medical benefits, etc. which could amount to over $100,000. The Town of Old Lyme budget for the Probate Court is $3,400 a year. All the fees the residents pay to use the court go to Hartford. Lyme and Old Lyme are positive cash flows to the court system. The proposals will be discussed in the legislative session.
6. Public Comment:
Democrat Registrar of Voters Pat McCarthy reminded the residents that tomorrow, October 19, is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming election. The registrars will be in their office tomorrow until 8:00 P.M. She requested that interested residents bring identification. All registrations sent by mail must include a photocopy of a Connecticut driver’s license and be postmarked October 19. Twenty-three high school students registered. All but one were 17 years old and will be eligible to vote after their next birthday.
Other Business:
Selectman Sibley made a correction on the executive session minutes of October 1. The time should be corrected from 10:00 A.M. to 12:20 A.M. should read from 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. The minutes of October 13 should be corrected to reflect that Selectman Sibley was not present at that meeting. Selectman Sibley reported that the SVDD meeting was cancelled the day of the meeting. The next meeting will be announced.
Executive Session:
None
Adjournment:
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to adjourn at 6:05 P.M. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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