The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, August 1, 2005 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Approval of Minutes: July 18, 2005
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the minutes of July 18, 2005 as written. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
State of CT – OPM – Approval of $20,000 STEAP Grant for Playground
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from the Office of Policy and Management confirming that the Town of Old Lyme has been awarded a STEAP grant in the amount of $20,000 for the construction and expansion of the Town Woods playground. Mr. Griswold thanked Rep. Marilyn Giuliano who was instrumental in making this possible.
Lyme and Old Lyme are on a STEAP list to receive $150,000 each for phase II in the 2007 allocation, but will have to wait until the Bond Commission votes to see whether or not it is a sure thing.
Appointments:
None
Old Business:
Lyme Street Reconstruction Project – Update
The reconstruction project on Lyme Street is in the final stages of repairing and replacing sidewalk panels in the area of Library Lane and the ice cream shop. Aprons have been installed near Ferry Road and the sidewalk at Library Lane has a handicap ramp. A grate will be installed at Beckwith Lane for drainage. Crosswalks will be in place before school opens.
Information Technology Committee - Update
Progress on the GIS contract was discussed at the last meeting of the Information Technology Committee. Applied Geographics has been waiting for data that will be uploaded on August 3 and they will then do a pilot demonstration of the Point O’Woods area. The committee will meet on the second Thursdays of the month starting in the fall and will discuss financial packages as well as conduct an E-Tran demonstration on the process of payments on line. The website is Virtual Town Hall who offers all the needed services.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder reminded people to call Michele to post events on the website such as the upcoming Veterans Services representative who will be in the Old Lyme Town Hall from 12 noon to 3 P.M. on the first Wednesdays of the month. Any corrections should be sent to Cathy or Michele.
Selectman Griswold asked if there will be a lot of data input expense in the future from Land Use and Building Departments purposes. If so, cost estimates will be needed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated she would inquire.
Church Corner – BOF Approved $15,000 Appropriation for Engineering
First Selectman Griswold stated that the Board of Finance approved $13,500 of the requested $15,000 for the Church Corner project for the preliminary engineering services to send the required documents to the State of Connecticut. In a letter to First Selectman Griswold, Linda Krause indicated that the Transportation Improvement Project funds for the nine-area towns should still be available and Old Lyme would use the money in 2007.
Sound View Committee – Update
Selectman Sibley reported that the Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve the adoption of the regulations for the Sound View Village District to be effective September 1, 2005. Selectman Sibley thanked ZEO Ann Brown, Vice-Chairman of the Zoning Commission Eric Fries, Director of CRERPA Linda Krause and Atty. Mark Branse for the work they did on the project.
Selectman Sibley stated that the Sound View Parking Committee is working on parking issues as well as crowd control, alcohol on the beach, etc. Selectman Sibley proposed to the Board of Selectmen the reformation of the committee involving Sound View residents to improve the area. Selectwoman Reemsnyder agreed and added that a traffic study could be helpful and she volunteered to be involved with the committee. First Selectman Griswold also agreed that Sound View residents as well as people from other areas should be involved.
Open Space Workshop – Recap
The Open Space Workshop held on July 26 was an opportunity for people on the various boards and commissions to review the way Open Space proposals should be handled within town government. The Conservation Commission is the lead agency. Atty. Jim Mattern led the workshop through various steps on how Open Space acquisition should work.
Mid Summer Festival and Town Band Concert/Fireworks
First Selectman Griswold reported that the Mid Summer Festival was well attended. The Town Band celebrated its 30th anniversary. The fireworks were outstanding. Mr. Griswold thanked everyone involved.
New Business:
a. Broadwater Project
The Broadwater project proposes that a large vessel would be permanently anchored in Long Island Sound off of Branford. This would be a platform where vessels would be able to dock and load liquid natural gas that would be piped in a westerly direction on the floor of Long Island Sound to connect to the Iroquois pipe line to provide natural gas to Connecticut, New York and other areas. At a regional Selectmen’s meeting, one speaker indicated that natural gas is the fuel of the future. Another speaker, associated with the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, stated that the 1200-ft. vessel would have two to three tankers coming to it in a week and the underwater pipeline would be an environmental issue. Old Lyme has been solicited by the Connecticut Fund for the Environment to join Stop
Broadwater Now but the town deferred on the issue.
6. Public Comment:
Ted Kiritsis, Chairman of Zoning, stated that he has received a letter of resignation from Eric Fries to be effective as of September 1, 2005. Mr. Kiritsis requested that the Board of Selectmen consider John Johnson, Zoning alternate, as the replacement. First Selectman stated that request will be on the agenda of the next Board of Selectmen meeting. The Board of Selectmen thanked Mr. Fries for his 20 years of service.
7. Other Business:
First Selectman Griswold reinforced that a Veterans Affairs representative will be available in the Old Lyme Town Hall on the first Wednesdays of the month to assist any veteran who has questions or needs.
First Selectman Griswold stated there was discussion at an Old Lyme Town Hall staff meeting about increasing the employees’ share of the medical insurance cost. Currently employees are paying five percent and this will be increased to eight percent effective July 1, 2005 and to ten percent effective July 1, 2006 for non-union employees. Last November, a Section 125 Plan was instituted that allows employees to pay their deductible and other non-eligible medical expenses through a pre-tax contribution that could amount to a 25 percent saving.
Selectman Sibley mentioned that the end of August is the deadline for a Town Woods fund raising letter sent out May. Plaques are being put up recognizing those who have donated. Information will be on the website.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder spoke with a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals on the feedback of the revaluation process. The member expressed some concerns. Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested that the Board of Selectmen have a conversation with the members of the Board of Assessment Appeals on revaluation process in hopes it would help the board to respond to someone like Jack Alexander who appeared at the last board meeting to express his concerns. First Selectman Griswold suggested having a meeting with the Assessor and his assistant as well as the members of the Board of Assessment Appeals to talk about the process.
8. Adjournments:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 P.M. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
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