The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 9:00 A.M. on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Approval of Minutes: August 14, 2006 (Special)
August 21, 2006 (To Be Reviewed at the Next Meeting)
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the minutes of August 14, 2006 as written. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
The minutes of August 21, 2006 will be reviewed at the next BOS meeting)
Communications:
None
Appointments:
Open Space Committee
First Selectman Griswold received a letter of resignation from Blair Hoxby of the Open Space Committee.
b. Eastern Reg. Tourism Dist. – Rod White (R) – 3 Yr. Term to Sep 09
Rod White has requested to continue for another term in the Eastern Regional Tourism District. Selectman Sibley made a motion to appoint Rod White (R) to a 3-year term in the Eastern Reg. Tourism District ending in September 2009. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Old Business:
Town Hall Expansion Committee – Update
Approximately 125 citizens voted to purchase the Speirs property at 50 Lyme Street to continue with the Town Hall expansion project at a Special Town Meeting that occurred on Monday, August 28, 2006. District #18 will announce by the first week in October whether the school offices will be part of the expansion project. The closing on the Speirs property will be during the month of September. It is anticipated that a referendum will take place in February, 2007 on the funding for the construction. Selectwoman Reemsnyder added that an overview of the project is on the website.
b. Black Hall Woods LLC – Auth. To Sign Purchase & Sale Agt.
The sellers of approximately 39 acres of land on Buttonball Road and Rte. 156 to be used as open space are Muffy Whitley and Lee Griswold also known as Black Hall Woods LLC. The Town of Old Lyme and The Black Hall Golf Club would like to enter into a 50 percent partnership sales contract. The cash purchase price to the buyers is $830,000 plus a charitable deduction of gift of $50,000 equaling $880,000. A $5,000 deposit is requested upon execution of the contract. At the closing in January, there would be a payment of $275,000 followed by another payment of the same amount twelve months later. A third and final installment of $275,000 will be due in two years. All the amounts are to be divided by the Town and the Club. No interest will be charged on the outstanding amount. The property is to be held as
open space by the Town with an
agreement with the Black Hall Club. The Club is interested in having trails no closer than 100 ft. from the boundary line. Approvals are necessary by the Club and various Town boards and commissions and ultimately at a Town Meeting before the deal can be solidified. If the Club or the Town does not get permission, the $5,000 deposit will be returned. The Open Space account balance and the annual appropriation of $75,000 will be enough to cover the payments. A Special Town Meeting will be held in October or November to approve the purchase. First Selectman Griswold will arrange a meeting with the Black Hall Club to discuss the possibility of some of the land being used for Affordable Housing. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to authorize First Selectman Griswold to sign the purchase and
sales agreement as presented. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Information Technology RFP Due Date – October 16 @ 2:00 PM
The Information Technology Committee reviewed the RFP for accounting software and made comments. The bids will be coming back on October 16 at 2:00 PM. to the District Central Office. The bids are structured for the District individually, the Town individually and combined. The next meeting of the Information Technology Committee will be in September.
New Business:
a. Natural Hazard Mitigation Resolution
The Regional Planning Agency has worked on hazard mitigation plans for the various towns. Each of the towns is being asked to execute a natural hazard mitigation resolution. This allows the agency to continue to work on a master plan for the area. The plan essentially is to prepare for a hazardous event instead of reacting to an event. First
Selectman Griswold read a resolution he prepared for comments from the board. The towns who have signed up in this fashion will receive a 10 percent increase in FEMA help, should an event occur. Selectman Sibley made a motion to adopt the Natural Hazard Mitigation Resolution. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Historic Restoration Fund Grant – Resolution
In order to apply for an Historic Restoration Fund Grant through the State of Connecticut, grant, the Town must pass a resolution. First Selectman Griswold read the resolution that would authorize him to file an application on forms prescribed by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism for financial assistance in accordance with the provisions in Connecticut statute section 10-392 and section 10-411 in an amount not to exceed $200,000 and, upon approval of such request, to enter into and execute a grant contract with preservation restrictions for a rehabilitation project. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to make a resolution to authorize First Selectman Griswold to sign the application. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Public Comment:
None
Other Business:
Selectman Sibley stated that Glenn Sulmasy, Chairman of the Ethics Committee, has been assigned temporarily to California. The Ethics Committee is working on a draft
Ethics Code and an ordinance that will create the commission and establish the rules. Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked whether the committee found information on whether other towns impose fines. Selectman Sibley stated that topic was discussed at the meeting before the last one and the committee is comfortable about not exceeding $1,000. Town Atty. Marylin Clarke will give legal advice on that issue. The next meeting will be held in November. Selectwoman Reemsnyder added that if any Old Lyme citizens want to have information passed on to the committee, they should email any of the Selectmen and the information will be forwarded to the Ethics Committee. First Selectman Griswold asked if there would be a public information meeting prior to the November meeting. Selectman Sibley said that would be a good
idea and will suggest it to the committee.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder had a question about a mail delivery issue as to whether Liberty Street is a public or private road. First Selectman Griswold stated the mail delivery issue has been resolved but that he has given the ownership of Liberty Street question to Atty. Marylin Clarke for clarification.
Executive Session:
None
Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 AM. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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