The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, September 18, 2006 at Memorial Town Hall Auditorium. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Approval of Minutes: August 21, 2006 and September 5, 2006
A correction in the minutes of August 21, 2006 under 3. c. John Willis (D) should read Donald Willis (U). Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the amended minutes of August 21, 2006. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
A correction in the minutes of September 5, 2006 under 5.b. Historic Restoration eliminate the first word “grant” in line 2. Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the amended minutes of September 5, 2006. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
Letter to District 18 – Bus Barn Location
First Selectman Griswold read a letter he sent to Board of Education Chairman Lynn Fairfield-Sonn in which he stated that he was perplexed by the school’s disinterest in the Town’s proposal to relocate the bus barn from Jadon Drive to a portion of the landfill property on Four Mile River Road. He further stated that this move would eliminate the rent of $50,000 currently paid to a property owner as opposed to locating the bus barn on town-owned land. Mr. Griswold said that the District has a financial and social responsibility to the taxpayers of Lyme and Old Lyme and should proactively evaluate moving the bus barn at the end of the current bus contract. Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested a small group getting together to clarify questions in order to move forward. Mr. Griswold stated
that the District, rather than the town, should provide answers to the questions on this subject and should be charged with getting the job done and for any expenses incurred such as engineering fees since the school is the beneficiary of the final arrangement.
Charlie Delinks – Recommendation to Sell Harbor Mgt. Boat
Charlie Delinks, Chairman of the Harbor Management Commission, sent a letter to the Board of Selectmen in which he stated that, at the September 12, 2006 meeting of the Harbor Management Commission, the members voted unanimously to recommend selling the Old Lyme marine patrol boat. The boat is in need of considerable upgrading and the electrical wiring is inadequate for the needs of the Old Lyme Fire Dept or Police Dept. The Commission will assume responsibility for preparing the boat for sale in the spring of 2007. First Selectman Griswold stated that the Board would take the recommendation under advisement.
Alice Burbank – Drainage Problem on Craig Road
A letter was received from resident Alice Burbank in which she explained that rain water goes through a catch basin at the cul-de-sac on Craig Road and runs through the ground and into Mrs. Burbank’s yard through a retaining wall. First Selectman Griswold has
asked John Roach of Public Works and Town Engineer George Roberts to make this problem a priority.
Appointments:
Tree Commission – Resignation of Donna Dean
Harbor Mgt. Commis (Alt) – David Fredericks (R) – 4 Yrs. Term to Jan 09
David Fredericks (R) has been recommended to fill an alternate vacancy on the Harbor Management Commission. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to appoint David Fredericks to the Harbor Management Commission for a 4-year term ending Jan 2009.
Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Lymes Sr. Center Ctr. – Irene MacDonald (R) – 3 yr. Term to Jul 07
Irene MacDonald has expressed an interest in filling a vacancy on the Lymes Senior Center Board. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to appoint Irene MacDonald (R) to the Lyme Senior Center Board for a 3-year term ending in July 2007. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Old Business:
a. Town Hall Expansion Committee - Update
First Selectman Griswold stated that the STEAP Grant is not available for town halls or municipal buildings. First Selectman Griswold, Selectwoman Reemsnyder and Cathy Frank went to Hartford where they were trained on the application process for the Small Cities Grant. It will be necessary to have a Phase I environmental study performed on the Town Hall and Speirs properties. Anna Silberberg has been working on the Culture and Tourism Grant. There will be a meeting with Mr. Bailey at the end of the week to look at more specifics. Discussions have been ongoing with Bank of America for short-term borrowing and a closing is expected next week on the Speirs property. Selectman Sibley suggested delaying the closing until after the environmental study. First Selectman Griswold stated
that he would discuss it with counsel.
Black Hall Woods LLC – Recommend Purchase to BOF & Town Meeting
First Selectman Griswold has signed the purchase and sale agreement for the open space land on Buttonball Road and Rte 156. The next step is to present the information to the Board of Finance and at a Town Meeting on October 16, 2006. Selectman Sibley asked whether a meeting had been scheduled with Black Hall to discuss affordable housing.
Selectman Sibley made a motion to have a resolution to recommend to the Board of Finance and to a special Town Meeting the purchase of the two parcels from Black Hall Woods LLC for a cash sum of $830,000 to be paid 50 percent by the Town of Old and 50 percent by the Black Hall Club with installments over a three-year period and closing adjustments to be paid as well. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Natural Hazard Mitigation Resolution
At a prior Board of Selectmen meeting, the Board passed a Natural Hazard Mitigation Resolution to allow the Regional Planning Agency to continue to work on a master plan
for the area. Ms. Davies wanted to have the public information meeting before the signing of the resolution and she requested that First Selectman Griswold sign another resolution as of today instead of the last meeting on September 5, 2006. Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to rescind the resolution that was signed on September 5, 2006 and proceed with having it signed today September 18, 2006. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
New Business:
Les Reynolds – Old Lyme Affordable Housing Inc.
Les Reynolds, Executive Director of the Old Lyme Affordable Housing Inc., explained the information, including an annual report, on Affordable Housing that he mailed to the Board. Mr. Reynolds stated that his group would like to have an Affordable Housing ordinance and establish an Affordable Housing Board or Commission. First Selectman Griswold stated the Board will review the information and have discussion with the Land Use Dept.
Public Comment:
None
Other Business:
Selectman Sibley stated that the Ethics Committee is waiting for responses from CCM and Atty. Marylin Clarke regarding the draft of an ordinance and a Code of Ethics.
Executive Session:
None
Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:20 P.M. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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