The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, June 4, 2007 at Christ the King Church. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
Approval of Minutes: May 21, 2007
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the minutes of May 21, 2007. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Communications:
CT Water Co. – Water Storage Tank
Connecticut Water Company sent a letter that it intends to construct a new water storage tank on property it owns off of Cross Lane.
Old Lyme Rowing Assoc. – Request to Use Town Truck
First Selectman Griswold stated that the Old Lyme Rowing Association requested permission to use a town truck to tow the rowing shells on a trailer. Mr. Griswold will check with the town insurance company to see if it is advisable to have a town employee drive the truck.
Appointments:
None
Old Business:
Town Woods park – Commencement of Work
First Selectman Griswold reported that members of the Inland/Wetlands Commission agreed that the topsoil that will be stripped so that fill can be added to the fields can be stored at the park so long as it is in the right shape to avoid the vernal pool areas. This will eliminate moving the topsoil twice and incurring extra cost. Tree cutting is going on at the park. The STEAP funds should be available now that the paperwork is complete.
Town Hall Expansion - Status
The demolition of the interior of the town hall has been going on. Vault removal will take place in the middle of the week. Selectman Sibley stated there is concern about the air quality and suggested hiring Mystic Air to check the dust and air quality during the reconstruction. First Selectman Griswold stated that the contractor is planning use a double layer of plastic upstairs to restrict the dust. If District #18 has extra HEPPA filters used for their mold problem, perhaps the town could borrow some to put in individual offices to filter the air. Selectman Sibley feels there should be more of a barrier coming in the front door so children will not go upstairs or in other unsafe areas.
Town Budget – Passed on May 21, 2007
The town budget passed on May 21, 2007 and will be in effect July 1, 2007.
d. Liberty Street – Opinion of Town Counsel
First Selectman Griswold explained that there has been discussion as to whether Liberty Street, located in the Miami Beach area, is a private road or not. Town Atty. Marylin Clarke responded with a letter to the effect that Liberty Street, previously known as Washington Road, was accepted as a town road at a town meeting in 1958. First Selectman Griswold checked with Ann Brown on the topic and her records also reflect that information. The town must now notify the Miami Beach Association that the gates at Hawks Nest Road have to be removed entirely and the other two gates have to be removed from the south side to the north side. First Selectman Griswold has spoken with the Miami Beach president Kate Abbott and explained that she will be getting a notification to this effect. Selectman Sibley
suggested sending a copy of the notice to Mr. Young, whose mother lives on Columbus Avenue, as well.
Discussion About Tantammaheag Rd/Mile Creek Access Proposal
The Board of Selectmen received a plan from the Harbor Management Commission regarding a land swap proposal. Since 1701, the Town Landing at the end of Tantummaheag Road has been owned by the town, consisting of about one-third to one-half an acre. Diana Atwood Johnson owns a house with about 12 acres of land on the south side, and she recently purchased a small parcel on the north side of the Town Landing parcel. Over the years there have been discussions about keeping that area open. The Harbor Management, Open Space Commission and Planning Commission have recommended the proposal to let Ms. Johnson acquire the Town Landing property in exchange for her donating to the town a 12.3-acre parcel located off Mile Creek Road that could be used as a recreational area since it contains a pond that connects to the
Black Hall River.. Mrs. Johnson would allow pedestrian access over a right of way. The Selectmen will not vote on this issue tonight. Any disposition or acquisition of property must go before a Town Meeting.
Given the large number of people in attendance who want to discuss this issue, Mr. Griswold suggested the Board call for Public Comment at this point.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to allow public comment on the Mile Creek/ Tantammaheag Rd access proposal to occur now in the agenda according to the ground rules set by the First Selectman. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
There was much discussion on this topic.
Speakers: Steve Ross of the Harbor Management Commission, Mr. Kiritsis of Zoning, Elaine Sevieri of 15 Coult Lane, Janet Funke of 41 Coult Lane, Gerry Foster of Tantammaheag Road, Donald Porter of Coult Lane, Arthur Hurst of 44 Coult Lane, Becca Griffin, Steve Dix of 2 Coult Lane, Paul Reid of 9 Coult Lane, Angus McDonald and Mary McDonald of 8 Coult Lane, Peg Amata of 35 Coult Lane, Don Lougee, Neil Geist of Coult Lane, John Peterson of Coult Lane, Harry Smith, Harbormaster Mike Moran, Greg Henderson of 45 Coult Lane, Cindy Fecher of 30 Coult Lane.
New Business:
a. Senior Citizen Tax Relief Program - Discussion
First Selectman Griswold reported that he checked with Assessor Walter Kent who estimated 65 tax payers are under the current tax relief program through the State and that the reimbursement is approx. $42,000. Mr. Griswold said he did not think Selectwoman Reemsnyder's suggestion that the Board of Finance should appoint a committee to analyze a town elderly tax relief program was appropriate. He believes the First Selectman, in consultation with the Selectmen, should appoint a committee including a member of the Board of Finance and the Assessor to consider expanding a senior citizen tax relief program. The committee could check with CCM and others about the experience of other towns. Selectman Sibley submitted the legal notice from Lyme that passed a tax relief ordinance at their last town
meeting. Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she received a call from a Ledyard town council member who said there was a committee in Ledyard looking at a tax relief program that would go hand in hand with the circuit breaker program. State statutes limits who will be allowed tax relief and limits the percentage above and beyond what the state circuit breaker program said is the income.
DEP – Greenway Awards
At the DEP ceremony in Old Lyme last week, Commissioner McCarthy gave awards to various groups that were involved in greenways. The Connecticut River Gateway Council was among those who were given awards.
c. Town Boat Study Committee - Formation
First Selectman Griswold will appoint David Jewett of the Fire Dept, David Todd from the Police Dept and Dave Roberge from Emergency Management to become members of a town boat study committee with First Selectman Griswold as ex-officio. Selectman Sibley suggested a member of the Harbor Commission and Board of Finance be included to the committee.
d. Town of Old Lyme Government Award – Will Danenhower
The Board of Selectmen congratulated graduating senior Will Danenhower who received the Old Lyme Government award.
Public Comment:
None
Other Business:
It was agreed that the State Police contract with the Town of Old Lyme will be on the agenda for the next Board of Selectmen's meeting.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the Duck River Garden Club has asked about putting planting on the triangle where McCurdy Road meets Rte. 156. First Selectman Griswold stated that was State property. The Garden Club will have to contact the State about this.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that there is a page dedicated to the high school building plan along with communications with the Board of Ed on the town's website. Ms. Reemsnyder recommended putting the District #18 responses to the letters on the site as well.
Selectman Sibley stated that Ron Rose informed him that the Town's housing ordinance act covers information on blight enforcement. Selectman Sibley asked Mr. Rose to do research for the Board of Selectmen and come forward with a recommendation on blight control and to get input from Ann Brown and Dave Roberge.
First Selectman Griswold stated that he and Cathy Frank are working on the new financial system.
Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 P.M. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the meeting. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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