The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, June 18, 2007 at Christ the King
Church. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present,
1. Approval of Minutes: June 4, 2007 and June 14, 2007 (Special Meeting)
Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the minutes of June 4, 2007. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley suggested a correction to the minutes of June 14, 2007 (Special Meeting) under 2.
Appointments as follows: Selectman Sibley made the motion to appoint Geraldine Foster as an alternate member of the Tree Commission. Selectwoman > Reemsnyder made a motion to approve the amended minutes of June 14, 2007. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. Letter to Chair Fairfield-Sonn – Building Committee Appointments
First Selectman Griswold read a letter he sent to Board of Ed Chairman Lynn Fairfield-Sonn in
which he suggested that she appoint seven additional people to the High School Building Committee,
including previous Building Committee Chairman Stephen Joncus, so that the committee would be equally represented by those who supported the project and those who opposed it. Mr. Griswold reported that, at the Facilities and Building Committee meeting last week, Ms. Fairfield-Sonn stated that she would not add the additional people to the committee and it would remain dormant during the summer while the board conducts focus groups and community forums.
b. Chair Czarnowski, Conservation Comm. – 2010 Plan of Dvlmt. Questionnaire
Conservation Chairman Ellie Cznarnowski is setting the groundwork for the 2010 Plan of Development. In a letter to the Board, Ms. Cznarnowski stated that every ten years each Connecticut town is to develop a plan of conservation and development based on the views of its citizens about the town’s future development and quality of life issues. The Conservation Commission is developing a questionnaire for residents and taxpayers to assess their ideas for maintenance and/or improvements for the quality of life in Old Lyme.
Selectman Sibley suggested that the Board of Selectmen or the Conservation Commission hold a special workshop meeting next month to brainstorm this topic and invite Zoning.
c. Sherry Meyer – Request for Tuition Assistance
Social Services Coordinator Sherry Meyer is pursuing her college degree at UCONN in the area of human services course work. In a written request, she has asked whether the town would be willing to help her with the tuition. Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked if there is anything in writing about the reimbursement of tuition for classes. Mr. Griswold stated there is a clause for reimbursement in the police union contract only. Selectman Sibley asked about a cap to the amount allowed. Mr. Sibley further stated that it might be a good opportunity to set a policy that would address the needs of other employees as well.
3. Appointments:
None
4. Old Business:
a. Discussion About Tantammaheag Rd/Mile Creek Rd Land Swap Proposal
First Selectman Griswold contacted the Park & Rec Commission to see if they had discussed the land
swap property on Mile Creek Road as to what recreational activities would be appropriate. The commission needs> to consider the railroad tracks adjacent to the property, the 15 ft. right of way, the issue of the pond depth for swimming, and the necessity of a lifeguard. First Selectman Griswold spoke with Harry Smith concerning parking on Tantammaheag Road and Mr. Smith recommended obtaining a written report from the Fire Chief as to the hazards that parking on the road would cause the fire company.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked for an assessment of the cost to maintain the town landing and town
maintenance on the property in the future. Ms. Reemsnyder is concerned about the encroachment on the Johnson’s property and asked if the boundary lines could be marked better. On the Mile Creek property, Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked how much it would cost to bring it up to a usable property and who will be responsible for overseeing the property. She is concerned about the depth of the pond, the remote location of it and the possible access at night. She stated there is access to Black Hall River but will it be used since there is a long walkway and does it fit into the town’s open space plan?
Selectman Sibley stated that the property on Mile Creek Road lends itself more to a Park & Rec use versus an open space use. The property will need to be managed and policed for liability reasons.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to move Public Comment to this point in the agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Coult Lane resident Cindy Fecher asked whether the land on Mile Creek Road would require
Inland/Wetlands approval. First Selectman Griswold explained that the DEP, not Inland/Wetlands, would have jurisdiction over tidal wetlands. Ms. Fecher presented a petition with 200 signatures to the Board. She stated she looked at the town landings and wanted to clarify certain facts in the land swap proposal that, in her opinion, are not true. She disputes a statement by Diana Johnson, Charles Delinks and Steve Ross about no access to the Blackhall River. Ms. Fecher stated there is an access
by a right of way alongside the Delink’s house on Homestead Circle, another access next to the Blair
house on Buttonball Road and another off of Smith Neck Road. Ms. Fecher feels there is another
contradiction in that the proposal states it is 600 ft. to a channel and limited access at low tide at the landing on Tantammaheag landing, but that is not exclusive to that site. She would like signs posted at the landing.
Coult Lane resident Lynn Greenho asked if the Johnson property has Connecticut waterfront or does the town landing go in front of the property making it water view and not waterfront? First Selectman Griswold stated that the Johnson property has waterfront. Ms. Greenho is concerned about how much the Boards and Commissions that approved the swap know about the Johnson property and who will benefit by swapping the land and preserving it.
Don Porter of Coult Lane feels that the town should not sell one piece of property to buy another. The
town should keep the town landing and make an offer on the Mile Creek Road parcel. The two property transactions should not be related.
Denise Kerr Ogden, who grew up in Old Lyme, is concerned about the depth of the gravel pit.
John Stratton of Elm Street stated that there is water access at the Tantammaheag Landing from neap tide> through high tide. The town owes it to the past to preserve that site. The Mile Creek Road property
could be valuable to the Park & Rec Commission and the town should take into account budgetary effects in the long run if that land were to be acquired through purchase to plan for remediation at that site.
Harry Smith feels that the steps leading to the proposal were behind the scenes. The Harbor Commission and Open Space minutes from January until May were not posted on the website until June. He also stated that the yellow marker is missing on the Tantammheag site that indicates a fire well.
b. Town Woods Park – Status
Clearing has been done at the Town Woods Park and the work is ongoing.
c. Tow Hall Expansion – Status
The vault demolition has been accomplished and the elevator pit has been dug. Roughing out for the
foundation of the south wing has begun. Mystic Air Quality monitored the air quality over a three-day
period while the heavy demolition was occurring and the air quality was under the OSHA standard. A
recommendation was to get a particulate filter for upcoming work.
d. Information Technology Committee – Laserfiche Presentation
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the committee was impressed with the ease of use of the laserfiche and all the systems included with the program. Selectman Griswold added that the copier system the town has is compatible with the laserfiche system.
e. Liberty St. – Opinion of Town Counsel
First Selectman Griswold read a letter he drafted to Miami Beach Association President Kate Abbott in
which he wrote that Atty. Clarke has located the deed from Nunzio Corsino transferring the section of Liberty Street in dispute to the Miami Beach Association. Now that the ownership is resolved, Mr. Griswold asked Ms. Abbott to request the Miami Beach Association to execute an agreement with the town stating that the association would open the three gates on a daily basis for mail delivery, refuse pickup and recycling pickup. Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she spoke with John Young whose mother lives in that area. He said that the gates are open and his issues with the mail delivery are resolved.
5. New Business:
a. State Police Contract – (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009)
The base contract concerns the two troopers and their jobs. The paperwork requires a certification that allows the First Selectman to enter into a contract that is filled out by the Town Clerk. Selectwoman
Reemsnyder made a motion to allow First Selectman Timothy Griswold to execute the State police
contract. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley requested that the contract be an action item to look for changes.
b. Town Boat Study Committee – First Meeting Scheduled
The five-member Town Boat Study Committee will meet on Wednesday, June 27th at 4:30 PM.
c. MacCurdy Salisbury Foundation – Awards Reception
The MacCurdy Salisbury Foundation reception was held at the Lyme Art Association last week for the
recipients. This is a four-year commitment by the foundation as long as the students maintain a
certain grade point average and the family continues to reside in Lyme and Old Lyme.
6. Public Comment:
See Page 2
7. Other Business:
Selectman Sibley stated that he received information on housing ordinance concerning blight from Ron
Rose.
8. Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 PM. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Coffee, Clerk
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