Old Lyme Board of Selectmen - Unapproved
Regular Meeting Monday, June 2, 2008
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 8:00 A.M. on Monday, June 2, 2008 at Christ the King Church. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
John Forbis, of the Building Committee, was also present.
1. Approval of Minutes: 21 April and 5 May 2008 (Regular Minutes), 12 May 2008 (Special Meeting)
The minutes of the regular meeting on April 21 were reviewed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder would like her comment that the additional funds for the town hall expansion should not exceed $250,000 added to item 4 a. She moved to accept the minutes with that comment included and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
The review of the May 5 minutes was postponed; Selectman Sibley had not received a copy.
The minutes of the special meeting on May 12 were reviewed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to accept the minutes as presented and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications: Citizen Letter
Selectwoman Reemsnyder read a letter from Maggie Ward regarding the extra funds requested to complete the Town Hall expansion and asking for details about the project.
3. Appointments: None
4. Old Business:
a. Town Hall Expansion – Review of Pro Forma Budget
Selectman Griswold read a line-by-line account of the Town Hall Expansion budget, including construction costs and details of items that could be completed for less money outside of the project. John Forbis discussed details of the project and some of the causes for cost overruns.
The Building Committee will be meeting on Wednesday June 4th and the Board of Finance will be meeting on Thursday June 5th to discuss the issue.
Selectman Sibley asked to have the project expense information provided to the Board of Finance before the meeting, he recommended putting it into an Excel spreadsheet.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked to have the information posted on the town website. She also asked for details regarding the grants for the project.
The Selectmen agreed to hold a special meeting to discuss the Town Hall expansion budget on Tuesday, June 10, at 7:30 PM. in the Middle School Auditorium.
Adam Burroughs explained how the budget and expenditure reports were kept for school building projects; and recommended a similar procedure for the town hall project.
b. Transfer Station – To Open for Business on 16 June
First Selectman Griswold reported that the town is finalizing the communication to residents about the opening of the transfer station and the procedures regarding bulky waste and recycling. A newsletter will be sent to town residents June 10 or 12, about opening the Transfer Station on June 16.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder would like the townspeople to be notified 10 days before the opening and requested that it be pushed back to June 23. Selectman Sibley agreed, and asked that a sign be posted at the landfill with the date on it and that it be publicized in the paper and with flyers.
First Selectman Griswold agreed.
c. Church Corner – Status
The town had a meeting with State of CT DOT representatives from the STEAP program. The engineer will be finalizing the plan and then there will be public information meetings. Work on the Church Corner will likely start in the summer of 2009.
d. Police Staffing Committee – Update
The committee will meet this Thursday to interview candidates for full and part time positions and with selections will be made in June.
5. New Business:
a. Proposal to Purchase South Chapel Lot from Christ the King Church
First Selectman Griswold reported on the possibility of the town purchasing the Christ the King South Chapel parking lot (.55 acres zoned commercial) for $225,000. The lot could be used as a town parking lot in order to allow Hartford Ave. to be mainly a pedestrian and deliveries only road. The lot is also across the street from the police station, so it might be a good “land bank’ opportunity. Janet Sturges reported that the lot may now be purchased separate from the sale of the South Chapel parcel itself.
Selectman Griswold suggested discussing it with the Beach Improvement Committee at its June 16 meeting.
Ms. Sturges asked Selectman Griswold if he would write a letter of intent to Monsignor Bride, which would help hold the property for the town.
Selectman Sibley moved to recommend to the Board of Finance to enter into a six-month option at a cost of $4,500, payable in monthly installments of $750, to purchase the 0.55 acre parcel at 287 Shore Rd. (lot 151) at a price of $225,000 from Christ the King Church. Further, should the Town notify the Church that it will not purchase the property, any unused monthly installments would be returned to the Town. Should the Town purchase the property, any unused monthly installments would be credited against the purchase price. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. Town Clerk Resolution re: Contract with CT State Library Board
Selectman Sibley moved to authorize First Selectman Griswold to sign the resolution to allow the Town Clerk to receive a $7,000 historic document preservation grant from the CT State Library Board. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Dominion Siren Pole Easement – Four Mile River Rd. (Near Transfer Station)
Dominion Nuclear Facility in Waterford is upgrading its sirens and has requested an easement to install a new pole on Four Mile River Rd about 345 ft. north of I-95 on the east side near the landfill property. The sirens are also used by emergency services for notification.
Selectman Sibley moved to authorize the First Selectman to execute the easement, with the condition that abandoned siren poles in Old Lyme (Rte 156 near Canty Lane, Smith Neck Rd, etc.) be removed when the new one is installed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
d. Old Lyme Rowing Assoc. – Use of Town Truck
First Selectman Griswold received a request from the Old Lyme Rowing Association to use the town truck to transport its rowing shells to various regattas from June 7 to October 25, 2008, a total of 7 events mainly in CT, RI, and MA). The truck would be driven by a public works employee.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to approve the use of the Town truck as long as a public works employee drives it, all necessary insurance is in place, and the Rowing Association covers any insurance deductible payments incurred during the Association’s use of the truck. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
e. Visit by Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele
Lt Governor Fedele visited Old Lyme on May 27. He visited Kellogg Marine and the Town Hall.
f. High Hopes Horse Show
First Selectman Griswold was invited to present awards to some Mile Creek School students who were riding in the High Hopes Horse Show.
6. Public Comment:
Mr. Adam Burroughs handed out information about an Artistry in Motion 5 K race on the morning of Saturday, September 13, 2008. He would like approval from the Board of Selectmen so he can publish flyers, etc.
The Board of Selectmen encouraged Mr. Burroughs to proceed with the plans.
Mr. Bill Foland commented on FOI section 1-228 requirements for holding a regular meeting, the code of ethics requirements and the additional funds requested for the town hall expansion fund.
An unidentified citizen commented about the lack of the $600,000 Small Cities Grant. A discussion followed about the grant money and how it affects the Town Hall expansion budget.
Jennifer Hillhouse asked about the Smart Power Clean Energy Program. John Forbis replied that for every 100 Old Lyme residents who sign up for Smart Power on their electric bill, the town gets a free 1 KWH power panel which for a value of $9,000 each.
There were some public comments that were garbled due to background noise and then a vote taken which did not approve the $195,000 additional funds for the town hall expansion.
7. Other Business: None
8. Executive Session: None
9. Adjournment
The tape cut off before the adjournment was recorded.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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