Old Lyme Board of Selectmen UNAPPROVED
Regular Meeting Monday, July 7, 2008
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, July 7, 2008 at Christ the King Church. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
1. Approval of Minutes: 16 June 2008 (Regular Meeting), and 25 June 2008 (Special Meeting)
The minutes of the regular meeting on June 16 were reviewed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to accept the minutes as presented and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
The minutes of the special meeting on June 25 were reviewed. Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes as presented and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. Eileen Rice – Old Lyme Govt. Award – Thank You Note
Selectman Griswold read a thank you letter from Eileen Rice, a senior at Lyme-Old Lyme High School who received the Old Lyme Government Award.
b. Dennis Melluzzo – Sound View Beach Assoc. – Beach Access from Pond Rd.
Selectman Griswold read a letter from Dennis Melluzzo, President of the Sound View Beach Association. The letter stated that access to the beach from Pond Rd. over Alley #3 is obstructed by posts and chains which is in conflict with the agreement between the Town of Old Lyme and the Miami Beach Association. The letter requests that the Town of Old Lyme remove the obstructions.
The issue was discussed and Selectman Griswold will have town attorney Clarke look into the matter.
3. Appointments: None
4. Old Business:
a. Special Town Meeting: Unanimous approval of Three Items
The three items on the agenda (two relating to the Town Hall Expansion and one relating to the Ethics Ordinance) were approved unanimously at the July 1 Town Meeting.
b. Transfer Station – Opened Business on 23 June
The Transfer Station has been operating smoothly with less business than usual. Selectman Sibley was at the landfill to check the operation and talked to Ed Adanti about how things are going.
Some of the material from the proposed bus barn site will be moved to the landfill to be used as cover. The material under the pile will be tested so the school district can decide if it wants to go ahead with the bus barn agreement.
c. Proposal to Purchase South Chapel Lot from Christ the King
The Boards of Selectmen and Finance have approved an option for three months regarding the purchase of the parking lot but the decision may be made more quickly. The Planning Commission meets on July 10 and will have the matter on its agenda. The members will decide if the purchase would be in line with the town’s current plan of conservation and development and will make a nonbinding recommendation to the Board of Selectmen. If the decision is to proceed with the purchase, the town would have the property independently appraised (asking price is $227,000) and hold a special town meeting to vote on the issue.
d. Recommendation to Offer the Sale of Town Owned Alleys (#1) to Abutters
The town received a request from Southgate Investments Corp. to purchase abutting portions of Alleys #1 & # 2 which are adjacent to their property. This would help them to be in compliance with zoning requirements. The Board of Selectmen would like to have a procedure for the town to follow for selling portions of these alleys to abutters. Selectman Sibley asked that Planning and Zoning be given a “heads up” and that Attorney Branse be consulted, since he specializes in zoning issues. Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked that notification be sent to everyone in the neighborhood and not just adjacent property owners. A town meeting must be held for any sale of town property.
e. Black Hall Woods, LLC – Counter Proposal
The Town received a proposal from Black Hall Woods, LLC regarding the sale of some of its land to the Town. A verbal agreement had been reached but Black Hall Woods backed out of it. Now they are proposing to retain four building lots (totaling 7.8 acres), to include 11 acres of mostly unbuildable land (that would support only one lot) and charge the Town/Club the same purchase price ($830,000). Black Hall Woods also wants to retain the water rights to all property. First Selectman Griswold believes the proposal is unacceptable and Selectman Sibley suggested consulting the Open Space Commission.
f. Federation of Beaches – Beach Utility Vehicle for Police Patrols
The Town is working on an agreement to use the beach utility vehicle for police patrols.
5. New Business: None
6. Public Comment
Frank Pappalardo asked what plans the Town has for the South Chapel parking lot. First Selectman Griswold stated that the lot could be used for parking or could be land banked for future use as a public safety complex. Mr. Pappalardo stated that there is already plenty of parking in Sound View and that the area is very crowded in the summer. He does not want to see more parking there. He stated that some businesses are selling bottles of water for $20 and allowing purchasers to park all day.
Mr. Pappalardo also has concerns about the sale of alleys to abutting property owners and the potential blockage of the alleys which are used by the public and by emergency vehicles. He wants the town to ensure that public access is maintained if the alleys are sold.
Angelo Faenza spoke about the parking problem in Sound view and about the property owners parking cars illegally on their property (without a permit). When the Town has fined property owners for illegal parking operations, the charge has often not been upheld in court, so the problem continues.
John Boccaccio spoke about the problems with illegal parking in the Sound View area. He lives on Portland Ave. and has had problems with cars blocking access to his driveway. He also commented on the rough character of some of the people on Hartford and Martino Avenues and the need for more police in the area.
Sandra Butcher, of Hartford Avenue, stated that she wants the Town to continue to own the alleys. She owns two cottages and maintains the alleys which are needed for access to her property.
An owner of four properties in Sound View stated that party buses are a problem and gave a recent example of 15 tour buses from a nearby college that came and idled for two hours while the riders partied on the beach. He wants the alleys to stay the way they are, for pedestrian and emergency access only, and owned by the town. Most of the area is residential and he wants to have the alleys remain as a buffer between the commercial and residential areas.
Mr. Folland asked about the publication of the Ethics Ordinance. He also commented on the newly landscaped area at the end of Ferry Road near Rte 156. He would like to have a wider public access gate there. First Selectman Griswold responded that the area is a fire well and not a public access area to the river. The public access is on the other side of Rte. 156. The gate was installed to prevent illegal parking in that location. Mr. Folland also commented about some town documents that he had reviewed.
Rosemary Boccaccio, of Portland Avenue, asked how many police are scheduled after 6 pm in Sound View. She is concerned about safety in the area.
Edgar Butcher voiced his concern about the area on the waterfront that is roped off near the end of Swan Ave. Someone has installed dock there. The Selectmen stated that anything installed in the water is under the jurisdiction of the State DEP and would need a permit from them.
Mr. Pappalardo asked about the 30-foot boat landing near the end of Swan Ave. He asked how and when it was established. He said a tractor that pulls the dock back and forth depending on the tide. The Selectmen stated that it would have needed to be approved by the DEP.
7. Other Business
The town has received a request to buy one of the old generators from the Public Works Dept. First Selectman Griswold will look into the proper procedure. Selectwoman Reemsnyder will check to see how other towns handle selling similar items.
8. Executive Session - None
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved, Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:37 P.M. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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