Old Lyme Board of Selectmen UNAPPROVED
Regular Meeting Monday, November 3, 2008
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, November 3, 2008 in the Meeting Hall at the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
1. Approval of Minutes: 20 October 2008 (Regular Meeting)
The minutes of the regular meeting on October 20 were reviewed. Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes as presented, Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. Governor Rell – Deficit Reduction Measures
Selectman Griswold spoke about Gov Rell’s deficit reduction plan. The Governor is considering offering several options to help municipalities: a tax amnesty program for municipal taxes and fines, allowing towns to use state bulk purchasing power to lower costs, tightening binding arbitration deadlines for municipalities and extending bond anticipation notes from 8 to 10 years.
b. Atty. Marylin Clarke – Opinion on Building Permit Moratorium
Atty. Clarke’s legal opinion, based on State statues, is that it is the role of the Land Use commissions to adopt a moratorium on certain types of development for a period of time, not the Board of Selectmen. A moratorium cannot be instituted to stop a pending land use application.
3. Appointments: None
4. Old Business:
a. Alison Hine elected to School Board - Term Ending Dec. 2009
Alison Hine was elected at a Special Town Meeting to replace Andrea Fenton on the School Board for a four-year term ending December 2009.
b. Town Hall Expansion – Short-term Financing
The Town Hall Expansion financing was completed October 30 with a net rate of 2.95% for 12 months. The coupon rate of 3.50% rate was reduced due to a lenders premium. Short term financing rates are about 2.5% lower than long term financing rates.
c. Landfill Closure and Bus Barn Parcel – Environmental Results
There was a meeting with Anchor Engineering last week to discuss the soil test results and the Bus Barn project in general. The report stated that there is nothing on the bus barn site that would endanger the health of bus company employees or students, based on criteria from the DEP and the Department of Health. A copy of the report will be given to the School District. Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked to have Anchor Engineering email her a copy of the report. The project needs to be completed in about 18 months because the bus company lease will expire in June 2010.
d. Public Works Garage Building Committee – Update
The Committee held another meeting and John Flower, the Assistant Building Official, was present. The goal is to complete the Request for Proposal (RFP) in the next two months so the project can be put out to bid. The Committee wants to begin the renovation work in April 2009.
e. Church Corner – Update
The Church Corner Committee will be having a neighborhood informational on Thursday, November 6 at 8 PM in the Town Hall Meeting Hall. A larger public information meeting has been scheduled for November 24 and a Town Meeting vote on the project is tentatively scheduled for December 15.
f. Information Technology Position- Board of Finance Action
The Board of Finance decided not to make the Information Technology position full-time. The position will be split between Information Technology Clerk and Tax Clerk, as detailed in the 21 August memo.
g. CT River Riverway Trail – Grant Application Update
Joe Camean, of the Economic Development Commission, submitted a feasibility study grant for our CT River Riverway Trail, which is a blueway (water) and greenway (land) trail running from the Baldwin Bridge to the DEP Marine Facility and then on to Smith Neck boat launch. The town should be notified of the decision in January, 2009.
5. New Business:
a. CT Resources Recovery Authority – Notice of $10 Tip Fee Reduction for 6 months
The Town has been notified of a reduction in its tip fee from $72 to $62 during the period January through June 2009. The CRRA has decided to use part of its FY 2008 surplus to reduce tip fees for all users. There was a discussion about the current lawsuit between the towns and the CRRA and the costs and benefits of single stream recycling.
b. Beach Improvement Committee - $5,000 Request for Restroom Engineering
Gail Fuller, chairman of the Beach Improvement Committee, and Jerry Vowles, who runs the Carousel, discussed plans for a public restroom facility in the northeast corner of the Sound View Beach parking lot. They have discussed the septic field and water table with Gary Yuknat of Shoreline Sanitation, who recommended talking with a consulting an engineer. It was recommended that the Committee have $5,000 available to pay for engineering costs.
It may be advisable to have a holding tank along with a septic tank and leaching field. This would allow slow distribution of the grey water so it may be absorbed by the soil over an extended period of time. First Selectman Griswold suggested the possibility of a flushless toilet system, such as those used by ski resorts in environmentally sensitive areas.
Selectman Sibley moved to request $5,000 from the Board of Finance to fund the engineering costs associated with the restroom septic system and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Estuary Transit District – Request for Additional Appropriation ($3,851)
Kim Morton, acting Director of the Estuary Transit District, asked for an appropriation from the Town of Old Lyme in the amount of $3,851 to help pay legal and severance costs associated with the termination of the former director. This amount, plus contributions from the other eight towns, would amount to $50,000. This sum would enable the ETD to have a cushion for the rest of the fiscal year.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to approve an additional appropriation of $3,851 to the Estuary Transit District. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
d. Conservation Commission $2,790 Grant – Resolution
The Conservation Commission received a matching grant from the DEP in the amount of $2,790 to pay for a local trail booklet. First Selectman Griswold read a resolution authorizing the grant paperwork to be completed.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to approve the resolution as read by First Selectman Griswold. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
e. Emergency Mgmt – Resolution to Pool FY 2007 Grant Funds
First Selectman Griswold read a resolution submitted by Dave Roberge, Emergency Management Director, asking to pool FY 2007 PSIC Grant Funds to enhance emergency communications among local towns. Selectman Sibley explained that in order for any funds to be received, the Department of Homeland Security requires that at least 75% of the member towns agree to pool the funds and work together.
Selectman Sibley moved to approve the execution of the agreement as read by First Selectman Griswold. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
f. CCM Convention – LOLHS Students
First Selectman Griswold spoke about the ninth graders who attended the CCM Convention recently.
6. Public Comment
Frank Pappalardo spoke about his desire to have the town form a study committee to investigate the feasibility of forming a Town Board or Commission to handle the issues at Sound View Beach.
7. Other Business
a. Formation of Sound View Beach Commission Formation Committee
Selectman Sibley moved to create a committee to be known as the Sound View Beach Commission Formation Committee (SVBCFC) which would serve as an advisory committee to the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen. Its purpose would be to: 1) investigate the effectiveness of creating a Sound View Beach Commission, to include looking at beach commissions in other towns (if any) and to design one that would be the best fit for the Sound View Beach area. 2) The committee shall also make recommendations for improvements in safety, health and quality of life issues relating to Sound View as well as to propose solutions to the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen. Applicants for membership on the committee shall complete a written application which will be reviewed and selected by the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen.
Ad hoc members shall include the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen, Old Lyme Fire Marshal, Old Lyme Park and Rec Director, a representative from the Old Lyme Police, Fire and Ambulance departments and any other interested Old Lyme Board or Commission members. The Old Lyme Board of Selectmen has a commitment to adequately address the unique issues of Sound View, will commit to fully reviewing the SVBCFC findings and recommendations and will take necessary actions, as appropriate. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion.
There was a discussion about forming the committee in the same way the Ethics Formation Committee was formed, and about substituting the word “may” for the word “shall” in the sentence about the ad hoc members on the committee.
Selectman Sibley moved to amend the motion to read “Ad hoc members may include...” and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
The amended motion was approved unanimously.
b. Selectman Sibley would like to schedule a meeting to follow-up on recommendations in the auditors report.
c. Selectman Sibley stated that he would like to have a formal bidding process created by a small group of people, including Ed Adanti and Doris Johnson.
d. Selectman Sibley asked about the status of hiring a new Animal Control Officer. Interviews will be conducted by Thanksgiving and the position should be filled soon thereafter.
8. Executive Session- None
The next meeting will be held on November 17 at 8:00 A.M.
9. Adjournment
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved and Selectman Sibley seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:02P.M.
SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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