Old Lyme Board of Selectmen UNAPPROVED
Regular Meeting Monday, December 15, 2008
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 8:00 A.M. on Monday, December 15, 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: 1 December 2008 (Regular Meeting)
The minutes of the regular meeting on December 1 were reviewed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked to have Item 7, Other Business, corrected to state that the attendees of the audit meeting held in the spring would meet again to follow up and look over the FY 2008 auditor’s report. There was a discussion about who should attend the meeting. It was recommended that members of the Boards of Selectmen and Finance, the Treasurer, the Financial Assistant and the auditor be invited to attend the meeting.
Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes, as amended, and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. Letter to Sherry Meyer – TVCCA $1,000 Donation
A letter will be sent to Sherry Meyer thanking her for the extra work she did in connection with the TVCCA programs.
3. Appointments: Update
a. A spreadsheet has been prepared listing the volunteers who serve on town boards and commissions and the expiration dates of their appointments. The spreadsheet will be posted on the web.
4. Old Business:
a. Bus Barn Parcel – Receipt of BOE Requirements
First Selectmen Griswold reported that the Board of Education has requested 19 spaces for type 1 buses, 1 space for a 35 passenger bus, 3 spaces for type 2 buses, 4 spaces for 2 wheelchair vehicles and 2 automobiles, for a total of 27 bus spaces, plus 22 employee parking spaces. They also requested a building for the dispatcher with a bathroom and a 2,000+ gallon fuel tank. They do not need meeting rooms, a maintenance building or gasoline fuel tank. The requirements will be given to the town’s engineer and the final plan will be shared with the District 18. Once approved by District 18, a survey will be submitted to the appropriate Land Use boards for their approval, after which the project will be sent out to bid.
Selectman Sibley has spoken to some people interested in being on a committee to oversee the project, similar to other town building committees.
b. Public Works Supt. – Compensation Recommendation
At its meeting on December 16th, the Board of Finance will finalize the pay for the Public Works Superintendent. The recommended amount is $60,744 annually, an annual increase of $3,700. The Public Works Coordinator position is not being filled, so the $2,158 (7 months) can come from that line item.
c. Church Corner – Public Information Meeting on Dec. 15, 2008 at 7:20 PM –Town Hall Meeting Hall
Church Corner Committee met and voted to modify the plan to change the parking indentation on the Ames side of McCurdy Road. They decided to have a 2” high curb so that cars could park on the grass. Since no one parks there most of the time, it would be nice to preserve the rural character on that side of the street. The Lyme Street cross walk will stay on the north side of Ferry Road for safety reasons, as stated by the Traffic Engineer. After the Public Information Meeting, the project will be brought to a Town Meeting for a vote in January. Lee Rowley, our traffic engineer, will look at the overall cost to make sure that the cost will not exceed $600,000. The town has been awarded a $425,000 STEAP Grant to help pay for the project.
d. South Lyme Property Owners’ Registration – Spec. Town Meeting to consider $33,000 Transfer Request – Monday, Dec. 22, 2008 at 7:30 – Town Hall Meeting Hall
A Special Town meeting was scheduled for December 17 to consider the transfer but there is a conflict on that date and it needs to be changed to December 22nd.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to move the Special Town Meeting from Wednesday, December 17 to Monday December 22 to consider the $33,000 transfer request for the registration process. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
5. New Business:
a. CCM Bulletin – Education Cuts Suggested by State BOE
The towns and cities received a bulletin from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities discussing the State Board of Education’s recommendation for funding cuts to the Educational Cost Sharing Grants. The Governor has asked state departments for 10% cuts. One of the alternatives would mean a loss to the Lyme/Old Lyme School District of $500,000 of the total $800,000 ECS Grant and the other would be a loss of $100,000. A $300 million shortfall is predicted for the State of Connecticut this fiscal year and shortfalls of $3 billion each year for the next 2 year.
b. Confirm Recommendation of Animal Control Officer Search Committee
The Search Committee has interviewed four people for the Animal Control Officer position and recommends hiring Erik Klockars to fill the position. He has been one of the assistants for some time and is very competent. Lyn Silva is willing to continue as the assistant ACO. The van used by the Animal Control Officer will be housed at the Public Works Garage. All animal pickups must be done using the van for liability reasons. Selectwoman Reemsnyder recommended that Mr. Klockars attend a supervisor’s training session.
Selectman Sibley moved to recommend the appointment of Erik Klockars to the position of Animal Control Officer to fill the unexpired term ending January 2009, as recommended by the Search Committee. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts – Inauguration of President Debra Petke
Debra Petke was inaugurated as the 3rd President of the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts at the First Congregational Church. The Art Academy administrative building was dedicated as the Elisabeth Gordon Chandler Art Center. Ms. Chandler founded the Art Academy in 1976. The Town of Old Lyme supports the Art Academy with annual donations. The town gets about $50,000 each year from the state PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) grant program because the College is accredited.
d. Electric Boat – Update for Elected and Appointed Officials
The business outlook for Electric Boat is very good for the next few years, which is very encouraging.
e. Approval of Town Holidays for 2009
The Holiday schedule for 2009 was presented.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to approve the 2009 Holiday Schedule and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED
f. Approval of Board of Selectmen Meeting Schedule for 2009
The Board of Selectmen’s Meeting Schedule for 2009 was presented. The meetings are generally held on the first and third Mondays and all meetings are posted on the town web site.
Selectman Sibley moved to adopt the 2009 Schedule of Meetings for the Board of Selectmen as proposed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
6. Public Comment - None
7. Other Business
a. First Selectman Griswold congratulated Rob Roach, who will be inducted into the Girls Soccer Coach Association Hall of Fame on January 11, 2009. Rob was the Lyme/Old Lyme High School Girls Soccer Coach from 1975-1990.
b. Selectwoman Reemsnyder received a call from someone regarding the last Selectmen’s meeting. The time of the meeting was changed but the calendar on the town website was not updated with the change. The meeting change was noted on the front page of the town website but did not go out to email subscribers. She would like to make sure that the web is updated in a timely way and that email subscribers get the notifications.
c. Selectwoman Reemsnyder would like the Police Committee to meet again to discuss the plan for the summer. First Selectman Griswold and Trooper Olsen have discussed getting the Committee together and will notify everyone when the meeting is scheduled.
d. Selectman Sibley asked if a person has been found to be the Finance Director. First Selectman Griswold is awaiting a response from a candidate and will let the other Selectmen know.
e. Selectman Sibley asked to have the January 5, 2009 meeting held in the morning; 8:00 A.M. and this was agreed upon.
8. Executive Session- None
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 A.M.
SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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