Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 4:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 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 January 2009 (Regular) and 26 January 2009 (Special)
The minutes of the regular meeting on January 20 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 January 26 were reviewed.
Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes as presented and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
a. Dept. of Homeland Security – Plum Island – Record of Decision
Selectman Griswold received an email from the Dept. of Homeland Security concerning Plum Island. The federal government has decided the animal disease facility will be moved from Plum Island to Kansas sometime in the future.
b. Proclamation – National Wear Red Day – 6 February 2009
Selectmen Griswold proclaimed February 6, 2009 to be National Wear Red Day in Old Lyme in order to call attention to the problem of heart disease and stroke in women.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to have Public Comment follow Communications on the Agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
3. Public Comment
Milton Allen stated that over 100 people attended the Annual Town Meeting on January 26, which exceeded the capacity of the Meeting Room.
He also asked what the “acceptance” of the Town Report means, because it has many legal definitions. He questioned the qualifications of the moderator of the meeting and stated that Roberts Rules were not followed when the discussion about accepting the town report was ended.
Selectman Griswold thanked Mr. Allen for his comments.
Bill Folland commented that, at the Annual Town Meeting, there were no capacity or egress signs posted which is a violation of the fire code. He would like to put a priority on posting the signs. He commented that the space was too small for the Annual Town Meeting and that holding the meeting in a larger space would send a message that many people are expected to attend. He would have liked to have had more of a “state of the town” message, in addition to the items on the agenda. Mr. Folland also stated that the wording of the Ethics Ordinance Amendment was different than the one the Ethics Commission agreed upon.
The Selectmen thanked the Mr. Allen and Mr. Foland for their comments. Selectman Sibley stated that the town meetings are usually held in the Middle School auditorium, but that facility was being used by District 18 that night, as was the High School auditorium. He also said that temporary capacity signs have been posted, in accordance with the fire code. The lighted egress signs were installed some time ago.
4. Appointments: None
5. Old Business:
a. Annual Town Meeting on 26 January 09
- Acceptance of the Town Report
The Annual Town Report was accepted.
- Citizen of the Year – Tom Clements
Tom Clements was named as Citizen of the Year.
- Ethics Ordinance Amendment – Approved
The Ethics Ordinance Amendment was approved.
- Church Corner Project – Approved
The Church Corner Project funds were approved.
First Selectman Griswold stated that most town meetings are lightly attended. Some increase in attendance was anticipated, because of the Church Corner Project, but he had not expected such a large turnout. Other, larger, locations will be investigated for future town meetings.
b. Sound View Beach Board Formation Committee
The Board of Selectmen appointed Gail Fuller, David Griswold, Frank Pappalardo, Michaelle Pearson, and Harry Plaut as regular members. Russell Carlo and Michele Zito were appointed as Alternates. The first meeting will be on February 23, at 7:30 PM in the upstairs conference room at Town Hall.
c. Bus Barn- New Design Based on School Input
The Bus Barn facility has been redesigned slightly to accommodate the specifications of the school district. A plan will be drawn up and presented to District 18 and to the Land Use Department.
Bids have been sent out to contractors to move a pile of earth and the work should be done soon.
The facility needs to be ready by July 1, 2010. Once approvals are in hand and our engineer provides a cost estimate, a town meeting will be held to approve the funds needed. The appropriation will be paid back by the two 5-year leases agreed upon by District 18.
d. Public Works Garage Committee – RFP expected by 1 March 09
The Committee met with Steve Joncus who is the engineer preparing the Request for Proposal for the work to be done. The building will have a new roof, new siding, new windows and a wash bay. The heating system will be revised to be more efficient. The RFP should be available at the end of February and work should begin in April.
6. New Business:
a. Meeting with Congressman Courtney – Federal Stimulus Package
The First Selectmen Griswold met with Congressman Courtney about the Federal Stimulus package. Some funds will go directly to the towns and some to the state, but the details are vague at present.
b. COST Annual Meeting
The Council of Small Towns, a lobbying group, met with the Secretary of Office of Policy and Management (OPM) who predicted that the state budget deficit will be $1.3 billion for FY2009. A $4 billion shortfall is predicted for each of the next two fiscal years. The Governor’s FY2009 budget keeps funding to towns and cities almost the same. But going forward, spending must be cut or taxes raised in order to balance the budget. Old Lyme gets about 2.5% of its total revenues from the state. The Board of Finance will be working on the budget over the next six weeks, but the town will not know exactly how much it will get from the state until after the budget has been approved.
First Selectman Griswold asked for a motion to add two items to the agenda under New Business: The sale of two old police cruisers and a resolution to apply for Old Lyme to be a Preserve America Community.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to add the sale of Police cruisers and the Preserve America resolution to the agenda under New Business. The motion was seconded by Selectman Sibley. SO VOTED.
c. Sale of Old Police Cruisers
The town has two 2001 police cruisers for sale. The details are posted on the town website and bids are being accepted. The Selectmen are in agreement to sell the police cruisers.
d. Preserve America Resolution
The Preserve America Program is a historic preservation initiative developed by the federal government to encourage the preservation of our national heritage. One part of the program is the designation of~Preserve America communities which will allow access to Preserve America Grants. Martha Hansen, secretary of the Historic District Commission, is preparing the application documents.
First Selectman Griswold read the Preserve America Resolution, which states that Old Lyme agrees to protect and celebrate its heritage and to encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs.
Selectwoman made a motion to approve the Preserve America Resolution and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
7. Other Business
a. Selectman Reemsnyder stated that the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library is applying for a grant from the Community Foundation for $100,000 to improve the Community Room at the Library.
b. Selectman Sibley stated that a list of grants put in jeopardy by state budget cuts was published in The Day. Two grants totaling $300,000 for the Lyme/Old Lyme athletic field improvements were on the list. The project has been completed and two grants totaling $650,000 have been received. First Selectman Griswold will investigate to confirm the information.
c. Selectman Sibley asked about the status of the snowplowing budget. The town is over budget now. If more funds are needed, they can come from underspent Public Works expense lines or a town meeting could be held to approve the additional funds.
d. Selectwoman Reemsnyder mentioned the supervisory training for town employees who supervise other employees. The town may be able to combine the training with other interested towns and share the cost.
e. Selectman Sibley got a letter from Robert Roser, of the Lyme/Old Lyme VFW Post , who proposed moving a painting by LOL High School graduate Julian Phelps from the High School library to the Town Hall Meeting Hall lobby. While attending the Annual town meeting Mr. Roser noticed that there was space in the lobby for the painting. First Selectman Griswold will look at the painting and report back to the Board.
The Selectman’s meeting for February 17 will be canceled and the next meeting will be on Monday, March 2, 2009.
8. Executive Session- None
9. Adjournment
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved, and Selectman Sibley seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 5:20 P.M.
SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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