Old Lyme Board of Selectmen Unapproved
Regular Meeting Monday, June 1, 2009
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, June 1, 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: 18 May 2009 (Regular)
The minutes of the regular meeting on May 18 were reviewed. Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes as presented and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications
a. State Police – Fringe Benefit Assessment
First Selectman Griswold read a letter from the State Police regarding reimbursement by the towns of fringe benefits for State Troopers working overtime in those towns. The Comptroller’s office notified the State Police that, effective 1 July 2009, the State Police will have to collect reimbursement of fringe benefits at the rate of 53% of the pay rate.
3. Appointments: None
4. Old Business:
a. Town Budget Meeting –Passed Town Budget, Bus Ordinance and Flood & Erosion Control Board Ordinance Amendment
The Town Budget passed, the Bus Ordinance passed, with an amendment allowing an individual or organization to apply for a waiver of the bus ban for a special event or situation. The requestor must apply to the First Selectman for a waiver 30 days ahead of time. The amendment to add three Alternates to the Flood and Erosion Control Board ordinance also passed.
b. Bus Barn – Zoning Public Hearing on 8 June
There will be a Zoning Commission Public Hearing on June 8. Certified letters have been sent to the property abutters. If the project is approved, the budget to construct the facility will be prepared and presented for a vote at a Special Town Meeting, probably in late July or early August..
c. Church Corner Project – Update
- Reconstruction Apparent Low Bidder – American Industries
Seven bids were received and American Industries was the low bidder at $328,900. This is less than the engineer’s estimate. The reference checks have been completed and are in order.
- Drainage Apparent Low Bidder – A. Bond Excavating
The bids were sent to four local contractors and three responses were received. The low bidder was A. Bond Excavating at $27,800, which is more than the engineer’s estimate.
- Total Project Cost and Consider Reconstruction of the Rest of Ferry Road
The total Church Corner project cost is estimated to be about $421,000, including a 10% contingency, which is significantly less than the $600,000 that was approved for the project. There was a discussion about paving the rest of Ferry Road, which could be cost effective because the contractor will already be there. Ed Adanti will find out if the contractor would be able to fit it in and what the cost would be. The reconstruction project will be started after the White Elephant Sale in mid-July. There has been a problem getting the utility company to move the affected utility poles for the project.
d. Public Works Garage Committee – Bids Results
Two bids have been received out of ten that were mailed. Delta Building Corp. of Cromwell, CT bid $119,975 and MRS Enterprises, Inc. of Plainville, CT bid $163,742. The bids were for the roof, siding and passenger doors. The low bid was lower than the $131,000 estimate. The Committee will meet this week to go over the bids.
e. Police Hiring Board– Interview Results
Five candidates were interviewed. The one who scored the highest was a former Resident Trooper Sergeant for Old Lyme. He has been notified in writing and the Town is waiting to hear from him. Two other candidates also scored well. The Town is still waiting to hear about the COPS Grant before going ahead with hiring for the second position.
f. State Police Contract – 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2011 – Approve Resolution
The State Police 2-year contract will end on June 30. The new contract is a standard one but requires that the local police officers sign for and acknowledge they will abide by the applicable portions of the Department of Public Safety Administrative and Operations Manual. The Manual has been an issue in the previous contract negotiation.
g. Probate Court Consolidation – Update
There was a meeting in Westbrook with some of the Lower Valley First Selectmen and their Probate Judges. The Probate Administrator also attended. The towns are being given an opportunity to voluntarily join together in population groups of at least 40,000 and with at least 3,000 cases per year, to increase efficiency and reduce costs. County boundaries are not relevant to the decision. The towns will be discussing the situation. The Administrator said that a 12 member Probate Panel will ultimately recommend the boundaries of the new probate districts and the final authority will be the legislature
5. New Business:
a. Fire Well Maintenance – Action Plan
There was a meeting about the fire wells in town with Fire Chief David Jewett. The Fire Department has inspected the fire wells in the past. Chief Jewett will provide a report on the fire wells and which ones need work. The town has offered to trim brush around the wells.
6. Public Comment: None
7. Other Business:
Selectman Sibley asked about the status of the pipe under McCurdy Road. First Selectman Griswold said an engineer has been consulted about the feasibility of reinforcing the pipe with a liner, rather than replacing the whole thing.
Ed Adanti is aware of the drainage problems on Library Lane.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder mentioned a problem with the Flat Rock Hill Road bridge over I-95 and that she has received complaints about from town residents. The DOT has been contacted and reported that the bridge is safe and that the barriers will remain until a major repair is made. The residents will be contacted and updated.
Selectman Sibley attended the Sound View Beach Commission Formation Committee meeting. The Committee is getting information about beach associations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine. Frank Pappalardo had a meeting with Trooper Olsen to discuss traffic patterns, etc. The Committee will be asking beach area residents to contact the police when they see a violation, rather than dealing with the problem themselves.
Norman Angus complained about a school bus parking on Lyme Street during weekends. First Selectman Griswold said it is legal but he will try to determine why it parks there.
8. Executive Session: None
9. Adjournment:
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved, Selectman Sibley seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:03 PM. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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