Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, July 13, 2009
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, July 13, 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: 15 June 2009 (Regular) and Public Hearing 24 June 2009
The minutes of the regular meeting on June 15 were reviewed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to accept the minutes as presented and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
The minutes of the Public Hearing on June 24 were reviewed. Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes as presented and Selectman Griswold seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications
a. Walter Kent, Assessor – Revaluation Notice
Assessor Walter Kent will be mailing the following notice to homeowners in Old Lyme:
The Town of Old Lyme has entered into a contract with Vision Appraisal Technologies of Northboro, MA to develop and implement the state-mandated property revaluation required every five years. The Vision Appraisal staff will be working closely with the Old Lyme Assessor’s Office throughout the project. The effective date of the revaluation update will be October 1, 2009 with the assessments appearing in the 2010 tax bills. The basis for the new valuations will be all qualified sales taking place in Old Lyme during the period October 1, 2008, through October 1, 2009. Notices will be mailed to Old Lyme property owners in November 2009, informing them of their new proposed assessments. Property owners wishing to meet with Vision
Appraisal to discuss or review their assessments will be able to schedule hearings after the new assessment letters have been received. Currently, data mailers have been sent to all home owners advising them of the data currently on file in the Assessor’s Office. If corrections are necessary the forms should be returned to the Assessor’s Office with the appropriate corrections. If no changes are necessary, no return is required. Further updates on the progress of the revaluation will follow this notice.
b. CRRA - $6.00 Tip Fee Reduction (From $69.00 to $63.00)
The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA) has voted to reduce the tip fee by $6 per ton. The fee will be $63 instead of $69 as of July 1, 2009, and will continue at that rate through the fiscal year.
c. Jerry Vowles – Sound View Bus Request
A request was received from Jerry Vowles and permission was granted (per the new Bus Ordinance) to allow three buses of schoolchildren to visit Sound View on June 16.
d. Abby Hawkins – Town of Old Lyme Government Award
A thank you note was received from Abby Hawkins, who received the Town of Old Lyme Government Award.
3. Appointments:
a. Sandy Bannon-Rankin – Animal Control Officer – 2 Yr Term to Jan. 2011
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion, seconded by Selectman Sibley, to approve the appointment of Sandy Bannon-Rankin as Animal Control Officer for a 2 year term through January, 2011. SO VOTED.
b. Tom Degnan (U) – Inland Wetlands Hearing Panel – 1 Yr Term to July 2010
c. Bob DiPianta (D) – Inland Wetlands Hearing Panel – 1 Yr Term to July 2010
d. Janice Kraus (U) – Inland Wetlands Hearing Panel – 1 Yr Term to July 2010
Selectman Sibley made a motion, seconded by Selectwoman Reemsnyder, to appoint Tom Degnan, Bob DiPianta, and Janice Kraus to the Inland Wetlands Hearing Panel for 1 year terms through July, 2010. SO VOTED.
e. Ann Griffith (D) – Lymes Sr. Center Board– 3 Yr Term to July 2012
f. Doris Johnson (R) - Lymes Sr. Center Board – 3 Yr Term to July 2012
g. Don Tapper (R) – Lymes Sr. Center Board – 3 Yr Term to July 2012
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion, seconded by Selectman Sibley, to appoint Ann Griffith, Doris Johnson, and Don Tapper to the Lymes Senior Center Board for 3 year terms through July, 2012. SO VOTED.
h. Tom Degnan (U) – WPCA Hearing Panel – 1 Yr Term to July 2010
i. Bob DiPianta (D) – WPCA Hearing Panel – 1 Yr Term to July 2010
j. Janice Kraus (U) – WPCA Hearing Panel – 1 Yr Term to July 2010
Selectwoman Reemsnyder to appoint Tom Degnan, Bob DiPianta, and Janice Kraus, to the WPCA Hearing Panel for 1 year terms through July, 2010. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business:
a. Bus Barn Project – Resolution - $700,000 Appropriation
Selectman Griswold distributed an infrastructure cost estimate of $600,000 prepared by the engineer which includes costs for utilities, water, electric, telephone, cable, septic system, site drainage, site work, paving, perimeter fencing, lighting, landscaping, a retaining wall, an 1,100 sq. ft. building and above-ground storage tank, plus a10% contingency. The total project cost is estimated to be $700,000 when engineering ($40,000), construction supervision ($10,000) and miscellaneous/contingency ($50,000) are factored in. The appropriation will need to be approved at a Special Town Meeting. After discussion, it was decided to cut the misc./contingency to $25,000 and the overall request to $675,000.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion, seconded by Selectman Sibley, to adopt a resolution to recommend that the Board of Finance request an appropriation of $675,000 for the project at a Special Town Meeting. SO VOTED.
b. Church Corner Project – Update
The drainage is about 75% complete. The drainage structures on Ferry Road were found to be much more substantial than previously thought, so they will be modified but not replaced. Bundles of fiber optic cables were also found and needed to be worked around. The project is proceeding on schedule and should be done in October. The Board of Finance did not favor considering the extra $125,000 to pave the rest of Ferry Road.
c. Public Works Garage Renovation – Update
The project is almost ready to be started. The Garage Committee met and decided on a galvanized versus a painted roof to save money.
d. State Police Contract & Overtime (53%) Billing - Update
Senator Stillman spoke to the House leadership regarding the 53% premium on overtime State Trooper pay. State Attorney Blumenthal sent a letter stating that overtime billing for Resident State Troopers should be reimbursed at the contract rate of 30%. Resident Trooper towns have been overcharged and the situation is being investigated. There will be a meeting with the State Controller to talk about it and develop a strategy.
e. Probate Court Consolidation –East Lyme, Montville, Old Lyme and Salem
First Selectman Griswold sent a letter to the Probate Administrator stating that Old Lyme, East Lyme, Montville and Salem have agreed to consolidate and this plan has been received favorably. The final consolidation plan will need to be approved by the Probate Redistricting Committee in mid-September and then by the legislature.
f. Duck River Bridge – Jacobsen Engineering
The Town has signed an agreement with Jacobsen Engineering to evaluate the bridge.
5. New Business:
a. Honkers Goose Control – Recommendation
Honkers Goose Control has a contract for $14,820 a year to control the geese at Haines Park. There was a discussion about asking Wendy Pettit (owner) to provide a log of the date and times she comes to the park for accountability. This is in response to residents’ concerns. Ms. Pettit believes she does not have to provide a log (not in the contract) and that she has done much more than required (addling eggs and water tactics) while only increasing her price $10 per week over nine years. If she were required to maintain a log, the annual price would increase significantly because she would charge for the extra services. The Board of Selectmen did not vote to continue the contract under the old terms.
b. Sound View Formation Committee – Recommendation
Frank Pappalardo, of the Sound View Formation Committee, reported on the progress of the Committee. He outlined some simple action items which the Committee believes would make a big difference:
- The Old Lyme Police Dept. to aggressively and strictly enforce all rules including, but not limited to, prohibiting vehicles on the beach, the Bus Ordinance and DEP rules with regard to watercraft tying to swim lines.
- Beach Control officers to continue to monitor the beach on a more frequent basis.
- At a meeting with the Resident State Trooper it was confirmed that the Old Lyme police have the authority to enforce DEP regulations. Mr. Pappalardo stated that watercraft consistently tie to the swim lines in Sound View, posing a danger to swimmers, and the committee would like that regulation aggressively enforced.
First Selectman Griswold stated that there is a DEP form that citizens can fill out when they see a violation of DEP regulations. Mr. Pappalardo confirmed that the forms were distributed at the last Sound View Beach Committee meeting and residents were encouraged to use them to report violations to the police.
- Bus Ordinance signs have been posted in Sound View. The signs state “No Buses”. The ordinance actually states “Any vehicle carrying over 10 passengers is prohibited”. Over the July 4 weekend, there was a 20 passenger limousine that drove down Swan Avenue that could not make the turn and backed all the way up the road to get out.
- The Committee requests that “No Vehicles on the Beach” signs be posted, along with signs listing Beach Rules, at the end of Swan Ave. and Hartford Ave. and that these rules be strictly enforced by the police.
- The Committee recommends placing boulders at the end of Swan Ave. to prevent vehicle access to the beach. Jersey barrier planters were also suggested, which look nicer than Jersey barriers. Smaller rocks have been moved in the past.
- Place additional trash receptacles on and off the beach on Swan and Hartford Avenues. There are no town trash receptacles on the beach or at the end of Swan Avenue.
- The Committee would like the town to fix fencing and add trash receptacles at the Town Parking lot.
The Selectman thanked Mr. Pappalardo for the recommendations.
c. COPS Grant Resolution
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion, seconded by Selectman Sibley, to authorize Timothy Griswold, First Selectman, to make, execute and approve on behalf of the Town of Old Lyme any and all contracts and amendments and to execute and approve contracts and amendments until otherwise ordered by the Board of Selectmen. SO VOTED.
6. Public Comment: None
Dennis Melluzzo, of Portland Avenue, spoke about problems that have been occurring with the neighboring beach associations, particularly Miami Beach. Some individuals have been stopped and told that they are not allowed on the west side of Miami Beach. The beach is open to the public due to an agreement between the Town and Miami Beach and it is the Town’s responsibility that the agreement is kept. The sand dunes have recently been leveled and the dune grass is gone. He has contacted the DEP and was told that the Town Zoning Commission has jurisdiction above the high tide. The DEP requires that the dunes be protected during any construction, but the dunes were leveled several weeks ago and telephone posts with chains were installed to restrict access to the beach. The
entrance is not ADA compliant. Some parts of the fence extend below the high water line and into the Sound. The Miami Beach Association has asked Sound View residents not to walk through their gates towards Hawks Nest. Mr. Melluzzo stated that the access should be open to Sound View residents, as their beach is accessible to others. Mr. Melluzzo offered to email photos to the Selectmen of the area before the dunes were removed. The Selectmen thanked Mr. Melluzzo for his comments.
Gail Fuller reported that on Saturday afternoon on Sound View Beach, there were jet skis inside where the swim line (which seemed to have been cut). She reported it to the police and was told that it had been reported to the DEP. She stated that it was a dangerous situation and swimmers could have been injured. The Selectmen thanked Mrs. Fuller for her comments.
Russ Carlo, of Swan Avenue, commented further on Mr. Melluzzo’s complaints about the fencing installed below the high water mark. He read a decision by the New London County Superior Court years ago which stated that the Old Lyme Shores Beach Association was required to remove fencing below the high water mark, because the public has a right to access the beach.
The Selectmen thanked Mr. Carlo for his comments.
7. Other Business:
Selectwoman Reemsnyder welcomed Mathew Fries to the Selectmen’s meeting. Mathew is working on an Eagle Scout rank.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder reminded everyone about the Midsummer Festival July 24 and 25th, with fireworks behind the school on the 25th.
There may be a Special Town Meeting on Monday, August 3.
8. Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley moved, Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 PM. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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