Old Lyme Board of Selectmen Unapproved
Regular Meeting Monday, August 3, 2009
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 4:00 P.M. on Monday, August 3, 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: 13 July 2009 (Regular)
The minutes of the regular meeting on July 13 were reviewed. Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes as presented and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Attorney Peter Sipples – Eklund Property Boundary with Ferry Road
Attorney Sipples discussed a nine lot subdivision plan for Ferry Road and Sandpiper Point Rd. and introduced Matt White and Angus MacDonald, Jr. There is a boundary question regarding Ferry Road. The road was set up in 1755 by the court in Norwich and describes the road as being 4 rods wide (66 feet) and bounded by “stake and stones”. Traditionally, the stone walls on either side of Ferry Road have been considered to be the boundaries. The Eklunds, owners of the property, and their successors and assigns, have agreed to maintain the stone wall when the new boundary is officially determined. The subdivision plan has been presented to the Planning and Zoning Commissions for approval and they recommended that the Board of Selectmen determine the official boundaries of
the road. The Selectmen will confer with Town Engineer Tom Metcalf and Town Attorney Marylin Clarke before deciding where the boundary should be.
3. Communications
a. Dept. of Justice – Inaction on Town’s COPS Grant Application
First Selectman Griswold received an email from the Department of Justice stating that the Town’s COPS Grant has been put on hold. The Department received 7,272 grant applications asking for a total of $8.3 billion in grant money. The COPS Grant program only has $1 billion to distribute. The decision about Old Lyme’s grant has been postponed.
4. Appointments: None
5. Old Business:
a. Bus Barn Project – Update
The funding of the Bus Barn was discussed and how the bus company rent would repay the cost of the project. The town would pay for the project if a $675,000 appropriation of funds were approved at a Town Meeting. It would take about 21years to recover the investment if the bus company paid annual rent of $50,000. First Selectman Griswold will meet with Supt. Osga and Board Chair Fogliano to discuss the matter further.
b. Church Corner Project – Update
The drainage has been completed after the design was modified somewhat to avoid two AT&T buried conduits carrying fiber-optic cables. The granite curbing will be installed next. The project will still be underway when school starts so every effort will be made to accommodate the morning and afternoon school traffic and to keep the schools and parents informed via announcements on the Town’s web site, Lymeline.com and discussion with the school.
c. Public Works Garage Renovation – Update
The contract has been sent to Delta Building and a pre-construction meeting will take place soon. It will be a 45 day project that should be finished in October.
d. Honkers Goose Control – Recommendation
The Board of Finance met and agreed to extend the contract for the rest of this fiscal year under the FY 2009 terms, which paid Honkers Goose Control about $15,000 a year to control the geese at Haines Park. Honkers has been effective in decreasing the goose problem on the Old Lyme part of Rogers Lake. Selectman Sibley asked if the goose control program could be discussed with the Rogers Lake Authority to see if they would be interested in helping to expand the goose control program to include more of the lake. The goose control program is necessary to keep the beach at Haines Park clean and improves the overall water quality of the lake.
6. New Business:
a. Amendment to Building on Unaccepted Roads Ordinance
First Selectman Griswold received a letter from Attorney Clarke, regarding section 25-5 of the Town Code, which prohibits building on unaccepted roads. Ann Brown, Zoning Enforcement Officer, recommends adding an amendment to the Town Code allowing for a waiver by the Board of Selectmen if a road can be shown to meet the safe vehicular passage requirements. The amendment must be approved by a Town Meeting.
The proposed amendment is:
“The Board of Selectmen, after consultation with the Town’s Engineer and Zoning Enforcement Officer, shall be authorized to waive any of the conditions set forth in section 25-5 if the Board of Selectmen shall be satisfied that safe vehicular access can be provided with all of said conditions.”
MOTION: Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion, seconded by Selectman Sibley, to accept the above proposed amendment to the town code. SO VOTED
b. Implementation of Single Stream Recycling
Single Stream Recycling allows all recycling to be combined together rather than being separated. The purpose is to make recycling easier for the homeowner and to increase the recycling participation rate. The Town can implement the program using its existing equipment. The cost of disposing of a ton of household garbage is $161 per ton versus a ton of recycled material at about $119. The town expects an increase of about 25% in recycling participation with single stream. The town will send out information to all households detailing the program, which is in effect now.
c. Preliminary Results of FY 2009
The preliminary results of the Fiscal Year 2009 are that revenues are $126,000 less than budget. Interest on investments and fees were less but tax collection was about $33,000 over budget. The total budget was under spent by about $510,000, leaving a surplus of about $384,000.
d. Addendum III to Employee Handbook – Receipt of Code of Ethics
Employees, elected officials and appointees are to receive a copy of the ethics code and sign a form acknowledging its receipt. A copy of the form should be included in the Employee Handbook. There was a discussion about whether or not the Code of Ethics should also be added to the handbook. The matter was deferred until the next meeting.
7. Public Comment: None
8. Other Business:
A parking ticket hearing will be held at 6:00 pm, prior to the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting on August 17.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked if any of the recommendations from the Sound View Beach Formation Committee have been acted upon. The broken swim line has been fixed. The situation of sand being moved at the Pond Rd. right of way was discussed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder would like Ann Brown’s input as to whether or not a permit is needed or was obtained.
She also asked about the fencing installed below the high water mark and recommended that the Selectmen visit the area after the meeting to take a look.
Selectman Sibley spoke about the status of the Town Hall Renovation Project. Some items still need to be finished, including the photovoltaic system. First Selectman Griswold and Building Committee Chair Forbis will meet with the architect and the attorney. The town will very likely pursue legal action and/or exercise the bond in order to complete the remaining work. There are still funds remaining to finish the work.
9. Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley moved, Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 5:40 PM. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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