Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting - Monday April 20, 2009
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 4:00 P.M. on Monday, April 6, 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: 6 April 2009 (Regular)
The minutes of the regular meeting on April 6 were reviewed. Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes as presented and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications: None
3. Appointments:
a. Rogers Lake Authority – Robert Recor (U) – 3 yr term to Jan 2012
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion, seconded by Selectman Sibley, to appoint Robert Recor to the Rogers Lake Authority for a 3 year term ending January 2012. SO VOTED.
b. Harbor Mgmnt Commission: William Harris (D) – 4 yr term to Jan 2012
(moved up from Alternate due to resignation of Tom Karhl)
Selectman Sibley made a motion, seconded by Selectwoman Reemsnyder, to appoint William Harris as a regular member of the Harbor Management Commission for a 4 year term ending January 2012. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to move Public Comment from item 7 to item 4 on the agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
4. Public Comment:
Bill Folland of Dunns Lane is concerned about the poor condition of the road surface of Library Lane and would like to move it up on the repair list. Some of the drainage systems are poor and need to be upgraded or replaced. The Library Lane / Elm Street intersection needs to be reworked. He presented photos of certain problem areas. He is also concerned about the firewell there. Fire wells around town should be inspected and evaluated. He provided a list of fire wells to the Selectmen.
First Selectman Griswold will speak to Ed Adanti about the possibility of revising the road repair schedule. Mr. Adanti has stated that some engineering work must be done in order to solve the drainage problems on Library Lane. First Selectman Griswold will also address the fire well issue with Mr. Adanti and the Chief of the Fire Department.
5. Old Business:
a. Town Budget Meeting – Monday 18 May at 7:30 PM - Middle School Auditorium
The Town Budget hearing will be held this evening, April 20. The Board of Finance will present the budget at the Annual Town Meeting on May 18. First Selectman Griswold highlighted the main elements of the budget. Town operating expenses will decrease by about $25,000 and the capital budget will increase by about $72,000, for a total increase of $47,000 or about 0.5%. The school budget will increase by about 1%, so the total budget increase will be about $273,000 or 0.89%.
Local revenues are projected to decrease by about $331,000. $200,000 of that is due to a decrease in interest earned and the rest is due to decreases in building fees, town clerk fees, etc. State revenue will be down by $49,000, based on the Governor’s figures. The State budget has not been finalized, so there may be further decreases. Total Local and State revenue will decrease about $380,000. The increase in the Grand Levy will be about $663,000, two thirds of which relates to lower Local and State revenue and the balance due to spending increases and a negligible growth of the Grand List (0.1%). The Board of Finance decided to lower the tax collection rate from 98.7% in FY 2009 to 98.0% in FY 2010 to reflect the current economic conditions. The mill rate,
currently at 19.0, is forecast to increase to 19.5, about a 2.5% increase.
b. Public Works Union Contract – Ratification Complete
Contract has been ratified by the Town and the Union after 2+ years of negotiations. The actual contract has not been signed yet. Medical insurance co-pays and cost sharing have been increased and several other provisions have been modified. Back wages for FY 2009 and 2009 have been agreed to and raises for FY 2010, 2011 and 2012 will be 2%.
c. Bus Barn – Update
The project is moving through the Land Use approval process. Planning has agreed that the facility is in accordance with the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. The Zoning Commission set a public hearing on June 8. Inland Wetlands will have a second meeting on the matter on April 28th and may make a ruling. After the commission approvals have been secured, there will be a Special Town Meeting this summer to appropriate the necessary funds. The cost of the project will be repaid over time by the lease between the bus company (selected by District 18) and the Town.
d. Church Corner Project – Update
Six sets of plans were sold and the mandatory pre-bid meeting was held on April 3rd. The bids are due back on May 1st. Storage locations for the construction materials and vehicles are being worked out. The drainage work will be completed in May/June via a separate contract. The rest of the project will start after the White Elephant Sale in mid-July.
e. Community Resources Roundtable – Update
There was a meeting of the “front line” organizations - those who deal directly with people. A list of all front line organizations and services available will be prepared. A list of volunteers and local funding sources will also be compiled. There will be a Roundtable meeting in a few weeks.
e. Public Works Garage Committee – Update
The RFP for the Garage roof and siding has been prepared and will be sent to selected bidders. The generator and the furnace, with related plumbing, were bid separately.
6. New Business:
a. COPS Grant Submission
The town has applied for a Dept. of Justice COPS Grant which will pay for 3 years of a police officer’s expense (salary and benefits). The Town must commit to paying for the 4th year. The grant would give the town additional flexibility when it comes to police staffing.
b. Police Union Contract – Commencement of Negotiations
The Town will start negotiating with the Police Union tomorrow. The existing contract is up on June 30.
c. Selectman’s Newsletter – Topics Covered
First Selectman Griswold reported that a Selectman’s Newsletter will be sent out to town residents to update and inform them about various changes in town.
- Transfer Station update– there will be no more free leaf pickup in town and there will be a fee schedule for disposing leaves at the Transfer Station, similar to that for brush. Leaf pick up by Public Works takes too much time and the town cannot store the leaves at the transfer station anymore. The Town must pay to have them removed.
- Bus Barn project information and update
- Community Roundtable information and update
- The Town Budget information. The Town Budget Meeting will be advertised and residents are encouraged to attend.
This will be in addition to the regular Old Lyme Events magazine which will be published again in May.
d. Gov. Rell’s Proclamation – Arbor Day – 24 April 2009
First Selectman Griswold read a proclamation from Governor Rell declaring April 24, 2009 as Arbor Day in Connecticut.
7. Other Business
Selectwoman Reemsnyder congratulated the Lyme/Old Lyme Techno Ticks who won the first Robotics International Championship Chairman’s award at the competition held recently in Atlanta, Georgia.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder brought up some beach issues that she would like to have addressed before the summer season begins - the Sound View bus ordinance, the problems with vehicles on the beach, cars blocking the alley ways, sanitation and other issues. She suggested sending letters out to the various parties involved to remind them of the regulations that are already in place and to try to prevent some of the problems that occurred last year. The issues will be brought up with the Beach Improvement Committee and the Sound View Beach Board Formation Committee.
Selectman Reemsnyder asked about the status of the proposed Wind Farm. There is no new information to report.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked about the WWII Veterans ceremony. The list of veterans is in Lyme and Old Lyme is in the process of being compiled and a May ceremony is anticipated.
Selectman Sibley asked for an update for the photovoltaic system on the Town Hall. First Selectman Griswold reported that the town is in the pipeline for Clean Energy funding and we are waiting to find out when reimbursement will be available.
Registrar of Voters announcement – Pat McCarthy
Pat McCarthy announced that there will be a referendum on the Regional School District 18 budget on Tuesday May 5. Polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM. Anyone who owns property valued at $1,000 or more in town is eligible to vote at this referendum.
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley made a motion, seconded by Selectwoman Reemsnyder, to adjourn the meeting at 5:21 PM. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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