Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, December 21, 2009
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, December 21, 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: 7 December 2009
The minutes of the regular meeting on December 7 were reviewed.
Selectman Sibley stated that under item 7, Other Business, it was Dick Moll, a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, who approached him after the Selectmen’s meeting inquiring about the stone wall situation on Four Mile River Road.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to accept the minutes as corrected. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications:
Selectman Griswold received an email from District 18 Superintendent Osga praising Ed Adanti’s help on bad weather days. His advice makes it easier for her to make the right decision regarding school closings or delays.
3. Appointments:
Lymes Senior Center Board – Doris Rand – 3 Yr. Term to July 2010
Doris Rand has filled out an application to fill a vacancy created by James Nichols’ resignation.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion, seconded by Selectman Sibley to appoint Doris Rand to the Lymes Senior Center Board for a 3 year term ending in July 2010. SO VOTED.
Selectman Griswold would like to remember Jesse Smith who was a member of the Lymes Senior Center and served as Town Clerk for many years.
Conservation Commis. – Richard Sattler (U) – 3 Yr. Term to Jan 2011
Conservation Commis. – ~Michael Sullivan (D) – 3 Yr. Term to Jan 2012
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to appoint Richard Sattler to the Conservation Commission for a 3 year term ending January 2011 and to appoint Michael Sullivan to the Conservation Commission for a 3 year term ending January 2012. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Conservation Commis. (Alternate) – Linda Krulikowski (U) – 1 Yr. Term to Jan 2010
Conservation Commis. (Alternate) – Taffy Holland (D) – 1 Yr. Term to Jan 2010
Selectman Sibley made a motion, seconded by Selectwoman Reemsnyder to appoint Linda Krulikowski as an alternate to the Conservation Commission for a 1 year term ending January 2010 and to appoint Taffy Holland as an alternate to the Conservation Commission for a 1 year term ending in January 2010. SO VOTED.
Ellie Czarnowski will be stepping down as chairman of the Conservation Commission.
4. Old Business:
a. Bus Barn Project – Update
The bids are due on December 23. The bid opening will be in Town Hall at 2pm.
b. Church Corner Project – Update
The final paving of the road has been completed. Several driveway blacktop aprons still need to be completed but will have to wait until warmer weather. The bluestone walkways will also be finished once the weather warms up. CL& P has moved its wires to the new poles and Comcast will move their wires next. AT&T will then move its wires and remove the old poles.
c. Duck River Bridge – Recommend $32,000 Engineering Approp. to Town Meeting
The Duck River Bridge culvert on McCurdy Road is failing and needs to be repaired. The Town is investigating a process that will insert a liner sleeve inside the old culvert so as to not incur the expense of replacing the whole bridge. The Town has a $32,000 proposal from Jacobsen Engineering of Chester to provide all engineering services. The Board of Finance has recommended the appropriation to the Annual Town Meeting and the Board of selectmen must do the same.
Selectman Sibley made a motion, seconded by Selectwoman Reemsnyder, to add to the Town Meeting Agenda a recommendation to appropriate an amount not to exceed $32,000 for engineering work for the Duck River Culvert project. SO VOTED.
d. Town Hall Expansion – Update
Attorney Garcia has the information regarding costs, etc. and will draft a letter to the contractor and its bonding company. There are still problems with balancing the heat and air conditioning (some areas are very warm and others are too cool). This morning, there was a leak in the Town Clerk’s office due to ice dams on the roofs above.
e. Building Fee – Discussion of Ordinance Changes
Selectman Griswold wrote a draft to change the Town Ordinance, section 47-6: Waiver of Fee or Fine. At present, the Board of Selectmen may waive a fee or fine, not to exceed $100. The revision would give the Selectmen more latitude on fee waivers. The Selectmen reviewed the ordinance and the proposed changes.
The first paragraph will then read:
“All permit fees (building, health, town clerk) related to municipal projects owned by the town of Old Lyme shall be waived.”
Selectman Sibley suggested that projects that are jointly owned by Lyme and Old Lyme (Senior Center, Towns Woods, etc.) should be included.
Selectman Griswold revised the paragraph to read “All permit fees related to municipal projects owned by the town of Old Lyme, or the towns of Old Lyme and Lyme, shall be waived.”
The second paragraph will read:
“The building fees related to projects owned by Regional School District 18 in the Town of Old Lyme with a construction value of $2 million or less shall be waived. All building fees related to those projects with a construction value in excess of $2 million may be waived by a vote of the Town’s legislative body.” Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked if the $2 million figure is large enough to allow fees to be waived for large ticket maintenance items (roofs, furnaces, etc.). She would like the Selectmen to be able to waive fees for those kinds of things without having to go to a Town Meeting. First Selectman Griswold will confirm the figure with Superintendant Osga.
The last paragraph will read:
“The Board of Selectmen shall have the authority to waive a permit, fee or fine under such particular circumstances that the Board of Selectmen shall determine warrant the waiver, so long as the permit, fee or fine shall not exceed $1,000.”
The Town Attorney will be consulted about any conflicts with State statutes before the revisions are put to a vote.
e. H1N1 Flu Clinic in Old Lyme- Results
The Flu Clinic was held on December 9 at Christ the King Church. Chris Magnussen, of Ledge Light Health District, told Ron Rose that 748 people were vaccinated and that Christ the King Church was an excellent facility for the clinic. Ledge Light Health District also appreciated the help and cooperation it received from the Town’s health officials.
5. New Business:
a. Possible Open Space Commission vs. Committee – Diana Atwood Johnson
Diana Atwood Johnson has requested that the Open Space Committee be converted to be the Open Space Commission. The Open Space Committee has overseen the acquisition of over 900 acres of Open Space and more than 250 acres of conservation easements. Selectman Griswold will invite Ms. Johnson to the next Selectmen’s meeting to speak about the matter.
b. Reg. Dist. 18 – US News & World Report – Silver Medal Winner
In the US News and World Report ranking of America’s best High Schools, Lyme-Old Lyme High School was named a Silver Medal Winner, one of only 12 schools in the state. Connecticut had the highest percentage (6.2%) of its high schools awarded silver. Because no CT schools were awarded the gold medal, Lyme-Old Lyme High School is one of the top 12 schools in the state. The magazine looked at 21,786 High Schools and only 100 received gold medals and 461 received silver medals.
c. Holiday Schedule for 2010
The Board of Selectmen discussed the holiday schedule for 2010. There are 13 holidays in the 2010 calendar year because New Years is listed twice.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion, seconded by Selectman Sibley, to approve the Holiday Schedule for 2010. SO VOTED.
d. Board of Selectmen – Schedule of Meetings for 2010
The Board of Selectmen discussed the Schedule of Meetings for 2010. The Selectmen meet on the first and third Mondays of the month but, if the Monday is a holiday, the meeting will be on following Tuesday. There was some discussion about certain dates.
Selectman Sibley made a motion, seconded by Selectwoman Reemsnyder, to approve the Board of Selectmen’s meeting schedule, as amended. SO VOTED.
6. Public Comment: None
7. Other Business:
Selectman Griswold spoke about the recent CCM (Connecticut Council of Municipalities) presentation about the State budget and the proposed $84 million cut in funds to the cities and towns. When the State cuts town funds, it usually results in higher property taxes or cuts in services. The State Legislature is not in favor of cutting funds to the towns. The Office of Policy & Management (OPM) projects budget shortfalls for FY2011 ($337 million) and FY2012 ($107 million). The shortfall for 2012 is projected at $3 billion due to the end of Federal stimulus money. Old Lyme will not be affected as much as some other towns because it does not receive as much money from the State.
Single Stream Recycling was discussed briefly. All recyclables can be combined; they do not have to be separated.
Selectman Sibley and Selectwoman Reemsnyder attended the Annual Firemen’s Christmas Party. Selectman Sibley commented on the slide show, reviewing the year and complimented the Firemen on the great job they do all year.
Selectman Griswold wished everyone a happy holiday.
8. Executive Session: None
9. Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley made a motion, seconded by Selectwoman Reemsnyder, to adjourn the meeting at 8:48 PM. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Hansen
Recording Secretary
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