Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting Monday, February 1, 2010
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 7:30 PM on Monday, February 1, 2010 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 – January 15, 2010 ~
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to table the acceptance of the January 15, 2010 minutes until the next meeting as she had not had sufficient time to review them. Selectman Sibley stated that he needed more time to review them also. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications
a. First Selectman Griswold read a letter from Doug Whalen (President, Old Colony Beach Association) and Paul Graml (President, Old Lyme Shores Beach Association) regarding the engineering work needed on Sheffield Brook with regard to flooding problems. The Flood and Erosion Control Board, working with the Beach Associations, had drafted the RFQ and received nine bids ranging from $56,000 to $240,000 from engineering firms to do a study. This study is needed in order to solicit project bids and apply for a FEMA Grant. The Beaches are looking to the Town to fund one third of the cost of the study, approximately $19,000. Paul Roween (VP, OLS) was in attendance and spoke on behalf of the OLS. Selectman Sibley requested copies of
the RFQ and any documents pertaining to the process so far. Mr. Roween will get them to the Board of Selectmen as soon as he can. Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested that the Beach Associations, along with the Flood and Erosion Control Board, make a presentation to the Boards of Selectmen and Finance to request funding in next year's budget. Selectman Sibley requested input from Town Attorney Clarke on this matter as the area in question is not Town property. First Selectman Griswold will speak to Steve Ross, Chair of the Flood and Erosion Control Board and Atty. Clarke for input.
Inlands Wetlands Commission: Sabine O'Donnell, 3-year term, expiring January 2011 (to replace Mike Moran). Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to accept this appointment, Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Harbor Management Commission: Ned Farman, 4-year term, expiring January 2014 (to replace Mark Rohrberg). Selectman Sibley moved to accept this appointment, Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Water Pollution Control Authority: Keith Czarnecki, 4-year term, expiring January 2014 (to replace Joe O'Connor). Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to accept this appointment, Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business
a. Town Meeting Recap – First Selectman Griswold reviewed the Agenda items from the Annual Town Meeting held on January 25, 2010.
1. Annual Town Report was accepted,
2. Ken Kitchens was named Old Lyme Citizen of the Year 2009
3. Jane Marsh was approved as the Town Representative to CRERPA
4. $32,000 was appropriated for engineering expense for the repair of Duck River Bridge
5. Olivia Lane was accepted as a Town road
6. Lease of a portion of the Cross Lane Park to SBA Towers II, LLC - defeated
7. Substitute parcel of land for the proposed parcel to SBA Tower LLC – Not acted upon
8. Building Permit Fees Amendment – passed - (with modifications to remove the $2
million dollar cap)
9. Waive the building fees for Regional District 18 new school project - passed
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she had received many emails from town residents stating that they were not well-informed with regard to information pertaining to Town Meeting agenda items. Selectwoman Reemsnyder continued to state the importance of documents being posted on the Town’s website in a timely manner and, if the Town residents had been better informed, perhaps the tem that was defeated would have passed. Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she had several comments from townspeople showing their dissatisfaction with First Selectman Griswold's absence from the Town meeting. First Selectman Griswold was out of state at the time. Selectman Sibley stated that several residents had mentioned to him that there was not enough time between the public hearing on the sell tower and the
Town Meeting, and that no information regarding the hearing had been provided to Town residents. The Board of Selectmen agreed that they need to do a better job of getting information on the Town website.
b. Bus Barn Update – First Selectman Griswold stated that the contract has been awarded to Machnik Brothers Inc., which was the second lowest bidder. The lowest bidder has engaged legal council stating that the bid was unfairly awarded to a local contractor. First Selectman Griswold stated that in the contract it was clearly stated that the Town may award the contract to the contractor of their choice. Selectman Sibley thought it would be a good idea to make the Town Ethics Committee aware of this issue.
c. Town Hall Expansion Update – First Selectman Griswold stated that there was a meeting with Town representatives, the contractor and legal representatives from both sides (the contractor’s bonding company representative was to have been present by phone, but a medical emergency prevented that). First Selectman Griswold was confident that some of the issues would be sorted out this week but that mediation may be next.
d. T-Mobile Public Hearing – First Selectman Griswold stated that he received today an email from the CT Siting Council stating that the hearing on February 4 at 3:00 PM will only encompass the Shore Landing site and not the other two sites. At 7:00 PM, the public may ask questions concerning all sites. Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked that this information be posted as soon as possible on the Town website. First Selectman Griswold mentioned that Dave Roberge requested that the Town send a letter to
T-Mobile regarding the technical data of said tower.
5. New Business
a. Ratify the Police Union Contract – First Selectman Griswold had received an email from Attorney McHale regarding the Police Union Contract. The Selectmen agreed that they needed time to review the email and will discuss this at the next Selectmen's meeting.
b. Ratify the State Police Contract – First Selectman Griswold stated that he felt the main reason the Town had not executed the new tow-year State Police contract was the issue of State Police overtime charges to the Town. According to the contract, if the Town uses the services of its Resident State Trooper(s), the Town is billed for 70% of the Trooper’s overtime wages and related fringe benefits (at 59% of wages). If a State Trooper (other than our Resident State Trooper) is assigned to the Town, the Town will be billed for 100% of OT wages and fringes. The State assigns the Troopers in order to give all State Troopers equal overtime opportunity. First Selectman Griswold discussed the idea of working with the Town of East Lyme for overtime police a cost
savings. Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested that a committee be formed or re-formed to study the different avenues of police hiring. Selectman Sibley thought it would be beneficial if Nicole Stajduhar, the Town Finance Director, be a part of this committee. First Selectman Griswold would like to get Regional District 18 on board also. Selectman Sibley asked that Attorney McHale review the State Trooper contract. Selectman Sibley brought to the Board's attention that in Attorney Blumenthal's letter to the Town. He does not mention the 100% reimbursement to the State. First Selectman Griswold stated that he would recommend the following change of wording in the contract. Presently it reads "services of two State Troopers" and he would like it changed to "services of up to two State Troopers". First Selectman Griswold will contact Attorney McHale and request that he review the contract and bring to his attention these two items.
6. Public Comment – Three Town residents spoke to the Board of Selectmen (Paul Fuchs, Richard Moll and Susan Fogliano) regarding the state of the Town's emergency services communications. Mr. Fuchs stated that, at the Annual Town Meeting, the residents were led to believe that there are deficiencies. He asked that the Board of Selectmen look into this. Mr. Fuchs believed that if people had been better informed, the construction of telecommunications towers would have been better received. Richard Moll stated that he agreed with Mr. Fuchs, and referred to page 47 of the Annual Town Report regarding funds for emergency management. First Selectman Griswold stated that he is aware of the shortcomings of the emergency services communications. While they function
adequately, there is room for improvement. He will speak to Dave Roberge and request that he address the Board of Selectmen on this matter. Susan Fogliano stated that she has the same concerns regarding our emergency communications systems and that we cannot deny our emergency personnel the tools they need to do their jobs and protect the Town residents. The Selectmen agreed that this will be a top priority and Selectwoman Reemsnyder would like a committee to be formed to provide recommendations to the Board so that they may move forward.
First Selectman Griswold stated that the height of the T-Mobile towers should be brought up at the Siting Council hearing with regard to emergency services communications.
Selectman Sibley stated that he had received a copy of a letter written to Dave Roberge from Town residents Anna Silberberg and Michaelle Pearson. They stated that they were not writing this letter with regard to emergency services communication challenges, but they were more concerned with the proximity of the tower to the school. Dave Roberge will respond to the letter.
7. Other Business – Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked First Selectman Griswold if there had been a recent meeting of the Church Corner Committee and First Selectman Griswold said that there had not been one, but one will be scheduled soon.
9. Adjournment – Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:02 PM, Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, ~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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