Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting: Monday, July 19, 2010
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at 3:00 PM on Monday, July 19, 2010 in the Meeting Hall of the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
1. ~Approval of Minutes – 21 June 2010 (regular)
Because of mechanical difficulties with the recording machine, the minutes of June 21st were not available.
2. Communications:
a. Justin Kegley, winner of the Old Lyme Government Scholarship, sent a note of thanks to the Board of Selectmen
b. Ned Farman, who is affiliated with the White Elephant Sale, sent an e-mail thanking the police for their assistance with traffic control at the Sale.
c. The Nature Conservancy – letter of support from the Town in support of TNC’s phragmites control was read. Selectwoman Reemsnyder wanted more information on this and was given Nathan Fhroling’s phone number.
3. Virtual Town Meeting – Peter Seilman
Peter Seilman, former First Selectman of Salem and Chairman of the Comcast Advisory Council, made a power point presentation to the Board concerning the Virtual Town Meeting (“VTM”) software that is used in Salem. VTM permits eligible voters to participate in the legislative process without having to be physically present. Remote participation in the live town meeting via electronic means, using live cablecasting and webcasting, allows remote participants to engage in the deliberations and to vote on motions. Mr. Seilman said the process is legal. Salem has about 2,500 voters and about 10 voters physically attend a “minor’ town meeting, 35 attend most meetings and 130 attended the school renovation meeting. Remote participation has been slight (5% for regular
meetings and 12% for the school vote), but Mr. Sielman is pleased with the program so far. One drawback is the 90 second delay for questions and votes from remote participants. Salem used its $3,000 Comcast grant to purchase software and hardware for the program and an operator of the equipment must be trained.
3. Appointments:
Fire Marshal Roberge reported that John Nickerson was decertified as our Assistant Fire Marshal because he did not maintain the requisite training hours.
4. Old Business
a. Bus Barn Update– First Selectman Griswold stated that M&J Bus is using the parking lot for some small busses. There is disagreement on the part of M&J about paying for electricity but First Selectman Griswold is adamant that it must do so.
b. Church Corner Update – First Selectman Griswold reported that the Town’s attorney has communicated with the attorney for American Industries about the six driveway aprons that must be completed and the rest of the remaining work and the related costs. We want American to complete the work by Labor Day and we have laid out a payment schedule. On July 15th, the Board of Finance approved an appropriation of $17,700 for the Church Corner project, of which $12,000 may be used for the American work and the balance to be held pending further approval.
c. Sound View Commission Proposal – Frank Pappalardo, Chairman of the Sound View Beach Commission Formation Committee, gave the Board his Proposal for the Sound View Commission (attached). The proposal starts with a Mission Statement and then highlights Areas of Concern. A section lists the Responsibilities of the proposed commission and another section describes the physical boundaries of Sound View. The last section describes how members are appointed and the length of their terms.
Selectman Sibley thanked Mr. Pappalardo for the Proposal and suggested he speak with various other Town Boards and Commissions with which the proposed Sound View Commission would interface. Once there has been adequate discussion on the Proposal, the Board of Selectmen will confer with the Town Attorney about the matter. Town Meeting approval will likely be required, so the matter could be presented at the Annual Town Meeting in January.
d. Village Estates Public Hearing – First Selectman Griswold said that the Public Hearing on calling the performance bond posted by Village Estates has been changed to 2 August 2010 at 3:00 PM.
e. WPCA Ordinance Amendment Information Meetings – Tom Risom has tentatively scheduled an information meeting on the proposed Amendment at the Sound View Community Center on 8 August and another in the Town Hall on 9 August. He has posted the information on the Town website and will alert the Federation of Beaches.
f. Special Town Meeting – The voters approved the four-year refuse collection contract extension with Shoreline Sanitation at the Special Town Meeting on June 23rd.
5. New Business
a. Robert Ross Property Line Revisions – Due to the absence of Tony Hendriks, surveyor, this matter was not discussed.
b. Sale of the 35 gallon refuse carts – The Board of Selectmen agreed to sell the 35 gallon refuse carts to a vendor for $10.00 each. Gary Yuknat, of Shoreline Sanitation, will decide how many 35 gallon carts the Town should retain. He has said they will not work well for automated recycling because of their limited size, given the bi-weekly pick-up schedule proposed.
c. District Probate Court in Niantic – First Selectman Griswold visited the Town of East Lyme building that will become the District Probate Court for East Lyme, Old Lyme, Montville and Salem. A few minor changes will be required and East Lyme will supply the cost estimates. Following the November Probate Judge election, the four local courts will gradually move to Niantic in time for the January 5th opening date.
d. Boating Safety Vessel – Gov. Rell and DEP Commissioner Marrella christened the new DEP Boating Safety vessel in Old Lyme on June 29th. The vessel will patrol the CT River and Long Island Sound to increase public awareness of boating safety, particularly boating while intoxicated.
6. Public Comment: None
7. Other Business:
a. Open Space Commission - There was discussion about the next steps for the proposal to create an Open Space Commission. First Selectman Griswold said that Atty. Cassella led the informational meeting on this and we need to determine if he will be the one to move this forward.
8. Executive Session:
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to go into Executive Session at 4:47 PM to discuss a personnel matters. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to exit the Executive Session at 5:55 PM and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
9. Adjournment – Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:57 PM and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, ~
Timothy C. Griswold
Recording Secretary
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