Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting: Monday, 7 February 2011
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM on Monday, 7 February 2011 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: 18 January 2011
Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes of 18 January 2011, and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications – NONE
Selectman Sibley moved to move agenda items under Old Business (b, c, d) to this point in the agenda. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business
b. Select Vendor for Single Stream Cart Purchase
First Selectman Griswold reported that he checked with three references on the carts manufactured by Cascade Engineering. The City of Waterbury has used Cascade carts over the last six years and has been very satisfied with them. The City has also been very pleased with the service received from the Cascade personnel. The Town of Manchester has used Cascade carts over the last five years. It too has been satisfied with the carts and the service. The Town of Naugatuck recently took delivery of Cascade carts. It is too early for the Town to rate the carts, but it has had good experience with the Cascade staff. In view of the $30,000 lower price between Cascade and Schaefer, First Selectman Griswold recommended that the Town of Old Lyme select Cascade. Selectman Sibley moved to
approve the bid from Cascade Engineering making them the vendor for the single stream recycling carts. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Restatement of Refuse and Automated Single Stream
Gary Yuknat, owner of Shoreline Sanitation, and the Selectmen discussed the Restatement of Refuse and Automated Single Stream Recycling Contract. It was decided that Mr. Yuknat will meet with Town Attorney Marilyn Clarke to resolve any issues and the final version will be approved at the next Board of Selectmen meeting.
d. Renewal of Operation and Maintenance Agreement for the Septage Facility
There was a discussion about the Operation and Maintenance Agreement. Mr. Yuknat will discuss this Agreement with Atty. Clarke and it will be approved at the next Board of Selectmen's meeting.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to move agenda item under Old Business (a) to this point in the agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
a. Open Space – Ames Property – Diana Johnson
Diana Johnson, Chairman of the Open Space Commission, spoke to the Selectmen requesting their support for the purchase of 81 acres of land from Steven Ames for the sum of $792,400. If approved, the Town would pay Mr. Ames 50% at closing and pay him 1/3 each year for 3 years with no interest. This parcel would be permanently protected as Open Space. The Town presently has $700,000 set aside in its Land Acquisition Fund, and this account will fund the purchase over the installment sale period. The Conservation and Planning Commissions support the purchase, and it has been referred to the Zoning Commission for its approval. Ms. Johnson will go before the Board of Finance shortly. There is a purchase and sale agreement that both attorneys have agreed on, but it has not been signed.
The Old Lyme Land Trust has been awarded a State grant of $38,650 for the purchase and it is hoped this grant may be assigned to the Town. The Selectmen requested a copy of the Purchase and Sale Agreement and explained that they will need time to review everything before they recommend that it go to a vote at a Special Town Meeting.
3. Appointments – January Appointments
First Selectman Griswold reported that he had received a letter from George James, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, requesting that Susan Baehr, a new member of the Commission, become an alternate, and that Monica Buccheri and Lauralyn Lewis become regular members. There was a discussion, and it was decided that the Board of Selectmen will vote to have Monica Buccheri become a regular member tonight (filling a present vacancy) and switch Susan Baehr to the alternate position and Lauralyn Lewis to a regular member at the next Selectmen's meeting after First Selectman Griswold has confirmed that Mr. James has spoken with Ms Baehr.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Tom Risom to the Inland Wetlands Hearing Panel for a one year term expiring July 2011. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to appoint Leonard Favalora to the Lyme Senior Center Board for a three year term expiring July 2014. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Bruce Baratz as an alternate to the Open Space Commission for a three year term expiring January 2012. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to appoint Todd Machnik as an alternate to the Planning Commission for a one year term expiring January 2012. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Joanne Reis to the Sound View Commission for a two year term expiring January 2013. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to appoint Russ Carlo as an alternate to the Sound View Commission for one year term expiring January 2012. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Joseph Camean as an alternate to the Sound View Commission for a one year term expiring January 2012. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to appoint Sheila Wertheimer to the Tree Commission for three year term expiring January 2013. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Tom Risom to the WPCA Hearing Panel for a one year term expiring July 2011. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Monica Buccheri to the Conservation Commission for a three year term expiring January 2013. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business
a. Open Space – Ames Property – Diana Johnson
This item was moved in the agenda.
b. Select Vendor for Single Stream Cart Purchase
This item was moved in the agenda.
c. Restatement of Refuse and Automated Single Stream
This item was moved in the agenda.
d. Renewal of Operation and Maintenance Agreement for the Septage Facility
This item was moved in the agenda.
5. New Business
a. Preliminary Town Budget Analysis
First Selectman Griswold stated that, based on preliminary budget information received and some recommended changes made by him and Nicole Stajduhar, Finance Director, the General Government budget (without salaries) would increase by $157,400, the Capital budget would decrease by $53,140, and salaries and wages would increase by $56,182. This equals approximately a 1.9% increase overall. This increase is greater than what the Boards of Selectmen and Finance will likely accept, so First Selectman Griswold reviewed options which would lessen the increase to below 1%.
b. Impact of Winter Storms on the Budget
First Selectman Griswold reported that the budget for overtime is $30,000 but the Town has presently spent $43,000. The budget for outside contractors is $3,000 and to date $2,300 has been spent. The budget for salt is $20,000 and to date $16,000 has been spent. The Town has not been billed for sand yet. It is too early to determine the final impact of the winter storms but there will likely be a need to seek an appropriation for these line items later in the year, perhaps at a Town Meeting.
c. Discussion – Committee to Consider Water Resource Ordinance
First Selectman Griswold reported that Steve Ross had written a letter to the Selectmen suggesting that a new ordinance be written regarding Town water being exported out of Town. First Selectman Griswold thought that this was worthy of forming a committee to study the concept and come up with a recommendation. The purpose of said ordinance would be to protect Town water resources. Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested that the committee inquire if the CT DEP could override a Town Ordinance regarding our water resources, just as the CT Siting Council can override our ordinances or regulations regarding the placement of cell towers. Selectman Sibley thought it would be a good idea to have several people from the Conservation Commission on this committee.
6. Public Comment
Monica Buccheri, from the Conservation Commission, presented the Selectmen with information regarding Lawn Care Pesticide Preemption. There is a proposed bill in the legislature that, if passed, will overturn the current preemption law in the State of CT regarding lawn care pesticides. The present law states that no town or municipality can have stricter lawn care pesticide regulations than the state lawn care pesticide law. Ms. Buccheri requested that the Selectmen look through this information and that First Selectman Griswold write a testimony as soon as possible to help pass the proposed bill. This bill would allow municipalities to take back the power to decide how pesticides may be used locally. Full instructions are included in the information presented to the Selectmen. The
Selectmen will review the material and get back to Ms. Buccheri.
7. Other Business
First Selectman Griswold reported that he had received an email from John Rhodes, Regional District #18 Facilities Manager, informing the Town that water service will be interrupted at 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 19 through sometime in the morning on Sunday, February 20. This would affect the school, Town Hall and the firehouse.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder requested updates, including final numbers, on the Town Hall Expansion and Church Corner projects for the next Selectmen's meeting.
The Selectmen decided to cancel the next Board of Selectmen's meeting on Tuesday, 22 February, so the next Board of Selectmen's meeting will be held on Monday, 7 March at 7:30 PM in the Meeting Hall of the Old Lyme Town Hall.
8. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 PM, and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, ~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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