Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting: Monday, 16 May 2011
NOTE: Digital Recording of this meeting was deleted in error.
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 4:00 PM on Monday, 16 May 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: 2 May 2011
Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes of 2 May 2011, and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications - None
3. Appointments – None
4. Old Business
a. Annual Town Budget Meeting – Monday 16 May 7:30 PM Middle School
1. FY 2012 Town Budget
First Selectmen Griswold reviewed the proposed FY Budget 2012. The Town Operating and Capital Budget will be $8,369 less than last year ($8,373,925). The School Budget reflects a $566,759 increase, mainly due to the debt service. Overall there will be a $558,390 increase in the Town Budget. The Town's Capital budget is less than last year but First Selectman Griswold was pleased to report that the Town will not have to cut back on road repairs or the replacement of equipment. The recommendation from the Board of Finance calls for an increase of the mill rate from 18.6 to 18.8. This represents a 1% change. The Grand List grew slightly, about 0.5 percent. The Town Budget Meeting will be tonight at 7:30 PM in the Middle School. The Chairman of the Board of Finance will make the
presentation.
2. Ames Property – Open Space Purchase Recommendation
There will be a recommendation to purchase the Ames' Property (81 acres) using money from the Open Space Fund. The total cost for the property is $810,000 with $405,000 to be paid at closing and the remainder to be paid over three years. This purchase will not impact the Town’s operating budget, other than the annual $75,000 contributions to the Open Space Fund. If this is approved by the Town, the purchase could take place by June 30. Diana Johnson will make the presentation at the tonight.
3. Household Hazardous Waste Agreement (10 Towns)
This agreement is a routine extension of the present ten year agreement with nine other towns. There are 14 Hazardous Waste Collection days per year which are free to Town residents. This information is posted on the Town's Website. In the near future, there will be a designated place at the Town Transfer Station where residents may drop off electronics. There will be no charge for this either.
b. Duck River Culvert – Update
First Selectman Griswold has obtained three of the four Temporary Easements required from the four property abutters. The Request for Proposal will appear in the Day newspaper and on the DAS website alerting contractors about the project. Bid packages are available in Town Hall at a cost of $30. There will be a pre-bid meeting on May 26th and complete bids are due on June 10th.
c. Municipal Services Agreement – CRRA and Covanta
The Board of Selectmen heard the Municipal Services Agreement (MSA) presentations from CRRA and Covanta at the last Selectmen’s meeting. First Selectman Griswold spoke with the First Selectman of Deep River to determine whether or not Covanta had local approvals to use the Bulky Waste Facility at 400 Commercial Dr. as a refuse transfer station. He learned the First Selectman is not in favor of this expansion of use and that the DEP permit required might take up to two years to obtain. First Selectman Griswold asked Joe Vitale of Covanta where we would take our refuse if the Deep River facility were not available. He responded the refuse could be sent to the Covanta facility in Wallingford or in Preston and that Covanta would “make the Town whole” on the extra costs incurred.
First Selectman Griswold said that the costs could be substantial, including the need for another truck if the route schedules could not be met. The Selectmen reviewed the CRRA MSA options. Selectman Sibley questioned whether Tier 3 was better than Tier 1. A phone call was placed to Paul Nonnenmacher of CRRA who confirmed that Tier 1 did not require the Town’s recycling materials (grandfathered), did not require a minimum tonnage requirement and provided an “opt-out” provision if CRRA’s per ton price went above $61.00 per ton. The Selectmen all agreed Tier 1 was the best for Old Lyme so Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved that the Board of Selectmen recommends to the Board of Finance and to a Special Town Meeting that the Town of Old Lyme enter into a Tier 1 MSA with CRRA. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
d. Rogers Lake Dam – Engineering
First Selectman Griswold commented that the Rogers Lake Dam project will be discussed at the Annual Town Budget meeting this evening. Howard Pfrommer, an engineer with Nathan Jacobsen & Assoc. who has worked on the project on and off since 2004, will be present to explain the project and answer questions. Mr. Pfrommer sent the Town a range of costs for various engineering tasks and Selectman Sibley requested that Mr. Pfrommer be more precise about the costs.
e. Resident State Police Contract
First Selectman Griswold read from a letter from Colonel Danny Stebbens of the Department of Public Safety concerning the Town’s Resident State Trooper Contract for the two-year period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2011. He stated that the Department is not in a position to amend the contract as suggested by the Town and that, if the Town does not execute the contract by 31 May 2011, the Department will immediately cease providing services to the Town. While the Selectmen believe the points the Town seeks to amend are valid, the Town has spent enough money and time on this and we should move on. Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to authorize First Selectman Griswold to sign any and all paperwork required in connection with the Town’s Resident State Trooper Contract for the two-year period 1 July 2009 to
30 June 2011. The Town has received a contract for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2013 which the Board will consider later.
f. Pesticide Awareness Committee – Update
First Selectman Griswold reported that he has been trying to schedule a site visit to athletic fields in Manchester and Cheshire without success. He hopes the visit will take place before Memorial Day.
g. Committee to Consider Water Resource Ordinance
First Selectman Griswold commented that two new members have agreed to serve on this Committee: Stephen Dix and Hansen Cummins. Both individuals work in the water resource field and should provide great input.
e. Special Board of Selectmen Meeting with Beach Association Reps
The Selectmen agreed that the Special Board of Selectmen’s meeting yesterday was well attended (about 35 people) and very productive. The Selectmen agreed that there will be no change to having the Town plow the private beach association roads next winter, except that there may be some small, dead-end or unlit streets that may be dropped. First Selectman Griswold will name a small committee to work on this issue and the committee will be asked to report back to the Board by Labor Day. There was other discussion on four areas of concern and it is hoped we may make progress with these as well.
5. New Business
a. Electronics Waste Collection Agreement
First Selectman Griswold described the electronics waste collection service that RMG Enterprise of Londonderry, NH is offering the Town. RMG will provide a 16’x 8’x 7’ storage pod at the Transfer Station, at no charge, in which the Town can have residents deposit unwanted small electronic items. RMG will replace the pod on demand and the Town would not be billed for the disposal of the electronics. This arrangement will make it much more convenient for residents than going to Essex on certain electronics collection days. Several other towns are using RMG so the Selectmen agreed Old Lyme should contract with RMG. Because there is no money involved, no motion is required nor Board of Finance approval.
b. Florence Griswold Museum – Resolution for 2011 Neighborhood Assistance Grant Program
The Board of Selectman conducted a Public Hearing for the 2011 Neighborhood Assistance Grant Program for the Florence Griswold Museum at 3:30 PM this afternoon. The Hearing was advertised in The Day on 6 May. First Selectman Griswold reported that the Neighborhood Assistance Act is a tax credit program available to businesses through the State of CT. Corporations are granted a 60% tax credit for donations. Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to authorize the First Selectman to execute the required Neighborhood Assistance Act paperwork on behalf of the Florence Griswold Museum. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED
6. Public Comment - None
7. Other Business
The next Board of Selectmen's meeting will be held on Monday, 6 June at 7:30 PM in the Meeting Hall of the Old Lyme Town Hall.
8. Executive Session: None
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:30 PM PM, and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, ~
Timothy Griswold
Acting Clerk
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