Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting: Monday, 20 June 2011
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM on Monday, 20 June 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 June 2011 (Regular) and 6 June 2011 (Special)
Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes of 2 June 2011 (Regular Meeting) and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes of 6 June 2011 (Special Meeting) and First Selectman Griswold seconded the motion. Selectwoman Reemsnyder abstained as she was not present at the Special Meeting on 6 June 2011. SO VOTED.
2. Hains Park Rain Garden: Maureen Plumleigh
Maureen Plumleigh, a resident of Old Lyme and a member of the Rogers Lake West Shores Association, spoke to the Selectmen about two goals she has for Hains Park: first, to protect Rogers Lake from abuse, drainage and pollution, and second, to create a model for homeowners who live around the lake and within the watershed area. A collaboration of several organizations has been formed, including the Rowing Association, the Master Gardeners, West Shores Board of Directors, the Conservation Commission and UConn's CLEAR Program. Master Gardener Linda Clough presented an overview of Hains Park. She explained what a Rain Garden is and the purpose it would serve at the Park. Ms. Plumleigh stated that the group looks to the Selectmen for direction in moving forward with the development of a Rain
Garden.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder commended the group for their work and their presentation.
Sarah Kukich of East Lyme, a Girl Scout and a rower, spoke to the Selectmen about a project she has taken on in pursuit of her Gold Award. She is looking for endorsements from the DEP, the Old Lyme Rowing Association, the Rogers Lake Authority, the Health of the Lake Organization and the Girls Scouts of America. She is planning a weekend of environmental cleanup of Rogers Lake and its beach front along with safety education. Her goal is to present this to community members in a regatta weekend type of event.
George James of the Conservation Commission spoke to the Selectmen. He had spoken to Don Bugbee, Director of Parks and Recreation, who was responding to concerns about Hains Park, particularly toilet facilities and having the beach prepared properly. Mr. James felt that the various groups that deal with Hains Park should get together to discuss issues concerning the Park and Rogers Lake.
3. Communications - NONE
4. Appointments - NONE
5. Old Business
a. Ames Open Space – Closed on 15 June 2011
First Selectman Griswold reported that the closing on the Ames Property took place on 15 June and the Town is now the proud owner of 81 additional acres of Open Space plus the extra 35 acres of donated land. 50% ($405,000), plus closing costs, was paid at the closing and the remainder will be paid over 3 years at an interest rate of 2%. The Old Lyme Land Trust had a DEP grant approved in the amount of $38,650 to acquire 11 acres of the 81 acres, and this grant has now been assigned to the Town. When received, these funds will be added to the Open Space Fund.
b. Duck River Culvert – Bid Opening Results
First Selectman Griswold reported that there were eight bidders with base bids ranging from $76,294 to $168,840. The project budget is $100,000 and four bids were under $100,000 and four were over $100,000. There are two options to accept, or not accept, certain types of guard rails adjacent to McCurdy Rd. The bid amounts could be reduced if the Town deleted one or both options. The Town is meeting with the apparent low bidder (Black and Wagner of Unionville, CT) tomorrow. It is expected that the work will be performed in August of this year.
c. Municipal Services Agreement – CRRA – Special Town Meeting
First Selectman Griswold reported that, during the legislative session, two bills were drafted but not adopted. One was to transfer the assets of the CRRA to a different State agency than CRRA. The second bill would radically change the composition of the Board of Directors. Part of the legislation would have pushed back the MSA decision deadline to November which is past the date when CRRA would need to obtain electric sale contracts. The resulting problem would be that CRRA would not have sufficient committed refuse from municipalities (fuel to operate the plant) and the electric purchasers would bid less for CRRA’s electricity. While the deadline has been pushed back from July 1st, he sees no reason to wait. He believes that the Town is on firm ground and should go
ahead with seeking Town Meeting approval for the new MSA. Dates for a Town Meeting in July were discussed and July 18 was tentatively identified.
d. Parks and Recreation Letter - Discussion
First Selectman Griswold reviewed the letter from Glynn McAraw, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, that was discussed at the June 2nd Selectmen's meeting. A strategy was discussed about having Public Works assist in a number of projects both recurring and non-recurring. This has been worked out between the Superintendent of Public Works and the Director of Parks and Recreation. First Selectman Griswold stated that providing Mr. Bugbee backup at the Town parking lot in Sound View for two days during each week could be accomplished for under $2,000. Regarding Mr. Bugbee's salary, this needs to be looked at globally for all Town employees. Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested that Mr. Bugbee's hours be reviewed before next fiscal year so that the Town could alleviate the
problem. First Selectman Griswold mentioned that the management of the Sound View parking lot could be moved from the Parks and Recreation Dept. to another entity, if necessary. First Selectman Griswold has spoken to the Chairman of the Board of Finance about this issue and it will be discussed at tomorrow's Board of Finance meeting.
e. Resident State Police Contract 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2013
First Selectman Griswold reported that he had reviewed the new Resident State police contract and there is one new section that concerns Trooper overtime. The contract states, "The State Police retain the right to make overtime assignments of State Police personnel in accordance with the prevailing State Police Collective Bargaining Agreement and State Law. Overtime assignments in the Town that require State Police Services outside the scope of this Agreement and CT General Statutes Section 29-5 such as those that fall within the scope of Section 7-284 shall be assigned in accordance with the prevailing State Police Collective Bargaining Agreement and paid for by the Town in accordance with the prevailing rates for private contractor extra duty overtime assignments. This provision is intended to
apply only to overtime performed by State Police personnel and is not intended to limit the rights of local officers or constables under any applicable local collective bargaining agreement."
First Selectman Griswold summarized that, if the overtime is performed by the Town's own Resident State Trooper, the Town would pay 70% of the cost assigned to the overtime. If the overtime assignment were performed by a Trooper other than our Resident, the Town would pay 100% of the cost. The Town has structured its overtime assignments to minimize the use of the State Police overtime.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved that Timothy Griswold, First Selectman, Town of Old Lyme be and herewith authorized to execute a contract on behalf of the Town of Old Lyme with the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, the Division of State Police, for the services of one State Trooper. Her motion is conditioned on having the First Selectman Griswold confirm with the State Police that the Town will only pay for one Resident State Trooper; not three, as stated in the contract. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
6. New Business
a. Rogers Lake Boat House – STEAP Grant Application
First Selectman Griswold reported that the Town is finalizing its Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant application. He thanked Dr. Hack, of the Rowing Association, and Selectman Sibley for their assistance. The Grant application will be in the range of $470,000 to $490,000, based on a couple of refinements and it will be submitted shortly. The grant will have a significant positive impact on the school rowing program and the Rowing Association programs, which involve participation of around 200 rowers. The application includes expanding the boathouse by about 100%, adds bathroom facilities in the boathouse, adds shell rack storage, upgrades the rowing docks, relocates the basketball court and adds a new volleyball court. Also included are renovations to the present restroom building,
playscape, landscaping and improving the access to the boathouse. The Town should get a response on the application sometime in the fall. The Selectman discussed including items in the application that were discussed with Ms. Plumleigh.
b. Police and Youth Grant Approved - $9,966
First Selectman Griswold stated that the Town has received approval of a Police and Youth Program grant in the amount of $9,966 for Operation LOL (Lyme and Old Lyme). About a dozen towns were selected for these grants. They thanked Officer Lane for his work on the grant.
7. Public Comment - NONE
Dr. Hack, a resident of Old Lyme and President of the Old Lyme Rowing Association, thanked the Selectmen for their hard work on the STEAP grant. He also commended Ms. Plumleigh and Sarah Kukich on their work.
First Selectman Griswold stated that the Selectmen should pass a resolution endorsing the STEAP grant application and should solicit letters of support from our State Representatives, from Regional School District 18 and the Board of Selectmen from Lyme. These letters will follow submittal of the grant application. There is already a letter of endorsement from Dr. Hack.
8. Other Business
Selectman Sibley moved that the Board of Selectmen heartily endorse the STEAP application that is being submitted by the Town of Old Lyme for improvements to the Boat House and to Hains Park. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED. First Selectman Griswold will draft a Resolution.
Selectman Sibley stated that Newsweek~announced its listing of "America's Best High Schools" and Lyme-Old Lyme High School came in at number 202 in the nation and an extremely commendable second in the state of Connecticut.
The next Board of Selectmen's meeting has been rescheduled to be on Monday, 11 June 2011 at 7:30 PM in the Mezzanine Conference Room of the Old Lyme Town Hall.
9. Executive Session: NONE
10. Adjournment
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 PM, and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, ~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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