Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting: Monday, 11 July 2011
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM on Monday, 11 July 2011 in the Mezzanine Conference Room of the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall. First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Selectman Skip Sibley and Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder were present.
1. Approval of Minutes: 20 June 2011
Selectman Sibley moved to accept the minutes of 20 June 2011 and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications - NONE
3. Appointments
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Robert DePianta and Thomas Degnan to the Inland Wetlands Hearing Panel – each for a 1 year term, expiring in July 2012. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to appoint Mary Miles to the Lymes Senior Center Board for a 3 year term, expiring in July 2014. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Bonnie Reemsnyder to the Lymes Senior Center Board for a 3 year term, expiring in July 2014. First Selectman Griswold seconded the motion. SO VOTED. Selectwoman Reemsnyder abstained.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to appoint Robert DePianta and Thomas Degnan to the Inland WPCA Hearing Panel – each for a 1 year term, expiring in July 2012. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
First Selectman Griswold reminded the public that there are open positions on Town Boards and Commissions. There are forms in the Town Hall or on the Town Website available to anyone wishing to volunteer.
4. Old Business
a. Special Town Meeting 18 July, 7:30 PM Middle School Auditorium
1. Municipal Services Agreement – CRRA
The first item on the agenda is to seek permission from the Town for the Board of Selectmen to enter into a Municipal Solid Waste Management Services Agreement with CRRA. The proposed agreement will run from November 2012 to June 2027. A representative from CRRA will be present at the meeting.
2. Election of Board of Education Member to Replace Alice Burbank
The second item on the agenda will be to elect a replacement member to the Board of Education for Alice Burbank. Nominations will be accepted from the floor. There will be a process for a nominating speech and a seconding speech before the election. The newly elected member would serve out the balance of Mrs. Burbank's term which ends this fall.
b. Duck River Culvert – Update
First Selectman Griswold reported that our engineer has reviewed the bids and Black and Warner of Unionville, CT has been awarded the contract. The base bid came in at $76,294, but it was decided to delete the beam rail from the bid, as this could be done at a later time and at a less cost than what was offered. This deletion reduced the bid to $63,990. The cost of the project will be well under the $100,000 that was approved by the Town. Work should begin in the first part of August. The Selectmen discussed getting bids before August 1 for the installation of beam rail.
c. Resident State Police Contract – Confirmed One Trooper (Gary Inglis)
First Selectman Griswold reported that the contract with the State Police had been corrected to read one Resident Trooper. Trooper Gary Inglis will be the Town's Resident State Trooper. The Selectman will invite Trooper Inglis to attend a future Board of Selectmen's meeting to introduce himself.
d. Rogers Lake Boat House – STEAP Grant Application Submitted
First Selectman Griswold reported that the STEAP Grant Application has been submitted to OPM. The Town should not expect word on this until the fall. Letters of recommendation will be forthcoming from Senator Stillman and Representative Giuliano and hopefully from Senator Daily. Ralph Eno of Lyme provided a letter and hopefully Betty Osga, Superintendent of Schools and Rob Roach, Director of Athletics will also write letters.
5. New Business
a. Proposed Impound Parking at Former Christ the King Parking Lot Sound View
First Selectman Griswold reported that he will be speaking with the Zoning Commission this evening about making the former Christ the King Parking Lot at Sound View, which is now owned by the Town, into a temporary impound parking lot. Presently cars that are parked illegally are towed to All Pro which is located near Roger's Lake. An All Pro representative would be in attendance on the lot and, at the end of the day, if a car is unclaimed, it would be taken to the Public Works garage. This would be temporary and an accessory to the Police Department. By using this parking lot as an impound area, it would shorten the distance that the car owner would have to go to claim his/her vehicle. First Selectman Griswold is hoping that Zoning will give approval tonight.
b. UniBank Online Payment Service – Proposal
First Selectman Griswold reviewed a proposal regarding the UniBank Online Payment Service. To date, the Town has used the Webster Bank online service but there are shortcomings with this service. This new service is user friendly and was well recommended. No special software is required. There is no fee to the town to use the service. The cost to integrate with Quality Data, the Town's tax bill service, is about $600. In the future, UniBank Online Payment Service could be used for the purchase of beach passes, Parks and Recreation payments, etc. The Selectmen had no objections to using this service.
c. Police Boat – Returned to Active Service
First Selectman Griswold reported that the Police Boat has been returned to active service. The Selectmen commended Officer Heinssen and others in the Police Department who worked on the restoration of the boat. The Police Union contributed funds to pay for certain markings on the boat and help was derived from Tom Brown from the Ambulance who is a boat surveyor. Frank Pappalardo provided machinery and two workers to clean the boat. A total of about $3,000 was spent on the overhaul. The boat will be used for Old Lyme activity only and fills a large void for the town. A note of appreciation will go out to the people involved and the press will notified.
d. DEMHS Resolution
First Selectman Griswold reviewed the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Resolution. Said resolution states:
"Resolved, that the Board of Selectmen may enter into with and deliver to the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security any and all documents which it deems to be necessary or appropriate."
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved that Timothy C. Griswold, as First Selectman of the Board of Selectmen, is authorized and directed to execute and deliver any and all documents on behalf of the Board of Selectmen and to do and perform all acts and things which he deems to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the terms of such document, including, but not limited to, executing and delivering all agreements and documents contemplated by such documents. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
e. State Budget Impact to Old Lyme (Current Version)
First Selectman Griswold reviewed what impact the latest version of the State budget will have on the Town budget. All municipalities will be cut 5% on Pilot in Lieu of Taxes “PILOT” funding for state-owned property and for colleges and hospitals and 50% of funding for Town Aid Roads. With respect to the Town of Old Lyme, the cuts for state-owned property will be $1,426, colleges $1,942 and Town Aid Roads $57, 354. This totals $60,722. The Town must wait and see at this point as the State budget is still a work in progress.
f. Mid Summer Festival – No Fireworks Due to High School Construction
First Selectman Griswold reported that, due to the High School construction project, the Town cannot use that area to stage its annual fireworks. Therefore, there will be no fireworks this year. The Selectmen encouraged residents to participate in all the other activities that will be going on during the weekend of the Midsummer Festival on July 29 and 30.
6. Public Comment
Paul Rowean, President of Old Lyme Shores Beach Association, asked what the requirements are for someone who would like to serve on the Board of Education. The Selectmen stated that a person needs to be an elector and a resident of the Town. They suggested that Mr. Rowean check with the Superintendent's office to be sure.
Mr. Rowean asked if the Duck River was private. The First Selectmen Griswold responded that work will be done on the culvert under a public road.
Mr. Rowean reminded the Selectmen of the sensitivity of the matter of the former Christ the King Parking Lot at Sound View. He wants the Selectmen to make people aware that this will be used for an impound area and not a paid parking lot.
Mr. Rowean asked about the mission of the Police Boat. He expressed a huge need for extra protection on the private beaches. There is a huge problem with speeding boats, jet skis, etc. on the water. The Selectmen assured him that the Police Boat will be used to patrol the beaches.
Kathy McKeough of Point O'Woods also spoke about the sensitivity of the parking lot.
Ms. McKeough inquired if the Police Boat would help control the traffic on the water at Point O'Woods beach. The Selectmen informed her that if something needs police attention, residents should call the police and they would certainly respond.
Ms. McKeough spoke on behalf of the Federation of Beaches. There was a discussion of forming a committee to study the beach associations' requests. It was decided that the issue of snow plowing would be addressed first - hopefully in July. A second meeting will be scheduled in August to discuss other issues of concern.
Scott Boulanger of Miami Beach and the President of the Federation of Beaches spoke to the Selectmen about a letter that was sent this morning to the Selectmen regarding the need for added security for Miami Beach due to the crowds at Sound View. He stated that this is an urgent matter. He would also like the budget process for money allocated to the beaches reviewed by a committee before next year's budget is put together.
Patrick O'Neill asked if the Town had looked into holding the fireworks on an alternate space. First Selectman Griswold stated that this had been researched in past years and there truly is no place in Town suitable for this other than on the school property.
Harry Plaut spoke to the Selectmen about the problem of dogs on the beaches. There are posted signs stating that dogs are not allowed on the beaches and people constantly ignore them. Mr. Plaut is contracted to clean the beaches and he picks up a large amount of dog feces each day. He recommended that the Town's Animal Control Officer visit the beaches on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Mr. Plaut requested that the Selectmen have these rules enforced for the good of everyone who would like a clean beach.
Mr. Plaut suggested that the Selectmen notify the beach residents about the proposed use of the former Christ the King Church Parking Lot as an impound area so that people will not assume that it another paid parking lot owned by the Town. The Selectmen agreed that something will be posted on the Town's Website.
7. Other Business
First Selectman Griswold stated that a parking violation had been issued in Sound View to the DiNinos and an appeal has been filed. This appeal will be heard at the Selectmen's meeting on 1 August.
First Selectman Griswold reported that the Town is getting proposals from cleaning companies to take care of all Town facilities. Two proposals have been received. Selectman Sibley asked if the cleaning company that cleans the firehouse had been asked to bid, as the firemen were very pleased with its work. First Selectman Griswold will look into it.
There was a discussion about the Town's responsibility for the decorative street lights on Olivia Lane. These lights were in place when the Town took ownership of the road. There is no policy in place at this time. The Selectmen felt that the Planning Commission should consider drafting a policy concerning “amenities” (such as lights, stone walls and plantings) to have in place when the Town takes ownership of a private road. It was proposed that the Town pay for the electricity for the lights and that the homeowners maintain the lights. However, the homeowners do not want that responsibility and believe that, since the Town accepted Olivia La. as a town road, the Town should be responsible. The Selectmen agreed that the Town will pay for the electricity and maintain the
lights, but that a future Board of Selectmen could decide differently. This is consistent with how other lights are handled throughout town.
First Selectman Griswold reported on a letter he received from Howard Magulis, a proponent of the Hadlyme / Chester Ferry. The letter requested that the Selectmen consider passing a resolution stating their support of the Ferry. First Selectman Griswold will draft up a resolution to be acted upon at the next Selectmen's meeting.
First Selectman Griswold reported that he had received a letter from a Town resident about the policy of no dogs allowed on the beaches. He will invite the author of the letter to come to a future Selectmen's meeting.
Selectman Sibley addressed the letter from Scott Boulanger regarding the immediate need for extra police presence at Miami Beach. The Selectmen agreed that this needs to be acted on quickly. First Selectman Griswold asked to have some time to review the letter as they had just received it. He will seek input from the Police on this matter.
The next Board of Selectmen's meeting will be held on Monday, 1 August at 7:30 PM in the Meeting Hall of the Old Lyme Town Hall.
8. Executive Session: NONE
9. Adjournment
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:24 PM, and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, ~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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