Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Special Meeting: Saturday, 13 August 2011
The Board of Selectmen held a special meeting at 8:30 AM on Saturday 13 August 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. Discussion of Beach Relate Items with the Beach Associations:
About 23 people attended the meeting. First Selectman Griswold said that representatives of the beach associations met with the Board of Selectmen on 23 October 2010 to discuss items outlined in a letter to the Selectmen dated 30 August 2010. The major points in the letter that the beach associations wanted to be addressed were sewers, flood & erosion, Town funding of the associations and zoning violations. A second meeting was held on 25 July 2011 between beach association representatives, First Selectman Griswold and Ed Adanti, Supt. of Public Works which focused on the issue of the Town of Old Lyme plowing the privately owned roads within the beach associations. First Selectman Griswold repeated that the Board of Selectmen is committed to having the Town plow most of the associations’
roads for fiscal year 2012 but that the Board must decide about plowing these roads beyond FY 2012. Mr. Adanti will meet with a representative of each association in order to determine which roads will be plowed.
Scott Boulanger said he hoped that the beach association “fact sheets”, requested by the Board, will provide sufficient information so the Town may recalculate the level of support it gives to the associations each year. He believes a new financial plan should be developed. He also commented on the blight along Rte 156, the flood & erosion control issues and the WPCA letter concerning the sewer issue.
Paul Rowean said there should be a focus on the brooks running through the beach associations.
Frank Pappalardo said he has spoken with Ann Brown, the Town’s Zoning Enforcement Officer “ZEO”, about the 12 properties listed in the Federation of Beaches list dated 23 October 2010. He reported she said many properties predate zoning and are grandfathered from Zoning Regulations. Others need to be addressed. First Selectman Griswold went through all twelve properties, indicating Ms. Brown’s response. It was suggested that the Town investigate creating a blight ordinance and Mr. Pappalardo volunteered Michaelle Pearson to assist.
David Griswold asked how long a property owner has to complete a renovation or a project on his/her property. The Selectmen suggested that this is probably covered in the permits and that the Land Use Dept. could clarify. Mark Mongillo stated that the Flood and Erosion Control Board “FECB” could be more helpful. He thinks the FECB reacts rather than leads.
Lou Russo questioned whether the Town might form a beach district with a specific set of rules, similar to the Historic District.
There was considerable discussion about dogs leaving vehicles in the Town’s White Sand Beach “WSB” parking lot and traversing property to walk on the Griswold beach to the west. The officials from WSB are willing to discuss this issue in an effort to come to a fair arrangement, but it was pointed out that dog walkers must traverse over private property.
First Selectman Griswold asked if it would be helpful to schedule a time during which representatives of the beach associations could meet with the Town’s Sanitarian/Building Official and the ZEO to discuss certain issues. A meeting might be held at 4:00 or so during the week. There was enthusiasm for such a meeting.
2. Adjournment
Selectwoman Reemsnyder made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:11 AM., seconded by Selectman Sibley. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, ~
Timothy C. Griswold
Recording Secretary
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