Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting: Monday, 15 August 2011
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM on Monday, 15 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. HEARTSafe Community – State Designation
First Selectman Griswold reported that the Connecticut Department of Public Health in collaboration with the American Heart Association, has designated Old Lyme as a HEARTSafe Community. The HEARTSafe Communities program is designed to increase the awareness of the signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac events by ordinary citizens. Old Lyme met the program requirements for public placement of AEDs (automated external defibrillators) and having a number of citizens trained in CPR. In addition, Old Lyme is planning on continuing to provide community CPR training programs and expand the availability of AEDs in public locations. First Selectman Griswold thanked Doug Lo Presti and Colleen Atkinson for their help in organizing and completing the HEARTSafe certification for the Town of Old Lyme. Mr. Gary St.
Amand, from the Department of Health, reviewed the HEARTSafe Communities program and presented the Town with a certificate designating the Town of Old Lyme as a HEARTSafe Community.
Ms. Atkinson and Mr. Lo Presti spoke about the importance of CPR and AEDs in order to save lives. They thanked the Selectmen for their support.
2. Bow Bridge Property – Steve Ross
Steve Ross, Chairman of the Harbor Management Commission, along with Commissioners Mike Magee and Harry Plaut, spoke to the Board about the possibility of making improvements to the Town's land by the former Bess Eaton, which leads down to Lieutenant River (former Bow Bridge site). The property is presently maintained by the Town. They propose to make it more welcoming, with a defined parking area for visitors, and keeping access open for fire trucks to reach the water for pumping purposes. There would be signs posted on the property that include the rules of use.
Mr. Ross has spoken with a representative from the CT DEEP, because it owns a triangular parcel between Halls Road and the Town-owned property. A preliminary plan would be in two phases. The first phase would be to improve the Town-owned parcel and the second phase would be to install a public access dock. Mr. Magee spoke of the proposed changes for the Town-owned parcel. Selectman Sibley asked if there would be a way to rebuild the Bow Bridge. Mr. Ross stated that they would like to rebuild a foot bridge in a future phase.
Mr. Plaut reviewed the proposed plan for the construction of an ADA accessible dock to give easy accessibility to the river for boaters.
Mr. Ross stated that they are looking to the Selectmen for their support and they are not looking for any funding from the Town at this time.
3. Approval of Minutes: Meeting of 1 August 2011
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to accept the minutes of 1 August 2011 with a correction of the time of adjournment. It is incorrectly stated as 8:10 AM and should be 8:10 PM. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
4. Communications - NONE
5. Appointments
Selectwoman Reemsnyder moved to appoint David Redfield to the Water Pollution Control Authority, moving him to a Regular Member from his present Alternate position, for a 4 year term, expiring in January 2015. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
6. Old Business
a. Duck River Culvert - Update
First Selectman Griswold reported that there had been a pre-construction meeting at the site. Construction will begin on Monday of next week and continue for two weeks.
b. Private Beach Associations Meeting
First Selectmen Griswold reported that several items were discussed in detail at the Special Board of Selectmen meeting with representatives of the beach associations. One suggestion was to form a Beach District, similar to the Historic District. Several people commented on perceived zoning violations with properties along Rte 156. There was a discussion about allowing dogs, owned by Old Lyme residents, access from the Town’s White Sand Beach parking lot access to the Griswold beach to the west, but no agreement was made. Lastly it was discussed that it would be beneficial for Beach representatives to meet with Town Hall staff before the end of the summer season.
c. Rowing Association Regatta and Open House – Hains Park 13 August
First Selectman Griswold reported that the Regatta and Open House held at Hains Park on Saturday went off well. The Selectmen thanked Sarah Kukich, a rower and the East Lyme Girl Scout seeking her Gold Award, for her efforts to organize the event.
7. New Business
a. Possible Formation of CT River Valley Council of Governments
At present, Old Lyme is a member of the Lower CT Valley Selectmen’s Association (LCVSA), consisting of 9 towns, and the CT River Council of Elected Officials (CRVCEO), consisting of 17 towns. First Selectman Griswold explained that the State of CT seeks to reduce the number of regional planning agencies from 15 to 5, or perhaps as many as 8. The 17 towns in the CRVCEO have two planning agencies: CT River Estuary Regional Planning Agency (CRERPA)(9 towns) and the Mid-State Planning Agency (8 towns). It has been suggested that the 17 towns voluntarily form a Council of Governments (COG) before the State of CT decides to place the 17 towns in COGs of its choosing. A COG is a combination of towns that work together to pool their resources and knowledge. At an earlier meeting of the CRVCEO,
about two-thirds of the CEOs present voted to request the State’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to designate the two planning agencies a COG. In May, the Secretary of OPM re-designated the two planning agencies as the Lower CT River Valley Planning Agency. There was a discussion of why it would be beneficial for the Town of Old Lyme to become a member of the to-be-formed CT River Valley Council of Governments (17 towns). Selectman Sibley asked if he could see a list of functions we presently receive as well as those to be provided by the proposed COG. First Selectman Griswold will ask Linda
Krause, CRERPA Executive Director, to come speak about this issue at the next Selectmen’s meeting. If the Selectmen agree, it would be necessary to obtain Town Meeting approval to have Old Lyme join a COG.
b. Beatrice McLean's Memorial Service – Town Treasurer for 51 Years
First Selectman Griswold stated that Bee McLean, the Town Treasurer for 51 years, passed away on 26 July and that her Memorial Service was well attended. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.
c. State Police B.A.T. Mobile on Route 156
First Selectman Griswold reported that on Saturday, 6 August, the Town had the services of the State Police B.A.T. (breath alcohol testing) Mobile. This unit is a very comprehensive testing facility used to test blood alcohol levels.
8. Public Comment - NONE
9. Other Business
First Selectman Griswold stated that Brian Lorentson has worked in the Public Works Department since January of 2002 at the Maintainer I level. At the urging of Mr. Adanti, he has recently obtained his CDL license at his own expense. This will give him the ability to drive the large trucks. Mr. Adanti has asked that Mr. Lorentson be promoted to the Maintainer II level, as this would provide Public Works with the flexibility of another person who could drive the larger Town trucks. This would mean a pay increase of $3.09 per hour which equals an increase of $6,427 per year. First Selectman Griswold requests the Board of Selectmen to recommend to the Board of Finance that this promotion be made. Selectwoman Reemsnyder expressed her concern with increasing an employee's pay at the beginning of a
budget year. Selectman Sibley shared this concern and, in fairness to the Board of Finance, he would like more input from Ed Adanti before the Selectmen make a recommendation. First Selectman Griswold will speak to Mr. Adanti and request more information.
Selectman Sibley stated that he would be happy to get the ball rolling about forming a committee to consider a Blight Ordinance. The other Selectmen concurred.
Ron Rose spoke to the Selectmen regarding the amount of hours he works being greater than the budget. He said the budgeted hours are too few for his responsibilities as Sanitarian and Building Official. Selectman Sibley stated that he felt uncomfortable discussing Mr. Rose’s hours, given the fact that Mr. Rose has filed a lawsuit against the Town. The Selectmen thanked Mr. Rose and there was no further discussion on this matter.
The next Board of Selectmen's meeting will be held on Tuesday (Monday is a Holiday), 6 September at 4:00 PM in the Meeting Hall of the Old Lyme Town Hall.
Selectman Sibley moved to go into Executive Session at 9:10 PM to discuss a personnel matter and to invite Ruth Roach into the session. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
10. Executive Session: Discussion of Personnel Matters
Selectman Sibley moved to go out of Executive Session at 10:25 PM and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
11. Adjournment:
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:26 PM and Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, ~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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