Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Regular Meeting: Monday, 21 November 2011
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 4:00 PM on Monday, 21 November 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 – 7 November 2011
Selectman Reemsnyder moved to accept the minutes of 7 November 2011. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications
a. Atty Clarke – 2011 Municipal Election – Planning Commission Member
First Selectman Griswold read a letter from Atty. Marylin Clarke in regards to the election on Nov. 8th of a Planning Commission member. Apparently, the Planning Commission reported in Feb. of 2011 that a member resigned, and at the Feb. 2011 meeting, the Commission appointed Stephen Martino, one of the alternates, to fill the vacancy. Unfortunately, no one presented themselves to be sworn in, so this position was put on the ballot for November. According to the opinion letter from Atty. Clarke, Section 8-19 of the CT State Statutes is clear that a Planning Commission’s members shall select a replacement for a regular member who has resigned and such replacement shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term, in this case, November 2013. Selectwoman Reemsnyder expressed
that the person “elected”, Edgar Butcher, was very upset by this situation and was seeking a second opinion on this matter.
b. CL&P – Offer of Five Days of Free Tree Trimming
CL & P has offered communities five days of tree trimming at no cost to the municipalities. This has been passed on to the Tree Commission and they will look to see where this might be best utilized.
3. Appointments
None – appointments will come before the BOS in January.
4. Old Business
a. Snow Plowing of Beach Association Roads – Committee Formation
There have been three names submitted by the Beach Communities for this committee, and the committee still needs 3 more names – two from private homeowners associations, and one individual who resides on a town road. First Selectman Griswold stated that the principal question will be the fairness of plowing private roads in general. The Selectmen would like to resolve this before budget season. Selectman Sibley stated that he would come up with two names from the Homeowners Association and the Selectmen should come up with a number at large. This will be done by next week. The Committee would then get a memo stating what their charge will be.
b. CT River Valley Council of Governments – Special Town Meeting
There will be a Special Town Meeting this evening at 7:30 PM. The Town will decide whether or not to ratify the recommendation of the representatives of the CT River Council of Elected Officials (CRVCEO) to establish a council of governments called the Lower CT River Valley Council of Governments, or COG. The CRVCEO voted some time ago to form a single regional planning agency and that was approved by the Secretary of OPM. If 60% of the 17 towns of the CRVCEO approve this through their legislative process, then the COG would be formed.
5. New Business
a. Authorization to Sign Letter to Culture and Tourism
First Selectman Griswold stated that the Town was approved for a Culture and Tourism Grant in the amount of $200,000 to help fund the construction and renovations of the Town Hall. One of the steps involved in receiving the grant money is that the contractor should sign a waiver, and because the contractor is in a dispute with the Town, he will not sign said waiver. Rudolph Netsch Construction Co. of Chester sued Old Lyme in April, claiming that his company is owed a balance of $209,658.55 for work done on the Town Hall.
First Selectman Griswold read aloud the letter sent to the State on behalf of the Town. The letter will hopefully resolve the problem, and the Town should receive the grant money without the waiver from the Contractor.
Selectman Sibley moved to authorize the signing of the letter and to place it in the mail as soon as possible. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. OLFD - $150,000 Appropriation Request for Apparatus Purchase
First Selectman Griswold stated that a second Special Town Meeting will need to be scheduled to approve the appropriation request for the purchase of two fire engines. The Town has been putting money aside in an account for the purchase of fire apparatus for a number of years. The Town is about to execute an order for two new fire engines. The Town would receive a discount by purchasing two fire engines and they would trade in the two engines that are being replaced. The amount of money that would need to be accounted for is $886,000. In order to keep the price the same, the Town would need to execute a contract with the manufacturer before 15 December 2011. If the Town waits until next year there will be a price increase for certain. The Town has in the capital
plan $80,000 next year for this expense. Because the contract needs to be signed in December, the Town does not have the money on hand. $150,000 would be needed to make this work. The amount that is in the budget for next year would have to be moved into this year's budget, taking it from the Surplus Account to do so. Surplus totals a little over 4 million dollars at this time with the $700,000 added this year and translates to 12% surplus. A range of surplus is 5% to 15% and the Town would want to be closer to the higher number. Therefore 12% is a comfortable number to be at. The Town would propose to have a Special Town Meeting on 5 December to consider appropriating $150,000 out of Surplus to put into the Fire Apparatus Account. The Board of Finance made a motion to recommend to the Board of Selectmen and to proceed to a Special Town Meeting. The Board of Selectmen would need to make a similar motion. These funds would not
have to be spent until the fire engines are delivered in about one year. The Town would need to advertise the Special Town Meeting in three newspapers so that summer residents would be aware of the meeting.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that if the contract is signed by 15 December, included in this agreement would be an amount of $57,000 coming back to the Town for the trade in of the two fire engines presently owned by the Town. This $57,000 is an actual offer to buy the fire engines.
Selectman Sibley asked if this was put out to bid and First Selectman Griswold did not know the answer to that, but he did state that the Fire Department uses three different specialized vendors and assumed that they got prices from all. Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that this would be covered in the presentation made by the Fire Department at the Special Town Meeting. Selectman Sibley stated his concern that pricing had been received from more than one company.
Selectman Sibley moved to bring to a Special Town Meeting the question to appropriate an amount not to exceed $150,000 from the Town's undesignated Surplus Account to be deposited into the Town's Fire Apparatus Account in anticipation of purchasing two fire engines as recommended by the Board of Finance. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. Discussion: Selectman Sibley stated that the Fire Department Committee representatives will need to be prepared to answer questions that night on the process to date. SO VOTED.
c. Veterans Day Observance – Middle School
First Selectman Griswold stated that the Middle School did a wonderful job on Veterans Day honoring the veterans. There was an assembly in the auditorium in the morning. At 11:00 AM there was a ceremony at the Town Hall including a color guard, singing and speeches.
6. Public Comment
Richard Moll spoke about a letter written on 10 November 2011 from the Chairman of the Old Lyme Water Pollution Control Authority to all leaders and land use officials of the Town. This letter announced that there will be a meeting on 6 December 2011 sponsored by the OLWPCA with a presentation of community sewage systems. Mr. Moll asked the incoming Board of Selectmen to write a letter to the chairmen of these particular committees and commissions and recommend that they attend the meeting along with their board members. This is a very involved and expensive solution and attendance should be maximized for this presentation.
Mr. Moll spoke of the utility easement on Lyme Street. He referred to the Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of 7 November. "Richard Moll, a member of the ZBA, requested that the Selectmen be sure that the Memorial Garden that is located on the property to the left of the Fire House not be disturbed during the construction." Mr. Moll asked what had been done so far and First Selectmen Griswold stated that a meeting had not been scheduled as of yet with John Rhodes from the school, the Fire Department, the utility company and the Selectmen.
Mr. Moll spoke about the relocation of a stone wall that established the boundary between a privately owned parcel and a Town owned parcel on Four Mile River Road. The relocation of this stone wall boundary by the property owner was an effort to make the private lot conforming. The Town informed the property owner that he must put the wall back in its original location or the Town would do so. This would be done at the owner’s expense. Mr. Moll has brought this to the attention of the Board previously and asked for an estimate of when this could be resolved. This matter has gone on since 2005. First Selectman Griswold explained that the Town did establish that the wall had been moved and it should be returned to its rightful place. He could not answer Mr.
Moll's question as to when this will be resolved as there will be several factors involved.
John Bysko thanked Tim for all he has done for the Town over the last 30 years to maintain the exceptional quality of Old Lyme. He stated that the Town is in excellent shape and this is due to Tim's hard work.
State Representative Marilyn Giuliano expressed her sentiments to Tim on behalf of many for his steady stewardship that he has offered in his very long tenure of public service to the Town of Old Lyme and to its people. Representative Giuliano stated that you don't have to be in Old Lyme very long to understand and appreciate the legacy of the Griswold family and Tim's imprint upon this Town. She further stated that it is the hope of many that as Tim returns to private life that he will do so with a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction knowing that what he takes with him is the gratitude of many.
David Woolley spoke of his many years of friendship with Tim. He thanked Tim for all that he has done for the Town and wished him Godspeed and an enjoyable retirement.
Bud Canaday, Tim's first campaign manager, recalled nominating Tim for First Selectman 14 years ago. He told people that Tim would take good care of the Town of Old Lyme, and indeed he has. He thanked Tim for doing such a fine job.
Richard Sagan thanked Tim for all his help in solving problems at the beaches and for his concern for all the Town's residents over the years.
First Selectman Griswold spoke of his time serving the Town and thanked the people who work on boards and commissions as volunteers, the volunteer fire department and ambulance, the Green Gang who works on trails, etc. It has been a pleasure serving and he thanked Selectman Sibley and Selectwoman Reemsnyder for their service.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder thanked Tim and said it was a pleasure to work with him on the Board of Selectmen for eight years. She greatly appreciated his help over the last week and one-half helping her with the transition.
Selectman Sibley thanked Tim and looks forward to Tim's advise going forward.
7. Other Business
The next Board of Selectmen's meeting will be held on Monday, 5 December 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 5:17 PM. Selectwoman Reemsnyder seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted, ~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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