Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Monday, 2 April 2012
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM on Monday, 2 April 2012 in the Meeting Hall of the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall. First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal and Selectman Skip Sibley were present.
1. Approval of Minutes – 19 March 2012
Selectwoman Nosal requested the following changes/additions:
(2. Communications) First Selectwoman Reminder be corrected to Reemsnyder r
(5. New Business Parking in Sound View) the following change: "Selectwoman Nosal stated that there has been no increase in fees in a number of years. She had attended the Sound View Commission meeting of 2/27/12 and based on the numbers the Commission was discussing with respect to costs to the Town that the 2012 increase seemed reasonable." Selectman Sibley stated that this may not be exactly what was said and that the tape of the meeting should be listened to in order to be sure.
Selectman Sibley moved that approval of the minutes be tabled until the tape could be checked for accuracy in the area that Selectwoman Nosal would like corrected. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion.
Discussion: Selectwoman Nosal noted these changes to be considered and confirmed:
(4. Old Business Town Woods Fields): add: Selectwoman Nosal stated that it would be appropriate that each BOS member invite people to attend. And another change
(5. New Business Resolution for support of Central Corridor Rail Line): add the name New London Councilman Michael Passero
(7. Other Business) add: Selectwoman Nosal asked for an update on the use of the Lyme School Field for lacrosse practice.
SO VOTED.
2. Communications – NONE
3. Appointments - NONE
4. Old Business
a. Formation of Council of Governments – Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the Board of Selectmen had all received packets about the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (COG) to be formed. Upon the recommendation of the Selectmen, this will be voted on at a Town meeting, hopefully to be scheduled on April 23. This originally went to a Town meeting in December, and it was tabled due to the need for more information. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that after attending the Southeastern Connecticut COG (SECCOG) meeting, she felt confident that it would be in the Town's best interest to be a part of the Lower Connecticut River Valley COG. She discussed the costs involved and pointed the Selectmen to the comparison of finances in the packet. She spoke of the advantages to the Town if they become a member of
the Lower Connecticut River Valley COG. Selectwoman Nosal moved to bring this resolution for the formation of Council of Governments to a Special Town Meeting. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED. The packet will be posted on the Town Website.
b. Discussion - Permit Fee for Permitted Parking Lots – Recommendation of SVC
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that letters have been sent to the private parking lot owners and she has heard back from at least two. The Sound View Commission has recommended that the Town increase the fees from $20 per space to $40 per space. Also included in the recommendation is that each parking lot post a sign with the beach rules. This extra cost per space would not cover the cost of the signs. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read a letter from Keith Henson (parking lot #5 at 11 Pond Road.) He stated that the price increase was
exorbitant and suggested that if the Town increased the fee by $20 that this could include the printing of the signs. Joe Malinguaggio, a parking lot owner, was in the audience and he had already expressed a concern to First Selectwoman Reemsnyder about the increased fees and had suggested alternative placement for the signs.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she was open to increasing the fee, but she was not sure that a 100% increase was fair at this time. She would be more open to a $10 increase and putting this money towards the cost of the signs. They should be signs that can be re-used. Another option would be to request the parking lot owners to purchase the signs this year, but the Town would order the signs to their specs. In the future, should the parking lot owner's sign get damaged, they would have to replace the sign at their expense.
Mr. Malinguaggio, stated that he was unhappy with any increase in the fees. In addition, he stated that if a street has multiple parking lots, one sign should be placed in a strategic spot, thus saving on the cost of signs. Joan Byer, a parking lot owner, stated that she was against any parking lot fee increases. She stated that nothing is ever done about the illegal parking lots that are operating at the beach even though she has brought this to the attention of the Town on many occasions. She also questioned where the money goes that is
brought in at the Town parking lot. Selectman Sibley moved to increase the current levy from $20 to $30 per space for the nine private parking lots and that the Town will provide and pay for the signage as approved and designed by the Sound View Beach Commission and the Board of Selectmen. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Nosal moved to move (c. Beach Stickers – Fee Increase Discussion) to New Business. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Beach Stickers – Fee Increase Discussion
This agenda item has been relocated under New Business.
d. Town Woods Fields – Organic Care Presentation Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reviewed the Organic Care Presentation made on April 21 by Harrington's Organic Land Care. She thought that there were between 75 and 100 people present and it was a good educational experience. Before the presentation, First Selectwoman Reemsnyder had been introduced to Dr. Jerry Silbert, the Executive Director of the Watershed Partnership, which is a non-profit organization out of Guilford. This organization assists communities who are looking to use organic care on their fields. He did walk the fields at Town Woods Park with First Selectwoman Reemsnyder. Overall he was impressed with the condition of the fields. Dr. Silbert did take some soil samples and had a good feeling that we could make the transition quite well. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder
feels that Dr. Silbert will help the Town put together a set of specs for companies bidding on organic land care. From the presentation, it was recommended that the Town should not go from using pesticides to using NO pesticides. It should be a transition and within that transition there are less dangerous pesticides that can be used.
There was a Board of Finance meeting last Tuesday night and the Board approved an additional $30,000 to the Town Woods Maintenance budget. This will allow them to start working towards organic care. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will be attending the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Thursday to discuss this with the Commission.
Selectman Sibley was pleased that people are coming forward with some good knowledge. He asked for clarification if the $30,000 was for next Fiscal Year Budget and it is. He also stated that there were one or two letters from Park and Recreation Commission member Bob Dunn and he wondered if any communication had been sent to him in reply. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will review her past communications with Mr. Dunn, and anticipates seeing him on Thursday evening's meeting.
Selectwoman Nosal expressed her gratitude to the citizens who attended the Organic Land Care presentation.
5. New Business
a. Social Services in Old Lyme – Discussion of Delivery of Services
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that since the last meeting of the Board of Selectmen she had made a suggestion that the Social Services Department look at the option of contracting this position out to the Lyme's Youth Service Bureau, instead of hiring an additional employee for about eight or nine hours per week. In the recent past, Lyme's Youth Service Bureau has worked closely with the Social Services Coordinator in several ways and it has worked well.
Selectwoman Nosal would like to have more information. Selectman Sibley was surprised that this was on the Board of Finance's Agenda before the Board of Selectmen had a chance to talk about it and bring forward their recommendation. He stated that the LYSB Board of Directors had not been aware of this idea. Selectman Sibley had spoken today with the LYSB Director to discuss this proposed arrangement. The Director stated to Selectman Sibley that she was not comfortable with this arrangement. Selectman Sibley does not support this arrangement and feels that a person should be hired as an employee of the Town and said employee would report to the First Selectwoman.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder agreed with Selectman Sibley that it should have been discussed, but that there had been some positive feelings about the idea. The LYSB Director had not indicated to First Selectwoman Reemsnyder that she was uncomfortable with the idea. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that this was an effort to collaborate and that she wanted to put it out for discussion. Selectman Sibley stated for the record that he felt that this was more than an idea, that it was an action that the Board of Finance was presented with last week. He stated that First Selectwoman Reemsnyder was asking the Board of Finance to approve of something that the Board of Selectmen did not have in front of them. Further, he stated that on that very same evening the Board of Directors of the LYSB had
not heard of this idea.
Selectwoman Nosal felt it was an idea worth consideration, but did not feel such a big deal should be made out of it.
b. Special Town Meeting on April 23
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked for the selectmen's recommendation to schedule a Special Town Meeting on Monday, 23 April, at 7:30 PM in the Meeting Hall at the Memorial Town Hall. It would be to consider and act upon the following:
1. Amendment to Parking Regulations Ordinance
2. Amendment to WPCA Ordinance
3. Amendment to Unaccepted Roads Ordinance
4. Ordinance for Formation of COG
Selectman Sibley moved to set a Special Town Meeting on 23 April 2012. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Annual Town Budget Meeting FY 2013 Town Budget
The Board of Finance has completed the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget approvals. The Selectmen have a copy of this. Total Grand List will be $1,603,246,720 with a Net Taxable Grand List of $1,575,189,902. Net property tax requirement is $30,218,595. The mill rate will change from 18.8 to 19.25. Though the operating budget of Dist. #18 has decreased slightly, Old Lyme's percentage increased slightly, and the returns to the Town have gone down by about one-half of a million dollars. This has resulted in a higher increase than first anticipated. There will be a budget hearing on 16 April at 7:30 PM at the Middle School Auditorium.
d. Connecticut Magazine – Rating of Small Towns – OLD LYME #3
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that Connecticut Magazine rated Old Lyme as the 3rd highest rated small town in Connecticut for population 6500-10,000. Towns are rated in these fields: Education, Economy, Cost of Living, Crime and Leisure / Culture.
e. Beach Stickers – Fee Increase Discussion
There has not been an increase in Beach Sticker fees in several years. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that someone had recommended an increase from $20 to $25. Another recommendation was that a set of parking rules be issued with each sticker. The income from the stickers goes into the General Fund and normally about 1200 - 1400 stickers are sold.
Selectwoman Nosal and Selectman Sibley did not recommend an increase at this time. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested that consideration be given to policy review in the future.
6. Public Comment
Mr. Woolley, a member of the Board of Finance, spoke about the future changes for the Senior Center. He applauds the Selectmen and urges them to move forward for a solution to make things even better.
7. Other Business
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that each year the Town needs to set a hearing for the Neighborhood Assistance Grant. It was decided that this will be done at 3:30 PM on 16 April before the Selectmen's meeting at 4:00 PM.
Selectwoman Nosal stated that the Anti Blight Investigation Committee held its first meeting on March 14. It was a great group and they are moving forward
Selectwoman Nosal asked about Central Corridor Railroad Recommendation and First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she had just received some feedback from state legislators and this will be put on the next Board of Selectmen's meeting agenda.
Selectwoman Nosal spoke about the traffic problems on Lyme Street during the morning rush hour. She had spoken with someone about the problem and one thought was to ask our resident trooper to speak to the kids about safe driving. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the police have been present more on Lyme Street at that hour.
Selectman Sibley stated that he saw the letter to Gail Fuller for Social Connections giving her permission to use the Town parking lot, and asked if communication had been made with public safety. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder did speak with Officer Heinssen and he stated that this has happened in the past and he had no concerns.
The next Board of Selectmen's meeting will be held on Monday, 16 April at 4:00 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 9:12 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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