Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Monday, 15 October 2012
Regular Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM on Monday, 15 October 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
Regular Meeting 17 September 2012 and 1 October 2012
Selectwoman Nosal moved to accept the minutes of Regular Meeting 17 September 2012 as presented. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. Under 4a, Selectman Sibley requested that the minutes actually reflect the statement made by Jeff Flower, to read: “Jeff Flower, architect for DiMichiels…stated ‘I would assume you would go ahead and deny the waiver’ ”. This correction was agreed to by the Selectmen. SO VOTED. Selectwoman Nosal moved to accept the minutes of Regular Meeting 1 October 2012 as presented. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications
a. Liz Rubitski, Sidewalks
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read a letter from Ms. Rubitski requesting consideration for sidewalks to be installed on Town Woods Road between Route 1 and Town Woods Park.
b. Judith Read, Resignation BOE
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read a letter from Judith Read, dated 3 October 2012, indicating her need to resign from the Board of Education.
3. Appointments
Robert Jose (R) - Pension Committee – Board of Finance Ex-Officio
As this is an ex-officio position, there is no need to appoint.
Gil Soucie (D) – Pension Committee – 3 Year Term to Jan 2015
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Gil Soucie to the Pension Committee for a 3-year term, expiring January 2015. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Jeff Hartmann (R) – Pension Committee – 3 Year Term to Jan 2015
Selectwoman Nosal moved to appoint Jeff Hartman to the Pension Committee for a 3-year term, expiring January 2015. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business
a. Water Resource Code Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder contacted Douglas Hoskins of the CT DEEP for an opinion on the Town’s authority to adopt a Water Resource Code that would require permitting for exportation of water in the amounts of 5,000 to 50,000 gallons per day. Mr. Hoskins replied that the DEEP felt that the Town should abide by the recommendations of their counsel, and could not weigh in on the issue. The Selectmen decided that an initial opinion from the Town Attorney would be helpful before seeking costly input from specialized counsel.
b. Snow Plowing Policy
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder submitted a draft snow plowing policy that should be posted on the Town website. While there was a tentative agreement with White Sands Beach Association that the main road leading to the Town Beach would be an exception to the policy that states that only Town owned roads are to be plowed, further discussions are necessary to finalize that agreement. In an effort to get a policy in place before winter snows begin, First Selectwoman Reemsnyder felt that this policy could be approved and then amended after further discussions with WSB Association. After minor changes were made, Selectwoman Nosal moved to approve the “Town of Old Lyme Snow Plowing Policy for Town Roads”. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
5. New Business
Selectman Sibley made a motion to move New Business e. Proclamation – Sylvia Marsh up on the agenda prior to a. Acceptance of Village Lane as a Town Road. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
e. Proclamation – Sylvia Marsh
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read a Proclamation, signed by the Selectmen, highlighting the life of Sylvia Marsh in honor of her 100th year birthday on 23 October 2012. Mrs. Marsh’s daughter Elizabeth Marsh and her cousin Tim Griswold were present to accept the Proclamation for Mrs. Marsh, and comment on her life in Old Lyme.
a. Acceptance of Village Lane as a Town Road
The request to accept Village Lane as a Town Road can now be considered, as the work done as a result of calling the bond, and hiring B & L Construction for this work, has been completed. A letter from Tom Metcalf, Consulting Engineer for the Planning Commission indicates that he visited the Village Estates Subdivision to view the completed work and determined that it was satisfactorily completed. In order for a private road to be accepted as a Town Road, it must be approved at a Town Meeting. Selectwoman Nosal moved to refer the acceptance of Village Lane as a Town Road to a Town Meeting. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. Bid Acceptance Recommendation – Harbor Management Dredging Study
On 1 October 2012, bids for the Harbor Management Dredging Study were accepted and opened. There were five bids received, and the bid amounts ranged from $19,233.00 to $41,190.00. Geoff Steadman, who worked on the bid documents, reviewed the bids and agreed that all bidders met the requirements of the bid and had the correct qualifications. Harbor Management recommended to accept the low bid from Coastline Consulting and Development, LLC of Madison, CT in the amount of $19.233.00. Selectman Sibley moved to approve the bid of Coastline Consulting and Development, LLC. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Special Town Meeting – 29 October at 7:30 PM
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked for the Selectmen to schedule a Special Town Meeting to accept two roads – Woodcrest Estates, as recommended by the Selectmen, and Village Lane, as recommended by the Selectmen, and to elect a successor to Judith Read to the Board of Education. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read the call of the meeting. Selectman Sibley moved to schedule a Special Town Meeting for 29 October 2012 at 7:30 PM at the Middle School Auditorium. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
d. Community Septic System Task Force
The Board of Selectmen agreed at prior meetings to form a task force to look at the feasibility of a Community Wastewater Management System. Six people have submitted requests for appointments to the Task Force. They are Kurt Zemba, Frank Chan, Ernest Lorda, Donna Bednar, Richard Prendergast and Douglas Wilkinson. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read the draft Charge to the Task Force. Selectman Sibley made a motion to accept the requests of the six individuals and adopt the Charge for the Task Force. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
e. Proclamation – Sylvia Marsh
This agenda item was moved to earlier in meeting.
f. October: Breast Health Awareness Month
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder noted that October is Breast Health Awareness Month, and many events are scheduled to highlight this. An announcement to that effect was put on the Town website, which also encouraged citizens to take part in a Pink Glove Dance Competition which could raise money for Breast Cancer Research. The staff members of Lawrence and Memorial Hospital created a Dance Video to submit to the competition in the hopes of winning $10,000, which would go to the Terri Brodeur Cancer Foundation. To help them win the competition, citizens should go to the web page http://pinkglovedance.com/competition, search for Lawrence and Memorial Hospital and vote for their video. The dance with the most votes will win the competition.
6. Public Comment
Tim Griswold spoke on behalf of the Lyme Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce. He announced that the Chamber is sponsoring a “Meet the Candidates” evening on Thursday, 18 October 2012 in the Town Hall Meeting Room. The candidates for the State House and Senate Offices, as well as the Second Congressional District candidates, will have an opportunity to speak about their candidacy. He encouraged voters to attend and get to know the candidates.
Mr. Griswold also spoke about the acceptance of Village Lane; expressing concerns about the elaborate drainage system that would become the responsibility of the Town should the road be accepted. He felt that this should be reviewed by Public Works.
Ned Farman spoke about the “Meet the Candidates” event, and suggested that all candidates should be a part of the event, even third party candidates. He encouraged their inclusion at the event, although he acknowledged that third party candidates may have been invited, but had not responded.
7. Other Business
Selectman Sibley noted that there had been some communication from a member of the Anti-Blight Committee, and he wondered if the notes that were emailed were the opinion of one person or the Committee. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder commented that the Committee has not submitted a recommendation based on the consensus of the Committee, and that it was her understanding that these notes were the opinion of one member.
Selectman Sibley also mentioned the need to form the Committee to consider the request of members of the Fire Department regarding changing the Pension and Abatement amounts, as well as requirements for qualifications for these incentives. Selectman Sibley suggested that we should get someone from the Board of Finance, the Pension Committee and the Ambulance Association, and he would spearhead the effort once we had these individuals commit.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for Monday 5 November at 7:30 PM.
8. Executive Session
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:01 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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