Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Monday, 7 January 2013
Regular Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM on Monday, 7 January 2013 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 December 2012
Selectman Sibley moved to approve the minutes of Regular Meeting 17 December 2012. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communication
Selectman Sibley made a motion to move Item a. under New Business to this place in the agenda. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
5. New Business
a. Fire Department Proclamation from East Hampton
The town of East Hampton passed a resolution honoring some of the fire departments that gave mutual aid to fight the fire that destroyed the Bevin Brothers factory building on May 27, 2012. The Bevin Brothers Bell Company had made bells there since the early 1800s and after outreach from the community and the State, they relocated to another site in the downtown.
The text of that proclamation was framed, along with several small bells from the Bevin Brothers factory, and was hand-delivered to those departments that helped battle the huge blaze. Old Lyme Fire Department received one of these framed proclamations. The Selectmen recognized the Old Lyme Fire Department for all their hard work.
3. Appointments – January Appointments
The Selectmen voted on January Appointments to Town Boards and Commissions. A spreadsheet of these appointments is attached.
4. Old Business
a. White Sand Beach Road Plowing – Peter Bialobrzeski
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reviewed the new snow plowing policy which states that the Town will not plow any private roads. Until this new policy went into effect, the roads at White Sand Beach were plowed by the Town. White Sand Beach has since requested that the Town plow White Sand Beach Road. The Town presently plows the beach parking lot. The Town owns property at White Sand Beach just like any other resident and White Sand Beach Road is not a right of way owned by the Town. Peter Bialobrzeski, Chairman of the White Sand Beach Association and Atty. Robert Avena spoke to the Selectmen about the new plowing policy, services provided in the past by both the Town and the Beach Association and the added wear and tear on White Sand Beach Road caused by Town residents using the beach year round.
There was a discussion and Peter requested a 50/50 split of the total cost of the plowing expense of White Sand Beach Association. The Selectmen recommended that this be brought before the Board of Finance at their next meeting with the request that they consider supplementing the cost of snow plowing at White Sand Beach.
Barry Harrison, a member of the White Sand Beach Association and a year round resident at White Sand Beach, stated that in his opinion more than 50% and closer to 90%, of the traffic during the time period between Labor Day and Memorial Day is from Town residents.
Selectwoman Nosal made a motion to move Item b. under New Business to this place in the agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
New Business
b. Woodcrest Estates – Maintenance Bond
Tom Metcalf and Ed Cassella reviewed with the Selectmen the standard procedure of a maintenance bond. According to the Town of Old Lyme Sub-division regulations, it is mandatory that the Town get a maintenance bond. There was a discussion on how much the maintenance bond should be for Woodcrest Dr. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that there is slightly over $40,000 left in the performance bond and it would appear that this would cover the cost of the maintenance bond at approximately 10%. A discussion followed with input from Bill Nulsen, attorney for developer, and Gary Widlitz, the developer.
Selectman Sibley moved to table this item until a future meeting. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. Ron Rose – Building Official
Ron Rose resigned his position as Building Official as of 31 December 2012. He has agreed to continue to serve as Sanitarian until someone is hired. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder has appointed John Flower as the interim Building Official. The Town is looking to hire a full time Building Official and full time Sanitarian. John Flower has submitted his resume for the full time Building Official position. A discussion followed.
c. PD and FD Communications – Recommend to Town Meeting
Last month the Board of Selectmen had recommended that the Police Department present their request for funds of $32,500 to install equipment that will improve interagency communication to the Board of Finance. This expense will be over $20,000 and the Board of Finance has recommended this request be on the call of the Town Meeting in January.
d. FY 2014 Budget – Update
The Board of Selectmen had two special meetings to review the FY 2014 Budget which included the General Budget, Salaries and Capital Expenses. The Selectmen are ready to pass this on to the Board of Finance and felt that the special meetings were most helpful.
5. New Business
a. Fire Department Proclamation from East Hampton
This item was moved in the agenda.
b. Woodcrest Estates – Maintenance Bond
This item was moved in the agenda.
c. Town Audit – FY 2012
The Selectmen had copies of the Town Audit for 2012. The unassigned fund balance for the General Fund was $4,916,275.00. This is 15.4% of total General Fund expenditures. It is recommended that a fund balance be between 5% and 15%. The Town will continue to work on financial policies as recommended in the Audit. Selectman Sibley would like a one page summary from Nicole Stajduhar that includes the letter of recommendation for improvements. The Selectmen thanked Nicole for her help at the special meetings.
d. Annual Town Meeting – 28 January 2013
Included on the Agenda for the Annual Town Meeting are the following:
- To accept the Annual Town Report for Fiscal Year July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012
- Announce the recipient of Citizen of the Year
- Item to approve an amount not to exceed $32,500 for Communications
Selectwoman Nosal suggested that a slide show be done with the Year in Review. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will give this some thought.
e. Amusement Licensing Ordinance, Ch. 13
Cathy Frank had provided the Selectmen with an overview of the Town’s Amusement Licensing Ch 13. The ordinance was reviewed. The Board of Selectmen will review and decide on a fee schedule and will look to Cathy for her knowledge and assistance.
6. Public Comment - NONE
7. Other Business
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested that the Board of Selectmen change the meeting time of their next meeting on 22 January to 6:00 PM. This will be posted as a Special Meeting.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for Monday 22 January at 6:00 PM.
8. Executive Session - NONE
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:44 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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