Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Monday, 1 April 2013
Special Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Special Meeting at 4:00 PM on Monday, 1 April 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 18 March 2013
Selectwoman Nosal moved to approve the minutes of Regular Meeting 18 March 2013. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to approve the minutes of Special Meeting 18 March 2013. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications
None
3. Appointments
Tim Rollins (R) – Inland Wetlands Commission - 3 Yr. Term to Jan 14 (replacing Sabine O’Donnell)
Selectwoman Nosal moved to appoint Tim Rollins to the Inland Wetlands Commission for a 3-year term ending January 2014. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. There was a discussion about procedure of filling openings. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business
a. Wastewater Management Task Force Presentations
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that there had been two presentations made to the public and both were well attended. Woodard & Curran will be the firm working on the project. There are handouts available to the public for those who missed the presentations and information will be posted on the Town website. This expenditure will be on the call for the Special Town Meeting scheduled for 9 April.
b. FY 2014 Budget Update
The draft of the FY 2014 Budget is done and enrollment figures will be available from Regional School District #18 today. Property tax requirements from FY 2013 were $30,332,397 and for FY 2014 it will be $30,583,800 which is an increase of about $251,400. The mill rate will rise to 19.35 from 19.26. This is an increase of .47%. The budget hearing will be on 27 April in the Town Hall Meeting Hall at 7:30 PM. On 20 May it will go to a Town Meeting at the Middle School, providing the School Budget has been approved at that time.
c. Rogers Lake Dam RFB Openings
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that 10 bids were opened this morning. They ranged in price from $237,500 to $439,770. The Engineer will review the bids this week. The Town’s opinion of probable cost was in the range of $290,000 which included expenses that were not included in the bid. Mattern Construction was the lowest bidder, Machnik Brothers was the second lowest and the third lowest bidder was CLH and Sons.
d. Request by the Pavilion for Bus Ordinance Exception
This request was presented at the last Selectmen’s Meeting. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read the original request and spoke of the follow-up correspondence. This request was shared with the chairman of the Sound View Commission. Stephanie, a representative from the Pavilion, was at the meeting of the Sound View Commission where this was discussed. Stephanie was present at the Selectmen’s meeting to answer questions. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read letters from concerned residents and reported that according to the Town’s Fire Marshall the occupancy of the Pavilion is 550 persons. Old Lyme Police have expressed concerns of allowing this event to take place. There was a discussion. The impression from the original request was that this was a UCONN event and
through the Selectmen’s research it is not. Officer Heinssen and Dave Roberge were available for questions. Officer Heinssen expressed his concerns with regard to public safety and public expense for an event where the number one theme of the party is “drinking.” This item will be on the agenda of the next Selectmen’s meeting.
e. Employee Handbook Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reviewed the changes made regarding employee sick days. For this Fiscal Year everyone would be paid for unused sick days. The recommendation is that in Fiscal Year 2014 an employee would carry over any unused sick days until they reached a maximum of 30 days. It would be required that an employee carry them over. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that in speaking to staff and Board of Finance members there is a suggestion that for Fiscal Year 2014, instead of the carryover of all 8 sick days until a maximum of 30 days – that for next year an employee would be required to carry over one-half of their remaining sick days. In Fiscal Year 2015 any unused sick days would have to be carried over unless they have reached the maximum of the 30 sick days.
There was a motion made by Selectwoman Nosal to accept this and after a discussion the motion was withdrawn. This item will be added to the agenda of the next Selectmen’s meeting.
f. Anti-Blight Committee Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder invited Stacy Winchell, Secretary of the Anti-Blight Committee to the front to answer questions from the Selectmen. The Selectmen are looking for the confirmation of the Committee’s recommendation. According to an email to First Selectwoman Reemsnyder from Ms. Winchell the Committee was unable to draft and/or approve a joint document of the members’ recommendations. As the minutes of the Anti-Blight Committee reflect, there was much discussion as to whether or not the Town needed an Anti-Blight ordinance. An abundant amount of research was done by the Committee with a great debate of how far the arm of such an ordinance should reach. A final vote from the Committee with regard to a recommendation could not be reached. Ms. Winchell’s
personal recommendation is that an Anti-Blight Ordinance investigation should continue. The Selectmen would like to move forward in getting a final recommendation. Selectman Sibley moved to disband the Anti-Blight Committee as it currently stands. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. There was a discussion. SO VOTED.
The Selectmen thanked Stacy and other members of the Committee for their work and a communication will go out to the Committee members.
5. New Business
a. Special Town Meeting – 9 April 2013
There will be a Special Town Meeting on 9 April in the Middle School Auditorium at 7:30 PM. The call of the meeting will be:
1. Approve $185,000 for a Feasibility Study for Community Septic
Authorize the expenditure of the sum, not to exceed $185,000, for the feasibility study of a Community Wastewater Management System. Such study will be conducted by the firm of Woodard & Curran of Windsor, CT.
2. Approve $27,300 for Kiosks and Parking Configuration on Hartford Avenue
Authorize the expenditure of the sum, not to exceed $27,300, for improvements to parking design and the addition of two kiosks on Hartford Avenue for on street parking payments.
b. Hartford Avenue Town Lot Parking Lot Recommendations from the Sound View Commission
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read a letter from the Sound View Commission that contained their parking recommendations for 2013. She also shared feedback that she had received from Nicole Stajduhar, Finance Director and Don Bugbee, Director of Parks and Recreation. There was a discussion and it was decided that First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will get back to the Sound View Commission and articulate the Board’s concerns in a memo. She will run this by the Selectmen first to be sure she included everything.
c. Request from ConnTrek IX for use of Hains Park on 26 June
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported on a request from ConnTrek IX to use Hains Park on 26 June. ConnTrek IX is an organization of “hikers helping heroes” that will be going on an eight day hike through Connecticut to benefit first responders of Newtown. They are requesting the use of Hains Park to camp overnight. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder did speak to Don Bugbee about it and he is fine with it. The Town Police are aware of it. Mr. Bugbee suggested that Town Woods Park may be a better place for this event for many reasons.
Selectwoman Nosal moved to approve the request from ConnTrek IX to use Hains Park or Town Woods Park on 26 June. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. There was a discussion and it was decided that the motion would be amended to read Town Woods Park and not include Hains Park as an option. Selectwoman Nosal amended her motion to state that the Town would approve the request from ConnTrek IX to use Town Woods Park rather than Hains Park on 26 June. Selectman Sibley seconded this. SO VOTED.
6. Public Comment
None
7. Other Business
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the Town’s Senior Center Director Sherry White had tendered her resignation two weeks ago. The Town is currently looking to fill the position. The Selectmen recognized Sherry for her eight years of service to the Town.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for Friday 12 April at 8:00 AM.
8. Executive Session
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:24 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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