Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Monday, 15 July 2013
Regular Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM 15 July 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 1 July 2013
Selectman Sibley moved to approve the minutes of Regular Meeting 1 July 2013. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications - NONE
3. Appointments
Lynn Philomen, Animal Control Officer, 2-year term to January 2015
(former assistant)
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Lynn Philomen as Animal Control Officer for a 2-year term ending January 2015. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Valerie Goncalves, Social Services Coordinator, 2-year term to January 2015
(to replace Ruth Roach)
Selectwoman Nosal moved to appoint Valerie Goncalves as Social Services Coordinator for a 2-year term ending January 2015. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Stephanie Lyon, ADA Coordinator, 1-year term to January 2014
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Stephanie Lyon as ADA Coordinator for a 1-year term ending January 2014. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Valerie Goncalves, ADA Coordinator, 1-year term to January 2014
Selectwoman Nosal moved to appoint Valerie Goncalves as ADA Coordinator for a 1-year term ending January 2014. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business
a. Rogers Lake Dam Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported on the progress of the Rogers Lake Dam repairs and the new fish ladder. The lake will be lowered after 30 July. Letters will be sent to residents informing them of the lowering of the lake and the fact that there may be some impact on wells. The finish date will be at the end of September. Information will also be on the Town Website. There was a discussion about including information in the letters about the use of fertilizers around the lake.
b. Route 156 Bike Path / Sound View Improvements
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the Interview Committee had graded the bids and made a selection. The DOT needs to approve the Committee’s selection and this should be done soon. There is a meeting this Thursday evening at 7:30 PM to prepare for the next step of the process.
c. WPCA / WWM Study and Public Information Meetings
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the first meeting with the new members of the WPCA was last Tuesday evening. She stated that the WPCA and our new Sanitarian will work well together. There will be progress meetings, with the first one on 30 July at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall Meeting Hall. This meeting will focus on treatment and disposal. Another meeting will be on 3 August at the Shoreline Community Center at 8:00 AM. This will be less of a meeting but more of being available to answer questions from the public.
Selectman Sibley moved to disband the Wastewater Management Task Force. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
d. 30 Lyme Street – Request for Fencing on Town Property
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reviewed the request from Anthony Kornacki, property owner, 30 Lyme Street, regarding putting up a fence in front of their home on Town property. The Historic District has issued them a Certificate of Appropriateness for the fence. The Town Attorney has drafted an Agreement between the Kornackis and the Town. The question of removing the two trees on the property has been addressed, and there is no requirement to remove the trees. There was a discussion about using the term “license” instead of “permission” in the Agreement and in the cover letter.
Selectwoman Nosal moved to approve the Draft Agreement after First Selectwoman Reemsnyder has a discussion with Marylin Clarke to determine whether verbiage needs to be changed such that “license” be added to the Draft Agreement in place of “permission” or explain why it should not be changed, and whether a statement of non-transferable “license” or “permission” is added to the Draft Agreement. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
e. Bayberry Motel
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that last week the Zoning, Health and Building Departments, and the Fire Marshall met with the new owner of the Bayberry Motel. The owner would like to rent out the units for as much as a full year. This would be a change of use and this would need to go before zoning. Selectman Sibley would like a written summary of the meeting with the bullet points of what was discussed. Once this summary is available he asked that First Selectwoman Reemsnyder communicate this with the Zoning Commission in order to keep it on their radar. This would prevent anything from falling through the cracks. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will ask for said summary and reported that she attended the Zoning Commission meeting last week and this subject was brought up so it is
now on the Commission’s radar.
5. New Business
a. Midsummer Festival Schedule
The Midsummer Festival will take place on the weekend July 26, 27. Brochures are available at the Town Hall and the Library. Shuttle buses are available all weekend. There will be fireworks on Saturday evening. Please visit this website for more information: www.oldlymemidsummerfestival.com
b. I-95 Safety Improvements Public Information Meeting
There will be a public information meeting this Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall Meeting Hall regarding the I-95 Safety Improvements. These improvements will involve the area of I-95 from the Baldwin Bridge to Exit 72 and will involve property which is mostly in Old Lyme and partly in East Lyme. The actual work will begin well after 2014. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will bring this meeting to the attention of the Fire Department and the State and Local Police and ask them to send a representative to the meeting.
Selectman Sibley moved to add to the agenda a request from the Carousel Shop in Sound View. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder read a letter from Frank Pappalardo with a request from the owners of the Carousel Shop. The request regards a change in parking in front of and adjacent (driveway) to their shop. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder did go look at the area in question. Since this would involve a driveway cut the Selectmen feel that this is something that requires more time to consider and investigate.
6. Public Comment
Wendy Zito, 435 Shore Road, who lives diagonally across from the Bayberry Motel, spoke to the Selectmen. She stated that the 13 electric meters on the Bayberry Motel would be tied directly to the change of use. She asked if the meters will be energized. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that there is a stop work order on the meters. Ms. Zito also reminded the Selectmen that the Motel License is not transferable from owner to owner and that the new owner has never applied for a Motel License. She also requested that the abutting property owners be notified when a change in zoning is to be considered.
7. Other Business
Selectman Sibley stated that if there is a change of use request, there will be a hearing process and the neighboring property owners will be notified of the hearing.
Selectman Sibley asked about the status of the request for the Town to pay some of the cost of the Sea Weed removal at Old Lyme Shores. Paul Rowean, President of Old Lyme Shores Beach Association, said that the sea weed was on public property. Selectman Sibley researched the definition of public domain, and this would be the State and not the Town. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder did call a representative of the DEEP and is expecting a call back shortly. The sea weed removal was done without the Town’s knowledge and if the Town is to spend money, the Town should have been involved from the beginning. A response will go to Mr. Rowean once all information is gathered.
Selectman Sibley reported that our Zoning Commission is also involved with an issue with a resident on McCurdy Road. This was not discussed.
Selectman Sibley reported that he was on Hartford Avenue yesterday and spoke with Frank Pappalardo. It came to his attention that the active parking lot next to the El Moroco is being used for employee parking for one of the businesses. Selectman Sibley would question if all the cars in the parking lot belong to employees. He suggested that this be on the Town’s radar and communicated to Officer Heinssen.
There was a discussion about risky behavior going on at Sound View Beach involving a dock that was put in the water by the owners of the Pavilion. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder said that she had reported this to the proper State authorities and a Field Citation was issued. If the Field Citation is ignored, then a $1000 a day penalty will be issued by the State. The police are aware of this.
Selectman Sibley reported that at the recent Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, there were speeches made and one student’s speech was about her father who was presently serving in the military far from home. A neighbor of the student suggested that the Town could acknowledge in some way each returning Veteran. The Selectmen all agreed that this was a good idea.
Selectwoman Nosal reported on an article in The Day Newspaper entitled “Preston camper wants to spread word about pickleball”. Pickelball is a very popular game. There will be a demonstration on Tuesday at Preston Community Park at 6:00 PM for the Preston Parks and Recreation Department. Representatives from other town recreation programs are welcome to attend and try the game at no cost. If recreation departments want to set up pickleball programs, the national association offers $250 grants to help pay for equipment and start-up costs. Selectwoman Nosal felt that this might be of interest to the Parks and Recreation Department. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will pass this along to Parks and Rec.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for 5 August at 7:30 PM.
Selectman Sibley moved to enter into Executive Session at 8:52 PM for the purpose of discussing possible land acquisition. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
8. Executive Session: Discussion regarding possible land acquisition
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting 9:16 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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