Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Monday, 6 January 2014
Regular Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM on 6 January 2014 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 16 December 2013
Selectman Sibley moved to approve the minutes of Regular Meeting 16 December 2013. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications – NONE
3. Appointments – NONE
Selectwoman Nosal moved to place Agenda Item New Business b. Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center (John Forbis) to this point in the Agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
5. New Business
b. Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center / John Forbis
John Forbis and Eleanor Robinson spoke to the Selectmen about their group’s progress on the creation of the RTPEC (Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center) which at this point is still an idea that emerged from local residents. The RTPEC will celebrate Roger Tory Peterson and bring to light the need to support Connecticut River Estuary research and education programs. The group is hopeful that grant money will be available. The Connecticut Audubon Society has become a lead partner in the effort. The groups’ goals and missions are similar and overlap perfectly.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that as this concept moves forward, it is important for the Board of Selectmen to understand what is going on and to embrace it. There is currently a Draft Memorandum of Understanding going on between the Connecticut Audubon Society and the core group, and there may be a desire for the Town to be more involved. The Town Attorney has been asked to review the Memorandum. There were questions from the Selectmen and a discussion followed with special attention to what the Town’s involvement should be.
4. Old Business
a. Bike Path / Sound View Improvements Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder gave an update on the Bike Path / Sound View Improvements. The approval of funds for this project will need to go before a Town Meeting. The CT DOT has approved the cost of $135,000 out of the requested $160,000 for the project, 80% of which would come from Federal Funds via a State Grant. This gives the Town a couple of choices. The Town could fund the remaining $25,000 and pay 100% of it, or adjust what will be spent to meet the $135,000 approved amount. The Sound View Improvements Committee met this afternoon and it was decided that the Committee will work further on this with the Engineering Firm and try to find an architect that would live with a fee not to exceed $10,000 (the original request included $35,000 for architectural fees). Consequently this item
will not be ready to be placed on the Agenda for the Town Meeting in January. A presentation will be made to the Community before going to vote at a Town Meeting.
b. Annual Town Meeting Agenda
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reviewed the Agenda for the Annual Town Meeting which will be held on 27 January. At this point the Agenda will be as follows:
- Accept the Annual Town Report for FY July 1, 2012 to June 30 2013
- Announce the Recipient of Citizen of the Year
- Accept the Parcel of Land on Pond Road as a Gift from the Directors of the Old Lyme Community Development Corporation
Selectwoman Nosal moved to add these items to the Annual Town Business Meeting on 27 January 2014. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
c. Wastewater Management Study Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the WPCA had a meeting in December. Woodard and Curran presented their Draft Report at the meeting which was then accepted by the WPCA. It has been submitted to the CT DEEP where it will be reviewed. After their review, the DEEP will come back to the WPCA with questions, comments, etc.
d. Rogers Lake Weeds RFQ
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the advertisement for the RFQ went into the newspapers today. She presented a copy of the advertisement and the RFQ. The RFQ is available on the Town Website for download by interested parties. The next meeting of the Committee is Tuesday 14 January at 6:00 PM.
e. Budget Process for FY 2015
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that there had been a meeting just prior to tonight’s BOS Meeting to review with Finance Director Nicole Stajduhar and Board of Finance Chairman Andy Russell the requests that have been submitted for the Budget. This Budget will go to the Board of Finance and be presented at their meeting on 21 January. The Board of Finance’s Meeting Schedule is posted on the Town Website. The Selectmen thanked the members of the Board of Finance for all their hard work. They also thanked Nicole and Andy Russell for spending the time with them to review the Budget tonight.
5. New Business
a. Town Audit – FY 2013
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that they had been given the Audit Books to review. The Town is in a good position and at the end of FY 2013 the Town is in the black. There is an Unassigned Fund Balance which represents 16.2 % of the Town’s total General Fund Expenditures. Some of this is due to higher tax collections than anticipated and some of it is due to Capital Spending and Grants received. At the end of FY 2013 the Town’s Fund Balance is $5,791,453.00. This will be presented at the Town Meeting on 27 January.
b. Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center / John Forbis
This Item was discussed previously in the Agenda.
6. Public Comment - NONE
7. Other Business
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder would like to have the Town’s Financial Policies on the Agenda of the next meeting of the BOS. Selectman Sibley would like to approach this in the same way they did the Budget in tonight’s special meeting with Nicole and Andy. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will contact Nicole and Andy about the process.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting which was scheduled for Tuesday 21 January at 7:30 PM is cancelled. A Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be scheduled for the same day on 21 January but earlier due to the Board of Finance meeting that night.
Selectwoman Nosal stated that one of the items at the last BOS meeting was Regulations for Public Improvement. After her review, Selectwoman Nosal submitted 60 comments about the Regulations to Land Use. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that she had sent copies of the Regulations to the Fire Department, Ambulance, Health Department, and Public Works. It is best that all parties present their comments at a meeting (date to be announced) with Tom Metcalf and the Chairman of Planning Harold Thompson.
Selectman Sibley reported that he has been getting notifications through the Town Website and they have been delayed by several days. Selectwoman Nosal stated that she had the same experience and had reported it to Ruth Roach who is following up on the issue.
Selectman Sibley stated that members had been selected for the Boat House Improvement Committee and wondered if the letters had gone out from the Town to the members. He will be the ex-officio member between the Board of Selectmen and the Committee. There was a question as to whether the Town or District #18 owned the Boathouse structure. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the letters did go out and some people have already sent in their acceptance. The Town Clerk was unable to find any more information as to ownership of the building but will continue her search. The building needs to be owned by the Town in order to use the State Grant money.
8. Executive Session – NONE
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:59 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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