Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Monday, 23 January 2014
SPECIAL Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a SPECIAL Meeting at 5:00 PM on 23 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 6 January 2014
Selectman Sibley moved to approve the minutes of Regular Meeting 6 January 2014. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Special Meeting 6 January 2014
Selectwoman Nosal moved to approve the minutes of Special Meeting 6 January 2014. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications – NONE
3. Appointments
John Pfeiffer (R) – Historic District Commission – complete a 5 year term to Jan 2018
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint John Pfeiffer to the Historic District Commission to complete a 5 year term ending January 2018. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Barbara Traskos (D) – Historic Dist. Commission, Alternate – complete a 3 year term to Jan 2016
Selectwoman Nosal moved to appoint Barbara Traskos as an Alternate to the Historic Commission to complete a 3 year term ending January 2016. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Mike Moran (R) – Inland Wetlands, Alternate – 3 year term ending Jan 2017
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Mike Moran as an Alternate to the Inland Wetlands Commission for a 3 year term ending January 2017. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Joan Bozek (D) – Zoning Commission – complete a 5 year term to Nov 2017 (replace Pat Looney)
Selectwoman Nosal moved to appoint Joan Bozek to the Zoning Commission to complete a 5 year term (replacing Pat Looney) ending November 2017. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to move Agenda items under New Business (items a and b) to this point in the Agenda. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
5. New Business
a. Health Department Fee Structure – Sonia Marino, Sanitarian
Town Sanitarian Sonia Marino reviewed in detail the newly proposed Health Department Fee Schedule. She stated that when determining fees she had looked at what other Towns in the area were charging. A discussion followed including how to get this information out to the public. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she had shared the newly proposed fees with Dr. Sikand, the Town’s Director of Health, and he felt that the new fees were very reasonable and should be higher based on his comparison with other communities. It should be clear that these fees are not a tax but they need to cover the demand of time from the Health Department and all communities charge these fees for this very reason.
b. Housing Ordinance Review – Sonia Marino, Sanitarian
Old Lyme has a Housing Ordinance which was adopted in 1966. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder recommended that a Committee be formed to review this Ordinance at a later date. Ms. Marino brought to the attention of the Selectmen some problems she sees with the appeals part of the Ordinance that should be addressed soon. The Selectmen will move forward with the need for an immediate change to the Ordinance.
Selectwoman Nosal moved to move Agenda item under New Business (d) to this point in the Agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
d. Senior Center Well
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that through regular testing of the well at the Senior Center it was discovered that there was bacteria in the well. With more testing it was determined that e-coli was present in the well. The Senior Center was shut down immediately and remains closed. Ralph Eno from Lyme and Finance Chair Andy Russell were notified. The well is a dug well which are prone to bacteria. It is an urgent matter that a drilled well be constructed to replace the present dug well. Ms. Marino stated that because the well is a transient non-community well the State Public Health Department moved quickly and has given approval to proceed with the installation of a drilled well.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that due to the Senior Center being closed, Senior Center Coordinator Stephanie Lyon, has moved her office to the Town Hall. Programs have been re-arranged with only one being cancelled. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder thanked the Library, Youth Service Center, the Estuary in Old Saybrook and most importantly the Congregational Church for the use of their kitchen in keeping the Meals on Wheels Program going without a break in service. The Selectmen expressed their thanks to members of the community, Ralph Eno, the State and to Sonia Marino for her hard work.
4. Old Business
a. Bike Path / Sound View Improvements Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that an RFP will soon go out to architects for a price on a prefab building. The next meetings of the Committee will be on 30 January and 3 February with a Town Meeting to be scheduled in the near future to approve the entire cost.
b. Annual Town Meeting Agenda
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, 27 January at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall Meeting Hall. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will present a Review of the Year in a Power Point Presentation as she did last year.
c. Public Improvements Regulations
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that she has sent out notices to all of the appropriate Town Departments asking for their feedback by the end of January. Once the Planning Commission has had an opportunity to review all of the comments, and make appropriate changes based on those comments, a Public Meeting will be scheduled to review the regulations prior to going to a Town Meeting. She suggested that a list of Frequently Asked Questions be put together before the Public Meeting with the first question being “Why are we doing this and why now?” A discussion followed.
d. Boathouse and Hains Park Improvements Committee
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the first meeting of the Boathouse and Hains Park Improvements Committee will be tonight. She will give an update at the next Selectmen’s Meeting.
5. New Business
a. Health Department Fee Structure – Sonia Marino, Sanitarian
This Item was discussed earlier in the Agenda.
b. Housing Ordinance Review – Sonia Marino, Sanitarian
This Item was discussed earlier in the Agenda
c. Recycling Grant Award Notice
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the Town will be a recipient of a Recycling Grant in the amount of $16,000. A Committee will be put together to work on this with the hope that Gary Yuknat from Shoreline Sanitation will serve on the Committee. She thanked Cathy Frank for her hard work on this.
d. Senior Center Well
This Item was discussed earlier in the Agenda
e. Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the Town is required to approve an updated Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. The Town is very fortunate to have the services of the River COG to help with this. At the December meeting of the Planning Commission a motion was made and passed to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that they establish a Town-wide Committee, including various Land Use Boards and Emergency Management, to work with the Lower Connecticut River Valley COG to update the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. The Selectmen need to agree to appoint a Committee. If this is agreed to, then a letter will be sent to the Board Chairs asking them to send one of their members to serve on the Committee. This would involve Harbor Management, Conservation, Inlands Wetlands, Zoning,
Planning, ZBA, Flood and Erosion and WPCA. Some Town Hall Staff and first responders would be included. The draft plan would be posted on the Town Website with a Public Information Session to be held. Once the draft is done, it will be submitted to the DEEP for review. Once the DEEP has signed off on the draft, it will be submitted to FEMA. Once FEMA accepts it, it comes back to the Selectmen where it will be recommended to a Town Meeting. This needs to happen before August 2014. The Selectmen agreed to appoint a Committee.
f. Elderly Tax Relief
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that research for elderly tax relief had been done in the past but changes were not made at that time. Just recently Alice Burbank, who is a Town resident, called her to ask if it could be considered again. Alice Burbank served on the original Committee along with First Selectwoman Reemsnyder in years past. The Selectmen feel that this is an important issue, but with so many things going on now it would be best to address it in late summer or early fall in order to give it the attention it deserves.
6. Public Comment - NONE
7. Other Business
Selectman Sibley thanked Public Works for doing such a great job during the recent snow storms and believes that the parking ban is working well. He asked if there had been a demand on the fuel relief fund. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she receives a monthly report from Social Services. If Town residents find themselves in need, they should call Social Services and inquire about assistance.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for Monday, 3 February 2014 at 7:30 PM.
8. Executive Session – NONE
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:58 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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