MINUTES
TOWN OF OLD LYME
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 4:00 P.M. on Monday, April 21, 2014 in the Meeting Hall of the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall.
Present were: First Selectwoman Reemsnyder, Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal and Selectman Skip Sibley.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Selectman Sibley made a motion to approve the minutes of April 7, 2014. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
COMMUNICATION
Selectwoman Reemsnyder read an email from Mark Lander, Co-Chair of the Old Lyme Historical Society thanking the Board for their support of the Light Up The Night event commemorating the 200th anniversary of the British raid on Essex, of April 8, 2014. Lander further noted the cooperation between the Fire Marshal, Old Lyme Fire Department, and Public Works was a good example of what makes Old Lyme work so well. Selectman Sibley reported they had muskets out on the boardwalk facing the river as well as a couple of cannons. Sibley also noted that Tim Griswold tended the fire for the evening as Mark Lander presented a history, which made it a truly great evening.
OLD BUSINESS
BUDGET HEARING –APRIL 21 AT 7:30 PM in the Middle School Auditorium
Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the budget hearing presentation will be given by Andy Russell, Chairman of the Board of Finance, on the process and the final budget numbers. She further noted there has been an adjustment due to updated school enrollment numbers. The anticipated mill rate has been changed from 19.69 to 19.66.
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BOATHOUSE/HAINS PARK IMPROVEMENT UPDATE
Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the committee has met several times. Selectman Sibley stated the Improvement Committee has recommended to the Board of Selectmen that Nina Peck Architects Design Firm be chosen for the project. He stated he has been part of the process and feels very good about the recommendation.
Selectman Sibley made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Hains Park Boathouse Improvement Committee to hire Nina Peck as their design firm. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Discussion: It was also noted that Nina Peck has partnered with BSC Group on the project and they are also the group working on the Sound View project.
SOUND VIEW 156 BIKE WAY AND IMPROVEMENT UPDATES
Selectwoman Reemsnyder mentioned that an announcement was published on the town’s website stating that we were looking for additional committee members. She noted we have received responses which will be reviewed. She further stated she received the contract from the DOT to be signed. She stated the contract should be complete by the end of the week at which time it then goes to the DOT for final approval in addition to being reviewed by counsel.
NEW BUSINESS
FISH LADDER – KIOSK FOR HAINS PARK/CELEBRATION
Selectwoman Reemsnyder noted the town has done completed the repairs to the dam and the fish ladder was opened a little over a week ago. She reported that a fish counter has been installed as well as a temporary cage at the exit of the ladder to capture the fish in order to see that they are in fact alewives. She reported that this is the first time that the alewives in hundreds of years are able to get back to Rogers Lake for spawning.
Reemsnyder noted the CT River Watershed Council, who is responsible for the $60,000 grant for the fish ladder, would like to have a celebration and install an educational kiosk at Hains Park that would detail the alewive journey. A picture of the kiosk was reviewed by the Board. She noted when the kiosk is installed in the spring it will be a temporary location until all the improvements are completed at Hains Park.
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Board of Selectmen
April 21, 2014
Selectman Sibley suggested the Conservation Commission be contacted to perhaps do a collaborative event in June.
NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) APPLICATION/MOU
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated since Super Storm Sandy occurred, the Department of Agriculture through the NRCS has a program that is specific to Super Storm Sandy and specific to homeowners who have suffered damage. She noted one of the requirements is that you had to have been flooded by Super Storm Sandy and made a decision to get rid of your house rather than fix or raise the structure. Therefore, for property that is along the water, located in an AE zone the homeowner can apply for this benefit and the town has to sponsor it.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the town has one homeowner who has applied for this NRCS Program. She stated the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) would purchase their property based on an appraisal paid by them and they would remove the structure from the property and restore the property it to its natural state. The town would ultimately take ownership of the property. She stated in this specific case the property is located in two zones. She stated the federal department can only pay for the land in the AE zone so this piece is a bit more complicated. She stated the hopes of this property owner is to be made whole and get out from under their obligations on the property as well as any of the debt they incurred as a result of Super Storm Sandy. She further stated the town would end
up paying a fee for part of the property. She stated normally the fee would be nominal but since the property is located in two zones the homeowner will have to decide if what they get for that property is enough to make them whole again. She stated the town also has the option to say no once they understand the cost.
It was also reported that the NRCS would have an easement on the property, stating it cannot ever be built on.
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated she met with the Chairman of the Open Space Commission, Diana Atwood Johnson and discussed this proposal. Reemsnyder presented a map of the area and noted adjacent parcels were owned by the Town of Old Lyme and the Conservation Trust. Johnson suggested the Board proceed with discussions.
Reemsnyder reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding and noted she also forwarded it to town counsel for review and she had no objections. She further stated it states that the agreement may be terminated by either party with 30 day prior written notice. It was also noted that the current tax revenue on the property is $8,000.00 which the town would no longer be collecting.
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Selectwoman Nosal made a motion to approve the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
SHORELINE SANITATION CONTRACT DISCUSSION
Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the town has had a contract with Shoreline Sanitation for many years. She noted the most recent contract began in July 2011. It is a four year contract and it states that at the end of the 3rd year the town will commit to renewing the contract for another 4 year term. The reason is that every four years Shoreline Sanitation will invest in new trucks which Shoreline Sanitation needs to coordinate in advance and allows for the customizing of those trucks for the town.
Reemsnyder stated the Board does not need to act on this today but noted the new contract will be from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2019. She noted the Finance Director could provide any of the necessary documentation the Board may want to review as well as a copy of the contract. A decision needs to be made prior to June 30, 2014. Selectmen Sibley also suggested the Board of Finance review the contract as well as legal counsel.
RESOLUTION FOR RECYCLING INCENTIVE GRANT
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated the town did receive a grant through CT DEEP to incentivize recycling. She noted as part of that grant the town committed to some tasks to be completed by a certain time. One of the tasks to be completed by May 1st is to pass a Resolution or Ordinance that states the town is committed to implementation of Unit Based Pricing (UBP) on solid waste. She stated the purpose of this is to continue to be able to get the grant money and look at the options for UBP.
She stated the committee has concerns about the use of bags. For communities who use bags, the bags are sold at local stores that are specific to the town for a fee. All of the trash goes into the bag and when it’s full, it is full. Therefore you are actually paying for each bag of trash that you are putting in your can. She stated the incentive is the fewer bags you purchase the less it will cost that household. So the people who are not recycling will be paying more for their trash and for those who are recycling will be paying less for their trash and not subsidizing other
people’s trash. Most of our residents think that trash removal is free as they are not paying a monthly utility for trash. This is not true - the town does pay a great deal each year for Shoreline Sanitation to serve the residents of the town.
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April 21, 2014
Reemsnyder stated a signed resolution would allow the town to get education materials out to the residents about recycling. Selectwoman Nosal also noted the State has mandated a sixty percent recycling rate throughout the state by 2024. We are currently at about twenty-five percent so she felt it would be wise to take advantage of this grant opportunity to boost that rate.
No action was taken at this time and will be discussed at the next Regular Meeting.
ROGERS LAKE WEEDS – STEAP GRANT APPLICATION
Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated the committee has met with three firms and has chosen New England Environmental who has submitted the scope of work which included a lot of research, data, and studies that would provide a comprehensive Lake Management Plan. The cost for this work would be in the range of $147,000.00. She stated an application was submitted for a Steap Grant Application for $117,000 which would leave each of the towns with a contribution of $15,000.00.
DR. ADAM WHELCHEL – DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE, NATURE CONSERVANCY
Dr. Adam Welchel of The Nature Conservancy was introduced by Carleen Gerber of the Old Lyme Congregational Church. Dr. Welchel presented a power point presentation and as part of a grant, he is offering the town a Community Resilience Workshop. Reemsnyder thanked Dr. Whelchel for his presentation.
Selectman Sibley stated he felt this was a great initiative on behalf of the Nature Conservancy. He also noted that the town just completed a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan through our Emergency Management Director. Sibley asked if there was a way to coordinate and collaborate so we are not covering the same ground again.
Reemsnyder reported on the current Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, which has been approved by CT DEEP and forwarded for approval by FEMA.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ted Crosby and Celine Sullivan suggested that the town consider the hazards evaluation offered by Dr. Wetchel.
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OLD BUSINESS
Skip Sibley asked about any update in the Sound View guidelines which the BOS supports.
Respectfully submitted,
Kim Groves
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