Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Monday, 19 May 2014
Regular Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 4:00 PM on 19 May 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 5 May 2014
Selectwoman Nosal requested that under Item 4. Old Business c. Resolution for Recycling Incentive Grant that the word “enough” should be changed to “advisable”. Selectman Sibley moved to approve the minutes of Regular Meeting 5 May 2014 with this amendment. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to add the Approval of Minutes - Special Meeting of 8 May 2014 to the Agenda. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Approval of Minutes – Special Meeting 8 May 2014
Selectman Sibley requested that the following be added in the body of the minutes: As this is the last extension that we expect per Gary’s comments, there was discussion about an MOU (Memo of Understanding) to work out the appropriate details for the closeout of the contract. Selectwoman Nosal moved to approve the minutes with this amendment. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications – NONE
3. Appointments – NONE
4. Old Business
a. Budget Vote Tonight
The Agenda for the Annual Town Budget Meeting scheduled for tonight was reviewed:
Adopt Budget for 2014 – 2015 as recommended by the Board of Finance
Approve Easement for 53 Flat Rock Road
Approve Acceptance from DEEP of Property on Halls Road
Regarding Agenda Item Approve Acceptance from DEEP of Property on Halls Road: First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that today she had received a reminder from Ann Brown asking if the acceptance of this parcel had gone to the Planning Commission. This had not been done, so this Agenda Item will be tabled.
b. Shoreline Sanitation Contract – Special Meeting Recap
There was a Special Meeting on 8 May to discuss this matter. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder gave a recap. She stated that the Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen met to discuss extending the contract that is currently held with Shoreline Sanitation. This Contract was signed in 2011 ending on 30 June 2015, and allows the Board of Selectmen at this time to decide whether or not to extend the Contract for an additional four-year term, without going to a Town Meeting for approval. There were concerns about a contract of this size not going to bid. The meeting on 8 May clarified things. The Board of Finance voted at this meeting to support the decision of the Board of Selectmen to extend the Contract.
Selectman Sibley moved to extend the Contract with Shoreline Sanitation for an additional four-year term ending 30 June 2019 with the understanding that the Town will immediately begin working on a MOU. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. There was a discussion. Selectman Sibley stated that typically contracts of this size go to a Town Meeting. He also stated that the Contract is four years in duration with an extension coming up on the third year, the life expectancy of the trucks are typically eight years so this is why the clause exists. The Selectmen agreed that the meeting was very helpful and they felt that the relationship with Shoreline Sanitation has always been a positive one. It is now on the radar of the Board of Finance that if in five years the Board of Selectmen considers making
this a municipal arrangement rather than a quasi municipal arrangement with a vendor that there is time to plan for this. SO VOTED.
c. Boathouse Hains Park Improvements Committee Update
Selectman Sibley reported that the Committee met on 15 May that included a long discussion with the architect, lots of options were looked at and this is still very much in the fluid stage. Selectman Sibley looks to what the Town can do to facilitate, with the goal to have a building permit ready so that things can move along to start the project by the first of November 2014. Selectman Sibley met with Ann Brown to review what will need to be done at the Town level. A variance will need to be applied for through the ZBA and this is on the agenda for 17 June. The next Committee meeting is on 29 May at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall and the public is welcome to attend. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that an agreement has been signed for a full survey with BSC Group. In the very near future, the Town will
sign the agreement with Nina Cuccio Peck Architecture.
d. Beach Stipend Committee
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that this Committee will review the stipends that are given to the various chartered beach associations. The charge of the Committee has been drafted and as requested, this is on News and Announcements on the Town’s Website with a notice that the Town is looking for Committee members. Four people have applied so far to serve on the Committee. More people would be needed. Selectman Sibley felt it is important to have a member of the Board of Finance serve on this Committee as an ex-officio member.
e. Route 156 Bikeway / Sound View Improvements Committee
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that there are presently three members on this Committee and the Selectmen feel that there should be more members. The Selectmen will review the applicants.
f. Board / Commission Appointments Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that an announcement was made via the Town Website that there are openings to be filled in various Boards and Commissions. The existing process is that all applications go through Cathy Frank in the Selectmen’s Office, and the applicant is acknowledged for their application. In the acknowledgement to the applicant it is recommended that they attend the next meeting of the Board or Commission that they have applied to serve on. They are informed that their application has been forwarded to the Chairperson.
5. New Business
a. Request for Use of Parking Lot – Gail Fuller
The Town received a request from Gail Fuller of Social Connections, LLC, a non-profit organization, to use the Town Parking Lot on Route 156 located next to the Police Station, on Saturday 16 August from 2:00 – 9:00 PM. For the past three years the Town has allowed this. Selectwoman Nosal moved to approve the use of the Town Parking Lot on Route 156 for the event on Saturday 16 August 2014. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. Selectwoman Nosal amended her motion to include the time 2:00 – 9:00 PM. SO VOTED.
b. Private Parking Lot Request
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that an owner of a private parking lot located at Old Colony Beach has passed away and her daughter is her only heir and would like to renew the permit. In the past, permits have been allowed to pass on to family, but according to the Town Attorney there has been a feeling by the Town that once a property changes hands that the parking lot does not necessarily go with it. In this case it is changing hands within the family. The recommendation from the Town Attorney was that the Town be consistent with past practices. There was a discussion. It was agreed to table this agenda item to a future meeting.
c. Rogers Lake Weeds Committee Recommendation for Scope of Work
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported on the work of the Committee to date. New England Environmental, Inc. from Middlefield CT was chosen. The initial scope of work that the firm came up with would cost $148,000. This includes the cost of an EPA Watershed Study which is $65,000. A STEAP Grant of $148,000 has been applied for. A revised scope of work will cost $88,000. Since this is a combined project with Lyme, Old Lyme would be funding $44,150. In FY 2015 budget we have a total of $15,000 to be used for this purpose. With more money needed, this would have to go to a Special Town Meeting for approval. This will be shared with the Board of Finance, as well.
d. Halls Road Improvement Committee
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that on 30 April there was a second Business Breakfast sponsored by the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Old Lyme, held at the PGN Library. The speaker at the meeting was Sarah McCracken, a landscape architect who helped on the Church Corner Project. She spoke about how you take on a project of this nature. This is a project that can be done in phases. People have applied to be on the Committee although the Selectmen have not yet agreed to form a committee to look into this. It was the consensus of the Board of Selectmen to form the Halls Road Improvement Committee.
e. WPCA / Wastewater Management Project Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported on this project. The Town funded a study to address wastewater management in the shoreline area. In late December the study and report with recommendations were submitted to the CT DEEP. Feedback was received from the DEEP in a letter dated 7 April which articulated their concerns. One was some discrepancy in cost, another was that the study did not show the wells owned by Connecticut Water Company in that area, which has a big impact. A large problem was that Miami Beach had in fact been doing a study at the same time the Town was. This was unknown at the time the Town did their study. The study by Miami Beach was submitted shortly after the Town submitted theirs. The DEEP made it clear that they would not force any of the Beach Associations
to combine efforts with local solutions. This makes a local solution very unaffordable, unless the beach associations consider working with the Town on the local option. Four options were addressed at the WPCA meeting. In a statement from First Selectwoman Reemsnyder to the WPCA she expressed that she was very frustrated and upset with how things panned out and with the lack of cooperation or transparency with the CT DEEP. The Task Force was formed to find a solution to the problem and she was happy to report that the WPCA voted to continue with the project and look at a regional solution. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder has requested a meeting with the Governor to discuss what transpired between the Town and a State Agency on this Project. A discussion followed.
6. Public Comment – NONE
7. Other Business
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she had spoken to Finance Director Nicole Stajduhar, and asked her if she would be available on Monday, 16 June at 4:00 PM for a Special Meeting to discuss financial policies with the Board of Selectmen. An invitation will be sent to the Board of Finance members. The Selectmen agreed on this date and time.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she has an appointment tomorrow with Kurt Prochorena to sign the final agreement for the Sound View Improvements Plan.
There was a discussion of how the Town is prepared for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend. The parade begins at 11:00 AM. Marchers will line up at 10:30 AM.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for Monday, 2 June 2014 at 7:30 PM.
8. Executive Session – NONE
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:46 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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