Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
Special Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Special Meeting at 5:00 PM on 16 September 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 2 September 2014
Selectwoman Nosal moved to approve the minutes of Regular Meeting 2 September 2014. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectwoman Nosal moved to move Agenda Item New Business c. Boathouse Hains Park Request for Funding to this point in the Agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
New Business
c. Boathouse Hains Park Request for Funding
Paul Fuchs and Paul Gianquinto, Co-Chairmen of the Boathouse / Hains Park Improvements Committee addressed the Selectmen. The Committee has been working since January and meeting twice a month. It is the hope to get the project started in November. There is a STEAP Grant of $478,000 to help pay for this project. The Committee has come up with a Master Plan for the entire Park which will make future changes to the Park a part of the big picture. At this time the Committee is focusing on the new Boathouse. A Power Point presentation was given. The estimated cost of the new Boathouse and some site work including the basketball court is $883,000, which leaves a shortfall of $405,000.
There was a discussion about the reasoning behind the decision to demo the existing slab rather than working with the present one and building a new building. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder was pleased that the plan included new bathrooms, and that the present septic system would suffice. She was concerned that the docks are presently unsafe and would like this as part of the immediate project. She had made this clear to the Committee earlier.
Selectwoman Nosal would like to see an actual breakdown of the cost of items and what each item includes. She agreed that the cost of the basketball court maintenance could be part of the Park and Recreation budget. Selectman Sibley stated that once the scope of the project is fully determined it will be rolled out to the competitive environment. He felt that this should reduce the numbers of the estimated cost. He noted that the Rowing Club has a large investment in equipment and maintenance.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that one of the conditions of the STEAP Grant is that the building is available to the public. She asked if there had been any discussion about putting racks on the outside of the building where people could place kayaks. She encouraged the Committee to look at this as it is important to meet the conditions of the STEAP Grant. She realizes that things could be cut to save money but suggested that it be brought to the community to see what they want i.e. a nice looking two story building instead of a Butler Building. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reminded the Committee that the STEAP Grant included the basketball court. She felt that the basketball court would need to be improved upon no matter what, and this would be budgeted for in the future.
Selectman Sibley moved to recommend to a Town Meeting the approval of an amount not to exceed $405,000 with the stipulation that should estimates come in less than that, that the first priority be the safety of the docks. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. There was a discussion. The Committee will recommend a first and second choice at said Town Meeting of a plan including the cost to replace the present docks. SO VOTED.
2. Communications – NONE
3. Appointments – NONE
4. Old Business
a. Beach Stipend Committee Meeting – Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the Committee met on 4 September. The Beach Associations presentations were reviewed at this meeting. The general consensus of the Committee was only what the private associations spend on security due to what is called an attractive nuisance should be considered. It is a savings to the Town when the Beach Associations, that have the need to deal with an attractive nuisance, hire extra security. What this savings is proves to be difficult to nail down. The next meeting with be at Town Hall on 23 September. In the near future the Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Finance on how to define any stipends that are given and clearly identify what the stipends are for.
b. Route 156 Bikeway / Sound View Improvements Committee
Selectwoman Nosal reported that the next meeting of the Committee will be on Monday 22 September, 4:00 PM at the Shoreline Community Center. Preliminary drawings will be reviewed with a discussion with the architect. The Committee will look for available grant money.
c. Recycling Incentive Committee – Update
Selectwoman Nosal reported on the progress of the Committee. Regarding the Committee’s approval of the proposed Resolution, the unapproved minutes of the meeting read, “The Board of Selectmen questioned unanimity of the 7-0 vote on the Resolution passed at the August 8 meeting because the vote did not include all listed members of the Committee. Recycling Committee members, including two who were absent August 8, concurred that a quorum was present on August 8, and those present at the meeting did vote unanimously to support the Resolution proposed. Members, including the two who were absent on August 8, also concurred that the language of the Resolution was consistent with discussions that took place at many prior Committee meetings, and that the Resolution was an accurate reflection of the
Committee members desire to focus on an educational campaign and phased-in implementation of any recommended changes to the current trash and recycling program.”
Selectwoman Nosal will follow up with the DEEP representative again and she stated that the next Committee meeting will be on 24 September at 4:30 PM.
e. CT Solar Challenge vs. Solarize CT
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder updated the Selectmen on emails she had received. She did speak with Jean Daily, the citizen who will be the liaison to support solar in Old Lyme. Ms. Daily looked very closely at the documents from CT Solar Challenge and came up with a list of questions and concerns which she sent to First Selectwoman Reemsnyder. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder agreed with her points and concerns and will forward these to the Selectmen. She asked Ms. Daily to send this request to Maggie of CT Solar Challenge for clarification. They have not heard back from her to date. Ms. Daily thought that the Town should apply for Solarize CT and First Selectwoman Reemsnyder spoke to a representative at Solarize CT and the Town will be granted an extension in applying as the deadline
was 17 September. Ms. Daily is working on the application on the Town’s behalf.
5. New Business
a. Solid Waste Ordinance – Review
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reviewed the present Solid Waste Ordinance. Cathy Frank had pointed out things in the Ordinance that are not being done or are outdated. The Ordinance does allow for a $25 fine for violations. With the present focus on trash and recycling and the need to educate residents about what is okay and not okay to put in the bins, it is good to know that the Town already has the means to place a fine on people who are not abiding by the terms of trash and recycling. The Ordinance calls for the appointment of a Director to oversee solid waste in Town. The Town does not have a Director at this time. There was a discussion about updates and additions that need to be made in the Ordinance.
The Selectmen will ask the Recycling Committee to review the Ordinance and suggest any changes and updates with a suggestion to put this on the Town Meeting for January 2015.
The Selectmen thanked Cathy Frank for bringing this to the Selectmen’s attention.
b. Millstone Drill on 9 September – Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported on the Millstone Drill last Tuesday. This drill happens every two years as the Town is within the ten-mile zone of Millstone. The Town would need to consider an evacuation should there be a radiological release from Millstone. To be well-prepared, the Town does a practice drill and then a drill every two years. In the debriefing to the State, Dave Roberge reported that the Town got accolades on their performance with no issues to how the Town responded to the drill. There were some issues regarding communications between the State and the Towns that were identified by some of the Towns, but as far as the response of the first responders in Old Lyme high grades were given. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder thanked everyone for their participation
including Dave Roberge as the Town’s Emergency Management Director.
c. Boathouse Hains Park Request for Funding
This Agenda Item was moved up in the Agenda.
6. Public Comment – NONE
7. Other Business
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan had been approved at an earlier Board of Selectmen’s Meeting and the Selectmen are scheduled to review the tasks list on 25 September at 9:30 AM.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reminded the Selectmen that there will be a hearing for parking tickets on 6 October at 5:30 PM prior to the next Selectmen’s Meeting.
Selectwoman Nosal noted that last week she attended the inaugural meeting of Community Connections at the Old Lyme Country Club. This was a meeting of about 75 people from this region representing non-profits.
The Selectmen congratulated First Selectwoman Reemsnyder on the wedding of her daughter this past weekend and wished them a long and happy marriage.
Selectman Sibley asked of the status of the Police Union Contract. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will inquire this week.
Selectwoman Nosal stated that at last week’s WPCA meeting there was a discussion about the Board of Selectmen being asked to look into bonding. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that it is a little premature to speak to this, as she is still looking into what needs to be done, but will be able to talk about it at the next meeting. There will be a Q and A meeting tomorrow evening where people can get answers about the project.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for Monday, 6 October 2014 at 7:30 PM.
8. Executive Session – NONE
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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