Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Tuesday, 3 November 2014
Regular Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM on 3 November 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
Meeting 20 October 2014
Selectwoman Nosal stated that under Recycling Committee Updates the minutes read: Reemsnyder stated the Recycling Committee would like to continue being a committee and continue to look at ways to improve recycling for the town. ~Selectwoman Nosal stated that it should read that “the Recycling Committee recommended to the Board of Selectmen that there be a standing Committee to be set up by the Board of Selectmen”. Selectman Sibley asked that under Adjournment that the verbiage Selectman Sibley mad a motion be changed to “Selectman Sibley made a motion”. Selectwoman Nosal moved to accept the minutes with corrections, and Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications – NONE
3. Appointments – NONE
Selectman Sibley moved that Agenda Item 4. Old Business (e) Water Resources Committee be moved to this point in the Agenda. This was seconded by Selectwoman Nosal. SO VOTED.
4. Old Business
e. Water Resources Committee
Steve Ross stated that the Water Resources Committee was appointed at his request by First Selectman Tim Griswold in April of 2011. The Committee looked at planning ahead to ensure a supply of clean potable water for the Town. Currently there is no problem. After over a year of studies, the Committee drafted an Ordinance which has gone through a couple of revisions and was presented to the Board of Selectmen. The Ordinance does not prevent or prohibit the exportation of water from the Town, but it does require a permit for such, which includes a certain quantity allowed each day and excludes sewers. As a result, the consensus was that an attorney who is an expert of such matters should review the proposed ordinance and come up with something that is enforceable. Mr. Ross now requests
that the Town budget for funding a study by an independent attorney of the Board of Selectmen’s choosing who would be expert in this area. This attorney would determine if any Ordinance can be drafted to require a permit before exporting water from the Town. Secondly if there is a way to word an Ordinance that is enforceable and to suggest any changes to the proposed draft in order to bring the Ordinance back to the Board of Selectmen for approval and then to a Town Meeting. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that a couple of years ago this draft was reviewed by a law firm that did have experience in environmental concerns such as this. At that time, the reviewing attorney, Bruce Chudwick, of Shipman and Goodwin did have concerns about passing such an Ordinance. In order to get an expanded view on this, it would cost in the range of $8,000. There was a discussion. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that this will be included in the budget and she will
talk to Atty. Chudwick to see if the estimated cost is still valid.
Selectwoman Nosal moved to move Agenda Item 5. New Business (a) Norman Main Request for Eagle Award Project to this point in the Agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
5. New Business
a. Norman Main Request for Eagle Award Project
Norman Main gave a presentation about the benefits of skateboarding. For his Eagle Award Project he is looking for Town property to build a skate park on (preferably a park) and funding from the Town. He has spoken to someone who would help him design the park and the estimated cost of building a park would be between $30,000 and $100,000. Norman and his mentor had spoken to First Selectwoman Reemsnyder earlier and she expressed concerns about insurance. She reached out to the Town’s Insurance Agency and although they did have some concerns, they did acknowledge that there are skate parks in other communities that they insure. It was suggested that Norman speak to the Parks and Recreation Commission as they are in charge of parks. Norman has looked into possible funding from outside
sources. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder had spoken to Jon Brayshaw, the First Selectman of Middlefield, where a skate park is located, and he said that they love the park. Norman will reach out to Parks and Rec.
4. Old Business
a. Boathouse / Hains Park Improvements – Update
Selectman Sibley reported that since the Town meeting in October where funds were approved, the draft plans have been converted to an actual set of drawings. These were handed over to the Town’s Fire Marshall and Building Official. Plans are reviewed before a contract is signed in order to prevent going over budget and to minimize or eliminate change orders. There have been numerous discussions between the Selectmen and Regional District #18. It has been a challenge of meeting all the criteria in making the building an educational facility with the proposed 2nd floor, and fulfilling the District’s needs. Selectman Sibley stated that there is good collaboration going on between the District, the Town’s Building Official and Fire Marshall, the architect, and the engineer. The
final draft of the Memorandum of Agreement should be ready for approval by the Selectmen by December. This was delayed because of the recent changes and discussions. When all is done there will be a defined understanding about how the arrangement works between the Town and the District.
b. Route 156 Bikeway / Sound View Improvements Public Info Session – Oct. 22 Update
There was a public information session on 22 October to introduce the plan for street parking and the park. Selectwoman Nosal reported on the public information session. The meeting highlighted the proposed design for the park, restrooms and pedestrian enhancements for Hartford Avenue. The improvements will connect the Old Lyme~community via an on-road bike way from the Baldwin Bridge at Route 156, east to Hartford Avenue and south to a scenic park with restrooms. The Power Point presentation and a rendering of the project will be put up on the website shortly. The preliminary plan will be presented to the Townspeople in December. The next Committee meeting will be on 25 November at 5:00 PM at Town Hall. If anyone has any comments or questions, they should email soundviewimprovements@gmail.com.
c. Recycling Incentive Committee – Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that there was a meeting on 29 October of the Recycling Incentive Committee where Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen members were invited to attend. A presentation was given by Kristen Brown who has been a consultant on solid waste and recycling in many countries for many years and currently works for Waste Zero. This is the company that provides services to communities that are looking to do pay as you throw or unit based pricing solutions. Selectwoman Nosal gave a review of the meeting and stated that Kristen’s presentation was well received. There was a discussion.
d. New Old Lyme Alerts Everbridge System
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the Town now subscribes to their own Everridge System where reverse 911 calls or reverse urgent calls can be made. It will allow the Town the flexibility to reach out to people on a Town wide basis or a neighborhood or group basis based on certain parameters. People will need to register to receive notifications from Old Lyme Alerts. Postcards have been made up for residents to fill out and available at the polls, Town Hall, the Library and future events. People may also sign up online on the Town website under Old Lyme Alerts.
e. Water Resources Committee
This item was discussed earlier in the Agenda.
5. New Business
a. Norman Main Request for Eagle Award Project
This item was discussed earlier in the Agenda.
b. Upcoming Appointments
The Selectmen will be making appointments to Town Boards and Commissions in late December and January. Letters have gone out to those who are already on Boards and Commissions asking if they wish to continue or not. There are vacancies, and if anyone is interested in serving please see the Town Website for openings.
6. Public Comment
Nancy Hutchinson suggested expanding the membership of the Boathouse / Hains Park Improvement Committee. Over the past month a lot of changes have been made regarding the project and there are many people in Town who would be a positive addition to the Committee. She noted that most everyone on the present Committee is a rower or rowing coach and that it would be beneficial to the Town to have input from people with experience in other areas. Now that there is more time, she would like the Committee to be expanded to include some new members.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder thanked Nancy for her emails and for coming tonight and stated that the Selectmen could certainly discuss this at their next meeting. Selectman Sibley stated that when the Committee was formed they reached out to the Community for members and seven members were chosen. He added that not all the members are rowing coaches and that the members do bring different strengths to the table. There was a discussion about Nancy’s emails to the Town regarding the project. The Selectmen will speak to the Committee about Nancy’s suggestion for expanding the Committee.
Tim Griswold asked who the attorney is that is working with the Building Committee or the Town on the Hains Park Boathouse project. It is the Town Attorney at this time. Tim stated that this project is complicated and with previous Town building projects, the Town had a specialty Attorney who meticulously put together the documents that were presented to the contractors, thus preventing a minimum of changes or disagreements. He stated that it is critical that an Attorney be engaged immediately before any new things happen. With the project changing i.e. no second story to the boathouse, the Town approved money for the project they thought they would see. The Townspeople need to be apprised of any changes. He encouraged another meeting with the Townspeople to review the changes.
Selectman Sibley responded to Tim’s concerns assuring him that this is pretty straight forward and nothing that the Town’s Attorney can’t handle, but it would not hurt to run it by a specialty attorney to make sure nothing was missed. There was an update made with the DEEP about the project changes and the Town did receive an official letter acknowledging and approving the changes. There will be a Public Information Session to inform the Townspeople about the changes.
7. Other Business
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she had received notice from the Town’s Finance Director, Nicole Stajduhar that she is leaving her job with the Town and moving on to another position in another Town. She will leave on 14 November and has offered to help with the transition to the new Director. A Committee will be formed to find a new Director which will include Andy Russell and First Selectwoman Reemsnyder. Randi Frank Consulting will help with the process.
Selectwoman Nosal stated that she had the opportunity to go with Diana Atwood Johnson to Hartford. Ms. Johnson chairs the Natural Heritage Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Review Board. One of the group’s many responsibilities is to recommend grant opportunities to the DEEP. One of the discussions was where we are in the grant allocations. Late last week the Town of Old Lyme Land Trust was named a recipient of $162,500 Grant to preserve 40.76 acres of land on 106 Four Mile River Road in Old Lyme.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she had mentioned many meetings ago that the Town was working with East Lyme on an application to do a joint land use study. This is through the Department of Defense where a study will be allowed to be done on land that borders a military facility. The Grant was approved and allows us to work with the Zoning Boards to look at whether or not there are any zoning recommendations for the lands around Stone’s Ranch which is located in Old Lyme and East Lyme. By doing this study, based on the recommendations, there may also be grants available in the future purchase of land around those borders. It will take about fifteen months to complete the study.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for Monday, 17 November 2014 at 7:30 PM.
8. Executive Session – NONE
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:37 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
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