Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Monday, 15 December 2014
Regular Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM, 15 December 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
Special Meeting 4 December 2014
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder requested a change on the third page, second paragraph, to read “First Selectwoman Reemsnyder mentioned that the spending of the $405,000 that was approved for the plan, which was submitted at the Town Meeting, will be closely watched by the Selectmen and a volunteer will be asked from the Board of Finance to oversee this also.” Under 5. New Business the Resolution the second sentence refers to the Regional Percentage Incentive Program, it should read the Regional Performance Incentive Program. There were numerous edits submitted by the Selectmen, and for that reason, their edits will be submitted in a word document for approval at the next meeting. The Selectmen tabled approval of the minutes of December 4, 2014.
2. Communications – NONE
3. Appointments – NONE
Selectwoman Nosal moved to move Agenda Item 5. New Business a. Beach Stipend Committee Report and Recommendations to this point in the Agenda. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
5. New Business
a. Beach Stipend Committee Report and Recommendations
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reviewed why this Committee was formed and what the charge of the Committee was. She stated that the Committee’s minutes were very detailed and provide excellent documentation for the present and the future. She recoginzed members of the Committee and thanked them for an excellent job. Keith Coakley and BJ Bernblum spoke to the Selectmen. Mr. Coakley reported that the Committee met 12 times this past year and met with private associations, reviewed what other towns are doing and received input from Officer Tom Heinssen. The stipends have been given for over 100 years and he gave the reasons why stipends are given. He read the Committee’s 11 recommendations. Recommended stipend total would be less than the $101,000 that is the current stipend budget.
The Committee believes that their recomendations are fair to both the Town and to the Associations. Mr. Bernblum reviewed how the Committee came to their decisions and also mentioned that there are other private associations not on the Town shoreline who have never received stipends. This report will be made available on the Town website. The Selectmen will take time to review the recommendations and discuss at a January meeting.
4. Old Business
a. Boathouse / Hains Park Improvements Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder gave an update on the BHPIC meeting last week. At the last Selectmen's Special Meeting Bob Dunn, Chairman of Parks and Rec Commission was appointed as a regular member to the Committee, John Flower, Vice Chairman of the Parks and Rec Commission was appointed as an ex-officio member and John Rhodes of Regional District 18 was appointed as an ex-officio member. The Selectmen agreed at that Special Meeting that they would consider appointing Don Bugbee, Parks and Rec Director and a Board of Finance Member to the Committee. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder met with Don Bugbee and Don Bugbee is comfortable with being a regular member of the Committee. She also spoke to Board of Finance Chairman Andy Russell about Gil Soucie (alternate member Board of Finance) serving as an
ex-officio member on the Committee. Mr. Soucie did submit an application to serve. Bob Dunn, who was seated in the audience, reported that a site walk had been done and the meeting last week was very productive. The Committee is moving forward and the new members will be a welcome addition.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Don Bugbee as a regular member to the Boathouse Hains Park Improvements Committee. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint Gil Soucie as an ex-officio member to the Boathouse Hains Park Improvements Committee as a representative from the Board of Finance. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
b. Route 156 Bikeway / Sound View Improvements
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder gave an update on progress of the Route 156 Bikeway / Sound View Improvements Committee. There will be a Public Information Meeting tentatively scheduled on 9 March. A date in the spring was chosen in order to be considerate of beach residents who would want to attend. This will be advertised in several newspapers and the Beach Associations will be contacted to help get the word out.
c. Solarize Old Lyme Workshop Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported on the Solarize Old Lyme Workshop which was held on 4 December at Town Hall. Many people attended the meeting and there was a lot of interest from residents about putting solar panels on their homes. At this time 76 property owners have signed up on the website. The program runs through 10 April 2015. All vendors have been vetted by the State. Incentives are being reduced as of 1 January 2015. There will be another workshop on 26 January 2015 at 6:00 PM in the Middle School Auditorium. The Annual Town Meeting will be held directly after the workshop. Information is available on the Town Website. For any person who will have solar panels installed, a building permit from the Town will be required. Solarize CT has requested
that the Town reduce these building permit fees. The Selectmen will look into this request.
5. New Business
a. Beach Stipend Committee Report and Recommendations
This Agenda item was discussed earlier in the agenda.
b. Pension Committee Update and Recommendations
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the Pension Committee changed the provider of investment funds to T. Rowe Price. A third party administrator was also hired. The Pension Committee, at their last meeting on 3 December, approved an Investment Policy Statement. The Selectmen had copies to review and a copy has been posted on the Town Website. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder thanked the Pension Committee for their excellent work. The Committee recommends to add to its membership the Town Finance Director and a representative from Regional District #18 as voting members.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint the Town of Old Lyme's Finance Director as a voting member to the Pension Committee. This was seconded by Selectwoman Nosal. SO VOTED.
Selectman Sibley moved to appoint a representative from Regional District #18 as a voting member to the Pension Committee and this person may be the Business Manager. This was seconded by Selectwoman Nosal. SO VOTED.
c. Recycling Committee – Discussion on Formation of Standing Committee
The Selectmen discussed forming a standing Recycling Committee. The Recycling Committee had reported that there is a need for recycling education and enforcement. The Solid Waste Ordinance would also need to be looked at and brought up to date. Selectwoman Nosal reported that many towns do have such a committee and she feels that it is important that Old Lyme have one. Selectman Sibley was also in favor of a standing Solid Waste / Recycling Committee. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will get some ideas on paper for a charge of the Committee and email it to the Selectmen for their input.
d. CT DOT Master Municipal Agreement for ROW Authorization Resolution
In the past the CT DOT submitted a Master Municipal Agreement for town projects involving the DOT. There is a new Agreement that is for Rights of Way (ROW) which has been sent to all the Towns to review. The Master Agreement has a term of 10 years and will speed things along should the Town have a project. The Selectmen would need to adopt a resolution authorizing First Selectwoman Reemsnyder to sign the Agreement. There was a discussion.
Selectman Sibley moved to create a Resolution which will authorize Bonnie Reemsnyder as First Selectwoman to sign the Master Municipal Agreement for the Rights of Way Projects. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
e. Annual Tree Lighting
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reported that the Annual Tree Lighting was held on 10 December. The Middle School Band performed at the ceremony. Thanks to everyone who made the event such a success especially the Middle School Band and their Director Carrie Wind.
She thanked the Fire Department for doing their annual Toy Drive. They collected over $5,500 in donations and a bunch of unwrapped toys.
f. Special Thanks: Senator Andrea Stillman and Representative Marilyn Giuliano
The Selectmen gave a special thanks to outgoing Senator Andrea Stillman and Representative Marilyn Giuliano for all their hard work for the Community of Old Lyme.
6. Public Comment
Bob Dunn stated that the Boat House Hains Park Improvements Committee had a great meeting and he feels as they go forward the project will be very successful. The site meeting went very well with lots of good information to help make a Master Plan. He is thankful that the Selectmen have voted Don Bugbee as a regular member and Gil Soucie as a representative from the Board of Finance. In the case of John Flower, who was appointed as an ex-officio member, he did not see any conflict of interest by having Mr. Flower as a full member and not ex-officio. He asked that the Selectmen review this more and consider appointing Mr. Flower as a full member. If the Selectmen choose to keep Mr. Flower as a ex-officio member then he would recommend that Glynn McAraw, who is a long-standing member of Parks
and Rec Commission and Chairperson for many years, be considered as a full member. Mr. Dunn reminded the Selectmen that in previous statements the Parks and Recreation Commission has requested that they would like to have the opportunity to review and comment on the Agreement between the Town and Regional District #18 before the Agreement is finalized.
7. Other Business
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder reminded the Selectmen that at the 5 January 2015 meeting there will be a number of appointments for various boards and commissions. The Selectmen were given a list to review. There will be quite a few vacancies to fill. This will be posted on the Town Website.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder would like the Selectmen to consider holding Special Meetings in January to discuss budget requests as was done in the past.
The COG has a new Executive Director. His name is Sam Gold who comes from another COG.
He will be invited to a Selectmen's meeting to introduce himself.
Selectman Sibley congratulated the Valley Regional / LOL Football Team for winning a State Championship last Saturday. They beat a team that was a dominent force.
Happy Holidays were wished to all.
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for Monday, 5 January at 7:30 PM.
8. Executive Session – NONE
9. Adjournment
Selectman Sibley moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:09 PM. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Recording Secretary
| 
