Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Friday, 16 January 2015
Special Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Special Meeting at 8:30 AM on 16 January 2015 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 5 January 2015
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder recognized the new recording secretary, Julie Campbell, then asked for a motion to accept the minutes of January 5, 2015. Selectwoman Nosal moved to accept minutes, Selectman Sibley seconded motion. SO VOTED.
2. Communications
3. Appointments
Selectwoman Nosal moved to appoint David Kelsey (R) – Sound View Commission – 3 yr. term exp. Jan 2018, Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked for a motion to move 5a. New Business, WPCA Study up on the agenda. Selectman Sibley made the motion, seconded by Selectwoman Nosal. SO VOTED.
5a. New Business, WPCA Study
Kurt Zemba provided an update to the selectmen regarding the actions of WPCA over the past three weeks. After careful study of the waste water management project and reviewing a letter from Woodard and Curran with additional expenses that are all out of the scope originally approved by the DEEP. There appears to be no headway made by or with East Lyme and New London to transport our waste. Therefore, Kurt Zemba, decided that at this time we would put the project on hold, which was also approved by the WPCA members on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. There will be further discussions with the DEEP on this matter.
Selectwoman Nosal agrees with taking a pause from the project at this time. Nosal requested an account on paper regarding what transpired from the start of the project to now. Kurt will have his office draw up this document. Selectwoman Nosal suggested a public forum in the future. Not moving forward nor putting a time limit on this pause. Selectman Sibley suggested perhaps we could request a push back due to the nature of the project. Gather facts as they are today and then move forward.
Kurt Zemba will draft a letter to the DEEP outlining the issues. Any further spending would require a town meeting and we will proceed as necessary.
4. Old Business
a. Rte. 156 Bikeway/Sound View Improvements
Tabled until next meeting
b. Beach Stipend Recommendation Discussion
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder presented the written recommendation to be presented to the Board of Finance. Selectwoman Nosal made motion to approve the written recommendation to the Board of Finance, Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. SO VOTED
c. Formation of Solid Waste/Recycling Committee
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder had put together a draft charge for this newly formed committee and had shared this the Selectmen for comment/suggestions. Selectwoman Nosal asked why we would be excluding the committee looking at pay as you throw? Selectwoman Nosal would like to change the wording from “other” to “all” means of waste reduction in the document. Selectwoman Nosal made motion to approve the charge with changes discussed. Seconded by Selectman Sibley. SO VOTED
5. New Business
a. WPCA Study
This item was moved up on agenda
b. Audit report for FY 2014
The selectmen should have received their reports and they were reviewed at the last Board of Finance meeting. Selectman Sibley commented that he had read the power point presentation and will read the document and comment at next meeting. Selectwoman Nosal was pleased to see that the report was a positive one and that there is currently a 20% surplus.
c. Review of budget requests for FY 2016 w/ Nicole Stajduhar
Nicole Stajduhar presented the above items and gave a brief overview of salaries. Increases of 2% were allotted to all with the exception of the police, which will receive 2.5% per their contract. The Old Lyme Police Dept. did have 2 with a step increase, plus the 2.5%. $1,500 was taken out of the Park & Rec budget as P & R no longer staffs for the Town Parking Lot The Old Lyme Rangers help to oversee the lot with Kiosks. Board of Assessment Appeals Stipend of $2,000 for members was removed, as it is only received during revaluation year.
Nicole reviewed the new additions to salaries (WPCA Admin Asst), as well as adjustments for reductions (Health Asst. reduced to part time).
Nicole then reviewed new requests: The Tax Collector requested an additional 200 hours annually for the tax clerk to accommodate the busy times, i.e. June/July and January. Selectwoman Nosal commented that she would like to see improved services if we are going to increase the hours.
The Social Service Director is asking for increase of 416 hours annually. This was not supported by the salary committee and will be removed from the budget.
Part time EMT’s requested 2% for each of the last 3 years, since they were not part of a step increase process. It was decided to give 3% this year and then add them to the same format as all town employees for future years.
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There was a request to increase the Ranger salary from $12.43 an hour to $15.00 per hour. Salary committee agreed to keep Rangers at an average of $13.50 per hour.
Emergency Management Director requested an additional $1,000 in the stipend, which was not supported by the salary committee. In addition, there is currently a $3,000 allocated for salaries in case of an emergency, and the EMD would like to have $1,600 of this amount be allocated as a stipend for the Deputy EMD position. This was supported by the salary committee. New Sanitarian line item of $3,600, as the new Sanitarian hired will be on the top step, based on his previous experience.
Nicole then reviewed the Capital Requests with the Selectmen – Lyme Old Lyme Little League has requested $24,000 in capital items relating to Town Woods Park. Selecteman Sibley asked if there was still money in an account from a fundraiser that was done when Town Woods Park was first built, and suggested to consider using that money for these capital expenses. Nicole will look into this issue.
There was a request from Lyme Academy regarding electrical equipment upgrades. The capital committee felt that now that they are part of the University of New Haven, perhaps this financial wish could be accommodated by UNH.
The next three items were regarding Rogers Lake Weeds to prepare for the recommendation to come from the study..
The Sound View Commission requested funds for aproperty survey - $7,500 for the next three years and $1,500 for the high water mark survey $1,200 for buoys will be added and Nicole will update and distribute to the Selectmen.
Two new items relate to starting a Building Improvement fund and a road improvement fund. The amounts were added to start a discussion for future potential projects, so we can budget for these repairs as opposed to being hit with a very large expense. A discussion regarding sidewalks and safety in town was held. Spreadsheets and history are being gathered for future review.
The next three items relate to town hall: heat and AC project, $56,000 would be for installation of the new Emme system, and $9,000 for an optional module. $50,000 is to power wash town hall exterior and remove peeling paint in front. Walk around was done and a quote was attained. Lead paint on the front of the building must be addressed. There was a discussion regarding the use of the remaining town hall expansion fund for these three line items and reduce the bottom line.
Public works requested to replace a 1996 dump truck and plow. It was suggested breaking up the number and allocating half this year and half next year. This will be considered. This has been on the five year plan for about two years.
Fire Department is requesting a boat again this year. The Capital Committee suggested looking into grants.
Emergency Management requesting $35,000 for phase II of the radio enhancement project, and $8,500 for 911 call stations for Hartford Ave and White Sands beach- great to have but not a necessity. Police boat of $85,000, and Tom Heinssen will speak to that during budget process
Public works included $400,000 for repaving of all of Rogers Lake Rd. This was not on the five year plan previously and the Capital Committee suggested a plan be in place to look at roads.
$100,000 was requested for repair of the Mile Creek Bridge,. An application for a STEAP grant has been submitted in late Nov for $500,000. The Committee recommended keeping $100,000in the budget at this time. There was discussion about possibly dipping into surplus for these items.
Finally, the gas tanks will likely cost $200,000 to be removed and replaced. This has been in the five year plan. Tanks will need to be installed above ground. The cost includes installation of two 4,000 gallon tanks. This was originally projected for FY 2017 budget but now requires moving up a year.
A Capital request was added to put on the budget $10,000 for Meeting Hall Audio upgrade.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder thanked Nicole for all her hard work.
6. Public Comment
7. Other Business
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for 2 February 2015 at 7:30 PM.
8. Executive Session – To discuss current litigation regarding Doreen Day
Selectman Sibley made motion to go into Executive Session to discuss current litigation regarding Doreen Day, with attorney Marilyn Clark. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. SO VOTED
The Selectmen came out of Executive Session at 10:51 AM
9. Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 10:52 AM
Respectfully submitted,
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Julie Campbell
Recording Secretary
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