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Old Lyme Board of Selectmen
Friday, 6 February 2015
Special Meeting
The Board of Selectmen held a Special Meeting at 10:00 AM on 6 February 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.
15 January 2015 Special Meeting
Selectman Sibley moved to accept minutes, Selectwoman Nosal seconded motion. SO VOTED.
16 January 2015 Special Meeting
Selectman Sibley acknowledged the new recording secretary and the excellent job she did on the recapture of the budget items in 5 c. of the meeting, but he would like to see the same level of detail on the figures that were shared by the chair of the WPCA when he gave his update. He would like to ask the secretary to listen to the tape and include the detail of the numbers. Selectman Sibley made a motion to table the approval of the minutes until more detail can be provided as described. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. Selectwoman Nosal also requested that in addition to the financials that were detailed, the minutes be changed to reflect that under 5a. New Business, WPCA Study, the word “reviewing a letter form Woodard and Curran” be changed to “received a letter from Woodard and Curran”
and that it should reflect that letter was received on Dec. 29th, and that these are for compliance requests by DEEP. So Voted.
2. Communications
3. Appointments
Selectman Sibley made a motion to appoint Barbara Traskos to the Historic District Commission as a regular member for a 5 yr. term expiring in Jan. 2020. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. So Voted.
Selectwoman Nosal made a motion to appoint Andrea Lombard to the WPCA as a regular member for a 4 yr. term expiring in Jan. 2017. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. So Voted.
Selectman Sibley made a motion to appoint Lauralyn Lewis to the Conservation Commission for a 3 yr. term expiring in Jan. 2018. Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. So Voted.
Selectwoman Nosal made a motion to appoint Jeff Hartmann to the Pension Committee for a 3 yr. term expiring in Jan. 2018. Selectman Sibley seconded the motion. So Voted.
4. Old Business
a. Boathouse/Hains Park Improvement Cte. Update
Selectman Sibley shared that the BHPI Committee held a meeting on Jan. 29th. As the committee had been meeting on a special meeting schedule in 2014, so they approved a regular meeting schedule for 2015, with meetings scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM. They spent time revising the project schedule, and set some milestone dates: advertise the new project by Sept. 1, 2015, bids due back by Sept. 22, scope review by architect by Sept. 28, present review to P & R by Oct. 1, present to BOS by Oct. 4 or 19, with the hopes of starting the project by the end of the Fall 2015 crew season. Expenditures were reviewed, and approx. $40,000 has been spent, mostly with architect and survey. Park and Rec has been working on the master plan, and P & R found another location for the
basketball court, and there was a fair amount of discussion on the building options, with the help of Building Official, John Flower. There was a decision to utilize the funds raised for the docks, and get the new docks installed by March, 2015, which is great news, as the current docks are a safety concern. The next meeting of the BHPIC is Feb. 12, 2015. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder agreed that prioritizing installation of the new docks is a great decision.
b. Rte. 156 Bikeway/Sound View Improvements Update
Selectwoman Nosal updated the board on the meeting that was held on Feb. 3, 2015. David Head of VHB, Inc., the DOT liaison for the town, was in attendance and updated the committee on the requirements for the Public Meeting. Some new details on those requirements included a follow up period where comments by constituents can be submitted. David Head also strongly advised the committee to do a standard Parking Study, as he received concerns from some business owners in the Sound View area. The report should help to determine the parking needs for the beach and businesses, and would include historical data and experiences of the community. This study would further delay the Public Meeting, beyond the tentative date of Mar. 9, 2015. The geotech report was completed, and as expected, the area has a high water table, and the
soils are fill. A project website is being developed so that all information will be available to the committee. Originally, the plan included 8’ sidewalks, but due to the complications of road grades and drainage, they are now considering 6’ sidewalks, which would be a significant savings. Committee is now reviewing landscape architect booklets on style of fencing, benching, lighting, etc. We must have the opinion of probable cost of the project available at the Public Meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Mar. 16 at 4:30 PM.
c. Solarize Lyme and Old Lyme Workshop Canceled, rescheduled
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder noted that the original Solarize Lyme/Old Lyme workshop, scheduled for Jan. 26, was canceled due to the blizzard, and the rescheduled workshop was also canceled due to heavy snow. The new date is Monday, Feb. 9, 2015 at 6 PM in the Middle School Auditorium.
d. Annual Town Meeting Canceled, rescheduled
The Annual Town Meeting was also canceled due to the blizzard, and has been rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 9, 2015 at 7:30 PM in the Middle School Auditorium, immediately following the Solarize workshop. The call of the meeting remains the same.
e. Budget Requests for FY 2016
The Board of Selectmen had two special meetings to review the budget requests for FY 2016, with Nicole Stajduhar, Finance Director in attendance to review the operating budget, as well as salaries and capital. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested that she could keep this as an item on the agenda to review any new, and unusual requests. Selectmen Sibley felt that he was fine to follow the budget through the Board of Finance meeting, but he noted at the last BOF meeting that there was an additional request in regards to the beach stipend, though if granted, the amount would not affect the total grant. He suggested that all requests should come in on a timely basis whenever possible. The selectmen agreed that although we should follow a strict timeline, there would always be unique and additional requests, which would be
dealt with on the Board of Finance level, as they meet weekly. In regards to the additional beach request, the Selectmen agreed that their recommendation to the Board of Finance, which was essentially in agreement with the recommendation of the Beach Stipend Committee, allows the Board of Finance to review additional requests by associations, and base approval on meeting the criteria of the philosophy. Selectwoman Nosal noted that there were two additional requests since the BOS review by the Police Dept., for dash cameras and tasers. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder shared that the Commanding Officer of Troop F recommended that the town consider dash cameras, as it would help in any investigations of complaints against officers. Selectwoman Nosal also noted some discussion regarding the WPCA budget that was discussed at the previous BOF meeting, and First Selectwoman Reemsnyder noted that the WPCA budget request for FY 16 has not actually been received yet.
5. New Business
a. Blizzard of 2015 report
On Jan. 26 and 27, the Blizzard of 2015 caused cancellations and extra costs for snow removal. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder said that the state has asked for an accounting of expenses as there may be some FEMA reimbursement. Town Hall was closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27th and First Selectwoman Reemsnyder commended and thanked the first responders for all their preparation and time during this emergency. The EOC was open for about a 24 hour period communicating through our Old Lyme Alerts, and monitoring incoming calls. It was agreed that we are very lucky to have the dedicated volunteers to help during these times. Selectwoman Nosal commended our Emergency Management Director, Dave Roberge, on reaching out to the private associations to help with any FEMA reimbursement that might be available.
b. Introduction – Sam Gold, Exec. Director RiverCOG
Sam Gold, the new Executive Director of the Lower CT River Estuary Council of Governments (RiverCOG), was introduced to the Selectmen and updated them on his background and priorities for the COG. Mr. Gold came to the RiverCOG in December after working as Executive Director of the Council of Governments of Central Valley, Naugatuck. Sam has been visiting each town within the COG to introduce himself and interview the CEO’s to understand the challenges and priorities of each town. He noted that this area is very different from the Naugatuck Valley, but there are similar projects. His visits should result in a comprehensive report on the needs of the collective towns in the COG, which should provide a basis for the development of the new Regional Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). Complimenting the capable staff
at the RiverCOG, he urged all the towns to consider the RiverCOG staff their own staff. One of his first tasks is to provide a document that justifies the dues paid by each town to the COG, in an effort to be accountable to them. First Selectwoman acknowledged the help received from the RiverCOG staff on the various projects the Town is undertaking and asked that our thanks be expressed to the staff. Sam shared some of the major projects being undertaken by the COG, which includes an Economic Strategic Plan for the region, a Regional Tourism plan, and the Regional POCD, which he sees as a project that defines our area. Selectwoman Nosal suggested that a workshop or forum to educate all the boards and commissions on developing a Plan of Conservation and Development would be a helpful effort. Sam Gold shared that in the past he has hosted a three part Land Use Commissioner academy, which included sessions on “How to read a site plan”, “How to run a meeting”, and
“Dealing with land use laws” – all valuable topics to commissioners. Selectman Sibley invited Sam to attend the public meeting for the Sound View Improvements project once it is scheduled, and encouraged him to become familiar with the sewer issues in town. The Selectmen thanked Mr. Gold for attending the meeting and wished him luck in his new position.
6. Public Comment: None
7. Other Business: None
The next Board of Selectmen's Meeting is scheduled for 17 February 2015 at 7:30 PM.
8. Executive Session: None
9. Adjournment: Selectman Sibley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:57 AM, Selectwoman Nosal seconded the motion. So Voted.
Respectfully submitted,
~
Bonnie Reemsnyder
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