TOWN OF OLD LYME
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Special Meeting Minutes
27August 2015
The Board of Selectmen held a Special Meeting at 8:00am on 27 August 2015 in the Meeting Hall of the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall. First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder and Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal were present. Selectman Skip Sibley was absent.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the purpose of the meeting is to approve items to be approved at a Town Meeting. Although Selectman Sibley was not available to attend the Special Meeting, he is aware of the agenda and is in consensus.
- Approve additional expenditure of up to $3k for installation of Emme HVAC system, to be funded through the Town Building Improvement Fund and recommend to Town Meeting.
First Selectwoman apologized for the omission of an additional estimate from the Emme HVAC system amount approved by the Board of Selectmen. A motion to approve the additional expenditure of up to $3,000 for installation of the system and recommend it to Town Meeting was made by Selectwoman Nosal and seconded by First Selectwoman Reemsnyder. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder said the motion should be amended to include recommendation of $63,000 to Town Meeting. Selectwoman Nosal agreed. Motion passed.
- Approve expenditure of $1,614,074 for Black Hall and Four Mile Rivers Dredging Project, funded through a State of CT grant and recommend to Town Meeting.
A motion was made by Selectwoman Nosal, seconded by First Selectwoman Reemsnyder, to approve an expenditure of $1,614,074 for Black Hall and Four Mile Rivers Dredging Project, funded through a State of CT grant and recommend to Town Meeting.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder said they are very pleased because the grant does not require matching funds from the Town, and are delighted to send this to Town Meeting. Motion passed.
- Approve the Call of a Special Town Meeting for Sept. 8, 2015 at 7:30 PM
- To authorize the expenditure of $1,614,074.00 for the Black Hall River and Four Mile River Navigation Channel Dredging Projects, as recommended by the Harbor Management Commission, the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen, which projects will be funded by a grant in said amount from the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
- To authorize the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $63,000.00 from the Town Building Improvements Fund for the Emme heating system, as recommended by the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder said the September 8 Town Meeting will take place in the Meeting Hall of the Town Hall.
She pointed out that she had discussed authorization of the $63,000 for the Town Hall heating system with the Finance Director, who consulted with the Town’s auditors, and the Town Attorney. Both confirmed that this does not need to go to a Town Meeting for approval. However, it was the feeling of the Board of Finance that an abundance of caution and transparency should be used. The First Selectwoman said the concern will be if the request is turned down, although the funds are already designated in the Town Building Improvements Fund. Town Meeting approval is not required, but the Meeting Call, if approved, does include the heating system item. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder does not want this to set a precedent, because we should be able to use approved special
funds without additional approvals.
The First Selectwoman read the Call of the Special Town Meeting aloud. A motion to approve the call of the meeting as read was made by Selectwoman Nosal, seconded by First Selectwoman Reemsnyder.
Selectwoman Nosal commented on remarks regarding the Town Attorney & Finance Director’s confirmation that Town Meeting approval is not needed for the Emme system funding. She asked if this has ever done before - Is it because this is a new fund that it is a concern?
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder said she does not recall doing it, but cannot state definitively that this has not been done before.
Selectwoman Nosal said it was worth noting that this is a new fund that was approved at the last Town Meeting. For the item to fail would be surprising to her. She said those who have attended presentations on the Emme system recognize that the building needs this update. She said we have the monies in place, and this is exactly what the fund is to be used for.
Motion passed.
A motion was made by Selectwoman Nosal to adjourn at 8:07am.
Catherine Frank 8/27/15
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