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Board of Selectmen Minutes 11/02/2015
TOWN OF OLD LYME
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Regular Meeting Minutes
November 2nd, 2015


The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 7:30 pm on November 2nd, 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.

  • Approval of Minutes:  October 19th 2015, Regular Meeting
Page 2:  Approval of Minutes:   1st line should read, “A motion to approve the minutes as amended
                        was made by Selectman Sibley”….
Page 3:  Old Business:                  a.      Paragraph 1, line 9 should read … “commissions such as
                                IWWC…”, not WWC
Page 3:  Old Business:                  a.      Paragraph 4, should read “STEAP money”, not STEEP money
Page 4:  Old Business:                  a.      Paragraph 1, line 3 should read “Dave Stygar”, not Dave
                                Snyder
Page 4:  Old Business:                  b.      Paragraph 2, line 7 should read “The plan is to have a series of
                                dry wells that are connected that will bring storm water from
                                Hartford Avenue…”

A motion to approve the minutes as amended was made by Selectman Sibley, seconded by Selectwoman Nosal.  Motion passed.

  • Communication:  None
  • Appointments:  
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked the board to make a motion to add an appointment to the agenda.  She stated that she received an application today for an appointment to the Lymes’ Senior Center Board.  Moved by Selectman Sibley, seconded by Selectwoman Nosal.  Motion passed.

First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that they are losing Bob Pierson from the Senior Center Board, that he is moving, and has resigned.  Sue Campbell, Chair, has reached out to try to get someone to serve on the board, and also serve as the treasurer.  Nancy Campbell agreed to serve on the board.  It had been discussed by the chair and the board, and was approved. She stated, they would like her to serve at the next meeting while Bob Pierson is still there, to get her up to speed on the treasurer’s duties.

First Selectwoman Reemsnyder asked for a motion to appoint Nancy Campbell to the Lymes’ Senior Center Board, for a 3-year term, ending July 2017.  Moved by Selectwoman Nosal, seconded by Selectman Sibley.  Motion passed.

  • Old Business:
  • Boathouse Hains Park Improvements Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that they are still waiting on the final construction drawings.  There has not been a meeting since the last BOS meeting.  

Selectman Sibley stated that there is not really an update; the next regularly scheduled meeting will be November 12th, at 7:30pm at Town Hall.  He summarized, Nina is working toward the working drawings, they will be submitted to the same estimator, they are tracking in terms of cost where they think they are.  They are also working with the tree commission, to see if a tree could be removed, and replaced with other trees.  The request has been put forward to the tree commission.  It will have a huge impact on locating the basketball court, in the size they want, where they want it.

First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that Paul Gianquinto did attend the Tree Commission meeting, and the next day laid out where the basketball court would be. She stated it is within 10’ of the tree in question.  The Tree Commission was planning on doing a site walk.   

  • Rte. 156 Bikeway/Sound View Improvements
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she expected to have an update, because there was a scheduled meeting at 4:30 today, but because the DOT liaison could not attend, it was canceled.

Selectwoman Nosal stated that they were looking forward to resolving some questions with their liaison from VHB.  She stated that he was unable to attend their last meeting, so things had piled up, and around 2pm, he stated he was unable to attend today’s meeting, and so, they canceled the meeting.  They have yet to receive their letter from DOT, stating that they are able to move into final design, but per their liaison’s email, it is imminent.  Once they receive that letter, they can tell their engineers to begin final design, and at the next meeting they could resolve some of the questions, and get the design done, which has to go back to DOT for another review.    She stated that there might have to be another Special Meeting, possibly next Monday at 4:30, otherwise, the next scheduled meeting is 12/9 .  

First Selectwoman Reemsnyder expressed her concern that this was the 2nd meeting in a row, which their liaison was unable to attend.

Selectwoman Nosal stated that she has reached out to Devin Carney, who was going to touch base with his contact at the DOT to see if he could help move things along.

First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the liaison expected to have the letter of approval from the DOT to go to final design, and that he would scan it and send it to her so that she would have the copy of the text.  

  • WPCA/Administrative Order Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she had a conversation with Carlos Esguerra, DEEP, and she received a draft EIE from Woodard & Curran that they submitted to DEEP.  She stated that there were some follow-up tweaks to the document, but, was told by DEEP that they are in compliance with the administrative order.  She stated that when she receives the final EIE that is open for comments, she will share with the Selectmen.

First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she received a letter from the Soundview Beach Association, to the WPCA, and then to the DEEP requesting that they be considered part of the project, and that they want to have a hearing.  In follow-up with Carlos from the DEEP, he stated that there will be a hearing in Old Lyme, it is likely to be in a month, and it will respond to comments to the EIE, or request comments to the EIE, and encompass the hearing that the Soundview Beach Association has requested.  First Selectwoman Reemsnyder suggested having the hearing at the Middle School in case there is a large showing.  

  • Draft Financial Policies Update
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that there was a 3pm Special Meeting today.  That they spent over 2 hours reviewing the draft policies that the finance director submitted.  She stated that it is 32 pages of policy, that there were questions, tweaking, and discussions.  The Finance Director will update the draft with the changes they made today, submit again, have one more special meeting to review, then share with the BOF, and then get to a meeting to approve the policies.  

Selectman Sibley suggested that once there is an almost final draft, that they share it with the BOF, because they might have some suggestions or concerns.  Also, when the BOS approve it, and present it to the BOF, they are not hearing it for the 1st time.  

First Selectwoman Reemsnyder agreed that it is prudent to have that discussion with the BOF, and stated that they could probably plan on sharing it at the next BOF meeting.

  • New Business:
  • Rogers Lake Mussel Survey Report
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she did receive the initial report, which has not yet been submitted to the DEEP.  New England Environmental submitted to the towns to look at 1st.  The report stated that they did find some Eastern Pond Mussels in Roger’s Lake; they found them more in areas that were not target areas for herbicides than they did in areas that there were targets for herbicides.  She stated that it seems like the Eastern Pond Mussels is more successful in areas that are less dense, and that they would be treating areas of dense growth.  She stated that there are other mussels that are more dense that are not a special species, and they did not get feedback from the DEEP that anything had to be done regarding the fish.  The email that she received from Scott Fisher stated that “the report is just stating the findings.  What happens as a result is up to NDDB/CTDEEP.  There are essentially four possibilities of what they could ask for or allow:
  • Not permit any treatment
  • Permit the treatment, but require subsequent monitoring of mussels to evaluate impacts from herbicides.
  • Require sweeps of treatment areas prior to treatment, and subsequent transplantation of mussels out of treatment areas.
  • Allow the treatment with no additional surveys or review.”
                First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she believes it would be 2 or 4, based on the
                opinion of the individuals who did the survey, but it is up to the NDDB/CTDEEP.

  • Election Day – Nov. 3, 6am-8pm at the Cross Lane Firehouse
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that tomorrow is Election Day, and wished everyone good luck.

  • Public Comment:  
                Dimitri Tolchinski, Resident, Member WPCA
                Dimitri stated Old Lyme Shores, Old Colony Beach, and Miami Beach have already
                combined into 1 organization that DEEP has agreed to work with.  He stated, in order to
                do that work they need to pass through Soundview Beach to Miami Beach.  He suggested
                that the best solution is to bring Soundview Beach into this group because it will bring
                the cost down for all of the people affected by the improvement.  He suggested a
                taskforce be formed possibly including:  himself, Robert Breen, and administrators from
                the town, to address the legality, questions from the town people, and the best way to
                incorporate Soundview, before the meeting goes to town.  
        
  • Other Business:
  • First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that Troy Clark, Assistant Emergency Management Director, his father passed away, and there are services this Wednesday, and she extended her sympathy to the family
  • Selectman Sibley suggested that the Oct 20th letter regarding the transfer station be entered into the meeting minutes, and speak to that.
  • First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that she wrote a letter to Gary Yuknat, Old Lyme Sanitation, (attached to meeting minutes) in regards to the terms of the Operations & Maintanance Agreement on the Septage Transfer Facility that he has been operating.  She recapped, we have been billing haulers $0.08/gal to dump at this facility, and we have been billed $0.12/gallon.  The town is subsidizing $0.04/gal.  When they started doing this, the towns were required to have a facility for septage disposal within town.  That is no longer a requirement.  As of November 13th, the town will no longer bill the haulers.  Gary Yuknat can bill the haulers directly, but the haulers will still be required to submit a report to the town.  Every hauler that has brought septage to the transfer station has received a letter stating that after November 13th, they will pay directly to the operator for the use of the facility at the rate they set.   
  • Selectman Sibley asked about the facility itself, if Wind River is still interested?
  • First Selectwoman Reemsnyder replied that she does not have an update, but it is her understanding that they are still interested.
  • Selectwoman Nosal asked how they are going to get the updated pumping data?
  • First Selectwoman Reemsnyder replied that by state statute they are required to submit the data.  The only amendment needed to the ordinance is to give the town the power to enforce it, and assess fines should they not submit the report.  She stated that she would like to get it online, so they could submit the report from their mobile devices.
  • Dimitri Tolchinski, from the audience, stated that not many towns keep records.  He stated that the cost to pump a septic tank in Old Lyme is high, and doesn’t want to incur more charges to keep these records.  
  • First Selectwoman Reemsnyder replied that the haulers are not being asked to pay a fee, the town is just asking for the data.
  • Selectman Sibley added that they should consider Soundview as part of the other beach associations.  He stated that Soundview looks to the town of Old Lyme to be their WPCA, and suggested that anything they want to do should go through the WPCA.
  • First Selectwoman Reemsnyder replied that the original letter went to the WPCA from Rob Breen.  That the letter to the DEEP is in keeping with any request for a hearing, and the WPCA was also copied.  She stated that many members from the WPCA are of the same mind that Soundview has one of the biggest needs.  That they have the right to ask for hearing, and at some point the town WPCA has to be involved because they are under the town’s jurisdiction.  She stated that she called Rob Breen over the weekend, reiterating that they are not trying to stop progress, and that the case has been made that there is a need in Soundview.  She stated they will go through the process, and they will have the hearing run by the DEEP.
  • Selectman Sibley also stated that last Friday was “Soupy Campbell” Day, and asked that she speaks about that also.  
  • First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that Richard “Soup” Campbell, has been with the public works department for 33 years, and he retired as of Friday. She stated, there was a proclamation by the BOS, that would be worth reading at the next meeting.  She stated, he was the one to put up holiday decorations, fix wobbly chairs, sticky doors, and when there was a problem they would “ask Soupy to do something about it”.  She stated, his retirement is well deserved, he loved his job, was always happy, and he will be missed dearly.
  • Selectwoman Nosal suggested that it might be time for Cathy to send out openings on boards & commissions to have people send applications in, so they could be appointed earlier in the year.
  • First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the letters to the current board members will be sent out soon, asking them if they are interested in being assigned.
  • First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the next meeting will talk about the holiday schedule for calendar year 2016, and the meeting schedule for 2016.
  • Executive Session:  None
  • Adjournment:  A motion was made by Selectman Sibley, seconded by Selectwoman Nosal to adjourn at 8:23 pm.  Motion passed.

Donna Glaras
11/03/2015

Attachment:  Septage Transfer Facility draft letter





Oct. 20, 2015

Mr. Gary Yuknat
Old Lyme Sanitation
30 Short Hills Rd.
Old Lyme, CT 06371

Dear Gary,

As we have discussed, the Town of Old Lyme will amend the terms of the Operations and Maintenance Agreement on the Septage Transfer Facility located at 2 Gouvna Hill Rd., which is permitted by the Town of Old Lyme.  

The agreement stipulates that the Town of Old Lyme will pay 12 cents per gallon of septage processed at the facility, and we will collect 8 cents per gallon from the individual hauler (whether Wind River or other entity). After Nov. 13, 2015, the individual haulers should pay the disposal fee directly to Old Lyme Sanitation as we will no longer invoice for disposal. In addition, we will not accept any invoices from Wind River or Old Lyme Sanitation for disposal costs. We will, however, continue to require that reports be filed with our Health Department, as required by the CT Public Health Code Section 19-13; B103a through 19-13; B103f and section 22a-403 of the CT General Statutes, and as has been done for the last 20 years. I will send a separate letter informing those haulers who have done business in Old Lyme over the last several years of this change, provided we have their contact information on file.

We do want to continue the agreement for the operation of the facility, as the permit will remain in the name of the Town of Old Lyme, until such time as we can transfer the permit to Wind River, in response to their expressed interest in this. If Wind River is not interested in taking over the permit, the Town of Old Lyme will end the Operation and Maintenance Agreement in full as of Dec. 31, 2015, when the current agreement expires. In addition, we will not renew the lease agreement between Gouvna Group, LLC and the Town of Old Lyme on the use of the land located at 2 Gouvna Hill Rd. for the operation of the Septage Transfer Facility.





The Town of Old Lyme will work directly with the DEEP to finalize the permit, which is currently pending. Once the approved permit is issued, we will begin the transfer process with Wind River if they are still interested.

If you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to working out the details of these changes with you and the principals of Wind River. Thank you for your years of collaboration with the Town of Old Lyme on this transfer station.

Sincerely,



Bonnie A. Reemsnyder
First Selectwoman

CC:     Selectmen
Health Dept.
WPCA
Finance Director