Skip Navigation
This table is used for column layout.
Board of Selectmen Minutes 01/22/2019
TOWN OF OLD LYME
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Minutes


The Board of Selectmen held a Regular Meeting at 4:00 pm on January 22, 2019 in the Meeting Hall of the Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall. First Selectman Bonnie Reemsnyder, Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal and Selectman Chris Kerr were present.

  • Approval of Minutes:
7 January 2019 -Budget Review Meeting Minutes
A motion was made by Selectwoman Nosal, seconded by Selectman Kerr, to approve the January 7, 2019 Budget Review meeting minutes. Motion passed.
7 January 2019 -Regular Meeting Minutes
A motion was made by Selectman Kerr, seconded by Selectwoman Nosal, to approve the January 7, 2019 Regular meeting minutes. Motion passed.
  • Communication:  None
  • Appointments: None
4.   Old Business:
  • Hains Park Bathrooms Committee
First Selectman Reemsnyder reported the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met on Jan. 15th and approved the waiver to change the location of the bathroom. The new bathroom will face the lake and will improve the use, safety and security. She thanked Phil Parcak for attending the meeting to explain the request and the ZBA for approving the waiver. They will begin to reach out for a request for proposal for designing the bathrooms. The BOS also discussed the distance the new building will be from the basket ball court and the possibility of having the electrical put underground.

  • PGN Library Project – update
First Selectman Reemsnyder reported she had sent the corrections to the MOU requested by the library board to the selectmen for their review. The changes requested were minor and mostly clarification of the understanding of the funding timing. The BOS discussed they will use approx. $1.2 million of Town funds to get the project to 50%,  and then the library can begin using state grant funds.
A motion was made by Selectwoman Nosal, seconded by Selectman Kerr, to approve the MOU as amended on January 18, 2019. Motion passed.

  • Community Connectivity Grant Committee Update
First Selectman Reemsnyder reported she has received the commitment to fund letter dated Jan. 14th and she needs to reply to this within 30 days and she will go ahead and accept.  She also added that the funds for the design are already in the budget and she would like to see them begin to put the committee together to have it ready for the end of February. She is waiting for the Chair of the Sound View Committee to get back to her on potential members and she has already received one application.

  • Bid Policy review
First Selectman Reemsnyder reported she sent the selectmen a copy of the bid policy with the two changes discussed at the last meeting. She also added the Finance Director approved the suggested changes. The changes include the addition of item g. Contract renewals and changing Major Project Contracts to 4 years instead of 3 years.
A motion was made by Selectman Kerr, seconded by Selectwoman Nosal, to approve the Bid Policy as amended. Motion passed.
  • Request for bus from Estuary Transit – Discussion
First Selectman Reemsnyder reminded the selectmen of the presentation and discussion at their last meeting. She reported she has since met with John Forbis and he brought her a list of items that would be helpful with their decision along with a spread sheet outlining the costs associated with operating the bus. If they decide to get a bus, they will need to submit a letter of request by the end of February. She has reached out to the insurance company to get an estimate on the cost. During her conversation with them, they discussed insuring outside organizations and the liability involved. She is hoping to have something in writing for their review and further discussion at the next meeting. The BOS went onto discuss drivers including training and DOT requirements, maintenance, how to determine outside organizations use and liability. She asked the selectmen to let her know if they had any other questions before the next meeting.
  • Annual Town Meeting Reminder – 7:30 PM on Jan. 28th at LOL Middle School
First Selectman Reemsnyder reminded the BOS the Annual Town meeting will be held on Jan. 28th at 7:30 PM in the LOL Middle School Auditorium and reviewed the CALL for the meeting.
  • Acceptance of Annual Town Report FY 2018
  • Citizen of the Year
  • Appropriation for $46K for Technology Upgrades
  • Adopt resolution to authorize town to bond/borrow $1.25 million for the PGN Library Project
  • Board of Assessment Appeals special election
A motion was made by Selectwoman Nosal, seconded by Selectman Kerr, to add item g. Budget Review Discussion to the agenda.  Motion passed.
  • Budget Review Discussion
First Selectman Reemsnyder thanked Nicole for the excellent summary of the budget. The BOS discussed some of the areas in the operating budget that had increases/decreases, including legal, the Building Dept., the Health Dept., Health Insurance, Pensions, Social Security, staff raises, WPCA, EDC, Maintenance, the Senior Center, Municipal refuse collection (MIRA Increases), the Police Dept. and projections for revenue. The BOS discussed the reasons for the increases and decreases at length and believe there are areas that can be further decreased and noted that there will be further adjustments made to some of the departments before the budget is finalized.
The BOS agreed they will discuss the capital budget review at their next meeting on Monday night.

5.   New Business:
  • New Legislation on Tax Payment Deferrals for Federal Workers
First Selectman Reemsnyder reported she had sent the selectmen and the BOF Chair an email she received regarding legislation allowing tax deferrals for federal employees impacted by the government shutdown. The BOS discussed this and agree they are in support of this but would like to see the final legislation as approved and its conditions and details before approving anything. They will discuss this further for approval at their meeting on Monday.

  • Sustainable CT 2019 Team
First Selectman Reemsnyder gave an update and highlighted some of the accomplishments they have made over the last year. She has had some new interest and has several applications from community members who would like to join the

team. The applications include: Maureen Plumleigh, George Clough, Linda Clough, Patsy McCook, Charlotte Lyman, Sid Whelan, Cynthia Willauer, Caroline Delehanty, along with Joe Camean and George James who are interested in continuing to work on the team.
A motion was made by Selectwoman Nosal, seconded by Selectman Kerr, to appoint; Maureen Plumleigh, George Clough, Linda Clough, Patsy McCook, Charlotte Lyman, Sid Whelan, Cynthia Willauer, Caroline Delehanty to the Sustainable CT Team. Joe Camean and George James remain as members.  Motion passed.

6.   Public Comment:
Bill Dunbar introduced the members of the Open Space Commission and reviewed the priorities of adding properties to the open space. He gave an overview of the opportunities the open space provides the residents of Old Lyme, including access to tidal water for kayakers, boaters, fishing, hiking trails and the protection of wetlands, waterways, wild life and remaining farmland. He also reviewed the acquisition and easement checklist. The Selectmen thanked him for the information.

7.   Other Business: None

8.   Executive Session: To consider the purchase, sale or lease of real property, where holding the discussions in public would likely increase the consideration in the transaction.
A motion was made by Selectwoman Nosal, seconded by Selectman Kerr, to go into executive session to discuss the purchase, sale or lease of real property, where holding the discussions in public would likely increase the consideration in the transaction. First Selectman Reemsnyder invited Co-chairs Amanda Blair and Bill Dunbar, as well as members of Open Space Commission Peter Cable, Evan Griswold, Gary Gregory and Greg Futoma into the executive session at 5:35 PM. Motion passed.
The Selectmen came out of executive session at 6:33 pm.

9.   Adjournment:
A motion was made by Selectwoman Nosal, seconded by Selectman Kerr, to adjourn at 6:34 pm. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Patti Broedlin