Sound View Commission
Meeting Minutes — Unapproved
28th July, 2014
Shoreline Community Center 7.30 pm
Present: Frank Pappalardo (Chair), Michaelle Pearson (Secretary), Joann Reis Lishing, Sandra Ziemba (Alternate), Russ Carlo (Alternate) David Kelsey.
Absent: Frank Maratta (Alternate) Harry Plaut.
Also Present: First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal, Federation of Beaches President Scott Boulanger.
7.42 pm Call to Order: Meeting called to order by Chairman Frank Pappalardo.
Appoint alternate for absent Harry Plaut. Russ Carlo seated.
Approval of June Minutes: Joann Lishing moved to approve the June minutes, with spelling correction: “surveying”. Russ Carlo seconded. Motion Carried.
Business:
Sound View Park Project Update:
Surveying is underway. Encroachments were noted and monuments documented. The geotech field assessment will be 8/5/14. The walkthrough is scheduled for 8/20/14 at 5 pm. Meeting place is the Shoreline Community Center. Traffic data review initiated 8/4. Utilities still to come. Milestone date for design completion 12/19/14.
Sound View Gateway Project Update: Shore Road from Cross Lane to the Police station and Hartford Avenue North of Bocce Lane.
8.05 Proposal from BSC:
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder and Mr. Pappalardo walked the site with the engineers to address issues and possibilities. BSC was asked to study other communities for reference, e.g., Niantic. Need to determine exactly where the town and state rights of way are.
Ms. Pearson asked if the possibility of adding a crosswalk at Cross Lane was still being considered. Mr. Pappalardo said the scope of the project only reaches the east side of Cross Lane, but the Town is aware of the interest in a safe crosswalk and bike lane to Mile Creek School.
8.10 Bound for the Sound Road Race. To benefit the Lyme-Old Lyme Education Fund.
This race started several years ago, and has grown into a well-attended event. This year they have decided to expand considerably. The race will take place on Saturday 9/27/15. Michael Kane is the organizer. Frank Pappalardo received an event plan which detailed how many people are expected, how parking and vendors will be handled and permits issued. They are looking forward to providing a good family event. Police and Selectmen OK’d the traffic plan.
8.41: Events Subcommittee:
Sound View Concert Series:
The first two band events have occurred. The Funky Dawgz and Old Lyme Town Band were very well received. The sound was directed toward the beach, away from residents’ homes. The Funky Dawgz had over 250 attendees. The Town Band drew around 125, but there was also a free concert at the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library at the same time.
Sandy Ziemba followed up with the businesses: The Grille, said they didn’t have any responses yet. Lenny’s had increased volume, but not a lot of coupons used. Donuts, only about a half dozen returned. Carousel coupons were very popular. Joann Lishing said Figs & Olives would like to be a sponsor too.
New Business: Coolers: The Selectmen approved a ban on large coolers at Sound View, which limits cooler size to 5 qts/ lunchbox size. Mr. Pappalardo said that according to Public Safety, the response from the public has been generally sympathetic. Anecdotally, the response has been positive, despite some negative media coverage from Channel 3. Mr. Kelsey remarked that the policy is more liberal than that of other beaches. Mr. Pappalardo will follow up with Harry Plaut to see if it has had a positive impact on the trash issue.
8.21: Business Breakfast/Chamber of Commerce: Presentations about the bikeway and WPCA updates. Kurt Zemba discussed the issue of the state DEEP requesting considerably more work to be done for a regional option thus effectively halting the town’s proposed solution and demanding a regional alternative. Presently Old Colony Beach and Old Lyme Shores are under a consent order. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder said Sound View Beach is a top priority for the Town. This will happen together with the private beaches. Also, Hawks’ Nest Beach, where the streets are town roads. Mr. Zemba explained that the system will be built to maximum capacity, which means that the pipe/ pump stations along 156 will be built to handle waste from Lyme Street, through town to Halls Road and ultimately up to Rogers Lake. WPCA will provide a
liaison to the Sound View Commission. Of concern is that if the system is built to maximum capacity there will be more pump stations and bigger pipe, which will cost more money, yet there only three streets that will be assessed for this. The design will be flexible enough that if there is a water crisis, the flow can be reversed to possibly accommodate a local solution in the future. Many questions as to how the costs will be shared. Sandy Garvin of Garvin’s in Hawks’ Nest is interested in meeting up with this Commission and its WPCA liaison since they also have town roads.
8.32: Updates: Town meeting tomorrow re Hains Park Boathouse and the acceptance of state land near the Lieutenant River.
Other Business: Dave Roberge will meet with the Federation of Old Lyme Beaches to provide emergency management updates on 8/23 at the Community Center, 9.30 am. Old Colony Beach has a detailed emergency management plan in place, which would be a good template for other beaches to follow. Town emergency plan currently doesn’t account for the seasonal nature of many residents. Police would like to establish an emergency contact list to be able to contact residents regarding their properties even when they are not present.
Hartford Avenue Buildings: There have been MP multiple complaints and negative comments from residents and visitors regarding the dilapidated status of the former Dance Hall/ Kiddieland building. The property has deteriorated further since being purchased at auction, and is both a fire hazard and a structural hazard. Mr. Kelsey suggested that the Commission send a letter to the property owners inviting them to address these issues as a formal agenda item. The former Post Office (green building) was also mentioned. Contact with the new owners to be made by Frank
Public Comment:
Ms. Ziemba stated that there is a streetlight on Swan goes on and off at three minute intervals. Mr. Pappalardo asked her to report it to the town, and send him a copy. Russ Carlo stated that the light at Martino and Swan is also out. Mr. Pappalardo said that the town owns the lights. Procedure is to wait until there are 5 lights out.
Ms. Pearson said that swimmers had located another submerged hazard in the swim area. Seems to be a submerged mooring. Mr. Pappalardo said he would let Harry Plaut know. Mr. Pappalardo said that he had read in the Harbor Commission minutes that Mr. Plaut brought up our request for buoys marked “No tying up to swim lines”. The Harbor Commission which declined to address it stating not their jurisdiction. We will ask Mr. Plaut to get us some numbers so it can be included it in the SVC budget.
9.00pm: Russ Carlo Motion to Adjourn. Joann Lishing seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 9pm.
Next meeting will be Monday, August 25, 2014 at 7.30pm. Shoreline Community Center.
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