Sound View Commission
Meeting Minutes — Unapproved
26th April, 2016
7.30 pm
Shoreline Community Center
Present: Frank Pappalardo (Chair), Michaelle Pearson, Harry Plaut, Sandra Ziemba (alternate), Frank Maratta (Alternate),
Also Present: First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, Selectman Skip Sibley, Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal
Absent: Joann Reis Lishing, David Kelsey,
7.30pm Meeting called to order
Sandra Ziemba seated for Joann Lishing. Frank Maratta seated for David Kelsey.
7.34pm Approval of March minutes. Sandra Ziemba motioned to approve. Harry Plaut seconded. All in favor. Minutes Approved.
7.35pm Correspondence: Moved down agenda under Business section.
7.38 pm Sugar Shack Parking Request Update
Hearing continued to May 9th because Zoning has requested further info from the owner and applicant. This will be the last public hearing.
7.40 pm: Sound View Bikeway Approvals Grant Process:
Public informational meeting took place as planned for April 25th at 7.30 pm. at Sound View Beach Community Center. Initial phase was approved at approximately $140,000. Spent $135,000, of which town has received 80% reimbursement from DOT. Going out to bid, then final town meeting vote for apprival in early July, with groundbreaking set for just after Labor Day. If it passes, town receives 80% funding. The total to the town for the construction will be approximately $150,000, for which the town will receive approximately $750,000 worth of improvements. If the vote fails, town has to pay back the funding already received for phase one (aprox. $115,000). Harry Plaut asked if
there would be a Clerk of the Works. Frank Pappalardo explained that under the terms of the grant, there must be a construction inspector (required by DOT) who will be on site every day to confirm that the as-built is correct and proper materials are used. Clerk of the Works will be town personnel.
The ornamental street lamps have been removed from this project because the Town is involved in a LED program for the entire town so the ornamental lighting will be part of that.
Frank Maratta asked about replacing the 22 parking spaces which will be lost under the plan.
Sandra Ziemba said she found it disturbing that we are arguing over these 22 spaces. As a private parking lot owner she has experienced losses at her lot the past few seasons, and has excess parking capacity going unused, even on weekends. She stated that she has plenty of parking and other private lot owners feel the same way, and the town doesn’t need any more.
Harry Plaut said there has been a changed perception about people from the outside wanting to come here. People aren’t coming here anymore. Sandra Ziemba said she didn’t think that was the issue, and you can’t make an Atlantic City out of a small town little beach. Frank Pappalardo said if we have private parking lots with extra capacity, then 20 spaces won’t make a difference. He said he’d bring up both Mr. Maratta’s and Ms. Ziemba’s points at next SVIC meeting.
8.15 pm Proposed SVVD Zoning Subcommittee:
Old Lyme’s ZEO, Keith Rosenfeld, proposed that the SVC form a subcommittee to take a look at the zoning in the SVDD and make suggestions re any possible changes that might help owners develop their property. This was in response to communications from Hartford Avenue property owners Frank Noe and Bill Randazzo who have expressed their concerns conforming to SVDD regulations and the new FEMA requirements. Frank Pappalardo contacted Jane Cable and asked if Zoning would be supportive of such an effort. She responded that she thought it was a good idea, so Mr. Pappalardo drafted a charge for the subcommittee, which will consist of
Mark Reeves, Sandy Ziemba, Michaelle Pearson, Frank Maratta, and Lori Carlson.
First meeting will be May 5th. Selection of chair and secretary.
8.25pm Sound View Summer 2015 Assessment Review Letter to Board of Selectmen.
Frank Pappalardo had another meeting with Resident State Trooper Gary Inglis to discuss monitoring access to the beach. There will be entry at Miami, Hartford and Swan.
Still working out enforcement on the sand.
8.28pm Osprey Festival:
Chamber of Commerce’s Osprey Festival will take place June 18th on Hartford Avenue. Mark Griswold is the President of the Chamber and the festival contact. Logistics committee meetings will take place soon.
8.35pm Events subcommittee: Sandy Ziemba said contracts are going out this week. Concert dates so far are:
6/30 Old Lyme Town Band
7/14 Disco Night with Fever band
7/28 102nd US Army Rock Band
8/11 Red Satin
8/25 Four Barrel Billy
Frank Pappalardo contacted Brian Cole at Quality Printing re calendars, posters, flyers. Will email them to everyone soon. Still looking at Bocce instructor and Tournament day. Michaelle will send the bocce contact info to Frank.
8.40pm Summer 2016 Swim Lines- New Materials Purchase and Installation:
Harry Plaut said he met with the First Selectwoman to discuss the need for new, heavier material for the swim lines, and had submitted pricing. There is a timing factor because season starts Memorial Day weekend and the swim lines are allocated for the budget which begins July 1st. Mr. Plaut has spaced new anchors (200 lb vs. former 100lb), and thicker (1/2 inch diameter) swim lines. (Had been 1/4 inch.) It is hoped that the new heavier material will alleviate the situation of the swim lines being cut, unmoored and/ or drifting.
Frank Pappalardo noted that there is still money in the SVC budget for two buoys demarcating the boat lane as “restricted”, and we need to discuss what the labeling should be. Harry will determine this as Harbormaster, and report back ASAP so everything can be done by Memorial Day weekend.
8.55pm Portolets:
Sandy Ziemba asked Mr. Signori to place the Portolets ASAP. During the Osprey festival would like to have some portolets moved to the other end of the festival for the day. Harry Plaut suggested perhaps adding a few extra portolets just for the festival day. Sandy Ziemba will get a quote and report back.
8.58pm Trash Cans:
Need better, seagull-proof lids. David Kelsey selected and ordered lid samples. He also determined color and correct paint for painting the cans.
Parking fee correspondence: SVC wrote to the Selectmen that we had no objection to the selectmen changing parking times to 9am-7pm.
9.00pm SVBA DEEP/ WPCA Update:
State DEEP has allowed the town to sever Hawk’s Nest Beach from Sound View temporarily to determine whether sewers are required in Hawk’s Nest. Town will move forward with sewers for Sound View. After Hawk’s Nest testing is done, they may also be using the Sound View sewer line.
The WPCAs of privately-chartered beach associations Old Colony, Old Lyme Shores and Miami Beach have asked First Selectwoman Reemsnyder to place the pump station for their proposed sewer systems in the Sound View Parking Lot. Alternative sites are the Miami Beach Parking Lot or a privately-owned lot on Pond Road.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder, Sound View Commission Chair Frank Pappalardo , Old Colony WPCA Chair and Miami Beach WPCA Chair Scott Boulanger discussed the following concept: To put together a partnership that would lease from the town a portion of the Sound View Parking Lot for placement of a sewerage pump station in the Sound View Parking Lot. In return, the partnership would agree to build restrooms for the town in the parking lot. If and when sewers are installed in Sound View, the Old Lyme WPCA would become an equal partner in the maintenance and ownership of this pump house and attendant areas. Town would then reimburse the three beach associations for a proportionate share of the restroom facility. At such time as Hawk’s Nest connects, they would also hook into that pump station. They would then have to
pay their proportionate share, plus interest.
Frank Maratta asked if the pump station would also include a generator, and questioned the feasibility of having a generator in a flood zone. Frank Pappalardo said the pump station is underground, and there is also a 20x20 above-ground poured concrete pad. There is also a generator above ground, on stilts, but we have designed a restroom facility that is already flood-proof so the generator could likely be inside. If restrooms are to be built, there must be a guarantee that construction will match the SVIC’s original specs, and will be flood-proof and aesthetically pleasing as specified for the original Sound View Park Project. This must be agreed upon in advance, costs put forward, and money set aside by the private associations to ensure compliance to the original design standards specified in the park
project documents. The cost of the bathrooms is a 99-year lease. This is just a preliminary discussion.
Frank Pappalardo said the town has to be involved when maintenance takes place, such as generator testing, etc., if there’s an emergency. There must be assurances re noise and odor and the private beach partnership must provide public informational meetings. Mr. Pappalardo will send a summary of the proposal to be posted as Appendix A to these minutes.
Rich Pendergast the Chair of Old Lyme WPCA is reviewing this as well. We need to make sure whatever goes in at the end of this street we approve of.
9.20pm Proposal from Lenny Corto, Jr. (Lenny’s on the Beach) and Gene Chmeil (Black Hall Outfitters) to Allow Paddleboard and Kayak rentals at Sound View for use within the swim lines.
Frank Pappalardo received this proposal and asked Don Bugbee what the town policy overall was to allowing kayaks or paddle boards in swim areas. Mr. Bugbee said that at both White Sands and Hains Park there are no swim floats, rafts, etc. allowed. Lenny Corto said that Lenny’s on the Beach might apply for a private boat lane. Frank Pappalardo reminded Mr. Corto that as he is not the owner of the “Lenny’s” property, he does have standing to apply for a permit. It would have to come from the landlord, Frank Noe. Harry Plaut (who is the Harbormaster) said such an
application would be denied anyway. It’s not possible. The permit for the swim area is held by the town, and they will not approve it. Nor would the DEEP. Kayaks and paddleboards are considered “watercraft” and are not allowed inside the swim area, which is reserved strictly for swimming and bathing.
Frank Maratta asked if we knew for a fact that there can’t be kayaks in the swim area. Frank Pappalardo said he had confirmed with Don Bugbee. Harry Plaut agreed and stated that he would call Michael Peyton at DEEP and get confirmation, but that as Harbormaster he knows that kayaks, paddleboards and other watercraft are not permitted inside the swim area.
Michaelle Pearson reminded the commission that there had been a safety issue with kayaks coming into the swim area last year after the swim lines had been breached and the town moved very quickly to address this issue, fixing the swim lines to keep watercraft out of the swim area, so obviously they are not allowed.
Frank Pappalardo agreed, saying that’s what Don Bugbee said as well: it’s a swimming and bathing area, period. Harry Plaut said that watercraft are not allowed inside the swim area. The permit absolutely does not allow it, because it creates a serious safety issue for swimmers and bathers.
Other Business:
none
9.40pm Public Comment:
Lenny Corto, Jr.: Said he had applied for placement of tables and chairs at Sound View Market, and to reconfigure business parking to be closer to the business there. He asked if the parking spaces would be made available before Memorial Day weekend. Frank Pappalardo said yes, the reconfiguration of those parking spaces are on his list of items for Public Works. Mr. Corto, Jr. also expressed his opinion that the new garbage can lids aren’t going to work, and that larger cans are needed. Sandy Ziemba asked if the cans were emptied every day. Frank Pappalardo confirmed that they were, and also stated that there are many more cans now, and the old ones are also still in service at the parking lot.
Harry Plaut said that the Harbor Management Commission has been made aware that there will be a drone used on the beaches this summer, monitoring things on the water.
Frank Lishing asked about the flowers at the end of Swan and Hartford Aves.
Sandy Ziemba has been planting perennials for a few years. She suggested that the soil be amended, and plant food purchased due to the salt-air conditions. Frank Pappalardo said there was money in our budget for this from last year.
9.47pm Motion to adjourn: Sandra Ziemba, seconded by Michaelle Pearson
Meeting adjourned.
NOTICE: Messages to or from the Town of Old Lyme domain are subject to the Freedom of Information statutes and regulations.
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