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EAST LYME BOARD OF SELECTMEN Scrolling down or clicking the bookmarks will take you to the minutes for meetings held in August. |
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EAST LYME BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES
PRESENT: Paul Formica, Robert Kleinhans, Pam Rowe, Jack Hogan.
EXCUSED: Rose Ann Hardy, Rob Wilson.
Mr. Formica called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and asked Explorer Eric Quinn to lead the Pledge.
1b. Additional Agenda and Consent Calendar Items There were none.
1c. Delegations Bob Gadbois of 358 Boston Post Road said that he went to the recent Planning meeting and the Chair closed the public hearing and then said that the town would give more information at the next meeting. He said if the public hearing is closed, no one should be able to give more information.
1d. Approval of Minutes, Public Hearing of 7/16/08 MOTION (1) Ms. Rowe moved to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing of July 16, 2008 as submitted.
Seconded by Mr. Hogan.
Aye: Mr. Formica, Ms. Rowe, Mr. Hogan. Nay: None. Abstain: Mr. Kleinhans. Motion passed 3-0-1.
Approval of Minutes, Regular Meeting of 7/16/08 Mr. Hogan noted on page 5., paragraph 2e1. Should read Appointment to Board of Selectmen and right above the words Motion (10) a title paragraph 2e2. be added that reads, Appointment of Deputy First Selectman and on page 6, third paragraph, second line, remove “s” from the word other.
MOTION (2) Ms. Rowe moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 16, 2008 as amended.
Seconded by Mr. Hogan. Aye: Mr. Formica, Ms. Rowe, Mr. Hogan. Nay: None. Abstain: Mr. Kleinhans. Motion passed 3-0-1.
Approval of Minutes, Public Hearing of 7/21/08 MOTION (3) Ms. Rowe moved to approve the minutes of the Public Hearing of July 21, 2008 as submitted.
Seconded by Mr. Hogan. Aye: Mr. Formica, Ms. Rowe, Mr. Hogan. Nay: None. Abstain: Mr. Kleinhans. Motion passed 3-0-1.
1e. Consent Calendar MOTION (4) Mr. Hogan moved to approve the Consent Calendar in the amount of $380.94 for the meeting of August 6, 2008.
Seconded by Mr. Kleinhans. Motion passed 4-0.
Presentation – Police Explorers – Mark Hallbauer Mr. Formica stated that he visited the Explorer Academy last week where Officer Mark Hallbauer serves as Assistant Director. He introduced Officer Hallbauer and Explorer Eric Quinn.
Officer Hallbauer said that Eric is the highest ranked Explorer and is in charge of 13 other kids. He added that the Academy is one week per year and he will be the Director for the next two years. The Explorers helped out at Celebrate East Lyme and the Triathlon and noted that he receives a lot of support from Sgt. Blanchette.
Mr. Formica read a proclamation to Officer Hallbauer (identified as Attachment A) and congratulated him for all the hard work and for being such a great example for the community.
2a. Status Update Discussion – Niantic Bay ½ Marathon (9/21/08) Mr. Formica noted that since Mr. Bysiewicz was not present yet, they would continue on with other items from the agenda.
2b. Budget Transfers Finance Director Anna Johnson commented that these transfers were necessary for various reasons; departments might need more funding than originally budgeted and if funding was available, transfers could be made from within the department and these are the transfers you are asked to ratify. There are other transfers where there is not sufficient money in the line item, such as Public Safety – Legal Fees. This can happen due to unforeseen circumstances. Money is transferred from other departments to cover the expense.
MOTION (5) Mr. Hogan moved to approve various transfers to several departments in the amount of $52,479.54 from several departments with remaining appropriations for fiscal year ended June 30, 2008 for which summary information is noted and supporting documentation is attached to this request and forward to the Board of Finance for their approval.
Seconded by Ms. Rowe. Motion passed 4-0.
MOTION (6) Mr. Hogan moved to ratify departmental transfers in the amount of $58,079.58 processed for fiscal year end June 30, 2008 and to forward to the Board of Finance for approval.
Seconded by Ms. Rowe. Motion passed 4-0.
MOTION (7) Mr. Hogan moved to approve a transfer in the amount of $4,417 as listed and forward to the Board of Finance for their approval:
Seconded by Ms. Rowe. Motion passed 4-0.
2c. Re-appointment – Phyllis Wienski – Ledge Light Board of Directors MOTION (8) Mr. Kleinhans moved to reappoint Phyllis Wienski of 1 Bittersweet Lane, Niantic, CT 06357 to serve on the Board of Directors for Ledge Light Health District through June 1, 2009.
Seconded by Mr. Hogan. Motion passed 4-0.
2d. Resolution – Historic Documents Preservation Grant – Town Clerk MOTION (9) Mr. Kleinhans moved the following resolution: Resolved, that Paul M. Formica, First Selectman of the Town of East Lyme is empowered to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of this municipality a contract with the CT State Library for an Historic Documents Preservation Grant.
Seconded by Ms. Rowe. Motion passed 4-0.
Ms. Rowe commented that this is a wonderful grant and she added that she hoped others could receive it in the future.
Mr. Formica noted that Ms. Hardy was away this evening and that Mr. Wilson was stuck in the airport waiting for his daughter.
5a. Ex-Officio Ms. Rowe noted that she had attended the July 21, 2008 Board of Education meeting and there was discussion about the Flanders playground. Initially, they hoped that they could dispose and replace but the cost is too high, so that item is tabled until the next meeting. She added that they renewed the contract with Chartwells, the food service company and they will be bringing in more organic food. She said the “point of sale” enables parents to add money to an account and to go on line and monitor what their child is spending the money on. She added that this was a great tool for parents. She said that Laura Greenstein was appointed to fill the vacancy created by Judy Engel’s resignation from the Board. She noted that Youth Services would not be meeting until August 19th. She said that she had been requested to take over the non-union management committee, which is studying COLA’s, 401k’s and benefits and she would be meeting with Ms. Hardy soon.
Mr. Hogan said that he attended the Charter Revision meeting where they were discussing Chapter 8 of the Charter, which is mostly historical information, and they questioned if it was needed anymore. A suggestion was made to simplify the date for Town elections and a request to change the 14-day filing period for minutes to 7 days, which is reflected in the State Statutes. They removed the topic about a municipal employee serving on a Commission since State Statute allows this. The next question they will be looking at is whether the town audit should be put out to bid every three years. He said there would be no meetings in August, but they will meet on September 15th and again on September 29th. He added they were working on a list of questions for the Town Attorney. The Planning Commission meeting had a public hearing on one proposed amendment to the regulations. He added that the decision was tabled until they received more information from Bill Mulholland. He added that there was some confusion at the end of the meeting as to what was going into the minutes regarding what information was asked of the Planning Department and Bill Mulholland. He said that the scenic road discussion was moving forward and they hoped to have a proposed ordinance to the Selectmen by October.
Mr. Kleinhans stated that he attended the Inland Wetlands meeting on August 4th where they held a public hearing on Darrows Ridge Road and this topic was continued to the September meeting at the request of the applicant. He said there was discussion about pool water discharge and its effect on the environment and ways of neutralizing chlorine before it impacts the environment.
2a. Status Update Discussion – Niantic Bay ½ Marathon (9/21/08) John Bysiewicz was present and noted that the race is centered around Rocky Neck State Park and Giants Neck. He said that the ½ marathon goes through Giants Neck twice, but that the 5K race never leaves Rocky Neck. He said that Giants Neck Road would be closed for an hour and then there would be alternating traffic. He noted that they would not be closing the Rocky Neck highway exit this year. He said that last year there were 1000 participants and that the race is a non-profit event and funding will benefit the Children’s Museum, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts and the Leo’s Club to mention a few organizations.
Mr. Hogan said that he is in favor of the race and that his son will probably run in the ½ marathon and his grandkids will participate in the 5K race. He added that he lives in Giants Neck and many of his neighbors are concerned about the road closing and have numerous questions about emergency services. He said that if the road is closed at all, an ambulance would not be able to get through and time could be of the essence.
Mr. Bysiewicz stated that they utilize signage and he passes out flyers regarding the road closure and said that there is an ambulance outside the course along with medics and that L&M has a medical tent.
Mr. Formica suggested placing an emergency vehicle in the parking lot before the railroad tracks.
Mr. Bysiewicz stated he would arrange that and noted he would talk to the fire chiefs.
Mr. Hogan suggested that the location of the emergency vehicle be advertised and agreed this would help solve the complaints many of the residents had about the road closure.
5b. First Selectman’s Report Mr. Formica said that union negotiations were continuing with two unions and he expected good results in the near future. He has been asked to submit a name to the nominating committee for Liberty Bank’s Diversity Award and noted he was looking for suggestions. He met with The Day reporter Mike Naughton and they drove around town to further introduce him to the community. He said there has been movement on the water regional picture since our public hearing where we initiated mandatory water restrictions. He said the community has really stepped up and the rains have helped. He said that the wells have been in operation almost every day for the last three weeks. He noted that he had written an article and sent it to The Day on July 31st about the water situation and what we are doing to make sure that this does not happen again next year at this time, He said that it was still not published, but people could read it by going to the town’s website.
He said he attended the 100th anniversary of the St. Francis Chapel and that he has introduced a new health care proposal to the union employees. He met with the Council of Beaches and asked for their cooperation on water restrictions. He attended the Zoning meeting on Gateway where their plan was approved as a master plan and will now move forward. He added that it lines up the finish of Phase 1 construction in 2011, and this will generate tax revenue for the town. He toured Millstone and was amazed at the security and how clean it was and added it was a very well run system. He noted that Dominion had donated $10,000 for the fireworks at Celebrate East Lyme. He said that this event was very successful and approximately 20,000 to 25,000 were in attendance. He thanked Heather Calkins and Amy Leigh who coordinated the event. He also thanked the town employees who helped out, Chuck Holyfield, Dave Putnam, Dick Morris and departmental employees, adding that they had all done a great job. He said that he attended a 911 radio upgrade meeting and hoped that this project would be completed by early fall. He had a meeting with Waterford personnel on the joint Animal Control Officer and had a tour of the Waterford Dog Pound. He commented that he was also reviewing the potential of sharing boat duties for the Niantic River with Waterford. He added he is currently meeting with multiple consultants on energy conservation programs and what we can do to lower our energy use and costs. He said that the following would be members to work on the Fuel and Energy Taskforce: Brian Schook, Jim Smith, Norm LaFleur, Bob Bulmer, Scott Schultz, Barbara Johnston and Luann Dinihanian from Yankee Gas has volunteered to serve as an Ex-officio member. He said he was the starter at the Niantic Bay Triathlon with 375 competitors and he is in the process of interviewing prospective Town Planners. He added that four of the six have been interviewed already and he expected to have a recommendation by the end of the month.
6a. Mike Shultz of Lovers Lane said that the sidewalk improvements look great along Flanders Road and he said he has a problem with people using water from their well when we are under mandatory water restrictions noting that the water all comes from the same place. He added that all contracts that the people pay for should be indexed and copies kept in the Town Hall. He added that if an employee that gets insurance from the town decides to be covered by the spouse’s insurance, they get paid a waiver. He stressed that this has to be stopped. If they elect to not take the insurance that’s their choice but no payment should be made to them. He suggested that the employee pay for 50% of the insurance and the Town pay the other half.
Mr. Hogan noted he would talk to the Planning Chair to make sure public hearings are kept open until all the information is received. He suggested that the Right to Farm be added to the next agenda so that Ms. Hardy could offer her report.
MOTION (10) Ms. Rowe moved to adjourn the August 6th meeting of the East Lyme Board of Selectmen at 8:32 p.m.
Seconded by Mr. Kleinhans. Motion passed 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Darlene C. Stevens, Recording Secretary
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