May 27, 2011
The Town Meeting was called to order at 8:00 PM by Ralph Eno, First Selectman. The Meeting was then organized by the selection of Rowland Ballek as Moderator. The Moderator asked Linda Winzer, Town Clerk, to read the Call to the Meeting:
“Electors and citizens qualified to vote in Town Meeting are hereby warned and notified that the Annual Budget Meeting will be held Friday, May 27, 2011 at the Lyme Consolidated School, Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT at 8:00 PM for presentation of the following agenda:
- Acknowledge receipt of the Town Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.
- Consider and act on an ordinance concerning the improper removal of snow and ice on to public highways, roads and rights of way in the Town of Lyme.
- Consider and act on estimates and recommendations of the Board of Finance for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2012.
Dated at Lyme, CT this 2nd day of May 2011.
Please remember to license your dog/dogs in the month of June.
Ralph F. Eno, First Selectman
Parker H. Lord, Selectman
Steven Mattson, Selectman”
The first order of business to come before the Meeting was to acknowledge receipt of the Town Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. Moved and seconded. Voted: Affirmative.
The second order of business to come before the Meeting was to consider and act on an ordinance concerning the improper removal of snow and ice on to public highways, roads and rights of way in the Town of Lyme.
An Ordinance Concerning Throwing Snow and Ice into Public Streets in the Town of Lyme
Whereas: it is the responsibility of the Town of Lyme to maintain its roads, streets and
highways in order to insure the safety of the general public, and
Whereas: this responsibility includes the removal of snow and ice and treatment of these
roads, streets and highways during winter months, and
Whereas: from time to time improper and irresponsible removal of snow and ice into
town roads, streets and highways by private property owners abutting town
rights of way presents significant hazards and compromises the Town of
Lyme’s responsibility to provide for the health and safety of the general public
Now therefore: be it ordained by the Town of Lyme, in Town meeting convened, that
pursuant to the provisions of Sections 7-148 © (6), (7) of the Connecticut
General Statutes, as amended, the following ordinance regulating private
Snow removal is adopted.
Section 1. For the purposed of this ordinance, the terms “road”, “street” and “highway”
shall have the same definition as set forth in Section 13a-1 of the Connecticut
General Statutes, as amended.
Section 2. No person shall throw or put, or cause to be thrown or put, any snow or ice
from a private premises into the road, street or highway in the Town of Lyme
in such a manner as to cause inconvenience or hazard to public travel.
Section 3. If there is no alternative to pushing snow into the road, street or highway,
the plow operator must plow off the windrow left across the road, street or
highway by re-plowing until the road, street or highway is safe.
Section 4. The Board of Selectmen, or its designee, shall be responsible for enforcement
of this ordinance. Any person who shall violate this ordinance shall be
deemed guilty of committing an infraction, and shall be fined FIFTY
DOLLARS ($50.00) FOR EACH VIOLATION.
Section 5. Such infraction fine shall be chargeable to the owner or occupant of the
abutting property and shall be collectable by the Town of Lyme in the same
manner that other debts to the town are collected. Such expense shall be and
continue to be a lien in favor of the town on such property or land.
This ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper circulated in the Town of Lyme.
Moved and seconded. First Selectman Eno stated that this is becoming an increasingly bothersome situation. The town crew repeatedly returns to clear the streets to clear what has been put into them after their initial plowing. People are not paying attention when asked to remedy the situation. Mr. Eno sees this as the only recourse. This ordinance is modeled after and is a compilation of ordinances from other towns. The question was asked as to whether it was homeowners of private plowing companies that are engaging in the activity. Mr. Eno stated that it was both. The question was asked as to whether the private plowing companies had been spoken to. Mr. Eno stated that they had, but the problem is growing. It is felt that the fifty dollars will get their attention. The question was asked as to whether the fine should be doubled. Mr. Eno stated that they will see how it goes this first year. The selectmen were thanked for their work on this ordinance. It was stated that the ordinance will not be retroactive. Voted: Affirmative.
The third order of business to come before the Meeting was to consider and act on estimates and recommendations of the Board of Finance for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2012. Moved and seconded. Gary Reynolds, Chairman for the Board of Finance, stated that if adopted, the mil rate would be lowered from the current 13.55 to 13.50. He also stated that Lyme is the only town in Connecticut lowering its mil rate after revaluation. A question was asked as to whether state funding was included in the proposed budget. Mr. Reynolds stated that state funding is included, but that Lyme is blessed that it does not receive much funding from the State, so it really doesn’t matter. Voted: Affirmative.
There being no further business to come before the Meeting, a motion was made and seconded to adjourn the Meeting. Voted: Affirmative. The Meeting was adjourned at 8:07 PM.
The Board of Finance met immediately after the meeting to set the new mil rate at 13.50.
Recorded by: Linda Winzer, Town Clerk
