A smiling George James (right) accepts the Citizen of the Year award from Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold (at the podium), while Dave McCulloch (center) looks on with approval.

Despite a light snow falling, more than 100 people came out for Old Lyme’s Annual Town Meeting Monday night held in the middle school auditorium.  The start of the meeting was slightly delayed while town officials searched unsuccessfully backstage for a microphone to use at the podium, and the audience request, “Louder, please”, was heard several times throughout the evening as speakers tried to overcome the handicap.

New Board of Finance Chairman Andy Russell introduced the July 2005-June 2006 town annual report, praising Tax Collector Judith Tooker for her 98.6% collection rate.  He also emphasized the proactive funding of ongoing projects such as the $1.3 million landfill closure and the $300,000 purchase of a new hose tender for the fire department, projects funded over several years through annual budgeting.

Then, in what he called “the most enjoyable part of the meeting”, First Selectman Tim Griswold announced George James as the Citizen of the Year.  He said James has given "extensive and lengthy service as a volunteer," including membership of both the Open Space Committee and the Conservation Commission.  Building and preserving trails in the town’s Open Space has become a passion for James, and Griswold noted, "Part of his day, everyday, is spent doing something for the Town."

In accepting the award, which he called “this great honor,” James spoke very briefly, telling the audience that he kept “office hours in Champlain North on Sundays and Champlain South on Mondays – see you there.”

Attorney Jack Collins introduces the motion to approve the Old Lyme Code of Ethics.   The motion was subsequently postponed.

The proposed Code of Ethics, introduced by Ethics Committee member Jack Collins,  met with criticism from several audience members, most notably Milton Allen (below, left), who objected to the appointment of commission members by town selectmen, and the lack of a “clear complete articulation of a standard of conduct” for town officials.  There are lots of “don’ts”, he said, but not very many “do’s”. 

Allen asked for a show of hands from those who had read the code; less than a quarter of the audience raised their hands.  Though Griswold and Selectman Bonnie Reemsnyder both described the Code as a good starting point that could be amended after enactment, residents voted to postpone adopting the Code pending further discussion and possible revision.

The audience was unanimous in its approval of the so-called “free split” for affordable housing, introduced by Les Reynolds (right), which would allow property owners a tax-free way to section off a parcel for affordable housing.  Chris Oliveira gave his support to the motion, saying, “Absolutely anything we can do to make housing more affordable would be much appreciated.”

Approval was also given to a new Stormwater Management Ordinance introduced by Steve Ross (left) that will better enable the town to police illegal water run-off and discharge issues.  The ordinance provides for the appointment of an enforcement officer who can order compliance from owners in violation of town guidelines, and who will have the power to impose fines in order to recover administrative and remediation costs.

The meeting concluded with a presentation and discussion of the Town Hall Renovation Project, scheduled to go to referendum Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cross Lane Firehouse.  There was no disagreement voiced that the current town hall building fails to meet public safety codes, ADA requirements, proper archive storage, public meeting needs or employee work space requirements, but several summer residents objected to the timing of the referendum. 

Dennis Melluzzo, former President of the Federation of Beaches and current President of the Sound View Beach Association, said, “I’m in favor of fixing the town hall.  I’m not in favor of voting on it when one third of the property owners aren’t in town.” 

At both a town forum held last July and the September Federation of Beaches meeting, Griswold had laid out the steps required to implement the renovation project, including a town referendum to take place in early 2007 in order to start construction in the spring of 2007.  Because of stringent state guidelines governing town borrowing practices, the start of construction must follow closely on the approval of the project at referendum. 

“We did as well as we could to inform people,” Griswold replied to the criticism Monday night.  “Construction projects usually start in the spring.”