At tonight’s Special Town Meeting, residents will vote on whether to approve $877,000 for the construction cost of State Project #104-172: Rte. 156 Bikeway/Sound View Improvements Project. The board of selectmen anticipates the actual project cost may be as low as $812,000.

A federal grant being administered by the State Department of Transportation will cover 80 percent of the project construction costs, approximately $649,600 to $701,600. Although the Town will be responsible for only 20 percent of the final cost (between $162,400 and $175,400, approximately), the board of selectmen is required to approve the total project cost at Town Meeting. (Visit this link for more information from the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen on the proposal.)

We have received statements from, respectively, a supporter of the proposal, Sound View Commission Chairman Frank Pappalardo, and an opponent, Frank Maratta, owner of ‘The Pavilion’ restaurant and bar at Sound View.

In the interests of disseminating information to the public to facilitate an informed vote, we are publishing both unedited.

THE CASE FOR

By Frank Pappalardo

The project has been in the planning stages since 2011 and addresses much needed improvements including:

• Deteriorating sidewalks
• Inadequate sidewalks for public safety
• Lack of handicapped accessibility
• Inadequate Storm Water Drainage
• Lack of bicycle facilities
• Pedestrian amenities
• Parking

The Town applied for and received a Federal Intermodal Transportation Grant and will receive 80% funding.

2014 Town meeting voted to approve Phase 1 Plan and Design Funding

Planning included:

• 56 public committee meetings; 3 site walks; 6 Public information meetings
• 1 Town Meeting
• Numerous plan reviews with revisions included
• Numerous Presentations to Board/Commissions including  Sound View Commission; Planning; Zoning; Inland Wetlands; Tree Commission
• Approval from town officials:  ZEO, Fire Marshal, Fire Chief, Public Safety, Board of Selectmen, etc.
• Received support from business property owners, developers and the community

Parking analysis

• Current public parking: 353 Total open to the public
• Project completion: 331 Total open to the public
• Net change:  22 parking spaces

Cost analysis:

Construction estimate, Inspections, Municipal Services, testing, contingency:  not to exceed    $877,000

Reimbursement from the grant           (80%)                                                                                      ($701,600)

TOTAL COST TO TOWN:                                                                             not to exceed              $175,400

What happens if the construction is NOT approved?

• Town will have to pay costs for new ADA and safer sidewalks estimated  – $450,000 to $500,000
• Town will have to pay costs for Storm water drainage modifications and correction.
• And most critical the town is required to  reimburse DOT for all received Plan/Design Costs – approx. $108,000

This project is a great value for our town, providing much-needed improvements, better amenities and initiative for progress.

The Sound View area has come a long way in the past 10 years. Please vote to support this important project to keep things moving in the right direction.

This is it!  Every vote matters! Let’s get it done!

THE CASE AGAINST

By Frank Marrata

Hartford Avenue, Soundview’s “Main Street”, has a very interesting history.  What was once a bustling street full of businesses has fallen into disrepair and blight.  Our town government continues to contribute to this downward spiral.  Our representatives think that a $900,000 taxpayer bailout will solve the problems.  This is why this proposed burden to the taxpayers should be voted down:

The Old Lyme Board of Selectmen have announced that a Special  Town Meeting will be held on Monday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School auditorium to consider and act upon the following  three items:

Agenda Item #1

To authorize approval for the construction cost of State Project #104-172: Rte. 156 Bikeway/Sound View Improvements Project in the amount of $877,000, as recommended by the boards of selectmen and finance.  The board of selectmen anticipates the actual project cost may be as low as $812,000.

A federal grant being administered by the State Department of Transportation will cover 80 percent of the project construction costs, approximately $649,600 to $701,600. Although the Town will be responsible for only 20 percent of the final cost (between $162,400 and $175,400, approximately), the board of selectmen is required to approve the total project cost at Town Meeting.

The Rte. 156 Bikeway/Sound View Improvements project will construct a Bikeway along Hartford Ave.  When project estimates came in higher than anticipated, the Committee decided to undertake the project in phases, with the first phase being the Bikeway, using transportation funding available through the DOT Grant. Later phases will address a new greenway and restroom facilities.

Click to read a related article, “The Case For and The Case Against” the Sound View Proposal.

Agenda Item #2

To authorize the acceptance of Queen Anne Court as a Town road with the condition that all cracks in the road be repaired to the satisfaction of the Town prior to the deed being filed.

Agenda Item #3

To appropriate an amount not to exceed $60,000 to cover excess costs of the Resident Trooper Department, including annual cost, DWI overtime and other overtime cost. The $60,000 would be transferred from the already approved municipal police budget, and is not a new allocation.