To the Editor:

I was all set to vote this Tuesday for the Democratic Party slate of candidates in Old Lyme, but now do not intend to vote at all. A number of the candidates belong to the national  MOMS Club, which is deeply troubling. This is an organization which promotes conservative values and encourages its members to look to say, 1957, as the ideal for the role of women and men in the American family. This, along with their embrace of religion, makes me runaway as fast as possible. Who among the leadership of the town Democratic Party approved this direction?

Sincerely,

Jonathan B. Wilder,
Old Lyme.

To the Editor:

My name is Chris Kirk and I have known Martha Shoemaker for a long time. I’ve been a close friend of her son Peter forever.  Growing up just down the road, we would go biking together around Brown’s Lane and Mile Creek, twisty roads that can be tricky but are so much fun to ride on.  Being a friend of Peter’s meant being a friend of the Shoemakers. I had the pleasure of accompanying the family on some of their outings and remember fondly the great hikes we took and fishing in those northern lakes.   I learned a lot from the Shoemakers, and I still do.

Something I learned from Martha is “to keep the ship steered straight, even in stormy weather.”   Martha didn’t use those words, but she demonstrated the principle by keeping family in the forefront no matter the circumstances.  For this I hold her in high esteem.  I also hold this town in great regard for all it has given me as I grew up here.  Whether it be a great education, beautiful beaches or low taxes, this town gives back. 

As First Selectwoman, I know that Martha will be wholly committed to the best interests of the citizens of Old Lyme. She will carefully guide us on the twisty roads ahead and assure that new generations will enjoy the riches that Old Lyme has to offer.

Recently, Old Lyme provided me the opportunity to work as a greeter in Town Hall during the pandemic.

This introduced me to the great folks who work for the town and the various semi-autonomous boards, committees, and departments that make our town run.  Aided and encouraged by Martha’s interpersonal and management skills, these folks will work together more collaboratively and effectively than ever.

I know that Martha Shoemaker would make an outstanding leader for the Town of Old Lyme, and I encourage you to vote for her on November 2.

Sincerely,

Chris Kirk,
Old Lyme.

To the Editor:

Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold has not been a good fiscal manager, often failing to follow through on a timely basis with matters affecting the town’s budget.

For example, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) approved early this year a proposal for the substantial renovation of the Grassy Hill Bridge with a state grant reimbursing 50% of the cost.  Tim failed to put that decision before the Board of Finance for funding but, instead, continued to contemplate alternative plans for the bridge.  Indeed, he did not move the project forward at all (as he said he would when he was running for election in 2019) and he failed to request that $200,000 be included in the 2021-2022 town budget to spread out the financial burden over time.

In July the town received $1,081,107 in American Rescue Plan Act funds, the first of two instalments.  Because the law gives the town two years to decide how to use the funds and two more to spend them, Tim stated at an August BOS meeting that there was no rush to move forward—and he did not.  Since March, Tim had been asked to form a committee to address this issue.  He finally formed one in September, which did not meet until October 6.

Tim has fumbled other financial matters for the town.  Rather than support using $40,000 of unspent state grant funds for the Sound View sidewalk project for additional eligible construction expenses, he proposed spending the money on non-eligible municipal expenses, meaning that the $40,000 would have to be returned to the state.  Tim did not take timely action to address the need for a new transfer station office, with the result that one is now still under construction. Tim failed as Chief of Police to monitor police overtime expenses as they ballooned over budget.  More recently it was disclosed that Tim has left the town uninsured with respect to cyber-attacks since July 1, although he has known since February that the town’s cyber coverage would non-renew on that date.

Tim has allowed a beach cleaning service, a private contractor, to use the transfer station and town employees as his bank. This contractor historically runs a debt to the town, his payment checks have bounced at times, and his job performance has been questioned. Yet, Tim did not address these concerns when raised by the Town Finance Director; rather, he provided the contractor with a new agreement without discussion with the BOS.

We need a First Selectman with contemporary knowledge, open to listening, committed to identifying and solving problems, and who always follows through.  That’s exactly what Martha Shoemaker will bring to Old Lyme.

Sincerely,

Mary O’Brien,
Old Lyme.

To the Editor:

First Selectman Tim Griswold has been running for re-election primarily on the basis of his years of experience.  In response, a number of people think that this experience has not translated into competence in office, criticizing his lack of responsiveness, carefulness, transparency, information-sharing, timeliness, and judgment.  These concerns were dramatically illustrated earlier this week.  

During a debate hosted by The Day on Monday, the First Selectman admitted that he recently submitted a Petition for Amendment of Zoning Regulations (regarding the Halls Road district) to the Old Lyme Zoning Commission without having even read the proposed regulations.  When asked about that, he replied “I sign a lot of things.”  To make matters worse, the First Selectman submitted the petition to the Zoning Commission without having first shared the proposed regulations with his Board of Selectmen, which would have given them an opportunity to comment and, if they deemed it appropriate, to hold a public meeting or to solicit further information from the Halls Road Improvements Committee.

In the same debate, Tim was asked about a town meeting in August in which an appropriation to cover police overspending was defeated for lack of information.  According to The Day, Tim “argued that many topics go to a town meeting with ‘a small amount of information.’  He said people who want to know details should ask for them at Town Hall before the meeting instead of expecting written explanations.  ‘I think when we have all these matters going on, it would be quite a burden to have total information on all these matters,’ he said.”  

This town meeting addressed four matters and lasted 31 minutes. 

These examples are typical of how poorly Tim does his job.  Old Lyme deserves better, much better.  We can rest assured that Martha Shoemaker will do better.  She is notoriously smart, thoughtful, conscientious, careful, responsible, responsive and inclusive.  We must elect her next Tuesday.

Sincerely,

Marisa Hartmann,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Democratic Town Committee.

To the Editor:

I was stopped the other day by a neighbor and friend, a Republican, who said, “I see all these Martha Shoemaker signs.  Who is she and why should I vote for her?”  I was in a rush, so I told him I’d get back to him.  This is what I said.

Tim Griswold has been around forever, and he is a nice guy.  But he’s not the right person for the job today.  Old Lyme is not in dire straits, but neither is it free from challenges.  We must get sewers installed in the beach area and finance them in a way people can afford.  We need cyber insurance.  We must attract new families to augment our aging and declining population.  Our business community is suffering, impacting local taxes and employment.  There are unsightly, blighted properties in town.  People of all races, backgrounds and incomes must be made to feel welcome.  The list goes on. 

Tim’s forte is in maintaining the status quo.  He is resistant to change.  Under his prior watch, the Economic Development Commission was dormant and he opposed the Halls Road initiative.  Tim was reluctant to support the cost of renovating the high school as new.  No attention was paid to rejuvenating Hartford Avenue.  Tim procrastinates and fails to get things done when he should.  He is accused of failing to respond to taxpayer inquiries, concerns and problems, failing to read what he signs, and failing to provide adequate information to the public.  Tim’s insistence that there is no racism in town, and that the Board of Selectmen need not even discuss the resolution on racism as a public-health crisis, sends the wrong message to our residents and our neighbors.

Without strong leadership and smart planning, Old Lyme will go downhill.   Martha Shoemaker will bring a sea change to Town Hall.  She will help us grow and prosper.  She is a peace-maker and problem solver; she will tackle issues and find solutions.  Martha will identify opportunities and do whatever is required to take advantage of them.  She is a people person; staff at Town Hall will smile more.  Martha will work her heart out for this town.

Martha is smart, candid, hard-working, thoughtful, careful, highly-motivated, tech-savy, energetic and stubborn: she won’t let go of a challenge until it has been met.  Martha is fiscally conservative and practical; she is a former Republican and no idealogue.  Martha will listen to all parties and points of view before making a decision.  She will respond to every taxpayer’s questions.  

Martha’s integrity, and her commitment to the best interests of Old Lyme, cannot be questioned.   Please vote for her and her equally-dedicated running mate, Jim Lampos, next Tuesday.

Sincerely,