Monthly Archives: May 2024

Tantummaheag: What Happened? Where Do We Go From Here?

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The Meeting Room at Old Lyme’s Memorial Town Hall was packed for the April 29 Special Meeting to discuss the Tantummaheag Landing proposed draft Memorandum of Understanding.

OLD LYME—At the March 29 Special Meeting in the Old Lyme Town Hall, the Old Lyme (OL) Board of Selectmen gave the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Draft between the Town of Old Lyme and the owners of 12 and 19 Tantummaheag Rd., George Frampton and Carla Darista Frampton.

A press release issued April 15, by the Old Lyme First Selectman’s Office described the MOU as an attempt, “to move toward a more final resolution of the current dispute,” and noted that, “The BOS and the Framptons have entered into an interim agreement for the next year regarding use of the so-called Landing.” Read this article titled, “Introduction of Draft ‘Memo of Understanding’ by Town of Old Lyme, Owners Moves Tantummaheag Landing Dispute Into ‘Less-Divisive Environment” by Olwen Logan and published April 21 on LymeLine.com for more details of the MOU, including both its full text, and the background to its creation.

More than 80 people attended the meeting and the majority of those who commented spoke against the proposal while a smaller number spoke in support.

Watch a video of the meeting at this link.

The meeting ended with Selectwoman Jude Read (R) calling for a vote on whether to approve the MOU, which Selectman Jim Lampos (D) seconded.

Read then voted against the motion and Lampos, who had been the prime negotiator of the agreement with the Framptons, supported it. It was left to First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker (D) to break the tie.

Contrary to some expectations, since both Shoemaker and Lampos are Democrats and appeared to have supported bringing the MOU forward to the meeting, Shoemaker voted against the motion.

Later in the week, we asked Shoemaker via text why she had voted against the motion to approve the MOU on Monday night. She responded via email saying, “As I stated on Monday evening, I thought there were two strong components of the MOU draft. The one-year time term with the option to renew and the understanding that neither side was ceding any future rights or claims were positive.”

She added, “I believe the other concessions did not provide additional benefits to the town,” concluding, “I am also concerned that this could set precedent for future land disputes.”

We also asked George Frampton for his reaction to the meeting. He replied via email, “It is inexplicable to us that the Selectmen would vote against a common sense proposal to move toward a resolution of our dispute with the Town, after having (1) charged one of the board’s own members [Selectman Jim Lampos] (an expert in local historical archival documents) to investigate the true facts and make recommendations, then (2) authorizing him to work with the Town lawyer and us on that solution to negotiate a temporary “cooling off” period and full pedestrian access [along with] discussions the Town has never before allowed to us, while not giving up a single iota of town rights or claims while protecting our safety and security,  and finally (3) approving bringing the MOU forward [to the Town.]”

He noted, “Instead of moving toward resolution, the Board has seems to have gone backwards three years.”

We asked both Shoemaker and Frampton where the Tantummaheag issue goes from here. On this, there seems to be some consensus.

Frampton said, “We hope the Board will reconsider this own-goal error and reconstruct a way to work together with us.”

Shoemaker responded, “We will be organizing a small group of town residents to further work on this issue. Multiple people have already communicated that they would be willing to serve on this committee.  Mr. Frampton indicated to me after the meeting that he would be willing to work with me as well.”

She concluded, “I will provide more information on this next week.”

Letter to the Editor: Clarification of Some May 7 Lymes’ Senior Center Referendum Issues for Old Lyme Voters

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To the Editor:

Christina and I attended the April 30 town meeting at which the Resolution “authorizing the issuance of bonds and notes to finance an existing appropriation* for the planning, design, and construction of an expanded joint Old Lyme/Lyme Senior Center was discussed by First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker and the Board of Finance (BOF) Chair, Bennett J. Bernblum.

I am writing to clarify a few points of confusion that were raised that night; which could be useful for those “non-attendees” as you prepare to vote on Tuesday, May 7.

The May 7 referendum in Old Lyme is not for resident approval of funding for the renovation and expansion of the Lymes’ Senior Center. Old Lyme’s portion of those required funds was approved on June 20, 2023 and April 15, 2024. (i.e., the “existing appropriation*” in the above.) 

Rather, the First Selectwoman and the Old Lyme Board of Finance (BOF) seek resident approval and authorization to formally explore and potentially commit to bonding for all or part of its Senior Center funding obligation. Note that “exploring.” the issuance of bonds does not obligate the Town—it just provides some important information that the BOF will use to prudently determine which funding alternative to take. Note that these funds are currently available at favorable rates and Old Lyme enjoys a high rating as a municipality seeking funds. 

Per [BOF Chairman] Mr. Bernblum in his 04/27/2024 LTE [published on LymeLine.com]; “if it is defeated, then Old Lyme will not have the option to issue bonds for all or part of its $4,107,656 obligation. 

Instead, it will have to draw funds from its undesignated surplus, thereby substantially reducing the sums that would be available to mitigate the tax impact from the Region 18 renovations coming down the pike in a year or two. This would be a serious mistake.”  

Note that the current undesignated surplus is estimated at $13 million. At the meeting, Mr. Bernblum also discussed a few fiscal “rules of thumb” regarding the amount that should be maintained in Old Lyme’s “rainy day fund.” 

A referendum on the Region18 Board of Education 2024-25 budget of $36,920,881 that was approved in February will also be held on May 7.

Sincerely, 

Christina J and Thomas D. Gotowka,
Old Lyme.

Lyme Grange Hosts Plant Sale

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On Saturday, May 11, the Lyme Grange will host its Annual Plant Sale from 9 a.m. theough 12 p.m.

LYME, CT—Blooms and buds, shining bulbs and tasty tubers will come to springtime life at the annual plant sale of the Lyme Grange on Hamburg Road on Saturday, May 11—the day before Mother’s Day.

The sale is open to the public without charge and will be held at the historic Lyme Grange building on Rte. 156 from 9 a.m. through 12 noon. The century-old building is familiar to many as the center of the Annual Hamburg Fair in August, which, like the plant sale, supports many Grange-assisted community activities throughout the year.

Last year the Fair attracted some 5500 people of all ages for fun and educational activities over a three-day period.

A great variety of flowering plants will be available at the Lyme Grange Plant Sale.

“The May Plant Sale that’s coming up will offer both decorative horticulture and tips for practical food-grade gardening,” explained sale coordinator Nancy Beebe. “This year we plan an even greater number of plants, which show the diverse growing skills of our neighboring, talented amateurs as well as top- ranked nurseries. The flowers and vegetables are suitable for planting right at home in your garden,” she said.

“Everyone who has a garden as a productive household hobby, or keeps beloved pets or domestic animals, should join us as we build stronger and more viable towns,” added Beebe.

“Last year we had a ‘growing class’ for kids which proved popular, and I’m sure we’ll see this again. They are taught by experienced gardeners, who like to see kids learn and have fun.”

“Our Grange has been a central support for traditional community events from our founding in 1896, and our people staff and judge many events and displays here. We can all learn from, and enjoy, one another.”

For more information, contact Nancy Beebe at nbeebe46@gmail.com  or 860.304.8202.

Duck River Plant Sale Takes Place This Weekend

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The popular Duck River Garden Club Plant Sale takes place Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11.

OLD LYME—The Duck River Garden Club Plant Sale is held every year on Mother’s Day weekend under the big tent at the Old Lyme Shopping Center on Halls Rd. Sale dates this year are Friday, May 10, from 12 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Buy plants for your own garden or as Mother’s Day gifts. There will be hundreds of healthy varieties including hanging baskets, geraniums, perennials, members’ plants, native pollinators, annuals, vegetables and herbs. The club’s assortment of geraniums is always a popular item. Preorder geranium for pickup at the sale by the Friday morning of the sale. 

Duck River Garden Club (DRGC) serves Old Lyme and East Lyme providing landscape beautification including the civic sites around the town of Old Lyme. The club provides holiday wreaths for our public buildings as well as a weekly flower arrangement for the reception area at the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library.

Geraniums and more will be on sale at the Duck River Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale.

Garden Club members are also involved in garden therapy, youth, and community outreach.

Proceeds from the sale support DRGC educational programs, scholarships, and civic beautification.

The DRGC always welcomes new members. For further information, visit the DRGC website at this link and their Facebook page.

Remembering Grace Tanguay, Former Lyme Ambulance Association Chief

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Editor’s Note: We received the following touching tribute to the late Grace Tanguay from the Lyme Ambulance Association, who noted, “As far as we know, no obituary was published.”

Grace Tanguay

LYME—Recently our community lost someone very dear—someone whose life touched many lives in Lyme, East Haddam, and beyond.

Grace Tanguay, was known as “Mother” to other members of the Lyme Ambulance Association. No one knows how she got that name but perhaps it’s because she was one of the earliest members of the association, and also one of the most effective recruiters. 

Grace served as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in Lyme for about 20 years and East Haddam for another five. She ended her career with Lyme as Chief of Service.

Gracie was a wonderful partner—knowledgeable, dedicated, generous and warm.

She also had a great sense of humor.

Grace’s husband, Ed was also very active as a volunteer. He was the driver-trainer of all Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel.

He was head of the Lyme Fire Police and was instrumental in helping to get the Emergency Management System for the Town of Lyme.

Ed and Grace Tanguay, who gave so much to our community, are now both gone, yet we can still honor them with the spirit of volunteerism that makes Lyme so special.