Author Archives: Bennett J. Bernblum

Letter to the Editor: Old Lyme BOF Chair Counters Recent Claims About Lymes’ Senior Center Renovation Plan, Says ‘No’ Vote Would Be ‘Serious Mistake’

Posted on by

To the Editor:

I am the chair of the Old Lyme Board of Finance and a member of the Lymes’ Senior Center Building Committee.  I write in response to a letter from Tom Grant posted in LymeLine on April 26, 2024, opposing the town’s referendum seeking authorization to bond the town’s financial obligation for the Senior Center renovation and expansion project (the “Project”).

Mr. Grant alleges that Old Lyme budgeted $1 million for this project.  That is false.  On June 23, 2023, town voters approved an appropriation of $5,263,541 for the project.  (This sum reflected the then-anticipated total cost of the project.  Old Lyme’s share would be reduced by Lyme’s 25% contribution and any grants received, which to date total $500,000.)  At a Town Meeting on April 15 of this year, after construction bids had been solicited and received, an appropriation increase was explained to, and approved by, town voters in the amount of $880,000.  This increased the project budget to $6,143,541, an increase over the initial budget of 16.7%, not the 88% claimed by Mr. Grant.

Mr. Grant further alleges that the town is seeking approval for a $6,143,541 bond issue.  This, too, is false.  The resolution seeking bond authorization specifies “bonds and/or notes in an amount not to exceed $6,143,541 (or so much thereof as may be necessary after deducting grants for the Project or amounts paid by the Town of Lyme as reimbursement for Lyme’s share of the total costs of the Project).”  Old Lyme has received a STEAP Grant for the project in the amount of $500,000.  Lyme’s share of the Project costs is 25% of the new budget, or $1,535,885.  Deducting those sums results in a net bonding maximum of $4,107,656. (Because Old Lyme pays the bills and is then reimbursed by Lyme and the state, it must “appropriate” the full Project cost.)

Finally, Mr. Grant urges town voters to oppose the referendum.  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.

Sincerely,

Bennett J. Bernblum,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Vote for Experience, Dedication of Democratic Slate for Old Lyme BOF, Also to Correct Current Party Imbalance on Board

Posted on by
Reply

To the Editor:

I am running for re-election to the Old Lyme Board of Finance (BOF).  I have served on that board since 2014 and very much want to continue.  I also urge you to vote for the other Democratic Town Committee candidates: Anna Reiter as a regular member and Sheila Riffle, Diane Linderman and Candace Fuchs as alternates.  

We appreciate the importance of the BOF to the town and the serious responsibility service on the board entails.  Together with the Board of Selectman (BOS), the BOF must decide what expenditures are in the best interests of our residents and where to draw the line so that taxes are no greater than necessary.  You trust us to make these decisions thoughtfully and prudently, taking into account the needs of the town and the opinions of the taxpayers.

Electing this slate would correct the 4 to 2 party imbalance currently on the BOF and position us to improve the budget-making process.  We need to adopt an orderly and effective methodology for developing the annual budget, which starts with the Board of Selectmen and then moves to the BOF for review, refinement and adoption.  The work should include careful examination of the financial requirements of each program and department, and determination of the amount of surplus needed by the town.  Surplus in excess of that amount may be used to offset approved project expenses and/or reduce upcoming tax needs.

My colleagues and I are deeply committed to the welfare of Old Lyme and are particularly well-qualified to serve on the BOF.  I am a retired corporate lawyer and business owner, with years of experience on the board.  Anna Reiter has served on the BOF and has managed large budgets in her role as a project geologist.  In her role as high school principal Sheila Riffle developed many annual budgets, aligning them with district objectives.  Diane Linderman has years of accounting experience and was immersed in the Region 18 Board of Education budget-making process while serving on that board.  Finally, Candace Fuchs, who served on our Economic Development Commission, has managed multi-million-dollar budgets as a project manager for pharmaceutical companies.  

You can find more information about each of us at oldlymedtc.com.  We would also be happy to meet with you at DTC headquarters (151-B Boston Post Road in Old Lyme, behind Morrissey Cycles) to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

Please vote for us on November 7.

Sincerely,

Bennett (BJ) Bernblum,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Why Martha? ‘Nice Guy’ Tim is Not ‘Right Person for the Job Today’ … and More Reasons

Posted on by
Reply

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,

Bennett J. Bernblum,
Old Lyme.
Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Old Lyme Board of Finance and Democratic Town Committee.

Letter to the Editor: Vote Rubino to Gain a Knowledgeable, Effective State Rep., Stop Trump’s Party Strengthening in CT

Posted on by
Reply

To the Editor:

The Hartford Courant recently reported, “As the Republican National Committee recruits a volunteer army to monitor voting machines, check voter IDs and possibly issue challenges in battleground states, the Connecticut GOP is actively growing its own Election Day operation. . .   Connecticut Republican Party chairman J.R. Romano wrote in an email to party members. ‘JOIN the EDO [Election Day Operation] Army For Trump NOW. . .’”

Donald Trump has made the Connecticut Republican Party his own.  On November 3 we will vote to fill the 23rd House District seat with either Republican Devin Carney or Democrat Dave Rubino.

Dave has practiced law for 24 years, most of that overseas addressing problems caused by bad government.  His office is in Old Lyme.  Dave’s values could not be more different from those of Trump’s GOP, and he would make an extremely effective state representative.  Dave’s career has enabled him to become expert at understanding the law, drafting it, and persuasively arguing his positions.

Dave sits on Old Lyme’s Economic Development Commission.  He is fully aware of our area’s economic condition and how the state can help us.  He will stand up for universal voting rights, a strong safety net, health care for all, racial justice, a reasonable minimum wage, student debt relief, affordable housing, and environmental reform.  Dave’s website–www.rubino2020.com—provides more information.

If you don’t want Trump’s party to gain strength in Connecticut, please vote for Dave on November 3.

Sincerely,

Bennett Bernblum,
Old Lyme

Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Old Lyme Democratic Town Committee and the Old Lyme Board of Finance.

Letter to the Editor: Republican Plans Will Take Old Lyme Down Wrong Path

Posted on by
5

To the Editor:

The Republican candidates for Old Lyme Selectmen are running on two planks: regionalization is wrong and grants are bad.  They are incorrect on both counts and will lead our town in the wrong direction.  Bonnie Reemsnyder and Mary Jo Nosal are doing a great job and we must keep them in office.

Smart regionalization can afford small towns the ability to improve public services cost-effectively.  The Ledge Light Health District promised just that: increasing services and reducing expense. In June 2016 the Republican-controlled Board of Finance, including RTC Chairman David Kelsey, voted to pursue joining the District.  Chris Kerr opposed but in August, after the bipartisan Board of Selectmen’s unanimous decision, he joined the other members of the BOF in unanimously recommending the District to a Town Meeting.  The town then voted to join Ledge Light.

We have not lost control over our health services.  Bonnie Reemsnyder sits on the District’s Board, it hired our department’s administrative assistant, a contract prescribes our services, and Old Lyme may terminate the relationship if it doesn’t work well. The District is now enforcing the health code and all of us are materially safer.

Our small town has had substantial difficulty attracting police officers.  The Board of Selectmen and the Republican BOF Chairman Andy Russell have advocated exploring whether a relationship with East Lyme might facilitate robust, affordable police protection, without abandoning local control.  What harm is there in exploring this possibility?

Do folks think that our regionalized school system is a mistake?

The Republicans don’t like grants.  They apparently would prefer to forgo beneficial community projects or pay 100% of the cost with increased property taxes.  Why does this make sense?

Please join me in voting for Bonnie and Mary Jo next Tuesday.  This is not a close call.

Sincerely,

Bennett J. Bernblum,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Old Lyme Board of Finance and Democratic Town Committee, and chairman of the Halls Road Improvements Committee.