Author Archives: Ellen Cole

Letter to the Editor: Five Working Mothers Endorse State Rep. Carney for Re-election

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To the Editor:

As working mothers, we believe there is no question that our State Representative, Devin Carney, deserves re-election. He fights for the things we care about – including our economy, public safety, our local public education, and support for small businesses. These issues are vital to the future success of Connecticut and Lyme & Old Lyme. Without a thriving economy, our kids can’t stay here and retirees in our family will be forced to move to states like Florida simply to survive. We deserve legislators who will fight for our families and for our financial futures.

When we go grocery shopping or look at our Eversource bills, we don’t expect to be squeezed like we have seen lately. When these prices skyrocket our household budgets become much more difficult to manage and the value of the dollars we earn goes down. Devin Carney has always looked out for us taxpayers by stopping new taxes on groceries, opposing policies that will raise our energy delivery costs even more, and combating wasteful spending that drives up taxes. He also has always tried to reduce costs on our kids by fighting state tuition hikes and providing more opportunities for young people across various job sectors.

As women, specifically, we have been impressed with how Devin has supported important issues for women in the workplace like pay equity, protections for moms coming back into the workforce after giving birth, and better health insurance coverage for issues like breast and ovarian cancer. Devin has always – always – looked out for us and we are confident that will continue.

As women, as mothers, as voters – we encourage you to vote for Devin Carney. He is the only choice for anyone who cares about our economy, the cost of living, and the values we know and love in Old Lyme.

Ellen Cole
Maria Corrao Marchant
Lisa Knepshield
Jill Pilgrim
Cyndi Miller-Aird

All five signatories are residents of Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Carney Deserves Re-election, No One Works Harder for Lyme-Old Lyme Community

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To the Editor:

Rep. Devin Carney is a champion for Lyme and Old Lyme at the State Capitol. Among his many accomplishments, he has worked to defeat the high-speed train from decimating our community,  helped secure funding for Old Lyme’s library and open space in Lyme, and supported local parents in their fight to stop state-mandated school regionalization.

Locally, Devin is active in Old Saybrook Rotary, which provides scholarships to Lyme–Old Lyme students; he’s a member of the Lyme–Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce; and he serves on the Old Lyme Zoning Board of Appeals.  No one works harder for our community!

Over his six years in office, Devin has amassed a successful record of fighting for his constituents; he knows his district and he knows his way around the capitol. There is still work to be done, and with his committee assignments and House leadership status, Devin Carney is the right person to continue representing the 23rd District in Hartford. He has my vote and I hope he can count on yours.

Sincerely,

Ellen Cole,
Old Lyme.

Old Lyme Zoning Approves Controversial HOPE Housing Project on Neck Rd. by 3-2 Vote

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Zoning Commission members discuss the upcoming vote at Tuesday night’s meeting. Photos by Debra Joy.

By a vote of 3–2, the Old Lyme Zoning Commission Tuesday night approved the Neck Road affordable housing project known as River Oak Commons I and II.  Zoning Commission Chairman Jane Cable and commission members Gil Soucie and Alan Todd voted in favor of the proposal while commission members Jane Marsh and Paul Orzel voted against.

From left to right, Zoning Commission members Paul Orzel and Alan Todd discuss HOPE’s zoning application while Zoning Commission Alternate Harvey Gemme listens carefully.

Citing previous affordable-housing legal decisions as precedent, commission chair Jane Cable said that unless there is “hard evidence” that a proposed project is going to lead to a health and safety problem, the commission “cannot use opinion to bolster denial” of the project. “My feeling is the law requires us to approve [the project] unless there is hard evidence to deny.”

HOPE Executive Director Lauren Ashe (left) watches the proceedings at the meeting while HOPE board member Tom Ortoleva (right) and HOPE project attorney David Royston (second from right) check their phones.

Attorney for the Zoning Commission Matt Willis drafted two motions for this meeting:  one approving the project, and one denying it.  The motion to approve, which includes 17 conditions that must be met before construction may begin, was read aloud. Brief discussion followed, followed by the vote. The denying motion was not read aloud, Cable said, because the motion to approve passed.

Zoning Commission member Jane Marsh carefully studies a document during the hearing.

During the discussion, commission member Jane Marsh said, “I don’t think it’s the intention of the state legislature that we should rubber stamp” affordable housing projects. If that is the case, she asked, ‘Why are we even sitting here?’” Asked later whether public safety concerns voiced by citizens at numerous public hearings should have had some influence on the commission’s decision, Marsh said, “I believe we have a responsibility to consider the opinions” of the public. 

Old Lyme Zoning Commission Alternate Member Stacey Winchell (right) enjoys a lighter moment during the meeting.  Harvey Gemme sits to her left.

First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, who attended the meeting, said she hopes that the town “can heal” now, after what has been a contentious time for the zoning commission and town leadership. She added that it’s been “hard to watch the process, but I appreciate the focus that the zoning commission has given this application.”