OLD LYME —This evening, Tuesday, April 30, at 7 p.m., the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen will host a Special Town Meeting in the Memorial Town Hall Meeting Room.
According to Old Lyme First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker’s newsletter sent out Friday, April 26, “The purpose of this meeting is to learn more about the resolution for [the Lymes’] Senior Center funding.”
She continues, “Last year, we approved a resolution that had some. conflicting language. This resolution corrects that and includes the additional funding that we approved on April 15.”
The resolution in question will be moved to a paper ballot referendum , which will take place Tuesday, May 7, from 12 to 8 p.m. at the Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Middle School.
May 7 is the same day that a referendum on the Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools 2024-25 budget of $36,920,881 will be held. That referendum will also be held by paper ballot, from 12 to 8 p.m. at the LOL Middle School for Old Lyme residents.
Lyme residents will cast their votes on the LOL Schools budget on Tuesday, May 7, from 12 to 8 p.m. at Lyme Town Hall.
After introductory formalities, the agenda items are as follows:
Public Comment on the Memorandum of Understanding Draft between the Town of Old Lyme and George Frampton/Carla D’Arista concerning Tantummaheag Landing.
Selectmen General Discussion
Action on the Memorandum of Understanding Draft between the Town of Old Lyme and George Frampton/Carla D’Arista concerning Tantummaheag Landing.
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.
On April 15, there was a Special Meeting of Lyme/Old Lyme residents to vote on the approval of an $880,000 increase in the cost to renovate the [Lymes’] Senior Center. The Senior Center has been closed for months, but the planning process has never been completed! Not only that, but a bond was also required by the Towns just to get the bids which was never acquired until January 2024. The bids (we don’t know if it was one or several bids) came back 88% over the planned additional $1 million that the Towns budgeted!
In the April 15 meeting it was shown what the proposed improvements are, but when asked what the improvements would look like if we just spent the $1 million budgeted, Alan Sheiness responded that the committee had not looked into that. Another question was asked how the Towns planned to pay for this increase, and incredulously Martha Shoemaker, our Town Selectwoman, said that it was being discussed.
So, our Town has been without a Senior Center for months during which planning had not been done properly and then its residents are supposed to pay for this 88% increase without knowing what the alternatives are and what the cost to the taxpayer is.
On April 24, a notice* was released by the Town of Old Lyme for the voters to approve a $6,143,541 bonding issue to pay for the Senior Center. So, we now know that the Senior Center will not cost $6,143,541 to renovate, but the interest on that debt as well. This must go down as one of the most poorly planned and expensive renovations in the history of our town. Vote No on May 7 and tell our elected officials to get their act together.
Sincerely,
Tom Grant, Old Lyme.
Editor’s Notes: (i) Visit this link to read aLetter to the Editor countering several of the claims made in the letter above. (ii) *Visit this link to read details of the Legal Notice regarding Old Lyme Special Town Meeting (on April 30) and Vote by Paper Ballots (on May 7) related to the authorization of the issue of bonds and notes in an amount not to exceed $6,143,541 to finance an existing appropriation for the planning, design and construction of an expanded joint Lyme/Old Lyme Senior Center. This Legal Notice was published April 24 by the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen.
‘Into the Marsh,’ in oil by Jacqueline Jones is one of the signature works in the ‘Ship to Shore’ show on view at the Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme.
OLD LYME —This spring, the Lyme Art Association (LAA) presents three new shows: Ship to Shore: A Marine Show; art by the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club;and John Caggiano’s solo show, Then & Now.
The LAA will also welcome spring on May 3at the Sea & Sky Soiree, an evening of fine art, music, and entertainment.
The LAA members’ show Ship to Shore is a favorite of gallery guests. This marine show, juried by Karen Blackwood, celebrates all aspects of the sea and shore with a wide array of paintings and sculptures.
‘Provincetown Summer‘ in acrylic by Morgan Brec is featured in the ‘Ship to SHore’ show.
The LAA also welcomes back the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club (CLWAC) for its associate and members show. Founded in 1896, CLWAC is a national organization that showcases the works of professional women artists.
Finally, noted artist John Caggiano presents “Then & Now”, a solo show of his colorful Impressionistic-realism landscape paintings.
During Ship to Shore, LAA is proud to highlight ‘Save the Sound’ in its Partner Wall Program. The non-profit ‘Save the Sound’ works to save endangered lands, protect Long Island Sound and its rivers, and restore ecosystems. Proceeds from a sale of featured art will benefit ‘Save the Sound’.
All three shows run from April 19 -May19.
Ship to Shore is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor Essex Savings Bank.
On Friday, May 3, LAA welcomes spring with the Sea & Sky Soiree, a fun-filled cocktail party to celebrate the beauty of Old Lyme’s “American Giverny”. This special evening will feature hors d’oeuvres by Flanders Fish Market, “Dueling Painters” Howard Park & Lisa Miceli, live jazz by the JHunter Group, and a silent auction of beautiful art, exceptional items, and unique experiences.
All proceeds will benefit LAA’s educational programs and special projects. A special thank you to Gold Level event sponsor Hamilton Point Investments.
About Lyme Art Association:
Founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists, the Lyme Art Association continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork, while offering educational art programming for the community. Lyme Art Association is located at 90 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, CT within the national historic district. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 – 5pm. Families are always welcome. For information, visit www.lymeartassociation.orgor call (860) 434-7802.
