OLD LYME — On Monday at the Old Lyme Annual Town Business Meeting, there will be a presentation regarding the proposal to make an appropriation in the amount of $1,522,170 to fund the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Building Project. A vote on the appropriation is anticipated after the presentation.

The meeting agenda notes that grant funding is available totaling $912,950, which, if obtained, would reduce the net cost of the project to the Town.  

Both Old Lyme First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker and Selectman Jim Lampos have shared statements with us giving their thoughts on the project. We have published them below, in full and unedited, for readers to digest prior to Monday evening’s meeting and potential vote.

Statement by Old Lyme First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker

It is my opinion that the Boughton Road Firehouse expansion is a worthwhile project for our town to undertake at this time.  The three key factors to consider are the funding of this project, the various uses the facility will provide, and the increased awareness of our vulnerability to disasters that could impact our town.

Whenever possible, we encourage seeking grants for projects of this magnitude.  Emergency Management Director, Dave Roberge, secured a grant for $758,000 after the Board of Finance approved $100,000 in FY 22/23.  Completion of the project by May of 2026 is a requirement of the federal grant.  Dave also anticipates additional grant funding of approximately $155,000 which will aid in the overall funding.  The cost to the town will be approximately $650,000.  The federal grant is substantial, and there is no guarantee it will be available again in the future.

The upgraded Emergency Operations Center is a facility where training exercises can be conducted for all our emergency personnel.  The space has been thoughtfully designed with flexible seating for approximately 30 people in the main room.  This room can be used for training, educational presentations, and meetings when not in operation for a declared emergency.  The space would also serve as an emergency town hall facility should anything happen to our building at 52 Lyme Street.  The current room only accommodates 8 people comfortably.

It is imperative to be prepared for any type of disaster that could impact our town (natural or man-made). The public should understand that the Emergency Operations Center allows for collaboration between multiple agencies to ensure that critical services continue during a disaster. It is activated before an anticipated event and remains open to manage the aftermath.  This is the centralized point for information flow, decision making, and communication.  It is a space where any situation is monitored, and decisions are made.  This ensures that our response to the situation is as timely and effective as possible.  

I realize that the funding of this project might not come at the most opportune time, as there are several other initiatives in progress which impact our capital resources.  However, I believe in being prepared and pro-active.  Disasters happen, and we should not consider ourselves immune.  This expansion will provide the town with enhanced support now and in the future.  

Our Town Meeting form of government enables eligible voters to make decisions about their town.  I felt it was important to provide our residents with the opportunity to vote on this matter. 

Statement by Old Lyme Selectman Jim Lampos

I am in favor of the Boughton Road Firehouse expansion for the purpose of upgrading our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to meet current standards and requirements.  This project was first approved by the Board of Finance for fiscal year 22-23 with a commitment of $100,000, allowing Emergency Management Director Dave Roberge to secure $758,000 in guaranteed federal grants.   Along with other anticipated funding, a total of $912,950 in grants will be applied to defray a total estimated project cost of $1,522,170.   A federal grant currently in hand requires substantial completion of the EOC by May 2026 and a delay now will imperil our ability to pursue this project at all.  Given the current realities of federal funding, it is unlikely that grants of this magnitude will be readily available again in the near future.  

The need is evident.  Thankfully, in recent years our town has avoided the sort of natural and human-made disasters that have befallen other towns in our state and across the nation, but we are not invulnerable.    Infrastructure of national importance within our purview include Interstate 95 and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, the commercial shipping lanes and recreational boating interests on the Long Island Sound and Connecticut River, as well as the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant.   Further, we’ve seen the increasing effects of extreme weather in our region. While it has been a long time since we’ve had a catastrophic hurricane of the magnitude of 1815 or 1938, it is imperative that we are prepared for such an event.  

The Boughton Road Firehouse is now 32 years old, and expansion and upgrades are in order to meet the mounting threats of today’s world.   Having a “second town hall” where all emergency personnel and town officials can gather in one facility, with state of the art monitoring and communications equipment is vital to securing an efficient and effective response.   The facility will also be available for educational and training purposes, meetings and emergency drills, and will help further sharpen our readiness. 

This Board of Selectmen has been very conservative and refrained from proposing new projects of any significant magnitude.   We are mindful of our obligation to hold the line on spending as much as possible.  We inherited several projects which were already underway, such as the renovation of the schools, the Senior Center expansion, the possible shoreline sewer project, and this Emergency Operations Center.  Of those, the upgrade of the EOC is most vital to our preparedness.   After grants, the final town share of cost, approximately in the mid $600,000 range, is in my estimate a wise investment in our future

OLD LYME—The following is a statement from Old Lyme Fire Chief Michael McCarthy and the Old Lyme Fire Department (OLFD) regarding tonight’s presentation and potential vote at Old Lyme’s Annual Town Business Meeting on the expansion of the Boughton Rd. Emergency Operations Center. We have published the statement in its entirety.

This Monday, January 27th, at the town hall 7:30pm is an opportunity to vote on the expansion of the Old Lyme Emergency Management space at our Boughton Road firehouse. The OLFD asks for your support of this project, we have worked closely with the committee, and this has been a need for a long time. Yes, it is a large ticket item, however with several years in a row of garnering grant funding, the cost to the town has been kept low given the scope and total cost. It is difficult to foresee the rise of construction costs. If this does not pass, $708,000 of hard-earned grant money will essentially be forfeited.

Total cost: $1,522,170
Grant funding: $912,950
Remaining town cost: $609,220
Potential grant loss if unapproved: $708,450

Grant-writing is time-consuming and regulated, it takes time and effort to request what has been requested. We are thankful this much funding actually received approval. The timing of the request to the town comes after years of effort to keep cost as low as possible.

The current footprint is about 16’x24′ divided into two rooms, but has an even smaller, workable amount of space given storage cabinets, a kitchenette, and a lot of necessary IT equipment. It is difficult to conduct emergency operations in a space about the size of a master bathroom.

Did you know that OLFD is comprised entirely of volunteers? Did you know that when our town is expecting a significant event like a hurricane, our members leave their families for the entire duration of the storm to hunker down in-station so we can continue to provide emergency support? We take over Lyme Street and Cross Lane firehouse meeting rooms with cots, along with Old Lyme EMS, while the EOC powers up here at Boughton Road.

Although this is our firehouse, it is a shared space. This necessary expansion will allow all three departments to utilize a significantly updated and more spacious facility, and will also support the entire Town of Old Lyme Town Hall as essentially a full backup facility if necessary. The EOC needs a proper facilty during major emergency events like huricanes, but just as important, they need it for year-round necessary, and required training, meetings, and mandated events. Plus, the updated space would enable all three departments training availability year-round.

We hope the townspeople can appreciate this multipurpose effort.