Category Archives: Town Hall

Lymes’ Senior Center Bonding Referendum Passes Comfortably in Old Lyme, Funding Already Approved in Lyme

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OLD LYME— In an extremely low turnout, the question of whether to approve bonding to fund the renovation and expansion of the Lymes’ Senior Center passed yesterday in Old Lyme by 285 Yes votes to 83 No votes. Funding for the Center in the Town of Lyme had previously been approved.

The question on the ballot to which voters responded Yes or No was: “Shall the Town of Old Lyme authorize the issuance of bonds and notes in an amount not to exceed $6,143,541 to finance an existing appropriation for the Old Lyme/Lyme Senior Center renovation project?”

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.

Ballot Question, Two Letters to the Editor About Lymes’ Senior Center Vote in Old Lyme

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OLD LYME—The ballot question on today’s vote in Old Lyme regarding the Lymes’ Senior Center reads as follows:

“Shall the Town of Old Lyme authorize the issuance of bonds and notes in an amount not to exceed $6,143,541 to finance an existing appropriation for the Old Lyme/Lyme Senior Center renovation project? Yes _____ No _____” 

Voters approving the question will vote “Yes” and voters opposing the question will vote “No.

For the full resolution and the warning, visit the Old Lyme Town Clerk’s page.

VOTE YES!

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.

VOTE NO!

To the Editor:

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.

Funding for Lymes’ Senior Center Discussed at Old Lyme Special Town Meeting, Referendum on Funding Planned for May 7

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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.