Category Archives: Town Hall

Letter to the Editor: Local Town Leaders Endorse Carney for State Rep., Citing His Institutional Knowledge, Trustworthiness & Consistent Support for 23rd District

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To the Editor

As small-town leaders, we depend on our legislature to help us do our jobs. State laws frequently impact our town governments and how we are able to conduct business within our borders. Our towns deserve a champion and, for the past 8 years, that champion has been Devin Carney.

Devin Carney has consistently fought for small towns his entire legislative tenure. When he is in Hartford he looks at every piece of legislation and figures out how it could impact the taxpayers and small businesses he represents in the district. He frequently meets with us and we know we can count on him when there is an issue of concern of which we need assistance. For example, he has been an outspoken advocate for finding solutions to our waste issues and stopping mandates that would increase burdens on our communities.

Most importantly, we know we can trust Devin. He listens to us, he listens to our local boards and commissions, and he listens to the residents of our towns to try to come up with the best policy. He is keenly aware of the issues facing each of our towns from taxes, to education, to zoning, to wastewater, and so many others. His institutional knowledge is incomparable.

All four of us proudly endorse Devin Carney for re-election as our State Representative. We hope you will join us on November 8th in voting for him.

Sincerely,

David Lahm,
First Selectman, Lyme.

Tim Griswold,
First Selectman, Old Lyme.

Carl Fortuna,
First Selectman, Old Saybrook.

John Hall,
First Selectman, Westbrook.

Key Points on How to Request Absentee Ballots for the State Election, Referendum

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LYME/OLD LYME — On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters in Lyme and Old Lyme will cast their ballots in not only the State Election but also the Lyme-Old Lyme Schools $57.6 million Bond Referendum for renovation and expansion of four school buildings. 

If you wish to vote by Absentee Ballot, there are some important points to understand about how you obtain your ballot. The key issue is that you must request two separate Absentee Ballots – one for the Election, and one for the Referendum.

You cannot request both Absentee Ballots on the same form,

Also, you cannot request the Referendum Ballot via the state of Connecticut’s online portal.

You should submit your applications as soon as possible to receive your ballots and then return them in time to be counted.

The last day for Town Clerks to issue Absentee Ballots is Monday, Nov. 7.  

Completed ballots must be returned no later than 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The Town Clerk of the town in which you are registered or qualified to vote is the one who will handle you ballot request(s).

You can request an Absentee Ballot for the State Election in one of three ways:

  • Online via the State of Connecticut Online Absentee Ballot Request Portal at https://oabr-sots.ct.gov/. If you have a valid Connecticut Driver’s License or Non-Driver ID number, you may use this portal to request your absentee ballot for the State Election only. The Town Clerk’s office will receive applications daily from the State, and your Absentee Ballot will be processed by the Town Clerk’s office and mailed to you.By printing out an application from the state’s website at https://bit.ly/2ulgNDz and then submitting it to the Town Clerk’s office in the town where you are registered or qualified to vote.By going to the Town Clerk’s office in person to request an Absentee Ballot.

You can request an Absentee Ballot for the Lyme-Old Lyme Schools $57.6 million Bond Referendum in one of two ways:

  • By printing out an application from the state’s website at https://bit.ly/2ulgNDz and then submitting it to the Town Clerk’s office in the town where you are registered or qualified to vote.By going to the Town Clerk’s office in person to request an Absentee Ballot.

Lyme Town Clerk Linda Winzer helpfully explained to LymeLine why voters need two Absentee Ballots, saying, “These are two separate events occurring on the same day.” She continued, “As you will see in Section III [of the Application for Absentee Ballot], the applicant is directed to “Check only one”, either “Election” or “Referendum”, which necessitates two forms if the voter wishes to vote in both events.”

Winzer clarified, “If someone submits an Absentee Ballot application and has checked “Election” in Section III of the application, they will receive an election ballot.  

If someone submits an Absentee Ballot application and has checked “Referendum” in Section III of the application, they will receive a referendum ballot.  

If they wish to vote in both, they have to submit two forms, one with “Election” checked and one with “Referendum” checked.”  

She stressed, “ If the voter is using the State’s online portal, they will only receive an Election ballot.”

If you are voting in person on Nov. 8, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Old Lyme Planning Commission Approves Nine-Lot, Gated Community at 16 Neck Rd. with 75 ft. Conservation Easement

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OLD LYME — At its Special Meeting & Public Hearing on Thursday evening, the Old Lyme Planning Commission approved the proposed subdivision at 16 Neck Rd. with the addition of a 75 ft. Conservation Easement proposed by the developer — Keystone Capital Corporation — on the Connecticut River side of the property that will be maintained in perpetuity. 

Members did not, however, support the Old Lyme Open Space Commission’s request to ask the developer for a $105,010 fee to compensate for the fact that no publicly-accessible open space is included in the plan.

The majority of Planning Commission members accepted that the open space proposed by the developer in the form of the Conservation Easement was adequate.

Commission Chairman Harold Thompson, Members Barbara Gaudio, and Don Willis and Alternate Matt Ward (seated for Rob McCarthy) supported the motion to approve the subdivision. Alternate Jim Lampos (seated for Todd Machnik) voted against the motion.

Lampos had proposed a 500 ft. easement and a reduction in the number of lots.

The land at 16 Neck Rd. is the same area where the HOPE Partnership endeavored to secure approval for a 37-unit Affordable Housing development back in 2018, which became a highly controversial topic in the community.

The new proposal is for a gated community of nine building lots.

Both the OL Open Space Commission and the Connecticut (CT) River Gateway Commission had submitted letters to the Planning Commission regarding the project. Both letters can be viewed in full at the links given immediately above.

Several other individuals had also submitted letters and emails related to the project.

The Open Space Commission’s letter, dated Sept. 6, and signed by its co-chairs Amanda Blair and Evan Griswold, states, “It appears that no open space is indicated on the applicant’s plan and, even if land were set aside, the gated premises to be accessed by private roadway would not afford public access.”

The letter continues, “In accordance with the provisions of C.G.S. § 8-25, when there is not a suitable area within a subdivision and when there are other areas with[in] Town that the Open Space Commission considers more beneficial to be preserved, the Planning Commission may authorize the applicant to pay a fee in lieu of open space of up to 10% of land’s pre-subdivision appraised value.”

The two-page letter proposes that, although, “It is the Planning Commission’s discretion to determine such payment,” the Planning Commission should request the 10 percent fee of the purchase price from the developer, which it states, “… would equal $105,010.”

These monies would then be used by the Open Space Commission to assist in the purchase other open space properties in the town as they arise. The letter explains, “Although we cannot identify the specific parcels, we will report to you that the Open Space Commission is now actively talking to or considering approaching the owners of at least four properties in Town for acquisition.”

Asked about the possibility of the Open Space Commission receiving a fee in lieu of the absence of open space in a building proposal, Griswold responded in a phone conversation with LymeLine that, “This  has happened before,” citing the example of a proposed development on Binney Rd. submitted, “Around three years ago.”

He added, however, that a similar previous request by the Open Space Commission regarding a proposed development on Mile Creek Rd. was declined by the Planning Commission on the basis it was, “A family-oriented subdivision.”

The CT River Gateway Commission four-page letter, dated Sept. 8 and signed by the Deputy Director of the River COG [Council of Governments] Staff, Gateway Commission Torrance Downes, describes the property at 16 Neck Rd. as, “A highly visible riverfront parcel.” 

In summary, the letter says, “The Gateway Commission would recommend [a Conservation] easement be placed along the banks of the Connecticut River at the western end of the property.”

It goes on to request that the Planning Commission should, “… use all of the regulatory tools available in its decision-making process to manage the development of the site – at least with respect to the western hillside of the property facing the Connecticut River.”

The letter continues, “Protection of natural areas including mature tree stands is recommended for consideration of open space designation,” noting, “Retention of an attractive and rural community appearance, which would include the treed hillsides of the Connecticut River, should be “one of the most important criteria used in land use decision making”.”

The letter concludes, “Community Appearance recommendations state visual details including preservation of natural site features and vistas are critical components of the town character Old Lyme is charged with protecting.”

Old Lyme’s Planning Commission Meets Today to Discuss, Possibly Approve Neck Rd. Subdivision; Open Space Issues Raised

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~ Gated Community of Nine Lots Proposed on Same Site as 2018 Controversial Proposal for 37 Affordable Housing Units  REVISED PLAN INCLUDING CONSERVATION EASEMENT NOW SUBMITTED

~ Old Lyme Open Space Commission Asks Planning Commission to Request $105K Fee From Developer due to Absence of Open Space in Plan, Monies to be Used Towards Purchase Of Other Open Space in Town

~ CT River Gateway Commission Requests Planning Commission to Require Conservation Easement be Placed Along Banks of CT River at Western Property End

OLD LYME — UPDATE 9/29 11:09am: During a phone call this morning, Old Lyme Land Use Coordinator Eric Knapp informed us that Keystone Capital Corporation has now submitted a revised site plan for 16 Neck Rd., which includes a Conservation Easement as requested by the Connecticut River Gateway Commission (see article below.)

He noted that Section 5.9.9 of Old Lyme’s Subdivision Regulations regarding ‘Fee-in-lieu of Open Space’ state: In lieu of the above requirements to provide land for open space purposes, the Commission may authorize the subdivider to pay a fee to the Town, or provide a combination of land and fee, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8-25 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

A question for the Planning Commission at this evening’s meeting will now be whether the revised site plan including the Conservation Easement will satisfy the requirement for Open Space or whether some combination of land and fee (as cited in the Regulations above) will be pursued.

OLD LYME — UPDATED 9/28 at 11:59pm: The Old Lyme (OL) Planning Commission will hold a Special Meeting/Public Hearing tomorrow evening, Thursday, Sept. 29, at 5 p.m. in Old Lyme’s Memorial Town Hall.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, there are only two items on the agenda and since it is a Special Meeting, no changes or addition to the agenda can be made.

The first agenda item is the continuation of the Public Hearing regarding the application by Keystone Capital Corporation for the resubdivision of 16 Neck Rd. into nine lots.

The second item, assuming the Public Hearing is closed, is for members of the board to discuss and then possibly vote on the proposal.

The land at 16 Neck Rd. is the same area where the HOPE Partnership endeavored to secure approval for a 37-unit Affordable Housing development back in 2018, which became a highly controversial topic in the community.

The new proposal is for a gated community of nine building lots.

Both the OL Open Space Commission and the Connecticut (CT) River Gateway Commission have submitted letters to the Planning Commission regarding the project. Both letters can be viewed in full at the links given above.

Several other individuals have also submitted letters and emails related to the project.

According to minutes of the last meeting of the Planning Commission held Sept. 8, Commission Chairman Harold Thompson, “Stated it was unfortunate that some of the comments were only received in the last two days, which does not provide the applicant adequate time to address these issues.”

The minutes further note, “Thompson apologized and stated it should not take the commission two months to receive responses from the reviewing agencies.” In light of the situation, he proposed the Public Hearing should be continued until Sept. 29, which was agreed by Commission members.

The Open Space Commission’s letter, dated Sept. 6 and signed by its co-chairs Amanda Blair and Evan Griswold, states, “It appears that no open space is indicated on the applicant’s plan and, even if land were set aside, the gated premises to be accessed by private roadway would not afford public access.”

The letter continues, “In accordance with the provisions of C.G.S. § 8-25, when there is not a suitable area within a subdivision and when there are other areas with[in] Town that the Open Space Commission considers more beneficial to be preserved, the Planning Commission may authorize the applicant to pay a fee in lieu of open space of up to 10% of land’s pre-subdivision appraised value.”

The two-page letter proposes that, although, “It is the Planning Commission’s discretion to determine such payment,” the Planning Commission should request the 10 percent fee of the purchase price from the developer, which it states, “… would equal $105,010.”

These monies would then be used by the Open Space Commission to assist in the purchase other open space properties in the town as they arise. The letter explains, “Although we cannot identify the specific parcels, we will report to you that the Open Space Commission is now actively talking to or considering approaching the owners of at least four properties in Town for acquisition.”

Asked about the possibility of the Open Space Commission receiving a fee in lieu of the absence of open space in a building proposal, Griswold responded in a phone conversation with LymeLine that, “This  has happened before,” citing the example of a proposed development on Binney Rd. submitted, “Around three years ago.”

He added, however, that a similar previous request by the Open Space Commission regarding a proposed development on Mile Creek Rd. was declined by the Planning Commission on the basis it was, “A family-oriented subdivision.”

The CT River Gateway Commission four-page letter, dated Sept. 8 and signed by the Deputy Director of the River COG [Council of Governments] Staff, Gateway Commission Torrance Downes, describes the property at 16 Neck Rd. as, “A highly visible riverfront parcel.” 

In summary, the letter says, “The Gateway Commission would recommend [a Conservation] easement be placed along the banks of the Connecticut River at the western end of the property.”

It goes on to request that the Planning Commission should, “… use all of the regulatory tools available in its decision-making process to manage the development of the site – at least with respect to the western hillside of the property facing the Connecticut River.”

The letter continues, “Protection of natural areas including mature tree stands is recommended for consideration of open space designation,” noting, “Retention of an attractive and rural community appearance, which would include the treed hillsides of the Connecticut River, should be “one of the most important criteria used in land use decision making”.”

The letter concludes, “Community Appearance recommendations state visual details including preservation of natural site features and vistas are critical components of the town character Old Lyme is charged with protecting.”

Members of the community can address either or both of these issues during the Public Hearing or submit letters or emails to the Old Lyme Land Use Department prior to the meeting.

Details Finalized for ‘Complicated’ Voting Situation Resulting From State Elections, Lyme-Old Lyme School Building Referendum Being Held on Same Day

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Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold (File photo)

LYME/OLD LYME — Setting the Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools Building Referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 8 — the same day as the state elections — has, in Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold’s words (sent via text), been, ” … very complicated with, I believe, five lawyers working out the details.” Those details were required to be filed with the State of Connecticut today.

Griswold went on to explain, “Electors will vote on the candidates by ballot and on the school referendum question (yes/no ballot) in the same room,” but, “Qualified voters who are not electors may vote only on the referendum question in a separate room.”

Lyme Selectman John Kiker similarly confirmed by text, “… regular voting will be in [Lyme] town hall and the referendum voting will be in the [Lyme Public] library.”

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser noted by email that Lyme-Old Lyme Schools are sending out a Fact Sheet to all Lyme and Old Lyme residents and property owners next week, which, along with additional information on the referendum, will help to clarify the difference between ‘electors’ and ‘qualified voters.’

The Fact Sheet explains that an ‘elector’ is any registered voter in either Lyme or Old Lyme.

It then goes on to state that, “A qualified voter who is not an elector is any citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years or more who, jointly or severally, is liable to the Town of Lyme or Town of Old Lyme for taxes assessed against him or her of not less than $1,000 on the last completed grand list of the Town, or who would be so liable if not entitled to an exemption under subdivision (17), (19), (22), (25) or (26) of Section 12-81 of the Connecticut General Statutes, and is not an elector (registered voter) of the Towns of Lyme or Old Lyme.”

This difference between the two is significant as qualified voters (who cannot vote in the state elections in Lyme or Old Lyme because they are registered to vote elsewhere) must by state statute physically vote at a location at least 75 ft. from that of registered voters.

Therefore, in Old Lyme:

  • ‘Electors’, i.e., registered voters, will vote in both the state election and on the school building referendum in the LOL Middle School Gym.
  • ‘Qualified voters’ (who are not electors) will vote solely on the LOL Schools Building Referendum in the LOL Middle School Cafeteria.

Meanwhile in Lyme:

  • ‘Electors’, i.e., registered voters, will vote in both the state election and on the LOL Schools Building Referendum at Lyme Town Hall.
  • ‘Qualified voters’ (who are not electors) will vote solely on the LOL Schools Building Referendum in the Lyme Public Library.

Regarding the unusual need for two polling locations in both Lyme and Old Lyme, Griswold stressed, “The Registrars must man and equip the two separate voting locations in each town,” noting, “The school will be responsible for the costs related to the school referendum.”

The ballot question for the LOL Schools Building Referendum will read as detailed below and and then ask for a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ response.

“Shall the resolution appropriating and authorizing bonds in the amount of $57,555,000, of which it is expected that an estimated $9,775,000 shall be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut, for the planning, design, demolition, construction, renovation, equipping and furnishing of Mile Creek School, Center School, Lyme Consolidated School and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School and related costs, be approved?“

Two public meetings will be held in advance of the $57.6 million LOL Schools Building Referendum on respectively Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at Lyme School, and Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at Mile Creek School.

Polls will be open in both towns on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information on the referendum, the Fact Sheet will urge voters to visit www.region18.org and look for the “Referendum” tab at the top of the home page, email referendum@region18.org or call 860-434-7238.