Category Archives: Letters

Letter to the Editor: Old Lyme BOF Chair Counters Recent Claims About Lymes’ Senior Center Renovation Plan, Says ‘No’ Vote Would Be ‘Serious Mistake’

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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.

Letter to the Editor: Major Environmental Concerns Raised About Old Lyme Gravel Pit

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To the Editor:

We are reaching out to you in the hopes of gaining support in convincing our town boards and commissions to enforce and amend the regulations regarding the complete disregard of any environmental protections at the gravel pit along the Three-Mile River located at 308-1 Mile Creak Road, Old Lyme.                                                                                                                                                           
The gravel pit operation is a grandfathered entity located on the bank of the river bog, and surrounded by residential homes. The permit to operate has been simply rubber-stamped without review or regulation for a number of years partly due to limited activity, but that activity escalated in 2020, when the operation expanded to the very edge of the river and it is once again expanding beyond their own scope of operation, which they submitted to the town.                                                       

They are presently under a stop work order due to the Town’s Zoning Enforcement Officer witnessing a worker dumping a tri-axel load of material over the bank to the river’s edge. It was the 4th that I witnessed that day—there are absolutely no erosion controls in place whatsoever. They have also lowered the outflow culvert, which has dropped the water level in the entire river bog by 12” to 16”, likely killing off all the invertebrates and amphibians that have been winter-hibernating in that layer.

Additionally, the pit operator intends to begin using a rock crusher, in the middle of residential area, surrounded by homes, several within a few hundred feet of the crusher’s location—all of the herons, geese, and numinous duck species, and migrating birds that use this river as a rookery will disappear. There won’t be a living creature within a mile of that machine, except for the families and children that call this place home.  
                                                                   
We are hopeful that the Zoning Board will treat this issue with the same importance as the noise issue from the pickle ball court on McCurdy Road.                                                                                                                                             
This is not the first time this operation has come before zoning enforcement. It has been mentioned at commission meetings that there have been “numerous complaints and infractions connected to this operation from its beginning”, Yet the regulations have not been amended, The damage to the wetlands continues as if it were the Florida swamps in the 1960’s. 

The [Old Lyme] Inland Wetlands Commission will be discussing this operation at their 6pm, [Thursday] March 7th meeting to address reparations to the site and the stop work order issued by the town.                          

The permit renewal is supposed to come before the [Old Lyme] Zoning Commission in May, and we hope to have the input and support of as many affected neighbors, and environmentally-concerned people and groups in time to bring these concerns to the board prior to this renewal.

If you can’t make it to a meeting, please send an Email expressing your support to the attention of..
> Old Lyme Inland Wetlands Commission / Old Lyme Zoning Board at eknapp@oldlyme-ct.gov or cbonatti@oldlyme-ct.gov 
> Old Lyme Selectwoman’s office.at mshoemaker@oldlyme-ct.gov
or a letter to the Town of Old Lyme, 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371 for the attention of the appropriate commission.                                                                                                                                                                                              
Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,

Peter and Millie Caron,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author submitted the following photos to support the case he makes in the letter above.:

Aerial view taken in 2019 of the gravel pit alongside the Three Mile River located at 308-1 Mile Creak Rd. in Old Lyme. Photo taken from Old Lyme’s GIS mapping.
This aerial photo taken Feb. 25, 2024 shows the same area as the photo above, but some five years later.

Letter to the Editor: Region 18 BOE Lyme Incumbent Powell-St. Louis ‘Not in Step With’ National Republicans, But Her Actions Suggest Otherwise

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To the Editor:

This letter is in response to Amanda Novak’s Letter to the Editor published Nov. 5 on LymeLine under the title, “Re-elect Powell-St. Louis to Region 18 BOE, Her ‘Passion and Track Record’ Make Her ‘Outstanding Choice’ for Lyme.”

While she is a doctor, Mary Powell-St. Louis has not endorsed women’s rights to control their own healthcare, including access to abortion and the need for sex education. For students and their parents, these are important issues about which they should be informed and have choice.

Mary has signed the petition that circulated in Old lyme to ban books, hardly an expression of tolerance or understanding.

At a 2018 rally in Haddam, Mary and her husband, dressed in American flags, joined a protest against the Freedom of Speech rights of the Haddam Selectwoman who had chosen to demonstrate against Donald Trump‘s embrace of Putin. Again, hardly evidence of Mary’s tolerance or her defense of the First Amendment.

More recently, Mary has sent a letter to Lyme residents admitting she is a conservative Republican, but claiming she is not in step with national Republican leaders. She did not elaborate about what she opposes or whether she believes Joe Biden won the 2020 election fair and square. Mary’s claim about the distance between her views and the extremism-dominated national Republican Party is hard to believe.

On land she owns, Trump‘s biggest financial supporter – Timothy Mellon – had his orange electric road sign flashing right wing messages.

Now, I believe in free speech, so that display was not the problem. The sign’s presence simply shows there is little evidence that Mary does not support Trump all the way! Trump’s national education policies, his lying and his persistent intolerance and bigotry are hardly qualities we in Lyme want represented in any way on the Board of Education.

Sincerely,

Lillian King,
Lyme, CT.

Letter to the Editor: Re-elect Powell-St. Louis to Region 18 BOE, Her ‘Passion and Track Record’ Make Her ‘Outstanding Choice’ for Lyme

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Editor’s Note: We received this letter last Thursday but were unable to open it. The author re-sent it numerous times but the problem persisted. She has finally solved the issue and so, in light of those circumstances, we are now publishing it now. Consequently, we will accept comments or letters responding directly to this letter through 11 p.m. Monday. No other comments or letters will be considered for publication on Monday.

To the Editor: 

I am writing this letter in support of Mary Powell-St. Louis, who is seeking reelection to the Lyme-Old Lyme Board of Education.  Having lived in Lyme since 2007, and raising 4 children here, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Mary’s dedicated service to her family, community, and for the past 8 years the Board of Education.     

During Mary’s tenure as a board member, she has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the most critical issues facing our school district, including the Building Renovation Project. Her diverse background as a Medical Doctor, active community volunteer, leadership roles in Scouts, and her role as a mother of three boys, all of whom have attended Lyme-Old Lyme schools, have significantly influenced her approach to responsible budgeting and her ability to collaborate across party lines in order to ensure that all students benefit from the decisions at hand. Mary has been a dedicated advocate for both students and educators, consistently working diligently to ensure that the needs of all our students are effectively addressed.

Mary is well versed in district policy and prioritizes transparency and open communication. She is first to say if something wasn’t handled to her high standards, and moving forward how it could be handled to produce a better outcome.  Her commitment to listening to the concerns of parents, teachers, and students underscores the utmost importance she places on community engagement  

She has shown she can adapt to the changing educational needs of our students. Her forward thinking approach and dedication to improving the quality of education for all students is truly commendable.  

I endorse Dr. Mary Powell St. Louis for reelection to the Lyme-Old Lyme Board of Education. She has consistently demonstrated unwavering dedication to championing the needs of our children. Her proven leadership, extensive experience, and deep commitment to our students and community make her the ideal candidate for another term in this critical role. Mary’s passion and track record make her an outstanding choice to continue serving our community.

Vote Mary Powell-St. Louis on November 7th!

Sincerely, 

Amanda Novak,
Lyme, CT

Editor’s Note: Mary Powell-St. Louis is the incumbent candidate on the Region 18 BOE for one of the two Lyme seats. She is endorsed by the Lyme Republican Town Committee for re-election in the upcoming election.

Letter to the Editor: Vote for Change on BOE; Current Board Lacks Transparency, Chair Runs it as ‘Personal Fiefdom’

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To the Editor:

The current Republican-dominated Board of Education has been an unmitigated disaster, from a consistent lack of transparency, to the glaring inexperience of the Chairman, Steven Wilson, who clearly has no idea how to run a meeting. 

As a parent who has spoken at the Board of Education several times over the years, I was surprised that after an incendiary public comment calling for all of the Democrats on the BOE to resign based on their opposition to Book Banning, Mr. Wilson did not adhere to the traditional format of thanking the person for their public comment, and moving on. Instead, he encouraged BOE members who agreed with the commenter to speak up and address the issue, thereby validating the comment and effectively adding it to the agenda. This was an outrageously partisan gaffe on his part, and it’s not the first time. Wilson runs the Board like it’s his own personal fiefdom, allowing discussion when it suits his purposes and quickly shutting down debate or dissent from the Democratic members. Board of Education meetings must be conducted with decorum and respect for all participants and board members, regardless of party. 

There has also been a serious lack of transparency. The Board knowingly withheld knowledge of the Middle School fuel oil spill from the community for months, and we would probably still not know anything about it had it not been for a contractor who notified nearby residents that their wells may have been compromised. It’s true that the Board issued a mealy-mouthed “apology” for their lack of transparency many months after the fact, but the damage had already been done.

This community deserves better. I urge concerned citizens to vote for the experienced and talented Democratic candidates Susan Fogliano, Scott Brown, Alexander Lowry, and Gavin Lodge (Lyme) on Row A to restore equality, respect, and transparency to our Board of Education.

Sincerely,

Michaelle Pearson,
Old Lyme.