Category Archives: Letters

Letter to the Editor: Vote Republican Slate for Old Lyme ZBA, Offers Right Balance of Leadership, Knowledge, Experience, Understanding 

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To the Editor:

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is the only entity that can vary the application of the Zoning Regulations. Thus, the  ZBA plays an important role in balancing public health, safety, convenience, welfare and property values while protecting  individual property owners from unnecessary hardship. This ZBA requires dedicated Board members committed  to transparent, fair and legally compliant decision making. 

On November 7th, I strongly encourage the voters in Old Lyme to re-elect and elect the Republican endorsed Zoning Board  of Appeals candidates. I will let the record speak for itself: 

• Nancy Hutchinson (U) – While serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals since 2014, Nancy has been unanimously elected  Chair since 2018. Nancy is responsible for the development of the Zoning Board of Appeals’ “Residential Variance  Application Guide,” which helps applicants in making prudent land use decisions. She has completed extensive training  in Connecticut Land Use as approved by the Connecticut Bar Association, UCONN, CT-DEEP, and FEMA. Living in Old  Lyme for over 27 years, her leadership on the Zoning Board of Appeals has been exemplary. 

• Dan Montano – Dan served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 4 years and was an active and well-informed member.  Committed to fairness and reasonableness in the zoning appeals process, Dan’s experience is significant as he is  intimately familiar with the major land use issues facing Old Lyme. 

• Roderick Clingman – As an incumbent alternate member of the Old Lyme Zoning Board of Appeals, Rod is running for  re-election having served on the board for the past two years. Rod, a 20 year+ resident of Old Lyme, is known for being  fair-minded while being committed to maintaining the charm and small-town beauty of Old Lyme and brings essential  continuity to the board. 

• Peter Lucchese – Peter is running as an alternate member and has over 50 years of experience as a Real Estate  professional. While interacting with many shoreline town Zoning Boards in a professional capacity, Peter has  demonstrated his knowledge in land use regulations and State statutes. As an active volunteer, serving on Lyme’s  Senior Center Board of Directors, Roger’s Lake West Shores Board of Directors, and assisting at High Hopes Therapeutic  Riding, Peter is the epitome of volunteerism. Peter brings a lifetime of experience to the ZBA. 

• Brian Cole – Brian is running as an alternate member to the Board. He has been a resident of Old Lyme for nearly 40  years and is well-known as a volunteer for various causes and sports programs in our community. Brian brings an  important business owner’s perspective to the Zoning Board of Appeals with over 4 decades of experience in various  industries. 

The Republican endorsed candidates bring leadership, ZBA experience, continuity, in-depth real estate and land use knowledge, and property development and management experience to our Zoning Board of Appeals. This team has the right balance of leadership, knowledge, experience and understanding. 

Vote for the Republican candidates for the Zoning Board of Appeals on November 7th because the right collective experience counts.

Sincerely, 

Steven Cinami,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Lodge, ‘a Fierce Opponent of Book Censorship,’ Will Serve Lyme Families Well on Region 18 BOE

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To the Editor:

I write in support of Gavin Lodge as the Lyme representative to the Region 18 Board of Education. Lodge will serve Lyme and its youth well. He is a father of two children in our schools, a past public school PTO co-president. He is active in Lyme’s Sustainable Committee and other town commissions.

He is the executive director of 4A Arts, a national nonprofit that promotes arts and culture in our communities. As a small business entrepreneur, he has demonstrated strong fiscal expertise. 

Most importantly, Lodge is a fierce opponent of book censorship and will advocate for all children in the schools. Nationally, more than 90 percent of the books targeted for censorship and removal are about LGBTQ+ and youth of color, and it is no different here. Lodge believes deeply in the freedom to choose and express one’s opinions even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular. 

It is not a coincidence that his position is the same as the American Library Association [ALA]. Like the ALA, Lodge believes that parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.

Let’s not be fooled into thinking this school election is typical; it is not. It is one of the most consequential elections in memory for the town of Lyme.

Vote Gavin Lodge.

Sincerely,

Michael James,
Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is Professor Emeritus of Education at Connecticut College. He is also the husband of Anna James (D), the Region 18 Board of Education member for Lyme, who is not up for re-election this year.

Letter to the Editor: Re-elect Gaudio, Willis to Old Lyme Planning Commission; Both are Experienced, Competent Gatekeepers for Community.

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To the Editor:

I am writing this letter to strongly urge the voters in Old Lyme to re-elect Barbara Gaudio and Donald Willis to the Planning Commission on November 7th.

The importance of the Planning Commission’s work cannot be overstated.  The Planning Commission members are the gatekeepers for prudent and sensible property development in Old Lyme.  These two incumbent Planning Commission members have been endorsed by the Old Lyme Republicans.  Both of these folks are long time residents of Old Lyme with deep roots in the community.  Both have solid experience on the Planning Commission and both are in favor of development in Old Lyme when it is compliant with development regulations and congruous with the character of Old Lyme.

Barbara Gaudio is an unaffiliated voter and has served on the Commission since 2018.  During that time, she has distinguished herself as a fair-minded and prudent Commissioner.  Barbara has lived in Old Lyme for 30 years and raised her two children here.  Both daughters attended District 18 schools.

Ms. Gaudio has an educational and career background in business.  She was an alternate member of the Planning Commission and is currently a full member.  Barbara previously served on the Economic Development Commission in Old Lyme for many years.  She supports fostering development that is sensible and consistent with the fabric of Old Lyme.

Donald Willis is a life long resident of Old Lyme for over 60 years.  Don brings both a salient and unique perspective to the Planning Commission.  Don worked for the Connecticut DOT for 29 years prior to his retirement.  Hence, he is very familiar with roadway and bridge construction regulations.  He was a significant contributor to the Lyme Street Rehabilitation Project.  Furthermore, Don has served on the Planning Commission for over ten years and is intimately familiar with the major applications currently before the Commission.

Don’s local ties to the community run deep as he has served as a volunteer firefighter for the Old Lyme Fire Department for 20 years.  He attended the District 18 schools and was a past member of the Inland Wetlands Commission.

Both Barbara Gaudio and Donald Willis are experienced and competent gatekeepers for our community.  Please vote to re-elect these two exemplary public servants on November 7th to the Planning Commission.

Sincerely,

Christopher W. Kerr,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Reiter Defends His Record as Old Lyme Treasurer for Past Four Years, Seeks Votes to Continue Work for Another Four

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To the Editor:

I am Mike Reiter, Treasurer for Old Lyme and running for reelection this November. I read Mike Bucior’s October 16 letter to the editor entitled, “Vote for Experience, Expertise of Matt Ward for Town Treasurer.” While what he writes about Mr. Ward may be true, what he writes about me is not.

Mr. Bucior notes that he reached out to Board of Finance members and was told that I rarely attend any Board of Finance meetings. And while that is correct, he left out a rather crucial point: the Town Treasurer has no need to attend Board of Finance meetings. This is because the duties of the Town Treasurer and the duties of the Board of Finance are fundamentally different. In fact, it is easy to research the statutory job responsibilities of the Treasurer in section 7-80 of the Connecticut General Statutes which is titled, “Duties of the Treasurer.” In short, the Treasurer is responsible for managing the Town’s money and ensuring that all bills are paid. Which means the Treasurer works with the Finance Department, not the Board of Finance. Nor do I report to the Board of Finance or Board of Selectman.

So what have I been doing over the past four years, besides the day to day task of working with the Finance Department? When COVID hit I worked with the Finance Director and our IT Company to ensure that even if Town Hall had to shut down, bills and paychecks would still be paid. And while I was at it, I worked with the Town Hall IT Committee to upgrade all our IT systems to current standards. More recently, when our Finance Director was out on extended medical leave, I helped find a temporary replacement to fill the role until a permanent replacement could be found.

I’ve been inside Town Hall for the past four years working hard for the people of Old Lyme and I’m looking forward to continuing to work for you over the next four years.

Sincerely,

Michael Reiter,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Danenhower Defends His No Vote on HRIC Overlay Plan; Says Plan Was Flawed, Vote Not Political But in Best Interest of Town

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To the Editor:

This letter is in response to Sandra Rueb’s letter published on October 17, 2023, regarding the Zoning Commission vote on the Halls Road Improvement Committee’s overlay plan on March 27th 2023.  Rather than state the reasons I gave on the record for my No vote, she personally attacked me, and Michael Barnes the other No vote in her first sentence by stating, “sometimes members promote their personal agendas” Quite an insinuation!  

Despite being an unaffiliated voter for decades, she calls me “nominally affiliated, but normally voting as Republican”.  I serve as a volunteer and had absolutely no interest, personally or pecuniary in the outcome of the Halls Road Overlay Plan vote. My only interest was to cast a vote in what I firmly believe was in the best interest of the town of Old Lyme. The town I grew up in and Love. It is a personal insult to “float” these innuendos.

I have sat on the Zoning Commission for dozens of meetings and rarely if ever have seen Ms. Rueb at the meetings.  She should also know the commission is made up of Democrat, Republican and unaffiliated members.

The overlay plan that was presented on the night of my Nay vote was seriously flawed. So flawed it came to the Zoning Commission with a negative referral from the Planning Commission, not to mention major changes were considered right up to minutes before the vote.

The approval by the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance were not factors in the Zoning Commission vote because those two entities gave only a broad-brush approval.  They were not involved in the details of the plan as the Planning Commission was. 

Regarding the 2020 survey: “80% of those responding to the survey conducted for the town are in favor”. In fact, the respondents numbered 700, (according to Ms. Twining, chairperson of the H.R.I.C.), meaning 560 were in favor; <8% of the population of Old Lyme. A stunted margin.  Nobody knows what percentage of our community now supports or opposes the plan that was presented.

Lastly, Ms. Rueb asks the citizens of Old Lyme to vote for incumbent Paul Orzel who has been endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee.  Mr. Orzel has been the longtime chairman of the commission and brings great knowledge.  What she neglects to say is Mr. Orzel has also been cross endorsed by the Republican Town Committee. Why was this significant fact omitted?

Please Ms. Rueb, refrain from making erroneous and or misleading statements about my No vote. And leave politics out of it.

Sincerely,

Sloan Danenhower,
Old Lyme.