Category Archives: Letters

Letter to the Editor: Old Lyme’s American Rescue Plan Committee Delivers Recommendations to OL BOS for Allocation of $2.1M ARPA Funds, ‘Dream Team’ Committee Acknowledged

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To the Editor:

I am writing to report that Old Lyme’s American Rescue Plan Committee (ARPC) has met its goal and delivered a set of recommendations to the Board of Selectmen (BOS) on the distribution of $2,162000 in funds awarded to the Town by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Note that we understand that these are only our recommendations and that the BOS will exercise their decisions independently, not only using our work, but the much broader information available to them as our elected Town officials. 

The ARPC’s recommendation includes economic recovery grants for financial losses sustained by small businesses and not-for-profits, support for Old Lyme infrastructure and emergency services, and funds for initiatives sponsored by organizations in the Town that may impact a broad segment of the community.

Note that the ARPC did not consider requests from individuals or households that suffered losses during the pandemic; but rather, recommended that funds be allotted to the Social Services Discretionary Fund to assist, through existing channels, those most in need within the Old Lyme community.

I want to acknowledge the ARPC ‘dream team”. They brought a wealth of experience from the private and public sectors and were willing to not only meet weekly at Town Hall, but also accept the extensive “homework” (and storage space) required to understand this complex and complicated legislation. 

I was continually amazed at the rapid turnaround on review of materials and proposals; and the group’s willingness to provide input and reach decisions that reflect community, rather than personal interests.

I feel confident that our recommendations demonstrate a thoughtful assessment of the Town’s needs, as reported in the extensive response to our survey, meet the requirements of the legislation, and that we communicated the program in a manner that reached residents, organizations, and businesses.

It was my honor to serve on this committee.

Sincerely,

Thomas D. Gotowka,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The writer is the Chairman of Old Lyme’s American Rescue Plan Committee.

Letter to the Editor: Keep the Vision of Public Access to Public Land Alive in Old Lyme

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To the Editor:

The Republican Party has a long history of protecting one of our nation’s most precious resources – the beauty of our natural environment. President Theodore Roosevelt, known as “The Conservation President”, established the United States Forest Service and during his administration preserved over 230 million acres of public land  to be kept in its natural state and to be enjoyed by the public. President Johnson spearheaded the Clean Water Act during his administration and President Nixon followed up with the Clean Air Act during his tenure. Our party is also proud to have worked with our Democrat friends to keep America beautiful.

Why do we live in Old Lyme? One of the top answers is because it is the most beautiful rural small town along the Connecticut coastline. We are second to none with a landscape bounded by the Long Island Sound, rivers, wooded hills and filled with a very biodiverse ecology. The question that needs to be asked is, “How do we protect this beauty and still enjoy it with all our senses?”

Recently, there have been several news stories about a parcel of town owned property located at 36-1 Buttonball Road. It was deeded to the town with a restriction that it shall be used by the public for waterfront access. A representative from CT DEEP indicated that if the town went forward with that plan and an environmental impact study were to be done, then it would be very probable that DEEP would permit some minimal development to access the water based on an on-site observation. There would be room to park a vehicle and then access the water by way of a minimally impacting boardwalk to launch a kayak or to just enjoy the salt marsh ecology.

We support and encourage the town to pursue the wishes of this property’s donor to allow the public to have waterfront access. Furthermore, we stress the importance of responsible stewardship for these generous gifts. Proper stewardship will demonstrate that we value and will protect a donor’s wishes; and, it will encourage future donors to gift parcels of land for the public benefit knowing that their gift’s purpose will be honored.

We do understand that this parcel falls within jurisdictional aspects of several town authorities and so we encourage a post haste resolution of this jurisdictional issue so that the town may expeditiously move forward with a DEEP application for an environmental impact study.

It has been well over a century since President Theodore Roosevelt made it a national vision to protect and enjoy nature. Let’s continue to keep this vision alive in Old Lyme!

Robert A. Nixon,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is the chairman of the Old Lyme Republican Town Committee.

Letter to the Editor: Seeking Kittens, A Respectful Request to the Lyme-Old Lyme Community

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To the Editor:

We are on the lookout for two adoptable kittens.  We hope to find a pair of orange tabby sisters, but we are flexible, assuming that they are, too.

We lost Finn last year with an inoperable carcinoma diagnosis.  We are grateful that our veterinarian was able to help all three of us get through Finn’s final few months.

Finn was a rescue, and started life in the NYU freshman dormitory; remaining there until expulsion appeared inevitable (n. b., Finn’s expulsion). She re-located to Old Lyme and remained with us for more than fifteen years.

Our new kittens will have big paws to fill. Finn was a true raconteur and was very willing to share her world view with either of us. She had the gift of reflecting our emotions and responding in kind.

Finn was predominantly an indoor cat, but would occasionally venture out into the gardens with either of us. There’s now a very active fox population in Greater Library Lane, so our next kittens will likely be exclusively indoors.

Finn was very proud of her birding life list, and we assume that our new kittens will have that same hobby. Our home’s design enables clear views of the marsh, the bird feeders, and the Duck River from many comfortable spots in the house.

          In return, we offer a loving home, great conversation, solid veterinary care, good food, and clean litter.

Note that we are already on a few waiting lists in SE CT.

Sincerely,

Christina J. & Thomas D. Gotowka,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: An Open Letter to the Lyme, Old Lyme Boards of Selectmen:- Actions of Rogers Lake Authority Spark Concern, Anger

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An Open Letter to the Select-persons of Lyme and Old Lyme:

I am writing to make you aware of an immediate concern with the Rogers Lake Authority [RLA] and how they are handling recent events, especially the disrespect they showed to our community at the special Rogers Lake Authority meeting at the Old Lyme Town Hall on Tuesday, April 19th.

To give you a brief history regarding this matter, I held my monthly Rogers Lake West Shores Association [RLWSA] meeting on Monday, March 7th. It was after this meeting that I learned about the Rogers Lake Authority’s new ordinance proposal for the “No Wake Zone.” I learned that not only had they been “discussing” this ordinance for 3 years, but they already submitted and obtained the necessary permit from DEEP. Also, two of the RLA Board members are part of the RLWSA with me.

The RLWSA, as well as the other associations on Rogers Lake, were never notified of this ordinance proposal. It was at this time that I sent out an immediate text to anyone I knew in the community that this ordinance would affect. Within less than 48 hours, we had upwards of 67 community members attend the RLA regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 9th. RLA Board member, Mark Hastings, was acting chair while Dennis Overfield was on vacation, who called into the meeting via cell phone.

As the March 9th minutes state, there were many questions from upset community members who wanted answers as to why, how and when this ordinance came about. The Board was unable to provide any evidence or data that supported a reason for this extreme action. One of many concerns that was discussed was the safety risk this “No Wake Zone” will actually cause.  Congestion at each end of the lake will increase traffic back-up and possible dropped skiers will be at risk to name a few. Never mind the weed growth that would increase within the areas of the “No Wake Zones” and erosion of property which would decrease the value of lakefront homes. It was at that meeting where the community was told the DEEP permit was already obtained and we would have been made aware of the buoys, which were set to be put in this Spring, in their upcoming newsletter.

During that March 9th meeting, I informed the Board that I had been in touch with our attorney who stated the Board was out of compliance and what they were about to do was against policy. From my understanding, all ordinance changes cannot be made without a formal town committee vote from both Lyme and Old Lyme.

From this point, the RLA attempted to provide a “summary” of their actions by submitting an April 2022 letter to the town websites in which they changed the original footage measurements based on Google Earth as well as how they intended the use of the buoys. They changed the wording of where boats can pass, and they increased the no wake zones for jet skis. On top of the written summary, the Board secretly attempted to change their usually scheduled April meeting to Friday, March 25th, only to cancel and change their meeting to April 13th. However, they canceled once again and re-scheduled their meeting to Tuesday, April 19th at the Town Hall – conveniently during school vacation.

From their April 2022 summary, to changing meetings and locations, and to the April 19th Town Hall meeting, it is very clear this RLA Board is not in the best interest of the tax payer community or the health of Rogers Lake.  The RLA chair, Dennis Overfield, took an authoritative approach by starting the meeting with yelling at the crowd to be quiet, stating public comment will be at the end of their full agenda and that they will not be answering any questions. Then Mr. Overfield proceeded to carry on his meeting with his back to the entire public, which was an upward of 80 people.

After drawing out his long agenda for over an hour, the Board conveniently left out the “No Wake Zone” ordinance draft stating they “did not have the time to update it before the meeting.” But instead, the public learned of new ordinances that were being drawn up including a 40mph speed limit and a possible vessel size limit. At the very end of the meeting, Mr. Overfield asked for a motion to adjourn with community members still providing input.

This behavior of the Board, and especially of Mr. Overfield, is unacceptable. The secretive, sneaky and deceptive actions are beyond unprofessional, and the community has lost all respect and trust for the appointed Rogers Lake Authority Board.

Sincerely,

David Evers,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is the president of Rogers Lake West Shores Association.

Letter to the Editor: Update on Tantummaheag Town Landing Situation Overdue, Required so All Residents Can Understand Outcome

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To the Editor:

I am writing all three Selectmen as I have not heard back from [Old Lyme First Selectman] Tim Griswold regarding an update to the Tantummaheag Town Landing after three emails.

It is disappointing that this issue has not been resolved and is no longer on the agenda for your board meetings.

I first notified Tim about this issue in July of 2020, we had a special town meeting in January of 2021 where it was determined that signage would be put up with clear markings as to town/private property. Nothing happened. In the meantime the adjacent property owner did a title search and claims that this property is NOT owned by the town, but is his property. Last time I was at a Board meeting Tim was supposed to arrange a meeting with some people in the neighboring Coult Lane area to meet with the property owners (who continue to make it difficult for people driving to the landing).

Has this meeting been arranged? Why are the people of Coult Lane the only ones included … this is TOWN-owned property. It seems as though that we are conceding to the Frampton’s claims and this is not on Mr. Griswold’s radar and nothing has been done – other than cost of the tax payers money for town attorney fees because of inaction.

Will this be put back on the agenda so the entire town can understand what is going on? Access to the Connecticut River is important for all of the citizens in Old Lyme.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Griffin,
Old Lyme.