To the Editor:

During my 15 years on the Old Lyme Board of Finance, I have served with both Jude Read and Chris Kerr.  I have watched their collaborative approach to questions raised.  I have seen them listen to townspeople’s concerns and then respond to their inquires in a timely fashion.

Old Lyme Democrats favor state grants and regionalization as the lynch pins of town government.  Republicans believe in fiscal restraint and careful planning as their chosen path to future success for the Town of Old Lyme and it’s (sic) residents.  More and better prioritizing of potential projects will lead to improved outcomes – on time, on budget, and on scope.  Read and Kerr believe that big decisions should be made by elected officials, not appointed committees.

Jude Read, as First Selectman, and Chris Kerr as Selectman, will work diligently for Old Lyme and it’s (sic) residents and fight hard to maintain local control.  They keep Old Lyme’s best interest at heart.

Old Lyme needs, strong forward-thinking leaders who will make careful, well-informed decisions based on our town’s needs.  That’s why I will vote for the Old Lyme Republican team of Jude Read and Chris Kerr in November.

Sincerely,

Janet Sturges,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Old Lyme Board of Finance.

To the Editor:

The Republican candidates for Old Lyme Selectmen are running on two planks: regionalization is wrong and grants are bad.  They are incorrect on both counts and will lead our town in the wrong direction.  Bonnie Reemsnyder and Mary Jo Nosal are doing a great job and we must keep them in office.

Smart regionalization can afford small towns the ability to improve public services cost-effectively.  The Ledge Light Health District promised just that: increasing services and reducing expense. In June 2016 the Republican-controlled Board of Finance, including RTC Chairman David Kelsey, voted to pursue joining the District.  Chris Kerr opposed but in August, after the bipartisan Board of Selectmen’s unanimous decision, he joined the other members of the BOF in unanimously recommending the District to a Town Meeting.  The town then voted to join Ledge Light.

We have not lost control over our health services.  Bonnie Reemsnyder sits on the District’s Board, it hired our department’s administrative assistant, a contract prescribes our services, and Old Lyme may terminate the relationship if it doesn’t work well. The District is now enforcing the health code and all of us are materially safer.

Our small town has had substantial difficulty attracting police officers.  The Board of Selectmen and the Republican BOF Chairman Andy Russell have advocated exploring whether a relationship with East Lyme might facilitate robust, affordable police protection, without abandoning local control.  What harm is there in exploring this possibility?

Do folks think that our regionalized school system is a mistake?

The Republicans don’t like grants.  They apparently would prefer to forgo beneficial community projects or pay 100% of the cost with increased property taxes.  Why does this make sense?

Please join me in voting for Bonnie and Mary Jo next Tuesday.  This is not a close call.

Sincerely,

Bennett J. Bernblum,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Old Lyme Board of Finance and Democratic Town Committee, and chairman of the Halls Road Improvements Committee.

To the Editor:

Issue: Poor management from the First Selectwoman’s office may result in the outsourcing of Old Lyme’s police services to the Town of East Lyme.

Background:  Over the last few years poor decisions have created low morale within the ranks of our Town’s police.  This has led to the filing of numerous grievances that cost the Town thousands of dollars and resulted in the resignation of two police officers – 33% of our local force.  To make matters worse, our First Selectwoman did not replace the officers for 14 months!

Consequence:  Countless shifts were not manned or were filled by State Troopers at about double the hourly rate of our own police.  Unfilled shifts put the citizens of Old Lyme at risk and put our police at risk, due to inadequate backup.  Police legal costs last year were an astonishing $31,000, and the Selectman’s legal budget was overspent by 60%.

Solution:  The solution to the police issue is better management; not outsourcing or spending thousands of dollars on lawyers.  Jude Read and Chris Kerr will supply that better management and are committed to improving morale and keeping our police services LOCAL.

Action:  Vote for Jude Read, First Selectwoman, and Chris Kerr, Selectman, on November 7^th.

Sincerely,

Timothy Griswold,
Old Lyme

Editor’s Note: The author was First Selectman of the Town of Old Lyme from 1997-2011.

To the Editor:

For 6 years, the community of Old Lyme has benefited from services of Bonnie Reemsnyder as First Selectwoman and Mary Jo Nosal as Selectwoman. This team of dedicated businesswomen has  brought modern business practices to town hall and installed a culture of transparency. They have shown the courage to face contentious issues, such as the long- delayed beach septic problem, and have attracted state substantial money to enhance our parks, beaches and rivers.  By far the most significant achievement is that the Reemsnyder- Nosal team stared down the hapless federal government’s ill-conceived railroad bypass project, and turned it around in its tracks. We can all agree that the initial plan concocted by the FRA would have destroyed this community’s most valuable asset, and left the town an economic and social wreck.

Professionalism and diligence in forming and presenting a convincing argument against the bypass turned that train around. Relationships forged over the years with state and federal officials were critical in achieving this community-saving victory. Don’t throw away the respect Reemsnyder and Nosal have worked so hard to build. It will continue to serve us well. Vote Reemsnyder and Nosal on November 7.

Sincerely,

Candace Fuchs,
Old Lyme.