Welcome!
Next Old Lyme DTC Meeting: Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 7:30 PM
The Old Lyme DTC meets the first Wednesday of the month at Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street.
Your interest and participation are always welcome!
The Old Lyme DTC meets the first Wednesday of the month at Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme Street.
Your interest and participation are always welcome!
NewsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2019 Contact: andrew@dnacampaigns.com 631.741.8853 First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder and Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal Officially Announce Re-Election Campaign Old Lyme, Connecticut (July 10, 2019) – Today, Democratic First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder and Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal officially announced they will be running for re-election. Bonnie Reemsnyder has served on the Board of Selectmen since 2003 and was elected First Selectman in 2011. Mary Jo Nosal joined Reemsnyder as a member of the Board of Selectmen in 2011. “Since first being elected, our number one priority has always been finding innovative ways to improve our town while not putting an unfair burden on taxpayers,” Reemsnyder stated, “and this year, we were proud to be able to sustain a low tax base while actually expanding services and building infrastructure through planning and grants. We continue to build towards a future of financial stability and while we are proud of our accomplishments so far, we know there is still work to be done.” “I don’t think people fully appreciate the work that Bonnie and Mary Jo do for the town of Old Lyme,” Old Lyme resident Pamelia Parker stated. “Bonnie and Mary Jo have spent their entire time in office advocating for policies that will preserve the character of our town while adapting to a changing state. Going back to their fight to prevent the train coming through our historical district, they have shown time and again that they listen to our concerns and are proactive in providing a voice to everyday people. I love living in Old Lyme and I’m supporting this team because they have shown they have the work ethic and vision to lead us to a better future.” Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal took the opportunity to speak about their past two years in office. “Keeping taxes low, securing over $1 million in state funding to fix our roads, and supporting our schools and nonprofits are all accomplishments that represent our values and vision as a team,” Nosal commented. “Old Lyme is a special place and the opportunity to continue to serve the people of this town is an honor.” Lymeline.com Reemsnyder Firmly Denies Wrongdoing at CT Port Authority, Explains Absence at Transportation Hearing August 22, 2019 by Olwen Logan OLD LYME -- As has been widely reported, Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder did not appear in person at the state Transportation Committee’s hearing regarding the Connecticut Port Authority (CPA) on Tuesday. She did, however, submit written testimony (published in full at the link below) in which she stated categorically in reference to the purchase by the CPA of photographs from her daughter, “Consistent with the State’s Ethics Code governing conflicts of interest, I had no involvement in any aspect of the sale, including no role in the initial decision, negotiations, payment, bookkeeping, or accounting for the transaction, and I did not benefit in any way financially from the transaction.” Reemsnyder gave LymeLine.com the following explanation for her absence from the hearing in an e-mail Wednesday evening, in which she said, “I received the “invitation to attend” on Sunday night, as I was away the weekend, and the Town was committing to a bond for the Library. On Tuesday, I had to coordinate the signatures of the Term Sheet to secure the rate that was offered in a bid. So between reviewing the term sheet documents, accepting changes from the bank, and coordinating with the Treasurer for signatures, it tied up my morning.” She continued, “In addition, I had an afternoon meeting that was already scheduled, and a Board of Finance meeting that night, which I take a considerable time to prepare for,” adding, “I did take the time on Monday, a day that I had a 4 PM Board of Selectmen meeting that I carefully prepare for, to articulate my written testimony.” Visit this link to read Reemsnyder’s written testimony to the Transportation Committee. or as copied below: Bonnie Reemsnyder By Electronic Mail August 19, 2019 Dear Senator Carlo Leone, Representative Roland Lamar, Senator Henri Martin and Representative Laura Devlin: My name is Bonnie Reemsnyder. I am a former Board member of the Connecticut Port Authority (CPA), having been named Chairwoman on June 19, 2019 after then Chair Scott Bates stepped down. I resigned from the Board at the request of Governor Lamont on July 24, 2019. On Saturday, August 17, I received an invitation from the Transportation Committee to provide testimony or, in the alternative, to provide a statement for the record. Thank you for that opportunity. Unfortunately, I have pre-existing business commitments incident to my job as First Selectwoman of Old Lyme, Connecticut, on Tuesday that I could not reschedule on short notice in order to appear in person. However, I am glad to provide this written statement and the following information so that people are more fully informed as to the facts surrounding some of the recent events at the CPA that coincided with my resigning from the CPA board. Two years ago, in August 2017, the CPA committed to renting new office space and allocated funding for the fit-out of this space. Executive Director Evan Matthews was authorized to manage that process. At that time, I was a board member of the CPA. Mr. Matthews retained an interior designer to assist with the work. Unbeknownst to me, this designer reached out to my daughter to inquire as to whether my daughter, a professional photographer, could produce sound-insulating acoustical panels imprinted with photographic images consistent with the CPA's mission. I learned about these initial discussions only after they had occurred. When I did become aware, I immediately informed Mr. Matthews that I could have no involvement with any aspect of the transaction and told my daughter the same. My understanding is that the purchase was completed and the work delivered and installed in September 2017. Consistent with the State's Ethics Code governing conflicts of interest, I had no involvement in any aspect of the sale, including no role in the initial decision, negotiations, payment, bookkeeping, or accounting for the transaction, and I did not benefit in any way financially from the transaction. The applicable laws, regulations and bylaws of the CPA do not prohibit or limit the right of the CPA to do business with a relative of a CPA board member. They do, however, in most cases require that the board member recuse himself or herself from decisions regarding the transaction. I followed those rules, recused myself, and took no part in any discussions or decisions concerning the CPA's purchase from my daughter. In hindsight, I wish I had thought to alert the full Board, and not just Executive Director Matthews, to the situation and my recusal. However, I have recently learned that the Board's chairman at the time, and thus the Board, were fully aware of the transaction and my recusal. While I conducted myself at all times according to the applicable rules for these conflicted circumstances, it is clear that doing so is not enough to avoid the public appearance of impropriety when there is an overlap between family and government activities. This is a lesson for us all. I am sorry if anyone has been disappointed by or upset over the media accounts of this matter, but can assure you and the citizens of this state that I have not behaved improperly in this instance or otherwise over my 16 years of public service. Thank you for your consideration of this statement. Very truly yours, Bonnie Reemsnyder Chair of the Old Lyme RTC, member of Old Lyme Board of Finance funds new e-paper Questions of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Raised by David Collins of The Day www.theday.com/local-columns/20190427/old-lyme-gop-chairman-launches-local-newspaper "I expect the people of Old Lyme will be paying attention. And I hope they never forget, as they ponder the coverage, where the money to produce it comes from." d.collins@theday.com The Halls Road Improvements Committee FAQs The Halls Road Improvements Committee is working with Yale Urban Design Workshop for conceptual design work.
A budget for the conceptual design work was approved at Town Meeting last year. The budget is $20,000 and an authorized expenditure, including additions, of up to $26,400, over the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years. The following are some Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Halls Road Improvements project posted in Lymeline. https://lymeline.com/2019/01/halls-rd-improvement-committee-offers-frequently-asked-questions January 28, 2019
Question 1: Why should the town get into the development business? Isn’t that better left to private developers? Answer: It shouldn’t and yes. We are not suggesting that the town take charge of development on Halls Road but, rather, that we take steps to encourage private parties to develop the neighborhood in a manner and direction that will comply with current requirements (safety, complete streets, ADA accessibility, etc.) and best serve the needs of the community. These steps would include adopting a “master plan” and guidelines for future development, investing limited funds in infrastructure and public spaces, and making appropriate changes to the town’s zoning code and Plan of Conservation and Development, all intended to allow for and encourage private developers to invest in upgrading existing structures and undertaking new construction. Question 2: Halls Road is fine the way it is—why is the town considering changes? Answer: Halls Road, our central commercial center, has developed haphazardly over many years. It is inhospitable to pedestrian and bicycle traffic, portions of it are esthetically unattractive or looking tired, and residents currently have to leave town to seek products or services they cannot obtain locally. If nothing is done, we are concerned that the business environment will deteriorate, businesses will close, and even fewer goods and services will be available. With thoughtful planning and inducements, we should be able to: i. improve the business environment, thereby assisting existing businesses, attracting new ones, and growing and diversifying the tax base; ii. create a physically-attractive neighborhood, safe and inviting for pedestrians and bicyclists; iii. stimulate the development of housing that is inviting to down-sizing residents and to young folks wanting to move to town; and iv. provide public spaces for civic events and recreation. The ultimate objective is to create a vibrant town center that has more to offer the citizens of Old Lyme and is one we can be proud of. Question 3: What is the new plan for Halls Road? Answer: The plan does not yet exist; it is still developing and is flexible. The goal is to reach majority agreement on what the Halls Road neighborhood might ideally look like. Initially, we held a public meeting to obtain feedback regarding those elements residents would like to see included. The meeting produced many ideas, including the ability to park once and walk the entire road, creation of green space with a community gathering area, development of mixed-use facilities (or a mix of uses), and esthetic enhancements.~~We recently held a second public meeting to gain further input, and will hold more meetings in the future. The Yale Urban Design Workshop is assisting us in developing a master plan, but we need substantial input from town residents and stakeholders in order to come up with sound ideas that enjoy widespread support. Question 4: What is the process for developing a master plan? Answer: Once we have enough public input to begin to see the outlines of a plan, we will present these ideas to local and state governmental authorities for input and necessary approvals. At the town level, the plan will likely need buy-in from the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance, the Zoning Commission and the Planning Commission, as well as amendments to the zoning regulations and the Plan of Conservation and Development. At the state level, we will need approval from the Department of Transportation, which owns Halls Road. A master plan can be finalized only when it enjoys broad public support and satisfies governmental requirements. Question 5: What is the anticipated time-frame for implementing the plan? Answer: The Committee intends to develop a master plan and set of guidelines for the future development of Halls Road. The plan would consist of several phases to be pursued in an orderly sequence over time, so that work done in one phase supports, or at least does not interfere with, improvements to be made in a subsequent phase. Each phase will also be expected to “stand on its own,” in the sense that its completion will add value to the town even if subsequent phases are not pursued. For example, an initial phase might consist of improving access, such as by adding sidewalks, a bike path, improved signage, and a pedestrian bridge over the Lieutenant River. The timing and exact nature of subsequent phases, and the changes that will be implemented, will of course depend on future events, including available funding and the decisions made by private developers and property-owners. Hence the timing is unpredictable, but this is surely a multi-year process over which the master plan will evolve, perhaps substantially but consistent with the guidelines, to address changes over time in the town’s commercial and residential needs. Question 6: Will the plan result in unfettered growth and additional traffic? Answer: We view this project as a rehabilitation of the Halls Road neighborhood, and any potential growth must be managed to fit the needs and the character of the town. For example, we would encourage architectural design in keeping with the small New England town flavor of Old Lyme. There is no intent or appetite to change our “town business center” into a dense retail environment but, instead, to attract a limited number of businesses that our neighbors would like to enjoy locally (e.g., a restaurant, coffee shop, bakery, jewelry store), and enhance the patronage for existing businesses. These changes would increase auto traffic somewhat. However, we intend to limit congestion through a design that encourages folks to park once and then walk the neighborhood, rather than drive from place to place. Question 7: How can this plan survive the overflow traffic from tie-ups on I-95? Answer: These tie-ups will not be materially exacerbated by a normal increase in Halls Road traffic, and they occur infrequently enough so that they should not discourage business development along the road, which is currently a pass-through. The plan might call for locating parking behind the main shopping and business buildings and creating tertiary access roads and walkways, which would mitigate the Halls Road bottleneck. For example, we might explore the construction of a local access road south of the current Old Lyme Marketplace buildings (the Big Y plaza). Question 8: Will private property owners be required to make changes or invest money? Answer: No one will be required to do anything. Other than the state right-of-way along Halls Road, the real estate in question is privately owned and changes must be voluntary. The expectation is that property owners will see the advantages of making changes to their property in order to increase profitability. Alternatively, they may discover that they can sell their property at an attractive price to a motivated developer who is ready to invest in a significant project consistent with the town’s guidelines. Question 9: How will the plan be financed and how much will it raise property taxes? Answer: The objective is to have this project be tax neutral or result in a tax rate decrease because of an increase in the tax base. The public infrastructure would hopefully be financed, at least in part, through state and federal grants, and from new tax revenue generated by the new construction, although this might initially require town bonding. The private development will be financed by developers and property owners, who may also help pay for common amenities such as wastewater management, sidewalks and landscaping. The town might consider creating a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District like the one just approved in Old Saybrook, under which new tax revenue generated by new construction may be allocated, in whole or in part, to improvements in the district and to financial inducements to developers. In all events, any material town expenditures will have to be approved at a town meeting. On Election Day, November 6, 2018 Old Lyme voters exceeded 70% in voter participation.
Let's beat this on November 5, 2019! 
We Salute our Veterans. Thank you for your service!
2018 Veteran's Lunch at the Lymes' Senior Center Did You Know?
Protecting Our Town
www.theday.com/local-news/20180902/survey-of-historic-properties-to-be-conducted-in-old-lyme Old Lyme's Fiscal Health is Rated Among the Most Healthy in CT!
Check out the study results by the Yankee Institute For Public Policy www.theday.com/local-news/20180827/fiscal-analysis-ranks-old-lyme-among-states-healthiest-municipalities "First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder lauded town employees last week in connection with a think tank’s finding that the town is among the most fiscally healthy municipalities in the state." Have You Seen Hartford Avenue Lately?
Check it out! www.theday.com/article/20180504/BIZ02/180509632/
Have You Seen The New Cross Lane Playground?
Check it out! http://lymeline.com/2018/04/community-comes-out-to-celebrate-cross-lane-playground-opening/ Alternative Police Options Under Discussion
www.theday.com/local-news/20171120/old-lyme-to-create-committee-to-study-options-for-police-service Discussing Options Check the Town of Old Lyme meeting calendar for meetings oldlyme-ct.gov/Pages/OldLymeCT_Calendar/?formid=158 Bonnie Reemsnyder is Re-Elected First Selectwoman
Keep it Going!
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