It has been a beautiful week in Old Lyme. Our main office is put back together, and we sent the last of the unclaimed residential building plans to the shredder yesterday morning. We were glad to see so many people interested in having an extra set for their files. With the extra room in the basement storage area, we are creating a space for boards, commissions and committees to store their files.

This has been a busy week. On Tuesday, the town sold $4,100,000 of general obligation bonds for the Lymes Senior Center renovation project. The town received nine bids from various underwriting firms with the winning bid of 2.58%. The Town also received a bond premium of $289,456 that can be used to mitigate the debt service and pay the issuance costs. The term of the bonds is 10 years. The town received the highest possible bond rating of “AAA” from S&P Global Ratings. I would like to thank Anita Mancini, our Finance Director, who worked diligently with our financial advisor and bonding counsel to ensure that this process went smoothly from start to finish.

On Wednesday we opened bids for the Sound View parking lot’s ADA accessible parking spots and walkway. On Thursday, we opened bids for the Swan Brook sluiceway reconstruction. Results of these bidding rounds will be announced at next week’s Board of Selectmen meeting. Please note that both projects will have to go before the Board of Finance and be voted on at a Town Meeting for funding. The Lymes Senior Center renovation project continues to move along at a nice pace. Many changes have taken place to the exterior of the building recently. Feel free to take a trip to Town Woods Park to view the progress. Please remember you must stay behind the fence.

Although the Ferry Road sidewalk project is complete, we are still waiting for the hydroseeding to take place. Chairman Tim Griswold continues to update the Town Hall regarding the contractor, and their schedule for the weeks ahead.

Upcoming Events:

The Open Space Commission will lead a short hike-and-talk to the rock overhangs in the Deborah and Edward Ames Open Space on Sunday, September 15^th, from 3:00 – 5:00PM. Our town historian, Dr John Pfeiffer, will provide a fascinating overview of the life of aboriginal groups who used the caves as an interior hunting camp. All are welcome to meet at 8-1 Evergreen Trail off Boggy Hole for a timely 3:00 hike. (Rain date: Sunday, Sept. 29^th, from 3:00-5:30PM)  

On Monday, September 16^th, the CT Department of Transportation (DOT) will present their plan for the Baldwin Bridge rehabilitation project in the Meeting Hall at 7:00PM. Saybrook, Lyme, and Old Lyme residents are invited to attend. We hope to have many people in the audience to provide their thoughts and ask questions.

I hope you enjoy this last weekend of summer. I saw my first autumn-colored leaves on Route 156 this week. Crisp fall days will be here soon.