The beginning of the month at Town Hall is always filled with multiple meetings and the building has a constant flow of visitors. Those of us who work here enjoy the busy atmosphere that each new month brings.

We had our first Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting for March this week. We began to discuss some ordinance changes that we might present at the Town Meeting in May. The BOS unanimously agreed to bring the Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Tax Abatement Ordinance forward. This will bring our current ordinance into alignment with the Public Act 99-272. This was adopted in 2002.

Newfield Construction has informed us that the construction fence is being taken down at the Lymes’ Senior Center. This is required for certain inspections to take place. Please note that the Senior Center is still an active construction site and is currently under Newfield Construction LLC’s ownership until they turn the building back over to us. Security protocols are in place. The new sign was installed on Wednesday. Most of the new furniture is expected at the end of the month, and an installation date will be determined once it arrives in Connecticut. Once that takes place the furniture and items in storage will be returned to the building. We are beginning to make plans for the grand opening celebration.

Please make a note that the Town of Old Lyme no longer has any P.O. Boxes for individual departments. This was a change that occurred about 5 years ago. During the last tax season we realized that some residents were still using a P.O. Box address for their ACH and mailed payments. This caused a few headaches for taxpayers. Please make sure you are using our correct mailing address of 52 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371 for all mailed payments and paperwork.

Mike Caplet, Regional Coordinator for the CT Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security has asked us to reach out to our residents and remind them of the Hurricane Awareness Workshop for local homeowners and businesses. This has been on our website for a week or two. Mike suggests that residents consider attending this informative presentation on Wednesday, March 26th from 5:30PM - 8PM at UCONN Avery Point Campus in Groton (Doors open at 5PM).

For those residents who use Amtrak and Shoreline East you may be interested in learning more about the U.S. DOT’s Thriving Communities Program. RiverCOG has been working on a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Vision Plan with the Towns of Old Saybrook, Westbrook, Clinton, and Middletown. The plan encourages multimodal connectivity and promotes walkable, compact, and mixed-use development near the region’s three Shore Line East stations and the Middletown bus terminal. An on-demand public feedback module is live on RiverCOG's website through March 12. You can select Old Saybrook if you choose to do the survey.

The Town of Essex is currently accepting applications for a part-time Pumpout Boat Program Manager and Pumpout Boat Operators. The manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation and administration of the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) program, which focuses on managing boat sewage disposal by funding the installation and operation of pumpout stations at marinas and other locations to reduce water pollution from recreational vessels. Pumpout Boat Operators are part-time positions for weekdays, weekends, and relief for other pumpout boat operators for the 2025 boating season. This program is managed by the Town of Essex but serves the towns of Old Lyme, Lyme, Chester, Deep River, Haddam, Old Saybrook as well. 

If you are hungry on Sunday morning, the rescheduled Lion’s Club Breakfast will be held at Lyme/Old Lyme High School from 8AM until 11:30AM. This event supports their scholarship program and the delicious menu will be a great start to your day!

To end the week on a high note, Michele Hayes received a phone call the other day from an out-of-town visitor. The woman said they had gotten a bit lost in Old Lyme and were trying to find their way to Interstate 95. They saw one of our police cars and stopped to ask them the best way to get to the highway. Patrolman George Sirigos and Corporal Wayne Collins provided them with directions, but the visitors still seemed a bit confused. The caller told Michele that the two policemen said to follow them, and they took them safely to the entrance of 95. Many thanks to both for going the extra mile.

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to change your clocks ahead.