On Monday, the Board of the Selectmen held their first December meeting. Duck River Garden Club member Maryellen Basham presented their initiative of installing Blue and Gold Star Memorial markers here at Town Hall. This plan still needs approval from the Historic District Commission, if we are to place the markers within the district. We appreciate the garden club’s continuous efforts to maintain and beautify the grounds at Town Hall.

A Town Meeting was held on Monday evening to move the amended resolution for the Sound View and Miscellaneous Area B Sewer Project to referendum. The referendum will take place on Tuesday, December 16^th. Voting hours are from 12- 8 PM in the Town Hall Meeting Room on the first floor. You can see a copy of the ballot by clicking the link below. Additional information is also provided on our website.    Sample Ballot

Registered Old Lyme Voters and Persons who are liable for taxes assessed on the last completed Grand List of the Town of Old Lyme, which assessment, under Section 12 of the Connecticut General Statutes, is not less than $1,000 per each name in which title to the property is held are eligible to vote.

As we prepare for 2026, it is time to seek residents who would be willing to volunteer to serve on our various Authorities, Boards, Commissions, and Committees (A/B/C). Most meetings for A/B/C’s are held monthly and information is provided on their web pages on our website. The list below indicates all vacancies that are expected, due to resignations or expirations. We have seating available for regular and alternate positions. Please consider providing your time and expertise to support Old Lyme's A/B/C's  achieve their goals for the future. A reminder to all current members whose term is expiring, you must reapply for your position. Applications are due January 5^th.  

These are the positions we expect to fill in January.  (R=Regular Seat     A=Alternate)

Affordable Housing Commission - 2R, 1A
America 250 Committee - 3R
Board of Assessment Appeals - 3A
Conservation Commission - 5R, 1A
Economic Development Commission - 4R
Ethics Commission - 2R, 3A
Flood and Erosion Control Board - 3R, 3A
Harbor Management Commission - 3R, 1A
Historic District Commission - 1R, 1A
Inland Wetlands Commission - 3R, 2A
Open Space Commission - 3R
Parks and Recreation Commission - 3R
Pension Committee - 1R
Planning Commission - 3A
Road and Public Safety Committee - 5R
Rogers Lake Authority - 1R
Shellfish Commission - 1R
Shoreline Gateway Committee - 2R
Sound View Commission - 3R, 3A
Sustainable Old Lyme Team - 4R 
Tree Commission - 2R, 2A
Veterans Representative - 2R
Waste & Recycling Committee - 3R
Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) - 3R, 1A
Zoning Commission - 3A

I was notified yesterday by the T2 Training and Assistance Center that four of our Public Works employees, Benjamin Carroll, Brian Lorentson, Mario Gagliardi and Jeffrey Benedetto have completed the Connecticut Public Works Academy Program. The program consisted of six required courses: Professionalism and Communication Skills, Road Fundamentals, Operational Safety for Public Works, Flagger Certification/Work Zone Safety, Chainsaw Safety/Storm Clean-Up Issues and Winter Operation and Safe Snow Plowing (including Sander Calibration). I am so proud of these people who have taken this professional development opportunity to update their skills to improve their service to the Town of Old Lyme. Congratulations!

The Old Lyme Conservation Commission, in conjunction with Estuary Magazine and its parent The Watershed Fund, are excited to announce a seminar series beginning in 2026 for anyone interested in the environment—focusing on the past, present, and future of the Connecticut River watershed and the issues it faces. They have an informational sheet on these Quarterly seminars which will be offered via Zoom on their webpage.  Please mark your calendars for these important 2026 dates.

Tax Collector, Suzanne Thompson would like to remind everyone that the Supplemental Tax bills for vehicles registered or registrations transferred to a new vehicle between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025 will be mailed December 16^th and available online January 1^st.  Payments are due starting January 1, 2026.

During the past two weeks, Town Hall has been decorated for the Holiday Season. We thank the Duck River Garden Club for the wreath that they make for us each year. Facilities Director, Erik Olsen purchased the candles that help light the windows at 52 Lyme Street each evening. Owen Ingersoll Bonsack, our Region 18 Intern, created the greens in the planters near the flagpole.  A special shout out to Public Works for putting the lights on the tree outside the meeting hall.  

All my best, 
Martha