To the Editor:
At a Federation of Beaches event held on September 17, Martha Shoemaker and Jim Lampos spoke about what they hoped to accomplish if elected to the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen. Martha focused on three specific areas, which I want to share with the broader community.
First, Martha believes that public safety–the work of our police, fire, EMS, and public works departments–is of paramount importance. She understands that the nature and amount of their services vary over the year and wants to assure that the resources are available to meet the changing seasonal demands. Her first step toward this end will be to implement regular meetings with the police and other departments, as well as community leaders, in order to gather information and determine needs.
Second, Martha and Jim are concerned that the town’s flooding problems have not been adequately addressed. Our Flooding and Erosion Control Board is currently inactive, with only two of the required five members. They will restaff and reactivate this critical body, created by the town nearly 70 years ago. Needless to say, flooding at the Cross Lane underpass and blockage at the Hawk’s Nest crib are two of the problems that need fixing. The town must also comply with the ongoing state stormwater discharge permit (MS4) requirements.
Third, this team is committed to finding a solution to the shoreline sewer issue. As you probably know, bids on a plan to connect Sound View, Miami Beach, Old Colony, and Old Lyme Shores to the New London wastewater treatment facility have come in much higher than anticipated, making the project currently infeasible. Additionally, there is significant opposition to the proposal from shoreline residents on environmental as well as financial grounds. Martha and Jim will explore every available option for solving this problem, from identifying and re-examining alternative infrastructure solutions to finding adequate state and federal funding. They will maintain open communication with the community throughout the process.
These are just a few of the reasons why you should vote for Shoemaker and Lampos on November 7.
Sincerely,
George Finley,
Old Lyme.
Editor’s Note: Martha Shoemaker and Jim Lampos are the candidates endorsed by the Old Lyme (OL) Democratic Town Committee in the upcoming election for OL First Selectwoman and OL Selectman respectively.