LYME/OLD LYME— UPDATED 4/18 with voting numbers and quote from Lymes’ Senior Center Building Committee Chair: On Monday evening, Lyme and Old Lyme residents overwhelmingly passed motions to approve supplemental budget appropriations for the renovation of the Lymes’ Senior Center. Both votes were held initially by voice and so convincing—only one ‘No’ was heard at either location—that no paper vote was requested.
Eighty-three Lyme voters approved an amount of $220,000 at their Special Town Meeting held starting at 6 p.m. at Lyme Town Hall and around 175 Old Lyme residents approved $660,000 at their meeting held in the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School auditorium beginning at 7:30 p.m. the same evening.
With these budget appropriations totaling $880,000 approved by the towns, the Lymes’ Senior Center Building Committee now has all the approvals necessary to accept the trade bids opened Feb. 6 of this year so the project can move forward and construction can begin. Those bids expired May 6, and so the timing of this vote was critical.
Asked by LymeLine what her reaction to the vote was, Lymes’ Senior Center Building Committee Chair Jeri Baker said via email, “I am so grateful that the confidence is there to move us forward.”
The initial $1.33 million overrun on the approximately $5.46 million project, which was identified when the trade bids were opened, had already been reduced through approximately $602,000 in construction savings.
Meanwhile, contingency funds for the project had been increased by nearly $65,000 to cover any unforeseen circumstances. Those two moves reduced the initial $1.33 million overage to $800,000.
An additional appropriation of $80,000 to cover the kitchen upgrades was requested by the towns, taking the total value of the supplemental budget appropriation for both towns combined to $880,000.
As of last night, that amount has now been approved and Building Committee Chair Jeri Baker says that—once construction begins—the committee anticipates a 10-month schedule for the completion of the project, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Lyme residents had approved an initial appropriation of $1,315,886 at last year’s Town Budget Meeting and Old Lyme residents had similarly approved an initial appropriation of $4,158,407 at a Town Referendum held June 20, 2023. Since that time, through efforts of the towns and the committee, the project has been awarded $1 million in grants from the state.
When the renovations are completed, the Senior Center will offer:
- An additional 3,265 square feet of interior space (for a total of 8,737 square feet of interior space) that will enable the center to accommodate more members and activities.
- Motorized room partitions that allow for multiple room configurations so programs and activities can take place simultaneously.
- An enlarged kitchen space with multiple kitchen upgrades that allows for greater center luncheon attendance.
- A quiet library room where members can relax and/or read.
- A greeting area that is separate from the activities area.
- A public entrance that can accommodate the arrival and departure of buses and emergency vehicles.
- Redesigned entryway and hallways, improved door thresholds and additional shelving and storage space.
- A new roof, porch, cupola, windows, walkways and landscaping.
- New furniture throughout.
For further information on the Senior Center renovation, visit this link.