John H. Mesham (R): Candidate for Old Lyme First Selectman

Biography:

John Mesham grew up in West Haven, where he attended public schools, entered the Marine Corps, put himself through college, and worked as a law enforcement officer for 29 years. He retired as a master sergeant with Connecticut State Police, running daily operations at the Bridgeport and Montville barracks and interacting with many agencies while supervising personnel. His previous assignment was as a resident trooper sergeant, overseeing policing in four towns, including Old Lyme. He is an Inland Wetlands Commissioner and Deputy Registrar of Voters. He’s married to Nancy, and they’ve lived in town for 32 years, raising three children.

1) Why are you running for the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen, and what do you see as the most important challenges facing the town in the next two years?

I want to be your first selectman because I, like many in town, saw Old Lyme being steered in a direction not wanted by the vast majority of citizens. The reaction and message from the failed Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) were loud and clear; we do not want large scale development that is not in keeping with the character and size of the town.

Over the next two years, the town will rewrite its entire zoning regulations, and I will make sure that process is used to protect the town, not put it in danger.

Earlier, I saw the current administration negotiating a closed-door agreement that would hand over control of Tantummaheag Landing, an historic town landing that gives public water access. As a boater, outdoorsman, and former Scout leader, I found this proposal and apparent timidity of the town’s approach unconscionable. I started and circulated a petition that attracted broad support and helped defeat the deal. Of all the officials and people named in a prospective lawsuit for that opposition, I am the only one named solely in my individual capacity, meaning I put myself in harm’s way for the good of the town.

The next challenge will be moving to a referendum on sewers. The result will help decide the town’s direction. If approved, we will move ahead with the project. If voted down, we will need to weigh our options and possible consequences. Options might include seeking additional funding sources for the town portion or changing strategy to an aggressive sewer avoidance program.

Also this fall, Amtrak is again launching a study to decide on whether to route high-speed rail through shoreline towns. Do not confuse this with the current work on the Connecticut River Railroad Bridge. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, who previously helped defend Old Lyme, now says there will need to be “displacements” along the route. No town is more likely to take a hit than Old Lyme, and I’m ready to fight officials in Hartford or Washington, DC to make sure that doesn’t happen.

2) The pace and scale of development in Old Lyme has been a key issue in town, from the prospect of apartments on Halls Road to the implications that sewers might have for the shoreline gateway. How would you describe Old Lyme as it is today, and what is your vision for the town’s future?

Old Lyme is a vibrant community that continues to celebrate its heritage in the arts and commitment to conservation. Our location at the mouth of the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound helps define the character and charm of our town. My family and children were molded in part by the access and activities of the open waters, earning their safe boating certificates at DEEP Headquarters, enabling them to operate watercraft and become self-sufficient young adults while we plied the waters from Hamburg Cove to Montauk. This is why I am passionate about not only maintaining public water access but also improving it. We are becoming famous for swallow viewing in the late summer with the small Pilgrim Landing at full capacity. This is exactly the type of activity our conservation efforts help but we need to look for ways to better use the limited parking and help traffic flow.

Change can be difficult, but some change is inevitable. We need to scrutinize our zoning regulation changes and ensure they will protect our town from overdevelopment, a concern voiced loudly during the HROD debate. We should continue to fund open space opportunities and look for ways of interconnectivity between parcels. I foresee Halls Road having sidewalks, lighting, and greenery improvements; aspects sought after years ago. There is already a new vibrance on Halls Road with niche businesses and good restaurants. Success breeds success and I expect more entrepreneurial businesses to take hold that will counter the decline of physical retail establishments. Old Lyme doesn’t need the next big thing, it needs to continue to refine itself. We can increase connectivity with a sidewalk plan that helps walkability between Lyme Street, Halls Road, and attractions up to the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center.

3) How important are shoreline environmental issues—such as flooding, beach erosion, water quality, and climate change—to Old Lyme’s long-term vitality, and what steps would you take to address them?

Old Lyme is bounded by the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, with long established beach communities that have added to the history and current attraction to the town. Flooding and erosion control are concerns we need to address and be proactive about. Anyone living in town long enough has seen the shifting sands along Griswold Point. We need to ensure our Flood and Erosion Control Board can carry out their work and seek any available grants to help.

Of much concern is the huge amounts of sewage being released into the Connecticut River by municipalities in state and from Massachusetts. This is completely unacceptable, and I would join the efforts of our legislators like state Rep. Devin Carney, who has already launched complaints concerning these events. Old Lyme and other coastal towns receive this pollution, harming our beaches, water quality, and ability to boat. The state needs to do better, especially while demanding a sewer project for similar reasons, and I would exert all pressure possible. Water quality is of utmost importance, and these incidents of sewage release are unacceptable.

4) What would you do to ensure that rising property taxes don’t make Old Lyme unaffordable for residents?

Keeping property taxes low starts with a prudent fiscal budget. I would focus on what is needed and refrain from the often-used strategy of padding the first budget request so paring it down looks like concessions were made. The town has had capital expenditures from the senior center, school improvements, and the emergency operations center. We need to keep current projects in check and on track. I supported the use of surplus funds to ease the pain of the recent property revaluations. A similar request was made of Region 18 by concerned Republicans, which was not taken up at the time. The new formulation of a surplus budget policy and the recent vote to return unspent money to the towns is the proper action. 

Seniors on a fixed budget can be the hardest hit with tax increases so I would promote the Elderly/Disabled Homeowners Tax Relief Program that Old Lyme already participates in by working with the senior center and other outreach. I would also advertise the various veterans and disabled veterans’ property tax exemptions available under state law and ensure all eligible veterans have filed their necessary paperwork.

Part of keeping Old Lyme affordable is promoting a diversity of housing so people with various incomes can live in town. It’s likely that the next selectperson will face new mandates and need to pass new land use regulations when the legislature passes the new omnibus Housing Bill HB 5002 in a special session. I will meet this challenge with a cautious approach to development. I believe any new multi-unit development should be required to have a percentage of workforce or affordable housing. We should make it easier to have accessory dwelling units, such as in-law apartments or small-scale multi-family housing. This gives seniors an option to have live-in help from caregivers or multi-generational support and gives new homeowners an option of a starter home. Working with established nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity is key to meeting those goals.