East Lyme Seeks State Grant For $20 Million Oswegatchie Hills Purchase, Sets Traffic Camera Hearing

EAST LYME, CT — East Lyme officials unanimously authorized an application for state funding toward a proposed $20 million purchase of Oswegatchie Hills, while scheduling a public hearing on amendments to the town's automated traffic enforcement ordinance during the Nov. 4 Board of Selectmen meeting.

The board also approved a conservation easement for the Hathaway property, reviewed proposals to rebalance elementary school enrollment and approved its 2027 meeting schedule.

Town Seeks Funding For $20 Million Oswegatchie Hills Purchase

The selectmen voted 6-0 to authorize First Selectman Dan Cunningham to submit an Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition grant application to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the Oswegatchie Hills property.

The proposed acquisition includes three parcels identified as Boston Post Road, 23 Calkins Road and Quarry Dock Road.

Director of Planning Gary Goeschel said the estimated purchase price is approximately $20 million. The town anticipates receiving 75 percent of the cost through grant funding.

The Friends of Oswegatchie Hills and Save the River Save the Hills have committed to raising money to help cover the remaining purchase cost, Goeschel said.

He said the town had prepared a preliminary concept for the application and was waiting for several letters of support before submitting it. The application was expected to be filed by the end of the week.

Cunningham explained that the proposed acquisition would preserve the property for public use.

Several residents spoke in favor of the purchase during public comment.

Greg Decker of Niantic supported the acquisition, as did Kris Lambert, president of the Friends of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve, and Deb Moshier-Dunn, president of Save the River Save the Hills.

East Lyme business owner Mike Dunn, a co-founder of the Friends of Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve, said the property encompasses approximately 460 acres and six miles of trails.

Dunn described the opportunity as a way to preserve the property for public enjoyment, including its freshwater frontage along Latimer Brook.

He also said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal was expected to provide a letter supporting the grant application and help identify possible federal funding.

Ann Cicchiello moved to authorize the application, with Candice Carlson seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.

The vote authorizes submission of the grant application; it does not constitute final approval of the property purchase.

Hathaway Property Conservation Easement Approved

The board unanimously authorized Cunningham to execute an Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition grant agreement and a conservation and public recreation easement for the Hathaway property.

The property includes land along Hathaway Road and Scott Road.

Cunningham said the town acquired the property after portions of the tract faced potential foreclosure. The acquisition included a $400,000 state grant.

He said the town had since worked to obtain cooperation from neighboring property owners, and the remaining step was authorization to execute the grant agreement and easement.

The resolution authorizes the town to manage the property as open space under Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-131d.

Cicchiello introduced the motion, with Selectwoman Rose Ann Hardy seconding. The motion passed 6-0.

Traffic Enforcement Ordinance Hearing Scheduled For Nov. 18

The board voted 5-1 to schedule a public hearing on proposed amendments to the town's ordinance authorizing automated traffic enforcement safety devices.

The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. at East Lyme Town Hall, 108 Pennsylvania Ave., Niantic.

Town Attorney Tim Bleasdale explained that the amendments would update the existing municipal citation ordinance to account for automated traffic enforcement.

The changes would establish procedures involving a citation hearing officer, who must be independent of the Police Department and appointed by the first selectman.

Bleasdale said state law governs the time allowed to appeal a citation, meaning the town cannot establish a different deadline through its local ordinance.

Police Chief Kevin Glenn said he was developing a privacy policy for the program and would share it when completed.

Glenn also suggested issuing a request for proposals or qualifications to hire an outside company to handle appeals, citing similar arrangements in Fairfield and Milford.

He said several steps remain before the automated enforcement program can be launched.

The proposed amendments include a sample notice of violation explaining how motorists can pay an infraction and the deadlines and procedures for appealing it.

Cicchiello moved to schedule the hearing, with Carlson seconding.

Cunningham, Cicchiello, Hardy, Carlson and Jason Deeble voted in favor. Tony Attanasio opposed the motion.

The motion passed 5-1.

Copies of the proposed amended ordinance are to be available through the Town Clerk's office and the Town of East Lyme website.

Elementary School Reorganization Options Presented

East Lyme Board of Education Chairman Eric Bauman presented information about declining enrollment, building utilization and possible changes to the district's elementary school configuration.

Bauman said the district is beginning an exploratory process rather than presenting a final recommendation or asking for an immediate decision.

A consultant is scheduled to attend the Board of Education's Dec. 7 meeting to present options and answer questions.

Bauman said redrawing elementary school attendance boundaries appeared to be the most cost-effective option, although more detailed cost information would be available following the consultant's presentation.

The presentation identified four major challenges:

• District enrollment has declined by 637 students since 2010-11.
• A significant number of elementary school seats are unoccupied.
• Student experiences and class sizes vary among the three elementary schools.
• Long-term budget pressures could affect programs and staffing.

The district currently enrolls 2,447 students from preschool through 12th grade.

According to the presentation, approximately one in five elementary school seats is vacant, and enrollment is projected to remain relatively stable over the next decade.

The three elementary schools have different enrollment and building utilization levels:

The presentation outlined several possibilities, including redrawing attendance boundaries while retaining all three elementary schools, creating an academy model at the existing East Lyme Middle School campus, consolidating elementary students into two schools and changing grade configurations.

Other options include returning fifth grade to elementary schools or reorganizing elementary grade levels.

The Board of Education presentation emphasized that no option had been eliminated and that community input would help shape the process.

Several residents addressed the proposal during public comment.

Elise Piotrowski of Niantic spoke against closing Niantic Center School and offered alternative solutions.

Jacqueline Shluger of Niantic supported redrawing attendance boundaries across the three elementary schools as a near-term solution.

Lynn Sullivan of Niantic also supported rebalancing the three schools.

The consultant's presentation is scheduled for Dec. 7, when the Board of Education expects to examine the options and associated costs.

Purchasing Policy And Pension Ordinance Delayed

The selectmen postponed consideration of a proposed purchasing policy until their Nov. 18 meeting.

A proposed revision to the town's Pension Board Ordinance was also tabled until Nov. 18.

No votes on either proposal were recorded at the Nov. 4 meeting.

Board Approves 2027 Meeting Schedule

The board unanimously approved its meeting schedule for 2027.

Cicchiello introduced the motion, with Carlson seconding. The motion passed 6-0.

First Selectman's Report

Cunningham announced several upcoming community events and infrastructure updates.

A Veterans Day celebration was scheduled for Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at Liberty Green.

The second annual Buoys by the Bay event was scheduled for Nov. 20 at Scheer Park.

Cunningham reported that construction at Interstate 95 Exit 74 was nearing completion, with heavy equipment being removed and landscaping and other finishing work underway.

The Colony Road bridge project had been temporarily delayed after crews encountered unexpected underground ledge. A revised construction plan was expected to begin shortly.

Other Board Business

The board unanimously approved its Oct. 21 regular meeting minutes, with Hardy abstaining.

The consent calendar, totaling $8,041.83, was approved unanimously.

Cicchiello also reported attending the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities annual meeting with Cunningham.

Deeble announced an upcoming seminar at Acton Public Library in Old Saybrook addressing the dangers of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides.

Two communications were received: a Nov. 3 letter from Novak Law Office concerning the East Lyme Land Trust and Commission for the Conservation of Natural Resources, and an Oct. 30 email exchange concerning FEMA's shift toward state-led disaster management.

There were no additional public comments.

Meeting Adjourned

Cunningham called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

All six selectmen were present: Cunningham, Cicchiello, Hardy, Deeble, Carlson and Attanasio.

The board adjourned at 9:08 p.m. following a unanimous vote on a motion by Cicchiello, seconded by Hardy.