Old Lyme Voters Decide On $9.5 Million Sewer Tuesday

OLD LYME, CT—The referendum question is straightforward, requiring a yay or nay response from voters. Should the town budget $9.5 million, and authorize bonds and notes to pay for, a sewer system for the Sound View neighborhood.

The vote will be held Tuesday Aug. 13 from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Cross Lane Fire House.

The exact question is, "Shall the Town of Old Lyme appropriate $9,500,000 for construction of the Sound View and Miscellaneous Town Area B Sewer Project and authorize the issuance of bonds, notes and other obligations to finance said appropriation? "

According to the Water Pollution Control Authority, the long-studied project was undertaken when "two beach associations were looking to undertake a sewer project." The study evaluated the environmental impacts of the current wastewater disposal systems on the entire Old Lyme shoreline and developed three alternatives; an onsite treatment and disposal facility within Old Lyme; an onsite treatment facility with discharge to the Connecticut River; or a collection and conveyance system with discharge to East Lyme and ultimately to the New London Wastewater Treatment Facility.

It's the third option residents will be voting on.

The WPCA says the project partners with nearby communities and using existing infrastructure than starting from scratch with a new treatment facility in Old Lyme. The project will be in collaboration with three other beach communities, Old Lyme Shores Beach Association, Old Colony Beach Association, and Miami Beach Association, "providing a benefit to all partners," the WPCA says.

Also, the bond question includes the need for sewers in other areas of town, "...the extension roads north of Rte. 156, and south of the railroad tracks, from Cottage Lane to Canty Lane."

The cost of the project, $9.5 million, will be financed in part with loan and grant funds obtained

from the State of Connecticut Clean Water Fund Program after approval of an application to be
submitted by the town, assuming the referendum passes. The funding of 25 percent of eligible project costs will be in the form of a grant and the rest of the Clean Water Fund financial help will be a 20-year loan at 2 percent interest rate, the WPCA says.