Town of East Lyme, CT

 INAGUARAL REMARKS 12/05/11
GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANKYOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVLEDGE TO SERVE AS YOUR FIRST SELECTMAN FOR TWO MORE YEARS.
THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY REWARDING 4 YEARS. WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS PARTY LINES, WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO MUCH FOR THE TOWN WE ALL
LOVE.
FOUR YEARS AGO WE PLEDGED TO RUN THE TOWN AS A BUSINESS STARTING WITH A LINE BY LINE REVIEW OF THE BUDGET. THRU THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF OUR DEDICATED DEPARTMENT HEADS, WE HAVE MANAGED WISELY AND RETURNED UNSPENT FROM OUR LAST 3 APPROVED BUDGETS OVER $2'500'000.00;.... MONEY THAT WENT DIRECTLY TO INCREASE OUR UN¬DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE. THIS ADDED FISCAL STABILITY ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN A STRONG CREDIT RATING WHICH IN TURN SAVES US TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON INTEREST MAKING US MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR BOND INVESTORS. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, MANAGING OUR LONG TERM DEBT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE UNLIKE MOST BUSINESSES, THE TOWN WILL BE HERE 100 YEARS FROM NOW SO IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUALLY INVEST IN OUR
APPROVAL WE HAVE DONE JUST THAT, INVESTING IN THE UPGRADE TO OUR
FLEET OF VEHICLES; OUR WATER SYSTEM INCLUDING REPLACING 2 WELLS AND THE REGIONAL INTERCONNECTION THAT WILL SOLVE OUR SUMMER WATER SHORTFALL AND BE PART OF A REGIONAL SOLUTION TO HELP PREVENT PROJECTED SHORTFALLS ACROSS SE CT IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS; FOR THE
PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE AT DARROWS POND AND FOR THE NEW FIELD SERVICES BUILDING ON COLTON RD; A 29'000 SQ FT WAREHOUSE THAT WILL HOUSE THE FIELD DEPARTMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS AND PARK AND REC; BETTER PROTECT OUR FLEET AND UPGRADE OUR VEHICLE MAINTENACE AREA.
OUR ENGINEERING DEPT LED BY PW DIRECTOR MIKE G AND CHIEF ENGINEER BILL SCHEER, HAVE OVERSEEN THE REBIRTH OF NIANTIC VILLAGE WITH THE RENOVATION OF MAIN ST AND THE NEARLY COMPLETE HOPE ST PARKING LOT ADDITION. A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MITCHELL TRUST, THE STATE OF CONN STEAP GRANT PROGRAM, AND THE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS OF THE NIANTIC MAIN ST AND NIANTIC ROTARY HAVE HELPED TO MAKE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE. BTW-OUR STATE REP ED JUTILA HAS PERSONALLY HAND DELIVERED ALL THE GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR US. THE PARKING LOT WILL ADD MUCH NEEDED PARKING SPACES TO SUPPORT OUR MERCHANTS AND WILL HAVE
LINE OUR NEW TREE LINED SIDEWALKS FROM LIBERTY GREEN TO THE CHILDRENS MUSEUM. DON'T THEY LOOK GREAT DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND ALL LIT UP IN TIME FOR THE ANNUAL LIGHT PARADE?? THANKS RON BENCEl DID YOU KNOW THAT SINCE THE START OF THE STREETSSCAPE PROJECT 10 NEW BUSINESSES HAVE OPENED ON MAIN ST? RECOGNIZE WHOS HERE....
THIS SUNDAY MARKS THE 23RD YEAR A VARIETY OF WONDERFULLY ECLECTIC, WELL LIT AND DECORATED FLOATS MAKE THEIR WAY THRU NIANTIC. AND ONCE AGAIN THEY ARE LED BY TWO OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDERS AND PARTICIPANTS...JOHN WILSON AND PAUL CUSHING. JOHN AND PAUL REPRESENT DOZENS UPON DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY AND GIVE TIME AND TALENT TO SERVE OUR TOWN MAKING IT THE GREAT PLACE THAT IT IS TO LIVE, TO WORK AND TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES. WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS IN TOWN THAT SERVE US ALL EVERY DAY FROM MAIN STTO FLANDERS TO HERE; THE ELHS COMMONS -THE HEART OF OUR EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY. EDUCATION IN EAST LYME HAS BEEN PASSIONATELY LED BY MANY OVER THE YEARS BUT FEW MATCH THE PASSION OF MARY BRODERICK. MARY HAS FOR 22 YEARS SERVED OUR CHILDREN AND OUR DISTRICT ON THE BOED AND IS TODAY STEPPING DOWN
TO CONCENTRATE ON HER NEW DUTY AS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL
EPITOME OF DEDICATION, SERVICE AND PASSION. EAST LYME IS VERY LUCKY TO
HAVE HER AND WE WISH HER THE BEST OF LUCK. A NATION OF CHILDREN WILL NOW BENEFIT FROM MARYS SERVICE.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE MANY PEOPLE LIKE MARY THAT OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS SECOND TO NONE. WITH OUR COMMITTED ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS EAST LYME SCHOOLS ARE PRODUCING EXCELLENCE SUCH YOU SAW
HERE MOMENTS AGO. OLIVIA FERDON AND GRACE LADA SPOKE LIKE SEASONED ORATORS! GREAT JOB LADIES!! THESE TWO WONDERFUL STUDENTS ALONG WITH THEIR CLASSMATES ARRANGED TERRIFIC POLITICAL FORUMS GIVING ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE THIS YEAR A CHANCE TO SHARE AND DISCUSS THEIR VIEWS. IT SEEMED ONLY RIGHT THAT TODAY OLIVIA AND GRACE SHARE THE PODIUM WITH US AS WE TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE.
ESTHER WILLIAMS HAS BEEN GIVING THE OATH AND HAS MANAGED HER OFFICE WITH CHARMING, IMPECCABLE AND TRULY EXCELLENT SERVICE FOR 45 YEARS. WE OWE ESTHER A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO EAST LYME. TOWN HALL WILL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT
YOU TRAVEL THE WORLD.
OLIVIA AND GRACE ARE NOT THE ONLY STUDENTS ENHANCING OUR PROGRAM TODAY. THE CULINARY 2 CLASS AND THE BAKING AND PASTRY CLASSES LED BY LAURA ADAMS AND PAT NEWTON HAVE COOKED SOME TASTY TREATS IN OUR NEW STATE OF THE ART CULINARY LAB. AND HOW ABOUT THAT GREAT STRING QUARTET ?....JOAN, JACOB, MATTHEW AND ALLYSON SOUNDS UNBELIEVABLE. LEARNING THESE LIFE SKILLS HERE DEMONSTRTAES THAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND NEED TO CONTIUE TO BE FOCUSED ON EDUCATING THE WHOLE STUDENT¬
NOT JUST TO PASS A TEST BUT TO LEARN SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM SUCCEED IN LIFE. LEARN A TRADE; PLAT SOME MUSIC; LEARN A LANGUAGE ;WORK WITH THEIR HANDS AND WORK WITH OTHERS SO THAT WHEN THEY GRADUATE SUCCESS IS NOT A HOPE BUT A GUARANTEE. THESE KIDS WILL BE US IN A FEW SHORT YEARS SO OUR SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION AND FAMILY LIFE IS THE BEST WAY TO INSURE THAT OUR TOWN, REGION, STATE AND NATION WILL CONTINUE TO FLOURISH. THANKS TO STATE SENATOR ANDREA STILLMAN FOR COMING TODAY AND FOR HER WORK AS CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. SHE PROMISES US LOTS SUPPORT FOR OUR KIDS!
REGIONAL SOLUTIONS TO OUR COMMON PROBLEMS AND CREATE NEW
PARTNERSHIPS OF EFFICIENCY AND SERVICE. RECOGNIZE ................
AS WONDERFUL AS THESE LAST 4 YEARS HAVE BEEN WE'VE HAD OUR CHALLENGES....FLOODS, RECORD SNOWS, HURRICANES, THE ECONOMY AND PERSONAL TRAGEDY HAVE LEFT THEIR MARK ON ALL OF US; FOR SOME HAVE CHANGED OUR LIVES FOREVER. IT IS HOWEVER DURING THOSE DARKEST HOURS THAT THE LIGHT IN THE HEARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAS SHONE THE
BRIGHTEST. VOLUNTEERING-COMFORTING-SERVING-DONATING TIME AND TALENT TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED. I CANT TELL YOU
HOW PROUD I AM TO PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE BOTH SIDES OF THAT LOVE AND SUPPORT. I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD OF MY DAUGHTER OLIVIA TODAY FOR THE WAY SHE BELTED OUT THAT SONG! ...THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER THAT OLIVIA SANG TODAY CELEBRATES OUR COUNTRYS INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AND OUR WAY OF LIFE. OUR GOVERNMENT, OUR DEMOCRACY MOVES ON TODAY AS WE TAKE THE OATH OF OUR OFFICE TO ACCEPT THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS COURAGEOUSLY PROVIDED TO US BY THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES WHO GUARANTEE THESE FREEDOMS AND OUR DEMOCRACY THRU THEIR SERVICE, COMMITMENT AND
FOR MAKING "US" POSSIBLE...............POINT OUT BOB ROSS AND COL
LUCHOWSKI.......HURRICANE
IN CLOSING, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAD A HAND IN MAKING THIS
CEREMONY POSSIBLE TODAY; DR LOMBARDO AND YOUR STAFF; ALL THE GREAT
STUDENTS WHO DIDAN AWESOME TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK THE TOWN STAFF THAT WORK SO HARD ALL DAY/EVERY DAY FOR US.
SO WHATS NEXT? WE ARE WORKING ON A PERMANENT FIX TO OUR HALF OF THE BOARDWALK AND ARE AWAITING FEMA FUNDS TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
REVALUTION NOTICES ARE BEING SENT OUT SOON AND I EXPECT THAT THE
DECLINE IN PROPERTY VALUES THAT WILL BE SEEN BY MOST WILL AFFECT OUR BUDGET. WE NEED TO BE VIGILANT OF THE STATE'S EFFORTS AND HOW IT IMPACTS EAST LYMES BUDGET BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR...wE MUST TRY TO KEEP TAXES LEVEL AT BEST AND LOWER IF POSSIBLE AS WE DID THIS YEAR. VISIT THE WEB SITE OR CALL ME FOR INFORMATION ON ISSUES AND CONTACT INFO SO THAT YOU CAN SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS. WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE MANY CHALLENGES IN THE COMING YEAR AND THEY ALL WILL NOT BE EASY ONES. ALL OF US WILL FACE THEM HEAD ON, TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY AND IT WILL BE FROM THAT UNITED SENSE OF PURPOSE THAT THE SOLUTIONS WILL COME AND PROBLEMS BE SOLVED. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL THE NEWLY AND CURRENTLY ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE WORK TO MAKE EAST LYME EVEN GREATER. AGAIN....CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE TODAY; THANK YOU FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR AND FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS...WE WISH YOU A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY, BRIGHT AND SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR.

United Way

Thanks to the amazing generosity of the Town of East Lyme employees, we surpassed our goals for this year’s United Way Campaign. 
United Way representatives, Brent and Carolyn, came to speak to our employees in November. They brought Gemma Moran, founder of the food bank named in her honor, to tell of some of the ways United Way helps those in southeastern CT.
Fifteen employees stepped up and pledged to contribute $2,625 to United Way in the coming year.  Last year 12 employees contributed $1939.  Our goals this year were to increase the number of participants by 2 and increase the total amount contributed by $200.  Our wonderful employees responded in their usual generous way and went beyond both goals.
On December 8, 2010, Carolyn and Brent presented a certificate to (pictured right) First Selectman Paul Formica and campaign coordinator Renée Fecteau.