East Lyme Approves New Computers, A New Playscape, New Vehicles, and Better Roads

Want to know what's going to be new in East Lyme? Schools will have new computers; the fire, police and public works departments will have new vehicles; town buildings will have new roofs and heating and air conditioning; and kids will have a new playscape at Bridebrook Park. 

Last night's Special Town Meeting in East Lyme yielded few surprises. All the the appropriations in need of approval passed. Most were already included in the school district and the town budget that was passed at referendum and many of the spending requests were to pay for the next phase of long planned and previously approved upgrades or additions to town equipment. 

The most questions arose from the request for a special appropriation of $159,216 to implement projects described in the town's 2013/2014 Town Aid Road Program, because it reflected a change in the budget that was passed at referendum.

As First Selectman Paul Formica and the town attorney explained it, the town received more money in state aid than it had anticipated when it put together the town's budget. To enable the town to use those additional funds included in the state budget that was signed by the governor yesterday, a special appropriation was required by the town charter.