The Daily Five: Burglary Arrests Imminent, Budget Reviews, Samuel Smith House, A Messy Commute

1. This morning's commute is likely to be a messy affair thanks to an overnight wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service will remain in effect for our area until 10 a.m., although weather.com is predicting the snow will become mostly rain after about 5 a.m.. That rain is likely to stay with us most of the day, with showers predicted until about 4 pm.. Temperatures will peak at 41 degrees. Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low of 27 degrees. 

2. Police are making great headway in their investigation into the recent spate of burglaries in Lyme. State Police at Troop F say they are currently working on drawing up arrest warrants. Each robbery is being investigated by a different state trooper, so arrests are likely to come at different times but it seems that police have the same suspect or suspects in mind for more than one case.

3. Old Lyme's Board of Finance has been busy with budget reviews for different departments in town for weeks now but tonight's meeting promises to be a big night. The Board is slated to tackle the town's capital expenses and revenue and the school budget as approved by the Lyme-Old Lyme Board of Education.

Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder offered a few of the highlights of the town's budget at last night's Board of Selectmen's meeting. The capital budget is lower than it has been in previous years, she noted, in part, because the landfill is now closed so the town no longer has to put aside money to cover that $1.05 million expense.  

The town bought two new fire trucks last year, she said, so that expense is off the books, although the town will now begin putting money away over the next six years to pay for two new tankers as recommended by the Old Lyme Fire Department. Speaking of the Fire Department, the Board of Finance signed off on the proposal to increase the incentive plan for volunteer firefighters and EMS.

The Board of Finance will meet at 7 p.m. at Old Lyme Town Hall.  

4. Now that the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education have signed off on their proposed budgets for the town and the school district, East Lyme's Board of Finance began its budget reviews on Monday with a look at funding proposed for East Lyme Police Department, the Building Department and the town's long-range capital plan.

On Thursday, it will consider requests from Public Works, the Library, and Parks and Recreation. The latter's budget includes a hefty increase in this budget to cover the anticipated costs of maintaining and staffing the newly enlarged Amtrak beach off Cini Park in Niantic. You'll find a full schedule with details online at East Lyme's web site. 

5. The closing on the historic Samuel Smith House was scheduled for this week. The nonprofit organization formed by the friends of Samuel Smith did receive the grant it had hoped for from the state, which will cover a big chunk of the $425,000 purchase price.

As part of the deal, the Niantic Sportsmen's Club agreed to pay $125,000 to buy half of the property at 82 Plants Dam Road. A public hearing on that portion of the sale will be held on March 20 at 7 p.m. at East Lyme Town Hall.