Community Corner

Without Your Vote, Schools Won't Get New Computers, East Lyme Won't Get New Vehicles, Better Roads, Or A New Playscape

A special town meeting will be held at East Lyme Town Hall on Wednesday.

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Jayne Keedle, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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There are a whole lot of projects that won't happen without your approval at tonight's special town meeting at East Lyme's Town Hall. Here's what voters are being asked to approve. 

1. A request to appropriate $233,985 to buy new computer and smart board equipment for the High School, Middle School, elementary schools and school district central office. The proposed purchase is described in detail in the East Lyme Public Schools proposed one year computer replacement plan 2013/2014. The actual cost is $226,482, with interest at 1.29 percent a year, payable in installments of $46,797 for five years.

2. To approve $806,430 to lease or purchase vehicles and equipment as part of the town's 2013/14 equipment acquisition plan. The vehicles the town proposes to purchase are as follows:

  • A dump truck for public works ($180,000)
  • A one-armed dump truck ($273,489)
  • A pickup truck with plow and dump body ($48,037)
  • For parks and recreation: a rebuilt HR surf rake ($35,000); Toro Sand Infield Pro (20,000); Jone Deere 65 HP Tractor ($50,000)
  • An SUV and related equipment for the Niantic Fire Department and for the Fire Marshal—total $80,000
  • An SUV with lights for the Police Department ($94,000).    
3. To approve $276,000 to the Capitol Nonrecurring Expense Fund for projects consistent with the town's 2013/14 Capital Improvement Plan. The projects include sidewalk repair, repair of Grand Street Boat Launch, heating and air conditioning replacement for town buildings and roof repairs, plus $40,000 to be set aside for upcoming revaluations.  

4. To consider and act upon a resolution making appropriations amounting to $990,000 for capital improvements and bonds to meet those appropriations. This cost would cover the rehabilitation of various town roads and surveying and paving the Boiler Parking Lot at East Lyme High School. 

5. To increase the LoCIP and Town Aid Road grants up to $267,132 in the budget to reflect increases in state's contributions to both those funds in the  budget that was passed at referendum. 

6. To reallocate $15,000 originally earmarked by the Board of Finance to create a fund to build a skate park in East Lyme. Parks and Recreation is requesting to use that money to build a new playscape at Samuel Peretz Park at Bridebrook to replace the original wooden playscape, which was removed on the advice of the town's insurers following an accident in the fall. 

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