Lyme Friends – The town’s Board of Finance has recently voted to dramatically reduce funding for the Open Space Reserve Fund. Preserving land in our town is one of the most critical maneuvers we can make to enjoy healthy and sustainable futures for ourselves and the planet. This decision is concerning.

There will be a PUBLIC HEARING on Tuesday April 27th at 6:30pm regarding this and other budget items proposed for the 2021/2022 fiscal year. Information on how to submit comments and attend this virtual public hearing are in the attached link.

~ from Sue Cope on Facebook

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We learned a lesson when the Johnston Preserve was bought by the Town. It had been a property of interest for protection by Lyme for many years. Covering the highest point in Lyme, the preserve sits at the intersection of three watersheds that have all been identified by local, national and international organizations as priorities for protection: the Eightmile River Watershed, Whalebone Creek Watershed and the main stem of the Connecticut River. And the Property also abuts over 1700 acres of protected property—a significant block of core forest close to Long Island Sound. Protecting the Johnston Property prevented fragmentation of a valuable green corridor which provides the habitat vital for threatened wildlife.

When the property came up for sale four years ago, there was only $369,000 in the Open Space Reserve Fund. The purchase price for the 250-acre property was $1,460,000. After the Town overwhelmingly voted to acquire the property, the Town was granted funding for 60% of the purchase price by the CT DEEP Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition and had to borrow the rest (beyond what was in the fund). This caused a significant delay in the acquisition, as the grant application and pay-out took time. In addition, it cost taxpayers more money for the loan.

That is why it is so important to have this reserve ready. With a full $1,000,000 reserve, the owners could have received most of their money up-front and the Town would have been able to shoulder the burden of waiting for reimbursement from the State. Not all landowners will be that patient.

~ from Wendy Hill, Lyme Open Space Coordinator