CGM BRIDGE TO BE APPROVED
“The Day” reports the State Bond Commission is expected today to approve $19.5 million to continue work on a pedestrian bridge and its link with the National Coast Guard Museum planned for downtown New London. An approval will allow a contract to be drawn up between the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development and the National Coast Guard Museum Association. The museum is expected to bring in $10 million to the state annually with 300,000 or more visitors each year.
EL TALKS REDISTRICTING
A community forum was held last night in the East Lyme High School auditorium about school redistricting options for the 2019-20 school year. Parents concerns included questions about travel times, why certain neighborhoods were being moved and ways to make the transition easier for the children. Milone & MacBroom, a firm hired by the school board, presented two different redistricting scenarios. The forum was attended by more than 50 residents, board of education members and school administrators. The school board plans to select an option by the end of May.
LOCKED AND LOADED
The North Stonington man arrested Tuesday for pointing a handgun at a state Department of Transportation employee last summer was found to own 15 guns, including three AR-15s and two guns that were not registered. Kyle Colechia was allowed to own the AR-15 under an exemption for military members in the state’s five-year-old assault weapons ban. Colechia is a National Guard member. He was taken into custody at Electric Boat in Groton late Tuesday morning.
EL BUDGET REDUCED
A public hearing will be held later this month on the total 2018-19 spending plan of almost $72 Million for East Lyme. The total proposed budget represents a 1.35 percent increase over the plan for the current year. On Monday, the Board of Finance reduced the education budget by $200,000 and cut the general government budget by $49,000. The finance board approved the overall budget numbers on Wednesday. The public hearing is planned for 7 p.m. Monday, April 30th at the East Lyme Middle School cafeteria.
