East Lyme schools referendum rescheduled for March 28
East Lyme — The townwide referendum on the elementary schools project has been rescheduled to March 28 at the East Lyme Community Center.
The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday scheduled a town meeting for 7 p.m. March 21 at Town Hall that will adjourn to the referendum. At the town meeting, the hours of the referendum officially will be set and there will be time for townspeople to make comments or ask questions about the proposal.
First Selectman Mark Nickerson said the recommendation is to hold the March 28 referendum between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The referendum on the $37.5 million bonding proposal to renovate the town’s three elementary schools had been scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, but was canceled due to inclement weather.
The proposal calls for upgrades to the schools' air conditioning, security and Wi-Fi, handicap-accessible bathroom fixtures, and new paint, flooring, doors and light fixtures, among other alterations. About $5.4 million in reimbursement from the state is expected, according to Superintendent Jeffrey Newton.
Nickerson said absentee ballots will be available for the referendum.
Absentee ballots that were already filled out will be honored. Those who voted by absentee ballot will have an opportunity to change their vote in person on the day of the referendum, he said.
He said the cancellation of the referendum was "unprecedented," and the town will post information about the rescheduled referendum on the town website, www.eltownhall.com; Channel 22 and Facebook.
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