As a voting resident in the town of Old Lyme, I attended the special town meeting Aug. 16 in the town hall. The purpose of the meeting was to vote on the appropriation of money for four items totaling $197,000. In the past, I was always asked to verify that I was eligible to vote prior to the meeting. No such verification was held at this meeting. I only knew about the meeting because Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal highlighted to First Selectman Tim Griswold at a Board of Selectmen’s meeting two weeks prior that proper support and information for the requests needed to be clear to the public.

Nevertheless, no handouts or information of any kind were shared.

Verbal information was provided for three of the four motions that passed. Sadly, Tim Griswold was unable to provide information about the $42,000 expenditure for police/ranger overtime and, as a result, this motion failed. When a Board of Finance member was asked what happens now, he replied, “I don’t know, this has never happened before!”

We need strong leadership, not incompetence, especially when it comes to our precious tax dollars. I hope voters will remember that on Nov. 2!

Kathleen Tracy

Old Lyme