ln response to the "Old Lyme beach sewer plan remains backed up as costs climb" Sunday, June 23 article, I would like to say that as a property owner and resident of OId Lyme since 1984 and a member of the Town of Old Lyme WPCA since 1997 and former WPCA chairman, I understand why many Sound View property owners do not agree with having to pay the full amount of the sewer project cost. The three other beaches in the town — Old Lyme Shore, Old Colony and Miami — are private beaches with security guards at the gates that require visitors to show their beach passes. These beaches are restricted for use only by homeowners and their guests or tenants.

Sound View Beach, on the other hand, is a public beach available for use by anyone and has four times more people per square footage than the private beaches. Everyone who uses Sound View Beach will benefit from the sewers, including the Old Lyme residents who park for free and use the beach all day, as well as people from out-of-town who pay for parking. The town benefits by collecting parking fees from these out-of-town beachgoers, and all town residents benefit by enjoying the beach for free.

Therefore, I believe the town should share some of the sewer installation cost incurred by Sound View homeowners.

Dimitri Tolchinski

Old Lyme