Old Lyme – The two candidates for Board of Selectmen are running with the goal of engaging the community and getting things done.

The losing candidate in the first selectman race between incumbent Republican Timothy Griswold and Democrat Martha Shoemaker will compete against the Republican-endorsed candidate Matt Ward, who is unaffiliated, and Democrat Jim Lampos for the two remaining seats on the Board of Selectmen.

Lampos, 59, is married with two children in their junior year at Lyme-Old Lyme High School. He's owned his family's Groton Pizza Palace since 2005. He has a master's degree in policy analysis and public administration from the New School in New York City and has previous experience in urban renewal and planning projects in the city.

Lampos said Griswold hasn't accomplished much during his term. He described current Board of Selectmen meeting minutes as "practically interchangeable" with meeting minutes from a year ago.

"It's the same issues. No new initiatives. Barely finished any of the things that were supposed to be finished by now," he said. "Some things aren't his fault. I'm not saying it's all his fault. But there's just been no positive direction."

But Griswold said slow-moving projects are "the nature of the beast" in municipal government – and he doesn't want "to bite off more than he can chew."

"We don't have a big staff of people to manage these things," Griswold said. "It's mainly volunteer committees. I think you want to try to do things in a measured way."

Lampos, who has written four books on the history of Old Lyme and serves as an alternate on the Planning Commission, described himself as "intimately involved" with the town and its politics. A resident of the Sound View Beach neighborhood, he said he is dedicated to the preservation of the natural environment there.

"I've been trying to have people show the beach some respect and the neighborhood some respect," he said. "And I think for good reason the residents of Sound View have felt disrespected. Not just by the general public, but by town government at various points."

Lampos cited enhanced communication between police and the residents as a way to help in the Sound View Beach area, where complaints about a lack of parking and gate closures have been lodged by residents and business owners.

He acknowledged security and safety issues have resulted when the public beach gets crowded. He said Resident State Trooper Matt Weber, who started in February 2020, has dedicated himself to making sure everyone is safe – but communication has remained an issue.

"So if we have a little bit more communication between Town Hall, the resident state trooper and the businesses, I think we can all get on the same page," Lampos said.

He said the municipal parking lot at the end of Hartford Avenue should remain open until 9 p.m. during the summer instead of closing earlier and at more arbitrary times like it did this year. He said families who want to get an Italian ice at Vecchito's, ride on the Carousel or play skee ball at Captain Video Arcade have had difficulty finding parking spaces in the evening when the lot closes early.

"I'm running because I love our town and I would like to preserve its traditions; I would like to protect the natural environment and I would like to make the town government more responsive to the citizens," he said. "Right now it appears to be a little rudderless."

Ward, 46, is a retired state trooper and current part-time police officer in Old Lyme and Deep River. He and his wife have five children between the ages of 9 and 18 in the school system.

Ward served 20 years in the Connecticut State Police out of Troop F in Westbrook. He was a resident state trooper in Killingworth for 12 years and in Chester for two. He joined the Old Lyme Police Department in April last year.

He said he learned many skills as a resident state trooper that translate into the job of selectman, including budgeting, networking, management and community relations.

He said both jobs share a key attribute that keeps them interesting: "Every day is different."

"You have to put out fires here and there. If there's an issue or a problem, you need to address it quickly, resolve it, move on and put change in place if you have to," he said.

He pointed to communication as an area where the Board of Selectmen can improve.

"I think we can communicate a little better; be more transparent than we already are, and try to involve the community more," he said. "Not necessarily create committees and commissions and stuff, but get the word out, get on the street talking to people."

He identified the Sound View Beach sewer project, still in its planning stages, as one of the biggest issues facing the town in the coming years. He said the town needs to work with the involved entities – including the Water Pollution Control Authority and beach associations – to establish trust and "get it done in a timely manner and hopefully at a reasonable cost."

He said economic development is another key focus, especially on Halls Road and the dilapidated stretch of Route 156 along the shoreline.

Affordable housing is another important issue, according to Ward. Referencing a committee set to produce a report this summer that will include potential areas where more cost effective living options can be added,  he said selectmen will have to "see if we can make it work" in a way that maintains "the character of our community."

Ward said integrity, which is a necessary attribute in a resident state trooper, is one of the qualities that makes him a good candidate for selectman.

"I was pretty much under public scrutiny all day, every day," he said. "I figured I would continue that public scrutiny in politics."

Running for two full terms on the Board of Finance are Democrats Bradley Mock and Anna S. Reiter along with Republicans Andrew Russell and Judith Read. Kim Russell Thompson is running unopposed to fill a vacancy on the board. Four people are running for three positions as Board of Finance alternates -- Democrats Sarah E. Michaelson and Katherine Thuma as well as Republicans Matthew Olson and Maria Marchant.

Competing for a five-year team beginning this year on the Planning Commission are Lampos and Republican Todd Machnik. Democrat Rob McCarthy is running unopposed for a five-year on the Planning Commission beginning 2022.

Democrat Maria Martinez and Republican Jane Marsh are competing for a five-year term on the Zoning Commission beginning this year while Democrat Mary Jo Nosal and unaffiliated voter Sloan Danenhower, who is endorsed by Republicans, are competing for a five-year term beginning next year. 

On the Zoning Board of Appeals, Democrat Kip Kotzan is running unopposed for a five-year term beginning this year, while Democrat Russell Fogg and Republican Daniel Montano are seeking a five-year term beginning in 2022. Democrat Kathleen Tracy as well as Republicans Sherry Johnston, Roderick Clingman and Christopher Kerr are seeking three positions as Zoning Board of Appeals' alternates. 

e.regan@theday.com