Share
OLD LYME — The town’s FY 22-23 budget does not, so far, include a $220,000 request that the Lymes’ Senior Center Building Committee says is needed to move forward with design plans for a $3.8 – $4.8m renovation of the center.
The committee has requested a total of $292,000 in FY 22-23 to cover schematic design, architecture and engineering and soft costs. The amount will be split, according to previous agreements, between Old Lyme and the Town of Lyme 75/25. Lyme has already agreed to cover its 25 percent share, or $73,000.
In FY 23-24, the construction phase of the project is estimated at $3.6 million. Old Lyme’s share of the construction is estimated at $2.7 million. The Town of Lyme’s share would be about $900,000.
Jeri Baker, chair of the building committee, will present an overview of the project, including timeline and costs, at the middle school on Monday at 7 p.m.
“We look forward to this opportunity to give town residents the information they need for their support. We have posted all facts and information on the websites of both towns for two years, attended many meetings with the boards of both towns and have tried to get the word out about how important it is to help the center and ultimately the people of the towns it serves,” Baker said in a statement.
David Kelsey, chair of the town’s Board of Finance, told CT Examiner that after Baker presents the information about project to the public on Monday, including inflation factors that could add to the final cost of the project, the board may consider convening a special meeting to add $220,000 as an amendment to the FY 22-23 budget.
“It is not in our budget that we approved. But there may be an addition to the budget that we go to the town with, based upon the presentation from the senior center — and the only addition would be that $220,000 for the Senior Center. It’s all for discussion,” Kelsey said.
The FY 22-23 budget will go to a town meeting for approval on May 16.
Editor’s note: David Kelsey is the primary funder of CT Examiner.