Bernie Gigliotti has lived in Lyme for 47 years.  For the past 18 of those years, he has served as the Town of Lyme’s Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) – the individual responsible for overseeing and enforcing Lyme’s subdivision and zoning regulations, and inland wetlands and watercourse regulations.

It’s an important job. One of his peers describes the role of ZEOs as being the “foot soldiers” in the ongoing effort to keep the Lower Connecticut River Valley the scenic place it is.  Bernie agrees:  “My job is to guide residents on appropriate courses of action they can take to improve their properties while remaining in compliance with town and state regulations so, as a community, we keep our portion of the valley the beautiful and sparsely developed place it has always been.”

Working closely with other town officials, Bernie receives and reviews plans for subdivisions, sites and plots.  He inspects construction sites for conformance with regulations, identifies and investigates potential violations, and pursues corrections of violations as necessary.  He also works closely at times with officials from the Lyme Land Conservation Trust, who share the Town’s interests in preserving and protecting Lyme’s environment.

His office is essentially the clearinghouse for everything people want to do with their property.  Bernie is available to talk with residents – either at his office during office hours, or on location at their properties – about the plans they have in mind and suggest options they may want to consider.   He says it’s best to have those kinds of discussions before any steps are taken that might result in violations and encourages residents to contact him with any questions they have about potential projects or requirements.

In his role as ZEO, Bernie serves as an important advisor to the Board of Selectmen, the Planning & Zoning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Conservation Commission (acting as the Inland Wetland and Watercourse Agency).  His office provides GIS mapping services, participates in regional planning efforts and helps the town plan for future growth.

Bernie maintains office hours in Town Hall every Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until noon.  You can reach him at zoning@townlyme.org or 860-434-7733.