Information on Voting by Absentee Ballot in the Aug. 11 Primaries

by | Jul 2, 2020 | Announcements, Voting & Elections

The following is important information for Lyme residents who wish to vote by absentee ballot in the upcoming August 11 Presidential Preference Primary (Democratic & Republican) and State Primary (Republican):

  • MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE. If you aren’t sure, go here.  If you need to register, contact Lyme’s Registrars of Voters at registrar@townlyme.org or go here.
  • WATCH YOUR MAILBOX FOR AN APPLICATION. Because of the pandemic, all active voters registered as either Democrat or Republican in Connecticut will be able to vote by absentee ballot in the August 11 primaries. The Secretary of the State is mailing an application to all eligible voters. You must fill out and return this application in order to receive an absentee ballot.
  • FILL THE APPLICATION OUT, MAIL IT IN, WAIT FOR YOUR BALLOT. Fill out the ballot application according to the instructions. Return the ballot application to the Lyme Town Clerk in the postage-prepaid envelope provided. Your absentee ballot will arrive by mail from the Secretary of the State (not the Lyme Town Clerk) about three weeks before the August 11 primaries.
  • COMPLETE THE BALLOT, COMPLETE THE INNER ENVELOPE, SEAL BOTH INSIDE THE OUTER ENVELOPE. Your ballot package will have three items: a ballot, an inner envelope and an outer envelope.
    • Complete your ballot by completely filling in the oval next to your choice using a black pen.
    • Seal, sign and date the inner envelope. Insert your completed ballot into the inner envelope provided. Seal the envelope. Sign and date the outside of the inner envelope where indicated.
    • Place the inner envelope into the larger postage-prepaid outer envelope and seal the outer envelope.
  • RETURN BALLOT TO THE LYME TOWN CLERK. Mail the completed ballot via the postage-paid outer envelope to the Town Clerk. It must be received by the Town Clerk no later than 8:00 PM ON AUGUST 11 in order to be counted. If you choose to return your absentee ballot in person, please be aware of these rules and deadlines:
    • The ballot must be sealed inside the inner and outer envelopes just as if you were returning it by mail.
    • If you return the absentee ballot in person PRIOR TO AUGUST 11, you must hand it to the Town Clerk no later than 4:00 PM ON AUGUST 10.
    • If you return the absentee ballot in person ON AUGUST 11, you must place it in the drop box at Town Hall no later than 8:00 PM ON AUGUST 11.

 

 

 

Voter Registration Information for the Aug. 11 Primaries

by | Jul 2, 2020 | Announcements, Voting & Elections

The following is important information for Lyme residents regarding the upcoming August 11 Presidential Preference Primary (Democratic & Republican) and State Primary (Republican):

  • Electors registered as Democratic may vote in the Democratic Presidential Preference Primary on August 11; electors registered as Republican may vote in the Republican Presidential Preference Primary and the Republican State Primary on August 11. There is no Democratic State Primary this year.
  • Mail-in NEW registrations for voting in the Democratic Presidential Preference Primary or Republican Presidential Preference Primary and Republican State Primary must be POSTMARKED on or by THURSDAY, AUGUST 6.
  • Mail-in ENROLLMENT applications of UNAFFILIATED voters must be RECEIVED (NOT MERELY POSTMARKED) by THURSDAY, AUGUST 6.
  • NEW voters have until 12:00 NOON, MONDAY, AUGUST 10, to complete a registration card IN PERSON at the Town Hall in order to affiliate with either the Democratic Party or Republican Party and vote in their respective Primary on August 11.
  • UNAFFILIATED electors have until 12:00 NOON, MONDAY, AUGUST 10, to complete a new registration card IN PERSON at the Town Hall in order to affiliate with either the Democratic Party or Republican Party in order to vote in their respective Primary on August 11.
  • Registrations or enrollments completed ONLINE must be RECEIVED on or before THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, in order to vote in the Primary on August 11.
  • The deadline for Republicans to switch to the Democratic Party or Democrats to switch to the Republican Party in order to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary was January 28, 2020. The deadline for Democrats to switch to the Republican Party in order to vote in the State Primary was May 11, 2020.
  • Unaffiliated electors MAY NOT vote in either the Republican or Democratic Primary.
  • Electors who registered online or through the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) are encouraged to verify their registration by calling the Town Hall (860-434-7733) Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
  • Electors who are not sure whether or how they are affiliated are encouraged to call the Town Hall (860-434-7733) Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to determine their status.
  • THERE IS NO EDR (ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION) FOR PRIMARIES. You must already be on the official voter list to vote on August 11.

 

Full Reopening of Town Hall, Public Library Delayed; Mailing of Tax Payments Encouraged

by | Jun 30, 2020 | Announcements, Emergency Management

While the Board of Selectmen had tentatively projected Town Hall and the Public Library might return to their normal operating hours on July 6, the Board announced today there would be a minimum, one-week delay in returning these facilities to their full-time operating schedules with public access. The Board of Selectmen decided to take this action as a safety precaution, as COVID-19 infections have continued to rise on a national level as well as in various regions of the country. While local infections have grown only slightly, the Board does not want to see them rise in the Town of Lyme.

As a result, both buildings will remain on a three-day-per-week timetable for the public until at least July 13:

  • Lyme Town Hall will continue to be open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Lyme Public Library will continue to be open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Employees in both facilities will be available by phone or email to assist the public on the days that the buildings are not open to the public.

July is tax season and typically the time of year when a greater number of residents pay a visit to Town Hall.  To help keep the number of in-person visits to a minimum, the Board of Selectmen encourages residents to send their tax payments in by mail this year – or to drop them through the mail slot at Town Hall.

  • Tax payments can be mailed to Tax Collector, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371.
  • Tax payments must be postmarked by August 3 to avoid penalties.

Chip Sealing of Three Roads To Begin Jun. 29

by | Jun 26, 2020 | Announcements, Construction

On Monday, June 29, chip sealing will begin on Beaverbrook Road, Keeney Road and Baker Lane. Chip sealing is a process similar to paving that will protect these roads from deterioration and is typically needed every 6-10 years.  Please be patient during this road construction – be mindful of our Town Crew and contractor who will be hard at work, and use caution when traveling through these areas.

Legal Notice from the Lyme Tax Collector

by | Jun 25, 2020 | Announcements

All property owners liable to pay a Tax to the Town of Lyme on the Grand List of October 1, 2019, are hereby notified that the tax becomes due and payable July 1, 2020. Failure to make payment on or before August 3, 2020, will subject the tax to an interest charge.  

In accordance with Executive Order 7S and Lyme’s adoption of the Low Interest program, the interest will accrue at the rate of 3% per annum, .25% per month or fraction thereof from the due date for a period of 3 months, ending October 1, 2020. On October 2, 2020, the interest will then revert to the 18% per annum, 1½ % per month on balances due and will be charged back to the original due date of July 1, 2020 with a minimum interest charge of $2.00 per bill. FAILURE TO RECEIVE A TAX BILL DOES NOT INVALIDATE THE TAX or waive the interest due, should the bill become delinquent.

Payments will be accepted at Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road or may be mailed to: Tax Collector, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371. The Tax Collector’s office will be open weekdays in July from 9:00 am- 4:00 pm except July 3, 2020. We strongly encourage payment by mail. Must be postmarked by August 3, 2020 to be considered on time.

Cynthia Beers
Lyme Tax Collector

Rogers Lake Authority Announcement

by | Jun 23, 2020 | Announcements

The Rogers Lake Authority is planning to draw down the lake 14 inches this year beginning September 15th.  This is so Rogers Lake property owners can conduct any maintenance to their docks or sea walls as needed.  We expect the drawdown to take one week and the lake will be allowed to refill October 22.  A final decision on the drawdown will be announced on Thursday, August 13. Thank you for you assistance.