The Daily Five: Changing Developments, Dr. Oz, and Selectmen Remain Silent on Noise Ordinance

1. We can expect another mostly sunny but chilly day, according to weather.com, which is predicting a high temperature of just 29 degrees and an overnight low of 23 degrees. Burrrr! 

2. East Lyme's Board of Selectmen still aren't quite ready to pull the trigger on a noise ordinance for the town. The discussion stems from a number of incidents of neighbors behaving loudly—including one person who parked his rider mower just inside his property line and left it running for three hours, then pressed trespass charges against the neighbor who finally crossed the line to turn it off.

Although troubled by these incidents of decidedly unneighborly behavior, most board members are reluctant to add another law to the books. Instead, last night they opted to ask the town attorney to find out whether particularly egregious noise issues might already be covered by existing laws, such as creating a public disturbance, breach of peace, or disorderly conduct.

Selectman Kevin Seery, who also serves as the resident state trooper for Salem, does, however, favor purchasing a decibel meter to give the East Lyme Police Department a way to measure noise levels when they investigate such complaints. A meter would cost about $1,500 and have an annual calibration fee of about $300, but Seery thinks that one would be enough to do the job. 

3. Speaking of East Lyme Police, the department begins the new year with two new officers. First Selectman Paul Formica said the new additions now bring the department back up to full strength, or at least up to the total number of officers for which the town had budgeted this year. 

4. Two members of Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder's family will be featured on The Dr. Oz Show today.  of Erica will be showcased too. The show airs at 4 p.m. on WFSB Channel 3. 

5. East Lyme Zoning Commission meets tonight at East Lyme Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. but there's a change to the previously posted agenda. A public hearing scheduled for JAG Capital Drive LLC's request for a zoning change to allow 69 units of affordable housing to be constructed in an area currently zoned for light industrial use at West Main Street/Capital Drive in East Lyme has been postponed at the developer's request until January 17.  

The commission will hear two other requests for new developments, however. The first comes from Tim Norton for a special permit for a mixed use development at 185 Main Street, Niantic. The second is from Crotur LLC, for a special permit for retail use at property located at 206 Boston Post Road in East Lyme.