Gov. Dannel Malloy’s two-year budget plan proposes shutting down the Chester-Hadlyme and Glastonbury-Rocky Hill ferry services as part of an effort to close a $1.6 billion deficit and Lyme’s board of selectmen will be filing paperwork in Hartford Superior Court to appeal the state’s decision, the East Haddam Patch reports.
The town disputes the decision, claiming the ferries are essential to public safety and said ambulances often use it when the bridges have heavy traffic.
Lyme's attorney, Kenneth McKeever, told East Haddam Patch that he hopes to convince a judge that Malloy’s plan is illegal under at least two separate state laws, one which mandates that the state maintain a ferry service, the other that requires the state to seek input before altering a scenic highway.
Whether the ferries are actually closed will likely depend on what happens during discussions between state employee unions and the Malloy administration.
The ferry closings were not part of the original budget. They were added into the “Plan B” budget after unions voted down a concessions deal that would have cut $1.6 billion from the budget. On Monday, unions changed their bylaws and are expected to negotiate again with the Malloy administration and vote on another concessions deal.
Other towns that may be joining the fight, along with Lyme, are Chester, Rocky Hill, and East Haddam, which would all directly be affected if the ferry services end for good.
