ORDINANCE
Motion/Request:
title
MOTION to adopt proposed amendments to Ordinance #300-029 (rev. 2) "An Ordinance Regarding Control of Alcoholic Beverages at Town of Ledyard Facilities" as presented in the draft dated March 23, 2025.
end
Background:
The following amendments were being proposed to Ordinance #300-029 (rev. 2) "An Ordinance Regarding Control of Alcoholic Beverages at Town of Ledyard Facilities"
Section 2 Definations
Ledyard Farmers Market: Ledyard Farmers Market or "LFM" refers to the Ledyard Farmers Market Commission and activities carried out in the normal course of operating the Farmers Market.
LFM Vendor: refers to any vendor accepted to the market, particularly for those vendors approved to sell alcoholic beverages made in the state of CT. The beverages may include, but are not limited to wines, ciders, meads, beer, and spirits.
Section 5. Authorization and Permit Procedure
a. Authorization
Authorization will allow vendors at the Ledyard Farmers Market to sell alcoholic beverages including, but not limited to wines, ciders, meads, beer, and spirits in closed containers for the Market Season.
Authorization will permit the offering for sale, glass or ceramic containers (filled with product or empty) and items at the Ledyard Farmers Market.
Department Comment/Recommendation:
(type text here)
Mayor Comment/Recommendation:
The Mayor' Office heard from the Farmers Market Committee regarding the prohibition of glass containers at the facilities identified in Ordinance #300-029 (rev. 1) "An Ordinance Regarding Control of Alcoholic Beverages at Town of Ledyard Facilities".
This prohibition represents an unreasonable burden in the Farmers Market case as it severely impacts those selling ceramics or jarred sauces, jams, jellies, wine, beer, ciders, etc. I support the change to this ordinance to permit these vendors to sell their product at our great market.
Body:
DRAFT: 3/3/2026 Ordinance: #300-029 (rev-1 2)
AN ORDINANCE
REGARDING CONTROL OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AT
TOWN OF LEDYARD FACILITIES
Be it ordained by the Town Council of the Town of Ledyard Be it ordained by the Town Council of the Town of Ledyard: "An Ordinance Regarding Control of Alcoholic Beverages at Town of Ledyard Facilities" is hereby enacted.
Section 1. Purpose
To control the use, consumption, possession, sale or purchase of alcoholic liquor, as defined in C.G.S. ? 30-1, at any Town facility, Town property or any school property under the Board of Education in the Town of Ledyard.
Section 2. Definitions
In accordance with C.G.S. ? 30-1 as amended the following terms shall mean:
a. Alcohol: the product of distillation of any fermented liquid, rectified either once or more often, whatever may be the origin thereof, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol which is considered non-potable.
b. Alcoholic liquor or alcoholic beverage: includes alcohol, beer, spirits and wine; and every liquid or solid, patented or not, containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer and capable of being consumed by a human being for beverage purposes. Any liquid or solid containing more than one of the four varieties so defined is considered as belonging to that variety which has the higher percentage of alcohol, according to the following order: Alcohol, spirits, wine and beer. The provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to any liquid or solid containing less than one-half of one per cent of alcohol by volume.
c. Beer: means any beverage obtained by the alcoholic fermentation of an infusion or decoction of barley, malt and hops in drinking water.
d. Wine: means any alcoholic beverage obtained by the fermentation of the natural sugar content of fruits, such as grapes or apples or other agricultural products, containing sugar, including fortified wines such as port, sherry and champagne.
e. Minor: Any person under twenty-one (21) years of age.
f. Person: Natural person including partners but shall not include corporations, limited liability companies, joint stock companies or other associations of natural persons.
g. Ledyard Town Facility: "Town Facility" includes the following: town hall, municipal buildings, municipal school buildings, stadiums, any public playgrounds, public parks, any fire stations or clubhouses therein, police headquarters facility or on any public grounds and/or other places owned leased, maintained, operated and /or funded directly or indirectly by the Town of Ledyard.
h. Ledyard Farmers Market: Ledyard Farmers Market or "LFM" refers to the Ledyard Farmers Market Commission and activities carried out in the normal course of operating the Farmers Market.
i. LFM Vendor: refers to any vendor accepted to the market, particularly for those vendors approved to sell alcoholic beverages made in the state of CT. The beverages may include, but are not limited to wines, ciders, meads, beer, and spirits.
Section 3. Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Public Buildings, Parks, etc.
It shall be unlawful for any person to have in their possession, or to consume any alcoholic beverage in a town facility.
Section 4 Exceptions -Authorization and Permit Required
At the discretion of the Body who has Administrative Control of a town facility, the consumption of beer and wine may be permitted, as defined in C.G.S. ? 30-1, as amended, during any public or private function, festival or celebration being conducted within a town facility pursuant to written authorization from the body who has Administrative Control of the property and upon written permit issued by the Chief of Police or their designee, authorizing the sale, service or distribution of alcoholic liquor at or in connection with such function, festival or celebration as follows:
Name of Facility
Location
Administrative Control Authorization & Address
Any Parks & Recreation Area
* DeMuria Pavilion/Colonel Ledyard Park
* Perry Pavilion/Highlands Lake
* Ledyard Town Green/Pole Barn / Holdridge Pavilion
* Picnic areas along with picnic area at Erickson Park
* Gales Ferry Community Center
* Donahue Property
* Sawmill Park/Picnic Aera
Various
21 Blonder Boulevard, Ledyard
639 Shewville Road. Ledyard
728 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard
114 Military Highway. Gales Ferry
18 Hurlbutt Road, Gales Ferry
13 Winthrop Road, Gales Ferry
172 Iron Street, Ledyard
Parks & Recreation Director or Designee
12 Van Tassel Drive, Gales Ferry
Nathan Lester House & Garden
153 Vinegar Hill Road, Gales Ferry
Historic District Commission or his/her designee
741 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard (Town Hall)
Senior Citizens Center
12 Van Tassel Drive, Gales Ferry
Parks & Recreation Director or Designee
12 Van Tassel Drive, Gales Ferry
or
Senior Citizens Commission
12 Van Tassel Drive, Gales Ferry
Section 5. Authorization and Permit Procedure
b. Authorization
Written authorization from the Body or their designee who has Administrative Control of the town facility for which the Authorization was being sought must be obtained at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the event.
Authorization will allow vendors at the Ledyard Farmers Market to sell alcoholic beverages including, but not limited to wines, ciders, meads, beer, and spirits in closed containers for the Market Season.
Authorization will permit the offering for sale, glass or ceramic containers (filled with product or empty) and items at the Ledyard Farmers Market.
c. Permit
Temporary Liquor Permit Application Forms and Instructions are available on line at https://elicense.ct.gov/ , the Town Clerk's Office and the Police Department.
Written authorization from the Body who has Administrative Control of the town facility must be provided with the Application when obtaining local signatures, as required on the State of Connecticut Application for Temporary Liquor Permit Form.
Completed application and authorization of the Administrative Control Body shall be submitted to the Ledyard Police Department at least twenty (20) days prior to the start of the public or private function, festival or celebration being conducted within a town facility.
Written approval or denial of the Permit should be issued to the Applicant within seven days of receipt of the Permit Application and a copy of the approved or denied Permit Application shall be forwarded to the Body who has Administrative Control of the town facility for which the Temporary Liquor Permit was sought.
Section 6. Professional Catered Events/ Licenses and Insurance Required
a. Caterer Liquor Permit
For events at which professional catering services are provided, the caterer shall provide proof that a "caterer liquor permit" has been obtained in accordance with C.G.S. ? 30-37J.
b. Insurance
The Caterer shall procure and shall pay all premiums for comprehensive general liability insurance coverage for the town facility for which they are serving food, beverages and alcoholic beverages, in the amount of no less than $2 million and shall provide certificates of such insurance indicating coverage is in effect.
Additionally, the Caterer shall list the Town of Ledyard as an additional insured on all forms of insurance.
The caterer shall also provide proof of liquor liability coverage as part of the application.
Section 7. Serving Alcoholic beverages to Minors
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or serve beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages to any person under the age of 21 at any public or private function, festival or celebration being conducted within a town facility.
In accordance with CGS ? 30-86, a person may be fined, imprisoned up to 18 months, or both, for giving alcohol to someone under 21 years of age.
Section 8. Violations
a. In addition to State imposed fines any person violating this Ordinance shall be fined not more than $100.00 for each offense.
b. Any person violating this Ordinance shall also be subject to immediate removal from the area, park or district and be subject to denial of future entry into such town facility.
Section 9. Severability.
If any section, or part of a section, of this Ordinance shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such holding shall not be deemed to invalidate the remaining provisions hereof.
Section 10 . Effective Date
This Ordinance shall take effect on the twenty-first (21st) day after publication in accordance with Chapter III, Section 5 of the Charter of the
Town of Ledyard.
Amended and Adopted by the Town Council on: _________________
_________________________
Gary St. Vil, Chairman
Approved / Disapproved on: _________ __________________________
Fred B. Allyn, III., Mayor
Published on: __________________________
Patricia A. Riley, Town Clerk
Effective Date:
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Revision: Ordinance #34 "An Ordinance Regarding Control of Alcoholic Liquor in Parks & Recreation Areas, School Property and the Historic District" Adopted: April 9, 1986; Effective: May 27, 1986; Renumbered and Adopted: 9/25/2019; Rewritten (Rev. 1) and Adopted September 9, 2020
History: The Twenty-fourth Town Council (2017- 2019) Ordinance #34 "An Ordinance Regarding Control of Alcoholic Liquor at Parks & Recreation Areas, School Property and the Historic District" was renumbered to Ordinance #300-029
2020: The Ordinance was totally rewritten to allow for the consumption of beer and wine at additional town owned facilities and town-owned properties; as listed in Table. Also, the following documentation requirements were added to the Ordinance (1) Authorization from the Body who has Administrative Control of the facility/property, and (2) Written permit from the Chief of Police. The Ordinance added provisions for catered events requiring the caterer to provide proof of liquor license and insurance.
2026: Ordinance amended to allow vendors at the Farmers Market to sell spirits. It was also amended to allow glass and ceramic containers and items at the market as prohibiting these containers and items would not allow vendors to sell pickles, candles, sauces, wines, meads, ciders, spirits, sodas or other non-alcoholic beverages, relishes, jams, jellies, flowers, seasonings, or pottery. Authorization was extended for the entire Market Season