741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Agricultural Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Bruce Garstka

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex-Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting was called to order by Chairman Garstka at 6:00 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Community-at-Large Representative Katie Yuhas

Alternate Member Steve Martic

Present

Farming Community Bruce Garstka

Farming Community Russell Holmberg

Farming Community William Thorne

Farming Community Michael E. Marelli

Farming Community Allyson Angelini

Excused

Bill Thorne was present via Zoom.

Also in attendance was Ty Lamb, Town Councilor.

Steve Martic was appointed as a voting member.

III.

CITIZEN'S COMMENTS

None present.

IV.

COMMENTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS

Comments of Commission Members.

No comments.

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence.

Chairman Garstka shared a copy of the Clark Farm Lease agreement with the Commissioners.

Chairman Garstka shared a post card from Enchanted Wishes Boutique. He said Commissioners

with shops may want to consider having a booth with some of their merchandise. He added it

may be a good opportunity to help other businesses and add something to their businesses that

they don't already have.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VI.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Informational items.

Chairman Garstka said the Commissioners should now receive emails from the CT Farm

Bureau.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VII. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from February 17, 2026, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Bruce Garstka

RESULT:

MOVER:

Michael E. Marelli

SECONDER:

Yuhas Martic Garstka Holmberg Thorne Marelli

Angelini

AYE

EXCUSED

VIII. TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT

Town Council Liaison report.

Ty Lamb, Town Councilor, said he has been advertising the Commission's April joint meeting.

Councilor Lamb mentioned that there may be an opportunity for a collaboration meeting

between the School, Conservation Commission and the Agricultural Commission.

Chairperson Garstka said he also spoke with the High School and said although the students are

not required to do community service some of the students may still be interested. Chairperson

Garstka suggested having a calendar for students to view with agricultural opportunities.

Commissioners could call the school to give information on field trip opportunities and

parameters such as "must be accompanied by an adult" etc.

Councilor Lamb said he is planning to arrange a meeting with the BOE superintendent, Devon

O'Keefe, and Chairman Garstka for a discussion on how the Agricultural Commission and local

farmers could facilitate interaction.

Councilor Lamb stated that if the Commission ever has anything that needs to be presented or

elevated to the Town Council to let him know.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

IX.

OLD BUSINESS

Any other Old Business to come before the Commission.

Chairman Garstka encouraged the Commissioners to bring any comments, questions or ideas

forward during the Agricultural Joint Meeting in April. Chairman Garstka explained to

Councilor Lamb that he would like members from each Committee to attend; it does not have to

be the Chairperson. Ms. Yuhas asked if there will be specific items on the joint meeting agenda.

Chairperson Garstka said no, he does not want the meeting to be formal but rather have

Commissioners speak about what their Commission is doing/planning.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

NEW BUSINESS

Any other New Business to come before the Commission.

Mr. Thorne said he recently visited the Tri-Town Trails and said someone has done a great job

cutting back the overgrowth on Clark Farm and asked who performed the work since the

contract expired. No one on the Commission knew the answer and referred Mr. Thorne to Karen

Parkinson, Historic Chairperson.

Mr. Thorne commented that the Farmer's Market Committee tried to work with the AG program

at the High School to recruit volunteers but was unsuccessful. The AG Program Director wanted

the Farmer's Market Committee to provide a curriculum. Mr. Thorne said there is a lot of High

School students that support the marker on their own, going through the AG school would be

more work than it was worth. Chairman Garstka said perhaps there was a miscommunication or

maybe this is something that could be set up differently.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

XI.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 6:20 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Katie Yuhas

SECONDER:

Yuhas Martic Garstka Holmberg Thorne Marelli

Angelini

AYE

EXCUSED

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.