741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Agricultural Commission  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman  
Bruce Garstka  
Regular Meeting  
Tuesday, June 20, 2023  
6:00 PM  
Town Hall Annex-Hybrid Format  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chairman Gartska called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Community-at-Large Representative Michael E. Marelli  
Alternate Member- Community-at-Large William Thorne  
Farming Community Allyson Angelini  
Present  
Chairman-Farming Community Bruce Garstka  
Community-at-Large Representative Katie Yuhas  
Alternate Member Steve Martic  
Farming Community Russell Holmberg  
III.  
CITIZEN'S COMMENTS  
Dennis Ljubicic, 41 R3 Long Pond Rd.  
Mr. Ljubicic, and his wife moved to town about a year ago. Their parcel is approximately 25 acres  
and they are raising meat chickens. They are interested in PA-490 exemption. Chairman Garstka  
explained that the Town requires a plan for agricultural use. Mr. Holmberg recommended a guide  
published by the Farm Bureau. Ms. Angelini recommended that they visit the Town Assessor’s  
office for more information.  
IV.  
V.  
COMMENTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS  
In response to discussion at the April meeting, Ms. Angelini brought it to the attention that there are  
(at least) two community gardens in town: one at Ledyard Senior Housing and another at the Gallup  
Hill School.  
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
None.  
VII. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting minutes from May 16, 2023, as written.  
1.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Michael E. Marelli  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Russell Holmberg  
SECONDER:  
7
Marelli Thorne Angelini Garstka Yuhas Martic Holmberg  
AYE  
VI.  
CORRESPONDENCE  
None.  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
Assess what the Commission has already done and where to go in the future continued.  
1.  
Chairman Garstka said the Commission needs to take a new direction of where to go and solidify  
where the Commission has been.  
Chairman Garstka said that Agricultural land in Ledyard is shrinking and Ledyard is not high on the  
State's priority list. Given the quality of agricultural land in town, Chairman Garstka would like to  
become a model for preserving land at the town level. He suggested using tax payments towards  
payment of the development rights of agricultural, at which the end of the contract the town would  
own the rights. Ms. Yuhas said she would be interested in knowing how many farms in Town would  
be interested in selling their development rights. The Commission discussed the feasibility of the  
concept.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.  
None.  
2.  
XI.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.  
None.  
X.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 6:48 p.m.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Michael E. Marelli  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Katie Yuhas  
SECONDER:  
7
Marelli Thorne Angelini Garstka Yuhas Martic Holmberg  
AYE  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.