741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339-1551

(860) 464-3203

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Town Council

council@ledyardct.org

Meeting Minutes

Chairman Gary St. Vil

Public Hearing -Ordinance Amendments ##300-029 (rev. 1)

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

6:30 PM

Town Hall Council Chambers

WORKING DRAFT

In-Person: Council Chambers Town Hall Annex

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CALL TO ORDER

II.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III.

IV.

PROCEDURE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING

CALL OF THE PUBLIC HEARING

TOWN OF LEDYARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Wednesday, April 8 2026 at 6:30

a proposed Amendments to Ordinance #300-029 (rev. 1) “An Ordinance Regarding Control

of Alcoholic Beverages at Town of Ledyard Facilities”..

PRESENTATION

Proposed amendments to Ordinance #300-029 (rev. 1) “An Ordinance Regarding Control of

Alcoholic Beverages at Town of Ledyard Facilities”.

Councilor Garcia-Irizarry explained that the proposed Ordinance amendments were to allow

vendors at the Farmers Market to sell spirits. She also noted that the proposed amendments

would allow items to be sold at the Farmers Market that were glass and ceramic containers,

noting that many Vendors products such as pickles, sauces, wines, meads, ciders, spirits, ,

relishes, jams, jellies, flowers, seasoning were packaged in glass or pottery containers.

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 FacilityLocation 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

Tassel Drive, Gales Ferry

or Senior Citizens Commission 12 Van

Section 5. Authorization and Permit Procedure

a. 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.

b. 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

In addition to State imposed fines any person violating this Ordinance shall be

fined not more than $100.00 for each offense.

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:

********************************************************************

****

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

VI.

RESIDENT & PROPERTY OWNERS (COMMENTS LIMITED TO THREE (3)

MINUTES

Mr. Scott Johnson Jr., Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Director, stated that he

supported the addition of "Sprits" to Ordinance #300-029 (rev 1) "An Ordinance Regarding

Control of Alcoholic Beverages at Town of Ledyard Facilities” and he suggested that

"Spirits" be extended to other Non-Profit Organizations such as the Rotary Club, noting that

they use the Town Green for events such as their Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser and their

Annual Car Show. However, he stated that he did not support the provision for the use of

glass for the Farmers Market to be included in the Ordinance. He explained that the Permit

Forms for all of the Parks & Recreation Facilities clearly state that Glass was Prohibited,

noting concerns regarding possible damage from broken glass that could occur to the newly

installed Playground surface and wood chips around the playscapes, noting the expense to

have those items repaired or replaced. He explained in past years he issued the Farmers

Market a Waiver to allow for the Vendors whose products were in glass containers. He

suggested they address the use of glass containers at the Farmers Market in a Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU) instated of the Ordinance. He stated that he would be happy to

work with the Administration Committee to Amend Ordinance #300-029 (rev 1), noting that

Police Chief Rich should also be involved with making changes to the Ordinance.

Ms. Pam Ball, Shewville Road, Ledyard, Farmers Market Committee Chairman and Market

Manager; stated as the Town Council knows that she was the current Manager of the Town's

Farmers Market. She noted that the Farmers Market has put forth two amendments to the

town's current Ordinance #300-029 rev 1) "An Ordinance Regarding Control of Alcoholic

Beverages at Town of Ledyard Facilities” allow market vendors, and only market vendors,

to sell goods packaged in glass and to sell ceramics only at the market.

Ms. Ball explained that the first change came about in response to a distillery who applied

for the last three markets in 2025. She stated because the existing Ordinance #300-029 (rev

1) allowed the sale of beer and wine but not spirit the Market was unable to get them into

the Market and decided to try for the 2026 Market. She stated to do this, the Farmers Market

Committee proposed an amendment to allow the sale of spirits at the market, noting that this

was not consumption, it was just sales of closed bottles.

Ms. Ball stated since most alcoholic beverages were sold in glass, the Committee also took

this opportunity add some language to allow Market Vendors, and only Market Vendors, to

sell ceramics and goods in glass (pickles, jams, jellies, etc.) at, and only at, the Farmers

Market. She stated because they understand that Parks & Recreation has a policy that does

not allow glass at town parks; that it seemed logical to add to this ordinance an exception for

Market Vendors to sell goods in glass since it goes hand-in-hand with selling wine and beer

which were also often packaged in glass. She stated the proposed amendments were not

intended to, nor were they written to, allow other parties to be exempt from the Parks &

Recreation “no glass” Policy at town parks.

Ms. Ball went on to explain that the Farmers Market forwarded their proposed Ordinance

Amendments to the Mayor for review and he was in agreement. She noted that the proposed

Ordinance Amendments also went before the Administration Committee and they were also

in agreement with the changes; and that copy was also forwarded to Parks & Recreation.

Ms. Ball continued to explain another reason the Farmers Market Committee was asking for

these changes was to streamline things for the Market Volunteers. She stated if these

proposed Ordinance Amendments pass, then they world not have to remember to bother

Parks & Recreation every year to request a Wavier, so that they would not in violation of

their policies. She stated that she would not always be manager; and therefore, she was

working to make process easier for future Market Managers. She also mentioned that

should Mr. Johnson leave for greener pastures,that maybe the next person in charge of Parks

& Recreation would be less amenable to allowing spirits and/or glass.

Ms. Ball stated that these proposed Ordinance Amendments would be helpful, to both the

Market Manager and to Parks & Recreation as it would be one less thing to question every

year. She stated that she was not trying to make things difficult or step on anyone’s toes, that

she was trying to make things easier. She asked if the proposed Ordinance Amendments are

not approved that the Parks & Recreation Policy be amended to allow Market Vendors, and

only Market Vendors, to sell goods packaged in glass and to sell ceramics at the Market and

only at the Market without having to ask for permission every year. She stated the Farmers

Market Committee wanted to these provisions put in writing somewhere, noting than they do

not care where they were recorded, so that the Market Volunteers have one less thing to

remember to do every year.

Ms. Ball concluded her remarks by addressing Mr. Johnson's concerns regarding broken

glass damaging the Playground surfaces and wood chip areas, noting that the Farmers Market

does not allow sales outside of the Market area, which was located at the Lower Town

Green and under the Pole Barn. She stated anyone, at anytime could go to the Package Store

that was in the former Ledyard Center School, which was closer to the playground area, buy

something in a bottle and go over to the Playground at the Upper Town Green and break a

bottle, noting that this would have nothing to do with the Farmers Market. She stated patrons

visiting the Farmers Market each week buy products and put them in a bag and take them

home.

Mr. Bill Barnes, 1 Spruce Street, Ledyard, Town Councilor, suggested they discuss further

the glass component and the idea of using a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Ms. Adrienne Parad, 5 Birch Street, Ledyard, Town Councilor, stated that Ledyard

Education Advance Foundation (LEAF) holds their Back to School Bash and she questioned

whether the proposed Ordinance Amendments would apply for their event. It was noted that

as currently proposed the Ordinance Amendments would not change anything for the Back to

School Bash.

Mr. Steve Weiss, 1 Nutmeg Drive, Gales Ferry, stated that he agreed that using a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide the Farmers Market Vendors permission

to sell products in glass containers was the best route.

Mr. Johnson stated if the glass component was included in Ordinance #300-029 (rev 1) that

he could not sign the Permit for the Farmers Market to use the Lower Town Green. He stated

that he world be happy to discuss proposed Ordinance Amendments to include sprits for

other organizations, and how to address the Farmers Market Vendors selling products in

glass or ceramic containers.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Chairman St. Vil stated hearing no further public comment, that the Public Hearing was

adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

________________________________

Transcribed by Roxanne M. Maher

Administrative Assistant to the Town Council

I, Gary St. Vil, Chairman of the Ledyard Town Council,

hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct

copy of the minutes of the Public Hearing held on April 8, 2026

Attest:________________________________________

Gary St. Vil, Chairman

DISCLAIMER:

Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the Town.

The Town Council's Official Agenda and final Minutes will be on file in the Town Clerk's

Office.