741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Conservation Commission  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman  
Mike Marelli  
Regular Meeting  
Tuesday, January 9, 2024  
6:30 PM  
Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Marelli at 6:31 p.m.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Commissioner Roberta Levandoski  
Commissioner James Harwood  
Commissioner Kathleen Edgecomb  
Commissioner Betsy Graham  
Commissioner Barbara Kil  
Present  
Commissioner Michael E. Marelli  
Commissioner David Holdridge  
Excused  
Betsy Graham and Barabara Kil were present via Zoom.  
Barbara Kil joined the meeting at 6:50 p.m.  
Also in attendance:  
Town Councilors Gary Paul, Liaison to the Commission  
Town Councilor Naomi Rodriguez.  
III.  
1.  
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to APPROVE Special Meeting Minutes from December 12, 2023, as written.  
Barbara Kil was not present for this vote.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Michael E. Marelli  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Roberta Levandoski  
SECONDER:  
5
1
Levandoski Harwood Edgecomb Graham Marelli  
Holdridge  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
IV.  
1.  
CORRESPONDANCE  
Correspondence.  
Pamphlet from the Connecticut Land Conservation Council.  
V.  
PUBLIC COMMENTS  
None.  
VI.  
1.  
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
Informational Items.  
Besty Graham will attend a meeting of the Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed on January  
16, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to noon at Mystic Aquarium. Ms. Graham asked if other members of the  
Commission could also attend the meeting.  
The State of Connecticut is updating its Plan of Conservation and Development. The  
Commission will wait until the State adopts a new plan before deciding to comment. The  
Commission will use the document when doing its own planning for Town properties.  
Ms. Graham reported that the Lantern Hill Valley Park is trying to get a grant to an aquatic  
survey for Bush Pond and Long Pond. They are looking for Town support to apply for a grant to  
do the survey but the deadline to apply is the end of January. Councilor Rodriguez said she will  
inquire if there is anything the Town can do to support the application or provide funds for a  
survey.  
DISCUSSED  
VII. OLD BUSINESS  
RESULT:  
Property Walks.  
1.  
Mr. Harwood walked White-Hall property and took down a few branches that were blocking  
paths. He said the blue and yellow trails are passable. Kettle Hole Park looks good for the  
winter.  
Ms. Levandoski reported that the rain garden at the Ledyard up-down Sawmill is in good  
condition after recent heavy rains.  
Chairman Marelli reported that the rain garden at Highland Park is not working properly and will  
need to be corrected. He also reported that Avalonia Land Trust is doing a forest management  
plan for Pike Marshall property. Chairman Marelli will contact the State of Connecticut to see if  
the State Forester can survey the Burton Preserve.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
Financial Reports.  
2.  
3.  
No change since last month.  
Pollinator Pathways Project continued.  
No comments.  
Field clearing at White-Hall Property.  
No comments.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
New signage at White-Hall Property.  
No comments.  
Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.  
None.  
VIII. NEW BUSINESS  
Areas of interest and goals for 2024.  
1.  
1. Trails need to be re-marked. The Commission will create a list of what trails need attention.  
2. Work with Avalonia to coordinate signs and paths for Pike Marshall property.  
3. Discuss sustainability and resilience for forests and open space in Town and how the  
Commission can be of assistance to the Town.  
4. Redo the Highland Park Rain Garden.  
5. Finish planting the riparian buffer at new Lantern Hill Park.  
6. Work with the Town Council's Community Relations Committee and invite the public to  
Lantern Hill Park, possibly provide a history of Long Pond. Councilor Paul offered to assist.  
7. Work more closely with Avalonia Land Trust for better access to the Hoffman Preserve.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.  
None.  
2.  
IX.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 7:31 p.m.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
RESULT:  
AYE  
6
1
Levandoski Harwood Edgecomb Graham Kil Marelli  
Holdridge  
EXCUSED  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.