741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Conservation Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Mike Marelli

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

6:30 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular meeting was called to order by Chairman Marelli at 6:35 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Vice Chair James Harwood

Present

Commissioner Betsy Graham

Commissioner Barbara Kil

Chairperson Michael E. Marelli

Commissioner Dave Cohen

Commissioner Kathleen Edgecomb

Commissioner Roberta Levandoski

Also in attendance was William Barnes, Town Council Liaison.

III.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Special Meeting Minutes from February 27, 2025, and Regular Meeting

Minutes from March 11, 2025, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kathleen Edgecomb

SECONDER:

Harwood Graham Kil Marelli Cohen Edgecomb Levandoski

AYE

IV.

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence.

Aquarion Environmental Champions Awards Packet.

New Estimate for Burton Woods Survey.

Eastern CT Conservation Distribution, 2024-2025, Winter Newsletter.

Aquarion Water Company is looking for nominations for its Environmental Champions Awards.

Ms. Graham will reach out to a high school senior who is on the board of the Alliance for Mystic

River Watershed and wants to study environmental issues in college. If she is agreeable, the

Commission will nominate her and send a letter to the water company. The winner in the teen

category will receive $1,000.

There is a new estimate for Burton Woods Survey which will be discussed under Old Business.

Chairman Marelli received the Eastern Connecticut Conservation Distribution, 2024-25 winter

newsletter.

Ms. Edgecomb will write an update on the Commission's management plans for the Burton and

White-Hall properties for submittal in the spring edition of the Town's Ledyard Events

Magazine.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Public Comments.

None.

VI.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Informational items.

The Agricultural Commission has invited all Land-Use Commissions to a joint meeting at 6:00

p.m. on April 15 at the Town Hall Annex. Chairman Marelli will represent the Conservation

Commission, but any member is encouraged to attend.

VII. OLD BUSINESS

Property Walks.

Chairman Marelli and Mr. Cohen walked the White-Hall property. They noted that the parking

lot needs some attention since briars are growing over into the parking area. Cohen also reported

that the fence at the end of the yellow trail is broken and needs to be replaced. It was also noted

that there were a lot of ticks along the trails.

Cohen also reported that there is trash around the parking lot of Glacier Park and briars need to

be cut back so trash, cans, bottle food wrappers, can be cleaned out.

Financial Reports.

Mr. Harwood will attend the Finance Committee meeting at 5:00 p.m. on April 16 at the Town

Hall Annex to request a transfer of unused funds from Fiscal Year 2023-24 to the Commission's

Trail Maintenance Account. Betsy Graham, Finance Officer, will also attend.

Pollinator Pathways Project continued.

The Inland Waterways Committee and the Planning & Zoning Commission have approved plans

for Lantern Hill Valley Park and the project now has to be put out to bid. Plants, now under the

care of Ms. Graham, will not be in the ground until September.

Field Clearing at White-Hall Property.

A contractor finished clearing what he could. It is the first time in three years that the paths and

lower field have been mowed. The contractor said he would be willing to keep working with the

Commission in the future to maintain the trails and meadows.

New Estimate for Burton Woods Survey.

FW Foresters completed a survey of Burton Wood with recommendations on maintaining and

improving the park. FW Foresters said they spent more time than anticipated on the project and

is asking for $2,463 instead of the informally agreed upon estimate of $1,7000. The Commission

agreed to pay an additional $300 because on August 13, 2024, it was voted on to appropriate no

more than $2,000 for the survey and management plan. It was agreed that the finished product

was thorough and will be helpful in future planning. "The work was excellent," Chairman

Marelli commented.

Motion to APPROVE payment of $2,000.00 to FW Foresters for survey of Burton Woods as

previously allocated on August 13, 2024.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Dave Cohen

SECONDER:

Harwood Graham Kil Marelli Cohen Edgecomb Levandoski

AYE

Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.

None.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

Ledyard Beautification Committee Earth Day Booth.

Ms. Graham will set up a table with information about the Commission during the Ledyard

Beautification Earth Day Celebration at the Senior Center on April 26 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Aquarion Environmental Champions Nominations.

Recommendations to Burton Woods Management Plan Update.

Chairman Marelli said he has started and wants to continue marking the boundaries at the park

and possibly widen the trails. The management plan for Burton is being updated and will be

discussed at the next meeting. The Commission will need to figure out what items can be

completed by Commissioners and which ones will need professional contractors.

Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.

None.

IX.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular meeting at 8:06 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Roberta Levandoski

SECONDER:

Harwood Graham Kil Marelli Cohen Edgecomb Levandoski

AYE