741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Agricultural Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Bruce Garstka

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex-Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

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

II.

ROLL CALL

Community-at-Large Representative Katie Yuhas

Alternate Member Steve Martic

Present

Farming Community Bruce Garstka

Farming Community Michael E. Marelli

Farming Community Russell Holmberg

Excused

Late

Farming Community Allyson Angelini

Farming Community William Thorne

Also in attendance was Karen Parkinson from the Tri-Town Trail.

Mr. Martic was appointed as a voting member.

Mr. Thorne joined the meeting via Zoom at 6:05 p.m. at which time he was appointed as a

voting member.

Ms. Angelini joined the meeting at 6:07 p.m. at which time Mr. Martic was put back as an

alternate member.

III.

CITIZENS COMMENTS

Chairman Garstka asked Ms. Parkinson if she wanted to speak now, she said she would speak

later in the meeting during the Clark Farm discussion.

IV.

COMMENTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS

Comments of Commission Members.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Informational items.

None.

VI.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from August 19, 2025, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Bruce Garstka

RESULT:

MOVER:

Michael E. Marelli

SECONDER:

Holmberg

EXCUSED

VII. CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence.

None.

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

Clark Farm Property.

Chairman Garstka spoke with Mayor Allyn III regarding the Clark Farm property, and he

recommended that Chairman Garstka speaks to the Town Council since the farm is under their

control. Chairman Garstka called Kevin Dombrowski, Town Councilor who advised writing a

letter to the Town Council, which was put on the last Town Council Meeting as correspondence.

Chairman Garstka also spoke with Steve Masalin, Public Works Director to find out what it

would cost the Town to maintain the field. Walter Majcher term is expiring next year, and he

does not have plans to renew the lease. Chairman Garstka spoke with Bill Geer has the required

equipment and may be interested. Ms. Parkinson said the High School Vo-Ag department may

be interested also. Ideally Chairman Garstka said he would like the opportunity offered to

Ledyard residents and suggested instead of charging a lease having a list of goals such as

removing invasives and clearing around the walls. Chairman Garstka said that Mr. Majcher said

he would mow the fields one more time before his term expires.

Ms. Parkinson said that a town owned farm in South County Rhode Island had a situation in

2007 where the farm was overgrown with invasive plants and a "Friends of Canonchet Farms"

was formed. The group removed the invasives and now holds several workshops, events and

walks. Ms. Parkinson read the following from the Friends of Canonchat website:

"The Friends of Canonchet Farms was created in 2007 by a group of Narragansett residents who

recognized this forgotten parcel of land could be preserved as a natural space for the community

to enjoy. The group has evolved into a partnership with the Town to provide funding and

volunteers for enhancing the property. We are committed to help create a natural park for the

enjoyment and education of Narragansett residents and visitors".

Ms. Parkinson said she attended the meeting as a concerned citizen and would like to see

Ledyard residents involved in an effort to turn Clark Farm into a public space that residents

could use for kite flying, walking, etc. Mr. Thorne said he believes that the Town does a great

job maintaining the spaces it already has such as the Nathan Lester House and doesn't think more

burden should be put on the town, especially in the midst of budget cuts. The Commission talked

about the importance of preserving farmland and would like to speak with the Town Council

about preservation, maintenance and controlling of invasive plants on the Clark Farm property.