741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Conservation Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Mike Marelli

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

6:30 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

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

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner Roberta Levandoski

Commissioner David Holdridge

Commissioner Kathleen Edgecomb

Commissioner Betsy Graham

Commissioner Barbara Kil

Present

Commissioner Michael E. Marelli

Alternate Member Dave Cohen

Commissioner James Harwood

Excused

Also in attendance:

Town Councilor Gary Paul.

III.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from April 9, 2024, as written.

Change "James Cohen" to Dave Cohen".

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

David Holdridge

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kathleen Edgecomb

SECONDER:

Levandoski Holdridge Edgecomb Graham Kil Marelli Cohen

Harwood

AYE

EXCUSED

IV.

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence.

Received a thank-you letter from the CT Land Conservation Council for the $150.00 dues

contribution from the Commission.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Public Comments.

None.

VI.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Informational Items.

The Commission will have informational tables set up on June 1, for the Connecticut Trails Day

event at the Tri-Town Trail and on June 8, at the 2024 Regatta Day Festival in Gales Ferry.

Chairman Marelli will attend the June 7, 2024, Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed. The

meeting is open to the public from 8:00-10:30 a.m. in Groton. Chairman Marelli also attended

the Alliance's April 23 meeting.

The Town of Ledyard has a new Town Planner, Liz Burdick.

Members received a list of Town’s open spaces.

Ms. Graham attended a hearing of the New England Fisheries Council concerning herring,

commercial fishing and sport fishing.

DISCUSSED

VII. OLD BUSINESS

RESULT:

Property Walks.

Mr. Cohen reported that the trail at Blonder's needs some attention, he will be clearing paths.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Financial Reports.

$150.00 was spent on Connecticut Land Conservation Council dues.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Pollinator Pathways Project continued.

Ms. Graham reported that all the pathways look good except for Highland Lake. Ms. Graham is

working with Parks and Recreation to fix the Highland Lake pathway.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Field clearing at White-Hall Property.

No report.

DISCUSSED

White-Hall Study and Report.

RESULT:

The White-Hall report is now complete. There are two copies in binders at the Ledyard Town

Hall. The report contains information on the history of property, lists of invasive species, animal,

plant, bird and insect populations, as well as recommendations for improving the property and

maintenance. The report will be used as backup data for future grant applications.

Motion to APPROVE payment to Margarett Jones for $1,750.00, for the White-Hall Park and

Forest Ecological Survey and report.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Betsy Graham

SECONDER:

Levandoski Holdridge Edgecomb Graham Kil Marelli Cohen

Harwood

AYE

EXCUSED

100 Whalehead Road property.

The Commission needs signs to prevent hikers from going off the trail and into neighboring

private properties at Glacier Park. The signs will be in white with blue lettering and

measurements of 12" x 18". One of the signs will point to the parking lot and the other will read

"please respect our neighbors and protect our trails".

Motion to APPROVE purchase of two white with blue lettering, 12" x 18" signs for Glacier

Park, at a cost of no more than $200.00.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Barbara Kil

SECONDER:

Levandoski Holdridge Edgecomb Graham Kil Marelli Cohen

Harwood

AYE

EXCUSED

Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.

None.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

Purchase Pop-Up Tent.

Motion to APPROVE purchase of pop-up tent from Holdridge Home and Garden to be used by

the Commission at Community events, for a cost of no more than $120.00.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Barbara Kil

RESULT:

MOVER:

Betsy Graham

SECONDER:

Levandoski Holdridge Edgecomb Graham Kil Marelli Cohen

Harwood

AYE

EXCUSED

Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.