741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Conservation Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Mike Marelli

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

6:30 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting was called to order by Chairman Marelli at 6:42 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner Betsy Graham

Commissioner Barbara Kil

Present

Chairperson Michael E. Marelli

Commissioner Dave Cohen

Commissioner Roberta Levandoski

Vice Chair James Harwood

Excused

Commissioner Kathleen Edgecomb

Also in attendance:

Naomi Rodriguez, Town Council Chairman

William Barnes, Town Council Liaison

III.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from April 8, 2025, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Betsy Graham

SECONDER:

Graham Kil Marelli Cohen Levandoski

Harwood Edgecomb

AYE

EXCUSED

IV.

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence.

None.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Public Comments.

Naomi Rodriguez, Town Council Chairperson, asked to speak to the Commission. She apologized for

presenting it a month late but said that April was "Volunteer Appreciation month" and the Town

Council would like to thank you for your volunteer work on this Commission. She read "you and

your fellow Commission members time and talent and are a critical component to making our Town

operate and a great place to live. We are thankful, we are grateful and recognize all of your hard

work and would just like to say thank you".

The Commissioners thanked Naomi Rodriguez, Town Council Chairperson.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VI.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Informational items.

- Zoe Wu, a High School Senior who is on the board of the Alliance for Mystic River Watershed

was nominated for the Aquarion Water Company Environmental Champions Award.

- Burton Woods: A check for $2000 was cut to FW Foresters.

- Tick Awareness signs:

Ms. Graham went to Ledge Light Health District after speaking with Liz Burdick, Planner

Director, about wording for signs and LLDH gave her one sign for free (their last sign).

Discussed putting signs at all trail heads in town, even those not managed by CC. Need to

determine how many trails.

Commissioners volunteered to reach out to other entities to see if they would want to participate:

Avalonia - Mr. Cohen.

Tri-Town - Ms. Graham

Parks and Recreation - Chairperson Marelli.

State of Connecticut - Ms. Graham.

There was also a suggestion to have it posted on the Town website and/or distribute tick

informational packets.

- Regatta Fest - June 7, 2025, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Erickson Park. The Commission will set up a

booth.

DISCUSSED

VII. OLD BUSINESS

RESULT:

Property Walks.

White-Hall - Ms. Graham shared photos of the entrance. The area to the left of the parking lot

needs to be cleared, possibly knocked down with a D/R type trimmer. Chairman Marelli will

also talk to Steve Masalin, Public Works Director to see if they can use their machine to grind it

down. Discussion was had regarding applying weed killer after to keep it in under control.

Glacier Park: Mr. Cohen cleaned up ten or so empty cardboard boxes left by the surveyor. Boxes

had held survey stakes. The Commissioners also talked about trying to control weeds in the

parking area by trimming and application of weed killer. Chairman Marelli will look research

weed killer application steps.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Financial Reports.

Excess funds transferred into the Trail Maintenance account. $12,540 was confirmed

to be in the Trail Maintenance account.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Pollinator Pathways Project continued.

The plants were reported to have survived the winter at Ms. Graham's property. The plants will

remain there until the site work is completed, date unknown.

Both Sawmill and Highland Parks need weeding. Is this the responsibility of Parks and

Recreation? If so, someone with plant knowledge should be present to assure that good plants

don’t get pulled. Wood chips would be helpful to keep weeds down

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Field Clearing at White-Hall Property.

Nothing new to report.

Recommendations to Burton Woods Management Plan Update.

This is a long-term discussion. The Commission must think about grant applications given the

scale and scope of the management plan.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.

None.

XIII. NEW BUSINESS

Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.

None.

IX.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 7:30 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Betsy Graham

SECONDER:

Graham Kil Marelli Cohen Levandoski

Harwood Edgecomb

AYE

EXCUSED