12 Van Tassel Drive  
Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens  
Commission  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman  
Kenneth J. DiRico  
Regular Meeting  
Tuesday, December 16, 2025  
7:00 PM  
Parks & Recreation/Senior Citizens  
Center  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The Regular Meeting was called to order by Chairman DiRico at 7:01 p.m.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Chairperson Kenneth J. DiRico  
Chairman Lucrezia Finegan  
Chairman Carol Ann Schneider  
Chairman Lauren Hawes  
Present  
Chairman Loretta Kent  
Chairman Paula Crocker  
Alternate Member Vanessa Sotelo  
Alternate Member Stephanie Bacon  
Excused  
Also in attendance was Scott Johnson, Director of Ledyard Parks, Recreation and Senior Center.  
III.  
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS  
None.  
IV.  
1.  
PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
Upcoming Events and Activities.  
None.  
V.  
1.  
MEMBER COMMENTS  
Member Comments.  
Ms. Kent stated that she has seen posts on social media complaining about the light parade being  
cancelled. She suggested we could coordinate with the Jeep parade and incorporate a tree  
lighting with Santa.  
VI.  
1.  
REPORTS  
Reports.  
Director's Report.  
Hometown Heroes event went very well, 2 veterans who were to receive quilts could not attend  
and will be presented with their quilts during a Tuesday morning breakfast.  
Applications are flowing in for the office assistance position, interviews should begin next week.  
The refrigerator in the kitchen and the coffee pot in the main room have both stopped working  
and will need to replace them both.  
Carpeting in the offices is being completed this week.  
Everything at the fields has been winterized and turned off, and back flow preventers have been  
pulled out.  
Motion to ACCEPT the Director's report.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Lucrezia Finegan  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Carol Ann Schneider  
SECONDER:  
6
2
DiRico Finegan Schneider Hawes Kent Crocker  
Sotelo Bacon  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to APPROVE the Regular Meeting Minutes from November 18, 2025.  
1.  
It was requested that the minutes of previous meetings and the agenda be posted onto the Town  
of Ledyard website to give members ample time to review before the meetings.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Lucrezia Finegan  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Carol Ann Schneider  
SECONDER:  
6
2
DiRico Finegan Schneider Hawes Kent Crocker  
Sotelo Bacon  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
Discuss ideas for FY26-27 Capital Projects  
1.  
- Blonders Upgrades: New toilets (2 have been replaced out of necessity), add electrical  
switched for pavilion lighting (currently turned on/off at the breaker). Inconvenient and stress on  
breaker panel.  
-Security Cameras: Security cameras for the GFCC, SR CTR, and possibly Blonders.  
-Senior Center Sign: The sign deteriorated and a piece fell off the building. The remainder of  
the sign was removed due to safety concerns.  
-AED’s and Climate Controlled Boxes: With new technology they now make  
climate-controlled AED boxes. This allows us to place them in the parks. AED’s triple the  
chance of survival from cardiac arrest compared to CPR alone.  
-Park Amenities: Dog bag stations, bleachers, field boxes, etc.  
-Tree trimming / removal: Trim and take down trees that are a safety concern in various parks.  
-Temporary tents and bounce house: Could be an opportunity to generate additional revenue  
for rentals. In addition, the bounce house would save us money during summer camp potentially  
allowing us to reduce fees. Need to talk to CIRMA to see if they will allow this under our  
insurance.  
-Playground Mulch/ ADA matts and replacement parts: Keep woodchips at an acceptable  
level, install ADA matts(also prolong woodchip life) and replace missing parts on playscapes not  
being replaced under the STEAP grant.  
-Tennis/ Pickleball Court Repairs: We historically put money aside each year to allow us to  
regularly crack fill/ clean the courts. This significantly prolongs the life of the courts.  
-Kitchen suppression system upgrades: Extend the capabilities of our fire suppression hood to  
allow for a fryer. ONLY IF IT CAN’T BE DONE/FUNDED BY PW.  
-Football Field LED Lights: Upgrade the Judge Crandall football field lights to LED. Better  
quality lighting with significant reduction in utility expenses. Current wood poles are starting to  
get “spongy” near the top.  
-LHV Park Contingency Funding: Additional funding if needed to complete building the new  
Lantern Hill Valley Park.  
-Blonders Material Storage: use concrete blocks to create bunkers to store materials such as  
loam, wood chips, sand. Allows us to buy material in bulk saving money while ensuring we  
always have material on hand.  
Subcommittee to address club/league youth sports council - the goal is to have ready for spring  
sports meetings.  
Any Other Old Business to Come Before the Commission.  
2.  
XI.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
Discussion and possible motion to APPROVE the FY2026-27 budget.  
TABLED  
Election of Officers.  
RESULT:  
2.  
TABLED  
RESULT:  
Motion to APPROVE 2026 Calendar Meeting dates as written.  
3.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Lucrezia Finegan  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Lauren Hawes  
SECONDER:  
6
2
DiRico Finegan Schneider Hawes Kent Crocker  
Sotelo Bacon  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Any Other New Business to Come Before the Commission.  
4.  
Entered Executive Session at 7:57 p.m. to discuss a youth sports issue. Adjournment of  
Executive Session at 8:50 p.m.  
X.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 8:52 p.m.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Paula Crocker  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Loretta Kent  
SECONDER:  
6
2
DiRico Finegan Schneider Hawes Kent Crocker  
Sotelo Bacon  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.