741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Economic Development Commission

Meeting Minutes - Final

Chairman

John Vincent

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

II.

Commissioner Carol Ann Schneider

Recording Secretary Michael Dreimiller

Chairman John Vincent

Present

Vice Chair Peter Hary

Commissioner Richard Tashea

Commissioner Michael Cherry

In addition, the following were present:

Mayor Fred Allyn

Director of Land Use & Planning, Elizabeth Burdick

III.

ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA

None.

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Justin LaFoutain of Goman & York: Update of GF Corridor Study

Town Planner Burdick stated that he is unable to join us tonight. Goman & York will run a

public workshop at an EDC Special Meeting scheduled for Apr. 15th 5:00pm-6:30pm at Ledyard

Senior Center. A press release was published in The Day newspaper and it has also been posted

on the Town’s website. Dreimiller also posted it to the EDC’s Facebook page and it was shared

on the Ledyard Community Forum Facebook group.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

Eric Treaster asked if the Goman & York Rt. 12 Study could be shared before the Special

Meeting on April 15th. Mayor Allyn explained that the report doesn’t exist yet and that the

Special Meeting is the kick-off meeting for it. The Special Meeting is for information idea

gathering. Treaster then asked about the objectives of the previous report. Mayor Allyn stated

that the Town would like to apply for another STEAP Grant so that they could do in Gales Ferry

the same kind of improvements that have been done in Ledyard Center. However, the previous

Rt. 12 corridor studies in 2012 (UConn) and 2001 (Tri-Committee) are not considered current by

the State so they want an updated study before they will consider a STEAP Grant for Gales

Ferry. Goman & York have been provided copies of the previous two reports.

VI.

REPORTS

Mayor’s Report

The March 26th seCTer meeting included an interesting presentation on Placer.AI which is a

platform that tracks 10 million cell phone users that are subscribed with them to analyze their

traffic patterns. seCTer has purchased a membership and can run reports for us. Goman & York

is also using Placer.AI for the Rt. 12 study. Dreimiller also attended. seCTer meets on the 2nd

Tuesday of every other month with the next meeting scheduled for May 13th and are accessible

via Zoom.

Planner’s Report

Gales Ferry Intermodal appeal has been filed. That matter will be taken up by the Superior

Court.

12 apartments in the back of the at former Ledyard Center School have been approved. Site plan

available in Town Planner’s office. The projected was submitted as multi-family but their intent

is 55 and older. All the units are ADA compliant. There will be two 2-bedroom units and 10

1-bedroom units. They’ll be removing some of the parking in the back and creating a green

space.

The business at the former Lou’s Garage, Ryan’s Reliable Services landscape company, has been

growing despite requests to hold off. They were asked not to do business there until they had

gotten their permits. He did get a site plan and submitted that for approval on March 12th but has

continued to do work there, adding a construction trailer and a portable toilet, thus rendering the

site plan incomplete since it doesn’t match existing conditions. The enforcement process has

been started to slow things down.

Schneider mentioned FRAG's Retro Zone, a new gaming store opening soon in the building next

to the Gales Ferry Post Office. It will buy/sell/trade retro video games, classic consoles, rare

action figures, and toys.

VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

EDC Regular Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2025

MOTION to approve the Regular EDC Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2025. Motion

Passed by the following vote.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael Cherry

RESULT:

MOVER:

Peter Hary

SECONDER:

Schneider Dreimiller Vincent Hary Tashea Cherry

AYE

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

Corridor Study Update

Previously covered.

Business Directory Update

Dreimiller found some businesses that were in the online version that were missing from the

PDF and Hary added them to the PDF. The updated PDF is now posted on the town’s website.

Dreimiller also posted about this on the EDC’s Facebook page shared it on the Ledyard

Community Forum Facebook group.

Business Directional Signage

Currently waiting for Steve Masalin to contact DOT to find out if it we can place business

directional signs place above existing signs in the State’s right-of-way. Dreimiller said he found

some information about Plainfield’s program - $150/sign, maximum 4 signs, within ¼ mile of

the business.

Transparency & Government draft discussion

Cherry said that he was happy with it. Vincent questioned some of the content of the Strategic

Plan that is included in the presentation. It was pointed out that those items were list of things

that the EDC could pursue if funding was to become available, not things that we actually

currently do. The Mayor questioned whether there was better working for the phrase

“pre-permitted sites” in that list of possible future efforts by the EDC. It was decided that it was

ok as is and Dreimiller made a note to revisit that when the Strategic Plan is next updated.

A motion was made by Commissioner Cherry, seconded by Commissioner Tashea, to accept the

Transparency & Governance presentation as is. The motion carried by the following vote:

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Richard Tashea

RESULT:

MOVER:

Peter Hary

SECONDER:

Schneider Dreimiller Vincent Hary Tashea Cherry

AYE

IX.

NEW BUSINESS

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Our next regular meeting is scheduled for May 1st at 6:00pm in the Town Hall Annex.

Our special meeting is scheduled for April 15th at 5:00pm at the Ledyard Senior Center.

A motion was made by Commissioner Dreimiller, seconded by Commissioner Hary, to adjourn

at 6:32pm. The motion carried by the following vote:

VOTE:

6 - 0 Approved and so declared

Respectfully submitted,