741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Conservation Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Mike Marelli

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

6:30 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

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

II.

ROLL CALL

Vice Chair James Harwood

Chairman Barbara Kil

Present

Chairman Dave Cohen

Chairman Roberta Levandoski

Chairman Betsy Graham

Chairman Michael E. Marelli

Chairman Kathleen Edgecomb

Excused

Also in attendance via Zoom was Karen Parkinson.

III.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Public Comments.

None.

IV.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from December 9, 2025, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Betsy Graham

SECONDER:

Harwood Kil Cohen Levandoski Graham Marelli

Edgecomb

AYE

EXCUSED

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence.

Chairman Marelli said the two correspondences received from Connecticut Land Conservation

and Eastern Connecticut Conservation District, Inc. will be discussed under Any Other New

Business.

VI.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Informational items.

Chairman Marelli said that Councilor Barnes will not be able to attend the Conservation

Meetings as a Liaison because he has been appointed to other Commissions. A new Liaison will

be assigned to the Commission.

Chairman Marelli told the Commissioners that he was informed that reimbursements are not the

preferred purchase method of the Finance Department. In the future a Town credit card can be

used to purchase the item. Purchases can go through Christina Hostetler, Town Hall Assistant.

The Agricultural Commission has presented a set of guidelines (recommendations) to the Town

Council for leasing of the Clark Farm Property. The intention is to lease to someone that will

maintain the property, so it does not become overgrown. The Agricultural Commission will be

encouraging hay farming. The Clark Farm parcel is controlled by the Town Council. The

Majcher Family who has farmed the property for years was not renewed.

Avalonia has grant funding to purchase 30 acres of land on 1069 Colonel Ledyard Highway.

Avalonia is asking the Town for the Matching Funds. This parcel will be contiguous to the

Tri-Town Trail.

A possible subdivision at 58 and 59 Seabury Avenue with a pre-application has been received. It

is noted that there is no public access to proposed open space, which is required by Planning and

Zoning to be connected to the Subdivision. Since the new open space will fall under control of

the Conservation Commission the Commission will follow up.

The Groton Trails Task Force was discussed. There is an informal Groton group who are

involved in trails. The group meets quarterly. Their goal is to have a plan that all groups are

aware of so to have the ability to connect trails. The Commission will need to start working on a

POCD (Plan of Community Development). Ms. Kill will speak to Tom Olson, from Tri-Town

Trail and the Groton Task Force for an idea on how to get such Task Force Started in Ledyard.

This could be useful in making a head start on the POCD. There will be a meeting Thursday

January 22, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Groton Library, which could provide some ideas

for future land use. A Ledyard Task Force could include Conservation, Avalonia, TTT, GOSA

Blue Blaze, Parks and Recreation working together to coordinate.

VII. OLD BUSINESS

Property Walks.

Mr. Cohen reported that the parking lot at Glacier Park is very muddy. A suggestion was made

to ask Mr. Geer about gravel. The Brush on stone walls still needs to be removed. Perhaps check

with Liz Burdick, Town Planner, to see if Eversource owns the property. Also, there is a large

tree on the ground at the Burton Property Yellow Trail. Possibly a volunteer with a chain saw

could cut the tree. Chairman Marelli and Mr. Cohen volunteered to evaluate the fallen tree.

Financial Reports.

Pollinator Pathways Project continued.

Scott Johnson, Parks & Recreation Director will set the schedule.

The Pavillion and parking area will need to be constructed before plants can be planted. Ms.

Graham said the area will need a backhoe, since much of the soil is too dense for a shovel

Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.

None.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

Election of Officers -

Chairman.

Vice-Chairman.

Treasurer.

Secretary.

Mr. Harwood said that he would like to step down from the Vice-Chairman position.

Motion to APPROVE the 2026-2027 slate as Michael Marelli for Chairman, David Cohen for

Vice-Chairman, Betsy Graham as Treasurer and Kathleen Edgecomb as Secretary.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

RESULT:

MOVER:

Roberta Levandoski

SECONDER:

Harwood Kil Cohen Levandoski Graham Marelli

Edgecomb

AYE

EXCUSED

2026/27 Budget Request.

The Fiscal year 2026/27 is the same as last year ($3775.00). Chairman Marelli will send a letter

to the Town Council. This year $2400 was spent on two mowing invoices using the Whitehall

account.

Motion to APPROVE a recommendation of $3775 for the 2026/27 fiscal year budget.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Barbara Kil

RESULT:

MOVER:

Dave Cohen

SECONDER:

Harwood Kil Cohen Levandoski Graham Marelli

Edgecomb

AYE

EXCUSED

Aquatic Invasives in the Mystic River Watershed.

Councilor Bill Barnes has offered to bring this problem up to the Town Council to see if funds

could be appropriate as a line item in future Budgets. Ms. Graham used graphs to explain how

far the hydrilla has already spread. There are no available funds to staff employees at the boat

launches for both information sharing and boat inspection. Chairman Marelli will remind

Councilor Barnes to speak on the Commission's behalf. Watersheds should be included in the

Open Space Plan. Make a note to include in February agenda an item for a POCD. Hilary

Kenyon from Applied Watershed Sciences is working on a survey that will influence how

herbicides can be used. Chairman Marelli reported that Alewife reported using the fish ladder on

Shewville Road which is great news.

Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.

Request for donations from CT Land Conservation Council and Eastern CT Conservation

District.

Motion to APPROVE a donation of $500.00 to CT Land Conservation Council.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Michael E. Marelli

SECONDER: Barbara Kil

AYE:

Harwood Kil Cohen Levandoski Graham Marelli

Edgecomb

EXCUSED

Motion to APPROVE a donation of $500.00 to Eastern Connecticut Conservation District,

Incorporated.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Barbara Kil

RESULT:

MOVER:

Michael E. Marelli

SECONDER:

Harwood Kil Cohen Levandoski Graham Marelli

Edgecomb

AYE

EXCUSED

IX.

ADJOURNMENT

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.