741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Land Use/Planning/Public Works

Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairman S. Naomi

Rodriguez

Regular Meeting

Monday, November 4, 2024

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

In -Person: Annex Meeting Room - Town Hall Annex Building

Remote Participation: Information Noted Below:

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508725

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor St. Vil at 6:00 p.m. at the

Town Hall Annex Building.

Councilor St. Vil welcomed all to the Hybird Meeting. He stated for the Town Council Land

Use/Planning/Public Works Committee and members of the Public who were participating

via video conference that the remote meeting information was available on the Agenda that

was posted on the Town’s Website - Granicus-Legistar Meeting Portal.

II.

ROLL CALL

Gary St. Vil

Present:

Kevin Dombrowski

Jessica Buhle

Excused:

In addition the following were present:

Earl (Ty) Lamb, Historic District Commission Chairman

Karen Parkinson, Historic District Commission

Stefon Danczuk, State of CT Historic Preservation Circuit Rider

Roxanne Maher, Administrative Assistant

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes of

October 7, 2024.

Moved by Councilor Dombrowski, seconded by Councilor St. Vil

VOTE:

2 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Kevin Dombrowski

RESULT:

MOVER:

Gary St. Vil

SECONDER:

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

Continued discussion regarding the progress of enforcing regulations to address blight issues.

Councilor St. Vil noted that Blight Enforcement Officer Hannah Gienau provided a

Status Report regarding Blighted Properties for September - October, 2024.

Councilor Dombrowski stated the Blight Report included 14 properties, with the

addition of 2 new properties added one in September and one in October. He

reviewed the Report noting the following:

2 Cases were closed out.

1 Case was being handled through the court system.

2 Cases had new property owners that were working to clean up the property.

9 Cases were still outstanding with follow-up inspections planned.

Councilor Dombrowski noted the Blight Citation Flow Charts that were attached to

the Legislative File on tonight’s agenda, and he questioned the origin of the

documents.

Councilor St. Vil noted resident Eric Treaster attended the LUPPW Committee’s

October 7, 2024 meeting and provided the Blight Citation Flow Charts that he had

shared with the prior Director of Land Use/Town Planner. He stated the LUPPW

Committee reviewed the Flow Charts and found them to be informative. He stated

the LUPPW Committee deferred the Blight Flow Charts to Land Use Director/Town

Planner Elizabeth Burdick to determine whether the Flow Charts would be of any use

to the Land Use Department. He noted that Mr. Treaster was trying to be helpful with

sharing some of the tools that he had used in the past.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Spicer Homestead Ruins - Historical Research and Photos.

Mr. Earl (Ty) Lamb, 93 Lambtown Road, Historic District Commission Chairman,

addressed the process to seek a Historic Designation of an area of the Spicer

Homestead Ruins noting the following:

· Delineate area to be preserved - About 4.4 acres that was within the Clark Farm.

· Obtain an A-2 Survey of the area.

· Conduct Fundraisers, Solicit Donations and apply for Grant Funding to pay for

costs associated with the process of seeking a Historic Designation

Mr. Lamb stated that he was hesitant to spend town funds to conduct the A-2 Survey

without the Town Council assigning Administrative Control of the area of the Spicer

Homestead Ruins to the Historic District Commission; or without the Town Council

approving a Local Historic Designation for the site. He also questioned how the

Historic District Commission could proceed with seeking grant funding if they did

not have Administrative Control of the site.

Mr. Lamb continued by questioning whether the Town Council would be willing to

assign Administrative Control of the 4.4-acre area of the Spicer Homestead Ruins

with “Conditions” such as that if the A-2 Survey was not completed by a certain date

the area would go back to being under the Town’s Administrative Control. He stated

this type of arrangement would allow the Historic District to start taking care of the

area and to conduct fund raisers, solicit donations, and begin the grant process to help

to pay for the A-2 Survey and associated expenses involved with obtaining a Historic

Preservation Designation.

Councilor St. Vil noted that Town Council Chairman Rodriguez clearly stated at the

LUPPW Committee’s September 9, 2024 meeting that an A-2 Survey of the property

was necessary for the town to proceed with the process to seek a Historic

Preservation Designation for the Spicer Homestead Ruins. He stated that he

understood Mr. Lamb’s concern about spending money to obtain an A-2 Survey

without the Town Council’s approval to provide a Local Historic Designation.

Councilor St. Vil went on to explain that the LUPPW Committee and Chairman

Rodriguez were on-board with the Historic District Commission’s proposal to

designate an area within the Clark Farm as the Spicer Homestead Ruins. However, he

stated to satisfy the Historic District Commission’s concern that he could solicit a

consensus of the Town Council regarding whether they would support the proposed

historic designation of the Spicer Homestead Ruins. Mr. Lamb stated he would feel

more comfortable with spending money on the A-2 Survey knowing that the Town

Council would support seeking a Historic Designation of the Spicer Homestead

Ruins.

Councilor St. Vil provided a recap of the Road Map noting the following:

· The Historic District Commission presented to the LUPPW Committee a parcel

that they believed had some historical significance.

Conduct an A-2 Survey to delineate the boundaries of the site.

· Obtain Local Historic Preservation Designation; and possibly a State and Federal

Historic Preservation Designation.

· Procurement of funds to make improvements and maintain the historical site.

Mrs. Karen Parkinson, 55 Rose Hill Road, Ledyard, Historic District Commission

Member, stated that she contacted some local Surveyors to see if they would be

willing to donate their services to provide an A-2 Survey. However, she stated that

one Surveyor was only willing to give them a discounted price of $5,000 to conduct

the A-2 Survey; and the other Surveyors she contacted said “No”.

Councilor Dombrowski stated regardless of whether the Town or the Historic District

Commission had Administrative Control of the site, that they were both the “Town of

Ledyard”; noting that the Administrative Control would not change anything in the

grant application, explaining that they would be applying for the Town of Ledyard.

He stated it was his opinion that the Town Council would support the request to

designate the Spicer Homestead Ruins as a historic site. However, he stated that he

did not think the Town Council would vote on providing a Local Historic

Preservation Designation without having an A-2 Survey completed.

Councilor Dombrowski went on to review the process noting the following:

· A-2 Survey of the area to be designated for Historic Preservation was required.

· Grant Application - Councilor Dombrowski explained the Town has a “Grant

Application Policy and Process”; adopted on July 22, 2020. He stated the Policy

required Town Council approval to authorize the Mayor to apply for a Grant,

noting that some grants required local matching funds. He suggested that the

Historic District Commission work with the Finance Director and Land Use

Director/Town Planning to prepare the Grant Applications and to discuss who

would administer the grant funding.

· Donations and Fundraisers - Councilor Dombrowski suggested the Historic

District Commission work with the Finance Director with regard to spending

money that was received through donations or fundraisers, explaining that any

funding received/spent that outside of the approved budget would require Town

Council approval.

Mr. Stephon Danczuk, State of Connecticut Historic Preservation Circuit Rider,

attending remotely, stated that the Town of Ledyard was a Certified Local

Government (COG). He stated what they were talking about was a National Park

Service Designation, and he explained that the State Historic Preservation Office has

Grant Funding available specifically for Certified Local Government (COG). He

stated the grant funding would pay for the following:

· Planning Purposes

· Survey Work

Mr. Danczuk stated that these grant programs would provide up-to $15,000; and do

not require any local matching funding. He explained although a Local Historic

Preservation Designation was not required to apply for the grant funding that the

State would want to know that a Historic Designation was in process, which would

all be part of the Planning Process.

The LUPPW Committee encouraged the Historic District Commission to work with

the State Historic Preservation Office and Mr. Danczuk to learn about the Historic

Preservation Grant opportunities for the planning of the historic preservation

designation of the Spicer Homestead Ruins and for the survey work.

The LUPPW Committee thanked Mr. Lamb, Mrs. Parkinson, and Mr. Danczuk for

attending tonight’s meeting.

Mr. Lamb, Mrs. Parkinson, and Mr. Danczuk left the meeting at 6:21 p.m.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Discussion to consider drafting an Ordinance to address Noise Issues, as requested in Ms.

Johnston’s August 12, 2024 email.

Councilor St. Vil noted at the October 7, 2024 LUPPW Committee meeting they had

some extensive conversations regarding both Old Business Items #3 & #4; which

included an action to seek input from Police Chief John Rich. He noted that Chief Rich

has provided a paper trail of what has been happening with regard to both of these issues

for tonight’s meeting.

Councilor Dombrowski stated that he continued to agree with the LUPPW Committee’s

2018 decision that a Noise Ordinance was not needed based on Police Chief John

Rich’s recommendation at that time, explaining there was adequate provisions in the

Connecticut State Statutes that provided the Police Department with enforcement tools

regarding noise issues.

Councilor Dombrowski went on to note with regard to the noise situation Ms. Johnston

brought the LUPPW Committee’s attention this past summer, that he again agreed with

Chief Rich’s comments in his October 30, 2024 email. He stated Chief Rich provided a

summary of recent responses to 691 Shewville Road and 10 Linden Lane. He noted that

Chief Rich suggested additional background information be obtained regarding the

Prides Corner Farm off-site growing location relative to hours of business operations

and other variables; noting that this may be a temporary situation that could possibly

resolved through communication efforts.

Councilor Dombrowski continued to note that there appeared to be some willingness to

comply when Ms. Johnston asked the Prides Corner workers to lower their music,

noting that the issue here was that the Police Department has not been called. He stated

that he understands Ms. Johnston’s position that she did not want to be adversarial and

call the Police Department.

Councilor Dombrowski suggested the LUPPW Committee send a letter to Ms. Johnston

to encourage her to work with the Land Use Department, Police Department, and Prides

Corner Farm to resolve the noise issue, noting that state statutes provides the Police

Department with the tools to handle noise issues.

Councilor St. Vil stated that he agreed with Councilor Dombrowski in that there were

some missed opportunities by not contacting the Police Department to engage Prides

Corner. He stated in this particular case that because the Police Department has not

been contacted by either party, there was no history, commenting that this could be an

awareness opportunity.

Councilor St. Vil went on to state that Land Use Director/Town Planner Elizabeth

Burdick has been researching this matter, However, he stated because Ms. Burdick was

on vacation this week, that he would like to meet with Ms. Burdick again to obtain her

feedback on her findings.

Councilor St. Vil continued by noting that once the LUPPW Committee has completed

their deliberations, that he would agree with Councilor Dombrowski that sending a

letter to Ms. Johnston to codify the Committee’s decision relative to the path forward

would be appropriate. Therefore, he stated the LUPPW Committee would keep this

item on their Agenda for discussion at their December 2, 2024 meeting.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Discussion to consider provisions to address Illegal Dumping.

Councilor Dombrowski noted Police Chief John Rich’s October 30, 2024 email in which

he provided the Call History regarding 26 Lake Street and 19 Marla Avenue. In addition,

he stated that Chief Rich noted that Connecticut State Statute 22a-250 included

provisions for littering and penalties for Illegal Dumping as follows:

Penalties for illegal dumping:

State law imposes a fine of $219 for dumping anything bigger than one cubic foot.

If you are caught dumping with your vehicle it will be confiscated, you will pay a fine

and you are also subject to arrest.

You can also be sued for clean-up costs and the collection of bigger fines - up to $25,000

per day.

Dumping can be punishable under federal law.

Report illegal dumping to:

Your Local Police Department: If the dumping is ongoing and/or you know who did the

dumping, call the local police. If a vehicle is involved, get the license plate number and

a description of the vehicle doing the dumping --- vehicles can be seized.

DEEP's Emergency Response Unit: Only if the dumping poses an immediate threat to

public health or the environment. Reporting Environmental Emergencies

<https://portal.ct.gov/deep/about/reporting-environmental-problems>

Your Town/City Hall: If the dumping has already taken place, call your Town or City

Hall to report the incident. Usually, the contact at the Town Hall is your local Health

Department

<https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Local-Health-Admin/LHA/Local-Health-Administration--

-Site-Map> or Public Works Department.

Councilor Dombrowski went on to note that Chief Rich also provided the following four

suggestions for mitigation:

Suggestions for Mitigation:

Determine the location of the property lines between the affected properties.

2) If littering or dumping occurs, contact the Ledyard Police Department. In this particular

case, Chief Rich encouraged the complainant(s) to contact him directly by email at

Chief.rich@ledyardct.org <mailto:Chief.rich@ledyardct.org> so he could assign and

brief an officer on the history of the situation.

Depending on the officer’s results in working with the parties, enforcement of

the state statute was an option.

Chief Rich indicated that he did not believe there was sufficient cause for the

town to enact an ordinance for a situation with a remedy that exists in state statute.

Councilor Dombrowski stated that he agreed with Chief Rich’s suggestions for

mitigation, and he suggested the LUPPW Committee’s consider the following path

forward:

The LUPPW Committee hold off on drafting an Ordinance to address Illegal Dumping.

Councilor Dombrowski stated an Ordinance was not necessary for the Police

Department to enforce the provisions provided in the state statutes.

Get Police interaction, if needed.

Send letters to the two residents who brought their concerns to the LUPPW Committee,

to encourage them to contact the Police Department to discuss the matter; and if they

had any further issues.

Councilor St. Vil stated he agreed with Councilor Dombrowski in that an Illegal

Dumping Ordinance was not needed because state statutes provided the Police

Department with the ability to address littering and to impose penalties for Illegal

Dumping.

Councilor St. Vil noted the Police Department’s Call History, stating that this has been

an on-going issue. He also noted that Land Use Director/Town Planner Elizabeth

Burdick has been researching state statutes and other town’s ordinances regarding Illegal

Dumpint. Therefore, he stated that the LUPPW Committee would keep this item on their

Agenda for continued discussion at their December 2, 2024 meeting.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any other Old Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Any other New Business proper to come before the Committee.