741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Agricultural Commission  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman  
Bruce Garstka  
Regular Meeting  
Tuesday, June 17, 2025  
6:00 PM  
Town Hall Annex-Hybrid Format  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The Regular Meeting was called to order by Chairman Garstka at 6:00 p.m.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Community-at-Large Representative Katie Yuhas  
Alternate Member Steve Martic  
Present  
Farming Community Bruce Garstka  
Farming Community William Thorne  
Farming Community Michael E. Marelli  
Farming Community Allyson Angelini  
Farming Community Russell Holmberg  
Excused  
Bill Thorne and Steve Martic were present via Zoom.  
Bill Thorne and Steve Martic were appointed as voting members.  
III.  
CITIZENS COMMENTS  
None present.  
IV.  
1.  
COMMENTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS  
Comments of Commission Members.  
None.  
V.  
1.  
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
Informational items.  
None.  
VI.  
1.  
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from May 20, 2025, as written.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
RESULT:  
Bruce Garstka  
Katie Yuhas  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
5
2
Yuhas Martic Garstka Thorne Marelli  
Angelini Holmberg  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
VII. CORRESPONDENCE  
Correspondence.  
1.  
Chairman Gartska said he would discuss this under Any other New Business.  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
Any other Old Business to come before the Commission.  
1.  
None.  
IX.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
Any other New Business to come before the Commission.  
Chairman Gartska said he was speaking to his large animal veterinarian regarding fees.  
Veterinarians are required to pay several fees such as Federal, State, medication and controlled  
medication licensing fees and each one costs approximately $800.00. If the veterinarian travels,  
they must pay these fees in each State they travel to. This is primarily why it is hard to find a  
large animal Veterinarian. Chairman Gartska said it may be worth asking State Representatives  
to lower State fees for Veterinarians.  
Chairman Gartska mentioned to the Commission that they are invited to the Farmer's Market on  
June 18, 2025. He plans to be there from approximately 4:10 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Mr. Thorne said  
he would like the Commission to have a formal AG table at the market on another date.  
Chairman Gartska said he spoke with someone from Broad Brook Farms who said he must  
travel to either Terryville (pigs) or Stafford Springs (cows) since there is not a slaughterhouse  
that is closer. He added that it's a very expensive endeavor to start a new slaughterhouse.  
Mr. Thorne visited Clark Farm and spoke with someone who would be excited to use it for  
agricultural purposes. Another option talked about was an area for planes to take off and land. It  
would have to be an option that would not preclude future agricultural use.  
Ledyard 250 - The Nathan Lester House will host events.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
X.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 6:23 p.m.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Bruce Garstka  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Michael E. Marelli  
SECONDER:  
5
2
Yuhas Martic Garstka Thorne Marelli  
Angelini Holmberg  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.