741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Agricultural Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Bruce Garstka

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex-Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Mr. Martic was appointed as a voting member.

Alternate Member Steve Martic

Present

Farming Community Bruce Garstka

Farming Community Russell Holmberg

Farming Community Michael E. Marelli

Farming Community Allyson Angelini

Excused

Absent

Community-at-Large Representative Katie Yuhas

Farming Community William Thorne

Also in attendance:

Ty, Lamb, Town Council was present as the Agricultural Commission Liaison.

Jeff Islandburger, resident.

Karen Parkinson was present via Zoom.

III.

CITIZEN COMMENTS

None.

IV.

COMMENTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS

Comments of Commission Members.

None.

CORESPONDENCE

Correspondence.

None.

VI.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Informational items.

None.

VII. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from November 18, 2025, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Bruce Garstka

RESULT:

MOVER:

Michael E. Marelli

SECONDER:

Martic Garstka Holmberg Marelli

Angelini

AYE

EXCUSED

ABSENT

Yuhas Thorne

VIII. TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT

Town Council Liaison report.

Ty Lamb, Town Councilor introduced himself to the Commission as the newly appointed

Liaison. He added that he is also the Liaison for the Historic District Commission which he used

to be the Chairman for. Councilor Lamb said he noted in the minutes that the Commission

would like to have the Liaison more active on the Commission and said he plans to attend all the

Commission's meetings. Councilor Lamb noted that there are standing presentation bullets every

two weeks on the Town Council meeting agenda for the Commission to present. Chairman

Garstka said he has spoken before at the Town Council meetings.

Councilor Lamb reported that during the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee meeting

Chairman Garstka presented criteria suggestions for the renewal of the Clark Farm agreement.

Although the suggestions were accepted Councilor Lamb said he needs to find out what the next

step is. Chairman Garstka said he met with Liz Burdick, Town Planner, and she said because it's

a renewal not a new lease it may only need to go before Land Use, and she suggested meeting

with Mayor Fred Allyn III. Chairman Garksta will meet with the Mayor to discuss a request for

proposal to see how to proceed. Councilor Lamb suggested that the Commission reviews its

ordinances to make the Commission a bit more proactive. Councilor Lamb also asked if the

Commission ever considered coordinating a Co-Op between Farmers for food donations.

Chairman Garstka said no, he felt that in these instances donations are made directly to the Food

Pantry and a middleman was not necessary. Chairman Garstka thanked Councilor Lamb for

attending the meeting and added that he believes that having the Liaison report on the agenda

will be beneficial.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

IX.

OLD BUSINESS

Any other Old Business to come before the Commission.

Chairman Garstka reiterated what Councilor Lamb said regarding attending the Land Use

meeting to present Clark Farm criteria recommendations, he said it is moving forward. Mr.

Holmberg asked if there was any interest in hay farming on the Clark Farm property. Chairman

Garstka answered that two people have shown interest. Mr. Islandburger asked if the person who

will sign the lease is required to live in Ledyard, Chairman Garstka answered no. Chairman

Garstka said the lease would need to be long term (at least 5-years) if there is hay farming,

anything shorter term would not be worth the investment.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

NEW BUSINESS

Any other New Business to come before the Commission.

Chairman Garstka spoke with a realtor who told him that the recently passed State law

encouraging development of affordable housing bypasses all zoning laws. He is concerned about

how this will affect farmland. Mr. Holmberg said there has been a slowdown in sales of larger

parcels because of the rise in road development costs. Chairman Garstka thinks the Town should

be encouraging Auxiliary Dwelling Units (ADU) when homes are built. There were some

questions whether ADUs are permitted in Ledyard, Councilor Lamb said he will find some

answers.

Chairman Garstka said he will schedule a joint meeting in April. He asked Councilor Lamb to

mention the Commission's joint meeting to the Town Council and to ask Liaisons to let their

Commission know about the meeting.

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 6:25 p.m.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Bruce Garstka

SECONDER: Michael E. Marelli

AYE

Martic Garstka Holmberg Marelli

Angelini

EXCUSED

ABSENT

Yuhas Thorne

After the meeting was adjourned Chairman Garstka said he wanted to open the meeting back up

to see if Ms. Parkinson had anything to add. Ms. Parkinson said that she thinks the duties and

functions of the Commission should be broader. She said that the Griswold Agricultural

Commission has an amazing list of duties and functions and encouraged the Commission to

review theirs.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

XI.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 6:29 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Bruce Garstka

RESULT:

MOVER:

Michael E. Marelli

SECONDER:

Martic Garstka Holmberg Marelli

AYE