741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339-1551  
(860) 464-3203  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Town Council  
council@ledyardct.org  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman S. Naomi  
Rodriguez  
Regular Meeting  
Wednesday, April 9, 2025  
7:00 PM  
Town Hall Council Chambers  
WORKING DRAFT  
In-Person: Council Chambers Town Hall Annex  
Remote: Information noted below:  
Join Zoom Meeting from your Computer, Smart Phone or Tablet:  
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82165671025?pwd=qHrsagIjTnax1P4QnLNFcE0FSmBx4f.1  
Audio Only: Telephone: +1 646 558 8656; Meeting ID: 821 6567 1025; Passcode: 718044  
CALL TO ORDER  
I.  
IC.hairman Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Council Chambers,  
Town Hall Annex Building.  
Chairman Rodriguez welcomed all to the Hybrid Meeting. She stated for the members of  
the Town Council and 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.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
ROLL CALL  
III.  
Councilor William Barnes  
Councilor April Brunelle  
Councilor Jessica Buhle  
Councilor Kevin Dombrowski  
Councilor Carmen Garcia-Irizarry  
Chairman S. Naomi Rodriguez  
Councilor Tim Ryan  
Present:  
Councilor Tony Saccone  
Councilor Gary St. Vil  
IV.  
PRESENTATIONS  
V.  
RESIDENT & PROPERTY OWNERS (COMMENTS LIMITED TO THREE (3)  
MINUTES  
Mr. Elleanor Murray, 26 Devonshire Drive, Gales Ferry, addressed the following:  
Proposed Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget  
Budget Advisory Questions  
Administration Committee March 12, 2025 Meeting  
Mr. Steve Munger, 12 Nutmeg Drive, Gales Ferry, addressed the following:  
Proposed Third-Party Flag Ordinanc  
Administration Committee March 12, 2025 Meeting  
Mr. Eswin Murray, 26 Devonshire Drive, Gales Ferry, addressed the following:  
Budget Advisory Questions  
Separate General Government Budget and Board of Education Budget  
Low Voter Turn Out  
Proposed Ethics Commission  
VI.  
COMMITTEE COMMISSION AND BOARD REPORTS  
VII. COMMENTS OF TOWN COUNCILORS  
VIII. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
MOTION to approve the Town Council Minutes of March 26, 2025  
IX.  
X.  
COMMUNICATIONS  
Communications List for April 9, 2025  
REFERALS  
XI.  
1.  
COUNCIL SUB COMMITTEE, LIAISON REPORTS  
Administration Committee  
Community Relations Committee for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion  
Finance Committee  
2.  
3.  
Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee  
4.  
5.  
Liaison Reports  
REPORT OF THE MAYOR:  
XIII  
XIII. OLD BUSINESS  
XIV. NEW BUSINESS  
Finance Committee  
MOTION to allocate up to $12,500 from the National Opioid Settlement Funding (account #  
20810201-58206-24206) to support the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 administration of the DARE  
Program in Ledyard Public Schools.  
1.  
VOTE:  
9 - 0 Approved and so declared  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
April Brunelle  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Tim Ryan  
SECONDER:  
9
Barnes, Brunelle, Buhle, Dombrowski, Garcia-Irizarry, Rodriguez, Ryan,  
Saccone, and St. Vil  
AYE:  
MOTION to authorize overspending of account # 10120501-54300 Ledyard Fire Repairs and  
Maintenance by an amount not to exceed $6,000.  
2.  
VOTE:  
9 - 0 Approved and so declared  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Tim Ryan  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
April Brunelle  
SECONDER:  
9
Barnes, Brunelle, Buhle, Dombrowski, Garcia-Irizarry, Rodriguez, Ryan,  
Saccone, and St. Vil  
AYE:  
MOTION to approve a proposed “Amendment 2025-1 to the Town of Ledyard 401(a) Plan”  
Pertaining to Employees eligible for Matching Contributions; as presented by the Retirement  
Board in the draft dated March 18, 2025.  
3.  
VOTE:  
9 - 0 Approved and so declared  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Tony Saccone  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Jessica Buhle  
SECONDER:  
9
Barnes, Brunelle, Buhle, Dombrowski, Garcia-Irizarry, Rodriguez, Ryan,  
Saccone, and St. Vil  
AYE:  
MOTION to adopt a proposed Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Water Operations Budget in the amount  
$1,765,531.86.  
4.  
VOTE:  
9 - 0 Approved and so declared  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
April Brunelle  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Tim Ryan  
SECONDER:  
9
Barnes, Brunelle, Buhle, Dombrowski, Garcia-Irizarry, Rodriguez, Ryan,  
Saccone, and St. Vil  
AYE:  
MOTION to adopt a proposed Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget in the amount of $71,062,240  
comprised of:  
5.  
·
·
General Government: $30,395,998_  
Board of Education: $40,667,242 .  
MOTION to amend the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget to reduce the Board of Education  
proposed budget increase from 5.99% to 5% for a revised Education Budget in the amount of  
$40,288,314.  
Moved by Councilor Ryan, seconded by Councilor Barnes  
VOTE: 3 - 6 Amendment Failed ( Brunelle, Buhle, Garcia-Iirzarry, Rodriguez, Sacone, St. Vil  
not in favor)  
Vote on Main Motion as follows:  
MOTION to adopt a proposed Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget in the amount of $71,062,240  
comprised of:  
·
General Government: $30,394,998_  
· Board of Education: $_40,667,242_  
VOTE: 6 - 3 Approved and so declared ( Barnes, Dombrowski, Ryan not in favor)  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Tony Saccone  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
April Brunelle  
SECONDER:  
6
3
Brunelle, Buhle, Garcia-Irizarry, Rodriguez, Saccone, and St. Vil  
Barnes, Dombrowski, and Ryan  
AYE:  
NAY:  
MOTION to set a Public Hearing (Hybrid Forma - (Video Conference and In-Person) date to be  
held on April 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. to be held in Ledyard Middle School Auditorium 1860  
Route 12, Gales Ferry, Connecticut, to receive.  
6.  
VOTE:  
9 - 0 Approved and so declared  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Jessica Buhle  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Tony Saccone  
SECONDER:  
9
Barnes, Brunelle, Buhle, Dombrowski, Garcia-Irizarry, Rodriguez, Ryan,  
Saccone, and St. Vil  
AYE:  
MOTION to set the Annual Town Meeting ( Hybrid Format (Video Conference and In-Person)  
7.  
date regarding the proposed Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget on May 19, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. to be  
held at the Ledyard Middle School Auditorium, 1860 Route 12, Gales Ferry, Connecticut; and to  
adjourn to a Referendum to be held on May 20, 2025 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m.  
VOTE:  
9 - 0 Approved and so declared  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Tim Ryan  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Jessica Buhle  
SECONDER:  
9
Barnes, Brunelle, Buhle, Dombrowski, Garcia-Irizarry, Rodriguez, Ryan,  
Saccone, and St. Vil  
AYE:  
MOTION to acknowledge the following “Advisory Questions” will be placed on the May 20,  
2025 Referendum, in accordance with Chapter VII, Section 7 of the Town Charter:  
1.) Do you believe the Board of Education budget is:  
8.  
Too High  
Or  
Too Low  
2.) Do you believe the General Government budget is:  
Too High  
Or  
Too Low.  
VOTE:  
9 - 0 Approved and so declared  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Jessica Buhle  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Kevin Dombrowski  
SECONDER:  
9
Barnes, Brunelle, Buhle, Dombrowski, Garcia-Irizarry, Rodriguez, Ryan,  
Saccone, and St. Vil  
AYE:  
XV. ADJOURNMENT  
Councilor Buhle moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilor Dombrowski.  
VOTE: 9 - 0 Approved and so declared. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.  
DISCLAIMER:  
Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the Town.  
The Town Council's Official Agenda and final Minutes will be on file in the Town Clerk's  
Office.