741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Historic District Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman Karen

Parkinson

Special Meeting

Monday, February 9, 2026

7:00 PM

Town Hall Annex -Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

The Special Meeting was called to order by Chairperson Parkinson at 7:06 p.m.

Chairperson Parkinson said this was a special meeting to make up for the cancelled meeting on

January 26, due to inclement weather.

Also in attendance were Eric Treaster and Dave Schroeder.

Ms. Chittim was present but left early and only participated in the first vote for the

Commission's slate.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner Douglas Kelley

Commissioner Kelly Lamb

Present

Commissioner Ammie Chittim

Chairman Karen Parkinson

Commissioner Rebecca Watford

Alternate Member Vincent Godino

Alternate Member Kenneth Geer

Alternate Member Anne Roberts-Pierson

Alternate

Election of Officers.

Chairman.

Vice-Chairman.

Clerk.

Motion to APPROVE slate as Karen Robinson for Chairperson, Doug Kelley for

Vice-Chairperson, and Kelly Lamb for Clerk.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Ammie Chittim

RESULT:

MOVER:

Douglas Kelley

SECONDER:

Kelley Lamb Chittim Parkinson Watford

AYE

III.

APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Not needed.

IV.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

Mr. Schroeder presented a request for the Historic District Commission to submit the application

to re-establish the Gales Ferry Districts as Historic sites. Chairperson Parkinson said the

Commission would not be able to act on this topic during a special meeting but could put it on

the Commission's next Regular Meeting's agenda. Mr. Treaster said he was at the meeting to

support Mr. Schroeder's idea.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE the Regular Meeting Minutes from December 15, 2025, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Douglas Kelley

RESULT:

MOVER:

Rebecca Watford

SECONDER:

Kelley Lamb Chittim Parkinson Watford

AYE

VI.

TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT

Town Council Liaison - Councilor Ty Lamb.

Town Councilor Lamb was not present to give a report.

Chairperson Parkinson said at the next meeting the Commission can review the Land

Use/Planning/Public Works Committee minutes from their February 2, 2026, meeting which

most of the Commissioners attended.

DISCUSSED

VII. CHAIRPERSON REPORT

RESULT:

General Report.

Chairperson Parkinson gave a very general report that it was an easy transition to the

Chairperson position and she looks forward to her role on the Commission. She asked all the

Commissioners to review the roles of Commissions vs. Committees. For example, Commissions

receive authority through State Statues and are considered subject matter experts in their realms

whereas Committees are assigned tasks by the Town Council.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Financial Report.

Mr. Godino reported that Ian Stammel, Assistant Finance Director, fixed the error where he had

reversed the budget allocations of NLH and the Sawmill. Mr. Godino added that tasks should be

moved along so there is not a rush to complete them at the end of the fiscal year. Mr. Kelley said

he would meet with Mr. Godino to review the NLH tasks and possible new purchase orders. Mr.

Godino said the proposed budget was increased by $3,000, mostly for event support for the

NLH.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VIII. CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence.

Resident speaker, Dave Schroeder's document on Re-establishing Village Districts and Design

Guidelines was added.

Karen Parkinson said she would like the minutes from the Land Use/Panning Public Works

Committee from their meeting on February 2, 2026, added once the minutes are ready.

IX.

COMMITTEE REPORT

Sawmill Committee.

Mr. Godino reported that Mr. Gonang has been assisting with the dam fix. Together they put

together a Capital budget request. The next step would be to hire an engineering firm to help

decide which of the two concepts should be used and to assist with a price estimate. From there

an RFP could be created. Chairperson Parkinson said possible action can be taken at the next

Commission meeting. Chairperson Parkinson asked Ms. Roberts-Pierson if she could research

the history of the pond since the Commission only has history of the Mill. Specifically, the last

time it was dredged (possibly in the 1970's) and how deep it was. Ms. Roberts-Pierson said the

research won't be too difficult.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Nathan Lester House - Mr. Kelley.

Activity this past month and more has been limited by winter weather, but has included:

. Cleanup of holiday decor

. Preparation of house against weather

. Estimates for tree removal and for work in cellar. Coordination with Ledyard Historical Society

and Garden Club. Coordination of proposed American Heritage Girls project

The American Heritage Girls project (Stars and Stripes Award) is for a timber-framed garden

shed, no larger than 10 x 15, to go within the bounds of the stone walls in the Orchard Field

behind the house. When the plans are more complete, the applicant will present to this

Commission for approval. We do expect to handle a Certificate of Appropriateness as part of the

project.

Chairperson Parkinson said the Conservation Commission is trying to set up a Ledyard Trails

Task Force to involve all organizations involved in trails and maintenance in the Town. There

will be a meeting at some point. There is a similar trial force in Groton which meets quarterly.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Research/Preservation - Ms. Chittim.

Ms. Chittim asked if she could answer any questions at the beginning of the meeting since she

had to leave the meeting early. She had no new information to report. Chairperson Parkinson

thanked her for speaking at the last Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee meeting.

Chairperson Parkinson encouraged members to attend the Town Council meeting on Wednesday

February 11. During this meeting there will be a vote regarding appointing the Commission to

serve as a Historic Properties Study Committee for the Spicer Homestead Ruins. Chairperson

Parkinson added that the Finance Committee previously approved a space of 4.4 acres and she

wants to hold to that size.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Center School - Mr. Geer.

Mr. Geer said there was nothing to report.

Ms. Watford said she would like to meet with Mr. Geer about opening the School more often

this year. Mr. Geer said the School is open when the Town Green is open. Ms. Watford said she

is willing to help with increased school openings.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Social Media - Ms. Lamb.

Ms. Lamb reported that social media is slow right now and asked for pictures to post.

Chairperson Parkinson suggested posting the proposed Spicer Ruin photos. Mr. Godino said

there may be some photo opportunities of the Sawmill that can be used (once the snow clears) of

the logging process from start to finish, maybe even a video. Mr. Schroeder said he has historical

photos of Mount Decatur he could share.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

NEW BUSINESS

Review of the Historic District Commission’s Rules of Procedure.

Chairperson Parkinson read the portions of the Rules of Procedure stating that she wants to

remove the fiscal portions from the Chairperson's duties. The Commission attempted to

determine the "correct" way to delete the fiscal wording from the Chairperson's responsibilities

and create a fiscal agent. The Fiscal Agent Role existed previously and would like to revert to

that.

Motion to REINSTATE a Fiscal Agent Position to the Rules of Procedure.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Douglas Kelley

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kelly Lamb

SECONDER:

Kelley Lamb Parkinson Watford

Chittim

AYE

EXCUSED

XI.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Special Meeting at 8:03 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Douglas Kelley

RESULT:

MOVER:

Karen Parkinson

SECONDER:

Kelley Lamb Parkinson Watford

AYE