741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Finance Committee

Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

5:00 PM

Town Hall Annex Building - Hybrid

Format

In -Person Location: Council Chambers, Town Hall Annex Building

Remote Participation Information Noted Below:

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CALL TO ORDER

the Meeting was called to order by Committee Chairman Councilor Saccone at 5:00

p.m. at the Council Chambers Town Hall Annex Building.

Councilor Saccone welcomed all to the Hybrid Meeting. He stated for the Town

Council Finance 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

Tony Saccone

Jessica Buhle

Tim Ryan

Present:

In addition, the following were present:

Mayor Fred Allyn, III

Director of Emergency Management Jim Mann

Administrative Assistant Roxanne Maher

III.

IV.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Finance Committee Minutes of June 18, 2025

Moved by Councilor Buhle, seconded by Councilor Ryan

VOTE:

3 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

RESULT:

Finance Director’s Report - Fiscal Year 2025-2026

Financial Reports - Fiscal Year 2025-2026

VI.

VII.

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

Discussion regarding potential uses for the funding received from the National Opioid

Settlement Payments.

Mayor Allyn, III, noted that all the States involved in the Class Action lawsuit

received notification about another settlement from Perdue Pharma. He stated at this

time they do not know the amount of the settlement. He explained that the State of

Connecticut would distribute 15% of the settlement funds received to the 169 towns

and that they would hold back 85% of the settlement funds.

Mayor Allyn, III, went on to state that the Grant Funding (two 5-year grants periods

(total 10 years)) that has supported the Ledge Light Health District Ledyard

Prevention Coalition Program would be ending around September 30, 2025. He

stated that Senior Health Program Coordinator Kerenza Mansfield would like to

attend the Finance Committee's September 3, 2025 meeting to present a proposal to

request Ledyard provide financial support, using the National Opioid Settlement

Funding, to enable the Ledyard Prevention Coalition to continue their programs and

activities related to the Opioid Prevention, Recovery, Wellness Programs, Narcan

training; as well as providing Narcan Emergency Kits at selected locations in town.

Mayor Allyn continued by noting to-date the Town Council has disbursed the

National Opioid Settlement Funding to support local Organizations as follows:

· $36,100 to the Ledyard Prevention Coalition - September 27, 2023;

· $10,000 to Community Speaks Out - October 23, 2024;

· $10,000 to Connecticut Recovery Support - January 15, 2025.

Councilor Saccone questioned whether the Ledyard Prevention Coalition has been

providing the town with reports regarding their work using the National Opioid

Settlement Funding. Mayor Allyn stated that Ms. Mansfield has been providing

Reports at the Ledyard Prevention Coalition monthly meetings and that he would ask

that she provide the reports when she attends the September 3, 2025 Finance

Committee meeting.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Continued discussion regarding the status and possible changes to Capital Improvement Plan

(CIP) and Capital Non-Recurring (CNR) Fund based on the American Rescue Act Funding

(ARPA) and the process to approve ARPA Projects and expend ARPA Funding.

Mayor Allyn, III, provided an update regarding the following Parks & Recreation

Projects that were added to the ARPA Projects List:

· Gales Ferry Community Center Tennis Court Repairs - Completed.

· Gales Ferry Community Center Fence - Completed.

· Gales Ferry Community Center Basketball Court Repairs - Will be Completed

by Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

Councilor Buhle stated that the solid surface for the Juliet W. Long School

playground has been installed and that the Playground build was scheduled for

Saturday, August 9, 2025, noting that the work should be completed before August

28, 2025 which was the first day of school.

Councilor Ryan noted the last ARPA Projects Spreadsheet the Finance Committee

received was dated June 10, 2025. He questioned the status and accounting for the

Ledyard Sewer Line Extension Projects.

Mayor Allyn, III, noted that Finance Director Matthew Bonin was on vacation and

that he would ask him to provide an updated ARPA Projects Spreadsheet for the

Finance Committee’s September 3, 2025 meeting.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Continued discussion regarding upcoming potential Grant Opportunities.

Councilor Buhle provided an update on Ledyard's 2025 Grant Application COPS

Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment Grant Application in the amount of

up-to $240,000. She noted at their April 17, 2025 meeting the Town Council

approved to resubmit their 2025 Congressionally Directed Spending Initiative under

the 2026 Application submission. She noted that once again their Grant Application

has been approved by Appropriations Committee and that they were waiting for final

approval by Congress.

Councilor Saccone questioned whether the Congressional Directed Grant Funding

would be used to upgrade radio equipment. Councilor Buhle stated the COPS Law

Enforcement Technology and Equipment Grant would be used to purchase equipment

that would modernize and increase the functionality of the emergency services

software that would allow them to maintain the records for the Police Department,

Dispatch, and their Police Officers. She stated the upgraded software would include

enhanced mapping capabilities, and would give them the ability to go back into

historical data for investigative purposes; as well as interface with the court system.

CONTINUE

Discussion scheduling Regular Quarterly Joint Finance Committee Meetings between the

RESULT:

Town Council and Board of Education.

Councilor Saccone stated their first Quarterly Joint Meeting with the Board of

Education had been scheduled for August 19, 2025. However, he stated because of

contract negotiations that the Board of Education would not be available. He stated in

speaking with Board of Education Finance Committee Chairman Earl (Ty) Lamb that

they would like to move the meeting to August 20, 2025, which would be in-place of

the Finance Committee’s Regular Meeting.

Councilor Buhle and Councilor Ryan noted that they would be available to attend the

Joint Quarterly Meeting on August 20, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Councilor Ryan asked that the Quarterly Meeting schedule be discussed and agreed

on at the August 20, 2025 meeting.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any Old Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

IX.

NEW BUSINESS

MOTION to appropriate $10,000 to Account #21020301-57300-G0015 (Fire Marshall - New

Equipment - State Grant).

In addition, authorize the expenditure of up to $10,000 to complete the upgrade to the

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for Emergency Management.

The funding source for this project is the Town of Ledyard’s FY 2026 Nuclear Safety

Emergency Program Funding Allocation.

Moved by Councilor Buhle, seconded by Councilor Ryan

Discussion: Director of Emergency Management/Fire Marshall Jim Mann, attending

remotely via Zoom, explained that every year the town was eligible to receive grant

funding through the Nuclear Safety Emergency Program (NSEP) to provide

improvements to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which was located in the

basement of the High School. He stated these funds would be used for: (1) Radio

upgrades as the town continues their work to switch over to the State-wide 4T and 2T

on the 800 mg ban; and (2) Complete the Communication Upgrade at the Police

Department. He stated once they spend the money that the State would fully

reimburse the town.

Mayor Allyn stated Nuclear Safety Emergency Program (NSEP) provides Ledyard

with about $16,000 each year to purchase new equipment and provide upgrades at the

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and other emergency services.

Councilor Saccone noted that it would be a cleaner expenditure if the town had a

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) New Equipment Budget Line instead of using

the Fire Marshall’s New Equipment Budget Line.

VOTE: 3 - 0 Approved and so declared

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

Jessica Buhle

RESULT:

MOVER:

Tim Ryan

SECONDER:

Saccone, Buhle and Ryan

AYE:

MOTION to recommend Mayor Fred B. Allyn III execute "Standard Fast Track and Study

Process Generator Interconnection Agreement" and "Contingent Approval for INT-109249"

between The Connecticut Light and Power Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for

INT-109249 - Juliet Long School_Ledyard Board of Education.

In addition, authorize payment of $1972.00 to Eversource Energy for Metter Cost -

INT-109249 - Juliet Long Elementary School_Ledyard Board of Education - Netting

Non-Residential (NRES) - 165.6kW.

Moved by Councilor Ryan, seconded by Councilor Buhle

Discussion: Mayor Allyn, III explained with the completion of the solar array installation

at the Juliet W. Long School that the next step was to enter into the Generator

Interconnection Agreement with Eversource. He stated once the Agreement was in

place Eversource could turn the solar energy system on. He stated the town expects to

save about $4,000 per month in electric costs with the solar array panels on the Juliet W.

Long School. He noted that a solar array system would also be installed at the Gales

Ferry School.

Councilor Saccone questioned whether there would be any routine/preventive

maintenance required for the solar array panels. Mayor Allyn stated that they were not

aware of any required routine/preventive maintenance. However, he stated the solar

arrays were insured through the Town’s Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management

Agency (CIRMA) Insurance Policy, explaining that there were some hazards such as

hail, etc.

Councilor Ryan questioned the following:

Whether the Interconnection Agreement with Eversource included a Power Buy

Back Agreement, noting that some Agreements require that they buy the power

back from a specific supplier.

Mayor Allyn explained that the solar energy would be used directly by the Juliet

W. Long School and would not be going to the grid. He stated the Juliet W. Long

School electric bill was about $12,000 per month. He stated the solar arrays

would not generate enough power that would be in excess of the what the school

was using; therefore, there would not be any solar energy going back to the grid.

He went on to explain because the Gales Ferry School would have a large solar

array that the energy produced would offset about 50% of their monthly electric

bill.

· Purchase the Meter

Mayor Allyn stated the town would be required to purchase the meter that shows

the amount of energy that was being generated by the solar array system versus

the amount of energy that was being provided by Eversource.

Councilor Saccone questioned:

· Whether they would see more savings in the electric bills during the summer

months when the school was not in session. Mayor Allyn stated with the air

conditioning system that they would most likely not see too much of a difference

in the monthly electric bills.

· Does the town have to buy their electricity from Eversource - Mayor Allyn stated

that the town was not beholden to Eversource.

Mayor Allyn continued by stating the Auditor brought to the town’s attention another

mechanism to substantially help to offset the schools electric costs. He noted that

other schools have been able to reduce their electrical costs and that a proposal for

additional electrical savings for the schools would be presented to the Finance

Committee soon.

VOTE: 3 - 0 Approved and so declared

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

Tim Ryan

RESULT:

MOVER:

Jessica Buhle

SECONDER:

MOTION to approve Standing Bid Waivers as follows:

Vendors included in the Town of Ledyard Standing Bid Waiver List for FY 25/26,

Capital Region Purchasing Council Bids,

State of Connecticut bids,

Other states' bids, purchasing cooperatives (i.e. Sourcewell) , and federal government

bids.

Moved by Councilor Buhle, seconded by Councilor Ryan

Discussion: Councilor Ryan stated that he appreciated the format of the Standing Bid

Waiver List, which now included the reason for a vendor to be on the List. He went on

to note that two new vendors were added to the Standing Bid Waiver List. He also noted

that he did not recall the seeing the Parks & Recreation’s request to include the Pioneer

Manufacturing Company for the Field Paint on the list in previous years; and therefore,

he question whether they were a sole source provider. Councilor Saccone stated that

Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Director Scott Johnson, Jr., previously explained

that the field striping was a specialty area and in the past years the town only received

one bid.

Councilor Saccone went on to note the Fire Departments requested be the following

Vendors be included on the Standing Bid Waiver List, explaining that they were sole

source providers; proprietary equipment; or proprietary software vendors:

Firematic Supply Company

MES-Shipmans Fire Equipment Company

Bulldog Fire Apparatus, Inc.

ESO Solutions, Inc.

Councilor Ryan noted that the Fire Departments’ vendors have been included on the

Standing Bid Waiver List in past years. Councilor Saccone stated that Councilor Ryan

was correct.

Mayor Allyn stated over the years they have reduced the number of Vendors that were

included on the Standing Bid Waiver List.

Background: In accordance with Ordinance #200-001 entitled “An Ordinance for

Purchasing” the purchasing thresholds are as follows: (1) For purchases of goods or

services between $5,000 - $14,999 the Town shall solicit a minimum of three quotes;

and (2) For purchases over $15,000, a minimum of three (3) proposals are required

through a competitive bid process. In addition, annually the Town Council approves a

“Standing Bid Waiver List” for unique vendors, lowest possible prices obtainable,

sole vendors, and fewer than three bidder situations, noting that the Town’s

Purchasing Ordinance requires them to request competitive bids for items in excess

of $15,000.

VOTE: 3 - 0 Approved and so declared

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

Jessica Buhle

RESULT:

MOVER:

Tim Ryan

SECONDER:

Any New Business proper to come before the Committee

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Saccone moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Councilor Buhle

VOTE:

3 - 0 Approved and so declared, the meeting was adjourned at 5:19 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Anthony Saccone, Sr.

Committee Chairman

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.