12 Van Tassel Drive  
Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens  
Commission  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Chairman  
Kenneth J. DiRico  
Tuesday, July 16, 2024  
7:00 PM  
Parks & Recreation/Senior Citizens  
Center  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chairman DiRico called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. at the Ledyard Senior Center.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Commissioner Jessica Cobb  
Present  
Chairman Kenneth J. DiRico  
Commissioner Norma Sokolski  
Commissioner Margaret Anne Harding  
Commissioner Paula Crocker  
Commissioner Lucrezia Finegan  
Commissioner Loretta Kent  
Excused  
Alternate Member Carol Ann Schneider  
Alternate Member Lauren Hawes  
Non-voting  
In addition, the following were present:  
Scott Johnson, Director of Ledyard Parks, Recreation, and Senior Center  
Paul Picken, 3 Merry Bell Circle, Ledyard CT 06339  
III.  
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS  
IV.  
1.  
PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
ARPA Grant  
V.  
MEMBER COMMENTS  
Ms. Harding stated that she has been corresponding with people who are using the Senior  
Center, as well as seniors in town, to see what ideas they may have. Feedback she has received  
is that they do not think the staff is involved enough and people that do not come to the center  
because they feel like they are treated like invalids.  
Ms. Harding stated that she thought Matt Cicchese, the Assistant Director of Ledyard Parks,  
Recreation, and Senior Citizens Department, should come to the Commission Meetings to give  
us a rundown on things planned and ideas.  
Ms. Sokolski stated that there is not a sense of community and there is no interaction from the  
staff. She also stated the seniors don’t know what is going on there until they receive the Events  
Magazine. She requested that we have a meeting during the day so that the seniors could attend  
and bring up their concerns. Ms. Sokolski stated that we needed to get more people involved.  
Ms. Finnegan asked if there had been a survey done recently. She also asked if we should have a  
sub-committee meeting so that it would be on the record.  
Ms. Cobb stated that we needed to have the responses to the surveys.  
Ms. Crocker stated that when we had meetings during the day, very seldom did any seniors  
attend. She also stated that the seniors get disappointed when a volunteer can not come to run an  
activity, the staff is unable to run it, and they cancel the event.  
Ms. Schneider suggested that the commission members attend one of the Wednesday luncheons  
to see how it is run and to interact with the seniors.  
Mr. Johnson responded that the newsletter is updated weekly and copies are in the entryway. He  
also stated that they do the Events Magazine, numerous FaceBook posts, put up flyers and have  
everything posted on the bulletin boards in the entryway and would take suggestions on the best  
way to reach out.  
Mr. DiRico suggested we make a senior an ambassador to make a connection with other seniors  
at the center.  
Ms. Harding asked the status of the street light at the corner of Van Tassel and Route 12. Mr.  
Johnson responded that is the responsibility of Chief Rich and the DOT he will follow up.  
Ms. Harding asked the status of the flag in the front of the building. Mr. Johnson responded that  
it will no longer be put out until they have a light.  
Ms. Sokolski asked about the status of the fire drill. Mr. Johnson responded he would schedule  
one when it gets cooler. Ms. Harding suggested that we do a practice run prior to scheduling.  
Ms. Sokolski asked about the status of the card swipe at the entrance. Mr. Johnson stated he did  
not know it was not working and will check on it.  
Mr. Johnson stated that they are working on changes and he hopes everyone will be excited for  
the changes.  
VI.  
1.  
REPORTS  
MOTION to accept the Directors Report  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Lucrezia Finegan  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Jessica Cobb  
SECONDER:  
AYE  
6
1
Cobb DiRico Sokolski Harding Crocker Finegan  
Kent  
EXCUSED  
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
MOTION to accept June Minutes  
1.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
RESULT:  
Lucrezia Finegan  
Jessica Cobb  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
6
1
Cobb DiRico Sokolski Harding Crocker Finegan  
Kent  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
Any other Old Business to come before the Commission.  
1.  
XI.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
DISCUSSION to allow Boy scout to build a stage on Ledyard Town Green  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
DISCUSSION to allow Ledyard Football to build a floating deck at Judge Crandall  
2.  
Mr. Picken stated that they had received deck treks from Lowes and would like to build a rolling  
deck 10 X 10 to house their fryers and grills for the snack bar. He stated that they would supply  
the gravel and build the deck and requires no support from Parks and Rec other than permission  
to build. He also stated that they would clear an EMT path.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Lucrezia Finegan  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Norma Sokolski  
SECONDER:  
6
1
Cobb DiRico Sokolski Harding Crocker Finegan  
Kent  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Any other New Business to come before the Commission.  
3.  
MOTION to transfer an outside use air fryer that was donated to senior center and not being  
used to Ledyard Football.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Jessica Cobb  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Norma Sokolski  
SECONDER:  
6
1
Cobb DiRico Sokolski Harding Crocker Finegan  
Kent  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
X.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Ms. Crocker moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded  
by Ms. Harding  
The meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m.  
VOTE: 6-0 Approved and so declared  
Respectively Submitted,  
_______________________________  
Chairman DiRico  
Ledyard Parks, Recreation, and Senior Citizens Commision