741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339-1551

(860) 464-3203

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Town Council

council@ledyardct.org

Meeting Minutes

Chairman Gary St. Vil

Public Hearing - Hybrid Format

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

6:30 PM

Town Hall Council Chambers

In-Person: Council Chambers Town Hall Annex

Remote: Information noted below:

Join Zoom Meeting from your Computer, Smart Phone or Tablet:

https://ledyardct.zoom.us/j/89702365705?pwd=cq1KHPreQbb7JimFWs5kzAn9XmiEyn.1

or by audio only dial: +1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 897 0236 5705; Passcode: 306017

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman St. Vil called to order the Public Hearing at 6:32 p.m. regarding a proposed

“An Ordinance of the Town Of Ledyard Authorizing Avalonia Land Conservancy to

Receive Property Tax Exempt Status As of the Date of Purchase of Real Property to be

Preserved And Maintained As Open Space”.

II.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III.

PROCEDURE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Chairman St. Vil welcomed all to the Hybrid Meeting. He 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.

Chairman St. Vil provided an overview of the procedure of the Public Hearing, and

he asked those attending remotely to put their name and address in the “Chat” and

that they would be called upon during the Public Comment portion of tonight’s

meeting.

IV.

CALL OF THE PUBLIC HEARING

TOWN OF LEDYARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING- FEBRUARY 11, 2026.

PUB HEAR-LEGAL NOTICE-2026-02-11-ORD-AVALONIA

Attachments:

Avalonia Land Conservancy-Request Tax Abatement -154

Stodddards Wharf Rd-CGS12-81dd-ltr-2026-01-12

ORDINANCE AVALONIA TAX

ABATEMENT-DRAFT-2026-01-15

The following call of the Public Hearing was read by Town Council Administrative

Assistant Roxanne M. Maher:

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF LEDYARD

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Ledyard Town Council will conduct a Hybrid Format Public Hearing

(In-Person & Video Conference)

on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

to receive comments/recommendations regarding a Proposed

“An Ordinance of the Town Of Ledyard Authorizing Avalonia Land Conservancy to Receive

Property Tax Exempt Status As of the Date of Purchase of Real Property to be Preserved And

Maintained As Open Space”

Please join the Public Hearing in-person or remotely as follows:

In-person attendance will be at the

Council Chambers, Town Hall Annex Building

741 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, Connecticut

Please join the video conference meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone at:

<https://ledyardct.zoom.us/j/89702365705?

pwd=cq1KHPreQbb7JimFWs5kzAn9XmiEyn.1>

or by audio only dial: +1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 897 0236 5705; Passcode: 306017

At this hearing interested persons may appear and be heard and written communications will

be accepted at towncouncil@ledyardct.org <mailto:towncouncil@ledyardct.org>.

Dated at Ledyard, Connecticut this 29th day of January 2026.

For the Ledyard Town Council

s/s Gary St. Vil, Chairman

Please Publish on Monday, February 2, 2026

PRESENTATIONS

Pproposed “An Ordinance of the Town Of Ledyard Authorizing Avalonia Land

Conservancy, Inc., to Receive Property Tax Exempt Status As of the Date of Purchase of

Real Property to be Preserved And Maintained As Open Space” as presented in the draft

dated January 15, 2026.

ORDINANCE AVALONIA TAX

Attachments:

ABATEMENT-DRAFT-2026-01-15

Avalonia Land Conservancy-Request Tax Abatement -154

Stodddards Wharf Rd-CGS12-81dd-ltr-2026-01-12

Chairman St Vil called upon Councilor Garcia-Irizarry to present the proposed “An

Ordinance of the Town of Ledyard Authorizing Avalonia Land Conservancy to Receive

Property Tax Exempt Status As of the Date of Purchase of Real Property to be

Preserved And Maintained As Open Space” as presented in the draft dated January 15,

2026.

Councilor Garcia-Irizarry explained that Avalonia Land Conservancy has acquired

several properties in Ledyard that they were preserving in perpetuity as Conservation

Open Space. She stated that pursuant to Connecticut General Statute §12-81b that lands

owned by non-profit organization for conservation purposes can obtain a tax-exempt

status by the Town adopting an Ordinance. She went on to explain in some cases at the

time Avalonia Land Conservancy acquired certain parcels they were taxable properties.

Therefore, she stated that this Ordinance would grant them the tax-exempt status from

the date the parcel was acquired. She also noted that the Ordinance was not specific to

any one Avalonia Land Conservancy parcel; explaining that the tax-exempt status would

apply to all Avalonia Land Conservancy properties that were Conservation Open Space.

She stated by leaving the Ordinance general that they would not have to update/amend

the Ordinance each time they acquired a piece of property. She also noted that Avalonia

Land Conservancy President Dennis Main was attending tonight’s Public Hearing

remotely via Zoom and could answer questions.

Mayor Allyn, III stated that Avalonia Land Conservancy had substantial holdings in the

Town of Ledyard, noting that they have been outstanding stewards of the Open Space

Parcels the town has provided to their Organization; and of the parcels that they have

also acquired on their own. He stated as a tax-exempt Organization that they had this

tax-exempt right. He stated that he supported the proposed Ordinance as presented this

evening.

Avalonia Land Conservancy President Dennis Main stated that the Organization has

their Headquarters in Ledyard at 746 Colonel Ledyard Highway. He stated since 2004

the Town of Ledyard has transferred 22 parcels to Avalonia Land Conservancy. He

thanked Mayor Allyn, the Administration, the Town Council and its Subcommittees for

moving the proposed Ordinance forward. He stated as mentioned this evening

Connecticut General Statute §12-81b has already established the tax-exemption for

Avalonia Land Conservancy’s conservation properties. He stated the purpose of the

proposed “An Ordinance of the Town Of Ledyard Authorizing Avalonia Land

Conservancy to Receive Property Tax Exempt Status As of the Date of Purchase of Real

Property to be Preserved And Maintained As Open Space” would be to eliminate the

cumbersome process of abating the taxes from the closing date of the purchase to the

next Grand List date. He stated there was a separate State Statute that addressed that

process, noting that the proposed Ordinance would streamline that process.

DRAFT: 1/15/2026

Ordinance # ________

AN ORDINANCE

OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD

AUTHORIZING AVALONIA LAND CONSERVANCY, INC

TO RECEIVE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPT STATUS AS

OF THE DATE OF PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY

TO BE PRESERVED AND MAINTAINED AS OPEN SPACE

Be it Ordained by the Town Council of the Town of Ledyard

Section 1 Statement of Purpose and Authority

The purpose of this Ordinance is to grant a property tax-exempt status to the Avalonia

Land Conservancy Inc. located in the Town of Ledyard, a non-profit organization,

pursuant to Connecticut General Statute §12-81b.

Section 2. Tax Exempt Status as of the Date of Acquisition.

The property tax exemption authorized by subsection (12) inclusive, of §12-81 of

the Connecticut General Statutes shall be effective as of the date of the acquisition of the

property acquired by Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc. for the purpose to be preserved

and maintained as open space for public passive recreation.

Section 3. Severability

If any provision of the is Ordinance shall be held invalid by a court having

competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this

Ordinance, that can be given effect without the invalid provisions, and for this purpose

the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.

Adopted

the

Ledyard

Town

Council

_________________________

Gary St. Vil , Chairman

on:

__________________

Approved / Disapproved on: __________________________________

Fred Allyn, III, Mayor

VI.

RESIDENT & PROPERTY OWNERS (COMMENTS LIMITED TO THREE (3)

MINUTES

Chairman St. Vil thanked Councilor Garica-Irizarry for her prestation regarding the

proposed “An Ordinance of the Town Of Ledyard Authorizing Avalonia Land

Conservancy to Receive Property Tax Exempt Status As of the Date of Purchase of Real

Property to be Preserved And Maintained As Open Space”.

He stated that they would now open the floor for Residents comments; and he asked

that residents state their r Name & Address for the record and to keep your comments

to 3 minutes or less. For those attending on-line please put your name and address in

the Chat and we will call on you. He also asked that residents have already submitted

written comments to the Town Council, that they not read their written

communication, as Town Council has already received your comments, to allow time

for all those who would like to speak this evening. However, you are welcome to

provide other comments that have not already been submitted.

Mr. Bill Banes, 1 Spruce Street, Ledyard, Town Councilor, noted former Town

Councilor Kevin Dombrowski’s email dated February 9, 2026 in which he suggested the

Avalonia Land Conservancy Properties be listed as part of the proposed Ordinance. Mr.

Barnes questioned whether there was a difference between the properties that were given

to Avalonia Land Conservancy and the properties they have purchased; and whether

there was a distinction between the two processes; and whether they needed to specify

them. Mayor Allyn, III stated he did not believe that they had to specify the properties.

He went on to note the following example: Should Avalonia Land Conservancy purchase

the building that houses their Headquarters and they leased out a portion of the building.

He stated that Avalonia Land Conservancy would pay taxes on the portion of the

building they were leasing out, noting that it would not fall under the exempt status;

stating that it was just for Open Space Parcels.

Written Communications - Public Hering - February 11, 2026

DOMBROWSKI-LIST PROPERTIES IN AVALONIA

ORDIANNCE-EMAIL-2026-02

Attachments:

VII.. ADJOURNMENT

Chairman St. Vil stated the proposed “An Ordinance of the Town Of Ledyard

Authorizing Avalonia Land Conservancy to Receive Property Tax Exempt Status As of

the Date of Purchase of Real Property to be Preserved And Maintained As Open Space”

would be included on the Town Council’s February 25, 2026 Agenda for action.

Chairman St. Vil stated hearing no further public comment, that the Public Hearing was

adjourned at 6:41 p.m.

________________________________

Transcribed by Roxanne M. Maher

Administrative Assistant to the Town Council

I, Gary St. Vil, Chairman of the Ledyard Town Council,

hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct

copy of the minutes of the Public Hearing held on February 11, 2026

Attest:________________________________________

Gary St. Vil, Chairman