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

Public Hearing

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

6:30 PM

Town Hall Council Chambers

In-Person: Council Chambers Town Hall Annex

Remote: Information noted below:

Please Join the meeting from your Computer, Smart Phone, or Tablet:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85848246250?pwd=OWs1EE17tC0uriaWKbo4BbghOLj1kR.1

or by audio only dial: +1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 858 4824 6250 Passcode: 585406

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Rodriguez called to order the Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m. regarding a State of

Connecticut 2020 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program

(CDBG) Housing Urban Development/State (HUD) for improvements at the Kings

Corner Manor Senior Housing, Gales Ferry.

II.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III.

PROCEDURE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING

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.

IV.

CALL OF THE PUBLIC HEARING

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

Assistant Roxanne M. Maher:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town of Ledyard will conduct Hybrid Format

(In-Person and Video Conference) Public Hearing by the Town Council on Wednesday,

December 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the Fiscal Year 2020 Community

Development Block Grant program and to solicit citizen input.

The purpose of the public hearing is to provide information and obtain citizen’s views on

the progress of the Grant under the Public Housing Modernization category for the Kings

Corner Manor Improvements which was funded under the Connecticut Small Cities

Community Development Block Grant Program which is a federally funded program

designed to assist governments with activities directed toward neighborhood and housing

revitalization, economic development, and improved community facilities and services.

Also, the public hearing will be to give citizens an opportunity to make their comments

known on the program and for approval of the Program Income Reuse Plan.

If you are unable to attend the public hearing, you may direct written comments to Fred

Allyn, III at the Town of Ledyard, Office of the Mayor, 741 Colonel Ledyard Hwy,

Ledyard, CT or you may telephone (860) 623-8122. In addition, information may be

obtained at the above address between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:45p.m. Monday

through Thursday.

The Town of Ledyard promotes fair housing and makes all programs available to low-

and moderate-income households regardless of race, creed, color, national origin,

ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, lawful source of income,

familial status, learning disability or physical/mental disability, or sexual orientation.

“All are encouraged to attend. The hearing is accessible to the handicapped. Any

disabled persons requiring special assistance or non-English speaking persons should

contact Kristen Chapman, ADA Coordinator at 860-464-3222 at least five days prior to

the hearing.”

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

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

<https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85848246250?

pwd=OWs1EE17tC0uriaWKbo4BbghOLj1kR.1>

or by audio only dial: +1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 858 4824 6250 Passcode: 585406

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

be accepted.

If you have any questions please contact Land Use Director Juliet Hodge at (860)

464-3215, as soon as possible.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative

Action

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin J. Dombrowski

Town Council Chairman

Please Publish on the following two Dates:

1st publication; Monday, November 20, 2023

2nd publication; Monday, December 4, 2023

Public Hearing Legal Notice - December 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. regarding status update

pertaining to the Kings Corner Manor Housing - for the Fiscal Year 2020 Community

Development Block Grant program.

READ INTO THE RECORD

RESULT:

PRESENTATIONS

Public Hearing Legal Notice - December 13, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. regarding status update

pertaining to the Kings Corner Manor Housing - for the Fiscal Year 2020 Community

Development Block Grant program.

Mr. Kent Lewis, Jr., Housing Development Team, LLC., stated his firm was hired to

assist with the administration of the Small Cities Community Development Block

Grant Program (CDBG). He provided some background stating on March 11, 2020

the Town Council held a Public Hearing to receive comments and recommendations

regarding the adoption of a Certified Resolution to apply for the Small Cites Grant

Program for the Kings Corner Manor, Senior Housing.

Mr. Lewis stated the original Grant Application was in the amount of $1.5 million.

However, he stated because the State had some additional funding that they approved

the Small Cities Program Grant in the amount of $1,608,827, which provided a

budget that allowed them to accomplish all the improvement work. He stated that

BRB Builders was selected through a Procurement Process; and that the Contractor

began the improvement work in March, 2023.

Mr. Kent explained that the goal of the 2020 State Small Cities Community

Development Block Grant Application was to improve the Kings Corner Manor,

which was constructed in the 1980’s. He stated because the facility was an older

development, the heat was electric baseboard, the original windows and doors were

not energy efficient, and the tubs were a safety hazard for older and disabled people.

Mr. Lewis stated the scope of the improvement work was to address health and safety

issues, energy efficiencies, and improve American Disability Act (ADA) areas where

they could throughout the process. He stated the improvements included the

replacement of windows, outside doors, and installation of storm doors with energy

star rated products and some site work that addressed sidewalks, site lighting, new

gutters, and other improvements that were within the budget. It also included the

installation of new heat pump systems for improved and efficient heating and air

conditioning in each unit, the tubs were removed and replaced with roll-in showers

and grab bars, the toilets, sinks and flooring materials were replaced removing

architectural barriers; with the objective to make the housing units easier for the

residents to live in as well as improve the energy consumption and efficiencies to

help with tenants energy costs. However, he stated they left the electric baseboard

heaters in-place should the mini-splits not keep up, explaining that the baseboard

heaters could be used to keep the tenants warm. He stated all the units received new

kitchens ( sinks and new appliances) and new bathrooms.

Mr. Lewis stated this was their second Public Hearing regarding the Kings Corner

Senior Housing Facility, which was required as part of this CDGB Grant Program.

He stated the Construction Phase of the renovation/improvement project work at the

Kings Corner Manor, Senior Housing was nearly 95% complete. He stated they were

dealing with Punch List Items, final approvals, and inspections. He stated the tenants

have gone through the process of losing their kitchens for about 1-2 weeks, and that

everyone was now back in their apartments and that everything was functioning well.

However, he stated they still had some work to do on the Fire Monitoring System,

stating that the original wiring system would not work with the new monitoring

system. He explained with the old monitoring system that if someone called for aide

they did not know which unit it was. However, he stated with the new system they

would know which unit was calling for help, noting that it was a much safer system

for the tenants.

Mr. Lewis stated the largest change order was the electric, explaining that they had to

run conduit for the underground wires from the Community Building to every

building in the housing complex. He stated because they ran into a lot of ledge this

part of the project took some additional time. He also explained that once the

Contractor began to remove things they found that that more work was required in

some area, which also took some additional time. He stated that they hoped the

Contractor would be done by the end of the December, 2023.

Mr. Lewis stated this CDBG Grant would not have any program income because the

Grant was designated for construction. He stated for other CDBG Grants such as the

Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program they do have program income, explaining that

because the town would have some money sitting in the bank waiting to be loaned

out that the town could receive some interest income which would be reprogramed

back to Rehabilitation Loan Program to be loaned out for other homes.

Chairman Rodriguez thanked Mr. Lewis for his presentation.

READ INTO THE RECORD

RESULT:

VI.

PUBLIC COMMENTS (Please limit to 3 minutes)

Ms. Colleen Lauer, 19 Nutmeg Drive, Ledyard, Executive Director of the Kings Corner

Manor Senior Citizens Housing Facility, stated Kings Corner Manor had thirty

affordable housing units for the elderly and disabled. She stated when she was hired in

2019 the property had not had any major upgrades done to the interior since the Housing

Facility opened in the early 1980’s. She stated the Small Cities Community

Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) was awarded in December 2020, noting

that it was during the Covid Pandemic, which impacted the Project. Therefore, she

stated the improvement work did not actually begin until early 2023. She stated the

first new heat pump was installed in March, 2023, and the entire Project was

expected to take twelve months. She stated they had two units on-site along with one

additional American Disability Act (ADA) accessible unit at a Groton Housing

Facility for tenants to stay at while the renovation/improvement work was being done

to their apartment unit. She stated the other renovation/improvement work began in

July, 2023 and that the last ADA Unit was completed in December 2023. She stated

the Project did not take the full-year as anticipated, and that it had been

uncomfortable and difficult at times. However, she stated that receiving the CDBG

Grant was a blessing, noting that the funding allowed the Housing Authority to

upgrade all thirty apartment units with new bathrooms, kitchens, exterior doors and

storm doors, windows, and heat pumps. She stated the Grant Funding also allowed

for the new sidewalks, and for the siding, fire alarm and call for aide to be updated.

She thanked the Town Council and the Town for applying for the CDBG Grant to

facilitate the renovation and upgrades for the tenants living at the Kings Corner

Manor Senior Citizens Housing Facility, noting that the improvements were greatly

needed.

Mr. Charles Duzy, 4 Harvard Terrace, Gales Ferry, Housing Authority Chairman, stated

that he has served on the Housing Authority since 2018 and that he has seen several

changes at the Kings Corner Manor Senior Citizens Housing Facility over the years.

He stated the thirty apartment units had not been updated since they were built in the

early 1980’s due to the lack of funding, noting that only necessary fixes were addresses.

He stated in 2019 the newly hired Executive Director Colleen Lauer began looking for

options to improve the property. He stated the Small Cities Community Development

Block Grant Program (CDBG) was the perfect option for the Housing Authority,

noting that the Grant would provide the money for the much of the

renovation/improvement work. He stated the Housing Authority would not need to

take out loans to complete the work and by using the Grant funding they would not

have to increase the tenant’s rent. He stated after presenting options to the Town

Council the Town applied for the CDBG Grant in 2020. He thanked the Town

Council noting that the grant funding allowed the Housing Authority to make

significant improvements at the Kings Corner Manor Senior Citizens Housing

Facility. He concluded by thanking Executive Director Colleen Lauer for the enormous

amount of time and effort that she applied to the successful completion of this Project,

noting that it would not be where it was without Ms. Lauer’s efforts.

Ms. Paula Crocker, 1500 Route 12, Gales Ferry, Housing Authority Member, stated prior

to her Mother passing away eleven years ago, that she lived at the Kings Corner Manor

Senior Citizens Housing Facility for seventeen years. She stated the apartment units

needed to be upgraded when her Mother lived there, but it took another ten years to

get the money to do the renovation/improvement work. She stated that her Mother’s

unit had the kitchen redone, but that it was only because someone had driven their car

into her apartment. She stated these renovations were much needed and have given

the tenants a practically new place to live, noting that they look wonderful both inside

and outside. She thanked Executive Director Colleen Lauer, and the Town Council.

She stated if the renovation work did not happen that she did not think that the Kings

Corner Manor Senior Citizens Housing Facility would still be there for our senior

citizens ten years from now.

Mr. Tony Saccone, 29 Richard Road, Gales Ferry, Town Councilor, stated that he

worked at the Kings Corner Manor Senior Citizens Housing Facility for nine years as

the Maintenance Mechanic, and he noted that the renovation/improvements to the

apartment units were much-needed. He stated as the Maintenance Mechanic that he

had to take the air conditioning units out of the thirty-units every Autum and put

them back in the walls every Spring. He also stated that he had to open the windows

because they were so damaged that the elderly tenants could not open their windows

themselves. He stated because the Facility was not ADA compliant that over the nine

years he had to somehow make it complaint. He stated with the

renovation/improvement work that Unit #7 was now totally ADA Compliant and the

tenant could get in and out of their apartment, noting that the work done has been a

total transformation. He rhetorically questioned where else could tenants get new

kitchens and new bathrooms for free. He stated as the Gales Ferry Fire Chief that

when they responded to an emergency call at the Kings Corner Manor the alarm did

not tell them who, what, or where the help was needed, explaining that the First

Responders would have to go through five buildings-thirty apartments to find out

who needed help. He stated with the new Fire Alarm System the Emergency First

Responders would now know the exact location the call for aid was coming from. He

stated Executive Director Colleen Laurer and the Housing Authority had done an

amazing job; and he thanked them for their efforts.

Mr. Gary Paul, 48 Avery Hill Road Extension, Ledyard, Town Councilor, thanked

Executive Director Colleen Lauer for the amazing job she has done for Kings Corner

Manor Senior Citizens Housing Facility and for overseeing the

Renovation/Improvement Project. He also thanked the Housing Authority for getting

the Project done. He stated it was a blessing to the tenants to receive the CDBG

Grant.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Chairman Rodriguez stated hearing no further public comment, that the Public Hearing

was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.

________________________________

Transcribed by Roxanne M. Maher

Administrative Assistant to the Town Council

I, S. Naomi Rodriguez, 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 December 13, 2023.

Attest:________________________________________

S. Naomi Rodriguez, Chairman

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.