741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Water Pollution Control Authority  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman  
Ed Lynch  
Special Meeting  
Wednesday, March 4, 2026  
7:00 PM  
Council Chambers - Hybrid  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The Special Meeting was called to order by Chairman Lynch at 7:10 p.m.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Board Member Monir Tewfik  
Board Member Sharon Wadecki  
Board Member Edmond Lynch  
Alternate Member Tony Capon  
Alternate Member James A. Ball  
Board Member Terry Jones  
Present  
Excused  
Board Member Stanley Juber  
Alternate Member Jeremy Norris  
Alternate  
Jeremy Norris was present via Zoom.  
Also in attendance was Ian Stammel, Assistant Finance Director.  
III.  
APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES  
Tony Capon was appointed as a voting member.  
IV.  
V.  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS  
Aron Schumacher, BL Companies made a presentation on behalf of EG Home LLC for a 76-unit  
Townhouse development at 1947 Center Groton Road.  
He started by saying that the intent is to connect to the WPCA's sewer system for 76 units  
(approximately 19 buildings). Chairman Lynch asked how many acres the Townhouse(s) are on,  
it was answered 10 acres. Chairman Lynch said the WPCA uses a 90 gallon per unit calculation  
for sewer capacity. He added that they need to be aware that it is a low-pressure system, meaning  
that grinding pumps will be required. Chairman Lynch said the grinding units can be designed  
how their engineer sees fit, either per unit or per person. Chairman Lynch recommended that  
they work with Patrick Bateman at Weston & Sampson, since W&S did the Phase II design of  
the system. Chairman Lynch asked when the letter of commitment is needed by. Liz Burdick,  
Planning Director answered as soon as possible. Chairman Lynch said there will need to be a  
time limit of five years in which to start the project.  
ACTION ITEM: Chairman Lynch will write a commitment letter for water main and sewer main  
extensions to EG Home LLC. Sewer commitment is for 7,000 gallons a day, water is unlimited.  
Project must be started within five years.  
Motion to APPROVE a commitment for water main and sewer main extensions to EG Home  
LLC. Sewer commitment is for 7,000 gallons a day, water is unlimited. Project must be started  
within five years.  
A motion was made by Board Member Lynch, seconded by Board Member Wadecki, that this be  
Approved and so declared. The motion carried by the following vote:  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Edmond Lynch  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Sharon Wadecki  
SECONDER:  
5
2
Tewfik Wadecki Lynch Capon Ball  
Jones Juber  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
VI.  
1.  
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to APPROVE the Regular Meeting Minutes from January 27, 2026, as written.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Edmond Lynch  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Sharon Wadecki  
SECONDER:  
3
2
2
Tewfik Wadecki Lynch  
Jones Juber  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
ABSTAIN  
Capon Ball  
VII. COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE  
Operations Report.  
1.  
Chairman Lynch said he attended a WPCA/GU meeting in February with the focus on the lead  
survey but since there were several GU representatives present, they touched on other items such  
as the responsibility of "call before you dig".  
GU reported that when they were shoveling out fire hydrants from the snowstorm, they found six  
hydrants in need of repair. Chairman Lynch reiterated that he asked for a hydrant report  
including a list of all hydrants and their current state and condition. He added that this  
information is necessary for budgeting. The Town gives the WPCA $1,000 a year for hydrant  
maintenance, but that amount is not enough.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
Service Correspondence.  
No comments.  
2.  
Aged Reports/Finance.  
No comments.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
Year to Date Water/Sewer Report.  
No comments.  
PSR - Steve Banks.  
No comments.  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
Status of Lead Survey - Finance and Town Council meeting vote results.  
1.  
Chairman Lynch gave a quick summary. He started by saying that Arcadis was assigned to assist  
with the process. Even though the As-Builts were found the State is still requiring digs to verify  
materials. Chairman Lynch said that Mayor Fred Allyn III will be meeting with Representative  
Joe Courtney and possibly Senator Osten to explain that the Town knows that there is no lead in  
the system, yet the Town is expected to spend half a million dollars to verify what it already  
known. Mayor Fred Allyn III will ask if there is anything that Representative Joe Courtney can  
do such as write a letter to the EPA to mitigate small-town system expenses.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
Draft policy addressing un-metered service leaks.  
2.  
Chairman Lynch said that Mr. Jones made modifications to the draft policy addressing  
un-metered service leaks but without Mr. Jones present the Authority will wait to make action.  
Mr. Capon said he had an issue with the line "After 60 days, if no repair has been made or  
scheduled, the property owner will be charged for the estimated amount of leakage until the  
repairs are completed". He said the Authority can't bill for estimated water use unless there is a  
subsequent meter read. Chairman Lynch said the estimated water line was removed. It was  
agreed that after 60 days, if no repair has been made or scheduled water should be shut off. Mr.  
Capon had no further comments.  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
FY 27 Sewer/Water Budget Work Sheets.  
3.  
Discussion and possible vote on sewer budget.  
Discussion and possible vote on proposed water budget.  
Chairman Lynch moved this agenda item to the beginning of the meeting to keep Ian Stammel,  
Assistant Finance Director from needing to attend the entire meeting.  
There was a question from last month's meeting on what exactly the miscellaneous budget item  
encompassed. Mr. Stammel replied that $2,000 was for a Groton Utility temporary meter  
deposit. The meter is now permanent.  
Chairman Lynch asked Mr. Stammel if he was confident that the Sewer budget didn't need any  
adjustments. Mr. Stammel answered that he and Steve Banks, WPCA Supervisor, reviewed the  
budget line by line and he was confident that it was correct. There were some increases in  
medical, overtime and salaries.  
The water budget includes a rate increase which will be recommended to Town Council and the  
budget is contingent on their approval. There will also be a Public Hearing for the rate increase.  
Chairman Lynch said there is a new Technical Administrator position added to the Water  
budget. Mr. Stammel explained that he needs an employee who works and represents the Town  
(not Groton Utilities). He explained that after Ray Valentini left Groton Utilities invoicing was  
not handled properly and the WPCA was billed incorrectly for services that were inclusive in the  
contract. Mr. Norris asked for an example and Mr. Stammel said that the last invoice report from  
Maurice Duarte had invoices that should not have been on the list plus more recently the WPCA  
was billed incorrectly for water main breaks in the Highlands for a cost of over $10,000.  
Chairman Lynch reviewed increased costs that are in the WPCA Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget.  
- $40,000 for Route 12 water purchases.  
- $40,000 for Route 117 water purchases.  
- $9,455 for GU Annual Contract Agreement increase.  
- $3,159 for GU Customer Service.  
- $7,000 for Finance Department Services.  
Chairman Lynch stated that Mr. Stammel recommended at least a 10% increase, Mr. Stammel  
specified that he recommends a 15% increase. Ms. Wadecki pointed out that the Authority is  
running the operating budget in the negative and relying on the Capital budget to balance it,  
which is incorrect and not what the Authority should be doing. Ms. Wadecki thanked Mr.  
Stammel for coming to the meeting and for providing clarification. She said this solidifies for  
her that there must be a larger rate increase because the budget can't be balanced using CNR. Ms.  
Wadecki added that the Authority will need to present detailed rate increase justifications during  
the public hearing. Chairman Lynch said for the typical rate payer the increase would equate to  
approximately $4.50 a month.  
Chairman Lynch said the Authority needs to have a budget number to recommend to the Town  
Council. Mr. Ball asked if a rate increase needs to be approved now. Ms. Wadecki answered that  
for now the Authority needs to recommend a temporary budget that will be presented to the  
Finance Committee, the next step is a public hearing, and a rate increase recommendation to the  
Town Council. Chairman Lynch agreed and said he needs to have a number for the budget  
workshop which he is attending on March 9, 2026.  
Motion to APPROVE a sewer budget of $744,419.90 for Fiscal Year 2026-27.  
Motion to RECOMMEND that Town Council APPROVE a water budget of $1,863,000.00 for  
Fiscal Year 2026-27.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Edmond Lynch  
SECONDER: Sharon Wadecki  
AYE Tewfik Wadecki Lynch Capon Ball  
5
EXCUSED  
2
Jones Juber  
Chairman Lynch thanked Mr. Stammel for attending the meeting. Mr. Stammel said that the  
Commissioners can feel free to email him any questions or requests for GU invoices. He added  
that if anyone emails him to also copy Chairman Lynch in the email but no other Commissioners  
as to not create an illegal meeting.  
Chairman Lynch asked Mr. Stammel if he has reviewed the Aaron Brooks, GU email sent on  
February 26, 2026, regarding invoices, specifically the Holmberg tank. Mr. Stammel said he had  
just found out that there was a lightning strike on the Holmberg tank. Mr. Stammel said that  
CIRMA would cover the damage if it was a natural occurring disaster.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Edmond Lynch  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Sharon Wadecki  
SECONDER:  
5
2
Tewfik Wadecki Lynch Capon Ball  
Jones Juber  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
IX.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
Freedom of Information Presentation.  
Ms. Wadecki said that the Authority needs to be more cognizant that emails are not sent to the  
entire Authority.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
X.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to ADJOURN the Special Meeting at 8:28 p.m.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Edmond Lynch  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Sharon Wadecki  
SECONDER:  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.