741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Ledyard Beautification Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairperson

Kathrine Kohrs

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

5:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairperson Hawes at 5:04 p.m

II.

ROLL CALL

Committee Member Carol Ann Schneider

Chairman Kathrine Kohrs

Present

Committee Member Jennifer Bingham

Committee Member Lauren Hawes

Committee Member Jennifer Eastbourne

Committee Member Sarah Martic

Committee Member Carol Christiansen

Excused

Late

Also in attendance:

Naomi Rodriguez, Town Council Chairperson.

Carmen Garcia-Irizarry, Town Council.

Chairperson Kohrs was present via Zoom, therefore Vice-Chairperson Hawes conducted the

meeting.

III.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None present.

IV.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE the Regular Meeting Minutes from January 7, 2025, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Jennifer Bingham

RESULT:

MOVER:

Carol Ann Schneider

SECONDER:

Schneider Kohrs Bingham Hawes

Eastbourne Martic

AYE

EXCUSED

ABSENT

Christiansen

OLD BUSINESS

Future Projects Discussion.

Valentine's Day mugs - Vice Chairperson Hawes brought in sample mugs to show the

Committee what she received for donations for the teacup project. Ms. Schneider spoke with

McKenna's Flower Shop in Norwich and they will be donating baby's breath and greenery.

Chairperson Kohrs will give recognition on Facebook to McKennas. Vice Chairperson Hawes

said there is 16 volunteers signed up to assist with the assembly. Chairperson Kohrs asked how

many mugs there are, it was answered 34. The Senior Center is reserved from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00

p.m. The event will start at noon.

Junior LBC Club - Chairperson Kohrs said the first Junior meeting was held on January 30.

There was approximately ten attendees. The attendees were enthusiastic and had many ideas.

Chairperson Kohrs said they tried to focus on Earth Day. There will be two collection bins for

recyclable donations which was approved by the Principal. The Club decided to hold a clean up

event at the School on Earth Day, directly after school. Any garbage collected during the clean

up will be brought to the dumpster during the Earth Day event. Chairperson Kohrs is working

with some of the teachers to arrange a google classroom communication line with the Junior

Club members.

Earth Day - Chairperson Kohrs said that she wants to get the word out on collecting recyclables.

There should be an emphasis on "clean" items, no food residue for example. April 4, is the first

event night during the Parks and Recreation "Parents Night Out". Chairperson Kohrs would like

to collect interesting items not just bottles and cardboard for example broken chairs or tables,

even a lobster trap. Ms. Eastbourne has been in touch with SCRRRA to get pickers and vests.

She asked Committee members to reach out to vendors and local groups that could be

incorporated into the event.

Councilor Carmen Garcia-Irizarry mentioned that the Town of Stonington has a program that

collects plastic and plastic bags, once a certain weight is collected a bench is given to the Town.

Chairperson Kohrs said she will look into that program. Ms. Christiansen said as part of the Rotary

Club she looked into the program and said that the amount of plastic bags needed to be collected to

get the bench was overwhelming. Councilor Carmen Garcia-Irizarry said as a Town wide initiative it

may be manageable. The Committee will research the program.

The Mural project at Juliet Long School - the Junior LBC Club was enthusiastic about this idea.

Sponsers - On the to do list. The goal is to have a sponsor for each area by the start of spring.

Town sign near Mount Decatur - When this takes place Chairman Kohrs would like before and

after pictures of the sign taken.

Any Other Old Business to Come before the Committee.

None.

VI.

NEW BUSINESS

Any Other New Business to Come before the Committee.

Councilor Carmen Garcia-Irizarry made a presentation regarding the food scrap program. Each

week at the transfer station residents bring their food scraps which is collected by a company in

Southington to be made into compost. The town pays approximately $200.00 per month for the food

waste to be collected. The same amount is collected from the Town regardless of the weight

therefore it is more cost effective to collect more. Councilor Carmen Garcia-Irizarry explained that

the State of Connecticut has closed down some of their incinerators and the Town has to send

approximately 900,000 tons of trash per year to other states to be incinerated. The days and times

the transfer station is open for people to bring their food scraps is not convenient for everyone.

Councilor Carmen Garcia-Irizarry is working on other solutions for residents to drop their food

scraps at any time. Chairperson Kohrs had an idea for the Schools collect food scraps since there is a

lot of food waste in the cafeterias. Councilor Carmen Garcia-Irizarry suggested starting a the Middle

School and if it's successful maybe the other school would follow. There would be a $215.00 charge

per month for the foods scraps to be picked up from the Middle School. Councilor Carmen

Garcia-Irizarry will send the Committee information on the food scrap program and a quote.

Chairperson Kohrs asked if she would be willing to attend a Junior LBC meeting to present the

program to the Club during the end of April or May, she said that she would. Ms. Bingham asked if

Councilor Carmen Garcia-Irizarry would like to have a booth at the Earth Day event, she said that

she could.

Chairperson Kohrs asked if there was another event they could sponsor similar to the Veterans Day

sign event. Vice-Chairperson Hawes suggested daffodil signs. Idea to asked sponsors to purchase a

sign and bulbs package. Timing of the signs would have to be figured out since they can't be left out

too long or they will get weathered looking. Official Ledyard daffodil? The Committee asked Naomi

Rodriguez, Town Council Chairperson how to make the daffodil the official Town flower. She said

to make a motion, vote on it, then send it to the Town Council.

Ideas for Memorial Day? A clean up after the parade was suggested, maybe ask the Junior LBC club

participate too. Chairperson Kohrs asked the Committee to start thinking of ideas.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 5:57 p.m.

A motion was made by Committee Member Bingham, seconded by Chairman Kohrs, that this

be Approved and so declared. The motion carried by the following vote: