741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Land Use/Planning/Public Works

Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairman S. Naomi

Rodriguez

Regular Meeting

Monday, February 5, 2024

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

In -Person: Council Chambers, Town Hall Annex Building

Remote Participation Information is Noted Below:

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CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor St. Vil at 6:00 p.m. at the

Town Hall Annex Building.

Councilor St. Vil welcomed all to the Hybird Meeting. He stated for the Town Council Land

Use/Planning/Public Works Committee and members of 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.

II.

ROLL CALL

Gary St. Vil

Present:

Jessica Buhle

Kevin Dombrowski

In addition, the following were present:

S. Naomi RodriguezTown Council Chairman

Juliet HodgeDirector of Planning & Development

Roxanne MaherAdministrative Assistant

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Councilor St. Vil stated the Town received the BETA Consulting Engineers

Pavement Management Report dated November 21, 2023 which showed that

Ledyard’s Road Surface Rating (RSR) was 86.50 (on a 100-point scale). He stated

per their Road Surfacing Rating (RSR) Plan, Ledyard has been investing about $1+/-

million annually to Road Restoration to continue to improve and maintain their

roads. He stated that the annual appropriations were funded by Town Aide Road

(TAR) Grant Funding, other Grant programs, and Tax Dollars.

Additional Background: In 2010 the Town engaged BETA Consulting Engineers to

provide guidance relative to their Road Resurfacing and Preservation Management

Plan. Based on BETA Consulting Engineer’s initial analysis, Ledyard’s Road

Surfacing Rating (RSR) was 75 (on a 100-point scale). At the May 17, 2011

Referendum the townspeople approved to Bond $3,500,000 to begin implementing a

Road Restoration Program for the town’s 110 miles of roads. The bond funding was

authorized to be expended during the period of 2011- 2013. Since that time the Town

has

been

annually budgeting

about

$1+/-

million

for

road

improvements/maintenance.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee Regular Meeting

Minutes of January 8, 2024.

Moved by Councilor Buhle, seconded by Councilor Dombrowski

VOTE:

3 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

RESULT:

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

Continued discussion regarding the progress of enforcing regulations to address blight issues.

Councilor Dombrowski stated that he reviewed the Blight Report for the period of

July 17, 2023 - January 2, 2024, noting that it appears that Blight Enforcement

Official has been able to obtain voluntary compliance from residents.

Councilor St. Vil noted as he stated at the LUPPW Committee’s January 8, 2024

meeting, that the Open Issues listed on the Report were new to the fourth quarter of

2023 and that they appear to be progressing toward compliance. He noted Ordinance

#300-012 “An Ordinance Concerning Blight and Public Nuisance for the ton of

Ledyard” was effective.

Councilor Buhle questioned how often the LUPPW Committee received an updated

Blight Report. Director of Planning & Development Juliet Hodge stated that the

previous LUPPW Committee requested that they receive the Blight Reports quarterly.

However, she stated that Assistant Zoning Official/Blight Enforcement Officer Alex

Samalot has been preparing an updated the Blighted Properties List on a monthly

basis for the Planning & Zoning Commission.

Councilor Buhle stated if there were no objections from the members of the LUPPW

Committee that she would prefer to receive an updated Blight Reports monthly. The

LUPPW Committee agreed.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Spicer Homestead Ruins - Historical Research and Photos.

Councilor St. Vil provided a recap regarding the initiative to designate the Spicer

Homestead Ruins, that was located within the Clark Farm property, as a Registered

Historical Site. He stated Historic District Commission member Earl (Ty) Lamb

attended the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee’s (LUPPW) January 8,

2024 meeting. He stated the following work to begin the process was agreed on:

· Roles and Responsibilities Document - Councilor St. Vil stated that has been

working to draft the Roles and Responsibilities Document. He stated that he

would present the draft at the LUPPW Committee’s April 1, 2024 meeting.

· Milestone Road Map - Councilor St. Vil stated that Mr. Lamb agreed for the

Historic District Commission to take the lead to develop the Milestone Road Map

to outline the process for the town to apply for a Historic Designation for the

Spicer Homestead Ruins from the State. He noted in speaking with Mr. Lamb that

he would also be prepared to present the Milestone Road Map at the LUPPW

Committee’s April 1, 2024 meeting for review and discussion.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Any other Old Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

MOTION to acknowledge proposed revisions to Appendix pertaining to Ordinance #300-003

“An Ordinance Establishing Permit Fees for New Construction, Alternation, Removal,

Demolition or Other Building Operation in the Town of Ledyard” as presented in the draft

dated January 23, 2024.

DRAFT: 1/23/2024

Ordinance #300-003

APPENDIX

TOWN OF LEDYARD

PERMIT FEE AND INSPECTION FEE SCHEDULE

NEW CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATION, REMOVAL, DEMOLITION OR

OTHER BUILDING OPERATIONS

BUILDING PERMITS & TRADE PERMITS FEES, WHICH INCLUDE

ELECTRICAL PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL

Ten Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) ($10.00) per Thousand Dollars ($1,000), or part

thereof, of estimated value based on the present cost of material and labor. Fee

includes the State Education fee of .26 per $1,000 of construction value.

CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY:

Ten Dollars ($10.00) (For Additions/New Homes/New Bathrooms or

Bedrooms/Detached Garages/Sheds > 200sf - Added to the initial Building Permit

Fee at time of submission.)

DEMOLITION PERMITS:

For Residential structures, Two Percent (2%) Ten Dollars ($10.00) per Thousand

Dollars ($1,000.00), or any part thereof, of value computed on the Assessor's fair

market value of the structure to be demolished.

For Commercial or Industrial structures Five Percent (5%) of value computed on

the Assessor's fair market value of the structure to be demolished.

APPLICATION FEES WILL NOT BE REFUNDED REGARDLESS OF PERMIT

STATUS OR OUTCOME

Acknowledged by the Ledyard Town Council on: ____________________

________________________

S. Naomi Rodriguez, Chairman

********************************************************************

***

Revision: Appendix Acknowledged May 23, 1990; Acknowledged on October 28,

2020

History:

2024:

Paragraph 1: Increased Fee $10.00 to $15.00

Added: “Fee includes the State Education fee of .26 per $1,000 of construction

value.”

Added New Paragraph: “Certificate Of Occupancy”

Demolition Permits Paragraph: Added the following langue: “For Residential

structures, Two Percent (2%)” “For Commercial or Industrial structures Five

Percent (5%) of value computed on the Assessor's fair market value of the structure

to be demolished.”; “Application fees will not be refunded regardless of permit

status or outcome.”

Moved by Councilor Dombrowski, seconded by Councilor Buhle

Discussion: Director of Planning & Development Juliet Hodge noted that the

proposed revised Permit Fee Schedule would raise the current Fee from $10.26 per

$1,000 of construction value to $15 per $1,000 of construction value. She stated the

$15.00 would include the State fee of .26 per $1,000.

Councilor Dombrowski stated that other than working to bring Ledyard’s Permit Fees

in line with area towns, that the background information did not provide any

justification to increase the Permit Fees. He stated per the state statute that the

purpose of the Permit Fees was to cover the cost of processing the Permit; such as

legal notices and other related expenses. He stated the Permit Fee were not intended

to generate revenues.

Ms. Hodge stated that Ledyard’s current Permit Fees did not accurately reflect today's

prices and were significantly below the average compared to neighboring towns. She

stated the Town was looking to implement software that would provide the ability for

the public to Apply on-line for Permits, explaining the use of the on-line Permit

Program would also help to streamline the approval process relative to the required

reviews and workflow such as Ledge Light Health District, and others who were

required to review the Application and sign off.

Ms. Hodge continued by explaining the justification to increase the Permit Fees was

to cover the cost of expenses to process the Permit such as the on-line Permit

Program, Staff time to review the Applications, Legal Notices/Reviews, use of

vehicle to visit projects, etc.

Councilor Dombrowski stated that he was not against increasing the Permit Fees;

however, he stated that he was questioning the need for a 50% increase. He stated the

Permit Fees cannot be called “Revenues”. Ms. Hodge explained that it would be

difficult to calculate the costs that were involved with the Permit Process that she

noted this evening. She stated based on the increased Permit Fees that the town

would not be making a profit, and she noted the Fees that were collected in the Land

Use Office are recorded in the Annual Budget as a ”Revenue”. Councilor

Dombrowski stated expenses such as the vehicle or staff time were not eligible

expenses to be included in the cost to process a permit, explaining that the town

would have the vehicle and staff in place whether they received Permit Applications

or not.

Councilor Dombrowski continued by questioning how the Demolition Fees were

determined. Ms. Hodge explained that some towns charged a flat fee for the

demolition of a structure. However, she stated that she and Building Official Seumas

Quinn agreed that using a percentage of value computed on the Assessor's fair

market value of the structure to be demolished would be a fair approach.

Ms. Hodge went on to state in accordance with Section 3.1 of the Building Code that

the Building Official was authorized to establish the Fees, noting that Town Council

approval was not required.

Councilor Dombrowski stated in accordance with CGS Chapter 98 Municipal Powers

Act the Town Council has the authority to set fees.

Ms. Hodge stated that Ordinance #300-003 “An Ordinance Establishing Permit Fees

for New Construction, Alternation, Removal, Demolition or Other Building

Operation in the Town of Ledyard” prescribed the Establishment of Permit Fees.

However, she stated in accordance with Section 3.1 of the Building Code that the

Building Official was authorized to establish the Fees by the approved rules and

schedule of unit rates for buildings and structures of all use groups and types of

construction as classified and defined in Articles 1, 3 and 4 of the Building Code. She

stated that it has been the Town Council’s practice to “acknowledge” the Building

Permit Fees set forth by the Building Official; noting that Town Council action was

not required.

Councilor Buhle stated that she would support acknowledging the revised Permit

Fees as submitted by the Building Official, noting that the on-line Permit Application

software would be a good step forward for both the public and staff.

Councilor St. Vil stated that he respected Councilor Dombrowksi’s perspective. He

noted for clarification that tonight’s Motion was to “acknowledge” the Building

Permit Fees as presented in the draft dated January 23, 2024.

Councilor St. Vil noted that the proposed Building Permit Fees would now move

forward to the Finance Committee for their review. He requested clarification

regarding the process asking whether the Town Council would also be required to

“acknowledge” the Building Permit Fees. Administrative Assistant Roxanne Maher

responded stating it has been the Town Council’s practice to “acknowledge” the

Building Permit Fees.

Ms. Hodge stated Town Council action was not required and that she would contact

the Land Use Attorney tomorrow to obtain clarification regarding setting the Building

Permit Fees.

VOTE:2 - 1 Approved and so declared (Dombrowski not in favor)

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

Kevin Dombrowski

RESULT:

MOVER:

Jessica Buhle

SECONDER:

St. Vil and Buhle

Dombrowski

AYE:

NAY:

Any other New Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Buhle moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Councilor St.

Vil.

VOTE:

p.m.

3 - 0 Approved and so declared, the meeting was adjourned at 6:23

Respectfully submitted,