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

Organizational Meeting

Monday, December 4, 2023

7:00 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://us06web.zoom.us/j/83331724321?pwd=9HbINaZgRiEXtkurxGDorec6YyrsBQ.1

Meeting ID: 833 3172 4321

Passcode: 458074

CALL TO ORDER BY DEPUTY MAYOR

Deputy Mayor Kevin J. Dombrowski called the Organizational Meeting of this

Twenty-seventh Town Council to order at 7:00 p.m.

Deputy Mayor Dombrowski welcomed all to the Hybrid Meeting, noting that

tonight’s meeting format would provide for both in-person and remote

participation via Video Conference. He noted that the remote meeting

information for members of the Public to participate in this evening’s

meeting was available on the Agenda that was posted on the Town’s Website

- Granicus-Legistar Meeting Portal.

II.

ROLL CALL

Councilor April Brunelle

Councilor Jessica Buhle

Councilor Kevin Dombrowski

Councilor Carmen Garcia-Irizarry

Councilor Gary Paul

Present:

Chairman S. Naomi Rodriguez

Councilor Tim Ryan

Councilor Tony Saccone

Councilor Gary St. Vil

III.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV.

SWEARING IN OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH TOWN COUNCIL BY TOWN CLERK

PATRICIA RILEY

Town Clerk Patricia Riley administered the Oath of Office to the members of

the Twenty-seventh Town Council.

ELECTION OF A CHAIRPERSON

Deputy Mayor Dombrowski called for a nomination for Town Council Chairman.

MOTION to nominate Councilor S. Naomi Rodriguez for Chairman.

Moved by Councilor Saccone, seconded by Councilor Buhle

MOVER: Tony Saccone, Town Councilor

SECONDER: Jessica Buhle, Town Councilor

MOTION to close nominations

Moved by Councilor Saccone, seconded by Councilor Buhle

VOTE: 9 - 0 Approved and so declared

RESULT: ADOPTED 9 - 0

MOVER: Tony Saccone, Town Councilor

SECONDER: Jessica Buhle, Town Councilor

AYES: Brunelle, Buhle, Garcia-Irizarry, Dombrowski, Paul, Saccone, St. Vil,

Rodriguez, Ryan

Deputy Mayor Dombrowski called for the vote on the Chairman.

VOTE: 9 - 0 Approved and so declared

RESULTS OF VOTE: Deputy Mayor Dombrowski announced that Councilor

Rodriguez has been elected Chairman of the Twenty-seventh Town Council. He

congratulated Chairman Rodriguez and turned the meeting over to her..

This was Approved and so declared.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Tony Saccone

RESULT:

MOVER:

Jessica Buhle

SECONDER:

VI.

ADOPTION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE

MOTION to adopt a “Resolution Establishing the Rules of Procedure for the Twenty-seventh

Town Council” as presented in the draft dated November 8, 2023.

DRAFT: 11/8/2023

Res: 001-2023/Dec 04

RESOLUTION

ESTABLISHING THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEDYARD TOWN COUNCIL

BE IT RESOLVED: that the Twenty -seventh Town Council of the Town of Ledyard

adopts the following Rules of Procedure:

RULES OF PROCEDURE

1. Regular meetings of the Town Council will be held in the Ledyard Town Hall Annex,

Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.

2. Special meetings of the Town Council may be called by the Town Council Chairperson

or upon written request to either the Town Council Chairperson or the Administrative

Assistant by three (3) Town Council members.

3. The Town Council Chairperson may, with the consensus of six (6) Town Councilors,

cancel any regularly scheduled meeting should the need arise.

4. All meetings of the Town Council for the transaction of business will be open to the

public and the votes will be recorded as prescribed by Section 1-225 of the General

Statutes of the State of Connecticut (CGS), as amended.

5. Six (6) Town Council members constitute a quorum, but no ordinance, resolution, or

vote, except a vote to adjourn or to fix the time and place of the next meeting, will be

adopted by less than five (5) affirmative votes.

Members of the Town Council may participate in a meeting remotely by means of

electronic equipment in accordance with CGS Section 1-200; and strictly adhere to

the rules set forth in the “Town Council Policy Guidelines Remote Meeting

Participation”

In the absence of a quorum at a regular or special meeting of the Town Council, no business

will be transacted, but the following actions may be taken and will be binding on the

Town Council:

a. Fix the time at which to adjourn.

b. Recess to contact absent Town Council members.

c. Adjourn.

The Town Council Chairperson will preside at all meetings of the Town Council and at the

stated hour and upon the appearance of a quorum, will call the Town Council to

order. The Chairperson will also perform all the duties and accept all the

responsibilities of a Councilperson.

8. It will be the duty of the Town Council Chairperson to preserve order, to conduct Town

Council business in accordance with these rules, to recognize and grant the floor to

members wishing to speak, and to declare all votes.

9. The Town Council Chairperson may speak on and will decide questions of parliamentary

law and Town Council procedure, subject to appeal to the Town Council by a motion

duly seconded. Such appeals to the Town Council will be entertained by the Town

Council Chairperson and has precedence provided they are made at the time of the

ruling by the Town Council Chairperson and no debate or business has intervened

between the ruling and the motion to appeal.

10. The regular agenda will be ordered as follows:

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Residents’ & Property Owners Petitions

Committees, Commissions & Boards Reports

Comments of Town Councilors

Review and Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes

Communications/Referrals

Sub-Committee/Liaison Reports

Report of the Mayor

Old Business

New Business

Adjournment

There will be a Consent Calendar and those items on the “Consent Calendar” will be

listed under New Business with an *asterisk preceding its number. Any item(s)

objected to by a Town Council member shall be removed from the Consent Calendar,

but will then automatically be considered under New Business.

A short agenda will be optional as follows:

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Residents’ & Property Owners Petitions

Committees, Commissions and Boards Reports

Communications/Referrals

New Business/Business of the Meeting

Adjournment

The Town Council Chairperson will cause to be prepared and have posted, the Town Council

agenda not less than twenty-four hours prior to the regular Town Council meetings in

accordance with CGS Section 1-225 (c). The agenda will also be electronically

posted on the town’s internet web site.

12. There will be the following standing committees of the Town Council:

a. Administration Committee

b. Community Relations Committee

c. Finance Committee

d. Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee

The Town Council may establish additional standing committees and may dissolve

standing committees by a two-thirds vote.

Additionally, there will be the following standing liaison:

Agricultural Commission

b. Board of Education

c. Conservation Commission

d. Economic Development Commission

e. Gales Ferry Fire Company

f. Historic District Commission

g. Inland Wetland/WaterCourses Commission

h. Ledyard Fire Company

i. Ledyard Beautification Committee

j. Ledyard Farmers’ Market Committee

k. Ledyard Housing Authority

l. Library Commission

m. Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Commission

n. Permanent Municipal Building Committee

o. Planning & Zoning Commission

p. Public Safety Commission

q. Retirement Board

r. Youth & Social Services Board

s. Water Pollution Control Authority

t. Zoning Board of Appeals

The Town Council Chairperson will appoint members of the Standing and Ad-Hoc

Committees of the Town Council and the Standing Liaison Assignments. The Town

Council Chairperson will be a member ex-officio of all Town Council Committees.

The Town Council Chairperson will appoint the Committee Chairpersons.

14. Each Town Council Committee will consider matters referred to it by the Town Council

Chairperson or by a majority vote of the Town Council, and will report to the Town

Council respecting such matters and submit resolutions or ordinances when necessary

to carry out

Committee recommendations. In order that business may be handled in an expeditious

manner, the Town Council Chairperson may refer items to a Committee at any time.

For any item referred to two or more Town Council Standing Committees that may

result in a proposed ordinance, the Committees should resolve any differences before

the proposed ordinance is recommended to the Town Council for the setting of a

public hearing date.

15. Each Committee agenda will be prepared and posted not less than twenty-four hours

prior to the regular meetings in accordance with CGS Section 1-225 (c).

Each Committee Chairperson will ensure that written minutes are submitted and

electronically distributed to all Town Council members using the town’s internet

website. Roberts’s Rules of Order will govern minority reporting. Committee

Chairpersons will provide written reports using the meeting portal and give a verbal

synopsis or outline of the report during the Committee Reports of the Town Council

meeting.

Committees may conduct all of their in-person meetings in a Hybrid Format enabling

both in-person and remote participation, providing the appropriate technology and

equipment is available at the physical meeting location, in accordance with Policy

#2022-03-23-01 “Policy and Guidelines for Meeting Participation”.

16. All voting for the transaction of business and the setting or staying of rules of procedure

will be by roll call taken alphabetically, but starting at a random name established by

the Town Council’s Administrative Assistant.

17. In the absence of the Town Council Chairperson, a Town Council Chairperson Pro-tem,

will be appointed on a lottery basis and as Town Council Chairperson Pro-tem, will

sign all ordinances or resolutions passed at the meeting over which they preside. They

will also perform all other duties of the Town Council Chairperson at that meeting.

18. All ordinances and resolutions will be confined to one subject which will be clearly

stated in the title.

19. All ordinances and resolutions will be presented to the Town Council in writing by the

Town Council member introducing such items.

20. The Town Council may, by majority vote, limit remarks of all members to a specified

length of time in debating a particular subject.

21. When an Executive Session is necessary, reasons for such a session and all persons who

will be in attendance will be publicly stated and all other requirements of the

Freedom of Information Act will be adhered to. A two-thirds vote of the Town

Council members present will be necessary to go into Executive Session.

22. Members will confine their remarks in debate to the pending question and must avoid

personalities or improper motives.

23. The Administrative Assistant will be the custodian of all papers, correspondence,

magnetic/electronic media and records of the Town Council and will keep for public

inspection a journal of its proceedings, including all roll call votes by the Town

Council and such further details of the proceedings of the Town Council as may be

approved by a majority vote.

In the event the Administrative Assistant is not present at the Town Council meeting

when the Chairperson calls a meeting to order, the Town Council Chairperson will

appoint an Administrative Assistant Pro-tem to keep the minutes of that meeting.

The Administrative Assistant will file the record (minutes of each meeting) with the

Town Clerk. All meeting records will be authenticated by the signature of the

Administrative Assistant and the Town Council Chairperson or the Town Council

Chairperson Pro-tem and will be posted on the town’s internet meeting portal web

site.

24. All requirements of the Charter of the Town of Ledyard with respect to the proceedings

of the Town Council are to be strictly followed and no rules will ever be adopted by

the Town Council which will be in conflict with the Charter.

25. The rules of the Town Council, excepting those specified in Chapter III, Section 3 of the

Charter of the Town of Ledyard, may be altered, extended or repealed by an

affirmative vote of five (5) members of the Town Council at any meeting of the

Town Council, provided descriptive notice of the proposed changes will have been

given in writing at a preceding regular meeting.

26. Any single rule may be suspended for the proceedings of any meeting of the Town

Council upon an affirmative vote of seven (7) members present, the motion for

suspension detailing the specific rule to be suspended and the reason for suspension.

27. The Town Council Chairperson or any Standing Committee Chairperson may be

removed from their position of authority by an affirmative vote of at least six (6)

other Town Council members. Such removal will in no way serve to restrict that

person’s duty, authority or responsibility as a Town Council member.

28. Beyond the aforementioned rules of procedure and for all situations not specifically

covered therein, the Rules of Procedure for the Town Council and its Standing

Committees will be those stipulated in Roberts Rules of Order.

Adopted by the Ledyard Town Council on: _____________

___________________________

, Chairman

Moved by Councilor Dombrowski, seconded by Councilor Ryan

Discussion: None.

VOTE: 9 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Kevin Dombrowski

RESULT:

MOVER:

Tim Ryan

SECONDER:

Dombrowski, Paul, Rodriguez, Ryan, Brunelle, St. Vil, Buhle,

Saccone, and Garcia-Irizarry

AYE:

Conduct Lottery for Chairperson Pro-Tem.

Chairman Rodriguez explained in the absence of the Town Council Chairman that

members of the Town Council would each serve in the capacity of Chairman

Pro-tem. She stated as part of their Organizational Meeting the Town Council

conducts a Lottery for Chairperson Pro-tem to determine the order of rotation

in which the assignment of duties would be delegated. The results of the

Chairman Pro-Tem Lottery were as follows:

2023-2025 Lottery for Chairperson Pro-Tem

1. Councilor Ryan

2. Councilor Buhle

3. Councilor Garcia-Irizarry

4. Councilor St. Vil

5. Councilor Dombrowski

6. Councilor Paul

7. Councilor Saccone

8. Councilor Brunelle

Chairman Rodriguez explained the order of the Chairman Pro-tem list will rotate

successively. She stated in the absence of the Town Council Chairperson, the Town

Council Chairperson Pro-tem, would sign all ordinances or resolutions passed at the

meeting over which they preside; and that they would also perform all other duties of

the Town Council Chairperson at that meeting.

RECEIVED AND FILED

RESULT:

VII. APPOINTMENTS

MOTION to appoint Mr. Ian Stammel as the Town Treasurer.

Moved by Councilor Ryan, seconded by Councilor Dombrowski

Discussion: None.

VOTE: 9 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Tim Ryan

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kevin Dombrowski

SECONDER:

Brunelle, Buhle, Dombrowski, Garcia-Irizarry, Paul, Rodriguez, Ryan,

Saccone, and St. Vil

AYE:

MOTION to appoint Ms. Roxanne M. Maher as the Administrative Assistant to the Ledyard

Town Council.

Moved by Councilor Buhle, seconded by Councilor Ryan

Discussion: None.

VOTE: 9 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Jessica Buhle

RESULT:

MOVER:

Tim Ryan

SECONDER:

Dombrowski, Paul, Rodriguez, Ryan, Brunelle, St. Vil, Buhle,

Saccone, and Garcia-Irizarry

AYE:

MOTION to appoint the Twenty-seventh Town Council as the Flood/Erosion Control Board.

Moved by Councilor Dombrowski, seconded by Councilor Ryan

Discussion: None.

VOTE: 9 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Kevin Dombrowski

RESULT:

MOVER:

Tim Ryan

SECONDER:

Brunelle, Buhle, Dombrowski, Garcia-Irizarry, Paul, Rodriguez, Ryan,

Saccone, and St. Vil

AYE:

VIII. APPOINTMENTS TO STANDING COMMITTEES AND LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS

This was Completed.

Appointment of members to the Standing Sub Committees.

Chairman Rodriguez announced the 2023 - 2025 Standing Committee Assignments

as follows:

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Chairman Councilor Garcia-Irizarry

Councilor Dombrowski

Councilor Brunelle

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Chairman Councilor Brunelle

Councilor Paul

Councilor St. Vil

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Chairman Councilor Saccone

Councilor Buhle

Councilor Ryan

LAND USE/PLANNING/PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Chairman Councilor St. Vil

Councilor Buhle

Councilor Dombrowski

COMPLETED

RESULT:

Town Council Liaison Assignments.

TOWN COUNCIL LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS

2023-2025

Commission/Committee Board

Agricultural Commission

Beautification Committee

Board of Education

Town Councilor

Councilor Dombrowski

Councilor Ryan

Councilor Garcia-Irizarry

Councilor Paul

Conservation Commission

Economic Development Commission

Gales Ferry Fire Company

Historic District Commission

Councilor Buhle

Councilor Saccone

Councilor Ryan

Inland Wetland/WaterCourses Commission

Councilor St. Vil

Ledyard Farmers’ Market Committee

Ledyard Fire Company

Chairman Rodriguez

Councilor Saccone

Ledyard Housing Authority

Library Commission

Councilor Paul

Councilor Garcia-Irizarry

Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Commission Councilor Paul

Planning & Zoning Commission

Public Safety Commission

Councilor St. Vil

Councilor Saccone

Permanent Municipal Building Committee

Councilor Buhle

Councilor Rodriguez

Councilor Brunelle

Councilor Dombrowski

Councilor Brunelle

Retirement Board

Youth & Social Services Board

Water Pollution Control Authority

Zoning Board of Appeals

COMPLETED

RESULT:

IX.

COMMENTS

New Chairperson

Chairman Rodriguez thanked everyone who voted on Election Day. She

stated that she was humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve all

the residents of Ledyard. She stated their confidence and faith in her was truly

humbling and that she promised to do her very best. She thanked the

Twenty-seventh Town Council for their confidence in her to serve as their

Chairman. She stated this Town Council brings new members from diverse

backgrounds, which was a true representation of Ledyard. She stated their

diverse backgrounds would only help to bring out the best of Ledyard. She

welcomed the new Town Council members; and she welcomed back the

continuing Town Council members. She stated that they have a fantastic

Team and that she looked forward to all of them working together in a

positive manner for their Town. Thank you.

Members of the Twenty-seventh Town Council

Comments of the Members of Twenty-seventh Town Council

Councilor Paul thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve their

community once again. He stated that he hoped that he would continue to

serve the town well over the next two-years.

Councilor Brunelle stated that she was thankful for all of the residents who

came out to vote in November; and for taking the time to talk to her to let her

know what was important to them. She stated that she hoped that she would

continue to hear more from the residents about what was important to them

and about what they would like to see in town. She stated that she would do

her best to stand-up for everyone in town and to work to make Ledyard a

better place to live, noting that it was already a great town.

Councilor Ryan stated that he was humbled to have a second term serving on

the Town Council. He stated the past two-years were truly a learning

experience; and that he looked forward to serving the town and doing the best

he possibly could to make sure their residents were served as best as possible.

He stated as Chairman Rodriguez stated that he also looked forward to a

Town Council that would work well together.

Councilor Saccone noted he and his wife moved to Ledyard thirty-four years

ago, noting that it was recommended as one of the best towns in Southeastern

Connecticut; and he commented that the recommendation held to be true. He

stated after serving his country he thought about what else he could do, which

led him to serving his town during the past twenty-three years as a member of

the Gales Ferry Volunteer Fire Company. He went on to explain having an

opportunity to serve on the Town Council would enable him to continue to

serve his community in other ways. He stated that the Town Council was here

to serve their residents; and he thanked the community for voting and for their

confidence in all of them.

Councilor Garcia-Irizarry stated that she has lived in Gales Ferry for sixteen

years. She stated over the years that she was compelled to serve her

community, noting that she previously served on different town commissions;

and that she was looking forward to serving on the Town Council. She

thanked everyone for voting and for their confidence in her. She stated that

she would work to do her best to serve the town.

Councilor Dombrowski stated that he was once again humbled to be elected

to serve on the Town Council, noting that this would be his seventh term. He

stated that he looked forward to continuing to serve the town, and to working

with all the members of the Town Council both new and past members. He

welcomed everyone to the Town Council, and he stated that he would like to

say to the new in-coming members of the Town Council that Administrative

Assistant Roxanne Maher was the person that keeps the Town Council on

task. He stated the Town Council serves the town, noting that they were the

ones who vote and make the decisions for the town, but that Ms. Maher has

their back ensuring they follow the processes provided in the Town Charter,

State Statutes, Ordinances, Resolutions and other Policies. Thank you,

Councilor St. Vil thanked the voters of the Town of Ledyard for the

tremendous opportunity to serve them on the Twenty-seventh Town Council.

He stated that he takes this opportunity seriously and that he promised to do

his best; he promised to carry back all the messages that they received over

the past year while knocking on doors and talking to folks; and that he

promised to work with his fellow Councilors to accomplish and do our very

best for the Town of Ledyard. Thank you.

Councilor Buhle noted as everyone has said this evening, that she wanted to

thank the voters for having confidence in her and in all of these wonderful

people to serve our town. She stated that she was grateful that the US Navy

brought her family to Ledyard nine-years ago; and that she was glad to make

it their home, noting that Ledyard was a great place to be; and she was glad to

be a part of it.

MEETING SCHEDULE

MOTION to set the Town Council’s Regular Meeting schedule for the 2024 Calendar Year.

Town Council (2nd & 4th Wednesday, Council Chambers 7:00 p.m.)

January 10, 24

May 8, 22

September 11, 25

February 14, 28

June 12, 26

October 9, 23

March 13, 27

July 10, 24

November13, 27^

April 10, 24

August 14, 28

December 11, 25^

^ Denotes meeting cancelled due to holiday

* Denotes regular meeting date scheduled is different from regular schedule

Moved by Councilor Dombrowski, seconded by Councilor Ryan

Discussion: Chairman Rodriguez noted the "Rules of Procedure” set the

Town Council’s regular meeting date for the second and fourth Wednesday of

the month at 7:00 p.m. She stated the Town Council and its Sub Committees’

meetings would be held in a Hybrid format (in-person and remote) in

accordance with Policy #2022-03-0 “Policy and Guidelines for Remote

Meeting Participation”.

VOTE: 9- 0 Approved and so declared

ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Buhle, moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilor Dombrowski

VOTE: 9 - 0 Approved and so declared.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:19 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 Town Council

Organizational Meeting held on December 4, 2023.

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.