Ms. Meghan Youmell, 24 Lake Street, Ledyard, stated that she has lived in Ledyard
for eight years and that she and Ms. Andrews have had concerns regarding a neighbor
who has been throwing their yard debris over the fence that runs along the property
line. She stated that they have both unsuccessfully talked with the resident to politely
asked that they not throw their yard debris over the fence. She stated they were now
at a point where the leaves and other debris was piling up and that it was going to fall
over the fence. She stated that they were hoping the town could implement an
Ordinance that would address the issue of dumping.
Councilor Dombrowski questioned whose property was the neighbor dumping their
yard debris on. Ms. Youmell stated that her yard and the neighbor’s yard were side by
side and they each had a fence, and that the property line ran between the two fences,
noting that they were dumping the yard debris between the two fences on the property
line, noting that it was an eyesore.
Councilor Buhle questioned what type of debris the neighbor was throwing over the
fence. Ms. Youmell stated that it was mostly yard debris, noting that a few years ago
they were throwing bags of debris, however, she stated since they have asked the
neighbor not throw the bags of debris between the fences, that they were now just
throwing the yard debris not bagged, noting that the bags were still under the pile.
Councilor St. Vil questioned whether Ms. Youmell and Ms. Andrews have talked
with other Town Staff regarding their concerns.
Ms. Youmell stated that there was also stuff piled in the neighbor’s yard, noting that
she did not understand the reason the property had not been condemned, noting the
condition of the property. She stated she has talked with Staff in the Land Use Office
(Blight Enforcement Officer) and submitted a formal blight complaint; however, she
did not know if they contacted the property owners.
Ms. Kim Andrews, 19 Marla Avenue, Ledyard, stated a few years ago the house they
were referring to had been abandoned, it was overgrown, and wild animals were
coming out of the garage. She stated at that time she talked with the Mayor’s former
Executive Assistant Mary-Beth Hubbard, who put them in contact Ledge Light
Health District. However, she stated that Ledge Light Health District could not go
into the home. She stated in 2018 the family moved back into the house, and
immediately started to throw their yard waste over the chain link fence, which
divided their two backyards, noting that she did not know the actual property line.
She stated that she asked them not to throw their brush and yard debris over the
fence, but they disregarded her request. She stated when she spoke with Mayor Allyn,
III, about her concerns this past Spring 2024, that he was aware of the property. She
stated because the town did not have an Ordinance that the Zoning Officer stated that
they did not have a mechanism to get them to stop throwing the debris over the fence.
Therefore, she stated at the previous Zoning Officer’s suggestion she threw the debris
back over the fence, noting that the debris still remains there today. Ms. Andrews
also noted that she spoke with the Police Department and that they explained that
they have no authority to do anything to help her. Therefore, she stated that she was
