741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Historic District Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Vincent Godino

Regular Meeting

Monday, January 22, 2024

7:00 PM

Town Hall Annex -Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting was called to order by Chairman Godino at 7:02 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Commissioner William Barnes

Commissioner Douglas Kelley

Chairman Vincent Godino

Present

Alternate Member Kenneth Geer

Commissioner Earl Lamb

Alternate Member Kelly Lamb

Non-voting

Also in attendance:

Karen and Keith Parkenson.

III.

APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Ken Geer was appointed as a voting member.

IV.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE the Regular Meeting minutes from December 18, 2023, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Earl Lamb

RESULT:

MOVER:

William Barnes

SECONDER:

Barnes Kelley Godino Geer Lamb

AYE

FISCAL REPORTS

Financial Reports.

The fiscal year is half over. The Commission will be able to finish up the projects this fiscal

year. The projects include maintenance, electrical, barn door squeeze in French drain (a priority).

The barn door requires a significant change to the exterior.

Preservation of School house - $1,500.00 is in the budget. The windows need to be re-glazed and

caulked. There are approximately ten windows.

The Preservation account hasn't been set up yet.

Siding of the Mill will cost approximately 20-30K.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VI.

CORRESPONDENCE

None.

VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Sawmill Committee - Mr. Barnes.

Damns are registered with the State. Damns cannot be worked on without the State being

involved. Permits G5 and G16 are needed.

Beth Ackly will perform a structural assessment in the coming months. A Handicap access is

included in the structural assessment.

The Boy Scouts reached out about assisting with a project, possibly with a pavilion, which will

in turn help them earn their Eagle Scout badge. The pavilion is a large task, maybe landscaping

or picnic tables would be a better project for them.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Nathan Lester House - Mr. Kelley.

Chairman Godino reported that the RFP failed to post and will need to be resubmitted with new

dates. Two contractors have approached Chairman Godino, he feels both candidates are good.

The walk through is on Saturday January 27, 2024.

December

The year 2023 closed with the Yuletide event at the Lester House, hosted jointly by the Historic

District Commission, the Ledyard Historic Society, and the Ledyard Garden Club. As the “Fog of

War” movie exhibit remained in place, décor by the Garden Club was 1940s themed. Despite

thorough drenching, carolers from Ledyard High School performed, singing sheltered in the front

bay of the main barn to a group of hardy celebrants. Coordination with the Historic Society

continued; plans for a fresh inventory of the contents of the house and barns. The Society is

reviewing a proposed electronic inventory system. Activity - including participation of our

tenant-caretaker - will commence in the new year.

While plans have been made to retain the 1941 staging of the Fog of War movie, the Committee was

approached via the Mayor’s office by Cinetica Filmes e Producoes LTDA in late December. They

were interested in using the house and grounds for a film, beginning in early January. A

representative of the Art Department, Amauri Vinci, met with us, accompanied by Kristen

Chapman, Mayoral Assistant to view the house, on December 21, 2023. Upon subsequent approval

by the art department, director and producers, an offer was made to the Town, and being out of the

Commission’s normal meeting cycle - that offer was accepted by the Commission via email polling.

$4,000 total is to come to the Commission for any distribution, and $200 to our tenant-caretaker

family. A cleanup of the house, with removal of seasonal decorations, was conducted December 28,

2023, with participation from the Garden Club and tenant-caretakers. Some advance planning was

handled between the Mayor’s office and the film.

January

Working to support the new film began in earnest on January 3, 2024, with the arrival of the Art

Department. As a result of that meeting, it was agreed to paint the dining room, as with the

aggressive schedule and the holidays, a painting contractor could not be engaged. Filming began

with the arrival of the full crew on Saturday, January 6, 2024. The film “The Fox Sisters,” is set in

1848 in upstate New York. The Fox family figured prominently in the beginnings of the Spiritualist

Movement in the United States. While the production company and much of the crew is out of

Brazil, many of the actors are American and the movie will be in English. Our New England

weather very graciously provided snow that same night, and many of our visitors were able to

experience snow for the first time.

As most of the filming had already been done in Brazil and in upstate New York, the scenes inside

and outside the Lester House were quickly accomplished by about 10:30 pm, January 8, 2024. The

Art Department returned the next day to complete a clean-up and return as much of the collection to

its pre-film state. Since there is maintenance planned for the off season and plans for the Fog of War

exhibit are not definite, the normal exhibit has not yet been reinstated. Most of the paintings lent for

Fog of War have been returned to the lenders, but they may be recalled if that exhibit is restaged.

Scheduled for this month is a “Lessons Learned” meeting to review what went well with both

movies and what could be improved. The Commission would like to be as prepared as possible for

any future movie productions should they come along. Although it is not anticipated that this will be

a major use of time or as income to depend upon but would like to be prepared.

The major weather events in January have not been a problem, but the large amount of rain has

helped move planning for drainage to priority planning.

On Saturday the 13th, potential restoration contractors met at the house to review the scope of work

on the east side of the house, and to ask any questions. We expect proposals to be returned by early

February. One interesting outcome of this meeting was the observation by these experienced

contractors that the Lester House almost certainly predates the official 1793 construction date.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Research/Preservation.

Gained approval to begin work on the proposed historic park across from 85 Lambtown Road with

GOSA. Prior work completed included the base historic sign, Land preparation plans and a draft 3D

layout of the pollinator garden. The main sign is completed. Additionally, in the process of laying

out plans for the pollinator garden, which the Garden Club prior stated they would partner with the

Committee.

Spicer Place - Members of the LHDC attended the Land use committee and gain agreement on path

forward.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Center School - Mr. Geer.

Mr. Geer received estimates from John Kelly for the school windows. The Committee agreed

that the rates were reasonable and Mr. Kelly's work is exceptional.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Social Media.

Possibility to start a new Instagram account. Mr. Kelley has experience with Instagram. Social

media could be used to raise awareness and run ideas in between announcements. Also, could

feature before and after renovations of historical houses in Town.

DISCUSSED

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

RESULT:

Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.

New Volunteers:

Ammie M. Chittim, PH. D., R.P. A.

Karen Parkinson

Both volunteers have applied for Commission positions through Town Council.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

IX.

NEW BUSINESS

Election of Officers -

Chairperson.

Vice-Chairperson.

Secretary.

Chairman:

Chairman Godino would like to step down from the Chairman position and remain on the

Commission as an alternate. Nomination for Mr. Lamb.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Doug Kelley

SECONDER: Kenneth Geer

AYE:

4 Barnes Geer Godino Kelley

1 Lamb

ABSTAIN

Secretary: This vote was tabled until the new members are seated on the Commission.

Vice-Chairman: Nominations for Mr. Barnes and Mr. Kelly. Mr. Kelly said he would rather the

position go to Mr. Barnes.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Vincent Godino

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kenneth Geer

SECONDER:

Barnes Kelley Godino Geer Lamb

AYE

Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.

Decator preservation:

Mr. Kelly sent the original letter about its preservation; a follow-up letter will be sent. The

Commission needs to be more proactive in the future to be sure this doesn't happen again.

Perhaps use social media to keep ahead and aware.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 8:10 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

William Barnes

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kenneth Geer

SECONDER:

Barnes Kelley Godino Geer Lamb

AYE

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.