741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Economic Development Commission  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman  
John Vincent  
Tuesday, December 6, 2022  
6:00 PM  
Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chairman Vincent called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Town  
Hall Annex Building. Chairman Vincent welcomed all to the Hybrid Meeting.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Present were Juliet Hodge, Director of Planning & Development, Gary Paul (Town Council  
Liaison)  
Commission Members Present:  
PresentCommissioner Jessica Buhle  
Commissioner Carol Ann Schneider  
Commissioner Michael Dreimiller  
Commissioner Peter Harry  
Chair John Vincent  
Absent Commissioner Richard D. Tashea and Mayor Allyn.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
III.  
EDC Regular Meeting 11_1_2022 Draft Minutes  
MOTION to approve the Regular EDC Meeting Minutes of November 1, 2022. Motion  
Passed unanimously.  
MOVER: Carol Schneideer  
SECONDER:Jessica Buhle  
RESULT: APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
IV.  
CITIZENS COMMENTS  
Present - Naomi Rodriguez (Town Council) and John Garstka (Agricultural Commission) were  
present, but had no comments.  
V.  
MAYOR'S REPORT  
Mayor not present.  
VI.  
PLANNER'S REPORT  
Staffing still an issue. Trying to avoid having permits automatically approved after 30 day. SE  
Council of Governments looking into hiring a building official from Greenwich who would be  
shared with some of the other smaller towns.J. Hodge reported that the Land Use Department is  
about to lose the zoning official who retires in 3 weeks.  
Finished rewriting the subdivision regulations to make them agree with recently updated zoning  
regulations. The PZC approved a 6-month moratorium on subdivision regulations to give the  
PZC time to review and approve the revisions.  
Multi-use Path and Sewer Line Extension Projects: SHPOe recommended an archeological study  
for sewer extension. It’s not technically required and would cost the Town $15,000. Study would  
need to be completed in next 3 weeks. Probably won’t do it since the area to be excavated is  
located in the previously disturbed roadbed.  
Meeting with Habitat for Humanity housing project and apartment project at former Ledyard  
Center School next week and both projects are dependent on that sewer line. If the Town does  
not get the bid package out soon, there’s no chance of the project being done in 2023.  
Application for a new housing project in Gales Ferry anticipated in January.  
New business: Home occupation for a craft store approved.  
Currently reviewing the affordable housing Subdivision proposal on Stoddards Wharf.  
VII. OLD BUSINESS  
Development of Strategic Plan (ALL)  
A.  
Dreimiller working to come up with the percentage of non-residential property in town that is  
undeveloped and that can actually be developed. Will need to exclude both the Pfizer parcel and  
the 350 acre Avalonia parcel which are currently zoned Industrial but can’t be developed. The  
MapsOnline GIS map is currently being updated. Zoning info had not been updated since the  
2017 zoning changes.  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
Route 12 Corridor Study  
B.  
C.  
No staff to support right now. Will revisit in a few months.  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
Business Directory - Update  
Hary shared a draft. Asked everyone to review and let him know if they have any additions or  
corrections. Should be complete by mid-January. Hodge will work with Hary to make sure that  
the categories used match those that the town uses. Hodge will also send Hary the document that  
her intern put together of businesses in town. Buhle suggested that he use websites instead of  
physical addresses for small businesses which may be operating out of a home.  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
D.  
Business Cards/Town Badges  
In progress.  
This was Continue.to the Economic Development Commission due back on 1/3/2023  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
Video Update  
E.  
Hary has received the first draft of the scripts and will email them to the Commission. We will  
have to provide any Fall, Winter and Spring photos that we want to use.  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
Yale/Harvard Regatta Festival 2023 - EDC Advanced Planning  
No Updates.  
F.  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
G.  
Drone Usage over town property (Mike)  
Drone video is not included in the video contract so town’s drone policy, which is currently  
under review, will not impact the production of the video. Gary Paul will check with Brian  
Reubelt about using some of his existing footage.  
VIII. NEW BUSINESS  
A. 2023 Meeting Schedule  
Hodge suggested the following dates for the commission’s 2023 meetings. All are on the 1st  
Tuesday of the month except where noted otherwise.  
January 3, 2023  
February 7, 2023  
March 7, 2023  
April 4, 2023  
May 2, 2023  
June 6, 2023  
July 11, 2023 (2nd Tuesday)  
August 1, 2023  
September 5, 2023  
October 3, 2023  
November 14, 2023 (2nd Tuesday)  
December 5, 2023-- Regular & Annual Meeting  
January 2, 2024  
A motion was made by Commissioner Hary, seconded by Commissioner Schneider, to  
approve the proposed 2023 Meeting Schedule. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
MOVER: Peter Hary  
SECONDER:Carol Schneider  
AYE: 5 Buhle, Schneider, Dreimiller, Hary, and Vincent  
ABSENT: 1 Tashea  
RESULT: APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Election of Officers:  
Vincent nominated Dreimiller for Secretary. Schneider seconded. Dreimiller accepted.  
Vincent nominated Tashea for Vice Chair. Schneider seconded.  
Buhle nominated Vincent for Chair. Schneider seconded. Vincent accepted.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Buhle, seconded by Commissioner Schneider, to  
approve the proposed officers. The motion carried by the following vote:  
MOVER: John Vincent  
SECONDER:Carol Schneider  
AYE: 5 Buhle, Schneider, Dreimiller, Hary, and Vincent  
ABSENT: 1 Tashea  
RESULT: APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
IX.  
MARKETING AND ACTIVITIES REPORT  
Dollar General moving along quickly; Gales Ferry package store (relocating from Ledyard)  
appears to be nearing completion and Bark ‘N Brew progress appears to have slowed.  
Commissioners Vincent, Scheider, and Bhule attended the Cashman briefing on Nov. 17th at  
Ledyard High School.  
Buhle has organized a giveaway on the Ledyard Community Resource page on Facebook to  
promote small businesses in town.  
My Pet’s World is ready to have a ribbon cutting. Vincent said that it might be a weekend date in  
January. Submissions for the next Events magazine issue are due in February.  
Town Councilor Rodriguez asked about the open seat on the EDC. Vincent said he spoke with  
owner of Zest about joining the EDC but she said she was too busy. Hary spoke with the owner  
of Grimms Fairy Tail and she was also too busy. Buhle pointed out that by trying to find a town  
business owner who has employees to join is limiting the number of possible candidates.  
X.  
AVAILABLE PROPERTIES  
No update.  
XI.  
ADJOURNMENT  
A motion was made by Commissioner Buhle, seconded by Commissioner Schneider, to  
adjourn at 6:42pm. The motion carried by the following vote:  
MOVER: Jessica Buhle  
SECONDER:Carol Schneider  
AYE: 5 Buhle, Schneider, Dreimiller, Hary, and Vincent  
ABSENT: 1 Tashea  
RESULT: APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.