741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Agricultural Commission  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman  
Bruce Garstka  
Regular Meeting  
Tuesday, November 21, 2023  
6:00 PM  
Town Hall Annex-Hybrid Format  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The Regular meeting was called to order by Chairman Garstka at 6:00 p.m.  
Steve Martic was appointed as a voting member.  
Bill Thorne joined the meeting late (via Zoom).  
ROLL CALL  
II.  
Community-at-Large Representative Katie Yuhas  
Alternate Member Steve Martic  
Present  
Farming Community Bruce Garstka  
Farming Community William Thorne  
Farming Community Michael E. Marelli  
Farming Community Allyson Angelini  
Farming Community Russell Holmberg  
Excused  
III.  
CITIZEN COMMENTS  
None.  
IV.  
1.  
COMMENTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS  
None.  
Comments of Commission Members.  
V.  
1.  
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
Informational items.  
None.  
VI.  
1.  
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to APPROVE Regular/Joint Meeting minutes from October 17, 2023, as written.  
Mr. Thorne was not present for the minutes vote.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Michael E. Marelli  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Steve Martic  
SECONDER:  
4
3
Yuhas Martic Garstka Marelli  
Angelini Holmberg Thorne  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
VII. CORRESPONDENCE  
Correspondence.  
None.  
1.  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
Discussion of topics raised in the joint meeting.  
1.  
Chairman Garstka invited John Vincent, Chairman of the Economic Development Commission  
(or a representative from the Commission) to join the meeting. Since no one attended Chairman  
Garstka will try again and ask a representative to join the December meeting.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
Any other Old Business to come before the Commission.  
2.  
Mr. Marelli said that he viewed the video of the Economic Development Meeting and it was said  
that their Business Directory is almost complete, however he was not sure what is in the  
directory or how the information was gathered. It was also said that when businesses come and  
go the directory will be updated. Mr. Marelli is hoping that there would be an opportunity to add  
the Agricultural Commission.  
Chairman Garstka spoke with Justin Dube, MIS Director regarding the Commission's website.  
Mr. Dube said the Commission needs to tell him what they are looking for and he can go from  
there. Ms. Yuhas suggested something similar to East Lyme's Agricultural page. Mr. Dube said  
he could do that once the Commission comes up with the information to plug into the page.  
Chairman Garstka said the Commission should focus on the website during the next  
Commission meeting. He added that it would be good to highlight places in Town such as  
Holmberg's Orchard and Maugle Sierra Vineyards and include links to their website for more  
information. Photos that can be changed every few months to keep it fresh was another  
suggestion.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
IX.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
Discuss next Joint Meeting time frame.  
Mr. Thorne suggested inviting the Farmers Market Committee to the next joint meeting,  
Chairman Garstka agreed.  
Motion to APPROVE January 21, 2025, to supplement the AG 2024 calendar dates.  
2.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Steve Martic  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Michael E. Marelli  
SECONDER:  
4
3
Yuhas Martic Garstka Marelli  
Angelini Holmberg Thorne  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Any other New Business to come before the Commission.  
3.  
Chairman Garstka said there are two vacancies on the Farmers Market if the Commissioners  
know of anyone that is interested to contact the Mayor. Mr. Marelli added that there are three  
vacancies on the Conservation Commission (two regular members and one alternate).  
Chairman Garstka also said the Agricultural Commission will need a new Liaison.  
Mr. Thorne said that an ordinance is in the works called "Friends of the Market". The running of  
the market is labor intensive and having a group of people to draw on for assistance would be  
very helpful. "Friends of the Market" members would not have to reside in Ledyard. He said the  
Committee is at a Crossroads right now and they need more people to continue to exist. He  
invited Chairman Gartska to attend the next Farmer Market Committee meeting. Mr. Thorne will  
send Chairman Garstka the meeting information for the next meeting date.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
X.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 6:30 p.m.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Katie Yuhas  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Steve Martic  
SECONDER:  
5
2
Yuhas Martic Garstka Thorne Marelli  
Angelini Holmberg  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.