741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Ledyard Beautification Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Jennifer Eastbourne

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

5:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Eastbourne at 5:08 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Committee Member Carol Christiansen

Committee Member Julie Brousseau

Committee Member Carol Ann Schneider

Chairman Jennifer Eastbourne

Present

Committee Member Kathrine Kohrs

Committee Member Sheila Vincent

Excused

Absent

Committee Member Jennifer Holdsworth

Also in attendance:

Jennifer Bingham

Naomi Rodriguez, Town Council (arrived at 5:11 p.m.).

III.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

IV.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from August 1, 2023, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Julie Brousseau

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kathrine Kohrs

SECONDER:

Christiansen Brousseau Schneider Eastbourne Kohrs

AYE

Vincent

EXCUSED

ABSENT

Holdsworth

FINANCIAL REPORTS

Ledyard Beautification Committee Financial Reports.

No changes. The $65.00 spent on the banner has not been reflected in the current reports.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

Event Banner discussion continued.

The banner was ordered from Thirty Marketing at a cost of $65.00.

Chairperson Eastbourne commented that the banners came out great. The banner was used for

the last Farmer's Market and for the CFS clean up.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Farmer’s Market Discussion continued.

Upcoming market - September 20, 2023 - last one.

Chairperson Eastbourne asked who will be able to attend the next Farmer's market on September

20, 2023.

The following will attend:

Chairperson Eastbourne

Katherine Kohrs

Carol Schneider

At the last Farmer's Market, the Committee had a children's planting project. There were mini

bags at the table which the children filled with dirt and flower seeds. The bags could then be

planted in their yards. The project was well liked. There are leftover bags, but Ms. Kohrs

commented that it would be too late in the season for another planting project unless it's planted

in an indoor pot afterward. Daffodil bulbs were suggested. The Committee will reach out to

Jessica Buhle to ask about getting leftover bulbs.

Chairperson Eastbourne said the Committee was invited to join the September 13, 2023,

Hometown Heroes Farmer's Market from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. It will be held under the new

Town of Ledyard Tent to join other Commissions in providing information regarding the many

opportunities available for residents to volunteer to support their community, and how to they

could apply on-line using our new portal. The Outreach Event would be of great value in

recruiting new members to help support the Committee, as residents would have an opportunity

to talk to the Committee first-hand about what the LBC does and how their talents could be of

use. Chairperson Eastbourne asked if anyone could attend. She added that even if no one could

attend she would provide flyers or something similar to provide information about the

Committee. Ms. Schneider suggested having a sign-up list including name, phone number and

email for residents that are interested in volunteering their time.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

New Secretary and Treasurer continued.

Chairperson Eastbourne said the Committee doesn't have a Secretary or Treasurer. Ms. Kohrs

added that there are also three vacancies on the Committee. There are two people that are going

through the process of joining the Committee, one will be ready for October and the other for

November. Chairperson Eastbourne said if members know someone that is interested to ask

them to provide their phone number and she would reach out to with an application and to

answer questions. Ms. Christenson said she knows of someone, Quinn Tong. Chairperson

Eastbourne said she had already reached out to Ms. Tong and she replied that she was interested

in volunteering for events but not as a Committee member. Ms. Schneider suggested asking

someone from the Garden Club to join.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Future Projects Discussion.

Paper making, etc -

Chairperson Eastbourne reached out to SCRRRA regarding their paper making class. SCRRRA

will provide all materials for the paper and the Committee will provide the seeds. They can hold

the class for up to twenty children. The class will need to be held indoors because outlets are

needed for the blenders. Once the date is established with SCRRRA, Chairperson Eastbourne

will reach out to the Community Center, United Methodist and St Luke's to inquire about using

their space. The Committee agreed on suggesting the dates of October 22 or November 5 to

SCRRRA. October 15 will be suggested only if the other two dates aren't available for

SCRRRA. Ms. Kohrs also suggested making seed balls at a later date. Chairperson Eastbourne

said she will have a date and a place secured to hold the class by the next meeting. The event

will be advertised as a first come first serve event since there can only be twenty participants. If

the event is a success and there are children interested that were unable to attend the event there

is the possibility of holding the class again.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

CFS Garden Clean Up.

Three large garden beds and a smaller Memorial Garden were cleaned up, weeded and trimmed.

The following week the Committee went back to add mulch and mums. Eagle Landscaping

donated the mulch. Chairperson Eastbourne and Ms. Kohrs donated plants. Mark Westkott,

Gales Ferry/Juliet Long School Principal will ask older classes to maintain the gardens, weeding

and watering as a class project.

Chairperson Eastbourne suggested cleaning up the sign near Kings Highway Senior Housing

next. She asked for suggestions of other places. Ms. Brousseau suggested the place across from

Ocean State Job Lot. Chairperson Eastbourne explained that the area is already under

consideration after the LBC received a donation from Mr. Cohen with a request to clean up that

specific area. Ms. Schneider commented that someone has sprayed it with weed killer. A

galvanized bucket was suggested but would need to be weighed or tied down to prevent it from

being stolen. Chairperson Eastbourne will be talking with Public Works to see what options

there are in that area. Ms. Christensen suggested an area near the Bill Library that has signs for

the Bill Library and restaurant and one near the Town green with a bench.

Ms. Kohrs volunteered to call the adopter(s) to ask if they are still interested or if the LBC

should find another adopter.

The adopters:

Sprigs & Twigs - Route 12/Military Highway, the corner near Fireside Pizza - looks good.

H&H Landscaping - Near Board of Education sign - looks good.

Sparkle Lake - Intersection of 117 and Colonel Ledyard Highway and near the Parks &

Recreation/Senior Center sign - both of these areas need attention.

Robin in the Garden - looks good.

The base of the Bill Library sign - looks good.

Chairperson Eastbourne suggested giving the adopter a certain amount of time to fix it up before

the sign is taken down and the area is given to another adopter.

Naomi Rodriguez, Town Council suggested giving a shout out to the Businesses on the LBC's

Facebook page.

Chairperson Robinson said one of the employees from Robin in the Garden attended the CFS

cleanup and brought the company van. She said this was very helpful because they used the van

to haul the leaves and twigs to the transfer station with the help of one of the school's

paraprofessionals. She added that this is the kind of thing the Committee is striving for, the

community working together.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Any Other Old Business to Come before the Committee.

Chairperson Eastbourne showed one of the Holiday banners that was ordered. The banner is

made of a heavy-duty blue material with snowflakes and "Happy Holidays" both in white.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Any Other New Business to Come before the Committee.

Naomi Rodriguez, Town Council said the former Chairperson Meredith Robinson told her that

in the past a gmail account was created for the Committee. She added that Jessica Buhle said it

was turned over to Chairperson Eastbourne. The email is beautifulledyard@gmail.com. She said

to speak with Ms. Buhle about the login information.

Ms. Christensen suggested having a local business contest in the spring. A plaque could be given

to the winner.

Ms. Kohrs added that the Committee should order window decals for businesses who donate to

the LBC.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 5:26 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Kathrine Kohrs

RESULT:

MOVER:

Julie Brousseau

SECONDER: