741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Agricultural Commission

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Bruce Garstka

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex-Hybrid Format

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Garstka called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Community-at-Large Representative Michael E. Marelli

Alternate Member- Community-at-Large William Thorne

Chairman-Farming Community Bruce Garstka

Alternate Member Steve Martic

Present

Farming Community Russell Holmberg

Farming Community Allyson Angelini

Excused

Community-at-Large Representative Katie Yuhas

Town Councilor Naomi Rodriguez was also present.

William Thorne and Steve Martic were appointed as voting members.

III.

CITIZENS COMMENTS

None.

IV.

COMMENTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS

Comments of Commission members.

Mr. Marelli commented on the site walk of the Spicer Ruins on the Clarke Farm property. He

felt the walk highlighted the interests that the Agricultural, Conservation and Historical

Commissions have in preserving the parcel. Chairman Garstka, who also attended the walk

thought it was a welcome example of cooperation between the various Town Commissions.

Mr. Thorne reported that the State was requiring the Ledyard Farm’s Market Committee to

attend a mandatory seminar in order to be certified as a State recognized farmers' market and to

participate in the WIC program. Mr. Holmberg explained that farmers' markets must meet

certain guidelines in order to obtain State recognition as such. The guidelines were developed to

help benefit the agricultural and general community.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

None.

VI.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Bruce Garstka

RESULT:

MOVER:

Michael E. Marelli

SECONDER:

Marelli Thorne Garstka Martic Holmberg

Angelini Yuhas

AYE

EXCUSED

VII. CORRESPONDENCE

CT Farm Bureau April Newsletter.

CT Farm Bureau is seeking donations for their lobbying efforts at the CT State House. It was

discussed that if individuals wanted to contribute it was their decision. It was agreed that the

Commission should not be spending Town funds on this effort. Mr. Marelli suggested that a

letter should be sent to the Town’s State representatives expressing concerns of the points made

in the Farm Bureau’s newsletter.

DISCUSSED

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

RESULT:

Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission

None.

IX.

NEW BUSINESS

Assess what the Commission has already done and where to go in the future.

In assessing what the Commission has already done and where to go in the future numerous

examples of the Commission’s progress were noted.

For the future, it was suggested:

Reach out to the Town's High School’s Vocational Agricultural program and inquire if they feel

there may be areas or interest that the Commission could cooperate on.

Attend the Agricultural Commission meetings of the surrounding towns to gain ideas and new

insights.

Ask the Town to provide some members of the Agricultural Commission with ID cards to help

identify the Commission members when visiting different agricultural shareholders to meet and

speak with them.

Reach out to the general public to explain the benefits of preserving agriculture in the town.

Chairman Garstka has been invited to speak to the Ledyard Rotary Club.

Hold an informational booth at one of the Town Farmer’s markets.

Continue reaching out to the other Town Committees and Commissions.

Begin to explore local/town funding options for preserving agricultural enterprises in Ledyard.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Any Other New Business to come before the Commission

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 6:46 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Bruce Garstka

RESULT:

MOVER:

Katie Yuhas

SECONDER:

Marelli Thorne Garstka Martic Holmberg

Angelini Yuhas

AYE

EXCUSED

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

Town.