12 Van Tassel Drive  
Gales Ferry, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Parks & Recreation Commission  
Meeting Minutes - Draft Minutes  
Chairman  
Kenneth DiRico  
Regular Meeting  
Tuesday, January 17, 2023  
7:00 PM  
Parks & Recreation/Senior Citizens  
Center  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Vice Chairman English called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Parks & Recreation/Senior  
Center.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Commissioner Lucrezia Finegan  
Commissioner Jessica Cobb  
Commissioner Thomas Olsen  
Commissioner Loretta Kent  
Present  
Commissioner Shaileen C. English  
Commissioner Jessica Buhle  
Commissioner Charles Gallagher  
Commissioner Deondre Bransford  
Chairman Kenneth J. DiRico  
Excused  
In addition, the following were present:  
Scott Johnson - Parks & Recreation Director  
Gary Paul - Town Councilor  
Mike Mooney - Turf Manager  
III.  
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS  
None  
IV.  
1.  
PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
Correspondence from Mr. Brian Love - Parks & Rec/Senior Commission Merger  
Correspondence Mr. Brian Love - Baseball Complex  
2.  
Correspondence - Cooper Lighting customer confirmation letter  
3.  
V.  
MEMBER COMMENTS  
None  
VI.  
1.  
REPORTS  
Director’s Report  
Director Scott Johnson gave an update on the outstanding Football water bill. Director Johnson  
was able to allocate $6000 to pay the outstanding water bill. Chad Ghallagher asked on behalf  
of the Football League to be kept in the loop.  
Year End Turf Management Report  
2.  
Mr. Mooney reviewed the condition of the filed and the need for properly repairing the field.  
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Administration Committee Special Meeting Minutes  
of December 20, 2022 and the Parks & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of  
December 20, 2022.  
1.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Loretta Kent  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Jessica Buhle  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English Buhle Gallagher Bransford  
DiRico  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
VIII. OLD BUSINESS  
Boy Scout Skate Park Project Proposal  
1.  
No Update  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
Discuss CIP Projects  
3.  
The CIP (Capitol Improvement Projects) were presented by Director Scott Johnson. Mr.  
Johnson discussed the new Lantern Hill Valley Park (proposed name). Improvements to the  
park will include a pavillion/pad, 2 picnic tables, boat launch, etc... The new boat launch will  
offer the only public access to Bushy Pond.  
Motion to approve the CIP (Capitol Improvement Projects) as presented by Director Scott  
Johnson.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Charles Gallagher  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Lucrezia Finegan  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English Buhle Gallagher Bransford  
DiRico  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Any Old Business proper to come before the Commission  
None  
XI.  
1.  
NEW BUSINESS  
Motion to approve the Parks & Recreation FY2024 General Fund Budget.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Charles Gallagher  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Lucrezia Finegan  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English Buhle Gallagher Bransford  
DiRico  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Discussion and possible Motion to renew the Grass Cutting and Trimming contract for 2 years.  
Motion to renew the Grass Cutting/Trimming contract for two years.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Jessica Buhle  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Charles Gallagher  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English Buhle Gallagher Bransford  
DiRico  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Discussion and possible Motion to renew the Routine Maintenance contract for 2 years.  
Motion to renew the Routine Maintenance contract for two years.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Jessica Buhle  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Deondre Bransford  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English Buhle Gallagher Bransford  
DiRico  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Discussion and possible Motion to renew the Turf Management Services contract for 2 years.  
Motion to renew the Turf Management contract for two years.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Thomas Olsen  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Loretta Kent  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English Buhle Gallagher Bransford  
DiRico  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Review and provide input on the Administration Committees draft ordinance to combine the  
Parks & Recreation Commission and Senior Citizens Commission.  
The new changes were discussed and no changes were identified. Commissioners will send  
proposed changes to Director Scott Johnson by January 25, 2023.  
Any New Business proper to come before the Commission  
Parks & Recreation Subcommittee Assignments  
6.  
Motion to approve Facilities and Administration Parks & Recreation Sub-Committee  
assignments for 2023.  
Facilities Sub-Committee  
Kenneth DiRico  
Charles Gallagher (is this Chad?)  
Deondre Bransford  
Tom Olsen  
Shaileen English  
Administration Sub-Committee  
Kenneth DiRico  
Lucrezia Finegan  
Jessica Cobb  
Loretta Kent  
Jessica Buhle  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Thomas Olsen  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Loretta Kent  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English Buhle Gallagher Bransford  
DiRico  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Motion for Parks & Recreation Director Scott Johnson to submit to the office of the Town  
Clerk that the Parks & Recreation Facilities and Administration Sub-Committees will meet  
as needed.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Loretta Kent  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Jessica Buhle  
SECONDER:  
8
1
Finegan Cobb Olsen Kent English Buhle Gallagher Bransford  
DiRico  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
Pollinator Garden Discussion  
7.  
8.  
A Pollinator Garden for Saw Mill Park or another location was proposed. Ideas for  
additional locations for Pollinator Gardens requested.  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
Judge Crandall Field Goal Posts  
The Field Goal Posts at Crandall Field will be removed when the field is accessible to the  
equipment.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
X.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Mr. Olsen moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Mr. Gallagher.  
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.  
VOTE: 8-0 Approved and so declared  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.