741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Community Relations Committee For  
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman S. Naomi  
Rodriguez  
Regular Meeting  
Wednesday, October 16, 2024  
6:30 PM  
Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format  
In -Person: Council Chambers, Town Hall Annex Building  
Remote Participation: Information Noted Below:  
Join Zoom Meeting from your Computer, Smart Phone or Tablet:  
Or by Audio Only: Telephone: +1 646 558 8656; +Meeting ID: 822 0184 8075; Passcode:  
139306  
I
CALL TO ORDER  
the Meeting was called to order by Councilor Brunelle at 6:34 p.m.  
at the Annex Meeting Room - Town Hall Annex Building.  
Councilor Brunelle welcomed all to the Hybrid Meeting. She stated for the Town  
Council Community Relations Committee and members of the Public who were  
participating via video conference that the remote meeting information was available  
on the Agenda that was posted on the Town’s Website - Granicus-Insite Meeting  
Portal.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
April Brunelle  
Gary St. Vil  
Gary Paul  
Present:  
Excused:  
In addition, the following were present:  
S. Naomi Rodriguez, Town Council Chairman  
Roxanne Maher, Administrative Assistant  
III.  
IV.  
RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS  
None.  
PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
None.  
V.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
MOTION to approve the Community Relations Committee for Diversity, Equity &  
Inclusion’s Regular Meeting Minutes of September 18, 2024.  
Moved by Councilor Brunelle, seconded by Councilor St. Vil  
VOTE: 2 - 0 Approved and so declared  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
April Brunelle  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Gary St. Vil  
SECONDER:  
VI.  
OLD BUSINESS  
Continued discussion and possible action draft a schedule for Public Information Forums to  
present to residents the types of services the town offers; how to access services and the  
authority residents should direct concerns regarding services.  
1.  
Councilor Brunelle stated resident Ms. Beth Ribe attended the September 18, 2024  
Community Relations Committee for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Meeting to  
discuss her proposal for the Town Council appoint a new Governance Training  
Committee to provide training to residents regarding the structure and operation of  
local government. She also noted that Ms. Ribe provided a PowerPoint further  
outlining her ideas at the Town Council’s October 9, 2024 meeting.  
Chairman Rodriguez noted that the previous Community Relation Committees  
invited Department Heads to give a presentation regarding what their Department  
does, the services they provide, and how residents could contact them if they had  
questions. She noted as an example that Public Works Director/Town Engineer Steve  
Masalin gave a great presentation at one of the Community Relations Committee  
meetings, noting that the meeting was videotaped, and the presentation was available  
on the Town’s website. She stated in speaking with Mr. Masalin last week that he  
would like to give another presentation that would be geared toward answering a  
number of questions residents have been asking about. She stated that Mr. Masalin  
stated that although he currently did not have time to make a video, that it was  
something he would like to do in the coming months.  
Councilor St. Vil stated that Ms. Ribe presented an incredible concept and plan to  
provide information to residents about how our local government worked; and he  
noted that this Community Relations Committee for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion  
should move forward with her ideas. He stated in speaking with others that the best  
first step in this process would be to have the Department Heads present a short  
informational video that would be posted online. He questioned who would take the  
lead in organizing this effort; and whether a strawman framework should be put  
together to execute their plan.  
Chairman Rodriguez stated in speaking with Mayor Allyn, III, regarding the  
Department Heads preparing and giving a presentation about the work they do, that  
Mayor Allyn gave his blessing for Committee Chairman Brunelle to send a letter to  
all Department Heads regarding their initiative to provide information to residents  
and to request their participation to prepare and give a presentation (video) about  
their Departments; which would be posted on the towns website.  
Councilor Brunelle stated that she agreed with the approach to draft a letter to the  
Department Heads. She noted in the letter that she would like to give the Department  
Heads some options regarding how they would could provide their information such  
as:  
·
·
·
PowerPoint and/or Video;  
Video Only;  
Attend a Community Relations Committee for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion meeting to  
give their presentation in-person;  
·
·
Submit their presentation electronically to the Community Relations Committee for  
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion;  
Presentation should include a Frequently Asked Questions/Answer Component.  
Councilor Brunelle stated that she would like to see the presentations and videos  
posted somewhere online for residents to access at their convenience. She stated that  
she would send the letter out before the Community Relations Committee for Diversity,  
Equity & Inclusion’s November 20, 2024 meeting.  
Councilor St. Vil stated based on Councilor Brunelle’s comments that she would take  
the lead in coordinating this effort, including identifying an online repository for the  
presentations and videos to reside.  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
Continued discussion and possible action to identify various town venues to host “Informal  
Conversations in the Park” to engage residents in discussions regarding their concerns and  
their ideas for potential solutions  
2.  
·
Long Pond on Lantern Hill Road (Showcase the Lantern Hill Waterfront Park, (2)  
Provide some history regarding Long Pond; (3) Provide information regarding the  
importance of preventing invasive plants from being transferred from different bodies of  
water, and (3) Engage residents)  
·
Winthrop Park near the Gales Ferry Community Center (Town Council April 10, 2024  
meeting Mr. Kelly expressed concerns regarding the tennis courts, pickle ball courts, engage  
residents etc.).  
· Lantern Hill Waterfront Park (Long Pond)  
Councilor Brunelle stated that she was continuing her work to schedule an  
Outreach Event at the Lantern Hill Waterfront Park. However, she stated with the  
daylight hours getting shorter that she would work to schedule something in the  
spring, 2025.  
· Winthrop Park near the Gales Ferry Community Center - Councilor St. Vil  
stated an Informal Conversation has been scheduled for Thursday, November 7,  
2024 at 5:00 p.m. He stated that he left Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens  
Director Scott Johnson, Jr., a voice message and sent him an email; however, he  
had not heard back from Mr. Johnson yet. He questioned whether Administrative  
Assistant Roxanne Maher had spoken with Mr. Johnson. Administrative Assistant  
Roxanne Maher noted that she spoke with Mr. Johnson yesterday (10/15/1014)  
and he was comfortable with the draft letter that would be mailed to property  
owners that lived within a 1,000-foot radius of Winthrop Park. She stated the  
letters were ready for Councilor Brunelle to sign, noting that the letters would be  
mailed tomorrow and that flyers would be mailed out the last week of October.  
Councilor St. Vil noted that he would facilitate the Informal Conversation and  
would provide Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizens Director Scott Johnson, Jr., a  
platform to present the proposals regarding the construction of Pickleball Courts  
at Winthrop Park; and that they would look to receive feedback from residents.  
He suggested the Community Relations Committee for Diversity, Equity and  
Inclusion encourage members of the Town Council to also attend, noting that he  
would send an email that would include the flyer to the full Town Council about  
the November 5, 2024 Informal Conversation. He stated that he hoped it would  
be a good conversation.  
CONTINUE  
Discussion regarding ideas to increase communication/transparency with residents.  
RESULT:  
3.  
4.  
Ms. Beth Ribe, Governance Training Proposal  
Councilor Brunelle noted this item was addressed during Item #1 earlier this evening  
(see above).  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
Discuss starting a relationship with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council to help foster  
communication and mutual points of interest.  
Chairman Rodriguez stated that she has been in communication with Mashantucket  
Pequot Tribal Councilor Crystal Whipple, noting that the Tribal Council was  
interested in meeting. She also noted that Ms. Whipple stated that they would like to  
include Daniel Meehan, who was the Chairman of their Historical/Cultural  
Preservation Committee. She stated that she would continue to work to obtain some  
dates that she and Councilor St. Vil could meet with members of the Tribal Council.  
She stated that she hoped they could schedule something in November.  
Councilor St. Vil noted that November was Native American Heritage Month. He  
stated they would need to lay out the framework to facilitate a program similar to  
what they have done in the past for Black History Month. He stated it would be great  
to engage the students in a contest to recognize the contributions of Native  
Americans; especially in our community.  
Chairman Rodriguez stated that she thought the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council  
would like to see a program regarding Native American Heritage Month. However,  
she stated that she thought that they may be running out of time to facilitate the  
program noting that November was only 2 weeks away. She also stated that they  
would need to meet with School Superintendent Jason Hartling.  
Councilor Brunelle suggested if they did not have enough time to work with the  
schools, that perhaps they could work with the Library on a Native American  
Heritage Program.  
Chairman Rodriguez addressed Black History Month, and she noted the importance  
to start the program in December. She stated although this would be an earlier start  
than what they had done in previous years, that it would provide the students more  
time to research and prepare their essays and posters.  
Councilor St. Vil stated that he would like to engage the youth in their community  
noting that he would expect, especially in their education system, that there would be  
some type of recognition established through assignments or a celebration. However,  
he stated because this may be something new for their school system that perhaps  
there were others such as the Library, that this Committee could partner with and  
magnify. He noted Chairman Rodriguez’s comments, stating to facilitate a Native  
American Heritage Program that it was going to require some discussions, and he  
stated that the discussion would need to take place rather quickly.  
Chairman Rodriguez stated the next Community Relations Committee for Diversity,  
Equity, & Inclusion meeting was scheduled for November 20, 2024. Councilor  
Brunelle stated that the Committee could schedule a special meeting. Councilor St.  
Vil questioned the reason they would need to schedule a special meeting. Councilor  
Brunelle stated that they would need to go over the program and to agree on; and to  
ensure they did not have any miscommunications like they did with the Pride Month  
in June, 2024.  
MOTION for the Community Relations Committee for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion to  
support and sponsor a Ledyard School System contest or some other event in recognition of  
Native American Heritage Month, which is during the month of November.  
Moved by Councilor St. Vil, seconded by Councilor Brunelle.  
Discussion: See above.  
VOTE:  
2 - 0 Approved and so declared.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Gary St. Vil  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
April Brunelle  
SECONDER:  
2
1
Brunelle and St. Vil  
Paul  
AYE:  
EXCUSED:  
Research Community Organizations that provide Opioid and Substance Abuse Disorder,  
Recovery, and Prevention Programs relative to the use of the Opioid Settlement Funding.  
5.  
Chairman Rodriguez stated earlier this evening that the Non-Profit Community  
Speaks Out Organization presented a proposal to the Finance Committee. She noted  
that the Finance Committee forwarded a recommendation to the Town Council to  
approve an appropriation in the amount of $10,000 for Community Speaks Out to  
provide services to Ledyard. She stated the Finance Committee revised the Proposal  
as follows:  
· Remove $1,000 for the School Presentations - Fee for Guest Speakers.  
· Remove $1,000 for the Awareness Events in Community for community  
education and resources including Naloxone and drug test distribution.  
· Add $2,000 to the $8,000 for Financial Recovery Assistance to include Sober  
Living, Basic Needs, Recovery Activities and Recovery Coach Services (Total:  
$10,000).  
Chairman Rodriguez stated although the Finance Committee moved the $1,000 for  
School Presentations to the Recovery Assistance line that Community Speaks Out  
stated that if they could get into the Schools they would give their presentations  
whether they had the funding or not. She stated this item would be on the Town  
Council’s October 23, 2024 agenda.  
Chairman Rodriguez went on to note that Mr. Mike Doyle, who came with  
Community Speaks Out, also had a different Organization, stated that he would be  
submitting a proposal to provide Recovery Programs. She stated as proposals come in  
that she would have them forwarded to both the Finance Committee and the  
Community Relations Committee for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.  
CONTINUE  
RESULT:  
Any other Old Business proper to come before the Committee  
None.  
6.  
VII. NEW BUSINESS  
MOTION to set the Community Relations Committee for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion’s  
1.  
2025 Regular Meeting schedule.  
to be the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. as follows:  
Community Relations Committee ( 3rd Wednesday, Annex Building 6:30 p.m.  
January 15  
May 21  
September 17  
January 21, 2026  
February 19  
June 18  
October 15  
March 19  
July 16  
November 19  
April 16  
August 20  
December 17  
Moved by Councilor Brunelle, seconded by Councilor St. Vil  
Discussion: None.  
VOTE:  
2 - 0 Approved and so declared.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
RESULT:  
April Brunelle  
Gary St. Vil  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
2
1
Brunelle and St. Vil  
Paul  
AYE:  
EXCUSED:  
Any other New Business proper to come before the Committee.  
None.  
2.  
IV  
ADJOURNMENT  
Councilor Brunelle moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Councilor St. Vil  
VOTE: 2 - 0 Approved and so declared. The meeting was adjourned at 6:58  
p.m.  
Respectfully submitted,  
April Brunelle  
C o m m i t t e e  
Community Relations Committee  
C h a i r m a n  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.