741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Conservation Commission  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman  
Mike Marelli  
Regular Meeting  
Tuesday, March 12, 2024  
6:30 PM  
Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format  
I.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The Regular Meeting was called to order by acting Chairman James Harwood at 6:48 p.m.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Commissioner James Harwood  
Commissioner David Holdridge  
Commissioner Kathleen Edgecomb  
Commissioner Betsy Graham  
Commissioner Barbara Kil  
Present  
Commissioner Roberta Levandoski  
Commissioner Michael E. Marelli  
Excused  
III.  
1.  
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from February 13, 2024, as written.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
Kathleen Edgecomb  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Betsy Graham  
SECONDER:  
5
2
Harwood Holdridge Edgecomb Graham Kil  
Levandoski Marelli  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
IV.  
1.  
CORRESPONDENCE  
Correspondence.  
None.  
V.  
1.  
PUBLIC COMMENTS  
Public Comments.  
Resident David Cohen of 100 Whalehead Road was present.  
Mr. Cohen, whose property abuts Glacier Park, asked if the Commission can put up some signs  
to prevent hikers from trespassing on his property. A sign behind the bench along the trail would  
be helpful. He said the trail is marked but since his house is close to the trail, people wander onto  
his property. The Commission agreed that putting up "private property" signs along the property  
line would be appropriate. Mr. Cohen's phone number and email will be passed along to  
Chairman Marelli for further action.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
VI.  
1.  
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS  
Informational Items.  
1. Riparian buffers - Chairman Marelli began researching and drawing up a proposal to pass an  
ordinance/zoning regulation for riparian buffers on all the Town's inland wetland waterways to  
be presented to Town Commissions. Chairman Marelli discussed this subject with Juliet Hodge,  
Town Planner and the Mayor Fred Allyn III, both are in favor.  
2. Chairman Marelli attended the Mystic River Watershed Alliance meeting on February 22,  
2024. Betsy Graham also attended and reported that the Alliance is looking for students to  
participate in co-designing solutions to problems along the watershed. Ms. Kil said she will  
contact someone at the Ledyard HS Agricultural Department.  
3. Chairman Marelli attended the Connecticut Sea Grant Program for sustainable and resilient  
communities funding workshop at UConn Avery Point campus in Groton on March 7, 2024. He  
spoke with CT DEEP representatives concerning potential grant opportunities for the future.  
4. Funding ideas, including a possible timber harvest was discussed with the Mayor.  
5. Chairman Marelli is researching professional foresters and invasive plant removal companies  
for Burton Property, including possible grants. He has still not heard back from the State  
Forester. The Commission is expecting a written report soon.  
6. Should the Commission contribute to the Connecticut Land Conservation Council? The  
Commission has supported the group in the past but last year did not make a contribution, which  
was an oversight. All agreed to contribute and Support the Council.  
ACTION ITEM:  
Vote on an amount to contribute to the Land Conservation Council during the April meeting.  
DISCUSSED  
VII. OLD BUSINESS  
RESULT:  
Property Walks.  
No comments.  
1.  
2.  
3.  
Financial Reports.  
No comments.  
Pollinator Pathways Project continued.  
Chairman Marelli met with Scott Johnson, Parks and Recreation Director, who will speak with  
Public Works to ask them to look at the Highland Lake Park drainage situation. Parks and  
Recreation is short staffed and that prevented the completion of plans for the Bush Pond project.  
The draft plan addressed to various Commissions will be submitted for approval. Planting the  
riparian buffer should be started soon. Chairman Marelli offered the Commission to help with  
planting. Parks and Recreation will ask the Rotary Club for help tending to the gardens.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
Field clearing at White-Hall Property.  
4.  
Chairman Marelli asked the Mayor if he knew anyone with a brush hog to work on the fields.  
Rocky's Landscaping said he has some options in mind, trying to set up a meeting to discuss.  
Maggie Jones will complete her report on White-Hall by the end of March. She also asked if the  
Commission could get a group together within the next couple weeks to clear back trails. Mr.  
Harwood reported that the trails are mostly clear with only a few sections with overhanging  
brush.  
DISCUSSED  
RESULT:  
Areas of interest and goals for 2024 continued.  
No comments.  
5.  
6.  
Request for Budget item continued.  
Funding for boat inspections - Ms. Graham made a presentation to the Town Council to request  
funding for a pilot program to monitor invasive species at the Town's boat launches. The  
Council said the program would need to be managed and suggested the Conservation  
Commission as a manager. It was referred to the Mayor and Matt Bonin, Finance Director, for  
further discussion. Ms. Graham said if the Commission decides to take on the program, she  
suggested hiring a temp service to manage hiring, payroll for employees, etc. The program  
would also include volunteers.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
RESULT:  
Any Other Old Business to come before the Commission.  
7.  
40 Barton Lane - the Mayor said he is contacting all parties so crossing ROW to access the trails  
will be permitted. No trespassing signs are removed.  
VIII. NEW BUSINESS  
Any Other New Business to come before the Commission.  
1.  
None.  
IX.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 7:41 p.m.  
APPROVED AND SO DECLARED  
David Holdridge  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Barbara Kil  
SECONDER:  
5
2
Harwood Holdridge Edgecomb Graham Kil  
Levandoski Marelli  
AYE  
EXCUSED  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.