Ledyard Town Council held a regular meeting on 1/26/22. During the meeting, the following notable things occurred.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO FROM THIS MEETING: Community Input/Commissions & Committees: Nate Woody spoke to the Council regarding Hilary Evans' proposed re-appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission. He said, "While there can be robust discussion about how to address [racial bias in zoning], the history of explicit and implicit racism in zoning remains fact. I'm sorry if this history upsets [Councilor] Ingalls, but the zoning commission in town can only do better if we know our history. ...Only by knowing this history can the Planning and Zoning Commission do better for all residents. To disqualify nominees because they are knowledgeable of the history of zoning and the need for affordable housing is to handicap the commission." Click here to watch Mr. Woody speak. Nicole Cruz-Glacken spoke to the council to express her concern about a resident who applied to the G.F. Fire Department who had posted "deeply troubling" posts on Facebook (More information in the Day). "If all the councilors here do indeed have the people's best interest at heart, I would think it would be an easy task to say that you denounce these sentiments and that you do not agree with them, and that someone who expresses the things that he has expressed has no place serving our community in any capacity." Click here to watch Ms. Cruz-Glacken speak. If you are interested in knowing when meetings are, you can look them up here! Major Council Actions: The Council set a date for a public hearing on 3 proposed Ordinances: Wed., 2/23, 6:30pm.
The Council voted to appropriate $43k of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Ledge Light Health District to help the District pay COVID-19-related costs. Mayor's Report:
Procedure notes: If the Council wants to make or amend an Ordinance, they have to have a Public Hearing and give the town a chance to provide input/feedback on it (Charter, Chapter III, Section 5). Also, once every 10 years, the town has to make new voting districts after the new Legislative maps are published. Altering or establishing voting district lines also requires an Ordinance (Charter, Chapter II, Section 8). That's why you see that "Proposed New" Ordinance - they don't have any record of the one published 10 years ago, so they are starting again from scratch. ![]() P&Z alternate appointment in Ledyard becomes controversial Read the full article at: https://www.theday.com/local-news/20220118/pampz-alternate-appointment-in-ledyard-becomes-controversial "In meetings last Wednesday, current commission Chairman Tony Capon and member Nate Woody voiced support for Evans. Woody announced his resignation from the commission in the public comment portion of last Wednesday's Town Council meeting, out of disgust with some councilors' statements. "This council has decided to slander someone who has done nothing but work hard for this town and dedicated hours of service to this town. You've achieved a new low," Woody said. He announced his resignation and concluded, "So there's another vacancy on the Planning and Zoning Commission, and I encourage Ms. Evans to apply again. Make this council suffer through another round of embarrassment of refusing to approve a qualified nominee." He said between the way the council "railroaded" Cruz-Glacken over the summer and now the issue with Evans, the council "appears to have a problem with women who have opinions." ...Woody said in his resignation letter, "As a zoning commissioner, it is alarming that the well-established fact that zoning can be and has been used as a tool of discrimination is controversial to the town council. I simply cannot watch a fellow commissioner be treated so poorly and I have no interest or ability to participate in the politicization of the Ledyard PZC." Capon echoed Woody's comments. "We have people who are dedicated volunteers, and Hilary is one of them," he said. "If we start politicizing our boards and commissions, we're going to find that the kind of people that we want on our boards and commissions will simply not serve, and the people who do serve will be people who have personal agendas that motivate them." If you would like to see these discussions for yourself or for more information: To watch the full January 12, 2022 Town Council Meeting video, it is available here: https://townledyard.civicweb.net/document/89518?splitscreen=true&media=true The January 12, 2022 Town Council Admin Meeting Video is also a must watch and will help provide context for what occurred in the subsequent Town Council meeting: https://townledyard.civicweb.net/document/89507?splitscreen=true&media=true From State Representative Christine Conley and Senator Cathy Osten:
The Department of Transportation has announced a project to upgrade traffic signals at various locations across the state. Construction for these projects is scheduled to begin in April 2022. Ledyard will receive upgrades at the following locations (also see image): Ledyard-Route 12 at Military Highway & Shopping Center Drive (Intersection No. 071-205) Ledyard-Route 12 at Hurlbutt Road & Shopping Center Drive (Intersection No. 071-228) The community input from the recent Town Council meeting is a MUST WATCH. This week's TC Admin meeting and Board of Education meeting are also chock full of important information.
Stay informed of town news and the decisions being made by town leaders by watching any one or more of this week's meeting videos! To watch the full Town Council Meeting video, it is available here: https://townledyard.civicweb.net/document/89518?splitscreen=true&media=true The recent Town Council Admin Meeting Video is also a must watch and will help provide context for what occurred in the subsequent Town Council meeting: https://townledyard.civicweb.net/document/89507?splitscreen=true&media=true Wednesday's Board of Education meeting featured Supt. Hartling presenting the proposed school budget for next year. WATCH: (Mr. Hartling starts his budget presentation at minute 52) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F11nx8PcHXgdKgJwTdt7ZpCuBK64eoqJ/view?usp=drivesdk Please be sure to watch at the 1 hr. 1 minute mark, when Mr. Hartling shows how our district's funding compares to our neighboring funding. See image. **The BOE is still accepting input on this budget. Send your input, ideas, and thoughts to: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], AND [email protected]. |