Ledyard council approves social‑services coordinator job, committee appointments and several small appropriations

At its May 27 meeting the Ledyard Town Council approved personnel, appointment and finance items across several agenda sections.

Personnel and appointments

The council voted 7–0 to approve a proposed part‑time Social Services Coordinator (8–12 hours per week) after HR Director Christine Diaz described duties including serving as the municipal agent for older adults (statutorily required), coordinating the food pantry, seasonal programs, Meals on Wheels and partnerships with LICEF. Diaz said the age threshold in the job description should read 55+, and the council discussed standard physical‑ability boilerplate and ADA accommodations.

The council also approved a slate of committee and commission appointments by roll call, including: David Kruskalski to the retirement board (term to 01/20/2029); members to an ad hoc committee to evaluate separation of planning and zoning; and alternate and regular members to the historic district and farmers market committees. Recorded votes on those appointments were unanimous where called (7–0).

Finance and other votes

The council authorized up to $7,000 from the town’s open‑space account (2190305) to support an invasive‑species (hydrilla) study for Long Pond and Bush Pond. Presenters said the total predictable public cost for the anti‑hydrilla effort over two years would be about $19,000, that other Connecticut lakes spending hundreds of thousands to control hydrilla offers a cautionary example, and that a certified limnologist’s study is required by state authorities before treatment options can be pursued.

The council also authorized the mayor to enter a listing agreement to put 89 Town Farm Road — an 8.2‑acre parcel primarily in wetlands/floodplain and zoned R‑60 — on the market. Members discussed wetlands constraints and confirmed the parcel is upstream of the WPCA facility.

Statutory compliance and transfers

Following recent state guidance, the council established a new Board of Education non‑lapsing fund as required by statute and voted 7–0 to transfer the BOE’s audited FY24–25 surplus of $212,031 into that new fund. Separately the council moved $19,943 in Eversource reimbursement from undesignated fund balance to the BOE’s capital nonrecurring account; that motion also passed 7–0.

Votes at a glance

- Social Services Coordinator job description (draft 05/05/2026): approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Janet Barnett Pavilion dedication: approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Paula Crocker Fitness Center dedication: approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Appointments to ad hoc committees, retirement board, historic district commission and farmers market committee: approved by roll call, 7–0 (where recorded).
- Up to $7,000 for Long Pond/Bush Pond invasive‑species study (account 2190305): approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Authorization to list 89 Town Farm Road for sale: approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Create BOE non‑lapsing fund and transfer $212,031 audited surplus: approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Transfer $19,943 Eversource reimbursement to BOE capital nonrecurring: approved by roll call, 7–0.

The meeting ended after a brief discussion of the summer meeting schedule; the council agreed by consensus to condense summer meetings while allowing committee timelines to proceed.