December 2025 Meeting Minutes
Lake Garda Improvement Association
Board Meeting Minutes: December 9, 2025
7:00 pm Farmington Senior Center
Board Members:
Present: R. Frey, S. Manafort, C. Scully, M Duchow, L. Gezelman, C. Castrogiovanni, J. McNeill, R. Cyr
Absent: P. Anthony, A.J. Singh, J. Cragin
Quorum present? Yes
Proceedings:
- Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm by President, L. Gezelman
- Board President LG called for items of new business.
- Motion to approve the meeting minutes motion by S. Manafort, second C. Castrogiovanni – motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report – Report presented by L. Gezelman and will be placed on record.
Tax Collector Report: M. Duchow presented the tax collectors report which will be placed on record. He also reported that 38 liens were placed in 2025 up from 30 liens in 2024. He also reported that 50 East Shore Blvd will be auctioned by bank lien holder. Seventeen accounts are currently in the hands of our collection lawyer. He also noted the CT Office of Policy and Management put out a Best Practice for Special Tax Districts manual.
Lake Report: President L. Gezelman presented preliminary figures for control of lake erosion which included 9,000 to 10,000 for engineer and to coordinate with town(s) inland wetlands regulations. LGIA will also need surveys and soil tests. Additional costs of 25,000 to 30,000 in prep costs. L. Gezelman suggested the board look into grants to help cover the cost of necessary erosion control. Other board members suggested we solicit more quotes for comparison.
Event Committee Report: A Carol sing to be held on December 20, 2025
Old Business:
R. Cyr provided a trail update – 4 new trail markers and additional round blue markers were added to the trails. Next year, the trail upgrades will move to 8 acres.
New Business:
Idle Lane property owner demolished the blighted property.
Public Comment:
LGIA member asked about the need for a silt fence on the hill on Lake St. where the trees were taken down and a garage will be built. Member also asked about a silt fence above the Lake St. property with a pool as there is a concern among members around erosion potentially running into the lake now that there are literally no trees to prevent soil from washing down the hill.
Another concern was expressed by LGIA members that two trees were cut down by accident by the tree company and that an association Birch tree was damaged by Battistoni Beach. The board approved two dead trees to be removed at Battistoni.
A member mentioned that kids were throwing rocks into the lake.
Another member mentioned a drain located in from of his house by Children’s Beach needs maintenance and oversight. He paid to have the drain cleaned recently, member asked LGIA to follow-up on drain maintenance.
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 by R. Cyr- Motion passed.
Board President called for an Executive Session at 8:07 pm.
No written minutes were taken at the Executive Session.
Motion to adjourn the Executive Session by S. Manafort at 9:29 pm seconded by C. Castrogiovanni
Respectively submitted by C. Scully filling in for P. Anthony