LEDYARD TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER WILL STEP DOWN FOR NATIONAL GUARD DUTY

Ledyard — Wednesday’s Town Council meeting was the last for a Republican member soon to be deployed for duty as a National Guard chaplain.

Steve Eichelberg, a minister who also is a software engineer at Sonalysts, who is serving his fourth term on the council, said Wednesday that he will leave with a National Guard unit next month for up to a year, and announced recently that he would vacate his seat on the council.

“It doesn’t make sense for me to maintain the seat when they can put somebody on there,” he said Wednesday.

Eichelberg, first elected in 2011, said he has enjoyed his time on the council. “Linda (Davis) has been a terrific chair and I am confident that the town is in good hands,” he said.

Eichelberg said he plans to return to Ledyard when his deployment is over but said he’s not sure whether he will run again for office.

“Maybe I’ll run again, maybe I won’t,” he said.

Eichelberg’s resignation from the Town Council goes into effect Aug. 30. Republican Town Committee Chairman John Rodolico said the committee is seeking possible nominees to serve the remainder of Eichelberg’s twoyear term, which ends in November 2019. The Town Council then will appoint a replacement.

“We certainly would like to do that as soon as possible,” Rodolico said. Eichelberg’s departure leaves a hole on the council’s crucial Administration Committee that town leaders would like to fill quickly in advance of budget planning meetings for the 2020 fiscal year.

The Republican Town Committee is hoping to find someone to nominate among people who are active in town politics, or one of the 38 members of the committee, Rodolico said.

“There are people out there who have served in the past on the council, there are people who are on other committees or commissions and might want to step up,” he said. the ramp, which remains open to canoes and kayaks.

The town closed the ramp to trailered boats in July after a section of the asphalt ramp washed away and a boater suffered a twisted ankle. The town’s insurance company recommended the town close the ramp to trailered boats until repairs are made. Jersey barriers have been placed at the ramp to prevent trailer access.

Town officials said it will take until next year to complete the study, permits and actual work.

Town Engineer Scot Deledda said Wednesday the existing asphalt ramp will need to be replaced with another material, such as concrete blocks. He said the town’s Highway Department has the capability to do the actual work but that will depend on what other projects it has to complete.

“We want to keep the ramp safe,” First Selectman Rob Simmons said. “We don’t want to have an injury that painful to an individual and their family, and to the town.” by retail stores, and straws and takeout containers used by restaurants.

First Selectman Rob Simmons told the members that he will convene their first meeting within the next seven to 10 days, at which time they will elect a chairman and secretary. They then will have 90 days to submit a report to the Board of Selectmen.

The members are Thaler Hefel of Clean Up Sound and Harbors, Moira Daisey of the Mystic Chamber of Commerce, Beth Markowski-Roop from the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, Water Street Cafe co-owner Stephanie Hayes-Houlihan and residents Farrah Kaeser, Erika Lebling, Jason Hine and alternate Don Kluberdanz. Selectmen still have to appoint three more alternate members.

Simmons said members may want to travel to some of the towns in Rhode Island that have implemented bans. He recommended that they talk with members of the business and environmental community to come up with recommendations that are achievable.

The selectmen formed the task force after receiving requests from residents Stuart Schwartzstein and Ben Philbrick to create a committee to best determine how to deal with the problem of plastic pollution in town waters.

Edward Hill, 76, of Shrewsbury, Mass., was charged Monday with first-degree criminal trespass.