Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 08/07/2023

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
MINUTES
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING
Regular Meeting
August 7, 2023
Moderator Paul Goldstein called the August 7, 2023 Regular Meeting of the Representative Town
Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Michael Bono, Jennifer Bracciale, Mary Childs, Harry Colonis, Timothy Condon, Thomas J.
Dembek, Susan Driscoll, Timothy Fioravanti (7:25), Steve Garvin, Nick Gauthier, Kevin Girard, Paul
Goldstein, Kristin Gonzalez, Ryan Healy, Lindsay Khan, Jennifer Kohl, Cheryl Larder, Theodore Olynciw,
Dan Radin, Michael Rocchetti, Danielle Steward-Gelinas, David Sugrue, David Welch
ABSENT: Kyrah Augmon Bossa, Richard Holmes
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: First Selectman Robert J. Brule, Selectman Richard Muckle, Chair of the
Board of Education Pat Fedor
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair of the Board of Finance Glenn Patterson
ALSO PRESENT: Town Clerk David L. Campo, Town Attorney Robert Avena, and Finance Director Kim
Allen
AGENDA ITEM C — June 5, 2023 Regular and June 22, 2023 Special Meeting Minutes
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Bracciale, to approve the June 5, 2023 and the June 22, 2023
Minutes as presented.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
AGENDA ITEM D - CORRESPONDENCE:
The following items were received for correspondence: American Rescue Funds Quarterly Report,
Capital Project Quarterly report, a letter requesting the acceptance of a contributed gift from Finance
Director Kim Allen. Recommendations from the Republican Town Committee for the Ethics Commission
and Police Commission vacancies. Recommendations from the Democratic Town Committee for the
Police Commission vacancy. Letter of interest, resume, and written public comment from Christopher
Jones and Christopher Gamble. A committee report from Public Health, Recreation and Environment
Standing Committee Chair Michael Bono. An item in regard to vacant properties and a project status
report on the Oswegatchie Fire House Building Committee from RTM Member Ted Olynciw.
1 RTM MINUTES 08/07/2023

PUBLIC COMMENT
Police Commission Member Christopher Gamble spoke in regard to his desire to be appointed to the
Police Commission. (See Attachment)
Christopher Jones submitted a letter of Public Comment in regard to his desire to be appointed to the
Police Commission. (See Attachment)
AGENDA ITEM F — COMMITTEE REPORTS AND REFERRALS
It was noted that a committee report was received from Public Health, Recreation and Environment and
could be addressed in New Business. (See Attachment}
CALL ITEM 1 — Community Center Building Management Upgrade
PRESENTATION: Director of Public Works Gary Schneider
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Bono, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance for an appropriation in the amount of $300,000 from the Unassigned Fund Balance of the
General Fund for a new Capital Non-Recurring Project (account to be determined) for Community
Center Building Management System (BMS) Upgrades.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
MOTION by Olynciw, seconded by Gonzalez, to waive the 15 day waiting period.
MOTION PASSED: 21-2-0 (Larder, Radin voted against)
CALL ITEM 2 — Telephone System Upgrade
PRESENTATION: Directors of Information Technology, Mark Geer (BOE) and Jeffrey Robillard (Town)
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Dembek, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance for an additional appropriation in the amount of $581,700 from the CNR Undesignated Fund
Balance Line #205-31520 to Capital Non-Recurring Project Line #20547-57860 (Telephone System
Upgrade).
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
MOTION by Bono, seconded by Condon, to waive the 15 day waiting period.
MOTION PASSED: 21-2-0 (Larder, Radin voted against)
CALL ITEM 3 - Town-Wide Camera System
PRESENTATION: Director of information Technology Jeffrey Robillard.
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Rocchetti, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance for an appropriation in the amount of $84,914 from Capital and Non-Recurring Project Line
#20547-57847 (Town-Wide Camera System).
MOTION PASSED: 22-1-0 (Larder against)
CALL ITEM 4 — Fiber Upgrade
PRESENTATION: Director of information Technology Jeffrey Robillard.
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Dembek, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance for an appropriation in the amount of $1,126 from Capital and Non-Recurring Project Line
#20547-57846 (Fiber Upgrade}.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
2 RTM MINUTES 08/07/2023

CALL ITEM 5 — Curb Replacement/Sandy Hollow Drive
PRESENTATION: Director of Public Works Gary Schneider
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Dembek, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance for an additional appropriation in the amount of $100,000 from the Unassigned Fund Balance
of the General Fund to Line #33023-55901 (Curb replacement/Sandy Hollow Road).
A friendly amendment was requested by Gauthier, and accepted to change “Road” to “Drive”.
MOTION PASSED: 22-1-0 (Larder against)
CALL ITEM 6 — Town Hall Bathroom Renovations
PRESENTATION: Director of Public Works Gary Schneider
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Rocchetti, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance for an appropriation in the amount of $180,000 from the CNR Undesignated Fund Balance Line
#205-31520 to Capital Non-Recurring Project Line #20511-57879 (Town Hall Bathroom renovations)
MOTION by Larder, seconded by Rocchetti, to reduce the request by $55,000 for a new total of
$125,000.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
ORIGINAL MOTION WITH AMENDMENT
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Steward-Gelinas, to waive the 15 day waiting period.
MOTION PASSED: 22-1-0 (Larder voted against)
CALL ITEM 7 — Plastic Water Service Connections
PRESENTATION: Director of the Utility Commission James Bartelli
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Bono, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance for an additional appropriation in the amount of $181,300 from the CNR Undesignated Fund
Balance Line #205-31520 to Capital Non-Recurring Project Line #20531-57881 (Plastic water Service
Connections).
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 8 ~ Old Norwich Road Paving
PRESENTATION: Director of Public Works Gary Schneider, Director of the Utility Commission James
Bartelli
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Dembek, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance for an appropriation in the amount of $1,053,000 for a new Capital Non-Recurring Project
{number to be determined), Old Norwich Road Paving from the Unassigned Fund Balance of the
General Fund.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 9 — Ethics Commission Appointment
NOMINATION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Rocchetti, to appoint Alan Messier, 63 Colonial Drive, as
a Regular Member of the Ethics Commission. (Term 02/07/2022 ~ 02/05/2024}
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
MESSIER appointed to the Ethics Commission.
3. RTM MINUTES 08/07/2023

CALL ITEM 10 ~ Police Commission
NOMINATION by Rocchetti, seconded by Bracciale, to appoint Christopher Jones, 14 Twin Lakes Drive, as
a member of the Police Commission. (Term 08/07/2023 - 08/02/2027)
NOMINATION by Bono, seconded by Radin, to reappoint Christopher Gamble, 18 Cottage Lane, as a
member of the Police Commission(Term 08/07/2023 ~ 08/02/2026)
VOTING IN FAVOR of JONES: Bracciale, Colonis, Condon, Dembek, Garvin, Girard, Goldstein, Rocchetti,
Steward-Gelinas, Sugrue
VOTING AGAINST JONES: Bono, Childs, Driscoll, Fioravanti, Gauthier, Gonzalez, Healy, Khan, Kohl,
Larder, Olynciw, Radin, Welch
JONES failed to get Majority
VOTING IN FAVOR OF GAMBLE: Bono, Childs, Condon, Driscoll, Fioravanti, Gauthier, Girard, Gonzalez,
Healy, Khan, Kohl, Larder, Olynciw, Radin, Sugrue, Welch
VOTING AGAINST GAMBLE: Bracciale, Colonis, Dembek, Garvin, Goldstein, Rocchetti, Steward-Gelinas
GAMBLE appointed to the Police Commission.
NOMINATION by Gauthier, seconded by Larder, to appoint James Dimmock, 10 Old Barry Road, as a
member of the Police Commission. (Term 08/07/2023 — 08/02/2027)
VOTING IN FAVOR OF DIMMOCK: Bono, Childs, Driscoll, Fioravanti, Gauthier, Girard, Gonzalez, Healy,
Khan, Kohl, Larder, Olynciw, Radin, Welch
VOTING AGAINST DIMMOCK: Bracciale, Colonis, Condon, Dembek, Garvin, Goldstein, Rocchetti,
Steward-Gelinas, Sugrue
DIMMOCK appointed to the Police Commission.
NEW BUSINESS:
MOTION by Dembek, seconded by Rocchetti, to add to the agenda a request from Finance Director Kim
Allen to deposit a check for $15,000 from the Gardiner Family Foundation to be used for Town of
Waterford’s Children Support Services.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
MOTION by Dembek, seconded by Rocchetti, to approve a request from Finance Director Kim Allen to
deposit a check for $15,000 from the Gardiner Family Foundation to be used for Town of Waterford’s
Children Support Services.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
Representative Condon noted that the body has still not received the steering document and strategic
plan from the Fire Services Review Special Committee that outlines procedures, staffing, performance
and any findings/recommendations that will enhance public safety in regard to fire services. This was
part of the committee’s original charge. The decision to approve an Oswegatchie Fire Station Building
Committee was facilitated by the fact that this report would be provided.
Representative Dembek informed the body that he had information in response to Olynciw’s report (See
attachment) and would forward that to him.
4 RTM MINUTES 08/07/2023

Representative Bono, Chair of the Public Health, Recreation and Environment Standing Committee,
noted that due to time restraints he would introduce his committee’s findings at the October Meeting of
the RTM.
Representative Olynciw will to discuss his concerns over town owned vacant properties at the October
Meeting of the RTM.
MOTION by Rocchetti, seconded by Colonis, to adjourn passed unanimously at 9:23 P.M.
jam Submitted,
avid L. Campo, CCTC
Town Clerk
5 RTM MINUTES 08/07/2023

Public Input for Monday August 7, 2023 RTM meeting
August 6, 2023
To the Waterford Representative Town Meeting:
The purpose of this letter is to express my interest in reappointment to the position of
police commissioner on Waterford’s Board of Police Commission. | have served in this capacity
since October of 2020. | appreciate and value the opportunity to sit on this commission and
hope to continue my service. If reappointed | will continue to act objectively and fairly. My
decisions will continue to be based on facts and | will continue to listen to and be open to the
thoughts and ideas of the other police commissioners and the police chief and his support staff.
Ultimately my voting record will be indicative of what | believe is in the best interest of the
citizens of Waterford and the staff and personnel of the Waterford Police Department.
Sincerely,
Christopher M. Gamble

CHRISTOPHER R. JONES
August 7, 2023
RTM Meeting
Good afternoon, members of the RTM.
I am cutrently on vacation and regrettably cannot deliver my public comment to you in person.
I respectfully request your endorsement for the Republican Police Commission position. My
experience on various local boards and my activity within the Waterford community make me the
best fit for this position, and I ask that you consider my request.
Waterford has been my home since 1987. I have been a long-standing member of the Jordan Fire
Department, served on the Waterford Week Committee, and was elected to the Board of Education
in 2016. I am a member of several local boards that impact Waterford citizens, like the Juvenile
Review Boatd.
Words cannot express the passion I have to be named to the Waterford Police Commission. As an
African American man, I feel it is vital to have a commission that includes someone with the skillset,
experience, education, and love for our community that I have. It is also critical to have a diverse
commission; gender, skin color, age, skill sets, and previous board experience ate all important
qualities to look for when comprising a board. The current board doesn’t offer a lot of diversity, and
my ptesence on it is a step in the right direction.
Because the Police Commission is a civilian oversight board, my qualifications make me an asset. I’ve
worked hard while serving on many boards to create transparency and accountability procedures. I
strongly believe in taking care of people, including offering mental health, finance, and education
suppott as needed. My greatest strength is my ability to work with all people in a bipartisan and
collegiate manner. Judgments made by me are based on facts and evidence. I do my research, and I
look out for the greater best interest.
I understand I will need to resign as a member of the Board of Education if appointed to the Police
Commission. Please know I’ve attended 97% of the Waterford BOE meetings and 95% of the
Juvenile Review Board meetings while serving. It is tare for me to miss meetings, and I take my roles
quite seriously. I’ve enjoyed my time as a BOE member, especially the initiative to reduce energy
costs in all school buildings. However, I am seeking a new opportunity to use my skill set and
knowledge to better our community.
Your support for me as the Republican Police Commission member is greatly appreciated. I hope
you'll refer to my tesume and cover letter for specifics about my qualifications. Thank you for your
time.
PO BOX 498
WATERFORD, CONNECTICUT 06385
860-625-4311
CRFROGG@GMAIL.COM

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
PHONE: 860-442-0553
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
www.waterfordct.org
PUBLIC HEALTH, RECREATION AND ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE
RTM COMMITTEE REPORT
Review of the Noise Ordinance (Chapter 9.06 — Noise Control), rtc 10/4/2022
Background
At the RTM Regular Meeting on October 4, 2022 following public comment and discussion The
RTM voted unanimously to refer the review of the Noise Ordinance (Chapter 9.06 — Noise
Control) to the Public Health Recreation & Environment Standing Committee of the RTM
Summary
This committee met February 22, 2022, June 30, 2022, August 30, 2022, January 30, 2023 and
July 12, 2023. The committee met to discuss goals and objectives at its February 22, 2022
meeting. The committee tasked the town attorney at its June 30, 2022 meeting with research
related to those goals and objectives. The town attorney presented research to the committee at
the August 30, 2022 meeting. At the January 30, 2023 meeting the committee heard input from
the Town Attorney and the Chief of Police. The Committee decided that making the ordinance
more enforceable may be too restrictive to residents and businesses. The committee then
tasked the Chair with drafting a letter to be sent from the RTM to Planning and Zoning to
address residents’ concerns. On July 12, 2023 the committee reviewed and amended the
Chair's letters for consideration of the body.
Recommendation
At the July 12, 2023 meeting the committee unanimously recommended the issue out of
committee with no action taken to ordinance, but recommended the RTM forward the attached
letter to Planning and Zoning.
Attachments
Minutes and supporting documents available online and/or by request.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Bono
Committee Chair
er)

July 12, 2023
To: Mr. Paul Goldstein, Moderator RTM
At the RTM Regular Meeting on October 4, 2021 following public comment and discussion The
RTM voted unanimously to refer the review of the Noise Ordinance (Chapter 9.06 — Noise
Control) to the Public Health Recreation & Environment Standing Committee of the RTM. The
standing committee convened four times since receiving its charge. After considerable research
and deliberation the consensus of the Public Health, Recreation and Environment standing
committee of the RTM is that creating a more enforceable ordinance may be too restrictive to
residents and businesses.
Residents expressed through counsel at the January 30, 2023 Public Health, Recreation and
Environment Standing Committee meeting, that the remedy to their concern best be addressed
through the Planning and Zoning Commission and not through ordinance. Thus, the Standing
Committee recommends the RTM asks the Planning and Zoning Commission to review its
process of issuing special permits to address the potential confluence of residential and
commercial zones. Please see attached letter the Committee recommends for the RTM to
forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Bono
Chair Public Health, Recreation and Environment
District 4 - Representative Town Meeting

Proposed letter from RTM (through Moderator Paul Goldstein to P & Z Chair Gregory Massad)
Dear Chairman Massad:
I am writing on behalf of the Representative Town Meeting which voted at its August 6,
2023 meeting, per the recommendation of the Public Health, Recreation and Environment
Standing Committee, to communicate to the Planning and Zoning Commission the RTM’s
request that the Commission consider revisiting the process under which special permits may be
issued for outdoor accessory dining. The Standing Committee conducted a number of meetings
in late 2022 and early 2023 to consider potential amendments and garnered input from many
residents regarding potential strategies for mitigating the effects of music associated with
outdoor dining emanating from commercial activities. Since the issuance of these special
permits there have been public disturbances that have been communicated to the Public Health,
Recreation and Environment Committee that the Town was unable to address. This is in part why
we are asking you to review issuance of these special permits. The clear sentiment expressed to
the Standing Committee was that the better approach to addressing this issue was potential
revisions to the outdoor dining special permit process rather than amending our current noise
ordinance.
The Standing Committee asked the full RTM to pass on this suggestion to your
Commission while recognizing that such potential revisions to your regulations is fully within
the purview of your Commission. On behalf of the RTM, we appreciate your consideration of
this request. The Subcommittee report summarizing PHRE committee deliberations is attached.
Sincerely,
Paul Goldstein
Moderator RTM
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August 3, 2023 ; ‘ :
Meme to: RTM
{
- From: Ted Olynciw, Member of the Building Committee
- Re: ‘Oswegatchie Fire House Building Committee ;
PROJECT STATUS
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transfer of the land to the Town of Waterford: The Fire Company also requires a leasé for the
building and. grounds. Our Town Attorney:is wotking with thé Attorney representing the Fire
‘Company.’ - ;
2. The Committee hired a consultant to assist the ‘Town’s Purchasing Department to develop a .
Request for Proposal ( RFP) for Architectural and Engineering services using the existing plans ;
prepared by the previous Architect DRA. : : ; «4
}
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3. “Both the Building & Fire .Marshall’s Department have no records of any septic or fuel oil tanks
ever being installed, removed, or replaced, Therefore, the Committée will be asking the Town’s
Purchasing Dept. to request bids for a Phase | Environmental Survey of the property.
4. The Committee.will start discussing Space & Side needs at its next meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
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Ted Olynciw, RTM Rep. 2"! District and member of this Committee
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