Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 09/16/2020

PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.awaterfordct.org
FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
Public Protection & Safety Standing Committee of the Waterford RTM
Meeting Minutes mS
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
6:00PM Virtual Meeting
Meeting Called to order at 6:00 PM by Chairperson Timothy Condon
Roll Call
fad
Present: Timothy Condon, Baird Welch-Collins, Susan Driscoll, Richard ~~
Muckle, April Cairns
Absent: None
Others Present: Joyce Sauchuk, Robert Brule, Elieen Duggan, Robert Avena
Public Comment
John Mariano, Vincent Ukleja
Agenda Item 5- To Consider and act upon the meeting minutes of the August 31, 2020
meeting.
Motion made by Welch Collins, Second by Driscoll to accept the minutes.
Vote: Unanimous
Motion passed.
Agenda Item 6- Consideration of and possible action on items referred to committee:
A. Review/ enactment of a stipend program for Volunteer Firefighters.
Chairperson Condon spoke briefly about members’ questions that he
gathered from last meeting. Chairperson Condon went over the findings from
the questions asked. Discussion was held on the process thus far and what
actions would be necessary should the committee make any changes at this
stage. ,
Motion by Driscoll Second by Welch-Collins to report out draft #4 of the
proposed Volunteer Firefighter stipend program ordinance and recommend to
the RTM.
Vote: Unanimous

B. Review the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee in regard to attached letter.
Discussion held on the process moving forward. Committee generally agreed
to break consideration into two pieces; the first membership and the second
topics of consideration. Discussion held on whom should make up the
committee members. Attorney Avena gave a brief overview of the types of
membership and the use of town employees.
Motion made by Driscoll second by Welch-Collins to record consensus of
Ad Hoc committee membership consisting of 3 members of the RTM, 1 must
be from the Public Protection and Safety standing committee, 1 member of
the Board of Finance, 1 member of the Board of Selectman, advisory non-
voting members consisting of the Waterford Ambulance Service Manager, the
Emergency Management Director, 1 Volunteer Fire Chief, 1 Career full time
paid Firefighter.
Vote: Unanimous
Motion to adjourn by Welch-Collins, second by Muckle.
Vote: Unanimous
Meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM
Respectfully submitted
Timothy Condon

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Title 2— ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL
Chapter 2.36 — FIRE SERVICE
2.36.080 — Volunteer Firefighters and Fire Police Incentive Program
A. Purpose
Pursuant to § 7-148(c)(4)(B) of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Town of Waterford
may enact an ordinance to organize, maintain and regulate the persons providing fire
protection. This Volunteer Firefighters and Fire Police Incentive Program is designed to
provide monetary compensation to active, volunteer firefighters and fire police members
in the Town of Waterford Fire Department, in an effort to assist in covering volunteers’
expenses during the execution of their duties, while complying with the federal Fair
Labor Standards Act of 1938 as amend U.S.C. §201 et seq. (“FLSA”), The FLSA
permits payments for reimbursement of ex enses, reasonable benefits and nominal fees
to volunteers without impairing their sta as volunteers. These benefits are in addition
to the existing property tax abatement pro: for volunteer firefighters in Title 3,
Chapter 3.12 of this Code of Ordinances. Town, ord Fire Department personnel
employed by the Town of Waterford are not elig r this Volunteer Firefighters and
Fire Police Incentive Program.
B. Definitions
4. Program :
The term’ teans the Volunteer Firefighters and Fire Police Incentive
Program.
2. Program Year
Program Year is thé: ;, July 1-June 30.
3. implementation Date:
The Implementation Date of the Program is July 1, 20201.
4. Volunteer Member in Good Standing in the Waterford Fire Department:
A Volunteer Member in Good Standing is defined as:
a A cettified firefighter (i.e., State of Connecticut Firefighter | or higher) who
has participated in the minimum training sessions designated by the
Director of Fire Services and including, but not limited to Required Training
(as set forth in paragraph B8), by June 30 of the year preceding the year
of eligibility (e.g., complete training by June 30, 2020 to be eligible for the
Program for the fiscal year July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021, absent a
1 Depending on the date of enactment of this Ordinance, the Implementation Date may be retroactive to July 1,
2020.
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modification of the June 30 date by the Director of Fire Services on an
individual basis pursuant to paragraph B8); and/or
b. A member of the Fire Police who has participated in the minimum training
sessions designated by the Director of Fire Services and, including but
not limited to, Required Training (as set forth in Paragraph B8 d), by June
30 of the year preceding the year of eligibility (e.g., complete training by
June 30, 2020 to be eligible for the Program for the fiscal year July 1,
2020-June 30, 2021, absent a modification of the June 30 date by the
Director of Fire Services on an individual basis pursuant to paragraph
B8); and who has been sworn in by the Town Clerk.
include any member terminated
i or otherwise separating from
A Volunteer Member in Good Standing
from volunteer service by the Town of:
5. Active Volunteer Firefighter in the Waterford Fire Di
An Active Volunteer Firefighter is a certified firefigh
6. Active Volunteer Fire
An Active Volunteer Fire : er is a Member in Good Standing who has
been sworn in by the T Ke we maintains the minimum training
7. Approved Training Drill:
An Approved Training Drill is
approved in advance by the D
n gi is State and Federal minimum requirements to function at
as. These requirements shall include, but are not limited to, the
nd re-certifications along with the approved training drills. The
vices maintains the discretion, upon a showing of good cause
¥ excuse temporarily and/or until a date certain, the absence of
Training shall include, but is not limited to, the following titles and substantive
content (training titles and reference numbers may change from time to time):
a. Minimum Certifications:
State of Connecticut Firefighter |
Hazardous Materials ~ Operational Level
[S-700: National Incident Management System
ICS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System
ICS-200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
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DRAFT #4 -HIGHLIGHTED VERSION — AFTER JULY 21, 2020 PUBLIC HEARING
b. Mandatory Training: :
Attend routine training drills (Monthly)
OSHA Mandates
- Haz-Mat Operational Refresher
- Incident Command System Refresher
- Live Fire Training (Annual)
- Blood-borne Pathogens
- SCBA refresher
- Routine Fit Testing
- CPR Certification
C. Certified Fire Officer Requirements (Additional):
State of Connecticut Fire Officer |
IS-800: National Response Framework
ICS-300: Intermediate ICS-for Expanding Incidents
ICS-400: Advanced ICS-for:Gommand and General Staff
d. Fire Police Requirements:
Hazardous Materials — Awar
IS-700: National Incident Management-System
ICS-100: Introduction to the Incid ommand System
9. Stipend:
A Stipend ctive Volunteer Firefighter or
i orth below and as may be
eto time, by the Director of Fire Services.
1 amount of money awarded to ar
10.
ire response or Approved Training Drills as
ive a Point, an Active Volunteer Firefighter or
| ually attend an incident and/or respond to
and arrive at an activated:station before the Incident Commander dismisses the
assignment and/or attend afd complete Approved Training Drills. Individuals
serving as volunteers or employees of the Waterford Ambulance Service
when attending and/or responding to a particular incident will not receive
Points related to that incident.
11. Incident Commander:
The incident Commander sets priorities and defines the Incident Command
System organization for the particular response and is responsible for the safety,
accountability, and welfare of personnel through an incident.
Cc. Program Components
1. Stipend Schedule:
Active Volunteer Firefighters and Fire Police members who meet the criteria set
forth below are eligible for Stipends issued on a quarterly basis as follows:
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First Quarter = July through September (issued in October)
Second Quarter = October through December (Issued in January)
Third Quarter = January through March (Issued in April)
Fourth Quarter = April through June (Issued in July)
Reporting Requirements:
a. An incident report shall be generated and completed for every
dispatched incident.
b. All Active Volunteer Firefighters and Active Volunteer Fire Police
members must sign the report within 15 minutes of the last vehicle
returning to the station at the termination of the event.
“irefighter or Active Volunteer Fire Police
c. if an Active Volun
6 sign the report within the allotted time set
b, he or she must file a report with 24 hours
d. Anyone documenting a 5 nember’s name on the report shall
initial next to that entry
e
f.
g-
h.
Stipend Eligibility and Amount:
An Active Volunteer Firefighter or Active Volunteer Fire Police member shail not
receive any Stipend unti! receiving a minimum of fifty (60) Points during that fiscal
year. The Active Volunteer Firefighter or Active Volunteer Fire Police member wilt
then be provided a Stipend at the rate of $7 for each prior and subsequent Point
earned during that fiscal year (e.g., an Active Volunteer Firefighter who has 55
Points will receive $385; an Active Volunteer Firefighter with 20 Points will receive
$0). The Director of Fire Services may propose changes to the
mandatory/minimum eligibility criteria, Point value (increase or decrease), Stipend
rate or amount (increase or decrease) to the RTM, which may act on such
proposed changes by majority vote. As part of its determination, the RTM must
evaluate continued compliance with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
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4, Discretionary Decisions on Awarding of Points:
The Director of Fire Services, in the exercise of his/her discretion, will decide any
disputes regarding the awarding of Points under paragraph B 10. The Director of
Fire Services, in the exercise of his/her discretion, also may award Points for
reasons other than those expressly set forth in paragraph B 10. These decisions
shall be documented in the quarterly report.
5. Higher Level of Training Stipend:
An Active Volunteer Firefighter who receives at least 50 Points during a fiscal year
and who is also a Certified Fire Officer and meets all the additional requirements
outlined above (i.e., State of Connecticut Fire Officer I; !S-800: National Response
Framework; ICS- 300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents; ICS-400:
Advanced ICS for Command and Gener will receive an additional $150 on
an annual basis in recognition of his/her el of training. This $150 stipend
will be issued at the same time as the stip e@.initial 50 Points. The Director
of Fire Services may propose changes to the Hig evel of Training Stipend
amount (increase or decrease) to the RTM, which may, act on such proposed
changes by majority vote.
6. Ineligibility Due to Misconduct or Separation from “Waterford Fire
Department:
reference the Waterford Fire Department
as may be renumbered and/or
This ordinance incorp
Policy 103 - Disciplinary Proces
amended from time to ti
In the event that the Director sides to impose disciplinary
action short of termination against any Active Volunteer Firefighter or Active
Volunteer Fire Police member is:néeessary, the Director of Fire Services retains
the discretion to suspend any Ai olunteer Firefighter or Active Volunteer
ice member from the Progra s either the discipline or as a component
ine. The Director of Fire Services retains the discretion to determine
any existing Points (e.g., forfeited, retained) at the time of
ligible for any Stipend. The Director of Fire Services and
al ces Director shall evaluate and determine, in their discretion,
the eligibili Stipend of an Active Volunteer Firefighter or Active Volunteer
Fire Police member who voluntarily separated from volunteer service as of the
end of a quarter.
D. Funding and Administration
1. Funding:
Through its normal, annual budget process, the Town shal! determine whether or
not to fund the Program and, if so, in what amount.
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Any portion of the annual appropriation not expended during a fiscal year does
not carry over to the next fiscal year.
Should the total expenses for the Program exceed the annual appropriation, then
the quarterly Stipends for the then-current quarter will be prorated to reflect the
total amount available for distribution for that quarter. If the Program exceeds the
annual appropriation in a quarter other than the last quarter of the fiscal year, the
Program may be unfunded for quarters following the pro-rated quarter.
Modifications:
Any modifications allowed under this Ordinance without an Ordinance
amendment (e.g., change in the Stipend rate) will be recorded in an annual
Program update each July and maintained on file in the office of the Director of
Fire Services.
Termination:
The Town shall have the right
, terminate the Program at any time
h the Representative Town Meeting to
rough the ordinance process.
Page 6 of 6

Christopher Venditti
a 443 Sipple St.
2020 JUL 30 PH 3: G2 Oceanside, CA 92058
(860) 287-4644
07/27/2020
Rob Brule
First Selectraan
Town of Waterford
15 Rope Ferry Rd.
Waterford, CT 06385
I’m writing you today with a few concerns that I have regarding public safety within the
Town of Waterford. As of now, | have not resided in town for about 7 years due to Active Duty
Military orders, but | do still pay property taxes, and I keep a special Interest in lacal issues
because many of my family members are residents (mother, sister, nieces, and nephews).
The first topic | would like to bring up is the overall lack of fire protection within the
Town. | have a unique perspective on this issue because I’ve been a member of Waterford Fire
Engine Co.1 since 2009 but have not lived in town since 2013. | don’t believe anyone can deny
that the number of incidents the town fire services respond to is decreasing, but we can all
agree that volunteer participation is at an all-time low. It’s my understanding that more fulltime
professional firefighters have been added to the payroll in recent years, and the stations and
hours they work has been restructured. With that in mind, | find it very interesting that the
town thought it was acceptable to have no fire coverage from 0200-0600 daily. if there’s
anything that being an Infantryman in the United States Marine Corps has taught me, it's that
you cannot predict when you'll need to be ready to fight and work you schedule around that,
but rather you need to maintain the highest state of readiness possible. | feel we as a Town are
lacking here.
Just last year on October 22, 2019 at 0445 a town resident had his life cut short due te
this lack of fire protection. The incident took place less than 1 mile from Waterford Fire Engine
Co.4. The first piece of fire apparatus was driven by the bunkman, and he could not adequately
perform the initial functions of being the first due piece by himself. ;
These functions include:
* Scene size up — Confirm or deny initial reports of fire, confirm location of
fire, confirm location of water supply, position the vehicle in an
advantageous location for its function, confirm or deny if anyone is
present in the structure, identify entry and exit points, identify locations
of possible victims, *ensure adéquate resources are on the way*, direct .
_ those resources until an INCIDENT COMMANDER assumes the role.
¢ {nitlaf entry and search — search for fire and victims
¢ [nitial fire attacks — advance the first hose line and attack the fire.

All of these functions should be taking place nearly simultaneously, but you tell
me how long it would take you, BY YOURSELF. Now put yourself in the shoes of
the homeowner who’s being overcome by smoke and heat. We cannot afford to
put that much stress on our firefighters and our residents due to a lack of
manpower. We are making an already bad situation worse.
) bring this up because even though we are staffing 2 firefighters in town fram 0200-
0600 currently, it’s not enough. These hours are also not part of their contract so theoretically
they could be cut at any time. | challenge you as the First Selectman to answer this question- Is
the reason for not having better fire protection money, or a tack of understanding? The
Waterford Police Department has been advertising a string of car break-ins on their Facebook
page for what feels like months now, which is a great way to remind residents to lock their
doors. But does a large amount of car break-ins mean we add 2 additional officers to an
overnight shift on overtime? Is the cost worth the benefit? Are you familiar with the Kansas City
Preventative Patrol Experiment? This was a year-long study conducted by the Kansas City,
Missouri Police Department to see If they could make a correlation between visible police
presence and crime, and fear of crime. The conclusion was that whether the city was having
police proactively patrolling an area or staying out until called in (reactive patrolling) had
significant effect on burglaries, auto thefts, larcenies, robberies, and vandalism — crimes
traditionally thought to be deterrable.
| say all of that to say this, if we as a town are willing to ADD 2 officers toa shift due to
cat break ins {property damage and stolen goods) which is proven to not stop the crime, how
many more CITIZENS need to DIE for us to add adequate fire protection for the overnight
hours? -
The concerning thing for me is that this lack of regard for residents when it comes to fire
protection isn’t a one-time thing in Town. In fact, it’s starting to become normai, which is not
acceptable.
_ Next I would like to talk about what it means to have leadership present. The Police
department is staffed to have a Sergeant on every shift. Why is that? I’m sure your answer will
have something to do with having a high level of accountability at all times and degree of
tactical expertise ready to respond to any situation at a moments notice. {s the fire service any
different? Not only do they never have leadership present (Waterford Fire Engine Co.1 hasn’t
had a fire officer (leader) respond to an emergency call since October 2019), but now the
firefighters are forced to make up for this by using manpower needed elsewhere.on the
fireground. Referencing back to my initial functions on the fireground, the following should be
handied by the incident commander - Confirm or deny initial reports of fire, confirm location of
fire, confirm location of water supply, confirm or deny If anyone is present in the structure,
identify entry and exit points, identify locations of possible victims, *ensure adequate resources
are on the way", direct those resources in, send necessary notifications to dispatch.
- Why does the Police Department get leadership and the Fire Department gets
Volunteers who don’t have to have the same level of training as the firemen they “lead”
(we use that term loosely)?
- Why do you think it’s ok to let a failing system continue to fall?
- Have you ever coached a team without captains?

In closing, | have many Issues with the way tax dollars are being spent, particularly when it
comes to public safety. My mother, sister, brother-in-law, three nieces and nephews live in
town, and | fear if something were to happen in their home that at least one of them is liable to
not make it out. I’ve already instructed them to give the address for our neighbors up road who
live in the City of New London if something happens because they'll respond with an 16 man
crew within minutes (made up of 42 firefighters, 3 lieutenants*, and a battalion chief*}. The
same crew that has balled Waterford out recently for their lack of manpower. Offering 57 per
calf will not make these “volunteers” just appear, and if it does, they won’t be better trained
than the professional firefighters. { look forward to hearing from you, Mr. Selectman, as well as
a representative from the Towns Public Protection and Safety Committee. | can send a hard
copy of this email if needed. :