Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 12/02/2024

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
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REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING
Regular Meeting
December 2, 2024
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First Selectman Robert Brule, Acting Moderator, called the December 2, 2024 Annual Meeting of the
Representative Town Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Kyrah Augmon-Bossa, Michael Bono, Jennifer Bracciale, Mark Campo, Erica Casper, Mary
Childs, Harry Colonis, Timothy Condon (speaker phone), Thomas J. Dembek, Susan Driscoll, Timothy
Fioravanti, Nicholas Gauthier, Paul Goldstein, Kristen Gonzalez, Ryan Healy, Christina Jessuck, Matthew
Keatley, Lindsay Khan, Kate MacKenzie, Shawn Monahan, Ursula Moreshead, Kayla Mullen, Kathleen
Mullen Kohl, Theodore Olynciw, Danielle Steward-Gelinas, David Sugrue
ABSENT: None
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: First Selectman Robert J Brule; Chair of the Board of Education Pat
Fedor
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: Board of Finance Chair Glenn Patterson; Selectman Richard Muckle,
Selectman Greg Attanasio
ALSO PRESENT: Town Clerk David L. Campo; Town Attorney Nick Kepple; Director of Finance Kim Allen.
AGENDA ITEM C - Elect a Moderator
NOMINATION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Olynciw, to nominate Paul Goldstein to serve as
Moderator for a term of one year.
GOLDSTEIN selected as Moderator: Unanimous
AGENDA ITEM D — October 7, 2024 Minutes
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Keatley, to accept the October 7, 2024 Minutes as presented
MOTION PASSED: 25-0-1 (Sugrue abstained)
CORRESPONDENCE
The following items were received: A letter from Tax Collector Alan Wilensky, a quarterly report from
the Waterford Public Schools, an email from Jason M. Kohl, an email from Jeff Knight, an email from
Dani Gorman, an email from Greg Attanasio, a letter from the Waterford Democratic Town Committee,
a letter from the Waterford Republican Town Committee, a letter from First Selectman Robert Brule.
Copies of correspondence can be obtained from the office of the Town Clerk.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Waterford resident Jim Auwood, 19 Penninsular Ave, spoke in favor of Item 10.
1 RTM MINUTES 12/02/2024

AGENDA ITEM H
Oswegatchie Fire House Building Committee Member Ted Olynciw provided an Appointee Report.
CALL ITEM 1 — Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee Report
PRESENTATION: Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee Chairman Robert Tuneski
Chairman Tuneski provided an update on the project and answered questions from the body. (See
Attachment)
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Bracciale, to move ITEM 10 up.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 10 ~ Leary Park Renovations
PRESENTATION: Recreation & Parks Director Ryan McNamara, Regional Vice President Andrew Dyjak
Motion by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Sugrue, to approve an additional appropriation of $1,197,250
from the Unassigned Fund Balance of the General Fund to Line Item #33720-55855 Town Basketball
Court Repairs for the court renovations and accessibility at Leary Park.
Friendly amendment offered by Driscoll and accepted to change the Line name to “Town Courts” to
read as follows: Motion by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Dembek, to approve an additional
appropriation of $1,197,250 from the Unassigned Fund Balance of the General Fund to Line item
#33720-55855 Town Court Repairs for the court renovations and accessibility at Leary Park.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 2 ~ Pre-Emption Light Repairs
PRESENTATION: interim Fire Director Stephen Dubicki, Jr
Motion by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Dembek, to approve an additional appropriation of $27,000
from Line #205-31520 Undesignated Fund Balance of the Capital Nonrecurring Expenditure Fund to Line
#20523-57838 Capital Pre-Emption Light Repairs for a study to test all town pre-emption lights and
create a plan to be used as the basis of a FY2026 Capital Project budget request.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 3 ~ Jordan Traffic Light Upgrade Designation
PRESENTATION: interim Fire Director Stephen Dubicki, Jr
Motion by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Keatley, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance to designate an additional $10,460 to Line #20523-57791 Jordan Traffic Light Upgrade from
Line #205-31520 Undesignated Fund Balance of the Capital Nonrecurring Expenditure Fund for a study
to complete a capita! project for fire services.
Discussion ensued
MOTION by Olynciw, seconded by Mullen Kohl, to table.
Motion withdrawn
MAIN MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
2 RTM MINUTES 12/02/2024

CALL ITEM 4: Jordan Traffic Light Upgrade
PRESENTATION: Interim Fire Director Stephen Dubicki, Jr
Motion by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Dembek, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance to appropriate $35,460 from the currently designated line #20523-57791 Jordan Traffic Light
Upgrade.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
RTM Member Tim Condon Left
CALL ITEM 5: Public Safety Radio Grant Acceptance
MOTION by Dembek, seconded by Moreshead, to act upon a resolution to accept a grant in the amount
of $500,000 from the State Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for replacement of
the town public safety radio system as per the attached resolution.
Friendly amendment offered by Driscol! and accepted to correct typos in final draft.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 6 — Alewife Cove
PRESENTATION: Planning Director Jonathan Mullen, AICP; Environmental Planner Maureen Fitzgerald
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Keatley, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance to appropriate $37,500 from the currently designated Line #20541-57238 Alewife Cove to fund
a matching grant contribution to the National Wildlife Foundation 2022 Long Island Sound Futures Fund
Grant Award for the Stabilization of Alewife Cove Study.
Friendly amendment offered and accepted to change ”2022” to “2023”.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 7 — Mago Point Improvements
PRESENTATION: Planning Director Jonathan Mullen, AICP, Town Attorney Robert Avena, Director of
State Boating Law Administrator Peter B. Francis
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Moreshead, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance to appropriate $374,500 from the designated Line item #20511-57870 Mago Point
Improvements for the Town’s contribution to the municipal/state improvements to the Mago Point
parking lot and state launching area, pursuant to the contract provided.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 8 -- Nevins Cottage Structural Repairs
PRESENTATION: Planning Director Jonathan Mullen, AICP
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Khan, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance to appropriate $75,000 from the Capital and Non-recurring designated line# 20511-57767
Nevins Cottage Structural Repairs, for Nevins Cottage Repairs.
Friendly amendment offered by Olynciw and accepted to remove “Structural” to read as follows:
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Khan, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance to appropriate $75,000 from the Capital and Non-recurring designated line# 20511-57767
Nevins Cottage Repairs, for Nevins Cottage Repairs.
MOTION PASSED: 24-1-0 (MacKenzie opposed)
CALL ITEM 9 - Service Contracts and Repairs
3. RTM MINUTES 12/02/2024

PRESENTATION: Public Works Director Gary Schneider
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Olynciw, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance for an additional appropriation of $98,254 from the Unassigned Fund Balance of the General
Fund to line item #10111-52040 Service Cont. and Repairs.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 11 — Track and Field Turf Replacement
PRESENTATION: Board of Education Finance Director Joe Mancini, Regional Vice President Andrew Dyjak
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Sugrue, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance to appropriate $1,147,000 from the designated Line Item #20560-57820 Track and Field Turf
Replacement to replace the turf on the Waterford High school track and field.
MOTION by Moreshead to table until further test results are available and a second making the motion
contingent on future test results.
Both withdrawn
MOTION PASSED: 21-1-3 (M. Campo opposed; Gonzalez, Olynciw, Mullen Kohl abstained)
CALL ITEM 12 — High School Tennis Courts Replacement
PRESENTATION: Board of Education Finance Director Joe Mancini, Regional Vice President Andrew Dyjak
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Keatley, to approve a recommendation from the Board of
Finance to appropriate $1,148,100 from the designated Line Item #20560-57833 Tennis Court
Replacement for replacing the tennis courts at Waterford High School.
MOTION PASSED; 22-2-1 (M. Campo MacKenzie opposed, Olynciw abstained
CALL ITEM 13 — Wage Increases
PRESENTATION: Human Resource director Christine Walters, Labor Attorney Kristi Kelly
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Keatley, to accept a request from the First Selectman to
approve the non-union Administrative Support (AS) & Technical Crafts (TC) and the non-union
Management Professional general wage increase of 2.50% for fiscal year 2025-2026.
MOTION PASSED: 22-0-2 (Bracciale, Gauthier abstained)
CALL ITEM 14 — Executive Session
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Khan to discuss strategy and/or negotiations with respect to
the Waterford Professional Firefighters Association Local 4629, International Association of Firefighters,
AFL-CIO bargaining agreement in executive session and invite First Selectman Robert Brule, Interim Fire
Director Stephen Dubicki, Labor Attorney Kristi Kelly, and Human Resource Director Christine Walters to
attend at 9:58 P.M.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Bracciale, to come out of executive session at 10:22 P.M.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 15 — Waterford Professional Firefighters Association Local 4629
PRESENTATION: Human Resource director Christine Walters, Labor Attorney Kristi Kelly
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Gauthier, to approve the funds necessary to implement the tentative
Agreement between the Town of Waterford and the Waterford Professional Firefighters Association
Local 4629, International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO, to be effective July 1, 2024 — June 30,
2028, and authorize the First Selectman to sign on the Town’s behalf.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
4 RTM MINUTES 12/02/2024

CALL ITEM 16 — Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Childs, to appoint Guy Russo to the Oswegatchie Fire Station Building
Committee.
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Sugrue, to appoint Michael Elbaum to the Oswegatchie Fire
Station Building Committee.
VOTING IN FAVOR OF RUSSO: Augmon-Bossa, Bono, Casper, Childs, Driscoll, Fioravanti, Gauthier,
Gonzalez, Khan, Moreshead, Mullen, Mullen Kohl, Olynciw
VOTING AGAINST: Bracciale, Campo, Colonis, Dembek, Goldstein, Healy, Jessuck, Keatley, MacKenzie,
Monahan, Steward-Gelinas, Sugrue
GUY RUSSO APPOINTED
CALL ITEM 17 — Personnel Review Board
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Keatley, to appoint Tali Maidelis to the Personnel Review
Board. (Term 12/01/2024 — 11/30/2027)
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 18 — Social Services Grants Review Board
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Keatley, to appoint Thomas Dembek to the Social Services
Grants Review Board. (Term 12/02/2024 — 11/30/2025)
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Gauthier, to appoint Lindsay Khan to the Social Services Grants Review
Board. (Term 12/02/2024 — 11/30/2025)
MOTION PASSED: 23-0-2 for both (Dembek, Khan abstained)
CALL ITEM 19 — RTM Proposed Schedule
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Keatley, to approve the 2025 Regular Meeting Schedule. (See
attachment)
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 20 — RTM Proposed Budget
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Bracciale, to approve the FY26 budget in the amount of
$18,903 and forward to the Board of Selectmen for approval. (See attachment)
MOTION PASSED: 23-2-0 (Childs, Gauthier opposed)
NEW BUSINESS:
MOTION by Gauthier, seconded by Steward-Gelinas, to refer the subject of “salaries of elected officials”
to the Finance Wage & Personnel Standing Committee of the RTM in regard to the letter submitted by
First selectman Robert Brule. (See Attachment)
MOTION PASSED: 24-1-0 (Driscoll opposed)
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Dembek, to adjourn at 10:44 P.M.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
Res ectfully Submitted,
Poi bop
David L. Campo, CCTC
Waterford Town Clerk
5 RTM MINUTES 12/02/2024

December 2, 2024 RTM Summary
1. Accomplishments
a. Committee Formed
Architect (Silver Petrucelli and Associates) hired and working
Project Manager (Downes Construction) hired and working
Phase 1-Environmental Survey Completed by Barton and Loguidice
Phase 2- Environmental Survey Completed by Barton and Loguidice
Schematic Design of Oswegatchie Fire Station Completed
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2. Schematic Design Highlights
a. Current size of station is 10,161 sq.ft.(+/-), which includes a small (561 sq.ft.
mezzanine for storage)
b. The design includes 3 bunk rooms each sized for 3 firefighters, 3 bays for
apparatus, a workout room, IT closet, day room, training room, and kitchen
3. The Design Development phase is underway, and the Committee is currently
discussing and deciding upon MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) design
alternatives
4. The Architect and Project Manager met with Department Heads and staff
(Planning and Development, Public Works, and Utilities Departments) on
November 12" to introduce current state of the site plan and initiate discussion.
No red flags identified
5. Completion of Construction Documents is targeted for May 1, 2025
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6. Construction targeted for July, 2025-July 2026
7. Committee has spent $128,936.38 out of $645,971.00 allocated 2 %
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8. The estimated hard cost of fire station construction is predicated upon prevailing
cost / sq. ft. building costs. Estimates have ranged from $650 to $1,000 / sq. ft.
Soft costs add an approximate 20% of base hard costs. Expected range of
construction costs- $7,900,000-$12,200,000
9. The ROM estimated cost to demolish the existing fire station upon completion of
the new is $171,000

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REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING
2025 REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE
7:00pm — Waterford Town Hall Auditorium
February 3, 2025
April 7, 2025
May 5, 7, 12 and 14, 2025 (FY26 Annual Budget Meeting)
June 2, 2025
August 4, 2025
October 6, 2025
December 1, 2025 (Annual Meeting)
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PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
December 2, 2024 4 ~ 27
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Mr. Paul Goldstein nm ef a
Moderator 9 &2
Representative Town Meeting oim
15 Rope Ferry Road ul 3
Waterford, CT 06385 nm o
Dear Mr, Moderator: fal,
I am respectfully requesting that the RTM’s Finance, Wage & Personnel Standing Committee
consider amending the procedure used for calculating the salary increases for the following
elected officials: Town Clerk, Tax Collector, Treasurer and Registrars of Voters.
Back on January 20, 2022, the RTM’s Finance, Wage & Personnel Standing Committee voted to
annually increase elected official salaries by the “least” of the following effective July 1, 2022:
a) Percentage increase of the CPI-U from July of the preceding fiscal year
b) Half (50%) of the percentage increase approved for non-union management
c) One point five percent (1.5%)
I am hopeful that the Committee and RTM will consider granting these elected officials increases
equal to the RTM approved non-union management employee increases.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
fiat Bu
Robert J. Brule
First Selectman
cc: David Campo, Town Clerk