Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 08/15/2024

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385: 2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
wwenwaterfondolorg
Legislation & Administration Committee Meeting Minutes—Aug. 15, 2024
Members Present: Susan Driscoll, Tom Dembek, Mark Campo, Ursula Moreshead
Members Absent: Christina Jessuck
Also Present: Anne Darling (Senior Citizens Commission)
1. Call to order: Chair called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Public comment: None. [Consensus on Chait’s suggestion that Item 5 be moved ahead of Item 4, since there was an SCC
membet onsite with questions about the process and who might be able to answer or relay L&A members’ initial questions.]
3. Previous Minutes: Motion by Moreshead, second by Dembek, to approve the Sept. 18, 2023, minutes as presented.
Voice vote: Unanimous Motion passed.
5. Initial consideration of Review of YFSB/Senior Citizens ordinances (RTC 8/5/24):
Chair explained that letter with the request to review the ordinances (which lay out the makeup, responsibilities, and reporting
structure for all town government) focused on determining what the 2021 changes to YFSB and SCC were and whether
revisions were needed so the ordinances were accurate. The committee would be inviting Dani Gorman and membets of the
SCC to future meetings to gather information; all meetings would be open to the public; proposed revisions, if any, would go
through a public hearing process before going to the RTM fot a final vote.
4. Initial consideration of issues previously referred:
* Review how RTM considers recommendations for committee assignments (RTC 6/6/22)
* Public Act 22-3, AAC Remote Meetings Under the Freedom of Information Act (RTC 2/6/23)
* Review of a “Public Comment Ordinance” (RIC 2/6/23)
* Police Commission expansion to seven members (RTC 10/2/ 23)
Brief update from members who had deliverables from the Sept. 2023 meeting regarding RTM committee appointments.
Moteshead discussed ways to increase word-of-mouth about expiring terms or mid-term openings due to resignations, including
posting information on the town website homepage to encourage volunteering to serve on the numerous boards and
commissions and perhaps links to their pages to find specifics about duties and terms. Other ideas including postings on the
Town Hall, Library, and Community Center bulletin boards, or on the Town’s facebook page. Campo explained that, after
talking to others, he no longer saw the need to alter the current process of notifying only the two major local political parties.
Brief discussion on requiring all boards and commissions to provide public comment periods. Dembek expressed concern for
the volunteers serving on those bodies, and the additional time department heads would have to wait after work-hours to
present their agenda items. Questions as to whether there are special exemptions ot legal considerations for certain bodies, such
as Planning & Zoning and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
5. Adjournment: Motion by Moreshead; second by Campo to adjourn at 8:35 p.m. Voice vote: Unanimot.
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Submitted by
Susan Driscoll, L&A Chair
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