Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 02/28/2022

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
MINUTES
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING
Special Meeting
Waterford Town Hall
February 28, 2022
8S :GlkY ¢- SYK 2202
RTM Moderator Paul Goldstein called the February 28, 2022 Special Meeting of the Representative
Town Meeting to order at 7:01 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Greg Attanasio, Mary Childs, Thomas J. Dembek, Susan Driscoll, Timothy Fioravanti, Nick
Gauthier, Kevin Girard, Paul Goldstein, Kristin Gonzalez, Ryan Healy, Richard Holmes, Jennifer Kohl, Paul
Konstantakis, Cheryl Larder, Michael Rocchetti, Danielle Steward-Gelinas, David Sugrue, Dave Welch.
ABSENT: Michael Bono, Jennifer Bracciale, Timothy Condon, Steven Garvin, Richard Muckle, Ted
Olynciw, Dan Radin.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: First Selectman Robert J. Brule; Selectwoman Jody Nazarchyk
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: Selectman Elizabeth Sabilia; Chair of the Board of Education Patricia
Fedor; Chair of the Board of Finance Glenn Patterson.
ALSO PRESENT: Town Clerk David L. Campo; Town Attorney Rob Avena.
ITEM C - CORRESPONDENCE
Moderator Goldstein noted that correspondence was received from residents Margaret Holmberg and
Emily Polakowski. (See Attachment)
ITEM D - PUBLIC COMMENT
Waterford Resident Emily Polakowski, 24 Savi Ave, spoke in opposition to the proposed gas line
agreement being considered in CALL ITEM 1.
Waterford Resident Theo Beyene, 24 Savi Ave, spoke in opposition to the proposed gas line agreement
being considered in CALL ITEM 1.
CALL ITEM 1 — Eversource Gas Line Agreement
PRESENTATION: Public Works Director Gary Schneider; Town Attorney Rob Avena.
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Rocchetti, to upon a recommendation from the Board of
Selectmen to approve the Eversource General Gas Service Agreement for the Public Safety and Police
Station buildings and authorize the First Selectman to sign on the Town of Waterford’s behalf, pending
the review by legal as to form.
Lengthy discussion centered on green alternatives, the length of the contract, requirements of the
contract, price control, ability of town to be released from the contract, the condition of the existing oil

tanks and removal concerns, other options, time sensitivity of the contract, and whether the buildings
support green alternatives
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Rocchetti, to move the question.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Dembek, Goldstein, Healy, Holmes, Rocchetti, Steward-Gelinas, Sugrue.
VOTING AGAINST: Attanasio, Childs, Driscoll, Fioravanti, Gauthier, Girard, Gonzalez, Kohl, Konstantakis,
Larder, Welch.
MOTION FAILS: 7-11-0
Further discussion ensued.
MOTION IN FAVOR OF ORIGINAL MOTION: Dembek, Girard, Goldstein, Healy, Holmes, Rocchetti,
Steward-Gelinas, Sugrue.
MOTION AGAINST: Attanasio, Childs, Driscoll, Fioravanti, Gauthier, Gonzalez, Kohl, Konstantakis, Larder,
Welch.
MOTION FAILS: 8-10-0
CALL ITEM 2 — Emergency Legislation
Passed over.
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Attanasio, to adjourn at 8:26 P.M.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
Respectfully Submitted,
David L. 12 Legs
Waterford Town Clerk

February 25, 2022
Hello,
| am writing as a concerned citizen of Waterford who has recently heard about the
potential deal to install natural gas in two town buildings.
| am a millennial who is quite concerned about climate change, especially its local
impacts on my community and the town of Waterford. Current projections from NOAA and the
Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation predict a sea level rise of the Long
Island Sound by up to 20 inches by the year 2050. Will | still be able to visit Harkness and
Waterford Beach with that level of change? Will floods from natural disasters and ‘once ina
lifetime storms’ impact my neighbors that live closer to the water on a regular basis? Will it make
sense for me to move further away from the coast for more protection and security in my
property values? | enjoy living in Waterford, but worry about my future here if climate actions are
not acted upon promptly by the community and its leaders.
The state of Connecticut has made ambitious strides towards reducing climate change.
Connecticut established the 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act and the 2018 Act Concerning
Climate Change Planning and Resiliency, which “seek to r ici i
transportation system, and thermal eneray for all buildings, in an effort to cut greenhouse gas
emissions [...] to 45% below 2001 levels by 2030” per Governor Lamont's Executive Order 3
from September 2019. This executive order also set greenhouse gas emissions targets of
establishing a net-zero carbon grid by the year 2040.
This suggested plan to install natural gas lines for Waterford town buildings does not
support the state of Connecticut's plans and goals to reduce climate change. It will directly
contribute to further climate change and worsen future impacts to our coastal town by continuing
our reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to further greenhouse gas emissions. If natural gas
lines and infrastructure continue to be installed, Connecticut's goal of a net-zero future cannot
be reached. The goals set by the state include substantial reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions by the year 2030 and 2040, which are less than ten and twenty years away
respectively — these targets cannot be reached by signing long-term contracts for continued
reliance on fossil fuels. | suggest pursuing alternative heating sources, such as heat pumps or
electric heat, which can be powered by renewable energy.
HAND
Thank you for your consideration,
Emily Polakowski
24 Savi Ave. _ .
Waterford, CT 06385 7° /\¥ vi
g] 2 Hd 2 834

David Campo _ _ _
—== ——e aes
From: Margaret Holmberg <margaret.holmberg@att.net>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2022 12:37 PM
To: pg34@atlanticbb.net; Town Clerk
Ce: Mary Childs; gregattanasio@rocketmail.com; kgirard.rtm@gmail.com; kgonz5
@gmail.com; tedolynciw@yahoo.com; dawelch.wfd.rtm@gmail.com
Subject: Eversource proposal
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender's email address and know the content is safe.
~
a
To: Moderator Goldstein and Town Clerk Campo a)
From: Margaret Holmberg, Quaker Hill resident rm ,
Date: February 24, 2022 ~
re: Proposed Eversource Agreement a
po |
| request that the letter below be submitted to all RTM members. it an
| write to raise questions about the Eversource proposal to the town of Waterford to be decided at the upcoming RTM
meeting. My questions concern both the content and the process around this proposed agreement.
1. Why is the town not considering solar arrays to provide an energy source for these two buildings? Solar power is far
more environmentally friendly than gas. Changes in our climate are happening now not in the future, thus consideraton
should be made for long term climate friendly energy sources. Or why not consider wind power that could be available
in the coming years. Is Waterford, a coastal town, preparing for the consequences of imminent climate changes?
2. Why is this decision being made without input from residents? | note that action is required to waive a 15 day waiting
period when residents could given information and opportunity to respond.
3. Why is this agreement required to be in effect for 25 years? That is an unusually long period given the rapidity of
changing environmental conditions and given the fact that a wind energy source is being developed right now very close
to Waterford.
| am also concerned that this is a rapid push by Eversource which has a history of changing its conditions regardless of
original proposals. As an example, when residents first installed solar arrays on their homes excess energy could be put
on the grid and the resident received credit for the unused energy. Without publicity or public knowledge Eversource
was able to get legislation passed that stopped that incentive as of December 31, 2021. It appears that, again,
Eversource is pushing a ‘deal’ that may or may not be stable, certainly not over 25 years.
| do acknowledge that gas is cleaner for our environment than oil so | applaud consideration of alternatives to oil.
However, there may well be cleaner alternatives than gas within the next few years if not now.
| urge the RTM to take time to hear from Waterford residents and take time to explore the long term effects and
alternative possibilities.