First Selectman's 2022 Annual Report

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It continues to be an honor to serve the Town of Waterford as the First Selectman. 
To me, commitment is truly the most important piece of serving our community. I 
continue to value trust, communication, dignity, a sense of belonging and always 
putting the Waterford community at my forefront.  The First Selectman is proud to 
present the 2022 Annual Report. 
 
In 2022, Waterford was selected by CT Magazine as a 
Top 15 Real Estate “Hot Spot” in the state and 
recognized nationally as a Realtor.com Top 50 Hottest 
Housing Market in the U.S. and third hottest housing 
market in Connecticut! Recently, our Town has 
completed and started a number of  town-wide capital 
projects, seen growth in workforce and affordable 
housing, been recognized as one of 24 communities in the state achieving 
Sustainable CT Bronze recognition and the town and First Selectman’s Office 
remains committed to community engagement and our “Waterford Cares” initiative.    
 
The Town of Waterford continues to see growth in new businesses coming into 
town.  With Revaluation scheduled for 2022 and the growth the town has seen, next 
year could be exciting, yet challenging, to keep the tax rate stable.  
 
In addition, the Town of Waterford, the Town of East Lyme and the City of New 
London signed a 30-year Sewer Agreement.  This regional accomplishment could 
not have happened without the collective efforts of East Lyme First Selectman Mark 
Nickerson, City of New London Mayor Mike Passero and the team of Waterford 
Utility Commission staff and town leaders.  Finally, 
the Town’s RTM created an Ad Hoc Energy Task 
Force to review audits of consumption, identify any 
data needs based on those audits and address the 
energy policy of the town. The Ad Hoc Energy Task 
Force Task Force includes two members of the 
RTM, 1 member of the BOF, one member of the 
BOS and 2 electors of the town. 
BOARD OF SELECTMEN 
2022 ANNUAL REPORT
ROBERT J. BRULE,  FIRST SELECTMAN 
JODY NAZARCHYK,  SELECTWOMAN 
ELIZABETH SABILIA,  SELECTWOMAN 
CINDY DUPOINTE, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT  

 
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Community Engagement 
 
The Town continues to commit to its veterans by 
hosting Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies 
through the First Selectman’s Office.  These events 
honoring and remembering our Waterford Veterans 
remains 
a 
priority. 
The 
Waterford 
Veterans 
Coffeehouse continues to gain membership and 
attendance.  The Coffeehouse continues to be held the 
second Tuesday of each month at Filomenas Restaurant and has become the largest 
attended Veterans Coffeehouse in Eastern CT.  The Town initiated the 9/11 
Remembrance Ceremony to honor First Responders. Now the ceremony features the 
Chief of Police, Director of Fire Services, the First Selectman and the Police 
Chaplain to participate and extend our appreciation for all those who put their lives 
in harm’s way.    
 
The 2nd Annual Waterford “Celebrate our Seniors” Parade continued in the summer 
of 2022 and was a huge success for residents of all ages!   The Town of Waterford 
continues its strong relationship with the American Red Cross and has continued to 
host monthly blood drives at Town Hall, a tradition that has continued over the years.  
The Town of Waterford staff worked extremely hard to be among only 24 
Connecticut municipalities recognized this year for achieving 3-year Sustainable CT 
Bronze certification! Sustainable CT is a statewide initiative that inspires and 
supports communities in becoming more efficient, resilient, and inclusive. 
Waterford met high standards in a broad range of sustainability accomplishments to 
qualify for the prestigious Bronze level certification.  The highest level of 
certification currently offered is Silver. The pandemic continued through the end of 
2021 and into 2022.  The town continued to partner with Ledge Light Health District 
and Director Stephen Mansfield to provide residents 
vaccine clinic options, Covid Test Kit distributions 
opportunities and rolled out the Small Business Grant 
Program (ARPA) for Waterford and Quaker Hill small 
businesses impacted by the pandemic.  The Board of 
Selectmen and the Town of Waterford hosted a number 
of Food Drives in town under the “Waterford Cares” 

 
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initiative, an initiative focused on addressing the day-to-day needs of all our 
residents, emotionally, financially, spiritually, and physically.  We continue to 
donate and deliver holiday meals to veterans and seniors in town, as well as families 
in need. 
 
The Town continues to be responsive and safe with 24/7 emergency response teams. 
The Town of Waterford now has 24/7 ambulance coverage, 24/7 police coverage 
and 24/7 fire service coverage in town.  All volunteer fire fighters continue to be 
eligible to receive stipends for their time protecting our community while part-time 
fire fighters remain staffed at Oswegatchie, Goshen and Quaker Hill.  Due to the 
national shortage of volunteers and trends, Waterford remains committed to 
recruitment and retention of volunteer fire fighters. The Town continues to review 
response times of emergency responders and implemented Streetwise software for 
fire pre-plans, a secondary form of notification of calls and providing GPS within 
fire apparatus.  The RTM created the Fire Services Review Special Committee to 
review issues including performance, policies, and staffing. 
 
Capital Projects 
In 2022 the Waterford Town Center 
Development Ad Hoc Committee hired an 
architect and developed design plans for the 
Waterford “Civic Triangle Park” in our Town 
Center. The project aims to create vibrant 
outdoor spaces in the heart of our community, 
for residents of all ages.  Thank you to the 
Ad-Hoc Committee and Chairperson Miriam Wagner and consultant Kent & Frost, 
LLC for all their work and collaboration.  A “Town Center” with ADA accessible 
lit pathways connecting the Community Center, Youth & Family Services, Library, 
Playground and Historic Green while featuring a boardwalk with a pavilion and new 
bridges around a clean, dredged pond remains the 
primary goal, while four new Pickleball courts have 
been incorporated into the Master Plan!  The long-
range capital plan remains a key guideline to 
accomplishing our goals while maintaining a 
conservative view of the annual budget.  The First 
Selectman’s Office continues to communicate with 

 
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the Superintendent of Schools on ways the town can move forward together, to 
ensure community and school security, in a financially responsible manner.  The 
capital plan in FY22 focused on paving and the reclamation of more roads in town, 
completing the Waterford Beach Restroom and ADA Sidewalk Project, IT upgrades 
and equipment in town, continued review of the town’s Fleet Management Plan.  
Accessibility for residents around town continues to be a priority for capital projects 
as well as town infrastructure.  The $1M LED Streetlight Conversion Project was 
completed.  The Above Ground Municipal Fueling Station at Cohanzie Fire 
Department was completed. The Waterford Civic Triangle Park project received 
legislative approvals to both dredge the pond.    
The new $17M multi-million dollar Municipal 
Complex is now fully complete, opened for full 
operations and the new sign is up!  Thank you again 
to the Building Committee and Staff for your 
commitment to seeing this project through to its 
completion. The $2.7M Cross Road Paving Project 
funded by Connecticut LOTCIP funds was 
completed, through the State of Connecticut and 
was just the first of many road reclamation and paving projects this year.  The Town 
of Waterford has continued its’ commitment to paving town roads this past year, 
including: 
Rainbow Court 
Milton Road 
Dunbar Road 
Waterford Beach Entrance Road 
Monroe Street 
Louise Street 
Olive Street 
Orient Street 
Vivian Court 
Niantic River Road 
Daniels Avenue 
Gardiners Wood Road 
Lakes Pond Road 
Butlertown Road 
 
In FY22, the Town of Waterford agreed to fund half the cost of the new the engines 
for the Waterford/East Lyme Police Boat (shared regional asset) with East Lyme.  
Capital funds in the amount of $12,500 each from Waterford and East Lyme 
provided a needed grant match for the Save the Rivers-Save the Hills new Pump-
Out Boat to keep the Niantic River clean.   The Town of Waterford recently approved 

 
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the paving of New Shore Road, Shore Road, Oil Mill Road and the southern half of 
Niantic River Road for early next year.  Finally, the Town completed its’ third and 
final year capital non-recurring payment for the $1.1M new HVAC System that the 
state grant will match $250,000 of the project! 
American Rescue Plan Act 
All expected funding from the federal government has been received by the Town 
of Waterford ($5,547,889). The allocation the Town of Waterford received from the 
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Plan to spend the funding was submitted 
to the Board of Finance and RTM – appropriating the funding to small business, 
tourism, mental health, water and sewer and parks.  Only one adjustment to the 
original plan has been made thus far, that being, town wide broadband was not an 
acceptable project by ARPA, due to Waterford not operating its own Utility.  These 
allotted ARPA funds were transferred to the Civic Triangle Park Capital Project, due 
to that Master Plan being approved by the Civic Triangle Park Ad-Hoc Committee 
and all town bodies.  
Projects completed with ARPA funds in FY22: 
 ESO Fire RMS Software Upgrade 
 Dispatch Upgrades 
 Cyber Security for the Town 
Projects begun/ongoing in FY22: 
 Old Norwich Road Pump Station Upgrade 
 Gorman Pump Station Control  Panels Upgrades 
 Fargo Lane Water (Tank) Tower Rehabilitation 
 Town GIS Updates 
The Waterford Small Business Grant Program was created by the Economic 
Development Commission in March of 2022, however, funds were not distributed 
until early FY23.  Results will be reported in next year’s FY23 Annual 
Report.  Finally, a portion of the ARFP funds created a Human Services Coordinator 
for mental health services for seniors and families.   
 

 
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Planning & Economic Development 
 The Town of Waterford welcomed United 
States Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, 
for a visit and tour of Millstone Power Station.  
The discussion First Selectman Brule had with 
Madam Secretary Granholm focused on nuclear 
energy and the importance in Dominion 
Energy’s role in town, in the state and in the 
country as a necessary green energy source.  Productive conversations on the federal 
legislation regarding Interim Storage and specific steps necessary to remove dry cask 
storage from the site.   
The Zoning Department continues to be very busy with new development 
applications and number of permit requests.  The town has recently promoted an 
Assistant Building Official to Building Official and hired a new Assistant Building 
Official.  The Zoning Department are currently “working the bugs out” of the newly 
launched Online Permitting Process, to make things easier for the resident.  We 
continue to look for new and exciting economic development that will have long-
term effects and will enhance our Net Taxable Grand List. The Town of Waterford 
is currently completing the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.  
"Plan Waterford" is our Town’s guide for the future. It shows where we have been 
and lays out the vision for where we are going. Thank you to the staff and Planning 
& Zoning Commission for the effort put forward as we complete the final phases, 
including the online survey. Over the past year, there continues to be a commitment 
towards economic development and our continued efforts to “fill empty storefronts” 
and attract new businesses to Waterford. Female business owner, Linsi Getz 
Bratland added on to her existing business and opened Cyclebar in Waterford 
Commons. The Town continues to welcome new businesses.  
ALLTOWN Fresh Select on Route 85 opened.  The 168-Unit 
Waterford Woods Luxury Apartments Complex project 
started.  This needed apartment housing development is an 
approximately $90M project on Willetts Avenue, and is on 
schedule to open in December 2022 and will include a state 
of the art clubhouse and pool, rain gardens, 3-mile walking 
trail, pickleball courts, dog park and garage units for 
additional storage for residents.  Waterford Woods sees 

 
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every unit being filled quickly, providing the town 
additional tax revenue with limited town services 
needed.  The town celebrated the Grand Opening 
of Big Lots in the old Benny’s space at Waterfall 
Center.  The new Hartford Healthcare Medical 
Facility has officially opened and has filled the 
void left at the old Toys-R-Us property. This is 
Hartford HealthCare’s newest and biggest with 
70,000 square feet of medical space, housing primary care physicians as well as a 
host of specialized services such as breast health colorectal surgery and men’s 
health.  The old Sunset Rib Restaurant in Mago Point was purchased this past year 
and is currently being renovated to be a new “Fat Tuna” seafood restaurant, 
completion date is projected to be Winter of 2023.  FASTSIGNS moved just down 
the road to Boston Post Road, creating an amazing space!  Graniteville Dentistry 
new dentist office is moving into the vacant space at Utopia Centre. The Town’s 
Economic Development Commission and Planning Department continue to work 
diligently with local restaurants and food service providers, long-term care facilities, 
retail stores and residents to help those who need the help.   
In the Spring of 2022, the Waterford Economic Development Commission created 
a Small Business Grant Program, (with $300,000 from the American Rescue Fund) 
committed to a consultant and small businesses owners in town. Economic 
Development will review and approve Waterford and Quaker Hill businesses 
requests for grants moving forward.  Small Businesses that were operating during 
the pandemic and negatively impacted by the pandemic will be eligible for 
consideration. 
Fleet Management Plan 
This past year the Town invested in Fleetio, new fleet 
vehicle software to improve efficiencies and assist the 
Town in managing maintenance needs and costs.  We 
have continued the use of the Fleet Management Plan as a way to provide quality 
vehicles without having major spikes in our budget.  By planning a life cycle for the 
various vehicles and constantly reviewing the need for these, we have been able to 
provide our employees with safe efficient and affordable equipment. Implementation 
of the Utilization Plan has already been helpful in us to get better returns on our 
auctioned vehicles and removing some of the more inefficient vehicles from the 

 
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plan.  We continue to look at ways to improve efficiencies going forward. The Public 
Works Department and the Police Department fleet plans remain a priority.  As 
supply chain issues have occurred, the Town remains in good position to purchase 
the fleet necessary to keep our town safe and operating efficiently.  The Town has 
also removed vehicles from the fleet that were no longer needed (sold at auction), in 
an effort to reduce the size of the fleet, while the new Municipal Complex’s 70,000 
square foot garage now keeps our trucks and other fleet equipment inside and 
protected from the elements.  The Long Range Fiscal Planning Committee continues 
to focus its priorities on Fleet Management, focusing in how many vehicles the Town 
has in its fleet, maintenance of vehicles to extend life and budgeting for large vehicle 
replacement when the time is needed. 
 
Budget Management 
 
In 2022, the Town of Waterford enjoyed a tax decrease again!  Over the past year, 
there has been a commitment to work closely with the Board of Selectmen, Board 
of Finance and the Representative Town Meeting to ensure Departmental Budgets, 
Capital Spending and Fleet Management Plans are thoughtful, deliberate and 
transparent.  There has been a commitment to identify areas where Department 
Heads can find savings.  The Town continues to prioritize a working budget for our 
town that supports first responders, critical services and level of education we enjoy 
in town, while minimizing the growth of the taxpayers’ burden. We have continued 
that philosophy with a minimal increase in the budget and a continuing close eye on 
any replacement or additional positions in our staff, all the while, updating job 
descriptions through Commissions and the Program Review Board.  
 
The Town, like many of its neighboring communities, has seen a continuation of 
retirements by eligible employees.  There continues to be a focus placed on 
recruitment and retention of building officials, 
assessor and dispatchers.  Over the past year, a 
number of eligible Department Heads retired: the 
Chief of Police, Senior Services Director, Utility 
Commission Director and Recreation & Parks 
Director to name a few. The Town would like to 
thank our town leaders who have given decades of 

 
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their lives to our amazing community.  We appreciate your service and wish you and 
your families all the best in retirement! 
 
Conclusion 
 
Waterford continues to grow and attract families and businesses to town.  We 
continue to have some of the largest retail shopping stores and plazas in southeastern 
CT and are home to two nuclear power plants.  These provide many benefits to our 
town.  We have more growth forecast for the town and look forward to planning out 
that growth with the various builders and developers.  The year posed serious 
challenges due to supply chain issues and significant cost increases within capital 
expenses, handling the pandemic, as well as absorbing the aforementioned number 
of retirements of long-time town leaders and employees, yet, provided great 
opportunities and services for the Town.   The Board of Selectmen delivered 
substantial government accomplishments of the people’s goals in 2022.  Waterford 
has 221 years of history and our future reflects the substantial achievements of our 
successful past.  Finally, and sadly, the loss of former 
First Selectman Daniel Steward had an impact on the 
lives of countless Waterford residents this past year.  
Dan’s 14 years as First Selectman is the longest tenure 
of any First Selectman and his love for the town and its’ 
residents was endless. The Town of Waterford will 
never forget Dan’s presence as a true gentleman, a 
family man, a father, and to me and so many others, a 
true a friend.