First Selectman's 2024 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, 
transparency, 
a 
sense 
of 
belonging and always putting the Waterford 
community first in my decision-making.  I am 
proud to work alongside Selectman Rich Muckle 
and Selectman Greg Attanasio and present the 
2024 Board of Selectmen Annual Report. 
In 2024, the BOS presented an FY25 operating budget with an increase of 3.85%, 
highlighted by an increase of $710,520 for Retirement Commission, and Public 
Safety 1) $285,042 for Police Department 2) $102,199 for Emergency Management 
and 3) $100,807 for Fire Services.  Previous general operating budget increases of 
1.32%, 1.25%, 1.65% and 2.07%, have been respectfully submitted and approved. 
The 5-year Capital Plan, which is the responsibility of the First Selectmen, continues 
to highlight a “Snap Shot”, which identifies projects that fall into the following four 
categories 1) Road Paving 2) Infrastructure/Utilities 3) Building Maintenance 4) 
Board of Education. The “Snap Shot” tool  remain an effective tool to transparently 
address the responsible use of the General Fund Balance for capital projects.  The 
primary focus for the “Snap Shot” in 2024 was road paving, building maintenance 
and park improvements and Board of Education needs.   
The First Selectman completed or closed 18 approved and funded capital projects in 
2024, nearly $5.8M in projects completed.  The First Selectman continues to fund 
the Town’s Fleet Plan at $1M annually as well the town’s retirement fund at $1M. 
The First Selectman continues to work closely with the Board of Finance and RTM 
to complete existing capital projects and initiate necessary town-wide capital 
BOARD OF SELECTMEN 
2024 ANNUAL REPORT
ROBERT J. BRULE,  FIRST SELECTMAN 
RICH MUCKLE,  SELECTMAN 
GREG ATTANASIO,  SELECTMAN 
SHANNON WITHEY,  EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 
SELECTMAN GREG ATTANASIO, FIRST 
SELECTMAN ROBERT BRULE AND SELECTMAN 
RICHARD MUCKLE 

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infrastructure projects. The First Selectman continues to provide the Board of 
Selectmen, Board of Finance and the RTM quarterly updates to ensure transparency.    
Over the past year, First Selectman Brule served as Chairman of the Southeastern 
Connecticut Council of Governments (SECOG) and remains a member of the 
Executive Committee for SECOG and the Southeast Area Transit District (SEAT).  
Proudly, First Selectman Brule was selected into the Waterford Athletic Hall of 
Fame as the Waterford High School girls soccer team coach for twenty years, 
winning the school’s first soccer state championship and amassing the most career 
wins in the ECC.  
Community Engagement 
The First Selectman’s Office remains 
committed to community engagement and 
neighbors helping neighbors.  The First 
Selectman’s “Waterford Cares” initiative 
started 5 years ago  and includes hosting 
First Selectman Food Drives for the 
Waterford 
Community 
Food 
Bank, 
providing donated holiday meals to 
veterans, seniors and families in need, 
supporting the holiday tree lightings at 
Jordan Green and Quaker Hill Green, 
sponsoring the Waterford Day Parade, 
supporting Halloween Trunk or Treat and Socks for Seniors events, distributing 
Town Proclamations and Town Coins to honor scouts, milestones and residents, 
hosting the Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies and participating in 
Wreaths-Across-America every December, supporting survivors of domestic 
violence and Safe Futures as well as the Terri 
Brodeu 
Breast 
Cancer 
Foundation 
and 
sponsoring 
the 
Waterford 
Veterans 
Coffeehouse, which has become the largest 
attended Veterans Coffeehouse in eastern 
Connecticut.  
The First Selectman participated in the town’s 
first Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration and 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH STUDENTS WHO 
VOLUNTEERED FOR THE STAR WARS FOOD DRIVE AT 
TOWN HALL 

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was proud to attend the “Women Between 
Cultures - Promoting Health and Wellness by 
Building Community” event in Waterford. 
Amazing energy, great dancing and incredible 
people getting together to celebrate and share 
their culture! Hispanic Heritage Month is 
celebrated from September 15 to October 
15 each year to recognize the contributions of 
Hispanic and Latinx Americans to the United 
States. The First Selectman is excited to 
announce he will be sponsoring the Waterford 
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in 2025.  The 4th Annual 2024 Waterford Day 
Parade continued this summer and included over 90 entries, the largest number of 
participants in 5 years! “Unity in our Community” and seniors celebrating their 100th 
birthdays remain the themes every year.  In 2024, the First Selectman recognized 
Police Chaplain Joseph Parise as the Grand Marshal. The Town of Waterford 
continues its strong relationship with the American Red Cross and has continued to 
host monthly blood drives at Town Hall.  
The 
First 
Selectman 
and 
Emergency 
Management Director attended the 2024 
Connecticut 
Emergency 
Management 
Symposium, which took place at Camp Nett in 
Niantic. Each spring, the CT Division of 
Emergency 
Management 
& 
Homeland 
Security, the Connecticut Department of 
Emergency Services and Public Protection, and 
the Connecticut Department of Public Health 
attract hundreds of local public safety officials 
and other local leaders responsible for 
responding to mass emergencies.  
The First Selectman opened the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) with Police 
Chief Balestracci for the Secretary of State’s Emergency Contingency Model Plan 
for Elections drill and discussed the Scenarios/Modules and Injects to each module. 
This ensured a safe election process, which Waterford managed successfully. The 
First Selectman signed two additional Inter-local Agreements on behalf of the 
Waterford Police Department for the Southeastern Connecticut Special Response 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH DESPP 
COMMISIONER RONNELL HIGGINS AT THE 
2024 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 
SYMPOSIUM HELD AT CAMP NETT 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE CELEBRATING HISPANIC 
HERITAGE MONTH AT THE WATERFORD LIBRARY 

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Team. The Town of Montville and the City of Groton have now joined Waterford, 
the Town of East Lyme and the Town of Ledyard to form this impressive regional 
team.  The Shoreline Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team (START) also saw 
growth.  This regional agreement remains an excellent example of Waterford 
working together with East Lyme and new partner Montville Police Department. 
The First Selectman continues to work closely with the Boating Division of the CT 
Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) to split the cost of 
rehabilitating the large state-owned Mago Point Boat Launch Public Parking lot, 
which will offer Waterford residents after hour parking and encourage continued 
business development.  
The Town of Waterford hosted a Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 
for a Hostile Action Drill at Dominion 
Millstone Power Station at the Emergency 
Operations Center. The day-long exercise 
included the Waterford Police Department 
and Police Chief, Waterford Emergency 
Management 
Director, 
Waterford 
Fire 
Department and Director of Fire Services, 
Town Department Heads and Superintendent, 
State Police, FBI, DEEP, Public Health 
Director, the Coast Guard and Dominion Security and Facility supervisors. The 
federally run FEMA drill simulated the progressive scenarios we have been trained 
to address. Each situational progression far more severe.  Waterford police officers, 
firefighters, fire police, public works maintainers and ambulance service staff all 
participated at Forward Command and throughout town. The debriefing session after 
the drill by FEMA evaluators was very positive. Working alongside Waterford 
leaders, employees and professionals in our EOC remains my greatest responsibility 
to every resident we serve.  Thank you to Dominion, 
FEMA, the FBI, the State Police and all our mutual aid 
partners that participated in the drill.   
The First Selectman hosted the Ambassador of 
Finland, Mikko Hautala, Congressman Joe Courtney 
and Paul Murray, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition to Waterford.  U.S. 
Congressman Joe Courtney and I were proud to tour 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE AND SUPERINTENDENT 
TOM GIARD PARTICIPATING IN THE 2024 FEMA  
MILLSTONE POWER STATION HOSTILE ACTION DRILL 
FIRST SELECTMAN ROB BRULE WITH 
FINLAND AMBASSADOR HAUTALA AND 
CONGRESSMAN COURTNEY 

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Dominion’s Millstone Power Station and conduct a meeting at Waterford Town 
Hall. The discussion focused on Finland’s proactive experience with storage of spent 
nuclear waste and the federal government’s emerging plans for nuclear waste storage 
and consent-based siting. I want to thank Secretary Murray, Ambassador Hautala 
and Congressman Courtney as well as Dominion for their willingness to share their 
experience and expertise on this challenging but crucially important issue of long-
term nuclear waste storage. Few communities across America are more significantly 
affected by this as yet unresolved issue than Waterford, and the First Selectman will 
continue to support the federal government’s concept of consent-based siting of 
spent waste storage and visit national and international proposals to store nuclear 
waste. 
Capital Projects 
The newly renovated Arnold E. Holm Jr. 
Memorial Park officially opened this summer!  
The park renovations included ADA accessible 
pathways, lighting, boardwalk, bridges, aerating 
pumps, basking logs for turtles, benches, 
memorial plaza, stonewall, streetscape trees and 
lighting on Rope Ferry Road. The First 
Selectman would like to thank the Recreation 
and Parks Commission and the Civic Triangle 
Ad Hoc Committee for their two-year 
commitment to overseeing the project.  Most of 
the funding came from ARPA, however, the dredging cost of $945,000 and the final 
$273,428 for ADA access and streetscape along Rope Ferry Road was from capital. 
The First Selecman’s 5-year capital plan reflected a “Snap-Shot” for the responsible 
and transparent use of the general fund balance for capital projects.  The 5-year 
capital plan reflected transparent use of the general fund balance as to ensure 
operating budgets and impact on the tax rate remains stable.  Road paving projects 
will continue to include the Utility Commission replacing 30-year old plastic water 
connectors over to copper prior to road paving, eliminating the possibility of leaks 
forming under the newly paved roads. The First Selectman’s $2M request for 
funding school security improvements remains the largest capital project for school 
and community safety the town has ever requested. The largest part of the project, 
the video security cameras in and around schools, started at the beginning of 
summer.   
THE ARNOLD E. HOLM JR. MEMORIAL PARK 
GRAND OPENING 

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Other Notable Capital Projects Completed in 
2024: 
• Town paved Kingfisher Way, Brill 
Avenue, Kestral Way, Lark Street, 
Mackenzie Avenue, Quail Street, Robin 
Street and Thrush Street.  
• The Community Center HVAC System 
upgrade was completed. 
• The Cohanzie Firehouse Underground 
Septic Tank was removed. 
• 8 Goshen Road home abutting Great Neck School was purchased. 
• Oswegatchie Firehouse architectural drawings were completed. 
• Oswegatchie Firehouse project manager was funded. 
• Clark Lane Chillers replaced for the AC system. 
• Fargo Water Tank antennas replaced during the rehab project. 
• Town Hall Basketball Court funding approved.  
Fleet Management Plan 
In 2024, the Town received three large pieces of apparatus for Public Works, 
including a Sweeper for $348,209, a 5-ton Dump Truck for $276,695 and a Side 
Load Refuse Truck for $391,997. 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 continues to remove vehicles and equipment 
from the fleet in an effort to reduce the size of the fleet. The new Municipal 
Complex’s 70,000 square foot garage continues to keep our trucks and other fleet 
equipment inside and protected from the elements.  The First Selectman will 
continue to focus on Fleet Management, 
focusing on 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.  The Waterford Fire 
Department  included its’ vehicles within the 
Fleetio fleet management system, which will 
ensure the town manages fleet budget fire, 
THE ARNOLD E. HOLM JR. MEMORIAL PARK 
SEEN HERE AT NIGHT 
THE PUBLIC WORKS FLEET PARKED INSIDE THE 
MUNICIPAL COMPLEX GARAGE READY FOR 
INCLEMENT WEATHER 

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inspections, work orders, preventative maintenance schedules and parts inventory in 
a single dashboard.    
Planning & Economic Development 
Over the past year, there continues to be commitment 
towards responsible economic development and our 
continued efforts to “fill empty storefronts” and attract new 
businesses to Waterford. In 2024, residents were excited to 
see Chipotle Mexican Grill open next to M&T Bank. Fish 
Market moved to Waterford from Niantic and opened next 
to Ivy’s off Boston Post Road.  Fish Market features fresh 
shellfish and seafood, with a focus on “knowing the 
source”. Aesthetics Ink Day Spa opened behind the Dunkin 
Donuts on Boston Post Road as well.  Phase Two of the 
Waterford Woods Luxery Apartment Complex on Willetts 
Avenue was completed in 2024 and included a 
clubhouse, pool, pickleball court, walking trail, 
vegetable and herb gardens and additional storage 
units on the property.  Phase Three, the final phase 
of Waterford Woods, started in the summer of 2024 
and is expected to be completed by summer of 2025. 
This $120M project has brought much needed 
workforce family housing to the region and will 
have a positive tax impact on the town.  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.  Finally, the Planning & Zoning 
Commission and First Selectman worked closely 
with a consultant in 2024 developing a draft 
Planned Development District (PDD) for the 
Crystal Mall property, which will encourage 
mixed-use development, provide flexibility for the 
owners and needed tax revenue for the residents.  
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH 
AESTHETICS INK OWNER GIA 
REAGAN 
THE CRYSTAL MALL HAS SIX SEPARATE 
PARCELS ON THE PROPERTY OWNED BY 
THREE DIFFERENT COMPANIES 
CHIPOLTE MEXICAN GRILL OPENED IN 2024 

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The town continues to look for new economic 
development that will have long-term effects and 
will enhance our Net Taxable Grand List.  The First 
Selectman’s 
Office 
continues 
to 
have 
communication with the three owners of the Crystal 
Mall property.  The Town continues to discuss 
multiple conceptual multi-use options that would 
include demolition and partial demolition. The Town 
continues to discuss conceptual ideas for the project 
with the owners as well as the Connecticut 
Department of Economic Development.  The town’s Board of Selectmen and RTM 
voted unanimously back in February 2023 to support Dominion Energy’s interest in 
building data centers on its property; however, Siting Council denied Dominion’s 
initial permit application.  There has been no application re-submitted to Siting 
Council in 2024. Data centers on Dominion property would provide $8M annually 
for 30 years to the town if completed.  The 40-home Ivy Hill Village residential 
project off Great Neck Road completed construction of 12 of the 40 energy efficient, 
smaller homes with an  HOA that will take care of the 
lawn, trash and recycling and provide owners a nature 
walking trail. While Waterford Woods $120M 
estimated housing project, mentioned earlier, will 
have a positive impact on tax revenue.  In 2024, the 
Town successfully negotiated a tax appeal by 
Dominion Energy. Both sides were respectful, 
thoughtful and exhibited the importance of being the 
largest taxpayer in a host community.  
Budget Management 
Again in 2024, the Town of Waterford enjoyed a stable mill rate of 22.3.  The Board 
of Finance voted to use $1M of fund balance to offset the increase in the FY25 BOE 
operating budget of $3,417,198 and town operating budget of $1,454,111.  The 
Town continues to prioritize a working budget for our town that supports first 
responders, critical services and level of education we expect in town, while 
minimizing the growth of the taxpayers’ burden. 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 
town employees, most notably, building officials, police officers and firefighters.  In 
WATERFORD WOODS LUXURY 
APARTMENTS COMPLEX WILL ADD TAX 
REVENUE TO THE TOWN 
IVY HILL VILAGE PROVIDES SMALLER 
HOMES OFFERING MODERN LIVING IN A 
BEAUTIFUL TOWN 

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2024, the Town of Waterford saw the retirement of 
Utility Director Jim Bartelli after 39 years of service and 
hired Jill Stevens as Jim’s replacement. The First 
Selectman will continue to focus on infrastructure and 
road paving with the general fund balance, while 
staffing levels and fleet management will be a priority 
for review. Waterford continues to host some of the 
largest retail shopping stores and plazas in southeastern 
CT and are home to two nuclear power plants and the 
beautiful Great Neck Country Club.  These provide 
many benefits to our town.  We have more growth 
forecast for the town and look forward to planning that growth with the various 
builders and developers. Like so many of our neighboring communities, the year 
posed serious challenges due to supply 
chain 
issues 
and 
significant 
cost 
increases 
within 
capital 
expenses, 
adjusting to post-pandemic realities and 
the impact Electric Boat hiring thousands 
of highly compensated employees has 
had, and will continue to have, on the 
recruitment and retention of town 
employees. 
American Rescue Plan Act 
All expected ARPA funding from the federal government has been received by the 
Town of Waterford ($5,547,889) and was encumbered, 
per law, by December 31, 2024. 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 RTM – appropriating the funding to 
emergency service upgrades, small businesses, tourism, 
mental health needs, water utility upgrades and 
maintenance and outdoor parks.  The Town continues to 
provide the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and the 
RTM quarterly updates on all appropriations to ensure 
transparency. 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH NEWLY 
PROMOTED UTILITY DIRECTOR JILL 
STEVENS 
THE 750,000 GALLON FARGO 
ROAD WATER TANK $1.3M 
REHABILITATION PROJECT 
IN 2012, THE MORTIMER FAMILY PURCHASED AND 
COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED THE GREAT NECK COUNTRY 
CLUB INTO ONE OF CT’S BEST PRIVATE GOLF COURSES 

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Projects completed with ARPA funds in 2024: 
• Fargo Lane Water (Tank) Tower Rehabilitation 
• Waterford Park Pond ADA Pathways,  Holm 
Memorial and Boardwalk 
• Waterford Park Streetscape – Along Rope Ferry 
Road 
• Waterford Park Playground ADA Pathways to 
Pond / Restrooms  
• Old Norwich Road Pump Station Upgrade 
• Town GIS Updates 
• Eugene O’Neill Theater Hammond Mansion Roof Replacement 
Conclusion 
The First Selectman is proud of the work we 
continue to accomplish in a bi-partisan and 
professional 
manner 
in 
2024 
and 
remains 
committed to continuing positive, transparent and 
thoughtful discussions in the year ahead.  Finally, 
the First Selectman is proud to acknowledge the 
2024 Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Citizen of the Year, Mike 
Buscetto. This is not just an honor for Mike and his family, but for the entire town 
of Waterford. As the Chairman of the Waterford Youth & Family 
Services Bureau and member of the Waterford Economic 
Development Commission, Mike is always at the heart of helping 
people in our town. The First Selectman would also like to 
acknowledge Quaker Hill Elementary School custodian, William 
“Billy” Krajewski, who was selected a Top 10 Finalist for the Cintas 
National Custodian of the Year award!  
THE FARGO ROAD TANK PRIOR TO 
THE REHAB WORK