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. Commitment is 
truly the most important piece of serving our 
community, and I remain steadfast in valuing trust, 
communication, 
transparency, 
a 
sense 
of 
belonging, and always prioritizing the Waterford 
community in my decision-making. I am 
immensely proud of our town and the dedicated 
employees, volunteers elected officials I work 
with every day. My energy and passion for this 
role drive me to provide the public with a 
thoughtful Annual Summary. It is a privilege to work alongside Selectman Rich 
Muckle and Selectman Greg Attanasio as I present the 2024 Board of Selectmen 
Annual Report.. 
In 2024, the Board of Selectman (BOS) presented an FY25 operating budget with 
an increase of 3.85% highlighted by a $710,520 increase for the Retirement 
Commission and $488,048 for Public Safety:  $285,042 Police Department, 
$102,199 Emergency Management, and $100,807 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 “Snap Shot” Capital Plan, which is 
the responsibility of the First Selectmen, continues to identify projects that fall into 
the following four categories:  Road Paving, Infrastructure/Utilities, Building 
Maintenance, and Board of Education. The “Snap Shot” tool remains 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, park improvements and Board of Education needs.    
BOARD OF SELECTMEN 
2024 ANNUAL REPORT
ROBERT J. BRULE,  FIRST SELECTMAN 
RICH MUCKLE,  SELECTMAN 
GREG ATTANASIO,  SELECTMAN 
SHANNON WITHEY,  EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 
FIRST SELECTMAN ROB BRULE WITH 
SELECTMAN RICH MUCKLE AND SELECTMAN 
GREG ATTANASIO 

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 In 2024, after completing or closing 18 approved and funded capital projects, the 
Town of Waterford saw nearly $5.8M in projects completed.  The First Selectman’s 
office supports the funding for the Town’s Fleet Plan at $1M annually as well as the 
town’s retirement fund at $1M.  Working closely with the Board of Finance and 
RTM, I strive to complete existing capital projects and initiate necessary town-wide 
capital infrastructure projects while continuing to provide the Board of Selectmen, 
Board of Finance and the RTM quarterly updates to ensure transparency.    
Over the past year, I have served as Chairman of the Southeastern Connecticut 
Council of Governments (SECOG) in addition to maintaining membership in the 
Executive Committee for SECOG and the Southeast Area Transit District (SEAT). 
On a more personal note, I was proudly selected into the 2024 Waterford Athletic 
Hall of Fame as the Waterford High School girls soccer team coach for twenty years. 
Community Engagement 
The 
First 
Selectman’s 
Office 
remains 
committed to community engagement and a 
“neighbors helping neighbors” approach.  The 
“Waterford Cares” initiative which I started 5 
years ago includes the following: 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; participating in Wreaths-
Across-America 
every 
December; 
supporting 
survivors of domestic violence and Safe Futures as 
well as the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation; 
and sponsoring the Waterford Veterans Coffeehouse.  
To note, the Waterford Veterans Coffeehouse has 
become the largest attended Veterans Coffeehouse in 
eastern Connecticut.  The Town of Waterford 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH STUDENTS WHO 
VOLUNTEERED FOR THE FIRST SELECTMAN’S 2024     
STAR WARS FOOD DRIVE AT TOWN HALL 

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maintains a strong relationship with the American 
Red Cross and continued to host monthly blood 
drives at Town Hall through 2024 as well as 
supporting the Thames River Garden Club’s 
annual plant sale. In the Fall of 2024, I participated 
in the town’s first Hispanic Heritage Month 
Celebration and was proud to present Town 
Proclamation to the “Women Between Cultures - 
Promoting Health and Wellness by Building 
Community” performers at the event. This event 
boasted 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. As First Selectman, I am excited to announce I will 
be sponsoring the Waterford Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in 2025. The 4th 
Annual Waterford Day Parade 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 for our town’s parade.  Police 
Chaplain Joseph Parise was recognized as the 2024 Grand Marshal.  
The First Selectman and Emergency Management 
Director, Steve Sinagra, attended the 2024 Connecticut 
Emergency Management Symposium at Camp Nett in 
Niantic. Each spring, the CT Division of Emergency 
Management & Homeland Security, the Connecticut 
Department of Emergency Services & 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.  
As Waterford’s First Selectman, I opened the EOC 
(Emergency Operations Center) with Police Chief, Marc Balestracci, for the 
Secretary of State’s Emergency Contingency Model Plan for Elections drill and 
discussed the scenarios of each module. In addition, the Town committed 8 months 
of preparation to ensure a safe election process. As First Selectman, I signed two (2) 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH 
DESPP COMMISSIONER RONNELL 
HIGGINS AT THE 2024 EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE CELEBRATING 
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AT THE 
WATERFORD LIBRARY 

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additional Inter-local Agreements on behalf of the Waterford Police Department for 
the Southeastern Connecticut Special Response 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 is an 
excellent example of Waterford working together with East Lyme and new partner 
Montville Police Department. As throughout 2024, I will continue in 2025 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 in that area.  
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 (at Millstone) 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 to ensure 
resident’s safety remains my greatest responsibility.  Thank you to Dominion, 
FEMA, the FBI, the State Police and all our mutual aid partners that participated in 
the drill.   
The Town hosted the Ambassador of Finland, Mikko Hautala, U.S. Congressman 
Joe Courtney and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Paul Murray for the Department 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE AND SUPERINTENDENT 
TOM GIARD PARTICIPATING IN THE 2024 FEMA  
MILLSTONE POWER STATION HOSTILE ACTION DRILL 

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of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition, to Waterford. 
Congressman Courtney and I were proud to tour 
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 I 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, a boardwalk, bridges, 
aerating pumps, basking logs for turtles, 
benches, 
a 
memorial 
plaza, 
stonewall, 
streetscape trees and additional lighting on Rope 
Ferry Road. I would like to thank the Recreation 
and Parks Commission and the Civic Triangle 
Ad Hoc Committee for their two-year 
commitment in overseeing the project. Most of 
the funding came from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), however, the dredging 
($945,000), the final phase for ADA access ($273,428) and streetscape trees along 
Rope Ferry Road were supplemented from capital monies. The First Selectman’s 
“Snap Shot” is a 5-year capital plan reflecting the responsible and transparent use of 
the General Fund Balance for capital projects. The “Snap Shot” helps ensure 
operating budgets stay intact and impact on the tax rate remains stable. Road paving 
THE ARNOLD E. HOLM JR. MEMORIAL PARK 
GRAND OPENING 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH FINLAND 
AMBASSADOR HAUTALA AND  U.S. 
CONGRESSMAN JOE COURTNEY 

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projects will continue to include the Utility 
Commission replacing 30-year old plastic water 
connectors with copper prior to road paving, 
eliminating the possibility of leaks forming under 
the newly paved roads. The Town’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 this project, the video security 
cameras inside and around our schools, started at 
the beginning of the 2024 summer.  
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 PUBLIC WORKS FLEET PARKED INSIDE THE 
MUNICIPAL COMPLEX GARAGE READY FOR 
INCLEMENT WEATHER 
THE ARNOLD E. HOLM JR. MEMORIAL PARK 
SEEN HERE AT NIGHT 

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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.  
The Waterford Fire Department included its vehicles within the Fleetio fleet 
management system to ensure all town-owned vehicles, both small and large, are 
within the new fleet software program.      
Planning & Economic Development 
Over the past year, the Town of Waterford remained 
committed towards responsible economic development 
and our efforts to “fill empty storefronts” by attracting new 
businesses. In 2024, residents were excited to see Chipotle 
Mexican Grill open next to M&T Bank on Boston Post 
Road. Fish Market, who sells fresh shellfish and seafood 
with a focus on “knowing the source”, moved to Waterford 
from Niantic and opened next to Ivy’s on Boston Post 
Road.  Aesthetics Ink Day Spa opened in that same plaza 
on Boston Post Road. Phase Two of the Waterford Woods 
Luxury Apartment Complex on Willetts Avenue was 
completed in 2024 and includes 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 
CHIPOLTE MEXICAN GRILL OPENED IN 2024 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH 
AESTHETICS INK OWNER GIA 
REAGAN 

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Commission for the effort put forward as we complete 
the final phases, including the online survey. Finally, the 
Planning & Zoning Commission and I worked closely 
all year with a consultant developing a draft Planned 
Development District (PDD) for the Crystal Mall 
property to encourage mixed-use development, provide 
flexibility for the owners and a much needed tax revenue 
for Waterford residents.  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 communicates with the three owners of the 
Crystal Mall property often. Discussions include 
several conceptual multi-use options that would 
include demolition and partial demolition of the 
structure. 
The 
Town 
and 
the 
Connecticut 
Department of Economic Development continue to 
discuss conceptual ideas for the project with the 
current Mall owners.  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, the CT Siting Council denied Dominion’s initial permit 
application. There has been no application re-submitted to the 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 adjacent 
to 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.  Those homeowners also have a nature 
walking trail off the new road.  
The Town continues to share a positive working 
relationship 
with 
Dominion 
Energy 
and 
successfully negotiated a tax appeal in 2024.   
 
THE CRYSTAL MALL HAS SIX SEPARATE 
PARCELS ON THE PROPERTY OWNED 
BY THREE DIFFERENT COMPANIES 
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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Budget Management 
In 2024, the Town of Waterford enjoyed a stable mill 
rate (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 that 
supports first responders, critical services and a 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. We worked hard 
on the recruitment and retention of town employees, most notably, building officials, 
police officers and firefighters. In 2024, the Town of 
Waterford saw the retirement of Utility Director Jim 
Bartelli after 39 years of service and hired Jill 
Stevens as his replacement. This past year included 
funding infrastructure and road paving with the 
General Fund Balance, and worked on staffing levels 
and fleet management that were priorities for review.  
Waterford hosts some of the largest retail shopping 
stores and plazas in southeastern CT and is home to two nuclear power plants and 
the beautiful Great Neck Country Club. These provide many benefits to our town as 
well as tax revenue. We have more growth forecasted for the town and look forward 
to planning that growth with various builders and 
developers. 
Similar 
to 
our 
neighboring 
communities, the year posed serious challenges 
in our budgets due to supply chain issues, 
significant 
cost 
increases 
within 
capital 
expenses, the adjustment to post-pandemic 
realities and the impact Electric Boat has had on 
the recruitment and retention of Waterford 
employees by hiring thousands of highly 
compensated area residents. The Town continues 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH NEWLY 
PROMOTED UTILITY DIRECTOR JILL 
STEVENS 
THE FRIENDS OF NEVINS COTTAGE, INC. WAS 
CREATED IN 2024  TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN 
THE HISTORIC NEVINS COTTAGE 
FIRST SELECTMAN BRULE WITH TOWN OF 
WATERFORD DEPARTMENT HEADS 

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to find creative ways to reduce costs to taxpayers by supporting the Friends of 
Nevins Cottage, Inc. established in 2024.  The Friends group will restore and 
maintain this historic building through in-kind and private sector donations. 
Reducing the cost of historic preservation to the town by over $250,000. 
American Rescue Plan Act 
All expected American Rescue Plan Act (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 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/maintenance 
and 
outdoor 
parks. All appropriations are provided to the Board of 
Selectmen, Board of Finance and the RTM in quarterly 
updates on to ensure transparency.  
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  
As Waterford’s First Selectman, I am proud of the work the Town has accomplished 
in a bi-partisan and professional manner in 2024 and I remain committed to 
continuing positive and thoughtful discussions to benefit our community in the year 
THE 750,000 GALLON FARGO 
ROAD WATER TANK $1.3M 
REHABILITATION PROJECT 
THE FARGO ROAD TANK 
PRIOR TO THE ARPA 
PROJECT STARTING 

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ahead. Finally, I am delighted to acknowledge the 
2024 
Chamber 
of 
Commerce 
of 
Eastern 
Connecticut Citizen of the Year, Waterford resident 
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. I would also 
like to acknowledge our amazing Quaker Hill Elementary School custodian, William 
“Billy” Krajewski, who was selected as a Top 10 Finalist for the Cintas National 
Custodian of the Year award.   
As we conclude another year, our community stands stronger and more united than 
ever. Despite facing some challenges, like all municipalities face, we have achieved 
significant progress across the town. New initiatives have been successfully 
launched, existing projects have reached fruition, demonstrating our collective 
resilience and dedication. The progress made is a testament to 
the hard work and commitment of our residents, volunteers, 
elected officials and employees. Their passion and 
perseverance have driven our community forward, making it a 
place of pride and belonging. Looking ahead, I remain 
committed to fostering a thriving, inclusive, and vibrant 
community. I will continue to build on our successes, learn 
from our experiences, and support one another in the pursuit of 
a brighter future for Waterford.