First Selectman's 2021 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 value trust, 
communication, dignity, inclusion and always putting the Waterford community at my 
forefront.  The First Selectman is proud to present the 2021 Annual Report. 
 
Community Engagement 
 
The pandemic continued through 2021 and as 
new variants continue to evolve, our community 
will continue to focus on ways of delivering 
quality services and to provide supports in a 
more creative and efficient manner.  As a town, 
we worked tirelessly with Ledge Light Health 
District, businesses, volunteers, the Cactus Jack 
Foundation, Waterford Rotary, Senior Services 
and Waterford Youth & Family Services to 
continue the “Waterford Cares” initiative.  In doing so, we continue to focus town efforts on the 
needs of all our residents, emotionally, financially, spiritually and physically.  We continued to 
donate and deliver meals and holiday dinners to Waterford families in need, seniors and veterans 
in town.   We continued the monthly Waterford Veterans Coffeehouse, a group that continues 
to connect Veterans at meetings and provides breakfast free to participants.  Community 
engagement is the component of strong economic and social transformation in a community as 
great as Waterford.  This summer we brought back the Waterford Parade to honor our seniors, 
both those seniors graduating high school and those seniors 100 years of age.  The “Celebrate 
our Seniors Parade” included live music on the Historic 
Green and featured Waterford residents as the musicians.  
Additionally, the Waterford Farmers Market continued 
despite the pandemic and 2021 saw creative ways in 
continuing this enjoyable community event, by holding 
the market indoors at Town Hall.   
 
As many of us adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 
safety of our community continued to be my highest 
priority. Partnering with Ledge Light Health District to 
host free community COVID-19 testing at the Waterford 
Library and a creative and successful indoor “Drive-Thru” 
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
ROBERT J. BRULE,  FIRST SELECTMAN 
JODY NAZARCHYK,  SELECTWOMAN 
ELIZABETH SABILIA,  SELECTWOMAN 
CINDY DUPOINTE, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT  

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Covid Vaccination event at our newly constructed Municipal Complex.  These events assured we 
continued to have the convenience of in-town testing and commitment to residents’ safety. Our 
efforts resulted in Waterford having one of the highest vaccination rates in the State of 
Connecticut.  Through communication with American Red Cross, Ledge Light Health District and 
United Way we have also offered the Town of Waterford to be a Regional Host for Blood Drives 
the first Friday of each month, COVID-19 Vaccine & Testing Clinics, and food distribution events 
in 2021!   
 
Our community continues to be responsive and safer with 24/7 
emergency response teams. The Town of Waterford now has 24/7 
ambulance coverage, 24/7 police officer coverage and 24/7 fire service 
coverage in town.  The Town of Waterford hired a new Director of Fire 
Services, Michael Howley, in June of 2021! All volunteer fire fighters 
continue to be eligible to receive stipends for their time protecting our 
community while two crews of paid fire fighters are on shift at all times 
in town (Jordan FD in the south end of town and Cohanzie FD in the 
north end of town).  In 2021, we signed an agreement with the 
Waterford Professional Firefighters Association to ensure the Town continues to staff a 24/7 
schedule in town to provide residents 24/7 fire and additional medical coverage. Two additional 
full-time fire fighters were approved in this agreement and will continue the trend of a 
responsible and deliberate increase in staffing for the Waterford Fire Department.  Due to the 
national shortage of volunteers and the trend of recruitment and retention of volunteer fire 
fighters declining, the Town continues to review response times of emergency responders and 
generates CAD Data Reports that enable Police, Fire and EMS dispatched data.  This data 
continues to be reviewed regularly and ensures responsible coverage.  Safer grants for additional 
firefighters will be examined in 2022.   
 
Capital Projects 
The construction of the Waterford High 
School Softball Field was completed and 
affords the girls softball team the opportunity 
to play high school games “on campus” for the 
first time ever!  It also gives the Recreation & 
Parks Department a viable space to rent out 
for revenue.  Thank you to the School Building 
Committee and staff for their comitment!  
Construction of the improved paths and new 
bathrooms at the Waterford Beach Park was 
completed in FY21 and came our great! 
Multiple Town departments worked together 
to deliver a more welcoming and accessible park to our residents. Electricity, city sewer and water 
are now on site! During the pandemic, the Recreation & Parks Department, the Utility 

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Commission, the Public Works Department, 
the 
Planning 
Department 
and 
the 
Environmental Planner worked together to 
accomplish this vision! The project removed 
two septic tanks which were in the flood 
plain 
and 
DEEP 
recommended 
their 
removal, the staff demolished the two 50 
year old bathrooms that had no electricity 
or city water & sewer, trenched 1600 feet of 
city sewer, city water and electrical conduit 
all the way from Eugene O’Neill Theatre 
Center, clearly identified the wetlands, 
created ADA pathways from the parking lot to the causeway bridge, purchased two 35 foot ADA 
compliant luxury trailers with multiple stalls, a changing room/handicapped bathroom, installed 
new showers, purchased two water fountains and a mobi-mat from the bridge to the beach for 
ADA accessibility and through the fleet capital plan ordered a beach ATV for EMT’s to access the 
beach quickly for emergencies. 
Most recently, our Town has completed one of the largest capital projects it has ever initiated, 
the $17M Municipal Complex housing the Public Works and Utility Commission. A landmark 
occasion for the Waterford Public Works Department & Utility Commission.  In May of 2020, the 
Waterford Department of Public Works began to phase into their new building after 17 years of 
hard work. Overcoming fiscal, environmental, and construction difficulties, the roughly 60,000 
square foot building opened fully in January 2021. Featuring a spacious garage to house the 
department’s many vehicles, a state-of-the-art mechanic shop, a wash bay sized to handle large 
collection vehicles, and office space for two departments, the building marks a victory for 
Waterford. As part of the project, the town was able to clean up a large area of contaminated 
ground around where the building would be constructed, contributing to the wellbeing of the 
environment. This land was contaminated by previous use of the property.  Surveys had identified 
that the contamination was under a specific area of the building, but once these concerns were 
addressed a final test of the area around the building revealed that there was another 
contaminated spot. The 
building houses all of 
the 
Public 
Works 
vehicles, 
increasing 
their lifespan and saving 
the town money. These 
vehicles are essential to 
the functioning of the 
town and are used to 
plow snow, salt roads, 

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and maintain infrastructure. The mechanic shop services nearly all town vehicles, making use of 
multiple vehicle lifts. The service area features drive-through and drive-in areas to maximize 
efficiency in the space. A sign shop connected to the garage produces signage for the town and 
ensures that traffic signs in Waterford stay in operating condition. There is an open-air garage 
offset from the main building used to house sanitation trucks that keeps them protected from 
the elements and prolongs their lifespan, while also allowing them to maintain sanitary 
conditions inside of the garage. Inside the administrative area, there are locker rooms, a 
conference space, and a breakroom with an employee kitchen. These are all major improvements 
from the old space, as employees would have to complete training modules at off-site locations, 
taking valuable time out of their day. The office space is shared with the Utility Commission 
Office, where residents can inquire about and pay their sewer bills. 
In 2021 the Town created 
an Ad Hoc Committee to 
study the interest a town 
park and began developing 
plans for the Waterford 
Community Park in our 
Town Center. The project 
continues efforts this year 
to create more vibrant 
outdoor spaces in the heart 
of 
our 
community, 
for 
residents of all ages.  I am excited to announce that the Board of Selectmen unanimously 
approved to adopt the Master Plan of the Waterford Community Park! Thank you to the Ad-Hoc 
Committee and Chairperson Miriam Wagner, Planning Director, Abby Piersall and consultant 
Kent & Frost, LLC for all their work, collaboration and presentation.  A “Town Center” with ADA 
accessible lit pathways connecting the Library, Playground and Historic Green - featuring a 
boardwalk with a pavilion and new bridges around a clean, dredged pond is just the beginning! 
American Rescue Fund Plan 

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Planning & Economic Development 
Construction activity remained strong in FY21, with $77,281,576 invested in new construction or 
improvements to existing properties. Waterford welcomed several new businesses, including 
Ollie’s and Ace Hardware on Boston Post Road.  Pro Endo and Dr. Milos Janicek built a state of 
the art dental facility on Cross Road, while Analytical Technologies Group (ATG) opened its’ 
laboratory equipment supply company on Cross Road as 
well.  Arcrite and Shipman’s opened locations on Foster 
Road, and construction began for medical offices on 
Cross Road and apartments over an expanded martial 
arts studio on Boston Post Road. The CT Siting Council 
approved a 16.78MW solar facility on Oil Mill Road, and 
construction is underway.  Interest in residential 
developments grew, with 72 new apartments coming 
online at Waterford Parc on Miner Lane, and zoning 
regulation amendments to support additional Waterford 
Woods apartments on Willetts Avenue. The Planning 

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Department is currently developing strategies for the 
Crystal Mall’s future and are excited about the recent 
$3.5M purchase of the Macy’s 10.5 acre property.  The 
Planning Director is in close contact with the Crystal Mall 
and abutting landlords to continue to support Simon 
Properties, as needed. In addition, the Planning 
Department continues to assess economic development 
options for the property. Waterford Woods Luxury 
Apartments continues construction on Willetts Avenue to 
continue to address housing needs for those who do not want to purchase or are unable to afford 
to purchase a home in Waterford.  Waterford Woods, unlike Waterford Parc, will include an 
outdoor pool, clubhouse and garage units for additional storage for residents.  Waterford Woods 
envisions every unit being filled quickly, providing the town additional tax revenue with limited 
town services needed, much like Waterford Parc.  Hartford Healthcare is nearing completion of 
construction on their multi-million-dollar medical office building, housing seven privately run 
health care offices and is expected to generate new jobs and filling the void left at the old Toys-
R-Us.  The town is awaiting appraisals on Southwest and Cohanzie School properties and is 
looking for a potential buyer to redevelop the properties.                                                                                     
Fleet Management Plan 
 
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 for Department Heads to get better returns on our auctioned vehicles and removing 
unnecessary vehicles from the plan.  We are constantly reviewing the plan for accuracy and 
efficiency moving forward and a plan is in place to “share” vehicles inter-departmentally.  The 
Long Range Fiscal Planning Committee continues to focus its’ priorities on Fleet Management. 
 
Budget Management 
 
In 2021, the Town of Waterford enjoyed a tax decrease again!  We continue to see modest 
growth in new businesses coming into town and saw an increase in the Grand List for the 7th 
consecutive year.  We continue to proudly develop a working budget for our town that supports 
the critical services programs we enjoy while minimizing the growth of the taxpayer’s burden.  
We continued that philosophy with a minimal increase in the budget in 2021 and continuing to 
increase efficiencies, review attrition, and assess job descriptions and functions throughout 
town.  The pandemic has also highlighted employee hiring and retention strategies to nearly one 
in seven jobs now being filled throughout the country, being “remote.”  Finding creative ways to 

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recruit and retain employees with our human resource department and Department Heads, labor 
counsel, and union representatives, in this changing market remains, a priority.  The FY23 Budget 
will look to maintain town budgets as flat as possible to ensure residents do not feel the impact 
of inflation and revaluation when it occurs in 2022.  Capital funding highlights for 2021-2022 
includes 5 “connector” roads being paved (Butlertown, Lakes Pond, Daniels, Niantic River Road 
and Oil Mill) utilizing a recent $1.8M transfer from the undesignated fund balance.  In addition, 
2021 saw the State of Connecticut DOT fund and complete the paving of Route 213 (Great Neck 
Road) and Route 156 (Rope Ferry Road) in Waterford.  In 2022, the State of Connecticut DOT, 
with the support of the Southeastern Connecticut Conference of Governments (SCCOG), will be 
funding the $2.8M Cross Road paving project.  As it relates to the general operating budget, in 
2021, I hired a new Library Director, a new Director of Fire Services, a new Human Resource 
Director, a new IT Director, a new Assistant Assessor and a new Assistant Fire Marshall.  In 2022, 
I will work closely with the Long Range Fiscal Planning Committee to select a consultant to 
complete a comprehensive building maintenance study for the Town of Waterford, to ensure 
there is a long range plan for building maintenance.