Planning & Zoning Commission (linked)

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2026 BUDGET REQUEST
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission
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BUDGET FUNCTION
The Waterford Planning and Zoning Commission budget includes the cost of Commission 
services, such as land use application reviews, long-range planning, and maintaining and 
enforcing Waterford’s zoning and subdivision regulations.  The Commission provides staff for all
land use and economic development services in Waterford. The Planning staff provide expertise
and assistance to the Board of Selectmen, RTM, and other agencies in Waterford and beyond 
concerning land use and economic development opportunities in Town.  
This budget also includes funds for professional services and technical support that address 
town-wide needs. Grant writing and project management services are all funded in this budget.
This budget proposal represents a .86% increase over the FY25 approved budget.
MEMBERS
Gregory Massad, Chair
Timothy Bleasdale
Karen Barnett
Timothy Conderino
Victor Ebersole
ALTERNATES
Bert Chenard
Doris Crum
Joseph DiBuono

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2026 BUDGET REQUEST
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission
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BUDGET SUMMARY

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2026 BUDGET REQUEST
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission
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Advertising Line 10110-52010
$4,000 Requested
Legal advertisements are required for announcing public hearings
and decisions. The Department pays for all advertising associated
with applications. Applicants reimburse the Town for the cost of
public hearing notices. Reimbursements generally offset 25% of total
advertising expenditures each year. 
The Commission also places and pays for required advertisements for projects it sponsors. The
Commission publishes legal notices for commission-sponsored public hearings and provides notice for
public meetings. In FY26, the Commission will continue working on adoption of updated sections of the
Zoning Regulations. Updates will require paying for legal advertisements. Advertisements average $200
each.   
Postage Line 10110-52020
$450 Requested
Postage is used for normal communications with applicants and the public, and for required
certified/return receipt postage for decision letters and abatement orders. Postage funding is also
required to support neighborhood mailings to alert people about specific planning initiatives that may
affect them.  
Professional Fees Line 10110-52030
$20,000 Requested
Professional services are sought for projects that require specific expertise and technical capacity
that exceed the typical job duties of the planning staff. The department provides the vast majority
of planning services in-house. Certain projects require professional support. Examples include
conducting property surveys, traffic impact analysis, market analysis, reviews of engineering
design by professional engineers, software development and advanced GIS services. This line
would also be used to hire professionals as needed to conduct reviews of development
applications and matters before the Commission that are not paid for by applicants. 

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2026 BUDGET REQUEST
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission
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Service Contracts and Repairs Line 10110-52040
$16,172 Requested
Printer and Copier Contracts- $3,964
The Department uses a large format plotter on a daily basis. This machine can scan, copy, and print large
plans and is also used by the Assessor and Town Clerk. The plotter is subject to a $2547 annual lease. The
Department also leases a black and white copier which is used for the majority of printing. The Ricoh
yearly lease is $1,060, plus $.00714 per copy. The Department budgets for 50,000 copies per year, which
equates to $357 in copies. The total cost of this service is $1,417.
Annual GIS Parcel Mapping - $10,000
Through a competitive bid process, Waterford awarded Tighe & Bond a contract to serve as an on-call
provider and to complete annual parcel updates and web hosting for a public GIS interface. Parcel updates
form the basis for the Assessor’s data and for all permitting activity in the Town. The public GIS site is a
platform that utilizes the updated parcel mapping and continues to provide staff and the public with
information ranging from zoning to floodplain data. It is also an important tool for people reviewing
properties for potential development.
Cellular Phone Plans - $1,740
The Planning Director and field staff use three smartphones and one iPad tablet in the daily functions of
their duties. Each phone and tablet requires a wireless plan to cover phone, text and data fees. The phone
plans are $41 per month. The iPad plan is $22 per month. Each phone will cost $492 per year to operate
while the annual operational cost for the iPad is $264. The total cost of cellular plans is $1,740.
Software Licenses   - $468
The Department maintains a Survey Monkey membership. This service provides the ability to develop
simple or complex surveys to support a variety of functions. Projects in FY26 that will benefit from having
access to Survey Monkey include the Plan of Preservation, Conservation, and Development, the Economic
Development Commission work, small business outreach, and department performance surveys. The cost
is $384 per year and provides flexibility in survey design. 
Dues, Conferences and Education Line 10110-52050
$3,260 Requested
Department staff are committed to maintaining professional certifications and keeping current with
information and issues in the field of planning. Involvement with regional and national organizations,
attending conferences and seeking opportunities to improve the technical skills of all department
members supports high quality work product that benefits Waterford residents and business owners.
Whenever possible, staff seeks out free educational opportunities. There are some instances where
valuable educational opportunities are not free. Enabling staff to participate in these events generates
positive returns for the town by exposing staff to new technical information, legal updates in the field and
information about grants that may benefit Waterford. 

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2026 BUDGET REQUEST
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission
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American Planning Association (APA) & CT Chapter APA -$1,100
The Department maintains membership in the American Planning Association for two staff members. APA
membership is tiered based on salary.
Currently the Planning Director and Planner maintain APA
membership. American Planning Association staff members are also required to maintain membership in
their State Chapters. The CT Chapter of the American Planning Association charges 35% of the national
dues for membership.  The total cost for membership dues is $1,100.
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) -$180
The Planning Director is required to maintain AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) status as a
condition of employment. Maintaining the AICP designation requires APA membership (listed above),
State chapter membership (listed above), and AICP Dues. AICP Dues are $180.
Conference attendance and continuing education are a critical aspect of professional development.
Participating in conferences allows staff to meet continuing education requirements for professional
certifications and to stay current on legal issues, emerging trends and technical skills related to their jobs.
The following conference fees are included in this budget. 
Southern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association (SNEAPA) Annual Conference -
$350
The SNEAPA annual conference provides planning staff with educational and networking opportunities in
the immediate region. Attending conferences with peers from Connecticut and Southern New England
towns helps staff learn about local projects and funding opportunities that benefit Waterford. Legislative
updates and legal developments of the past year are presented at this conference, which helps staff stay
current on important planning and zoning issues. The conference is also an opportunity to earn the
required Certification Maintenance (CM) Credits toward the Planning Director’s required AICP
certification.
American Planning Association Annual Conference -$450
The 2026 APA National Conference will be held in Detroit, Michigan. The conference draws professionals
from planning and associated fields from around the country and the world and presents staff with the
opportunity to learn firsthand about innovative planning, economic development and capital projects that
could be applied in Waterford. The conference is also an opportunity to earn the required Certification
Maintenance (CM) Credits toward the Planning Director’s required AICP certification. The location of the
conference changes annually. The APA also offers an online option which is $450. In an effort to assess
needs versus wants, the Planning Director will attend the virtual conference in FY26. By doing so the
Planning Director will have the opportunity to earn the required CM Credits for their AICP certification at
a significant cost savings to the Town. The Planning Director will look in future years to attend the national
conference in person when it is in a location more proximate to Waterford in order to reduce costs.
Connecticut Association of Zoning Enforcement Officials (CAZEO) - $360
CAZEO is the professional organization for the Zoning Official. During the 2021 Legislative Session, P.A.
21-29 was passed which requires that beginning on January 1, 2023 anyone appointed as a Zoning
Enforcement Official must be certified and maintain their certification. CT Zoning Enforcement Official

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2026 BUDGET REQUEST
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission
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Certification is required in Waterford’s job description for the Zoning Official. CAZEO membership costs
$150 per year. Maintenance of CZEO status requires attendance at 7 meetings annually which cost $30.00
each. 
Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM)/Connecticut Association of Floodplain Managers
(CAFM) - $320
The Zoning Official acts as Waterford’s Floodplain Administrator.
The Floodplain Administrator is
responsible for ensuring the Town’s compliance with the requirements of the National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP).
Compliance with the NFIP enables Waterford property owners to purchase flood
insurance. Annual membership in the ASFPM is $180. Annual membership in the CAFM is $65. Annual
CAFM conference registration is $75.
Northeastern Arc Users Group (NEARC) Conference - $0
NEARC is an organization formed in 1986 to support GIS (Geographic Information System) users in the 
Northeast US.  Waterford’s Planner is responsible for managing, maintaining and upgrading GIS data for 
internal and public users. GIS technology is consistently evolving and it is important that Waterford’s 
Planner maintain current knowledge of the field. In an effort to assess needs versus wants, the Planner 
will forgo attendance of the conference in FY26. Moving forward the Planner will attend the conference 
on every other year in order to reduce costs.
One-day training seminars - $500
Throughout the course of the year, various training seminars are conducted by State, Federal and
educational institutions. These training opportunities afford staff the opportunity to improve technical
skills, learn about upcoming policies and laws and learn about grant opportunities and best practices from
other communities and organizations that can benefit Waterford. Newly enacted State Legislation
through Public Act 23-173 now requires that each member of the Planning and Zoning Commission
complete four hours of training under the guidelines established by the State Office of Policy and
Management. Trainings may be conducted as webinars or on-site. The trainings are typically one-time
events; therefore, it is difficult to anticipate exact costs. Typically, these events range from $30 to $150
per attendee.
Printing Line 10110-52060
$450 Requested
Funds are expended for printing oversized documents, reprinting of plans and studies, aerial photographs,
posters and zoning maps. Color copies produced by the Town’s printing service cost the Department
$.07/per copy. The Planning Department will continue to expand its efforts to engage the community in
various planning projects. Part of the cost of public engagement includes printing flyers, maps, letters and
postcards to send to residents and business owners.  

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2026 BUDGET REQUEST
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission
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Reimbursable Expenses Line 10110-52070
$200 Requested
This line covers reimbursements to commissioners and staff members for out-of-pocket expenses.       
Examples of expenses include parking fees at job-related meeting, mileage for travel to work-related 
events when a town vehicle is not available and materials for public outreach programs. 
Office Supplies Line 10110-53010
$2,450 Requested
The Department routinely purchases office supplies that are not included in the supply purchasing
program managed in the Finance Department. Items the Department purchases from this line include
recordable DVDs, thumb drives, display boards, and commissioner name plaques. The Department
estimates that $350 will be needed for the supplies listed above in FY26.
The Department maintains a desktop color printer for daily work. Color printing is required to produce
documentation for violations, evidence for court proceedings and to print project-related maps and
images for customers.
The Department uses the Town printing services for bulk printing of flyers,
postcards or other large jobs, but daily color printing is still necessary. Whenever possible, staff prints in
black and white to avoid unnecessary use of the color printer. The estimated cost for color toner
cartridges for use in the color printer is $1,200. Plotter paper and ink cartridges for the large format copier
is anticipated to cost $900 in FY26.
Fuels and Lubricants Line 10110-53090
$750 Requested
The Planning and Zoning Commission pays the fuel for two vehicles shared by staff including the Planning
Director, Environmental Planner, Planner and Zoning Official. This budget also pays for fuel for a vehicle
assigned to the Tax Assessor which is operated on a daily basis for field work.
Vehicles from this
department are also shared with other departments as requested. The Department estimates using
approximately 271 Gallons at $2.72 per gallon. $750 is requested.
Office Equipment Line 10110-54060
$0 Requested

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2026 BUDGET REQUEST
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission
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