Representative Town Meeting Annual Budget Meeting Materials - Day 3 (linked)

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CONSERVATION
COMMISSION
FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET
Town of Waterford
https://Awww.waterfordct.org/conservation-commission

Conservation Commission
Fiscal Year 2022
Town of Waterford
CONTENTS
BUDGET FUNCTION ....... 2
FISCAL YEAR 2022
BUDGET SUMMARY ..3
BUDGET EXPLANTIONS
BY CATEGORY........... 3
HISTORY OF
EXPENDITURES AND
PROPOSED BUDGET....... 6
MEMBERS
Richard Muckle, Chair
Tali Maidelis, Secretary
David Lersch
Jessica Patterson
Geneva Renegar
Michael Stankov
Wade Thomas
ALTERNATES
lvy Plis
Julie Wainscott
BUDGET FUNCTION
The Waterford Conservation Commission serves as the Inland
Wetlands Agency; reviewing applications, issuing permits and
enforcing activities affecting inland wetlands and watercourses in
accordance with the Waterford Inland Wetlands and Watercourses
regulations and CT General Statutes 22a-36 through 22a-45. The
Conservation Commission also carries out the statutory
responsibilities of a municipal Conservation Commission,
maintaining a survey of natural resources, reviewing land use
proposals and making recommendations to other Boards and
Agencies on natural resource identification and protection, and Open
Space preservation.
The Conservation Commission conducted 14 regularly scheduled
meetings and 3 special meetings in FY 20/21 and reviewed and
approved 19 permit applications for activities in and adjacent to
inland wetlands and watercourses. Inland Wetland permits
authorized 0.43 acres of wetland fill, of which 0.40 acres involved
temporary disturbance restored to functioning wetland resource, and
0.03 acres of permanent fill. Temporary impacts approved involved
removal of invasive plant species and restoration of native wetland
vegetation.
CONSERVATION FEE HISTORY.
*FY2021 YTD 12/14/2020
2016 FY 2017 GFY2018. G@FY2019 SFY 2020

Conservation Commission
Fiscal Year 2022
Town of Waterford
FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET SUMMARY
The total requested ZBA Budget in FY 22 is $ 18,250. This is the same amount as the approved FY21
budget.
Line Number Description Amount Requested
10114-52010 Advertising $ 1,500
10114-52020 Postage $ 125
10114-52030 Professional Services $ 3,500
10114-52031 Planning Services $ 12,000
10114-52050 Dues, Conferences and Education $ 600
10114-52060 Printing $ 25
10114-53020 Other Supplies $ 500
TOTAL 
$ 18,250 |
BUDGET EXPLANATIONS BY CATAGORY
Advertising Line 10114-52010
$1,500 Requested
The advertising account covers the cost of all legal notice
requirements required by State statute. This includes publication of
~ notices of public hearings, enforcement orders and notices of
___ decision on all Commission inland wetland agency actions.
______ Advertisements for public hearings and decisions of the Commission
= oe) are required to be published in a newspaper having general
circulation in Waterford. To off-set publication costs, the Commission requires an additional fee of
$400.00 when a public hearing is required for the legal notices. The costs of legal advertisements and
required publications of decision are not anticipated to diminish.
The requested budgeted amount is consistent with that approved for prior fiscal years.
Postage Line 10114-52020
$125 Requested
Postage expenditures include certified letter mailings required for Commission decisions on
applications and enforcement proceedings, correspondence to Town residents, and referrals to
municipal, State and Federal Offices.
The requested budget amount is consistent with that approved for the prior year.

Conservation Commission Wri
Fiscal Year 2022
Town of Waterford
Professional Fees Line 10114-52030
$3,500 Requested
The professional services account is used to obtain professional technical reviews, retain expert
witnesses, chemical laboratory analyses and other professional technical assistance unavailable at
the municipal or State level which are needed to conduct the duties of the inland wetlands agency and
the Conservation Commission. These services may include assisting the Commission with technical
expert reviews of application documents, investigating complaints of wetland, soil or water quality
impacts, documenting violations of the inland wetlands and watercourses regulations, providing expert
testimony in court proceedings, or assisting the Commission in preparing natural resource surveys.
To carry out the responsibilities of the Inland Wetland and Watercourses Act, it is critical that the
Commission have the ability to retain expert witnesses for determination of impacts to wetlands and
watercourses in order to reach and maintain defensible decisions. Court case law has established
that the finding of adverse impacts and justification for conditions of approval requires technical
expertise and expert evidence in the application record. The Commission uses the expertise of staff
members, and regional and state technical offices when available, however specific technical
expertise may be required during the application process within a limited time frame. Having sufficient
funding available to procure services when expert review is needed is essential in consideration of the
strict time frames established by State Statute for rendering decisions on inland wetland applications.
The Conservation Commission’s application fee schedule allows the Commission to charge the
applicant for third party expert reviews and technical evaluations deemed necessary to assist in the
review of complex permit applications. However, the Commission continues to require funds for
obtaining professional expertise on items and activities not associated with complex permit
applications.
Expenditures under this item are difficult to predict and are related to the number and complexity of
permit applications, public hearings, and enforcement proceedings and technical requirements of the
Commission. The requested amount will fund an estimated 25-35 hours of service at rates of $100 -
$150/hr.
The Commission is requesting the same amount as approved for the previous fiscal year.
Planning Services Line 10114-52031
$12,000 Requested
The Conservation Commission conducts a water quality monitoring program of freshwater streams
and ponds in Waterford. Samples are collected at 30 locations in the early summer and late fall of a
calendar year to track water quality over the growing season and monitor changes in quality over time.
Sampling is conducted on Jordan Brook, Nevins Brook, Fenger Brook, Hunts Brook, Stony Brook, Oil
Mill Brook and its tributaries, Millstone (Beebe) Brook, Green Swamp Brook and a tributary stream to
Goshen Cove. Water quality parameters monitored include total coliform, e. coli and enterococci
bacteria, chemical oxygen demand, chloride, pH, suspended solids, and nutrient loadings from
nitrogen compounds and phosphorus.
The surface water quality monitoring program has been conducted for the past 18 years by the
Conservation Commission and has generated comprehensive data on the quality of the town’s water
resources. This data is used to evaluate potential impacts of land development on stream health and
to track changes in water chemistry over time. It also provides a scientific basis for the Conservation
Commission to establish required levels of storm water treatment for development proposals, and
water quality mitigation goals for enforcement proceedings.

Conservation Commission
Fiscal Year 2022
Town of Waterford
Planning Services Line 10114-52031-Continued
Jordan Brook, Oil Mill Brook and Stony Brook support native trout and high quality waters. Habitat
requirements for these fisheries include cool, oxygenated waters with suitable substrate conditions to
provide food and aquatic habitat. Alterations and loss of vegetative cover, soil erosion, flow
alterations and stormwater discharges can adversely impact the biological conditions of these
watercourses.
The 2018 State of Connecticut Integrated Water Quality Report, submitted by CT DEEP to the EPA,
identifies Alewife Cove, Niantic Bay and near-shore waters of Long !sland Sound as not meeting
designated uses of habitat for fish and other aquatic life. In addition, Alewife Cove, Jordan Cove, and
areas of Niantic Bay and the Niantic River are listed as impaired for direct shellfish consumption due
to bacteria levels. Fenger Brook is listed as not supporting designated uses for aquatic life and
recreation. Hunts Brook downstream of the Miller Pond dam is listed as not supporting fish and
aquatic life habitat.
The lower reach of Stony Brook south of Rte 1 has been identified as impaired for recreational use
due to bacteria. The State is developing restoration policies to improve water quality and habitat of
impaired waters.
Continued monitoring of these streams will assist the Town in tracking trends in water quality from
land use changes and provide indication of where water quality is becoming affected. This long-term
water quality monitoring is a critical part of the natural resource inventory work the Commission
conducts. Town staff conducts the sampling to minimize costs. Cost variations are linked to the
number of water samples collected.
The Commission is requesting the same amount for this item as approved in the previous fiscal year.
Dues, Conferences and Education Line 10114-52050
$600 Requested
Expenditures from this line item include membership dues, commission and staff training, attendance
at seminars and workshops. The Connecticut Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act [CGS 224-36 -
22a-45a] recommends members of inland wetland agency complete a comprehensive training
program developed by the CT DEEP. Commissioners also attend environmental education
conferences and legal seminars regarding inland wetlands to keep informed of changes to State
Statute or case law affecting application review practices, public hearing records and decision-making
for Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Regulations application. The Commission satisfies the
minimum required training recommended by CT DEEP for inland wetlands agencies.
The Commission is requesting the same amount for this item as the previous fiscal year to maintain
the level of training of its members.
Printing Line 10114-52060
$25 Requested
Expenditures under this line item include printing of oversized documents, maps and colored copies,
which cannot be printed or are unavailable at Town facilities. As a result of changes in court
procedures, some printing funds may be necessary to reproduce, in paper or digital format, large
documents and files.
The amount requested under this line item is the same as the prior fiscal year.

Conservation Commission Wr
Fiscal Year 2022
Town of Waterford
Other Supplies Line 10114-53020 .
$500 Requested
Funds in this account are used to purchase and maintain environmental testing/monitoring equipment,
safety equipment, survey flagging, and Conservation Easement and Non-Encroachment Boundary
Line markers for field markings. This equipment allows the Conservation Commission with its
professional staff to perform wetland identification, water testing, natural resource inventory and
conservation easement boundary marking that would otherwise require contracting for outside
professional services.
The amount requested under this line item is the same as the previous year.
HISTORY OF EXPENDITURES
AND PROPOSED BUDGET
Approved
Funds
2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019 | 2019/2020 | 2020/2021 | 2021/2022
Actual Budget Expenditures Proposed
10114
52010 ADVERTISING
$ 960.00 | $ 765.00 |$ 469.80 15 901.65 |§ 4,500.00 |$ 4,500.00
52020 POST)AGE $ 85.89 | $ 80.65 | $ 50.12 [$ 104.40 [5 125.00 | $ 125.00
52030 PROF!ESSIONALFEES | . $ 2,900.00 | $ - |$ 3,500.00 |$ 3,500.00 | $ 3,500.00
52031 PLANNING SERVICES
$ 10,126.00 | $ 10,665.00 |$ 12,000.00 |$ 12,000.00 | $ 12,000.00 |$ 12,000.00
52050 DUES,CONFERENCES &
EDUCATION
52060 PRINTING
$ 345.00 | 5 545.00 |$ 485.00 | 5 455.00 | $ 600.00 | 5 600,00
$ . $ - 5 - $ . $ 25,00 |$ 25,00
53020 OTHER SUPPLIES $ 26462 1$ 243.37||$ 40437 | $ 3.40 |$ 500.00 /$ 500.00