Planning & Zoning Commission (linked)

TOWN OF WATERFORD 
FY2025 BUDGET REQUEST 
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission 
 
1 
   
 
 
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.  
 
 
MEMBERS 
 
Gregory Massad, Chair 
Timothy Bleasdale  
Karen Barnett 
Timothy Conderino 
Victor Ebersole 
ALTERNATES 
Bert Chenard 
Doris Crum 
Joseph DiBuono 
 
 

TOWN OF WATERFORD 
FY2025 BUDGET REQUEST 
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission 
 
2 
   
BUDGET SUMMARY 
 
 
PERSONNEL: 
  10110-51110-101-010-10-00-51 ADMINISTRATION
105,403
  10110-51120-101-010-10-00-51 INSPECTION
283,036
  10110-51210-101-010-10-00-51 CLERICAL AND TECHNICAL
166,362
  10110-51810-101-010-10-00-51 OVERTIME
6,164
  10110-51910-101-010-10-00-51 FRINGE BENEFITS
4,744
  10110-51920-101-010-10-00-51 F.I.C.A.
42,914
----------------------------------
TOTAL
608,622
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SERVICES: 
  10110-52010-101-010-10-00-52 ADVERTISING
4,000
  10110-52020-101-010-10-00-52 POSTAGE
450
  10110-52030-101-010-10-00-52 PROFESSIONAL FEES
20,000
  10110-52040-101-010-10-00-52 SERVICE CONT. AND REPAIRS
16,172
  10110-52050-101-010-10-00-52 DUES,CONFERENCES & EDUCAT
6,380
  10110-52060-101-010-10-00-52 PRINTING
450
  10110-52070-101-010-10-00-52 REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES
200
----------------------------------
TOTAL
47,652
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MATERIALS & SUPPLIES: 
  10110-53010-101-010-10-00-53 OFFICE SUPPLIES
2,750
  10110-53090-101-010-10-00-53 FUELS AND LUBRICANTS
810
----------------------------------
TOTAL
3,560
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OFFICE EQUIPMENT: 
  10110-54060-101-010-10-00-54 OFFICE EQUIPMENT
0
----------------------------------
TOTAL
0
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
TOTAL
659,834
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION: Proposed Fiscal Year 2025

TOWN OF WATERFORD 
FY2025 BUDGET REQUEST 
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission 
 
3 
   
 
Advertising Line 10110-52010  
$4,000 Requested 
Legal advertisements are required for announcing public hearings 
and decisions. The Department maintains a New London Day 
subscription to verify the accuracy of all required legal ads.  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 FY25, the Commission will continue working on adoption of updated sections of the 
Zoning Regulations. Updates will require paying for legal advertisements.  Advertisements average 
$200.00 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 
FY2025 BUDGET REQUEST 
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission 
 
4 
   
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 FY25 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  
$6,380 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 
FY2025 BUDGET REQUEST 
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission 
 
5 
   
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 -$2,470 
 
The 2025 APA National Conference will be held in Denver Colorado. 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 cost for one attendee to the APA National Conference is as follows: 
Registration - $835, Travel - $448 Hotel - $950, Meals - $237 
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 
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.  

TOWN OF WATERFORD 
FY2025 BUDGET REQUEST 
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission 
 
6 
   
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 $65.00.  Annual 
CAFM conference registration is $75. 
Northeastern Arc Users Group (NEARC) Conference - $1,100    
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. Based on the 2023 past registration fees, it is 
anticipated that the cost for attending the 2024 three-day conference will be $1,100. 
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 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 $30.00 to $150.00 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.   
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   
$2,750 Requested 
The Department routinely purchases office supplies that are not included in the supply purchasing     

TOWN OF WATERFORD 
FY2025 BUDGET REQUEST 
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Zoning Commission 
 
7 
   
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 FY25. 
  
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 $1,200 in FY25.  
Fuels and Lubricants Line 10110-53090   
$810 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 340 Gallons at $2.38 per gallon. $810 is requested.  
Office Equipment Line 10110-54060  
$0 Requested