Representative Town Meeting Budget Hearing and Special Meeting Day 4 FINAL (linked)

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
wwwwaterfordct.org
January 27, 2025
TO: BOARD OF SELECTMEN
RE: FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS
FY 2026-2030 ,
In FY24, the Town of Waterford closed 18 capital projects that were approved and funded. The
town continues to focus on completing past projects currently in FY25 and remains committed to’
funding necessary projects moving forward. These outstanding approved capital projects,
contractual obligations, unanticipated supply chain costs and increases, and insurance cost hikes
make it necessary for me to continue a “partial moratorium” on any new capital projects that would
require an increase in our tax rate. My capital plan recommendations span three periods, each.
detailed below:
1. Current Approved Capital Projects
2. FY26 Capital Budget Requests
3, Projected Capital Requests Outside the Budget Cycle
Current Approved Projects
The rationale behind focusing on current approved projects is to continue my commitment to
completing and closing past capital projects, which were approved and funded by taxpayers in
previous years, This commitment is part of my “Capital Completion Plan,” now in its third year
of implementation. The town completed or closed 18 capital projects over the past year, expending
$4,706,728.01, and will continue to work on projects that remain in various stages of completion
in FY25.
Evergreen Pump Station 4th Pump for $369,309
IT Learning Boards for BOE for $1,074,657
Road Paving for $325,915
Financial Software Upgrade for $157,508
Harvey Avenue Pump Station Rehab for $1,082,496
The town will continue to complete capital projects that remain in various stages of completion in
FY25. The largest of approved projects in FY24 and FY25 from the Unassigned Balance of the
General Fund were: :

° Town Infrastructure: $1M for road paving, $1M for the statewide radio system upgrade,
and $500,000 for copper water connectors
e Board of Education: $413,406 for Munis Implementation
e Waterford Beach Park: $350,000 for Band Shell
e Library: $175,000 for Electrical Panel Upgrade
I have considered these current priorities in the plan recommendations and directed Department
Heads to apply for all available grants through state and federal agencies. Specifically, over the
next five years, I will request the Board of Finance consider using General Fund Balance, as the
funding source for the following:
e Road Paving projects
© Town Water & Sewer projects
e Board of Education & Town Building projects
By requesting the Board of Finance consider and approve $5M in capital project spending from
GFB over the next five years, it will leave approximately $15M in the town’s General Fund
Balance - within the Board of Finance’s policy range of 13%-15% of total expenditures, This
proposed five-year capital plan reflects my recommendation for funding or not funding the
project(s) as requested and the manner of that financing. I have continued to consult with
Department Heads and have “pushed out” projects on the plan and recommendations, covering the
next five years,
Further, I have attempted to balance budget requests and “needs” knowing the town currently has
approximately $20M in reserve funds that residents have already contributed to through prior
taxation and an additional $23M already appropriated for 69 capital projects. The Town’s use of
the “General Fund Balance” is a decision made by the Board of Finance. I will continue to
recommend committing a portion of GFB for new capital projects, as needed. Based on the past
two years' feedback and support funding received capital requests outside the capital cycle, I am
again recommending the town expend General Fund Balance as approved by the Board of Finance.
The information supporting this plan is contained in a binder, which includes the CIP Guidelines,
Capital Improvement Fund balances, and all the capital improvement requests by our departments.
In addition, my recommended plan for the 5-year planning period is attached with my comments,
along with the summary of the budgets for the CNR & CYC for the FY 2026 budget. This
document and binder constitute my recommendations for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for
Fiscal Years 2026-2030. The Town Charter requires the Board of Selectmen ratify these
recommendations. I anticipate reviewing these recommendations with the Board of Selectmen at
the upcoming budget meeting and hope the Board will ratify the plan. Please feel free to contact
Kim Allen, Finance Director, or myself with any questions you may have and thank you for your
continued commitment to the Town of Waterford.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert J. Brule, First Selectman

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN
FY2026 -THROUGH FY2030
2/7/2025
REC,
FUNDING
LINE ITEM DESCRIPTION SOURCE FY-2026 FY-2027 FY-2028 FY-2029 FY-2030
ASSESSOR
57639 [REVALUATION CNR 125,000. 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000
SUBTOTAL ASSESSOR: = 125,000 o) 125,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000
BOARD OF SELECTMAN.
55738 [FLEET MANAGEMENT PLAN CIP 1,000,000 | __ 1,100,000 1,200,000 1,300,000 1,400,000
SUBTOTAL BOARD OF SELECTMAN 1,000,000 : : 1,000,000 |__ 1,100,000 1,200,000 1,300,000 1,400,000
BUILDING MAINTENANCE
55904 EUGENE O'NEILL SEWER PROJECT. CIP 250,000
55913 JORDAN PARK HOUSE REPAIRS CIP 25,000
NEW (FY26) _|EUGENE O'NEILL ROOF REPLACEMENT CNR 100,000
NEW (FY26)__ [MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS CNR 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000
NEW (FY26) __|HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE CNR 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
NEW (FY26) {TOWN BUILDING MAINTENANCE CNR 100,000 100,000 100,000 10,000
57874 POLICE DEPT BLDG HVAC CNR 25,000 200,000 200,000
57740 COHANZIE REMEDIAION/DEMOLITION CNR 30,000 250,000 250,000
NEW (FY26) _|POLICE DEPT BLDG ROOF CNR 550,000 550,000
NEW (FY25) |COMMUNITY CENTER CHILLER REPLACEMENT CNR 250,000 400,000 400,000 800,000
NEW (FY26) |COMMUNITY CENTER - UST. CNR 75,000
NEW (FY26)__|LIBRARY ELECTRICAL SERVICE CNR
NEW (FY26)__|EV CHARGING STATIONS CIP 60,000
SUBTOTAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE : 25,000 320,000 25,000 1,350,000 1,535,000 785,000 1,170,000
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT i
NEW (FY25) [STATEWIDE RADIO SYSTEM UPGRADE GFB A 0
SUBTOTAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT| ) : : 1,000,000 e é = 7 7
"SERVICES:
U FIRE SERVICE - SCBA UPGRADE PROGRAM. CNR 50,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
NEW (FY26)__|COHANZIE AIR CONDITIONING cle 15,000
57888 GOSHEN ROOF REPLACEMENT. CNR
SUBTOTAL FIRE SERVICES| 15,000 50,000 60,000 65,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:
57882 COMPUTER REPLACEMENTS CNR 46,592 37,035, 33,451
NEW (FY26)__|SERVER UPGRADE/REPLACEMENT. CNR 88,500 88,500
SUBTOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY| : 135,092 s 135,092 125,535 33,454 = =
PLANNING:
NEW (FY26)__|EDC GATEWAY SIGNS |GFB 100,000.
NEW (FY26) _|SCANNING & DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT CNR 380,000
SUBTOTAL PLANNING : : : : 480,000 S i
POLICE
NEW (FY26)__|MARINE UNIT UPDATES CIP
NEW (FY26) _|LOCKER ROOM LOCKERS (3 YEAR PLAN) CNR 80,000 80,000 80,000
SUBTOTAL POLICE: 31,089 : : 2 80,000 80,000 80,000 =

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN
FY2026 -THROUGH FY2030
2/7/2025
REC,
FUNDING
LINE ITEM. DESCRIPTION SOURCE FY-2026 FY-2027 FY-2028 FY-2029 FY-2030,
PUBLIC WORKS:
57880 PAVING GFB
NEW (FY26)__|CONCRETE CURB REPLACEMENT CNR 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000
NEW (FY26)__|WOODEN STREETLIGHT POLES CNR 100,000 100,000
NEW (FY26) _|FRIENDSHIP SCHOOL DEMO/RENOVATION _|CNR 250,000. 250,000 250,000 250,000
NEW (FY26) _|TREE REPLACEMENT CNR 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000
55891 TRANSFER STATION CNR 20,000 100,000
NEW (FY25)__|NIANTIC RIVER ROAD SIDEWALKS CIP. 
250,000 250,000 250,000. 250,000.
NEW (FY24)_ [RETAINING WALLS CNR 35,000
INEW (FY24)_|ROADSIDE BARRIERS CNR 25,000 25,000. 25,000 25,000
NEW (FY25)__|ROAD RISK ASSESSMENT CIP
NEW (FY24)_| MAJOR ROAD INTERSECTION REALIGNMENT [CIP 55,000
NEW (FY24)_ | TRAFFIC SIGNALS CNR 15,000 250,000
NEW (F¥24)_|DUMPSTERS/ENCLOSURES CNR 35,000
NEW (FY24)__|MINOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION CNR 100,000 100,000, 100,000 100,000,
NEW (FY25)_|HUNTSBROOK BRIDGE CNR 20,000
SUBTOTAL PUBLIC WORKS! : 925,000 855,000 800,000 950,000
RECREATION AND PARKS
NEW (FY25) | CIVIC TRIANGLE IMPROVEMENTS CNR 35,000
NEW (FY26)__|LEARY PARK DRAINAGE/LOWER FIELD clip 20,000
NEW (FY26)__|TOWN-WIDE PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS CNR 178,772 143,031, 112,963
57798 CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND CIVIC TRIANGLE CNR 25,000
55855, TOWN-WIDE COURTS CNR 450,000 450,000
55835 LEARY PARK/VETERAN'S FIELD IRRIGATION clip 200,000
WATERFORD BEACH PARK IMPROVEMENTS
57854 (Amphitheater Plan) CNR
NEW (FY25) [WATERFORD BEACH GARAGE. |GFB 500,000 500,000
T SUBTOTAL PUBLIC WORKS 25,000 350,000 25,000 1,163,772 1,113,031 312,963 &
UTILITIES COMMISSION:
WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENTS
NEW (FY24) _|(BLOOMINGDALE RD) CNR 541,250 541,250 541,250 541,250
CONTRACT 4 (SEWER INTERCEPTOR EASEMENT
55019 ACCESS. CNR 250,000, 250,000 250,000 250,000
NEW (F¥26) [COPPER WATER CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT GFB
NEW (F¥26) _|CROSS CONTRY SEWER MAIN ACCESS GFB 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000
NEW (FY26) [VAUXHALL STREET WATER TANK REHAB CNR 230,993 230,993 230,993
NEW (FY26) | WATER TANK ASSEET MANAGEMENT. CNR 46,222 47,272 95,520 106,267 108,358
NEW (FY26) | FACILITIES EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS CNR 75,000 75,000
NEW (FY26)__|BARTLETT CORNERS WATER BOOSTER CNR 166,950
NEW (FY26) _|ROGERS HILL WATER TANK REFAB CNR 311,500 311,500 311,500
57881, WATER DISTR - PLASTIC SVCS REPLACEMENT CNR 250,000 250,000. 250,000 275,000
NEW (FY25)__|RT85 WASTEWATER PS POWER CONVERSION CNR 408,690 508,690 100,000
57890 IWEIMES & MARILYN EJECTOR REPLACEMENT CNR 675,000 675,000 675,000. 675,000
NEW (FY24) _|PLEASURE BEACH WATER LINE REPLACMENT. CNR 706,800 706,800 706,800 706,800
SUBTOTAL UTILITIES COMMISSION = 413,172 500,000 213,172 3,685,005 4,144,753 3,671,810 3,367,908