Finance, Wage & Personnel Standing Committee of the RTM

PIETREN ROPE FERRY ROAD PHONE: 860-442-0553
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886 yewwnwwaterfordcl.org,
Wage, & Personnel Standing Committee of the RTM
Special Meeting March 24, 2026
6:00 PM - Waterford Town Hall
BoE Conference Room
Finance,
4. Confirmation of Quorum and Call to Order
2. Public Comment
tes of the February 17, 2026, Committee Meeting
3. Consideration and Action on Minu
on on items currently in committee:
Review of Ordinance 3.17 Fleet Management (RTC 3/4/25)
rogram (RTC 6/2/25)
RTC 12/2/24)
4. Consideration of and possible acti
a.
b. CIP Approval Process Pilot P
c. Salaries of Elected Officials (
5, Adjournment
FWP 2/17/26 Minutes
encl:
cted Official Salary Increase
Ele History
salaries Estimation
FWP 2/19/21 Minutes
EWP Jan 2022 Raise Recommendation
81d bl BYH Wl
19 ‘ON04uaL¥
oyod3y vod CaAIIOR4

PIPTBEN ROPR FERRY ROAD PHONE: 860-442-0555
woewnavaterfordeLorg
WATERFORD, CF 06388-2886
= toSR
FO
i ‘i ~n iS tall
Finance, Wage, & Personnel Committee m is
arn
Meeting Minutes from February 17, 2026 ht wo
a gn
4. Corfirmation of Quartim and Call to Order Pp o3
. i
Chair JoAnna Bennett called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. me) “Ic
cm pes)
hy Q
Members Present: JoAniia Bennett, Ursula Moreshead, Lindsay Khan, Steve Besade, Kate MacKenzi
Also Present: Director of Finance Kiin Allen, RTM Moderator Sue Driscoll
2. Public Coriment
No Public Comment.
3. Consideration and Action on Minutes of the January 27, 2026, Committee Meeting
Motion by Khan, second by Morsehead to approve minutes as presented.
Voice vote: Yes, (1) abstain, MacKenzie, motion passed.
4, Consideration of and possible action on items referred to the committee:
* Review of Ordinance 3.47 Fleet Management (RTC 8/4/25)
» CIP Approval Process. Pilot Program (RTC 6/2/25)
+ Salaries of Elected Officials (RTC 12/2/24)
Chair offered a recap, with review from the documents present at the time of th
n Attorney, Kristi Kelly, concerning the RTM’s authority
é meeting. Director Allen
brought a written legal opinion from the Tow!
g the salaries of elected officials. Discussion with clarification on how the Constitution restricts
regardin,
information
raises for our elected officials to one per term; consensus by members to gather more
regarding the current and past salary increases. During the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for March
24, the committee will review the additional data,
5. Adjournment
Motion by Moreshead, second by Besade ‘to adjourn the meeting at 7:14 p.m. Voice Vote: Unanimous.
Submitted by:
JoAnna Bennett
Chair, Finance, Wage and Personnel Committee
encl Legal opinion on salaries from the Town Attorney
2025-2026 Salary Survey of Elected Officials

Kimberly Allen
From: Kristi D, Kelly <kkelly@sswbgg.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 3:33 PM
To: 
Kimberly Allen
Ca Robert Brule; nick@nkepplelaw.com
Subject: PRIVILEGED ATTORNEY/CLIENT COMMUNICATION - Elected Officials Salaries
importance: High
Good afternoon, Kim:
This correspondence serves as my written legal opinion and guidance on the authority the Town of Waterford’s
Representative Town Meeting (“RTM”) has to authorize a salary increase for Town elected officials, which legal opinion
and guidance was requested by the RTM’s Finance, Wage & Personnel Standing Committee. | understand that the
Committee is taking up the issue of elected official salaries again this term, and the committee members are all new
members who have not had the benefit of the RTiW’s previous discussions, or prior, verbal opinions rendered by this
office.
The Connecticut Constitution, Article Xi, Section 2, expressly states the following:
“Except as provided in this section, neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state shail pay or grant
to any elected official, any compensation greater than the amount of compensation set at the beginning of such
official’s term of office for the office the official holds or increase the pay or compensation of any public
contractor above the amount set specifled in the contract. The provisions of this section shall not apply to
elected officials in towns in which the legislative body is the town meeting. The compensation of an elected
official of a political subdivision of the state whose term of office is four years or more may be increased once
after such official has completed two years of his term by the legislative body of such political subdivision. The
term “compensation” means, with respect to an elected officlal, such officlal's salary, exclusive of
reimbursement for necessary expenses or any other benefit to which his office would entitle him.”
Furthermore, Conn. Gen. Stat, sec. 7-460 states the following:
“Unless otherwise specifically provided In the general statutes, any municipality or subdivision thereof, through
its legislative body, may fix the compensation of Its officials and employees, subject to the approval of its budget
authority. Any proposed increase In the compensation of the members of the legislative body of any
municipality shall be subject to confirmation by referendum at the next regular election of such. municipality.
The provisions of this section shall be applicable to any municipality, any provision of any special act to the
contrary notwithstanding.”
In accordance with the Town of Waterford Charter sec. 3.1.1, the legislative body of the Town is vested in the
RTM, RTM members serve two year terms, without compensation, as noted In Charter sec, 3.1.6, In accordance with
Charter sec. 3.3.1., in Waterford there Is a Board of Finance, the members of which are elected for four-year terms, such
body being the budgetary authority of the Town. Other elected officials in Waterford include the Treasurer (4 year
i

term), Tax Collector (4 year term), Registrar(s) of Voters (2 year term, by Conn, Gen, Stat, sec, 9-190a) and Town Clerk (4
year term).
Neither the Town Charter or Ordinances provide for compensation increases of elected officials; therefore, we must look
to the State's Constitution and the state statute, which provide the legal framework for any compensation Increases for
elected officials of the Town of Waterford,
A thorough review of the State’s Constitution and statute, as well as applicable Connecticut caselaw that has interpreted
the same over the years, reveals that the legislative body of the Town (Le., the RTM} may validly increase the
compensation of only elected officlais whose terms are at least four years, and It may do so only once after the official
has completed two years of their term, provided the Town’s budgetary authority approves the action, Furthermore, the
compensation increase may only apply prospectively from the completed approval process; it may not apply
retroactively, per Connecticut caselaw.
if the RTM’s Finance, Wage & Personnel Standing Committee should have additional questions or requires clarification,
please let me know and | would be happy to opine further, especially on a particular set of facts.
Sincerely,
Krist D. Kelly
Kristi D. Kelly, Esq,
Suisman, Shapiro, Wool, Brennan
Gray & Greenberg, P.C.
2. Union Plaza, Suite 200
P.O, Box 159}
New London, CT 06320
My working day may not be your working day! Please don’t feel obliged to reply to this email outside of your
normal working hours.
Please note: the information contained in this e-mail and any attachments hereto is intended only for the
personal and confidential use of the designated recipients. This message may be an attorney-client
communication and as such, Is privileged and confidential. If the reader/recipient of this message is not the
intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this e-mail and all attachments hereto in
error and that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail or any of Its attachments is
strictly prohibited, if you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-
mail and destroy the original message received. Thank you,

SEE'8
URWQDTISS
IAL
OG
Weppey
Jo
uMoL
TY
STOIHZA,
pt
PIayug
JO
UMOL
UBWUWS[SS
2
O0"ECt
TT
pue
sed
“u2o
UO]
Yen
paplacid
2ohe
00'oTS‘0z
WCCO
ee
UBWUIDE/9S 3Ss14 0O°SOL'E p
tera
"§2/t/2T
suid|q
ws,
SBA
J28A-snog
‘uanised
payaye
ue
si
SUL
SE"ZO0’EOT
JoARIA
00'06T'SE
00'892'
Set
soIONUOTESUAdWOD[eEvORIPpY
Agesjenoy
Bpuemsog
udijeindodg
UOREZUeTIO
9202-SZ0%
AMVIVS
STVIDIdIO
GEL9319
LNILINNOD

TM
plsusdent
fo
UMoL
‘quadns
auoud
139/009
aa
Bad
‘a0reZt
v
UBUIDALIS
asi
‘00°'2ST
on
gored
alas
45s!
00
ytee
egemnt
ate
wasineW
m0,
"
“AOARIN
=
ters
‘9
YeUIa/aS
3Sict
ogg?
ToneZueRO
SLuOlsog QZOZ-SZOZ
ANWWS
Swowse
aaioaTs
LAD!
LL33NNOD

Ur
OL
uOHNgUCD
7667292
$
URLUIDIISS
3S4Ly
90"OSS’L
YDOISPOOM
Jo
UMOL,
VOU
JO
UMOL
URLUIDS|AS
S214
00"
086"Z
angeids
JO
UMOL
Bqisiauoisusd
SajONUOHesuBadUODeLORIDpY
Aigjesjenpy
BpiLuowisod
voneindod
UOHeZessO
9Z02-SZ0Z
AUVTYS
STVIDIddO
C3.19373
LNDLI3NNOD
SBA
Samfiqisuodsayleucippy
—
SiqiSU3sqsuee

%9T
%O'T
22/T/L
449
7Z/O7/T
BI0A
WILY
Jd
ales
aseaioul
§=—-
%OSZ'T
$20
‘T
Aine
%ST
%O'T
C2/T/L
‘348
7Z/0Z/T
210A
WILY
Jad
ayes
aseaisuy
«=
%QS7T
v707z
‘T
Aine
MET
%O'T
Z2/T/L
‘He
22/02/T
810A
WLY
Jad
ayer
eseasou]
=
%SZT'T
@202
‘t
Aine
%eT
ROOT
Je
yeas),
SuIpsoaid
40
-1dD
6T/OT/p
SIOAWLY
=
%OOZ'T
TZ0Z
‘T
Ajne
KIT
%OT
LT/92/9
BIOAWILY
=
%005"°7
6t0z
‘T
Aine
%OT
LT/9Z/9
PIOAWLY
=
%OOO'Z
8107
‘T
Ainy
dea jedsiy Suipardaid JO N~-|dD OT/T/Z BIOAINLY = YOOL'T £002 ‘T Aine
sea jeasi, Zulpasaid Jo A-idD -%000°0 9T0z ‘E Aine
ea Jeosll BUIPSIBId JO N-IdD — BOOL'T Stoz ‘T Aint
SALON
JONVUNSNI
ASVIUNI
SALON
AUVIVS
3SVAYINI
ava
AYOLSIH
ISVAYONI
AXVIVS
1V1ID1S40
G3a194714
STOCAS

vip‘
Tre‘ez
Llete
SLT
S@Z'T
v60'TOT
870
TIL'Ts
Cer‘Ze
9ty‘Lz
LSL‘T
LSL‘T
6T0e
pSL'es
CIt‘ez
T2eet
Teee
T0s‘T
T0s‘T
veg‘soT
0c0g
“SOLRVES JEINIHO P9II9]a 9} SJEWIIS9 0} Se]NWUO) ]a9xXa9 pasn
T92¢‘ss
20606
6E9'Ez
Ses'T
eset
rRACrs
ec6'et
€t6'ez
gse'T
gce'T
889s0T
S20
6g2'Z8
geo'es
882'6e
S6l've
S6r've
9Z8'T
9£8'T
STL‘OIL
€Z0Z
ovz'es
680'"6
61962
Cre"ee
cree
868'T
869'T
veoe
6re'6s
$92‘S6
06662
T26'T
T26'T
zes'té
T60'se
696'T
696'T
gco7 Alees
-UOIBWISA Soeyes
ualu]de]38S
UeLUIIE]9S
ISII4

PHONE; 860-442-0553
wwiv.waterfordct.org
FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
AGENDA
FINANCE, WAGE & PERSONNEL STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE RTM
SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, February 18, 2021/7:00 P.M. - Waterford Town Hall
ZOOM Remote Access Only
JOIN ZOOM MEETING:
Meeting ID: 317 118.0827
Passcode: 123123
One tap mobile
+13126266799, ,3171180827# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,3171180827# US (New York)
Dial by your location sg
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) . mS
+1646 558 8656 US (New York) roo
ge
1. Call to Order ade
2. Pledge of allegiance ae
3, Roll Call YR
4, Public Comment
5. To consider and act upon the April 10,2019 Meeting Minutes.
6. Gonsideration and possible action on item referred to committee:
A. Bidding advantages for local businesses'on Town Projects.
(RTC 10-05-2020)
B. Salaries of Elected Officials. (RTC 02-01-2021)
7. Adjournment

Finance, Wage, & Personnel RTM Standing Comnnittee
Meeting Minutes 4/10/19
* Town Hall Appleby Room
Members Present; Susan Driscoll, Paul Goldstein, Mike Perkins, Baird Welch-Collins
Members Absent: Frank Ribas, Sharon Palmer
Guests: Director of Finance: Kevin MeNabola
1) Meeting called to order by Chairperson Goldstein at 6:00pm.
2) Pledge of Allegiance —
3) Public Comment: None
4) Correspondence: Members received salary survey from Director of Finance
6102
Y
Sef
Hd TES
i
x4
ty
ee
\
5) To review and take possible action on Salaries of Elected Officials, Reviewed past
practice of the process of the review of elected officials’ salaries with committee
members, Discussion on continued use of CPI-U to base increases of elected official
salaries. Discussion on freezing salaries due to economic conditions in town. Discussion
on current practice of elected official salaries versus town wide salaries. Discussion
regarding elected official salaries in comparison with like salaries from surrounding
towns using CCM salary survey.
1" year Increase
24-year increase
Position Present Salaries
First Selectperson $103,116
Selectperson (2) $1,757 (2)
Town Clerk $87,122
Tax Collector $81,711
Treasurer $27,426
Registrar of Voters $22,655
Registrar of Voters $22,655
Effective July 1, 2020
Elected Official
Salaries will be based
on the October CPI-U
of the previous year,
The increase shall not
exceed the cost of
living adjustment of
the non-union
management,
Effective July 1, 2021
Elected Official
Salaries will be based
on the October CPI-U
of the previotis year.
The increase shall not
exceed the cost of
living adjustment of
the non-union
management.

Motion by Perkins & Seconded by Goldstein that Effective July 1, 2020 Elected Official
Salaries will be based on the October CPI-U of the previous year, The increase shall not
exceed the cost of living adjustment of the non-union management. Effective July 1, 2021
Elected Official Salaries will be based on the October CPI-U of the previous year. This
inerease shall not exceed the cost of living adjustment of the non-union management.
Vote: In Favor Perkins, Goldstein, Welch-Collins
Against: Driscoll
Motion Passes 3 to 1
6) New Business: Motion by Driscoll & Seconded by Perkins to report out of
committee with recommendation to the RTM that elected official salaries be
increased accordingly by the following schedule: Effective July 1 2020 Elected
Official Salaries will be based on the October CPI-U of the previous year, The
increase shall not execed the cost of Hying of adjustment of the non-union contract,
Effective July 12021 Wlected Official Salaries will be based on the October CPI-U of
the previous year, The increase shalt not exceed the cost of living adjustment of the
non-union management,
Vote: Unanimous
7) Motion to adjourn by Perkins and Seconded by Welch-Collius at 6:30pm
Vote: Unanimous
Respectfully Submitted By Paul Goldstein, Chairperson

L9OO fia S
Moderator, Thomas Dembeck
Town of Waterford fe J ip iy
Representative Town Meeting . / v
Mr. Moderator, | would like to submit the following proposed addition to the ordinance
(3.08.040 - Bid process—Opening of bids/proposals—Rejecting. bids/proposals—Awards of
contract.) for consideration. After speaking to members of the local business community it was
‘ brought to my attention that there currently is no advantage.given to Waterford businesses that
are bidding on fown projects. Many of these Waterford based businesses donate to the local
non-profits, youth sports organizations, and school fundraisers, in addition, Waterford
_ businesses often employ Waterford residents. | feel that it is good practice to support local
businesses to show that Waterford is business-friendly to not only our current businesses but to
any future businesses that may be considering moving to Waterford.
Respectfully,
Robert Swansen
Town of Waterford,
Representative Town Meeting
First District (R)
ag? i
ybood
0,
AVY
nm
Hyd oo
S|

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
RTM approved Feb 7, 2022
Moderator Goldstein,
At the January 20, 2022 meeting of the Personnel, Wage and Finance Standing Committee, the
committee voted unanimously to recommend an increase to elected officials salaries as described
below and in the meeting minutes. Director of Finance (Kim Allen) was actioned to provide
current salaries upon which the proposed increase is based, She has since provided that
information, which is shown below. I write to share this information with the RTM members.
The Committee recommendation is as follows:
To annually increase elected officials’ salaries by the least of the following, effective July 1,
2022:
a) Percentage increase of the CPLU from July of the preceding fiscal year.
b.) Half (50%) of the percentage increase approved for non-union management.
c.) One point five percent (1.5%)
According to information received from Ms. Allen, the July 2021 CPI-U was published at
5.4%. Ms. Allen also shared that Non-Union Management (NUMPS) was approved for a 2.25%
increase. Therefore, the least of the options above and the proposed FY23 increase is 50% of
NUMPS, equivalent to a 1.125% increase.
The table below shows the elected position, current salary, and proposed FY23 salary according
to this recommendation.
Position FY22 Actual Salary |PY23 Proposed Salary |Difference
First Selectman $108,886.44 | $ 440,111.41 | $1,224.97
Selectpersonx2 «| $A BSSA TS 1,876.31 | $ 20.87.
‘Town Clerk § 91,997.88 | $ 93,032.86 | $1,034.98
Tax Collector ES 86,284.12 |$ 87,254.82 | $ 970,70
Treasurer $ 28,960.92 | $ 29,286.73 | $ 325.81
Registrar ofVotersx2|$ 23,923.56 | $ 24,192.70 | 8 269.14
{Total $ 341,908,396 | 5 3A5,754.83 | $3,846.47
Respectfully,
Kevin Girard, Chairman