Board of Finance - Minutes - 03/18/2026

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Board of Finance Wednesday, Mirch 18) 2026
Budget Hearing Minutes Town Hall Auditorium 7:00pm
Present: Chairman Glenn Patterson, Bill Sheehan, Michael Rocchetti, Robert Tuneski, Ann Peabody, Jerry
Fischer, Joseph Filippetti
Rob Brule, First Selectman; Susan Driscoll, RTM Moderator; Paul Goldstein, District 3 RTM
Staff kimberly Allen, Finance Director; Gary Schneider, Director of Public Works; Sandra Kenniston,
Public Works Office Coordinator; Chris Haley, Director of Fire Services; Tom Giard, Superintendent
of Schools; Joseph Mancini, Director of Finance/Operations; David Ferland, Lieutenant, Police
Department; jill Stevens, Director of Utilities; Rebecca Hall, Admin Assistant Finance Office/BOF
Recording Secretary
1. Establishment of a quorum and call to order:
‘A quorum was established and a call to order was established at 7:01 pm, March 18, 2026.
2. Public comment: none
‘An opening statement regarding the budget process was made by Glenn Patterson, Chairman.
Standing Motion: was made by Joseph Filippetti and seconded by Bill Sheehan to consider the budget requests
without individual motions for each series and department to expedite the meeting. Robert Tuneski will make
motion on all budgets and Jerry Fischer will second the motion.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
3. Building Maintenance Budget:
‘Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Jerry Fischer to approve the Building Maintenance budget request for
FY26/27 in the total amount of $1,217,876.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
4, Public Works Budge
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Jerry Fischer to approve the Public Works budget request for FY26/27
in the total amount of $5,312,218,
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes - March 18, 2026
Page 2
5. Capital Improvements:
(2:07:13)Motion by Glenn Patterson and seconded by Joseph Filippetti to reduce the Department of Public
Works’ FY26/27 Capital Improvements budget (Request for Concrete Curb Replacement) by $100,000.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
(2:14:06)Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ann Peabody to cut the Recreation & Parks’ FY26/27 Capital
Improvements budget (request) line #20537-57854 (Waterford Beach Concert Improvements) for the
amphitheater in the amount of $30,000.
Vote: 4-3-0 No: Fischer, Tuneski, Rocchetti Motion: Passed
(2:21:30)Motion by Glenn Patterson and seconded by Joseph Filippetti to cut $200,000 from the Department of
Public Works’ FY26/27 Capital Improvements budget request for Mago Point Sidewalks.
Vote: 1-6-0 No: Fischer, Tuneski, Peabody, Rocchetti,
ippetti_ Motion: Failed
(2:46:07)Motion by Michael Rocchetti and seconded by Robert Tuneski to remove the Access Points & Switches
and the Elementary Playground Surfaces request from the Board of Education’s FY26/27 Capital Improvements
budget.
Vote: 2-5-0 No: Fischer, Sheehan, Peabody, Patterson, Filippetti Motion: Failed
(2:47:12)Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Jerry Fischer to approve the revised Capital Improvements
budget request for FY26/27 in the total amount of $3,539,490.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Joseph
Transfers to Capital and Non-Recurring Expenditures.
petti to change the order of the agenda to move on to
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
6. Transfers to Capital and Non-Recurring Expenditure Fund:
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Jerry Fischer to approve the Transfers to Capital and Non-Recurring
Expenditure Fund budget request for FY26/27 in the total amount of $816,971.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
7. Debt Service:
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Jerry Fischer to approve the Debt Service budget request for FY26/27
in the total amount of $7,922,996.
Vote: -0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes — March 18, 2026
Page2
8. Adjournment:
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Joseph Filippetti to adjourn the Budget Meeting of the Board
of Finance at 9:59pm.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Respectfully submitted
Rebecca L. Hall, Secretary

Statement by First Selectman Rob Brule prior to Capital Improvement Plan Budget
Request
March 18, 2026
Good evening, Mr. Chairman and members of the Board of Finance,
Before I begin my presentation of the Capital Improvement Plan, I want to take a
moment to recognize the tremendous amount of time, effort, and coordination that
has gone into this process.
Finance Director Kim Allen has done an outstanding job leading this effort, and I
am equally grateful to our Department Heads, as well as our Boards and
Commissions, for their thoughtful planning, collaboration, and commitment to
putting forward responsible and well-vetted capital requests.
When I first took office in 2019, one of my primary focuses was addressing a
significant backlog of previously approved capital projects. I am proud of the
progress we have made together, not only completing 157 capital projects, but doing
so in a way that has been fiscally responsible, approved by all three boards and
aligned with the direction provided by this Board.
To put that progress into context, we strategically utilized the General Fund balance
over several years to complete critical capital projects. Specifically, $1.8 million was
used in FY22, $4 million in FY23, $5 million in FY24, and $4 million in FY25—
for a total of $14.8 million invested into our community’s infrastructure and assets.
This deliberate approach allowed us to both address long-standing obligations and
responsibly “spend down” the General Fund balance in accordance with your policy
target of 13-15% of collected revenues.
You will also see that FY23 reflected a peak year, with $4.1 million committed. In
the years that followed, FY24, FY25, and FY26, that number declined to a range
between approximately $1.8 million and $2.2 million annually. That reduction
reflects the three heaviest years of additional appropriations and use of the General
Fund as we worked through those previously approved capital projects.
Importantly, every capital request brought forward during this past 5 years has gone
through the full and transparent approval process, beginning with the Board of
Selectmen, followed by this Board of Finance, and ultimately the RTM. That level

of scrutiny and collaboration has ensured that each investment reflects both need of
the community and accountability by elected officials.
I truly appreciate the partnership and support of this Board throughout that process,
and I look forward to continuing that same level of transparency and collaboration
as I present this year’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Thank you.
CC: BOS, BOF, RTM