Board of Selectmen - Minutes - 05/20/2025

PHONE: 860-442-0553
wwwwaterfordct.org
FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
BOARD OF SELECTMEN REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
5:00 PM
Waterford Town Hall (Appleby Room) 
-
\
(Procedural Action: Check register to be signed by the Board of Selectmen in
accordance with CGS 7-83)
1. Call to Order & Roll Call: 5:01 PM
In Attendance: First Selectman, Robert Brule; Selectman, Rich Muckle and
Selectman, Greg Attanasio
Absent: N/A
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3, Public Comment:
e Thecla Abbiati — Memorial bench requested in honot of George &
Linda Abbiati. Email attached under correspondence.
e Wayne Gilpin — Oswegatchie Fire Department in support of #15 on
this agenda as presented. Handout attached under correspondence.
e Sue Driscoll - #15 revise language of resolution to reflect Town
instead of Oswegatchie. #19 Retirement questions regarding deficit.
e Mary Childs — RTM Member #15 concerms. Email attached under
correspondence.
e Narciss Greene - RTM Member #15 concems.
4. Board of Education: To consider and act on a request for a FY25 additional
appropriation from the Board of Bducation Director of Finance and
Operations, Joseph Mancini, in the amount of $243,335, for LED, new
transformers, new VFDs across the district, to account #20560-57883
(Energy Efficiency) and forward on to the Board of Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED

5. 
Board of Education: To consider and act on a request for a FY25 additional
appropriation from the Board of Education Director of Finance and
Operations, Joseph Mancini, in the amount of $197,000, for ACER
Chromebooks and iPads, to account #20560-57884 (Chromebooks & iPad
Equipment) and forward on to the Board of Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
6. 
Tax Collector: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25 Out-
of-Series Transfer from the Tax Collector, Alan Wilensky, in the amount of
$30 to cover an increase in postage rate increased and forward on to the
Board of Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
7. 
Assessor: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25 Out-of-
Series Transfer from the Assessor, Paige Walton, in the amount of $261 to
cover an increase in copier contract overage charges and forward on to the
Board of Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
8. 
Library: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25 In-Series
Transfer from the Director of the Library, Christine Johnson, in the amount of
$2,251 to cover unbudgeted sick leave.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
9. 
Utility: To consider and act on a recommendation from Shea Davy, Purchasing
Agent, on behalf of Jill Stevens, Director of Utilities, to award the bid to B&W
Paving & Landscaping LLC, for the Replacement of Existing Plastic Water
Services with New Copper Water Services — Old Norwich Road, with funds
available in Line # 20531-57881 (Plastic Water Service Line Replacement).
MOTION by Muckie, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
10. Planning: To consider and act on a request for a FY25 appropriation from the
Director of Planning, Jonathan Mullen, in the amount of $25,000, from
designated line #20511-57767 (Nevins Cottage Structural Repairs) and
forward on to the Board of Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
11. Public Works: To consider and act on a recommendation from Shea Davy,
Purchasing Agent, on behalf of the Director of Public Works, Gary Schneider,
to award the bid to Action Air Systems, LLC, in the amount of $44,890 for

HVAC Maintenance. Funds will be available from line #10111-52040,
(Service Contracts and Repairs).
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
12. Public Works: To consider and act on a recommendation from Shea Davy,
Purchasing Agent, on behalf of the Director of Public Works, Gary Schneider,
to award the bid to Casella Waste Systems, in the amount of $400,000 for
Oversized Bulixy Waste Disposal. Funds will be available from line #10130-
52470, (Solid Waste).
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
13. Public Works: To consider and act on a recommendation from Shea Davy,
Purchasing Agent, on behalf of the Director of Public Works, Gary Schneider,
to award the bid to DW Transport & Leasing/Connecticut Scrap LLC, to
remove metals for 71% of published price but not less than $150 per gross tons.
Funds will be deposited to line # 10130-44204 (scrap metal revenue).
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
14, Fire Services: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25 Out-
of-Series Transfer from the Interim Director of Fire Services, Michael Howley,
in the amount of $12,617 to cover an increase in apparatus repairs and forward
ou to the Board of Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
15. Fire Services: To consider and amend the following:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Selectmen recommends that the Town of
Waterford (the “Town”) appropriate $12,000,000 for the construction of 
anew
Town Fire Station as described in the plans prepared by the Oswegatchie Fire
Department, as described in the plans prepared by the Oswegatchie Fire Station
Building Committee (the “Project”). The appropriation may be expended for
design, construction, renovation and installation costs, engineering and
professional fees, fixtures, fumishings, materials, equipment, purchase costs,
legal fees, financing costs, interest expense on temporary borrowings, and
other costs related to the Project. The appropriation shall include any federal,
state or other grants-in-aid received for the Project. The Oswegatchie Fire
Station Building Committee for the Project is authorized to determine the
scope and particulars of the Project. The Oswegatchie Fire Station Building
Committee may reduce or modify the scope of the Project and the entire
appropriation may be expended on the Project as so reduced or modified.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio to table, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0
PASSED

16. Police: To consider and act on a recommendation from Shea Davy, Purchasing
Agent, on behalf of the Chief of Police, Marc Balestracci, for surplus disposal
of the following:
© 
asset #101587 CAR 3 2018- Ford-PIU-VIN # JFMK8AR7JGA 84866
* 
asset #101022 CAR 34 2011- Ford-Taurus-VIN #
IFAHP2HW1BG145602
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
17. Finance: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25 In-Series
Transfer from the Director of Finance, Kim Allen, in the amount of $8,000 to
cover ADP processing fee increases after the budget was passed. 
;
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
18. Insurance: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25 In-Series
Transfer from the Director of Finance, Kim Allen, in the amount of $21,500 to
cover past employee unemployment and long term disability coverage.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
19. Retirement: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25 In-Series
Transfer from the Director of Finance, Kim Allen, in the amount of $566,879
to cover an additional payment into the OPEB Trust Fund approved by the
BOF.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
20. Appointments & Resignations:
20a. To consider and act on the re-appointment of Marcia Benvenuti (D) to
the Waterford East Lyme Shellfish Commission (WELSCO) to fill the term
of 6/1/25-5/31/29 as a member.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
20b. To consider and act on the appointment of Timothy Burrows (R) to
the Recreation and Parks Commission to fill the vacant spot and term of
9/1/23-8/3 1/26 as a member.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
20c. To appoint Chris Haley as the Director of Fire Services pursuant to
Charter section 5.20.1, and Town Ordinance 2.36.030 (A).
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
21. New Business:

22. Old Business:
23. Correspondence:
23a. Thecla Abbiati 
— Email Memorial Bench
23b. Wayne Gilpin — Handout regarding Oswegatchie Fire Station
23c. Mary Childs — Email regarding Town Fire Station
23d. Ted Olynciw — Email regarding Oswegatchie Fire House
24. Consent Agenda
24a. Tax Refund
24b. Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting Minutes May 6, 2025
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
25. Adjournment: 6:12 PM
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED

Shannon Withey
From: 
Robert Brule
Sent: 
Monday, May 19, 2025 9:07 PM
To: 
Thecla Abbiati
Ce: 
First Selectman
Subject: 
Re: basic questions
Follow Up Flag: 
Follow up
Flag Status: 
Flagged
Categories: 
Rob Brule
Hello Thecla,
Sorry for the delayed response. We have public comment at the beginning of the meeting for you to speak
regarding the bench dedication. From there, your comment will be in the meeting minutes and I will follow up
with the Recreation & Parks Director and Chairman of the Board. I hope this helps Thecla.
My regards,
Rob Brule
First Selectman
Waterford Town Hall
15 Rope Ferry Road
Waterford, CT 06385
rbrule@waterfordct.org
Phone: 860-444-5834
Fax: 
860-444-0273
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: This communication, including attachments, is for the exclusive use of
addressee and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, copying, disclosure, dissemination or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you're not the
intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by return email and delete this communication and
destroy all copies.
On May 19, 2025, at 10:30 AM, Abbiati, Thecla <thecla.abbiati@yale.edu> wrote:
FR A 
MM 
A 
OR A 
A 
NM 
I MM 
AN 
A l,l, 
a 
i, a, a,
1 
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization.
I Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender's email address and know th
1 
: 
: 
a 
| 
content is safe.
Good morning,

I have a couple of basic questions:
¢ 
Is it possible to raise a question at tomorrow's meeting and, if so, how do I go about
it? My question is something which was asked of Parks and Rec a quite some time ago
and was never answered. Our family would like to place a "memorial bench" in honor of
George and Linda Abbiati in front of the Community Center. George Sr. was very active
in the Lions Club and helped to initiate the Kelley Road Race. Since its inception 63
years ago, the family has hosted a water stop along the Boston Post Road and in front of
the Community Center since it was built. Linda was at every event until the year of her
passing at age 94. If given the privilege of placing a bench in the vicinity, the family will
respect the committee's wishes in choosing in design, placement, etc.
¢ 
Without using Facebook, how can I get alerts regarding meetings?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Thecla Abbiati

Wayne H. Gilpin
6 Albacore Drive
Waterford, CT 06385-2602
wailpin53@gmail.com
860-443-6821 (H)
$60-884-4301 (C)
5/20/2025
To: Board of Selectman, Town of Waterford
Subject: Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee
Good afternoon,
Iam Wayne Gilpin, residing at 6 Albacore Dr. I am also a member of the Oswegatchie Fire
Station Building Committee serving as a representative of the fire department.
I am speaking tonight to urge your support of Item 15 for the funding of the new Oswegatchie
Fire Station as presented. As we are all well aware, this is a can that has been kicked down the
road for over 15 years with the cost escalating every year. The committee has spent many hours
over dozens of meetings to submit a plan that is designed to serve the residents, businesses, and
taxpayers of the town for the foreseeable future. Is ita perfect plan? Was there unanimous
agreement on every item? No. But the committee has come to a consensus and voted approval
of this plan. If there are one or two committee members that disagree with parts of the plan, it is
in poor taste and a disservice to you and their fellow members to try to multiply their vote by
trying to sabotage approval of select items at this stage. This is not a taj mahal. It is a welf
thought out plan for a facility with room for the future and efficient long term operating costs.
To cut corners now and argue that the town can retrofit or expand later will come back to haunt
future residents. The town has wasted too much time and hundreds of thousands of dollars on
studies, committees, professional fees in the past 15 years. It’s time to move forward with this
project.
Thank you,
Wayne H. Gilpin

Shannon Withey
From: 
RTM Mary Childs
Sent: 
Monday, May 19, 2025 9:47 PM
To: 
Shannon Withey; Robert Brule
Ce: 
gregattanasio@rocketmail.com; Richard Muckle
Subject: 
Public Comment for 5/20/2025 BoS meeting
Good evening Shannon, | hope this finds you well! I would like to submit the following statement as
public comment for the record for the 5/20/2025 Board of Selectmen meeting, Please let me know if you
need anything else from me. Thank you,
Mary Childs
District 
2 RTM
Mary Childs
22 Beacon Hill Drive
Waterford CT 06385
District 
2 RTM Member
May 19, 2025
Dear First Selectman Brule, and Selectmen Attanasio and Muckle,
| request that this letter be entered into the public record for the Board of Selectmen meeting
scheduled for May 20, 2025 at 5:00.
In regards to #15 on the agenda which calls for the item to be resoived by the Board of Selectmen
appropriating $12,000,000 for the construction of a new Town Fire Station as described in the plans
by the Oswegatchie Fire Department.
There are several items that need to be addressed before $12,000,000 is appropriated:
-the building committee was not officially ratified
-there has been no signed lease agreement ever received by RTM
-there has been minimum opportunity for public input at this point
-there is a lack of a town wide plan for fire services coverage based on current buildings/planning
structures
-there have been several promises made by OSW building committee reports that the process would
go through the RTM, and item 15 circumvents those promises
-currently, there is a request from members of the RTM to prepare and report a design with two
double bays as opposed to three, which has yet to be received
It is premature to appropriate this amount of money without the above mentioned items being
sufficiently addressed.
It is irresponsible to appropriate this amount of money, which will impact all of the taxpayers in
Waterford, without the opportunity for their input.
It would be better to be thoughtful and proceed similarly to the Municipal Complex process as
opposed to rushing without proper planning and procedure.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Childs

: 
Hz2d
Shannon Withey
From: 
Ted Olynciw <tedolynciw@yahoo.com>
Sent: 
Monday, May 19, 2025 11:44 PM
To: 
Robert Brule; Richard Muckle; Greg Attanasio; Shannon Withey
Subject: 
Submitted for Public Comment for the BOS meeting on May 20, 2025
Attachments: 
Scan_20250519 (3).pdf
Follow Up Flag: 
Follow up
Flag Status: 
Flagged
Categories: 
Rob Brule
ee ee 
ee 
ee 
ee
i. 
___ 
CAUTION; This email originated from outside of the organization, _ 
|
: Do not click links or open: attachments unless you recognize the sender's email address and know the 
:
: 
: 
content 
is safe.
ee ae 
a a 
pt ce 
pa 
a 
a ol SAA 
DAIS IIS
Due to a conflict, 
| cannot attend your meeting Tuesday night. However, | wanted to share this
information while serving on the Building Committee as you deliberate on the resolution outlined in
item # 5 of you agenda.
Ted Olynciw, RTM Rep. 2nd District and RTM Appointed member of the Oswegatchie Fire House
Building Committee.
62 Twin Lakes Drive
Waterford, CT 06385

Submitted 
for Public 
C 
‘o the Board 
tman 
Meeting o 
2025
DRAFT COPY OF MY ASSIGNEE REPORT TO THE RTM IN JUNE
ASSIGNEE REPORT OF THE OSWEGATCHIE FIRE HOUSE BUILDING COMMITTEE 
.
May 19, 2025
This report is a summary of facts gathered during the past 2+ years the committee has
been working on this project.
1. The Building Committee has never voted on a motion to request funding or
bonding from the Town for this project.
a
b.
Cc.
In fact, the Committee agreed, at the April 1,2025 meeting, that it wanted to
bid the project and use the low bidder lump sum proposal for Town funding /
bonding since budget numbers have heen proven to be unreliable.
The Committee reaffirmed, at its May 20th meeting, to request funding or
bonding only based on hard bid numbers.
The Chairman, Bob Tuneski, on May 6", stated during his conversation with
Kim Allen, Finance Director, that she decided to ask the BOS to approve
bonding for this project based on budget numbers, not actual cost, like we
did for the Municipal Complex which was based on actual bids.
2. Fire Services Review Speciat Committee.
a.
b.
The RTM formed this Committee at its meeting on 6/7/21 meeting.
THE MISSION: REVIEW ISSUES INCLUDING PERFORMANCE, POLICIES, AND
STAFFING AND PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS/RECOMMENDATIONS OF ANY
CHANGES NEEDED TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, CREATING A STEERING
DOCUMENT AND STATEGIC PLAN.
his 
co 
ee has failed 
afte 
ear 
rovide a full 
com 
iv
their findings and rec 
endations.
Mr. Tim Condon, at the RTM meeting, on 8/7/23 stated “The decision to
approve an Oswegatchie Fire Building Committee was facilitated by the fact
that report from the Fire Service Review Special Committee would he
provided. As you are aware this report has never been submitted to the Town
for review and consideration.
3. The RTM decided without the benefit of a report from the Fire Services Review
Special Committee, which was established by the RTM on June 7, 2021, to go
forward with a new fire house at Oswegatchie. By not having this report we have

placed the cart before the horse by designing a new fire house before obtaining
this report which would have met the needs of all 5 fire houses.
4, The Building Committee was formed on 2/6/23 with the specific instruction to
“REPAIR OR REPLACE”. This was understood to consider the cost of renovating
the existing building versus building a new building. At a subsequent RTM
meeting that was changed by majority vote that the new meaning 
was to
“REPAIR AS NECESSARY 
THE EXISTING BUILDING UNTIL THE NEW BUILDING IS
COMPLETED”.
5. Jonathan Mullen, Planning Director, provided us with the attached Population
Projections which shows that the population in Waterford will decrease
between now and 2040.
6. The proposed design, approved by the Fire House Building committee, includes
3 drive through bays. The cost of this additional bay if approximately $410,000,
a. Only 
2 drive through bays are needed based upon the present and future
needs.
b. There are existing unused indoor parking spaces for 7additional vehictes in
the other 
4 fire houses,
c. According to Director of Fire Services, Michael Howley, there are no plans
for the next 10 years to add any additional vehicles.
d. The existing structure is 16,000 square feet in size versus the proposed new
building which is 10,000 square feet in size.
e. The exiting building adequately houses 4 pieces of apparatus, the same for
the proposed fire.
7. The proposed plans have included the following luxury Items:
a. Heated floor slab with the garage bays.
The cost is $181,000 plus 15% general conditions, overhead and profit, and
5% for contingency for a total cost of $217,000,
There is already in the design a redundant gas fired forced air heating system
which is adequate to heat the entire garage. This is the same system that is
being used tn our Municipal Garage.
b. Providing 3 bi-folding garage at the front of the building versus 3 typical
rolling overhead doors. Cost for the bi-fold door is estimated to be $ 108,000
versus rolling overhead doors estimated to be $ 36,000. These figures

8.
10,
include the15% for general contractors overhead/ profit plus 5% for
contingency.
The existing poor soil conditions for the placement of the new building
foundation requires an additional $300,000 cost ( including General Contractors
15% fee for overhead/profit plus 5% contingency. The entire footprint of the
building has to be excavated to a dept of 6’ and the material removed from the
site. Additionally, 4’ of structural fill has to be installed in the excavation before
the foundation can be backfilled. ! do not believe that this cost is not included
in the budget.
The existing traffic light may have to be relocated due to the new location of the
building at an additional cost of $ 600,000, The Chief of Police will make a
decision to keep the existing light or install a new one after he reviews the line
of site along the Boston Post Road. This cost is $600,000 including the General
Contractor’s fee of 15% and 5% contingency.
. 
turge you to review these facts before you cast your vote on the motion to
approve funding / bonding for this project.
Ted Olynciw, RTM Representative, 2" District and RTM Appointed Member
To the Oswegatchie Building Committee
Tee UL
62 Twin Lakes Drive, Waterford, CT. 06385