Board of Selectmen - Minutes - 04/01/2025

PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, April 1, 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: 5:00 PM
In Attendance: First Selectman, Robert Brule; Selectman, Rich Muckle and
Selectman, Greg Attanasio
Absent: N/A
Pledge of Allegiance
Public Comment: NONE
wh
4, 
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 $300 to
cover the cost for Grand List book binding and forward on to the Board of
Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
5. 
Fire Services: To consider and act on the following request for 
a FY25 In-
Series Transfer from the Director of Fire Services, Michael Howley, in the
amount of $3,752 to cover unforeseen automotive repairs.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
6. 
Fire Services: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25 Out-
of-Series Transfer from the Director of Fire Services, Michael Howley, in the
amount of $24,500 to cover the cost of required OSHA repairs and protective
gear purchases and forward on to the Board of Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED

7. 
Fire Services: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25 Out-
of-Series Transfer from the Director of Fire Services, Michael Howley, in the
amount of $5,722 to cover the cost of replacement generator parts and cable
bi-yearly increases and forward on to the Board of Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
8. 
Police Department: To consider and act on the following request for a 
FY25
In-Series Transfer from the Chief of Police, Marc Balestracci, in the amount
of $10,000 to cover increased coverage by CSOs and approved hourly rate
increases.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
9. 
Police Department: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25
In-Series Transfer from the Chief of Police, Mare Balestracci, in the amount
of $2,500 to cover SRT agreement for gear and equipment.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
10. Police Department: To consider and act on the following request for a FY25
In-Series Transfer from the Chief of Police, Marc Balestracci, in the amount
of $7,500 for 1033 program fees and unintended repairs to vacuum system
between PD and Dispatch.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
11. Appointments & Resignations:
11a. To consider and act on the appointment of Michael Elbaum (R) to the
Planning & Zoning Commission to fill the vacant spot with a term of
7/1/24-6/30/27 as an Alternate.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
12. New Business: NONE
13. Old Business: RTM — motor vehicle tax discussion
14. Correspondence:
14a. Letter from Theodore Johns — protect birds by adopting policies that
support organic land management
14b.
15. Consent Agenda
15a. Tax Refund
15b. Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025

MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
15c. Board of Selectmen Special Meeting Minutes March 24, 2025
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED
16. Adjournment: 5:41 PM
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Attanasio, VOTING IN FAVOR: 3-0 PASSED

Shannon Withey
From: 
Theodore johns@everyactionadvocacy.com on behalf of THEODORE Johns
<Theodorejohns@everyactionadvocacy.com>
Sent: 
Saturday, March 29, 2025 10:25 AM
To: 
Shannon Withey
Subject: 
Protect birds by adopting policies that support organic land management!
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.
Dear First Selectman Robert J. Brule,
The 2025 edition of the State of the Birds report by scientists in the U.S. Committee of the North American Bird
Conservation Initiative (NABCI) finds “{slobering evidence that America’s birds continue to decline across the board.”
Furthermore, the report says, “Birds are telling us that the habitats people depend on are vanishing. Declines are
happening across the board: in grasslands, aridlands, western and eastern forests, in Hawaii's fragile ecosystems, and
with our shorebirds and seabirds. Even waterfowl, which had rebounded strongly thanks to decades of conservation
work, are seeing sharp recent declines.”
It has become clear that we cannot count on the EPA to protect birds—or the rest of us—from the interconnected
threats of pesticide exposure, habitat loss, and climate change. We must promote policies at the state and local level
moving towards organic land management in agriculture, communities, and homes.
Not only are bird species important for preserving biodiversity, but many species provide ecosystem services such as
pollination and mosquito management. The protection of birds and their habitats allows for other organisms, including
humans, to prosper. The assessment reveals that although overall, about one-third of U.S. birds, or 229 species, are of
high or moderate conservation concern, impacts to bird species in some habitats face greater threats than others.
Grassland and aridland species have both lost more than 40 percent of their total populations over that period.”
The State of the Bird report, which focuses on long-term population changes for 246 total species of North American
birds, highlights just one piece of the larger picture; as bird species face population threats, so do other organisms
within terrestrial and aquatic food webs and across all ecosystems.
Many scientific studies tie impacts on bird species to the interconnected issues of pesticide exposure, habitat loss, and
climate change. From higher insecticide levels in pesticide-laden nests linked to increased offspring mortality to the
threats to seed-eating birds from neonicotinoid treated seeds, agricultural intensification harms bird species within the
U.S. and throughout the world.
Many communities are already adopting organic land management in parks, playing fields, and other public lands.
Beyond Pesticides works with major retailers like Natural Grocers and Stonyfield Organic and dozens of communities in
all regions of the country to see this vision come to life. Natural land care is becoming increasingly popular at the local
level, with more and more communities looking to employ practices that protect workers, public health, pets,
pollinators, and unique local environments that can be harmed by unnecessary pesticide use. At the same time,
community leaders are increasingly challenged with staffing constraints and tight budgets. Beyond Pesticides’ Parks for a
Sustainable Future program aims to bridge these gaps, allowing communities to pilot the transition to organic land care
on two public sites.

Please ensure that all land (parks, playgrounds, playing fields, etc.) in our area is managed with organic practices that
eliminate fossil fuel-based toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Where these practices are in place, | would appreciate a report
to the community. Where organic practices are not being utilized, please put in place a transition plan—as part of a
community effort to protect health and biodiversity, and to fight the climate crisis. Now is the time that we must all join
together to do our part to curtail petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers and sequester atmospheric carbon in the
soil through effective organic practices.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mr THEODORE Johns
185 Niantic River Rd Waterford, CT 06385-1843 Theodore.johns@att.net