Board of Selectmen - 67 (02/03/2022)

TOWN OF WATERFORD
GENERAL FUND
2022-2023 PROPOSED BUDGET
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
DEPT/AGENCY: 
10114
52010 
ADVERTISING 
989 
1,500 
462 
1,800 
1,500 
0 
0.00%
52020 
POSTAGE 
106 
125 
40 
125 
125 
0 
0.00%
52030 
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 
250 
3,500 
3,500 
3,500 
0 
0.00%
52031 
PLANNING SERVICES 
12,000 
12,000 
12,000 
12,000 
0 
0.00%
52050 
DUES, CONF. & EDUC. 
295 
600 
95 
600 
600 
0 
0.00%
PRINTING 
0
*no Commission vote

FY 2022/23 PROPOSED CONSERVATION COMMISSION BUDGET
The Waterford Conservation Commission serves as the Inland Wetlands Agency; reviewing applications,
issuing permits and enforcing activities affecting inland wetlands and watercourses in accordance with
the Waterford Inland Wetlands and Watercourses regulations and CT General Statutes 22a-36 through
22a-45. The Conservation Commission also carries out the statutory responsibilities of a municipal
Conservation Commission, maintaining a survey of natural resources, reviewing land use proposals and
making recommendations to other Boards and Agencies on natural resource identification and
protection, and Open Space preservation.
The Conservation Commission conducted 21 regularly scheduled meetings and 2 special meetings in FY
2020/21 and rendered decisions on 18 applications to conduct activities in and adjacent to inland
wetlands and watercourses. All meetings were conducted virtually. Inland Wetland permits authorized
the disturbance of 0.137 acres of wetland, of which 0.03 acres involved temporary disturbance which was
subsequently restored. 
Permanent wetland fill involved 0.107 acres. 
Mitigation for the permanent
disturbance of wetland area totaled 0.084 acres of wetland creation and wetland buffer enhancement.
Fai
FEES — Application Fees Generated from Inland Wetland Permit Applications
Fiscal year 
Total Fees Collected
FY 2017/2018 
S 
700
FY 2018/2019 
S 
250
FY 2019/2020 
S 1,100
FY 2020/2021 
S 
800
FY 2021/2022 —4 months 
S 
500
The Waterford Conservation Commission requires an additional fee when public hearings are required.
The fee off-sets the cost for the two legal notices of public hearing required by State statute.

BUDGET REQUEST SUMMARY
Line 
Description 
FY22/23 AMOUNT
52010 
Advertising 
S 1,800
52020 
Postage 
» 
S 
125
52030 
Professional Services 
S 3,500
52031 
Planning Services 
S 12,000
52050 
Dues, Conferences & Education 
S 
600
52060 
Printing 
S 
25
53020 
Other Supplies 
S 
500
Conservation Commission Total Request 
$ 18,550
This is a $300.00 increase over the approved FY 2021/ 22 budget.
ADVERTISING LINE 10114-52010 
$ 1,800 REQUESTED
The advertising account covers the cost of all legal notice requirements required by State statute. This
includes publication of notices of public hearings, enforcement orders and notices of decision on all
Commission inland wetland agency actions. Advertisements for public hearings and decisions of the
Commission are required to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in Waterford. To
off-set publication costs, the Commission requires an additional fee of $400.00 when a public hearing is
required for the legal notices. The costs for legal notices of decision placed in The Day newspaper
increased in 2021.
The requested amount is a $300.00 increase over previous approved budget line item for advertising.
POSTAGE LINE 10114-52020 
$ 125 REQUESTED
Postage expenditures include certified letter mailings required for notice of Commission decisions on
applications and for enforcement proceedings, correspondence to Town residents, and referrals to
municipal, State and Federal agencies.
The requested budget amount is consistent with that approved for the prior year.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LINE 10114-52030 
$ 3,500 REQUESTED 
©

The professional services account is used to obtain professional technical reviews, retain expert
witnesses, chemical laboratory analyses and other professional technical assistance unavailable at the
municipal or State level which are needed to conduct the duties of the inland wetlands agency and the
Conservation Commission. These services may include assisting the Commission with technical expert
reviews of application documents, investigating complaints of wetland, soil or water quality impacts,
documenting violations of the inland wetlands and watercourses regulations, providing expert
testimony in court proceedings, or assisting the Commission in preparing natural resource surveys.
To carry out the responsibilities of the Inland Wetland and Watercourses Act, it is critical that the
Commission have the ability to retain expert witnesses for determination of impacts to wetlands and
watercourses in order to reach and maintain defensible decisions. Court case law has established that
the finding of adverse impacts and justification for conditions of approval requires technical expertise
and expert evidence in the application record. The Commission uses the expertise of staff members,
and regional and state technical offices when available, however specific technical expertise may be
required during the application process within a limited time frame. Having sufficient funding available
to procure services when expert review is needed is essential in consideration of the strict time frames
established by State Statute for rendering decisions on inland wetland applications.
The fee schedule for Inland Wetland permit applications allows the Commission to charge the applicant
for third party expert reviews and technical evaluations deemed necessary to assist in the review of
complex permit applications. However, the Commission continues to require funds for obtaining
professional expertise on items not associated with complex permit applications.
Expenditures under this item are difficult to predict and are related to the number and complexity of
permit applications, public hearings, enforcement proceedings and technical needs of the Commission.
The requested amount will fund an estimated 25 -35 hours of professional service at a rate of $100 -
$150/hr.
The requested budget amount is consistent with that approved for the prior year.
PLANNING SERVICES LINE 10114-52031 
$ 12,000 REQUESTED
The Conservation Commission conducts a water quality monitoring program of freshwater streams and
ponds in Waterford. Samples are collected at 30 locations in the early summer and late fall of a
calendar year to track water quality over the growing season and monitor changes in quality over time.
Sampling is conducted on Jordan Brook, Nevins Brook, Fenger Brook, Hunts Brook, Stony Brook, Oil Mill
Brook and its tributaries, Millstone (Beebe) Brook, Green Swamp Brook and a tributary stream to
Goshen Cove. Water quality parameters monitored include total coliform, e. coliand enterococci
bacteria, chemical oxygen demand, chloride, pH, suspended solids, and nutrient loadings from nitrogen
compounds and phosphorus.

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2023 BUDGET REQUEST
Conservation Commission
The surface water quality monitoring program has been conducted for the past 18 years by the
Conservation Commission and has generated comprehensive data on the quality of the town’s water
resources. This data is used to evaluate potential impacts of land development on stream health and to
track changes in water chemistry over time. It also provides a scientific basis for the Conservation
Commission to establish required levels of stormwater treatment for development proposals, and water
quality mitigation goals for enforcement proceedings.
Jordan Brook, Oil Mill Brook and Stony Brook support native trout and high quality waters. Habitat
requirements for these fisheries include cool, oxygenated waters with suitable substrate conditions to
provide food and aquatic habitat. Alterations and loss of vegetative cover, soil erosion, flow alterations
sewage discharges and stormwater run-off can adversely impact the biological conditions of these
watercourses.
The monitored temperature, nitrogen and phosphorus levels in these streams continue to indicate high
quality surface waters.
The 2020 State of Connecticut Integrated Water Quality Report, submitted by CT DEEP to the EPA,
identifies Alewife Cove, Niantic Bay and near-shore waters of Long Island Sound as not meeting
designated uses of habitat for fish and other aquatic life. In addition, Alewife Cove, Jordan Cove, and
areas of Niantic Bay and the Niantic River are listed as impaired for direct shellfish consumption due to
bacteria levels. Fenger Brook is listed as not supporting designated uses for aquatic life and recreation.
Hunts Brook downstream of the Miller Pond dam is listed as not supporting fish and aquatic life habitat.
The lower reach of Stony Brook south of Rte 1 has been identified as impaired for recreational use due
to bacteria. The State is developing restoration policies to improve water quality and habitat of
impaired waters.
The Commission continues to monitor bacteria, nitrogen and phosphorus levels in stream reaches that
eventually discharge to Jordan Cove, the Niantic River, and Long Island Sound. This long-term water
quality monitoring is a critical part of the natural resource inventory work the Commission conducts and
allows tracking of trends in water quality from land use changes and can provide an indication of where
water quality may be affected. Town staff conducts the sampling to minimize costs. Cost variations are
linked to the number of water samples collected.
The Commission is requesting the same amount for this item as approved in the previous fiscal year.
DUES, CONFERENCES, EDUCATION LINE 10114-52050 
$ 600 REQUESTED
Expenditures from this line item include membership dues, commission and staff training, attendance at
seminars and workshops. The Connecticut Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act [CGS 22a-36 - 22a-
45a] recommends members of inland wetland agency complete a comprehensive training program
developed by the CT DEEP. Commissioners also attend environmental education conferences and legal

seminars regarding inland wetlands to keep informed of changes to State Statute or case law affecting
application review practices, public hearing records and decision-making for Inland Wetlands and
Watercourse Regulations application. The Commission satisfies the minimum required training
recommended by CT DEEP for inland wetlands agencies.
The Commission is requesting the same amount for this item as the previous fiscal year to maintain the
level of training of its members.
PRINTING LINE 10114-52060 
$ 25 REQUESTED
Expenditures under this line item include printing of oversized documents, maps and colored copies,
which cannot be printed or are unavailable at Town facilities. As a result of changes in court procedures,
some printing funds may be necessary to reproduce, in paper or digital format, large documents and
files. The amount requested under this line item is the same as the prior fiscal year.
OTHER SUPPLIES LINE 10114-53020 
$ 500 REQUESTED
Funds in this account are used to purchase and maintain environmental testing/monitoring equipment,
safety equipment, survey flagging, and Conservation Easement and Non-Encroachment Boundary Line
markers for field markings. This equipment allows the Conservation Commission with its professional
staff to perform wetland identification, water testing, natural resource inventory and conservation
easement boundary marking that would otherwise require contracting for outside professional services.
The amount requested under this line item is the same as the previous year.
COMMISSION MEMBERS
Richard Muckle , Chair 
Ivy Plis - Alternate
Tali Maidelis, Secretary 
Julie Wainscott — Alternate
David Lersch
Jessica Patterson
Geneva Renegar
Wade Thomas

HISTORY OF EXPENDITURES
FY 17/18 FY18/19 FY19/20 FY20/21 FY21/22
To date
52010 Advertising 
$765.00 $469.80 $901.65 
$989.0 
$260.85
52020 Postage 
$80.65 
$50.12 
$104.40 
$106.0 
$18.58
52030 Professional 
$0 
$2,900 
SO 
$3,500 
-
Fees
52031 Planning 
$10,126 
$10,665 
$12,000 
$12,0000 
$4,781
Services
52050 Dues/Education 
$545 
$485 
$455 
$295 
$95
52060 Printing 
- 
- 
- 
- 
-
53020 Supplies 
$243.0 
$404.37 
$840 
365.92 
-
Approved by Conservation Commission — October 28, 2021
Proposed FY22/23
$1,500
$125
$ 3,500
$ 12,000
$ 600
$25
$500