Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - 1253 (04/06/2026)

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
LEGISLATION & ADMINISTRATION STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE RTM
COMMITTEE REPORT
REVIEW OF YFSB/SENIOR CITIZENS ORDINANCES (RTC 8/5/24)
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Aug. 15, 2024 Committee Meeting. Initial consideration of issue; Senior Citizens Commissioner who figtPbeen
told RTM planned to combine the board and commission and wanted to comment was inyite to participafain the
discussion. Chair explained that the purpose of review was to determine what changes we involved in 2021
“reorganization” and whether ordinances that lay out responsibilities and reporting structurdin town govefment
needed revision to remain accurate. Committee assured Commissioner that all meetings were open to the public,
members of both parties would be invited to provide information on the new arrangement, and that there would be a
public hearing if ordinance revisions were proposed.
(Referral request, ordinances, and legal opinions available with meeting agenda at waterfordct.org)
Feb. 13, 2025 Committee Meeting. Human Services Administrator offered public comment and was included in
discussion later in the meeting. She stated that everyone, including her union, was happy with the new arrangement
and urged the committee to report the issue out with a recommendation to take no action because the RTM did not
have authority to challenge the First Selectman’s authority. Several committee members explained that under a
checks-and-balance system—and as the legislative body—the RTM did have authority to review/revise ordinances
and assured her that members of both the YFSB and Senior Citizens Commission were invited to participate in
future discussions, to ask questions and provide information before any decisions were made.
Current Committee Action
Jan. 21, 2026 Committee Meeting. Initial committee meeting; general overview of all pending issues. Committee
discussion resulted in consensus that this item should be given discussion time at a future meeting and that Dani
Gorman, human services administrator, the Senior Citizen’s Commission, and the first selectman should be invited
to that meeting to participate in the discussion. Scheduling will be attempted to accommodate committee members
and invited participants.
Feb. 9, 2026. Committee Meeting. The Committee discussed the combined position of Director of Youth and
Family Services and Director of Senior Services. The Committee noted that the First Selectman has authority over
staffing decisions and that the joint position was created in consultation with advisory groups and the union, with a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) governing the arrangement. Dani Gorman, who serves as Director of both
departments, spoke in support of maintaining the current ordinance language. Based on the discussion, the
Committee concluded that no ordinance change is necessary at this time.
Recommendation: The Committee voted unanimously to report this item out of committee with the
recommendation that the RTM take no further action because there is an MOU that covers this position.

Submitted by:
Erica Casper
Chair, Legislation & Administration Standing Committee
Representative Town Meeting
Town of Waterford