Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - 276 (05/11/2020)

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Helen Kwasniewski
Comments and/or suggestion
We as town residents have to realize that in the past “Millstone” was footing the
town existence. Now that “Millstone” is on limited time and we as town residents
and all department heads/directors and all elected official have to re-invent the
wheel. The question we have to ask is “How can we keep our taxes/mill rate
down” so we won’t be like New London, Norwich with high mill rate AND keep
the service the same that we taxpayers want.
With so many empty stores in Waterford is our “Economic Development
Department reaching out to companies or advertising in the “Commercial
Register”. For example: the old Sears Auto reach out to Pep Boys. The Sears upper
level reach out to Hobby Lobby (huge craft store).
1* - salaries are way too high. We need to consolidate some to departments and/or
job task and CAP salaries. For example: do we need someone who makes
approximately $50,000 PLUS benefits to sit in the lobby area to answer phone and
greet people. Have that position done by a volunteer like at the Senior Center —
save of $50,000 Plus benefits. This saving can be apply to reducing the mill rate.
Park and Rec have too many personal for same programs year after year. I feel
that they can do with less employees. I am sure that we could look into this as well
as other department.
We can decrease employees on garbage days with one garbage truck picking up
regular trash and recyclables all at the same time as other towns do. Savings are
salaries with benefits and the wear and tear on the trucks.
With monies collected for sewer and water usage go to the Water/Sewer
Department so that that is there operating budget WITHOUT asking the town for
money. This is being done in other towns.
With “Victoria Gardens” as well as Ahepa — they have put a burden on the use of
town vans. They should have their own vans or bill these facilities. This is an
increase to the Senior Service Budget.

There should be increase for the use of the event room at the Community Center as
well as for ALL out of towners that come and use this facility like area Senior
Centers do. I keep hear that we as Waterford residents we are losing our identity by
allow them (out of towners) in which Waterford taxpayers paid for.
Waterford Dental Group should be charge for using the “park” parking for their
clients who have to cross a busy highway. The question is WHY is Waterford
allowing this. Each business has to submit “parking spaces” in there “plot plan”
along with their building plans to the town building department.
Keep taxes “FROZEN FOR ALL SENIORS” for all the time that they are living in
their homes — this is being done at the other end of our state who are wealthier than
Waterford.
My taxes are extremely high and I do not get all the benefits. For example: the
school system — I have no children but yet my taxes go toward the schools. With
the school year cut short that should reflect on lower BOE budget.
I do not like having my taxes go towards paying town employees who bully senior
citizen, who retires and comes back to work in the department that they retire from,
as well as pick and choose when they can work.
With my final notes- The RTM is the last and final board to hear the budgets and I
ptay that they have the guts to open there mouths to scrutinize each department
budget instead of giving a “blank check” like in the past. After the budget & all
departments live within and don’t keep coming back to the board for additional
money. I as well as all taxpayers have a budget that we live to. We don’t have
anyone to ask for more.
I believe that all elected official should think about the residents who elected them
and not how to increase the budget to benefit them, friends, family and spouses
wallet at the expense of Waterford taxpayers especially the SENIORS.
All town employees should live in the town who by taxpayers pay their salary
period.