Utility Commission - Minutes - 08/25/2026

WATERFORD UTILITY COMMISSION 
Regular Meeting and Public Hearing 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DATE:  
 
August 25, 2026 
 
PLACE:  
 
15 Rope Ferry Road, Town Hall Auditorium  
 
PRESIDING: 
 
Acting Chairman Ray Valentini 
 
MEMBERS PRESENT: 
Jerry Porter, Beth Sabilia, and Ryan Boyle 
 
MEMBERS ABSENT: 
Chairman Ken Kirkman 
 
ALSO PRESENT:              Attorney Nicholas Kepple, Town Counsel 
 
 
             David Fox, Raftelis Consultant 
                                          Cameron Okie, Raftelis Consultant 
                 
                Staff: Jill Stevens, Director of Utilities  
 
 
            Shawn Matthews, Assistant Director of Utilities 
            Amy Windle, Office Coordinator/Recording Secretary 
CALL TO ORDER 
Acting Chairman Valentini called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm 
PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED SEWER RATE INCREASE AS ADVERTISED ON 8/11/26 & 8/14/26    
Acting Chairman opened the Public Hearing at 6:00 pm           
 
Director Stevens introduced the proposed sewer rate increase and explained that the Utility Department 
is funded primarily through sewer charges rather than property taxes. She emphasized the need for 
financially sustainable rates to maintain reliable wastewater service, protect public health and the 
environment, and preserve Waterford’s waterways and natural resources before introducing the 
Commission’s consultant from Raftelis. 
 
David Fox and Cameron Okie of Raftelis attended the public hearing. Mr. Fox presented the findings of 
the wastewater rate study and reviewed the proposed sewer rate structure. A copy of the presentation 
is attached to these minutes. 
 
PUBLIC COMMENT 
Andrea Kanfer of Baldwin Drive thanked the department for their hard work. 
 
CLOSING OF PUBLIC HEARING 
Acting Chairman Valentini closed the Public Hearing at 6:35 pm 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
With no further business before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. 
 
 

Waterford Utility Commission 
August 25, 2026 
2 | P a g e 
 
 
MOTION 
Made by Ms. Sabilia to adjourn, Mr. Porter seconded. 
 
 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
 
Amy Windle 
Recording Secretary 

1
Town of Waterford, CT
FY 2026 Sewer Rate Study
Public Hearing
August 25, 2026
August 29, 2019

Who is
Raftelis?
The most experienced 
utility financial and 
management consulting 
practice in the nation.
Raftelis has provided financial/ 
organizational assistance for
1,700+
public agencies and utilities
that serve more than
25%
of the U.S. population
including the agencies serving
41
of the nation’s 50 largest cities
The picture can't be displayed.
2

Regional
Experience
3
We have personally 
worked with 75+ 
utilities across New 
England and the 
Northeast, ranging from 
small village districts to 
large cities such as 
Boston

Overview of the Rate Study
• Purpose of the Rate Study:
› Explore options to ensure long term financial sustainability and 
viability for the Waterford Sewer Utility
› Analyze impacts to revenue and customers due to any rate 
increases
› Enable Enterprise Fund to be self-sufficient (i.e., fully cover 
capital costs) instead of current reliance on Town Funds
– This will improve financial and operational sustainability, as well as 
equity amongst residents
• Current Industry Trends and Challenges:
› Sewer bills across the country are increasing by 6% per year, on 
average, according to the American Water Works Association
› Inflationary impacts and declining consumption are two of the 
biggest challenges impacting utilities throughout the country
4

Financial 
Plan
5
EXPENSES
•O&M
•Budget & Inflation
REVENUE
•Operating
•Non-Operating
•Growth/Decline
FINANCIAL 
POLICIES
•Reserve Targets
•Debt Management
Revenue Adjustment Schedule
Multi-Year Long-Term Financial Plan
Financial Plan 
models yearly cash 
flow and reserve 
balances

Enterprise Fund Reserves Key Points
6
• Reserves help the utility move toward financial self-sufficiency and 
sustainability
• Reserves can help prevent the need for rate hikes in response to 
emergency expenses or revenue shortfalls, providing customers 
with rate stability, and the Commission with resources to meet 
emerging system requirements
• Industry best practices recommend sewer reserve funds maintains 
a higher relative cash balance than municipal general funds due to 
the volatility of sewer revenues
• The Enterprise Fund balance is currently healthy, and the 
study’s goal is to maintain the Fund in good financial standing 

7
Financial Plan

Revenue Requirement Assumptions for Rate Study 
8
• Financial model uses the FY 2026 Budget ($4.4 million) as the 
basis for future O&M projections
• Operating expenses are projected to increase by an average 
of 3.0% each year during the forecast period
› Due to current understaffing two new Utility Commission 
personnel are included to begin in FY 2028
• Capital costs are projected to be approximately $11 million 
over the next five years, funded mainly through proposed 
bonding/borrowing
› Historically capital costs have been funded through the General 
Fund, this study is built upon a fundamental change in the 
approach to funding capital which would have the Enterprise 
Fund become fully self-sufficient 

Projected 
Enterprise 
Fund Cash 
Flow with No 
Rate Increases
9

Projected 
Enterprise 
Fund Reserves 
Balance with 
No Rate 
Increases
10
*We recognize that 
negative fund balances 
are not realistic, 
however this graphic 
demonstrates the need 
for rate increases

Recommended Rate Increases
11
• In order to ensure financial independence and sufficiency, the Enterprise 
Fund requires rate increases
• Rates were last increased in 2009
• The following rate increases are recommended:
• If revenues are not increased, the General Fund will need to subsidize 
the Enterprise Fund in the amount of approximately $1.7 million 
annually
FY 2027
FY 2028
FY 2029
FY 2030
FY 2031
35% Fixed / 65% Volumetric 
Volumetric
66%
4.5%
4.5%
4.5%
4.5%
Fixed Charge
-4%
4.5%
4.5%
4.5%
4.5%

Proposed 
Enterprise 
Fund Cash Flow 
with Rate 
Increases
12

Proposed 
Enterprise 
Fund Reserves 
Balance with 
Rate Increases
13

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Community Bill 
Comparison

Community Bill Comparison
15
• Residential Customer using 11 CCF per Quarter (typical)

16
Customer Financial 
Impacts

Residential Low 
Volume Annual Bill
– 6 CCF/quarter 
(24 CCF/year) 
– Approximately 28% of 
residential bills are projected to be 
at or below 6 CCF/quarter
17
Proposed 
Bill
Annual ($)
$48.24
Quarterly ($)
$12.06
Monthly ($)
$4.02
Daily ($)
$0.13
% Change
18.3%

Proposed 
Bill
Annual ($)
$94.44
Quarterly ($)
$23.61
Monthly ($)
$7.87
Daily ($)
$0.26
% Change
28.3%
Residential Typical 
Volume Annual Bill
– 11 CCF/quarter 
(44 CCF/year) 
– Approximately 52% of 
residential bills are projected to be 
at or below 11 CCF/quarter
– Industry affordability measures 
consider a total annual sewer bill 
for a typical customer exceeding 
2.0% of Median Household Income 
to be unaffordable. Even with the 
rate increases, Waterford’s 
measure is 0.6%.
18

Commercial 1” Meter
Avg Volume Annual Bill
– 46 CCF/quarter 
(184 CCF/year) 
– 2.6 EDUs
19
Proposed 
Bill
Annual ($)
$406.32
Quarterly ($)
$101.58
Monthly ($)
$33.86
Daily ($)
$1.11
% Change
36.5%

Contact: 
Dave Fox
774 243 0619 / dfox@raftelis.com
20
Thank you!
Cameron Okie
203 856 4182 / cokie@raftelis.com