Board of Selectmen - Minutes - 03/19/2024

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERPORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
wwwowaterfordctorg
WATERFORD, CT
BOARD OF SELECTMEN REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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.
wk
Call to Order & Roll Call: 5:00 pm
In attendance: Rob Brule & Rich Muckle
Absent: Greg Attanasio
Pledge of Allegiance
Public Comment: Ronald Elkin, Data Center and Ethics
Recreation and Parks: To consider and act on the following request for a
FY24 In-Series Transfer from the Recreation and Parks Director, Ryan
McNamara, in the amount of $2,500 to cover vehicle upkeep.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Brule, VOTING IN FAVOR: 2-0 PASSED
5. Information Technology ~ Surplus Assets:.To consider and act on -a
recommendation from Shea Davy, Purchasing Agent, on behalf of the Director
of Information Technology, ‘Mark Geer and the Manager of Information
Technology, Jeffrey Robillard, for surplus disposal of the following items as
they’ve outlived their usefulness:
* Asset” #006628-Assay No. . 0A-1375-2225, Serial No. -1009,
Daktronics 3700 30 x79, MFG Date 2/22/08 REV 04
« Asset #006628-Assay No. 0A~-1375-2225,.. Serial No.- 1008,
Daktronics 3700 30 x79, MFG Date 02/22/08 REV 04
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Brule to amend the motion and add “Board
of Education” prior to “Director of Information Technology” VOTE 2-0
MOTION by Muckle, secondéd by Brule to accept the amended motion,
RECEIVED FOR RECORD
TH WAR 201P 2 Ub

VOTING IN FAVOR: 2-0 PASSED
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Brule, VOTING IN FAVOR: 2-0
PASSED
7. Additional Appropriation — Clark Lane Middle School Chiller
Replacement — To consider and act on a request for a FY24 additional
appropriation, from the Director of Finance and Operations, Joseph Mancini,
in the amount of $149,340, line #20560-55020 (Clark Lane Middle School
Chiller Replacements), and forward on to the Board of Finance if approved.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Brule, VOTING IN FAVOR: 2-0 PASSED
8. Police Department: To consider and act on the following request for a FY24
In-Series Transfer from the Chief of Police, Mare Balestracci, in the amount
of $7,700 to cover additional costs for new hires and Class A orders as well as
Auto Maintenance.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Brule, VOTING IN FAVOR: 2-0 PASSED
9. Appointments & Resignations:
10. New Business:
11. Old Business:
12. Correspondence:
11a. Letter from Antonio Grillo — Great Neck Elementary School
11b. Letter from Robert Nye ~ Resignation as Municipal Historian
11c. Emails from BJ Ferro — Data Center
11d. Letter from Waterford East Lyme Citizens Group — Data Center
Le. Letter from Mary Grotjan — Great Neck School
11f. Letter from Brianna & Brian Hogarty — Great Neck School
11g. Letter from Kenia Miranda — Great Neck School
1th. Letter from the Luce family — Great Neck School
13. Consent Agenda
12a. Tax Refund: To approve and act on repayment of tax refund in the
amount of $7,882.34
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Brule, VOTING IN FAVOR: 2-0 PASSED
12b. Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting Minutes March 5, 2024
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Brule, VOTING IN FAVOR: 2-0 PASSED
14, Adjournment: 5:11 pm
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Brule, VOTING IN FAVOR: 2-0 PASSED

Ken (a Mivancla ath 4
St (AT
Waterford, CT 06385
Kowtmesis@ (.¢2é@r, 3 ISLS-TSIZ
David Campo, Waterford Town Clerk
15 Rope Ferry Road
Waterford, CT 06385
CC: Superintendent Thomas W. Giard II, Members of the Board of Education, Members of the Board of Finance,
Members of the RTM , Fie Sr Seveceman
Dear Superintendent Giard, Members of the BOE, BOF and RTM:
As you may or may not know, Great Neck Elementary School students have been given extremely limited outdoor recess
multiple times this year due to flooding on the fields. The fields and playground area at the school do not drain properly,
which is resulting in decreased outside playtime. The parents, guardians and, most importantly, students at Great Neck
Elementary School are urging you to work together to address the issues affecting the playground area. Unless the
underlying issue is solved, the rubber matting under the play structures will have to constantly be replaced, and students
will continue to have days without a proper recess.
General Statute of Connecticut Section 10-2110} states that, in addition to lunch, “each student enrolled in elementary
school time devoted to physical exercise of not less than twenty minutes in total.” When students are sequestered toa
small indoor area such as the gym, they are not given enough space to meet this requirement of “time devoted to
physical exercise.” Additionally, when the grass is too wet or is covered in snow, children are not allowed to be on the
grass nor the playscape. This leaves them to the very limited play area on the blacktop/basketball courts. Students are
forced to use this space to walk in circles around the perimeter of the black top for their recess because play space is so
limited. Kids also must wait in long lines to shoot a basketball.
Natural sunlight helps reset our eyes, increases focus, and brightens our moods. In addition to the benefits of natural
light, students greatly benefit from moving their bodies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention2,
without a proper recess, students are more likely to become restless in the classroom which will result in lower student
outcomes and an increase in disruptive behavior.
We are urging you to take steps in addressing this issue and see what can be done to permanently fix the field’s drainage.
These muddy conditions are posing a safety hazard to those walking around the school grounds and are reducing our
children’s ability to engage in physical activity to their fullest potential. We are requesting a vote on adding ‘Os cost to
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the next budget cycle. a a 3
Thank you for your consideration. mas) 55 cari
Sincerely, aN 2S
fet z
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kena Miranda — BN 2 28
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1 statepolicies.nasbe.org
? cde.gov

The Luce Family
8 Lee Rd. RECEIVED FOR RECORD
Waterford CT 06385 WATERFORD, CT
TheLuceT: Gmail. o
Se a aH MARES EA, 0: 27
ro @ y tone
February 29, 2024 arrest ind aise
TOWN CLERA
Dear Superintendent Girard, Members of the BOE, BOF and RTM,
We are a family with two young girls, Ada (5) and Gwen (2). Like many families, we ask the
familiar “how was your day?” with follow-up specifics like “what was your favorite part?”. We
enjoy bonding with Ada, who is in kindergarten, by understanding what the days of her first year
in elementary school look like.
Unfortunately, Ada has expressed frustration and disappointment with not being able to use the
playground as it is intended; due to water and ice collection. She has mentioned “I wish I could
play on the playground but today I couldn’t’””. The first couple of times we heard her say this we
didn’t think much of it, but we are noticing it is becoming a pattern and one that we feel requires
a permanent resolution.
Our family walks Ada to school most days and drops her off the others. I noticed as I parked in
the side-lot to walk her to the building, many areas of the sidewalk and entry to the parking area
pooled with more than a few inches of water. I made it a point to identify how long it would take
to drain, and so far it has been 4 days with no relief.
I understand this can sound frivolous, as the water isn’t putting anyone in imminent danger;
however, as a student I can also empathize how this may negatively impact your day and
academic experience in various ways.
Ada and other students deserve to have safe outdoor playtime as part of their early-educational
experience. I am sure many of you have memories of being on the playground in your early
years. As our weather becomes more and more extreme each year, with more moisture collection,
I worry the playground will become a novelty that gets used sparingly.
I hope you consider these points from the view of our students.
Thank you,
The Luce’s

Emberieigh & Tyler Luce
8 Lee Rd
Waterford, CT 06385
TheLuceTroop@gmail.com 860.449.4004
RECEIVED FOR RECORD
February 29" 2024 WATERFORD, CT
David Campo, Waterford Town Clerk DM MAR AST A I 2)
15 Rope Ferry Road
Waterford, CT 06385 artest: nd ZKaqet
TOWN CLERK
CC: Superintendent Thomas W. Giard II, Members of the Board of Education, Members of the Board of Finance,
Members of the RTM
Dear Superintendent Giard, Members of the BOE, BOF and RTM:
As you may or may not know, Great Neck Elementary School students have been given extremely limited outdoor recess
multiple times this year due to flooding on the fields. The fields and playground area at the school do not drain property,
which is resulting in decreased outside playtime. The parents, guardians and, most importantly, students at Great Neck
Elementary School are urging you to work together to address the issues affecting the playground area. Unless the
underlying issue is solved, the rubber matting under the play structures will have to constantly be replaced, and students
will continue to have days without a proper recess.
General Statute of Connecticut Section 10-21104 states that, in addition to lunch, “each student enrolled in elementary
school time devoted to physical exercise of not less than twenty minutes in total.” When students are sequestered to a
small indoor area such as the gym, they are not given enough space to meet this requirement of “time devoted to
physical exercise.” Additionally, when the grass is too wet or is covered in snow, children are not allowed to be on the
grass nor the playscape. This leaves them to the very limited play area on the blacktop/basketball courts. Students are
forced to use this space to walk in circles around the perimeter of the black top for their recess because play space is so
limited. Kids also must wait in long lines to shoot a basketball.
Natural sunlight helps reset our eyes, increases focus, and brightens our moods. In addition to the benefits of natural
light, students greatly benefit from moving their bodies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?,
without a proper recess, students are more likely to become restless in the classroom which will result in lower student
outcomes and an increase in disruptive behavior.
We are urging you to take steps in addressing this issue and see what can be done to permanently fix the field’s drainage.
These muddy conditions are posing a safety hazard to those walking around the school grounds and are reducing our
children’s ability to engage in physical activity to their fullest potential. We are requesting a vote on adding this cost to
the next budget cycle.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sincerely,
The Luce Family
1 statepolicies.nasbe.org
2 ce.gov