Board of Finance - Minutes - 03/01/2021

Board of Finance Monday, March 1, 2021
Budget Hearing Zoom Recording
Present: Chairman Ronald R. Fedor, John Sheehan, Kevin Petchark, . _
Glenn Patterson, Tali Maidelis, Robert Tuneski, Mark Geer (7:03pm) =
Absent: None a
Elected: Robert J. Brule, First Selectman “9
RTM: Thomas Dembek, RTM Moderator aa
a)
Staff: Christine Johnston, Library Director; Brett Mahoney, Chief of Police; Steven
Sinagra, Emergency Management Director; Kimberly Allen, Finance Director;
Maryellen McConnell, Secretary .
1. Establishment of a quorum and call to order:
A quorum was established and a call to order was established at 7:01 pm,
March 1, 2021.
“2. Public comment: Letter from Helen Kwasniewski of Quaker Hill was read into
the minutes.
3. Standing Motion: was made by Kevin Petchark and seconded by Glenn
Patterson to tentatively approve the budget requests for FY22/22.
Vote: 7-0 Motion: Passed
4, Library Budget:
Motion by Kevin Petchark and seconded by Glenn Patterson to tentatively
approve the budget requests for FY21/22 in the total amount of
$999,475.00.
Vote: 7-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes — March 1, 2021
Page 2
Police Department Budget:
Statement by Chairman Ron Fedor: | have always abided by a previous advisory
opinion by the Ethics Board on how | vote on different budgets. At the meeting
in January, John Sheehan brought up the fact that there was a new Code of
Ethics passed by the RTM. I have sent a letter to the Chairman of the Ethics
Commission asking for another advisory opinion based on the new code. In light
of that, | will not vote on the Police Department and Board of Education budgets
until | hear an advisory opinion from the board.
Motion by Kevin Petchark and seconded by Glenn Patterson to approve the
Police Department budget request for FY21/22 in the total amount of
$6,421,688.00.
Vote: 6-1 Abstain: 1 (Ronald Fedor) Motion: Passed
Emergency Management Budget:
Motion by Kevin Petchark and seconded by Glenn Patterson to approve the
Emergency Management budget request for FY21/22 in the total amount of
$1,062,665.
Vote: 7-0 Motion: Passed
Information Technology Budget:
Motion by Kevin Petchark and seconded by Glenn Patterson to approve the
Information Technology budget request for FY21/22 in the total amount of
$846,642.
Vote: 6-1 Abstain: 1 (Mark Geer) Motion: Passed
Board of Finance Budget:
Motion by Kevin Petchark and seconded by Glenn Patterson to approve the
Board of Finance budget request for FY21/22 in the total amount of $65,547.
Vote: 7-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes — March 1, 2021
Page 3
9. Contingency Budget:
Motion by Kevin Petchark and seconded by Glenn Patterson to approve the
Contingency budget request for FY21/22 in the total amount of $265,000.
Vote: 7-0 Motion: Passed
10. Adjournment:
Motion by Tali Maidelis and seconded by John Sheehan to adjourn the Budget
Meeting of the Board of Finance at 8:37 p.m.
Vote: 7-0 Motion: Passed
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Geer, Jr., Eerk Maryellgn ome

To the Board of Finance
From: Helen Kwasniewski
Once again we are in “Budget Season”.
Hearing rumors around town that to keep department budgets at “ZERO”. I urge
the members to keep to that mission. If and we know some departments will adhere
to that. The others who don’t, please send the back to re-work their budget. This is
a must to have a “ZERO” increase to the mill rate. Due to the fact we are in the
“pandemic mode”.
Many of the resident have to make sacrifices, especially the “Senior Citizens”
which is approximately 52%. Seniors who have the most difficult choices of their
“golden years” pay taxes, food, medication, heat, rent/mortgage or the lifestyle of
town employees (many who do not live in town) at the expense of taxpayers.
As a Quaker Hill resident for 65+ years, we only have one yes one fire personal
just on the weekends. My taxes pay for coverage just like the rest of the town get.
It is about time that the “fire service director” be “fired” for jeopardizing the lives
of the resident of Quaker Hill.
I am not a fan of town employees who work for the town that do not live in the
Town of Waterford. Also not a fan of town employees who bully or disrespect
“senior citizens” and department director who do nothing about it.
In closing my comments I request ALL of you Board of Finance member to
“VOTE” with “ALL” residents in mind.