Board of Finance - Minutes - 03/26/2025

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
Board of Fi
Present:
Elected:
Staff:
RECORD
WATERFORD. CT
RECEIVED FOR
nce
Public Hearing/Special Hearing Minutes
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordet.org,
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
‘Town Hall Auditorium — 7:00 pm
Chairman Glenn Patterson, Bill Sheehan, Michael Rocchetti, Ronald Fedor, Joseph Filippetti, Josh
kelly and Robert Tuneski
First Selectman Robert Brule; David Campo, Town Clerk; Tom Dembeck, RTM; Susan Driscoll,
RTM; Pat Fedor, Chair Board of Education
Jeffrey Robillard, IT Manager; Thomas Giard, Superintendent of Schools; Joseph Mancini, Director
GOperdtions Board of Education; Christine Walters, Director of Human Resources; Gary
Pate rector of Public Works; Sandra Kenniston, Office Coordinator, Public Works; Mike
Epw a ihierim Director of Fire Services; Stephen Dubicki, Fire Marshall; Steven Sinagra, Director
Eme¥gency Management; Marc Balestracci, Chief of Police; David Ferland, Lieutenant Police
‘Tepartifient; Jonathan Mullen, Planning Director; Ryan McNamara, Director Recreation & Parks;
dim Ci€plik; Program Coordinator, Recreation & Parks; Christine Johnson, Library Director; Jill
‘Sfevens;Director Utility Commission; Rebecca Hall, Admin Assistant Finance Office/BOF Recording.
How
Establishment of a quorum and call to ord
A quorum was established and the Public Hearing of all Town budgets for Fiscal Year 2025/2026
of the Board of Finance was called to order at 7:00 pm on March 26, 2025.
‘An opening statement regarding the final action budget process was made by Glenn Patterson,
Chairman.
Public Comment:
a. Marcia Benvenuti, RTM member and Waterford resident, read a letter to the Board regarding
the Board of Education Budget — letter attached
b. Robert Kyne, Jr. Ph.D., Dimmock Road, thanks the Board of Finance, specifically Michael
Rocchetti, Town Clerk Dave Campo, First Selectman Rob Brule and the Director of Recreation
& Parks, Ryan McNamara, for their assistance in finding ways to keep the morning swim
program at Waterford High School.
‘Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Joseph Filippetti to adjourn the public hearing at
7:06pm.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Bill Sheehan advised the public and the Board of Finance that he will be voting “no” on both the
Youth and Family Services and Senior Services Budgets. His vote reflects his belief that the change
made to head the two departments with one director was not made in accordance to an
ordinance or the Town’s charter.
Josh Kelly advised the public and the Board of Finance the he will abstain from the Social Services
budget vote as well as any discussion that may arise regarding that budget.

Board of Finance Budget Minutes - March 26, 2025
Page 2
3. Final Budgetary Action:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Michael Rocchetti to consider the budget requests as
designated by the series subtotals above without individual motions for each series and
department to expedite the meeting. Bill Sheehan will make the motion on all budgets and Ron
Fedor will second the motion.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Board of Selectmen (10101) in the amount of $206,402
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
© Registrar of Voters (10102) in the amount of $121,255
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Board of Finance (10103) in the amount of $83,608
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
© Assessor in the amount of $319,641
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Board of Assessment Appeals (10105) in the amount of $1,829
Vote : 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Tax Collector (10106) in the amount of $227,817
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
‘* Finance Department (10107) in the amount of $784,326
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
‘* Legal Department (10108) in the amount of $295,000
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
‘* Town Clerk (10109) in the amount of $272,301
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Planning & Zoning Department (10110) in the amount of $695,016
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 26, 2025
Page
Building Maintenance (10111) in the amount of $1,020,000
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Insurance (10112) in the amount of $5,604,561
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Economic Development Commission (10113) in the amount of $25,352
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Conservation Commission (10114) in the amount of $18,250
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Zoning Board of Appeals (10115) in the amount of $4,310
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Retirement Commission (10116) in the amount of $7,760,257
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Representative Town Meeting (10117) in the amount of $18,903
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Building Department (10118) in the amount of $321,515
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Youth & Family Services (10119) in the amount of $307,435
Vote: 6-1-0 No: Sheehan Motion: Passed
Social Service Grants/Misc. (10120) in the amount of $103,510
Vote: 6-0-1 Abstain: Josh Kelly Motion: Passed
ntingency (10121) in the am Ff $265,001
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 26, 2025
Page 4
+ Emergency Management (10122) in the amount of $1,230,035
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
© Fire Servi 3) in the amount of $3,958,130
Ron Fedor opened discussion of the Fire Services budget by asking for further, more in-depth explanation from
Interim Director Howley regarding overtime. The Interim Director (ID) said some overtime is scheduled and built
into the contract. Training mandates increase fire fighter overtime. He indicated that Fire Services will fall short
this year to cover their budget. 1D Howley added that with new Firefighters coming on board this year there will
be more training, etc. Mr. Fedor pointed out that the budget reflects an increase of S0% in overtime
[approximately $50,000). Josh Kelly asked how Fire Services plans to cover that overage. ID Howley said they will
likely close the entire $4000 series. Mr. Kelly pointed out that the entire series only totals $45,000. Michael
Rocchetti asked how much money Fire Services returned to the Town at the end of FY24/25. ID Howley
responded approximately $32,000.
Motion by Ron Fedor and seconded by Robert Tuneski to decrease line #10123-51820 Overtime by $50,000.
Vote: 3-4-0 No: Patterson, Sheehan, Fiippetti, Kelly Motion: Failed
Vote: 6-1-0 No: Ronald Fedor Motion: Passed
‘* Police Commission (10129) in the amount of $7,250,097
Vote: 6-0-1 Abst
Ronald Fedor Motion: Passed
‘* Public Works (10130) in the amount of $5,154,902
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
‘* Conservation of Health (10132) in the amount of $155,063
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Public Health Nursing Service (10133) in the amount of $21,600
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
© Senior Servi mmission. 5) in the amount of $523,586
Vote: 6-1-0 No: Bill Sheehan Motion: Passed
* Waterford Public Library (10136) in the amount of $1,012,780
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 26, 2025
Pages.
* Recreation & Parks Com:
n (10137}
the amount of $1,535,328
Motion: Passed
+ Flood & Erosion Contro! Board (10141) in the amount of $1,109
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
‘* Ethics Commission (10143) in the amount of $900
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Human Resources (10145) in the amount of $244,204
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Information Technology (10147) in the amount of $1,214,796
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
‘* Board of Education (10160) in the amount of $60,366,308
Vote: 6-0-1 Abstain:
jonald Fedor Motion: Passed
* Current Year Capital Improvement (10138) in the amount of $1,101,089
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Transfers to Capital and Non-Recurring Expenditure Fund (10140) in the amount of
773,264
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Debt Service (10139) in the amount of $7,964,500
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* General Government Operations Subtotal in the amount of $40,758,818
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Total Capital & Debt Service in the amount of $9,838,853
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 26, 2025
Pages
* Total of General Government 0}erations + Capital & Debt Service in the amount of
$50,597,671
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
* Total General Fund Sudget in the amount of $10,963,979, and forward on to the RTM.
Vote: 7.0.0 Motion: Passed
Chairman Glenn Patterson thanked all of the de
into assembling data for their budgets and pres
Department Heads that the budgets presented
his membership began on the Board of Finance.
Partment heads and elected officials for the time and effort put
fenting to the Board of Finance. Mr. Patterson told the
this year were the best formats and reports he has reviewed since
4. Adjournment:
Motion by Ron Fedor and seconded by'” Robert Tuneski to adjourn the Budget Meeting of the
Board of Finance at 7:26pm.
Vote: 7-0-0
Motion: Passed
Respectively Submitted,
‘ebecca L. Hall, Secretary
Enclosure: Resident Letter, Marcia Benvenuti

| would like to make a public comment as a citizen, tax payer and
individual member of the BOE and the finance committee chair.
| wish to remind you that the BOE does rigorously debate and
research all goals, philosophies, and methods of pedagogy in order to
provide every Waterford student with the very best education
possible while still keeping in mind the financial costs of every
expenditure.
We constantly have lengthily presentations on student progress,
absenteeism, goals, policies, class size, new opportunities and
projects, and are constantly looking for ways to save every penny we
can. We are given explicit explanations of the merits and financial
fidelity of everything we strive to achieve.
linvite you to attend our meetings or watch our video recordings to
further understand what goes on.
Your job as BOF members is to look out for every dollar in every line
item of every budget. JUST LIKE THE BOE!!!
In the best interest of every Waterford taxpayer you must trust BOE
intentions and presentations. | think we have earned that trust,
because
We do have several subcommittee meetings to preview the budget.
We do deliberate every line item fully.
We do cut out anything that is not absolutely essential and even
some things some of us think are essential.
We do give back any left over money at the end of the year.
We do care about our taxpayers and our citizens.
You have before you a budget that is probably the lowest percent
increase of any town in the state, and some of you think there might
be room for further cuts.
lam telling you there is nothing left to cut, and still maintain the
quality we demand and expect. | hope you agree, «+4 vote Sr
eis budget as preserted ,
( Rag mend Lu,
Marcia “Benvertt.
,