Board of Finance - Minutes - 03/19/2025

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
wore.waterfordet.org
Board of Finance Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Budget Hearing Minutes Town Hall Auditbriun 2:00pm
Present: Chairman Glenn Patterson, Ronald R. Fedor, Bll Sheehan, Michael Rose!
Robert Tuneski, Joseph Filippetti 3
Absent: Josh Kelly
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Elected: Rob Brule, First Selectman; Paul Goldstein, RTM Moderator; PatriciaiFedo&BOE Chair
Staff: Jeff Robillard, IT Manager; Daniel Matheson, Public Works Assistant Director; Sandra
Kenniston, Public Works Office Coordinator; Ryan McNamara, Director of Recreation &
Parks; Jill Stevens, Utility Commission Director; Thomas Giard, Superintendent of Schools;
Joseph Mancini, Director of Operations Board of Education; Jon Mullen, Planning
Director; Rebecca Hall, Admin Assistant Finance Office/BOF Recording Secretary
Establishment of a quorum and call to order:
A quorum was established and a call to order was established at 7:00 pm, March 19, 2025.
Public comment: none
Standing Motion: was made by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Bill Sheehan to consider the
budget requests without individual motions for each series and department to expedite the
‘meeting. Bill Sheehan will make motion on all budgets and Ron Fedor will second the motion.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Building Maintenance Budget:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Building Maintenance budget
request for FY25/26 in the total amount of $1,020,000 designated by the Series Subtotals above.
Daniel Matheson, Public Works Assistant Director and Sandra Kenniston, Public Works Office
Coordinator presented the budget request to the Board. Bill Sheehan requested more
information to be provided for the values in the graphs/charts in future budget requests. The
Board inquired about the following items in which Mrs. Kenniston will respond with answers
after conferring with Gary Schneider, Director of Public Works (absent):
$98,000 transfer in FY25 — what was this for?
Fire House maintenance - will this work be acquired by Public Works?
How is the shared cost with the BOE calculated?
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 19, 2025
Page 2
4
Public Works Budget:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Public Works budget request
for FY25/26 in the total amount of $5,154,902 designated by the Series Subtotals above.
Daniel Matheson, Public Works Assistant Director and Sandra Kenniston, Public Works Office
Coordinator presented the budget request to the Board, This budget request shows an increase
of 1.35% over the FY25 budget. The Board discussed preventative automotive repairs, street
light repairs, landfill updates, snow removal, staffing and supplies. Chairman Patterson made the
Board aware of a potential cut of $3,000 to line #51130 Engineering during the Final Action
meeting schedule for Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Capital Improvements Budget:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Capital Improvements
budget request for FY25/26 in the total amount of $1,102,089 designated by the Series Subtotals
above.
Member Bill Sheehan gave a review of the capital plan noting that the Fleet Management Plan
will have insufficient funds at the end of FY26, that the proposed General Fund Balance (GFB)
Projects will deplete the cushion of the Unassigned Fund Balance of the General Fund. He
recommended that the Departments with those projects should get their projects approved as
soon as possible or there may not be sufficient funds for the last projects.
Rob Brule began his budget presentation by making the Board aware of a Special Meeting called
for the Board of Selectman to ratify this budget as it was not done at the last Regular Board of
Selectman meeting. This Special Meeting will be held prior to Wednesday, March 26, 2025 so
the Capital Improvement Budget will be ready for Board of Finance action at the Final Action
Hearing.
The First Selectman stated he is committed to completing projects as planned. All projects are
Money, which ultimately is tax for the residents. With that in mind, he is taking the most fiscally
responsible approach to the work that needs to be done and jobs are spaced out according to
available funds projected year to year. Revenue is needed in town for FY26 and this is a high
priority for him as he is currently investigating several potential sources. He thanked Chairman,
Glenn Patterson, for working with him and considers him a valuable peer for constructing a good
Capital Improvement Plan for the Town.
Ron Fedor offered a suggestion for the $1 million Fleet budget. Mr. Fedor noted that the Town is
repairing vehicles at a 50-60% of value of the vehicle. Why repair and not replace? He suggests
selling vehicles before they lose all sellable value. Ultimately, the Town is looking to reduce the
Fleet Plan by selling old vehicles while they still have value as long as there enough “spare”
vehicles to support the departments.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 19, 2025
Page 3
Motion by Joseph Filippetti and seconded by Michael Rocchetti to reorder the agenda by
changing item #6 10139 — Debt Service to item #7, and line item #7 10140 — Transfers to Capital
and Non-Recurring Expenditure Fund to item #6.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Transfers to Capital and Non-Recurring Expenditure Fund:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Transfers to Capital and Non-
Recurring Expenditure Fund request for FY25/26 in the total amount of $773,264 designated by
the Series Subtotals above
A project discussed was the Cross Country Sewer Main Access Project by the Utilities
Commission. Utility Commission Director, Jill Stevens, gave a detailed explanation to the Board
regarding this project. Ms. Stevens clarified that the budget request for this project covers the
completion of Phase | which is to locate all of the Town’s manholes and gain access to the inner
workings to determine integrity of the piping.
A second Utility Commission project discussed was the Water Tank Asset Management Program.
Director Stevens stated this is basically a long range insurance policy on the tank. It preserves
the life of the asset via a 3" party. The budget request is for the Fargo Road tank and Vauxhall
Street tanks referred to in the backup.
Per Rob Brule, there are two (2) projects under the Board of Education that will be presented to
the Board of Finance in April with the intention of paying for them with the General Fund
Balance. The items are (a) Implementation of MUNIS (software that manages financials,
procurement, HR, payroll, and revenues) at approximate $413,000 and (b) the Energy Efficiency
Project.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Debt Services Budget:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Debt Services budget request
for FY25/26 in the total amount of $7,964,500 designated by the Series Subtotals above.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Adjournment:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Michael Rocchetti to adjourn the Budget Meeting of
the Board of Finance at 8:27pm.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Respectfully submitted
Bill Shy 1, Clerk