Board of Finance - Minutes - 03/03/2025

2 P
PHOME: 860-442-0853
wwhiwaterlordetiorg |
FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
4 Ss
Board of Finance Monday, March 8, 2029
Budget Hearing Minutes Town Hall Auditorium 7:00pm
Present: Chairman Glenn Patterson, Ronald R. Fedor, Bill Sheehan, Michael Rocchetti,
Robert Tuneski, Josh Kelly, Joseph Filippetti
Elected: Rob Brule, First Selectman
Staff: Kimberly Allen, Finance Director; Christine Johnson, Library Director; Marc Balestracci,
Chief of Police, Lt. Nicole VanOverloop, Lt. David Ferland, Lt. Patrick Flanagan, Admin Sgt
Michael Fedor, Diane Driscoll, Office Coordinator Police Department; Michael Howley,
Interim Director of Fire Services, Stephen Dubicki, Fire Marshall and Linda Finnegan,
Office Coordinator Fire Services; Rebecca Hall, Admin Assistant Finance Office/BOF
Recording Secretary
Other: ‘Mim Wagner, President Library Board of Trustees
1 Establishment of a quorum and call to order:
A quorum was established and a call to order was established at 7:00pm,
March 3, 2025.
2. Public commet
a. Helen Kwasniewski, Waterford resident discussing her concern regarding response for
emergencies from Quaker Hill Fire Department (QHFD). Ms. Kwasniewski noted two (2) recent
responses for fires in her neighborhood in Quaker Hill that fire houses other than QHFD
responded. She expressed her concerns with lack of staffing in the QHFD and suggested
residents in Quaker Hill receive tax refund from the town due to this lack of staffing,
b. Bryan Sayles, Waterford resident read aloud a letter to the Board of Finance regarding the lack
of staff being assigned to the Quaker Hill and Goshen Fire Departments. Letter attached to
minutes.
An opening statement regarding the budget process was made by Glenn Patterson, Chairman.
Standing Motion: was made by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Joseph Filippetti to tentatively
approve the budget requests for FY25/26. Bill Sheehan will make motion on all budgets and Ron
Fedor will second the motion.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 3, 2025,
Page 2
Review the Appeal by the Board of Finance to the Board of Selectman reduction of the FY26
Contingency Budget from $273,000 to $265,000 at the February 12, 2025 Board of Finance
Meeting.
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Joseph Filippetti to reorder the agenda and move this
item to #9.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Library Budget:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Library budget request for
FY25/26 in the total amount of $1,012,780 designated by the Series Subtotals above.
Opening Comments from Library Director, Christine Johnson, highlighting the library's
community programs, the past year’s foot traffic, and updates for the upcoming fiscal year.
There was discussion regarding the reduction of staff hours by 4 hours weekly on Thursday
evenings. Director Johnson indicated that the reduction in staff hours should not impact their
services. The Board members asked how the Library tallies the number of Waterford residents
who physically utilize the facility. Although there is an electronic counter at the entrances, there
is no way of identifying users who enter the library.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Police Department Budget:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Police Department budget
request for FY25/26 in the total amount of $7,250,097 designated by the Series Subtotals above.
Chief Balestracci gave an opening statement reflecting on FY25 on behalf of the Waterford Police
Department. He noted that the FY26 budget is rooted in fiscal responsibility with officer
development as their #1 priority in the department. Three (3) new police officers were added
last year and the department is able to keep the replacement overtime flat. When asked if the
current budget limits the needs of the department, the Chief responded no, that all their needs
are met with the budget requested.
Vote: 6-0-1 Abstained: Ron Fedor Motion: Passed
Emergency Management:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Robert Tuneski to move this item to the Board of
Finance Regular Board Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, 2025 to reschedule this
Budget Hearing.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes - March 3, 2025
Page 3
6.
Fire Services Budget:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Fire Services budget request
for FY25/26 in the total amount of $3,958,130 designated by the Series Subtotals above.
The Interim Director (ID) of Fire Services, Michael Howley, opened discussion on the Fire Services
Budget by noting key points in the progress of the department over the past several years. The
most discussed topic of the hearing was staffing: recruitment, retention and overtime pay. It was
pointed out by Michael Rocchetti that because a firehouse is “closed” does not mean there is no
coverage in that area. ID Howley confirmed that statement and added that the full staffing of 5
fire houses in town would be a million dollar cost to include approximately 15 new firefighters,
New London County fire stations work under an automatic/mutual aid program in all fire
departments. Josh Kelly requested more data and clarification from ID Howley and staff
regarding fire calls in FY23 and “to date” as only FY24 data was provided in the budget request.
Mr. Kelly requested data on calls such as times and days at each fire house in town. ID Howley
advised the Board that 62% of fire calls are EMS calls,
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Board of Finance Budget:
Josh Kelly Moved the Question.
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Board of Finance budget
request for FY25/26 in the total amount of $83,608 designated by the Series Subtotals above.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Review the Appeal by the Board of Finance to the Board of Selectman reduction of the FY26
Contingency Budget from $273,000 to $265,000 at the February 12, 2025 Board of Finance
meeting.
Motion by Glenn Patterson and seconded by Robert Tuneski to vote to uphold the appeal by the
Board of Finance to the Board of Selectman reduction of the FY26 Contingency Budget from
$273,000 to $265,000 at the February 12, 2025 Board of Finance meeting.
Vote: 3-4-0 No: Patterson, Tuneski, Rocchetti, Fedor Motion: Failed
Contingency Budget:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Ron Fedor to approve the Contingency budget request
for FY25/26 in the total amount of $265,000 designated by the Series Subtotals above.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 3, 2025
Page 4
10. Adjournment:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Robert Tuneski to adjourn the Budget Meeting of the
Board of Finance at 10:02pm.
Vote: 7-0-0
Motion: Passed
Respectfully submitted,
Bill ll Z
‘ebecca L. Hall, Secrétary

March 3, 2025
Waterford Board of Finance
15 Rope Ferry Road
Waterford, CT 06375
Re: Fire Services Budget Request, FY-2026
Dear Board of Finance Members,
The attached, Page one-hundred-twenty-three (123) “FIREFIGHTER SCHEDULE” of the Fire
Services Fiscal Year, 2026 Budget Request, shows the Quaker Hill Fire Station being staffed
by one (1) PART TIME FIREFIGHTER on Tuesday's, Thursday’s, and Saturday’s between the
hours of 8:00AM and 4:00PM. Is that when fires are supposed to happen?
The Goshen Fire Station will also use one (1) PART TIME FIREFIGHTER while planning all of
their emergencies on either Saturday's or Sunday's using the same “bankers’ hours”, the
first 6-months of the year followed by a reduction to only Saturday's the last 6-months of
Fiscal Year, 2026. Does that District’s residents know to avoid having an emergency of any
type all other days?
Oswegatchie’s staffing is better but could be described as dangerously insufficient too by
using a whopping two (2) PART TIME FIREFIGHTERS.
Jordan and Cohanzie are the winners (not really) as they get four (4) FULL TIME
FIREFIGHTERS EACH to cover 24/7.
This all begs the question; Why does Waterford’s budget narrative mention fifteen (15) Full
Time Firefighters in active roles as first responders, when the FIREFIGHTER SCHEDULE,
FISCAL YEAR 25-26 only accounts for a total of eight (8) FULL TIME FIREFIGHTERS?
Finally, given a decade long staffing problem, why does the town continually refuse to
afford services to protect the lives and property of taxpayers in Quaker Hill?
Wintergreen Drive
Quaker Hill, CT 06375

TOWN OF WATERFORD
FY2026 BUDGET REQUEST.
Ee DEPARTMENT: . FIRE SERVICES
FIREFIGHTER SCHEDULE
FISCAL YEAR 25-26
Jordan Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
ne 07:30- | 07:30- | 07:30- | o7:30- | 07:30- | 07:20- | 07:
1730 | 17:30 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 1730 | 1730
Shift
(2) FIFE 1730- | 17:30- | 17:30- | 17:30- | 1730- | 17:30-
07:30. 07:30, 07:30 07:30 07:30 07:30
Cohanzie Sunday Monday | Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
ran a 07:30- | 07:30- | 07:30- | 07:30- } 07:30- | 07:30- | 07:30-
17:30 17:30. 17:30 17:30 17:30 17:30 17:30
Shift
(2) FIVEF 17:30 - 17:30- 17:30- 17:30- 17:30- ‘17:30- 17:30-
07:30 07:30 07:30 07:30 07:30 | 07:30 | 07:30
Oswegatchie Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Shift Baap | 8a-4p Ba-4p 8a-4p | 8a-4p
((2) PT/FF -Sun., Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat,
8a-4p 8a-4p
((1) PT/FF - Tues., Thurs.)
QuakerHill | Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Shift a-4p 8a-4p 8a-4p
(1) PTVFF
Goshen Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Shift 8a-4p 8a-4p
(1) PT/FE - $/1-10/31)
Goshen Sunday Monday Tuesday ‘Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
(Ss Shift [ I I I 82-4p
((2) PT/FF - 11/1-4/30)