Board of Finance - Minutes - 02/28/2024

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
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Board of Finance Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Budget Hearing Minutes *REVISED* Waterford Town Hall
Present:
Absent:
Elected:
Staff:
Other:
Chairman Glenn Patterson, Ronald R. Fedor, Bill Sheehan, Michael Rocchetti,
Robert Tuneski, David Peabody, Joseph Filippetti a 8 8
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Robert J. Brule, First Selectman
Paul Goldstein, RTM; Thomas Dembek, RTM.
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Kimberly Allen, Finance Director; Christine Johnson, Librafpirect $i Mats
Balestracci, Chief of Police, Lt. Nicole VanOverloop, Lt. Davi Ferland, Lt. Patrick
Flanagan, Admin Sgt Michael Fedor, Diane Driscoll, Office Coordinator Police
Department; Michael Howley, Director of Fire Services, Linda Finnegan, Office
Coordinator Fire Services; Rebecca Hall, Admin Assistant Finance Office/BOF
Recording Secretary
Aaron Rosenberg, President, Library Board of Trustees
Establishment of a quorum and call to order:
A quorum was established and a call to order was established at 7:02 pm,
February 28, 2024.
Public comment:
An opening statement regarding the budget process was made by Glenn
Patterson, Chairman.
‘Standing Motion: A motion was made by Bill Sheehan and seconded by
Joseph Filippetti to have a standing motion by Robert Tuneksi and seconded by
Ronald Fedor to consider each budget as presented.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Library Budget:
Opening remarks by Christine Johnson, Director of Waterford Public Library
discussing the past year and the future role of the town’s library for FY25. Aaron
Rosenberg, President Waterford Public Library Board of Trustees stated that the
library is a “modern version of the town square” and town’s people value a good
library in their community.

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ February 28, 2024
Page 2
Discussion from the Board of Finance began with a summary of finances by Bill
Sheehan. Ron Fedor questioned why the mission statement was changed this
year. Mr. Rosenberg stated the mission statement had not been revised since
1999 with Director Johnson adding that lifestyles have changed over the past
20+ years and the mission statement required updating. Mr. Fedor remarked
how he had not seen “entertainment” as a scope for a library and wondered if
this in line with what other town departments in Waterford may be offering.
Director Johnson noted that many libraries in New York and Massachusetts offer
small, folk type music so it is not out of the norm to offer that type of
enrichment.
Robert Tuneski queried if the new Strategic Plan was vetted with the Town of
Waterford and synced with the goals of the Town in mind. He asked if other
departments were included in the formulation of this plan. Director Johnson
answered that all town departments were invited to read the newly proposed
Strategic Plan and Rob Brule met with her in a few meetings to discuss this new
plan. She pointed out that other town departments provided no input at
monthly department head meeting and departments such as Recreation & Parks
and Youth & Family Services did not respond to multiple meeting requests she
sent to them. She met with the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent to
discuss the plan, There was a public survey held regarding the wants and needs
of the town’s residents for their public library and there were approximately 400
responses recorded. It was noted that no other town department coordinated
efforts to formulate the library's new Strategic Plan and Mission.
Mr. Tuneski ultimately asked Director Johnson, who her boss is: the Town of
Waterford [who is providing overall funding to the library and pays her and the
library's employees] or the Library's Board of Trustees. Mr. Rosenberg
responded to this question saying the Board of Trustees is the first operating
body for library. Director Johnson said the Board of Trustees is her boss. Bill
Sheehan clarified citing a revision in 1995 to the Town of Waterford’s Charter
that any department in the town receiving funding from the town reports
directly to the 1* Selectman, not another entity such as a board of trustees. Mr.
Rosenberg retorted that over the next 3-4 months, the library and the town will
have their relationship clarified. Recently, having met with the town’s attorneys
for another topic, Mr. Rosenberg stated the relationship was discussed.
The board noted that the entertainment portion of the library's new plan has
seemingly been rejected by other departments in town, hence the lack of
response and feedback. Robert Tuneski pointed out that the four pillars of the
new Strategic Plan should directly coincide with the vision of the Town of
Waterford and that the 1 Selectman should have the final say in what that plan
should read. As a taxpayer himself, he is concerned that the library may be
acting independently while receiving money from the Town of Waterford for its
programs, building maintenance, and capital improvements.

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ February 28, 2024
Page 3
Bill Sheehan questioned why the budget for FY25 shows a $0 increase. Mr.
Rosenberg added that an endowment was paying for several ine items this year
so no additional monies needed to be requested.
Chairman Glenn Patterson requested Director Johnson to provide the board the
number of people through the door since Covid closures in March of 2020. The
board would like to get a better idea of the number of residents served in the
community by the library. Director Johnson provided the number of library card
owners is approximately 6,000.
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Library budget request for FY24/25 in the total amount of $1,006,837.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Police Department Budget:
Chief of Police, Marc Balestracci, opened with a presentation of the FY24 year
and the projected FY25 year for the police department.
Bill Sheehan questioned how the reduction in the budget by the Board of
Selectmen will impact the cost of hiring three (3) new police officers. Chief
Balestracci responded that the hiring of the officers can be staggered 4-6 months
to absorb the reduction.
Mr. Sheehan then asked what the greatest danger Waterford’s police officers
face when responding to calls today. The chief said the first is domestic violence
and the second is the current climate for police officers in today’s culture. Bill
Sheehan noted that the police department is adding an SRO (school resource
officer) at the elementary level in FY25 as well as two (2) ASO’s (armed security
officers). He expressed concern for their training amongst our youngest
residents and the staff at these schools. Chief Balestracci assured that all ASO's
are currently retired police officers who have undergone specific training to
maintain safety at the elementary school level.
Chairman Patterson requested explanations for line items such as overtime,
staffing hour fulfillment, K9 Maintenance, and replacement overtime for the
FY25 budget all of which were satisfactorily answered by Chief Balestracci and
his attending staff.
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Police Department budget request for FY24/25 in the total amount of
$7,152,676.
Vote: 6-0-1 Abstained: Ron Fedor Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes — February 28, 2024
Page 4
5.
Fire Services Budget:
Opening presentation by Director of Fire Services, Michael Howley discussing the
FY25 challenges and financial impacts for Fire Services,
Bill Sheehan made a note to state that Director is indeed the town’s “Director” of
Fire Services and not a “Chief” due to the Town of Waterford’s Charter and if
Director Howley is interested in changing that title, he should lobby to the 1%
Selectman to make that amendment.
Mr. Sheehan asked if Director Howley believes that the overtime costs will
decrease moving into FY25. The director's response was no. Bill pointed out a
discrepancy with the backup paperwork to the budget summary for overtime
costs and projected costs. Bill wondered aloud if there may be more transfer
requests necessary for Fire Services in the future in addition to the multiple
transfer requests recently received by the Board of Finance in the past few
months.
Bill questioned with concern the current understaffing of the Quaker Hill and
Goshen Fire Stations. At times, there are zero personnel at those fire stations
when there should be a minimum of four (4) responders to a call. He asked if
manpower could be spread throughout the town in a more useful manner. He
asked if the part time shifts could assist in some of the understaffed times.
Director Howley said no due to fewer part time staff employed by the town. Fire
Services faces many obstacles in hiring which includes: part time employees
seeking full time employment and the competition that other local communities
present for hiring the same individuals.
Ron Fedor pointed out a discrepancy in costs for part time fire fighters in the
backup paperwork to the budget summary. Director Howley acknowledged the
discrepancy and noted that part time employees tend to be more fluid than full
time employees so the numbers will fluctuate year to year. Mr. Fedor pointed
‘out there are many discrepancies in the backup paperwork and the budget
summary. Director Howley stated he was late in submitting the budget proposal
and documentation during the budgeting process and was unable to match the
supporting documentation to that which was submitted in the budget summary.
Ron suggested that everything should be updated to match the summary prior to
the presentation to the RTM.
Mr. Sheehan asked for explanation of the cell phones issued for Fire Services and
the landline costs at the Quaker Hill Fire Station. Director Howley said he is
working directly with the phone companies to determine what lines MUST
remain and those that are able to be disconnected. There have been multiple
lines added over the years and several can be disconnected at this time but they
need to be sure they do not cut off vital lines to the station. Bill Sheehan
continued with questions regarding repairs and maintenance to the Fire Services
fleet. He questioned if a large increase in these costs are anticipated for FY25.

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ February 28, 2024
Page
Director Howley said yes as the current fleet has several apparatuses in the
range of 18-20 years old which all require significant upkeep. The director added
that the call volume has increase so wear and tear on the vehicles is inevitable.
Chairman Patterson questioned Director Howley about the specifics of the
personnel summary and categories listed in the budget request. He also asked
how the director could forecast that he would utilize less money for training in
FY25 seeing that Fire Services has already spent $188K of the $245K for FY24
training budget. The director clarified the listing of categories for the chairman
and responded that the training was heavy in the fall and winter months but will
slow down in the spring so expenses for training should decrease. In FY25,
Director Howley said they will be managing training more closely to help balance
the budget cost. The chairman concluded that Fire Services adopt the Fleet Plan
model for their maintenance and repairs report for their fleet so there aren’t so
many questions for explanation in the future and the two reports would work in
synchronicity with one another.
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Fire Services budget request for FY24/25 in the total amount of $3,632,425.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Board of Finance Budget:
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Board of Finance budget requests for FY24/25 in the total amount of
$80,713.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Contingency Budget:
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Contingency budget request for FY24/25 in the total amount of $265,000.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes - February 28, 2024
Page 6
8 Adjournment:
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Michael Rocchetti to adjourn the
Budget Meeting of the Board of Finance at 9:52 p.m.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Respectfully submitted
Was Mbewkee
Bill Sheehan, Clerk ‘ebecca L. Hall, Secretary