Board of Finance - Minutes - 10/09/2024

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385.
Board of Finance
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
With Piz21
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Regular Meetiig! Win : Town Hall Auditorium 7:00 p.m.
Present: Glenn Patterson, Robert Tuneski, Bill Sheehan, Michael Rocchetti, Joseph Filippetti, Ron Fedor, Josh
Kelly
Elected: Rob Brule, First Selectman; Abbas Danesh, Treasurer
Staff: kimberly Allen, Director of Finance; Stephen Dubicki, Jr. ., Fire Marshall; Jon Mullen, Planning Director;
Maureen Fitzgerald, Environmental Planner; Jeff Robillard, IT Manager; Rebecca Hall, Administrative
Assistant Finance Office/BOF Recording Secretary
Establishment of a quorum and call to order
A quorum was established and the Regular Meeting of the Board of Finance was called to order at
7:00 p.m. October 9, 2024.
Public Comment: None
Approval and acceptance of minutes:
Regular Meeting on September 11, 2024
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Joe Filippetti to approve the minutes of the September 11,
2024 Regular Meeting.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Approval and acceptance of minutes:
Special Meeting on August 14, 2024
Motion by Josh Kelly and seconded by Joe Filippetti to approve the minutes of the August 14, 2024
Special Meeting as revised.
Vote: 6-1-0 (No: Rocchetti) Motion: Passed
To consider and act on an additional appropriation by Rob Brule, First Selectman, on behalf of
Waterford Fire Services, in the amount of $27,000 for a study to test all town pre-emption lights and
create a plan to be used for the basis of a FY2026 Capital Project budget request, to line #20523-
57838 Fire Services Pre Emption Light Repairs, and forward to the RTM if required.

Board of Finance Minutes, 10/9/2024
Page 2
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Josh Kelly to appropriate $27,000 for a study to test all
town pre-emption lights and create a plan to be used for the basis of a FY2026 Capital Project
budget request, to line #20523-57838 Fire Services Pre Emption Light Repairs from the
Undesignated Fund Balance of the Capital Nonrecurring Expenditure Fund (line item #205-31520)
and forward to the RTM as required.
Robert Tuneski asked Fire Marshall Stephen Dubicki, Jr. to explain what the Pre-Emption lights are
for clarification. Mr. Dubicki stated the fire trucks have equipment inside that triggers traffic lights
to turn green in emergencies (all other traffic directions will see a red light). Tests must be
conducted on all traffic lights to determine if the sensors are still working properly.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
To consider and act on a request for an additional appropriation by Rob Brule, First Selectman, on
behalf of Waterford Fire Services, in the amount of $10,460 for additional funds needed to
complete a Capital Project line #20523-57791 Jordan Traffic Light Upgrade, and forward to the RTM
if required.
Motion by Josh Kelly and seconded by Bill Sheehan to appropriate $10,460 to complete to line
#20523-57791 Jordan Traffic Light Upgrade from the Undesignated Fund Balance of the Capital
Nonrecurring Expenditure Fund (line item #205-31520), and forward to the RTM as required.
Bill Sheehan began discussion by noting that the existing $25,000 on line #20523-57791 Jordan
Traffic Light Upgrade are designated and not appropriated. He noted that the Fire Service would
need to return to the BOF to have the full funding amount appropriated for the project. Board
Consensus was that it made sense to designate the $10, 460 to the capital line and appropriate the
full amount at one time.
Motion withdrawn by Josh Kelly.
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Josh Kelly to designate $10,460 from the Undesignated
Fund Balance of the Capital Nonrecurring Expenditure Fund (line item #205-31520) to the
designated line #20523-57791 Jordan Traffic Light Upgrade, and forward to the RTM as required.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
The In-Series Transfer was removed from the Board of Finance Agenda as they are not required for
approval of this board.
To consider and act on a request for an additional appropriation by Jonathan Mullen, Planning
Director, in the amount of $37,500 for a matching grant contribution to the National Fish and

Board of Finance Minutes, 10/9/2024
Page 3
Wildlife Foundation 2022 Long Island Sound Futures Fund Grant Award for the Stabilization of
Alewife Cove Study, to line #20541-57238 Alewife Cove, and forward to the RTM if required.
Motion by Josh Kelly and seconded by Robert Tuneski to appropriate $37,500 to currently
designated line #20541-57238 Alewife Cove, and forward to the RTM as required.
Josh Kelly asked the Board of Finance members and 1* Selectman, Rob Brule, if a funding line exists
in the town specifically for matching grants. This would ear mark money for matching purposes
only, therefore, money would not have to be used from undesignated funds. Mr. Brule said there is
not a funding line for that currently, but added this was a good idea.
kimberly Allen, Director of Finance, advised the Board that this request is an appropriation, not an
additional appropriation.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
To consider and act on a request for a FY24 Out of Series Transfer for various departments, in the
amount of $251 for final year end auditor requests per the following compilation from the Transfer
Request Form.
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Joseph
ippetti to transfer $251 as follows:
TOWN OF WATERFORD
TRANSFER REQUEST FORM
Out of Series Transfer Request
[VARIOUS . YEAR ENO.
PARTRERT
APPROVED CURRENT ACCOUNT ACCOUNT REVISED
Suiget —Ayalable SETRSREARES DECREASE!) Avatabie
Linea, orp.coas _onject cove oboe Desergton Aroint “Bugger Bodget
4 sore [soso [service contents. 3.14600] ass] 38.00 1556
2 zor | s3010_Jornice surmes xx000] ay 33.0 ox
2 200
“ soo | 3050 rusts wo wancants ‘soo 83 pa asa
« sone | 54060 lorrice coupment 000] aszo0] 3200 ‘000
009
ToT, woo GTO
explanation
[BNAL YEAR END AUDITOR REQUESTS
32 Aeon) wppies need Gteg ie eens
‘45: To fe natoed netivonat pps oot prowdad by be trance dapat
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
10.
Review and possible action on the proposed Board of Finance Regular Meeting and Budget Hearing
schedules. Attached are last year’s schedules and a breakout of the 2025 holidays.
The Board reviewed the proposed calendars and made numerous changes. The Finance Director will
update the calendars provide them at the November Board meeting final action.

Board of Finance Minutes, 10/9/2024
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1.
12.
13.
14.
Motion by Bill Sheehan and seconded by Josh Kelly to defer approval of the Board of Finance 2025
Regular Meeting and Budget Hearing schedules until the November 13" Board of Finance meeting.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Discussion about creating a new BOF Policy addressing Transfers of Appropriations.
Chairman, Glenn Patterson, opened discussion by sharing that in his research of how other
municipalities manage transfers, he found that the transfer procedures are governed by their
ordinances, not policies.
Ron Fedor asked what problems would be solved if a BOF Policy for Transfers was implemented.
Bill Sheehan stated that he did not feel that there was a need for a policy and that the current
procedures of transfers work.
Josh Kelly noted that written procedures are important and it’s healthy to review procedures from
time to time to see if any updates to the process are needed or could work better. Robert Tuneski
agreed with this statement noting that comparisons to other towns are a good start in any review.
Mrs. Allen informed the Board that she is drafting a Business Manual for the town and is about half
way done. The new manual will put in writing all procedures that run through the Finance
Department, including transferring appropriated funds.
No action was taken at this time regarding the creation of a new policy for transfers.
Old Business: None
New Business:
Bill Sheehan asked First Selectman, Rob Brule, about the renewal/renegotiation of the Eugene
O'Neill Theater contract/agreement with the Town of Waterford. He questioned why there was no
revenue showing for FY24. Director Allen responded saying the new director of the O'Neill wasn’t
aware of the need to forward the required percentage of gate receipts to the town so the
information was relayed very late. When reports for current meeting were run, the data was not
yet processed.
Mr. Brule said he would be reviewing the contract/agreement as he, the Town Attorney, and Town
department heads met with the Eugene O'Neill representatives during the summer to determine
the management of all structures on site at the theater compound. He will present more
information to the Board of Finance in the near future.
Liaison Reports:
a. Robert Tuneski: Oswegatchie Fire House Building Committee held a special meeting
recently to revise the plan for the new building due to newly presented material and supply
costs. The new build now has a revised floor plan of approximately 8,700 ft? down from
13,000 ft?. The building timeline shows bids start in May of 2025 with construction possibly
beginnin, July 2025 and anticipating a finished product ‘Spring 2026.

Board of Finance Minutes, 10/9/2024
Pages
1s.
16.
Correspondence:
Bill Sheehan asked Director Allen about the Special Revenue Reports and how they are presented.
Together, they came to an agreement about what information will be presented to the Board in the
future. Josh Kelly had questions regarding ARPA funds as well as review of information of the
expenditures and encumbrances for the Town. Director Allen and Mr. Brule responded with
satisfying answers to Mr. Kelly.
Adjournment
Motion by Joseph Filippetti and seconded by Bill Sheehan to adjourn the Regular Meeting of the
Board of Finance at 8:02pm.
Vote: 7-0-0 Motion: Passed
Respectfully submitted,
Zohn (Bill) W. Sheehan, Rebecca L. Hall C
Clerk of the Board of Finance Recording Secretary