Board of Finance - Minutes - 03/04/2024

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886 8
Board of Finance
Budget Hearing Minutes *REVISED*
Present:
Absent:
Elected:
Staff:
Other:
3.
PHONE: 860-442-0553,
www.waterfordctorg
Wednesday, March 4, 2024
Waterford Town Hall
2
Chairman Glenn Patterson, Ronald R. Fedor, Michael Rocchet 8 8
Robert Tuneski, David Peabody, Joseph Filippetti ka we
ge 7 BS
Bill Sheehan 5 x of
an 5 28
Robert J. Brule, First Selectman 5 ° oR
YB
°
3
Kimberly Allen, Finance Director; Dani Gorman, Human Servicek Adndhistrator
Youth & Family Services & Senior Services; Terry Wheeler, Assistant Director
Senior Services; Heidi McSwain Human Services Coordinator Youth & Family
Services & Senior Services; Meghan Lineburgh, Senior Services Assistant; Joseph.
Trelli, Program Coordinator Youth Services; Brendan Smith, Youth & Family
Services; Ryan T. McNamara, Director Recreation & Parks, Timothy Cieplik,
Program Coordinator Recreation & Parks; Rebecca Hall, Admin Assistant Finance
Office/BOF Recording Secretary
Chris Nailon, Ethics Commission Representative; Anita Collins, Senior Citizen
Commission, Joyce Viaun, Co-Vice Chair Senior Citizen Commission; Jennifer
Muggeo, Ledge Light Health District
Establishment of a quorum and call to order:
A quorum was established and a call to order was established at 7:01 pm,
March 4, 2024,
Public comment:
An opening statement regarding the budget process was made by Glenn
Patterson, Chairman,
Standing Motion: A motion was made by Ron Fedor and seconded by
Robert Tuneski to have a standing motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by
Ron Fedor to consider each budget as presented.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Ethics Commission Budget:
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Ethics Commission budget request for FY24/25 in the total amount of $900.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes — March 4, 2024
Page 2
Conservation of Health Budget:
Opening remarks by Jennifer Muggeo, Ledge Light Health District to present the
requested budget. Michael Rocchetti initiated discussion regarding the per
capita rate and comparison of the Town of Waterford’s rate to East Lyme’s rate.
It was mentioned by Ms. Muggeo that Ledge Light receives a very minimal
amount from the state for health care in southeastern Connecticut. Given that
circumstance and the fact that COVID relief funding is no longer available, she
anticipated that the per capita rates would rise in FY26.
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Conservation of Health budget request for FY24/25 in the total amount of
$148,407.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Public Health Nursing Services Budget:
The Visiting Nurses Association was unable to provide a representative at this,
date and time due to scheduling conflicts. Glenn Patterson suggested moving
this item to Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Budget Hearing date.
Motion by Dave Peabody and seconded by Joseph Filippetti to table the Public
Health Nursing Services budget request for FY24/25 to a future Budget Hearing
Meeting date.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Social Services Grants Budget:
Ron Fedor opened the discussion as the Board of Finance Liaison to Social
Services. He relayed that at the Social Services Grant budget review, he voted
“no” to doubling the Town of Waterford’s monetary contribution for the
Homeless Hospitality Center of New London. He did so due to the lack of proper
documentation from the organization to justify why they were asking for double
the amount of the request from FY24. In comparison to other towns, the
amount requested from Waterford was not substantiated as needs based but
rather a general request for as much money as the organization felt the Town of
Waterford would possibly agree to.
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Social Services Grants budget request for FY24/25 in the total amount of
$100,250.
Vote: 5-1-0 No: Ron Fedor Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes - March 4, 2024
Page 3
Youth Services Budget:
Human Services Administrator for Youth & Family Services (& Senior Services),
Dani Gorman, began discussion of the department's budget request by making
key points from their FY24 budget and some highlights of the FY25 budget.
Ron Fedor and Dave Peabody questioned he actual need to add a 2" Program
Coordinator position to the department. The board requested data to better
inform its members of the growth of the department's programs and the
number of youth being served ~ or turned away - due to staffing. Joseph Trelli
will provide data, working alongside BOF Chairman Glenn Patterson, to best
inform the BOF of the needs of the additional staff. This data will be submitted
to the BOF before the final budget hearing date. Ms. Gorman added that the
increases in program attendees is significant and there are many on waiting lists
for upcoming sessions.
Robert Tuneski asked if the Youth & Family Services programs align with those of
other town departments and what the department is doing to help streamline
Programs in a unified manner with other town departments (namely Recreation
& Parks, Senior Services, and the Library). Administrator Gorman responded that
Youth & Family Services, Senior Services, and Recreation and Parks align with
their missions and services directed with mental health in mind to provide
service to their resident's specific needs. Programs are built on data to meet the
needs of the consumers with pinpoint accuracy. They are not created in hopes
of people attending, they are created by need of their audiences. Mr. Tuneski
queried if there was a way to be sure there is no overlap with other town
departments. Ms. Gorman answered that they all speak often to make sure
services are not duplicated. In Waterford, she stated the programs for Youth &
Family Services are created at their department. They do not take the ideas
from the other departments to run at Youth & Family Services. Their hope is to
strengthen the partnership with the Library in the upcoming year.
Glenn Patterson noted there is an amount of money coming from the Opioid
Funds awarded by the state. Administrator Gorman acknowledged it is a sizable
amount annually for approximately thirty years.
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Youth Services budget request for FY24/25 in the total amount of $294,579.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 4, 2024
Page 4
Senior Citizen Commission Budget:
Dani Gorman, Human Services Administration, Youth & Family Services/Senior
Services opened the discussion with an introduction to her staff along with a few
points from the FY25 Budget request.
Chairman Patterson opened with a question regarding the Opioid Funding that is
present in the budget backup but not listed as a line item available as income in
the Senior Services budget summary. Ms. Gorman answered that the $48,000
available and listed in the Youth & Family Services budget summary is also
available at any time for Senior Services. Kimberly Allen, Finance Director for the
Town of Waterford, clarified that the Town has made a decision that these funds
from the state are only available to Youth & Family Services as well as Senior
Services.
Board members asked a series of questions about the need for the new position
of Intake Specialist for Senior Services. Is it not a secretarial position but the
department did not like the title of “secretary”? What is the demand to require
the new position? Does the Intake Specialist require specific training to qualify
themselves as a specialist for this type of work? Is there liability for the town by
not requiring specific educational and/or work experience? Will there be a need
for a secretary in the near future? Can part-time workers help rather than hiring
a full-time worker?
Dani Gorman responded to these questions noting that the intake specialist does
some clerical work but the focus of their job is to manage the intake of clients for
mental health support. The need for mental health support has increase
exponentially for youth and seniors due to post-Sandy Hook trauma, the impacts
Of the COVID experience, and drug dependency/misuse. She added there will be
no liability for the town as the individual hired will be fully qualified and there
will be no need for a secretarial position in the future. Gorman also stated that
Part-time help is difficult to maintain and consistency from this individual will be
key for serving their clients.
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Senior Citizen Commission budget request for FY24/2S in the total amount of
$481,248.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Recreation and Parks Budget:
Opening remarks from the Director of Recreation & Parks, Ryan McNamara. He
noted that the FY25 Budget Request was put together with specific

Board of Finance Budget Minutes — March 4, 2024
Page 5
recommendations given by the BOF last year and he thanked the board for their
guidance.
Dave Peabody noted the recommendations were utilized and the budget request
package was easier to navigate this year. Ron Fedor asked why another full time
position (Assistant Director) was needed by the department when in the past
years in Recreation and Parks, seemingly, there were too many workers for too
little work. Director McNamara responded that his time heading the department
began with two employees (himself and an administrative assistant) then added
Tim Cieplik as Program Coordinator (moved to Assistant Director in the FY25
Budget eliminating the Program Coordinator position) and another part-time
clerk, Together, they are still reviewing how the department works currently
and how it can work in the future as scheduling of town’s sports, field
maintenance, grounds keeping, and programs are pulling the Program
Coordinator and the Director from other main duties. The future reinstatement
of program coordinator would be best for the department so that Director
McNamara, specifically, can better focus his efforts throughout the town in
person.
Robert Tuneski asked if the landscaping that Recreation & Parks overlap with the
library's maintenance plan? What services does the Rec & Parks provide to the
library property? Director McNamara said Rec & Parks maintains all outside
work up to the building. Mr. Tuneski asked if the director was aware that some
grounds keeping was being done at the library that did not involve Rec & Parks?
Director McNamara answered yes, and he notified the Library that due to Union
contracts, any work being done without a union member must be done by
submitting a special form which was not completed at the time of the work
being done by that individual.
Mr. Tuneski continued by asking if any services overlap with those offered by the
Library. Mr. McNamara responded by saying “yes” giving examples like small
concert venues and a few other program offerings. Mr. Tuneski asked if there
was any communication with the library prior to these offerings being scheduled.
Director McNamara responded that some collaboration took place and some
were not scheduled with collaboration. Mr. Tuneski pointed out that it would be
in the best interest of the town if ll of these departments worked together
properly to offer our Waterford community quality programs and to maximize
the benefits of these town services at minimal cost to our residents. Director
McNamara agreed and he said he would welcome a more cohesive union with
other departments in the future.
Michael Rocchetti asked what department actually takes care of the Waterford
High School baseball field. Mir. McNamara answered that the Rec & Parks crew
cares for the field but not the irrigation. They have laid down a new material in
the infield this year to better suit ball play. Mr. Rocchetti also asked about
Waterford Town Beach passes and their associated costs. He wondered if the

Board of Finance Budget Minutes — March 4, 2024
Page 6
beach pass costs have been compared to other towns such as East Lyme. Tim
Cieplik replied that they do not know the actual costs of the East Lyme passes
but made a comparison to New London’s Ocean Beach Park. Mr. Rocchetti
asked if Rec & Parks knows the actual number of resident vs. non-resident
patrons who attend Waterford Beach daily. Director McNamara said the staff
uses a “clicker” at the gate to document non-residents but didn’t have that
number available. He was able to provide the number of beach passes sold last
year: 476 Senior passes; 1236 Resident (1 household sticker); 621 Resident
(discounted additional household stickers). Mr. Rocchetti provided the cost of
East Lyme beach passes:
Resident Season Pass: $60 (Waterford $25 - 24 $11)
Non-Resident Season Pass: $200 (Waterford $125)
R nt Weekday Pass: $20 (Waterford $2.00)
Non-Resident Weekday Pass: $45 (Waterford $25)
Resident Weekend Pass: $30 (Waterford $6)
Non-Resident Weekday Pass: $55 (Waterford $35)
Mr. Rocchetti expressed concern about people crossing the channel from Ocean
Beach Park and those who enter through a path from Camp Harkness. Director
McNamara stated a staff member was monitoring those coming from the
channel side and was unaware of anyone entering without paying from the
Camp Harkness side. He said he and Mr. Cieplik will work on collecting data to
give to Board to assess the costs and compare to other local towns.
Glenn Patterson requested maintenance costs vs. repairs to help the town
understand the work being done on the Recreation and Parks Fleet assets. The
town garage should have all of the information as they do the work on the fleet
from Recreation & Parks. This data should include all equipment, mowers, and
tractors. Director McNamara will do so.
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Ron Fedor to tentatively approve
the Recreation and Parks budget request for FY24/25 in the total amount of
$1,485,080.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed

Board of Finance Budget Minutes ~ March 4, 2024
Page 7
10. Adjournment:
Motion by Robert Tuneski and seconded by Michael Rocchetti to adjourn the
Budget Meeting of the Board of Finance at 8:51 p.m.
Vote: 6-0-0 Motion: Passed
Respectfully submitted
VEE s Miele
John Shéehian, Clerk Rebecca L. Hall, Secretary