Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 07/12/2023

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
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PUBLIC HEALTH, RECREATION & ENVIRONMENT STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE RTM \,
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Waterford Town Hall — BOE Conference Room & 2
July 12, 2023 \
Public Health, Recreation & Environment Standing Committee Chair Michael Bono called the July 12,
2023 Special Meeting to order at 5:01 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Jennifer Bracciale, Michael Bono, Mary Childs, Ryan Healy, Nick Gauthier
ABSENT: None
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: RTM Member Susan Driscoll
ALSO PRESENT: Town Clerk David L. Campo; Town Attorney Nicholas Kepple
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Attorney Mark Kepple, 804 Stonington Rd, Stonington, spoke on behalf of residents in regard to the
subject of noise with an emphasis on how Planning and Zoning adopted the special permit for accessory
music. He suggested that it be looked at again by Planning and Zoning with more public input along with
a deeper review of the situation pre and post pandemic.
Resident Deborah Griffith, 63 North Rd, spoke in regard to noise and that the town needs to set
parameters, lacked public comment and noted that no Zoning Official is available during weekend hours.
Resident William O’Donnell, 7 Reynolds Ln, submitted a request that the meetings begin later to
accommodate work schedules and to allow for questions from the public and answers at the end.
A discussion ensued between the public, members and the Town Attorney in regard to why Public
Comment is offered at the beginning and not at the end.
Town Attorney Nick Kepple noted that the committee must take care to “stay in its lane” when
recommending to another committee on how to proceed with its business. A brief conversation among
members about the fact that public comment not a requirement for committee meetings.
ITEM 5 — January 30, 2023 Meeting Minutes.
MOTION by Childs, seconded by Gauthier, to approve the January 30, 2023 Meeting minutes.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 6A — Review of Noise Ordinance, Noise Control — Chapter 9.06, RTC 10/04/2021
Chairman Bono discussed the last meeting and the creation of two draft letters. One to the Moderator
of the RTM and one to the Chairman of Planning and Zoning. (See Attachment)

MOTION by Gauthier, seconded by Childs to debate the proposed letters.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
Lengthy Discussion ensued. The committee discussed the need for more specificity, possible revisions,
the need to not dictate what P&Z should do and should the committee continue to examine the noise
ordinance.
MOTION by Bracciale, seconded by Healy to accept the letter to “Mr. Paul Goldstein, RTM Moderator”
as presented.
MOTION PASSED: Unanimous
Discusssion ensued in regard to the “Dear Chairman Massad” letter.
MOTION by Bono, seconded by Bracciale to add “Public” prior to “Health” in the second line of the body.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
MOTION by Gauthier, seconded by Childs, to amend the letter inserting the following language prior to
“clear sentiment”: since the issuance of these permits, there have been public disturbances that have
been communicated to the Public Heaith, Recreation and Environment Standing Committee of the RTM
that the Town was unabie to address. This is in part why we are asking you to review the issuance of
these special permits.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
MOTION by Healy, seconded by Bracciale, to add the following to the letter to Chairman Massad: The
committee report summarizing the Public Health & Recreation Standing Committee’s deliberations is
attached.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
MOTION by Healy, seconded by Bracciale, to forward the letters as amended.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
MOTION by Healy, seconded by Bracciale, to report out the issue of “Review of Noise Ordinance, Noise
Control] — Chapter 9.06” with a recommendation that rather than amend the ordinance that the RTM
send a letter to the Planning and Zoning Commission because this is a better approach to address the
issue.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
CALL ITEM 68 — Review of Feral Cat Management, RTC 12/05/2023
The Chair disseminated information from the Chief of Police and the ACO for committee review.
No Action Taken
MOTION by Gauthier, seconded by Healy, to adjourn at 6:31 P.M.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
Respectfully Submitted,
Michael Bono
Chair

Proposed letter from RTM (through Moderator Paul Goldstein to P & Z Chair Gregory Massad)
Dear Chairman Massad:
1 am writing on behalf of the Representative Town Meeting which voted at its August 6,
2023 meeting, per the recommendation of the Health, Recreation and Environment Standing
Committee, to communicate to the Planning and Zoning Commigsion the RTM’s request that the
Commission consider revisiting the process under which spe: rmits may be issued for
outdoor accessory dining. The Standing Committee co a number of meetings in late
2022 and early 2023 to consider potential amendments’ ed input from many residents
regarding potential strategies for mitigating the e:
emanating from commercial activities. The cl
Committee was that the better approach to ad
outdoor dining special permit process rather
The Standing Committee as,
Commission while recognizing that
the purview of your Commission. O
this request. :
{!02765600.DOCX; v.}

July 6, 2023
To: Mr. Paul Goldstein, Moderator RTM
At the RTM Regular Meeting on October 4, 2021 following public comment and discussion The
RTM voted unanimously to refer the review of the Noise Ordinance (Chapter 9.06 — Noise
Control) to the Public Health Recreation & Environment Standing Camimmittee of the RTM. The.
standing committee convened four times since receiving its charge. After considerable research
and deliberation the consensus of the Public Health, Recreation and Envireament standing
committee of the RTM is that creating a more enforceabl { ordinance may be too. restrictive to
residents and businesses. hae we
202 y Public Health, Recreation and
Environment Standing Committee meetirig;. that the remedy to, their concern best be addressed
through the Planning and Zoning Commission: atic: not through efdinance. Thus, the Standing
Committee recommends the RTM asks the Planning and Zoning Commission to review its
process of issuing special permits, to address the patential confluence of residential and
commercial zones. Please:see attached letter the Committee recommends for the RTM to
forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission.. :
Rasidents expressed through counsel at the January 30: :
Sincerely, 09°
Michael A. Bono a
Chair Public: Heaith, Recréation and Environment
District 4 - Representative Town Meeting