Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 09/03/2025

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
MINUTES ao 22
FINANCE, WAGE & PERSONNEL STANDING COMMITTEE OF Te RIM, j eo
PUBLIC HEARING & SPECIAL MEETING . ig AS
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 = @
6:00 P.M. - Waterford Town Hall, Louise Appleby Room \ a
The September 3, 2025 Public Hearing of the Finance, Wage & Personnel Standing Committee
of the RTM was called to order by Chairperson Harry Colonis at 6:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Harry Colonis, Kayla Mullen, Ted Olynciw, Danielle Steward-Gelinas
Absent: Kate MacKenzie
Also Attending: Town Clerk David L. Campo, Town Attorney Robert Avena, RTM
Member Susan Driscoll, Assessor Paige Walton
The Public Hearing opened at 6:01 P.M.in regard to the Waterford Code of Ordinances
proposed amendments, Sections 3.12.145 — Exemptions for Veterans with TDIU
Determination and Section 3.12.186 — Alternate exemption for dwelling or motor
vehicle of veterans’ surviving spouse.
Assessor Paige Walton gave a summary of the proposed amendments.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Resident Jeffrey Craddoc, 38 Seabreeze Drive, spoke in support
of ITEM 6A.
Public hearing closed at 6:08 PM
The September 3, 2025 Special Meeting of the Finance, Wage & Personnel Standing Committee
of the RTM was called to order by Chairperson Harry Colonis at 6:10 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Harry Colonis, Kayla Mullen, Ted Olynciw, Danielle Steward-Gelinas
Absent: Kate MacKenzie
Also Attending: Town Clerk David L. Campo, Town Attorney Robert Avena, RTM
Member Susan Driscoll, Assessor Paige Walton
AGENDA ITEM 3: Minutes
MOTION by Olynciw, seconded by Steward-Gelinas, to approve the minutes from the

August 20, 2025 meeting with the following corrections offered by Driscoll: add
“veterans deemed to have a total disability based on individual unemployability" to the
second sentence after “were” and replace ‘Totally Disabled Individually Unemployable”
in the last sentence with “TDIU” prior to “residents” in section 6B
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
AGENDA ITEM 4A: New Veteran’s Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans, RTC
08/04/25
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Olynciw, to open discussion.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Olynciw, to report issue out of committee
and recommend that the RTM approve the two proposed ordinances, Sections 3.12.145 —
Exemptions for Veterans with TDIU Determination and Section 3.12.186 — Alternate
exemption for dwelling or motor vehicle of veterans’ surviving spouse to extend the
maximum exemption to our veterans. (See attachment)
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
AGENDA ITEM 4B: No discussion
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Mullen, to adjourn at 6:31 P.M.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
Respectfully submitted,
Harry Colonis
Chairperson

NEW Ordinance 3.12.145 Final Draft 9/3/25
3.12.145 — Exemptions for veterans with TDIU determination
Pursuant to the Connecticut General Statutes §12-81 (19), (20), (21), (83)and in eccordance-with as amended by
Public Act No. 25-168, any Waterford resident who has served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Ait Force or
Space Force of the United States and has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to have a
service-connected total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) shall be entitled to an exemption; from
property tax on either of the following:
1._The fractional share of a dwelling, including a condominium as defined in C.G.S. § 47-68a, a unit in a common
interest community as defined in C.G.S. §47-202, and a mobile manufactured home as defined in C.G.S. §12-
63a, that (a) belongs to or is held in trust for such resident, or is possessed by such a resident as a tenant for
life or tenant for a term of years liable for property tax under C.G.S. §12-48, and (b) is occupied by such
resident as the resident’s primary residence, or
2.__Lacking such a residence, one motor vehicle that belongs to or is held in trust for such resident and is
garaged in this state.
As used in this subsection, “dwelling” does not include any portion of the unit or structure used by such resident for
commercial purposes or from which such resident derives any rental income.
If such resident lacks such dwelling or motor vehicle in such resident's name, the dwelling or motor vehicle, as
applicable, belonging to or held in trust for such resident's spouse, or possessed by such resident's spouse as a tenant for
life or tenant for a term of years liable for property tax under C.G.S, §12-48, who is domiciled with such resident, shall be
so exempt.
When any resident entitled to an exemption under the provisions of this section has died, the dwelling or motor
vehicle, as applicable, belonging to or held in trust for such deceased resident's surviving spouse, or possessed by such
deceased resident's surviving spouse as a tenant for life or tenant for a term of years liable for property tax under C.G.S. §
12-48, while such spouse remains a widow or widower, or belonging to or held in trust for such deceased resident's minor
children during their minority, or both, while they are residents of this state, shall be so exempt as that to which such
resident was or would have been entitled at the time of such resident's death.
A. Application for dwelling exemption.
1,_No individual shall receive any exemption under this section until such individual has complied with C.G.S. §
12-95 and has submitted proof of such individual's determination by the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs to the Waterford assessor.
2.__If there is no change to an individual's TDIU determination, such proof shall not be required for any
assessment year following that for which the exemption under this section is granted initially. If the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs modifies an individual's determination to other than a service-
connected total disability based on individual unemployability, such modification shall be deemed a waiver
of the right to the exemption under this section. Any such individual whose determination was modified to
other than a service-connected TDIU may seek an exemption under subdivision (20) or (83) of section 12-81
of the general statutes, as applicable.
B. Retroactive abatement or refund.
1.__Any individual who has been unable to submit evidence of TDIU determination by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs in the manner required by this section, or who has failed to submit such
evidence as provided in C.G.S. §12-95 may, when such individual obtains such evidence, make application to
the tax collector not later than one year after such individual obtains such proof or not later than one year
after the expiration of the time limited in C.G.S.§ 12-95, as the case may be, for abatement in case the tax
has not been paid, or for refund in case all or part of the tax has been paid. Such abatement or refund may

NEW Ordinance 3.12.145 Final Draft = 9/3/25
be granted retroactively to include the assessment day next succeeding the date as of which such individual
wag entitled to TDIU determination by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, but in no case shail
any abatement or refund be made for a period greater than three years.
2. The tax collector shall refer such application, with the tax collector's recommendations thereon, to the board
of selectmen and shall certify to the amount of abatement or refund to which the applicant is entitled. Upon
receipt of such application and certification, the board of selectmen shall issue a certificate of abatement if
the tax has not been paid or, in case all or part of the tax has been paid, draw an order upon the treasurer in
favor of such applicant for refund of such amount, without interest. Any action so taken by the board of
selectmen shall be a matter of record and the tax collector shall be notified in writing of such action,
C.__Limit to exemption.
1. No individual entitled to the exemption under one or more subdivisions of C.G.S. § 12-81 (19), (22), (23),
(25), (26) and (83) shall receive more than one exemption.
2. _No applicant may receive more than one additional municipal property tax exemption for veterans or their
family members under C.G.S. 12-81 (f} and {g).
(RTM xx/xx/25)

NEW Ordinance 3.12.182 Final Draft 9/3/25
3.12.182 — Alternate exemption for dwelling or motor vehicle of veterans’ surviving spouses
ocr
Pursuant to the Connecticut General Statutes §§ 12-81 (19), (20), (21), (83 andtnaccordancdwitha: ment ed:b IRD
Public Act No. 25-168, any surviving spouse who is a resident of the Town of Waterford, while such ‘person rernains a
widow or widower of a person who was killed in action while performing active military duty with the armed farces;as\) |.
* \ U 1 a zs
defined in C.G.S. § 27-103, shall be entitled to an exemption from property tax on either of the following:
A A. The fractional share of a dwelling, including a condominium, as defined in C.G.S. §47-68a,/a unitina ..
common interest community, as defined in C.G.S. §47-202, and a mobile manufactured home, as defined in C.G.S.
12-63a, that (1) belongs to or is held in trust for such surviving spouse, or that is possessed by such a surviving
spouse as a tenant for life or a tenant for a term of years liable for property tax under C.G.S. 12-48, and (2 that is
occupied by such surviving spouse as the surviving spouse’s primary residence, or
B 2. Lacking such residence, one motor vehicle that belongs to or is held in trust for such surviving spouse
and is garaged in this state.
As used in this subsection, “dwelling” does not include any portion of the unit or structure used by such surviving
spouse for commercial purposes or from which such surviving spouse derives any rental income.
No surviving spouse entitled to the exemption under this section and under one or more of subdivisions (19), (20), (22),
(23), (25), (26) and (83) of section 12-81 and section 12-81ii of the General Statutes, shall receive more than one
exemption.
€A. Application for dwelling exemption.
1.__Any such surviving spouse submitting a claim for such exemption shall: (1) notify the town clerk; and (2) file an
application on a form prepared for such purpose by the assessor, not later than the October 1 assessment date
with respect to which such exemption is claimed.
2. Each such person claiming this exemption shall provide the assessor two notarized affidavits of disinterested
persons showing that: (1) the deceased person was performing such active military duty, that such deceased
person was killed in action while performing such duties; and (2) the relationship of such deceased person to
such surviving spouse. Such surviving spouse may further be required by the assessor to be examined under
oath concerning such facts. Such town clerk shall record each such affidavit in full and shall list the name of
such surviving spouse claimant, and such service shall be performed without remuneration. No assessor,
board of assessment appeals or other official shall allow any such claim for exemption unless evidence as
herein specified has been filed in the office of such town clerk.
3. Once such application for the exemption is received and approved for the first time, such applicant shall be
subsequently required to file on a biennial basis.
4.__The assessor shall annually make a certified list of the recipients of this exemption and file such list with the
town clerk which shall be prima facie evidence that such surviving spouses whose names appear thereon are
entitled to such exemptions long as they continue to reside in the Town of Waterford.
BB. Limit to exemption. No individual entitled to the dwelling exemption under one or more subdivisions of C.G.S. §§
12-81 (19), (20), (22), (23), (25), (26) and (83) shall receive more than one exemption. No applicant may receive
more than one additional municipal property tax exemption for veterans or their family members under C.G.S. §§
12-81(f) and (g).
£C. General provisions. Any such surviving spouse who has submitted an application and been approved in any year
for the exemption provided in this section shall, in the year immediately following approval, be presumed to be
qualified for such exemption. During the year immediately following such approval, the assessor shall notify, in
writing, surviving spouses presumed to be qualified pursuant to this subsection. Said ordinance shall become
effective fifteen-days-afterupon passage and shall commence with the October 1, 2025, Grand List.]
RTM xx-xx-25)