Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 05/01/2024

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
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PHONE: 860-442-0553
www.waterfordct.org
MINUTES
FINANCE, WAGE & PERSONNEL STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE RTM
Special Meeting
Wednesday May 1. 2024
6:30PM — Waterford Town Hall
Louise Appleby Room
. Motion by Ted Olynciw, Seconded by Kayla Mullen to appoint Danielle Steward-Gelinas
as Temporary Chair
Motion passed: Unanimous
Meeting called to order at 6:32pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call .
Present: Danielle Steward-Gelinas (Temporary Chair), Kayla Mullen, Ted Olynciw
Absent: Kate MacKenzie, Harry Colonis ;
Others Present: Bigi Ebbins (RoV), Patti Waters (RoV), Paul Goldstein (RTM/Public),
Susan Driscoll (RTM/Public), Town Clerk David Campo and Daniel Drainville (The
Day)
Public comment:
David Campo, 3 Colonial Drive, spoke in support of increasing the RoV pay due to the
addition of early voting responsibilities. Emphasized the importance of retention.
Paul Goldstein, 34 Fifth Avenue, spoke in support of adjusting the RoV pay to support the
additional responsibilities associated with early voting.
Consider and act upon the minutes of the January 9, 2023 meeting.
Motion to approve: Ted Olynciw, seconded by Kayla Mullen
Motion passed: Unanimous
Consideration and possible action on item referred to committee:
Review of salaries of Registrar of Voters due to implementation of Early Voting
(RTC 04-08-2024)
Presentation by Patti and Bigi regarding the significant change in roles and
responsibilities to include training due to the implementation of early voting.
Extensive discussion by the committee with input from Susan om and. both ReV
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Motion by Kayla Mullen, seconded by Kayla Mullen to recommended that the RTM
approve an increase to the base stipend for the RoV for FY24 to $33,812.16
retroactive to Jan 1, 2024.
Motion passed: Unanimous
Motion by Kayla Mullen, seconded by Ted Olynciw to report the item, “Review of
salaries of Registrar of Voter due to implementation of Early Voting (RTC 04-04-
2024) out of committee because a recommendation has been made.
Motion passed: Unanimous
8. Motion to Adjourn: Ted Olynciw, seconded by Kayla Mullen. Adjourned 7:42pm
Respectfully submitted,
Danielle Steward-Gelinas, Chair (temp)

May 2, 2024
Moderator Goldstein,
The Finance, Wage and Personnel Committee met on Wednesday May 1, 2024 to address the
“Review of salaries of Registrar of voters due to implementation of Early Voting (RTC 04-08-
2024)”.
Currently, the RoV compensation is in the form of an annual stipend that is dispersed over 52
weeks by the Finance Department. They receive an annual increase consistent with previous
recommendations as well as an additional stipend for primaries and referendums.
The RoV was able to provide supporting documentation describing both increased duties and
training related to early voting (EV).
These increased duties include:
e Learning a new system of voting
Creating EV plans for every election
Training EV staff
Learning new software
Learning new statutes
SOTS Security Training-monthly/multiple hours
New CT Voter Registration System
New Tabulators
Managing new website
Increased stress confirmed by security meetings with Chief
Reorganization of office to increase security
Increased physical nature of position
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When looking at neighboring towns with a similar active voter base and fewer polling places,
this proposed increase will more closely align with those amounts.
The committee unanimously voted to recommend increasing the RoV base stipend to $33,
812.16, or an increase of $6900, for FY24 to be paid retroactively from the date of approval to
January 1, 2024.
This increase is based on supportive documentation from the RoV indicating an additional 200
hours of work per year due to the implementation of early voting. Using the current stipend of
$26,912.16 and dividing that into 52 weeks at 15 hours per week, it amounts to an hourly rate of
$34.50. That rate was then multiplied by 200 to arrive at the proposed increase of $6900/year.
This item has been voted out of committee with a recommendation to the RTM.
Respectfully submitted,
Danielle Steward-Gelinas, Chair (temp)