Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 05/13/2020

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FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
MINUTES *AMENDED :
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING : : ~
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Special Annual Budget Meeting met TR a
May 11, 12, 13 and 14, 2020 a GY
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Moderator Thomas J. Dembek called the Annual Budget Meeting of the Representative Town Meéting
to order on May 11, 2020, at 6:00 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Greg Attanasio, Michael Bono, Jennifer Bracciale, April Cairns, Tim Condon, Thomas J.
Dembek, Susan Driscoll, Steve Elci, Tim Fioravanti, Miriam Furey-Wagner, Nick Gauthier, Paul S.
Goldstein, Kathleen Kohl, David Lersch, Valerie Metivier, Richard Morgan, Richard F. Muckle, Liam
O'Leary, Ted Olynciw, Sally Ritchie, Michael E. Rocchetti, Danielle Steward-Gelinas, Robert Swansen
(7:00 P.M.}, Baird Welch-Collins.
ABSENT: None
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: First Selectman Robert J. Brule Jr, Selectman Elizabeth Sabilia,
Selectwoman Jody Nazarchyk, Chair of the Board of Finance Ronald R. Fedor, Board of Education Chair
* Craig Merriman.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Town Attorney Robert Avena, Town Clerk David Campo, and Director of Finance Kim
Allen
PUBLIC COMMENT
Moderator Dembek acknowledged the receipt of four items for comment from the following: Helen
Kwasniewski, Marcus Brucoli, Jason Kohl, Adam Blinderman. All comments are available for view at
www.waterfordct.org or upon request of the Town Clerk.
AGENDA ITEM D — April 20, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes.
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Welch-Collins, to approve the April 20, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
PROCEDURAL MATTERS
The Annual Budget Meeting is, in fact, an open meeting called to order on May 11, 2020,-to be recessed
on May 11, and again on May 12, and May 13, and only to be adjourned after final action on May 14,
2020. Consideration of the budget by department/agency follows the posted schedule.
*MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
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STANDING MOTION by Majority Leader Muckie, seconded by Minority Leader Driscoll, to offer a
standing motion to move each proposed budget for consideration in the order specified in the hearing
schedules, with approvals at the series subtotal and the department total levels, with the understanding
that all totals are considered tentatively approved until final action is taken at the end of our budget
hearing.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
CALL ITEM 1 — Board of Education and General Fund Budgets.
Consideration and action upon the General Fund Budget, which includes both Board of Education and
General Government budgets for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, as recommended
by the Board of Finance, and as may be modified by the determination of the Representative Town
Meeting.
BOARD OF EDUCATION (10160) $50,842,315
PRESENTATION: Chairman of the Board of Education Craig Merriman, Superintendent of Schools Thomas
Giard, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Craig Powers, BOE Director of Finance Joseph Mancini
presented the details of the budget and stood for questions.
Discussion ensued.
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Driscoll, to reduce Line Item 10160-59901 Education by
$470,000, from $50,842,315 to $50,372,315.
Discussion ensued.
MOTION by Rocchetti, seconded by Steward Gelinas, to move the question.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Bracciale, Cairns, Condon, Dembek, Driscoll, Goldstein, Lersch, Morgan, Muckle,
O'Leary, Olynciw, Ritchie, Rocchetti, Steward-Gelinas, Swansen.
VOTING AGAINST: Attanasio, Elci, Fioravanti, Furey-Wagner, Gauthier, Kohl, Welch-Collins
Abstained: Bono, Metivier.
MOTION to move passed: 15-7-2
VOTING IN FAVOR: Bracciale, Condon, Dembek, Driscoll, Goldstein, Lersch, Morgan, Muckle, O’Leary,
Olynciw, Ritchie, Rocchetti, Steward-Gelinas, Swansen.
VOTING AGAINST: Attanasio, Elci, Furey-Wagner, Gauthier, Kohl, Welch-Collins.
Abstained: Bono, Cairns, Fioravanti, Metivier.
APPROVAL of 10160-59901 series new subtotal of $50,372,315.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Bracciale, Condon, Dembek, Driscoll, Goldstein, Lersch, Morgan, Muckle, O'Leary,
Olynciw, Ritchie, Rocchetti, Steward-Gelinas, Swansen.
VOTING AGAINST: Attanasio, Elci, Furey-Wagner, Gauthier, Kohl, Welch-Collins.
Abstained: Bono, Cairns, Fioravanti, Metivier.
AMENDED TOTAL: $50,372,315
Recess at 8:31 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The Annual Budget Meeting of the Representative Town Meeting resumed at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday,
May 12, 2020, with the call to order by Moderator Dembek.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE
* MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
2 :

ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Greg Attanasio (6:15 P.M.), Michael Bono, Jennifer Bracciale (6:15 P.M.}, April Cairns (6:15
P.M.), Tim Condon, Thomas J. Dembek, Susan Driscoll, Steve Elci, Tim Fioravanti, Miriam Furey-Wagner,
Nick Gauthier, Paul S. Goldstein, Kathleen Kohl, David Lersch, Valerie Metivier, Richard Morgan, Richard
F. Muckle, Liam O’Leary, Ted Olynciw, Sally Ritchie, Michael E. Rocchetti, Danielle Steward- Gelinas,
Robert Swansen, Baird Welch-Collins.
ABSENT: None
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: First Selectman Robert J. Brule Jr, Selectman Elizabeth Sabilia,
Selectwoman Jody Nazarchyk, Chair of the Board of Finance Ronald R. Fedor, Board of Education Chair
Craig Merriman.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Town Attorney Robert Avena, Town Clerk David Campo, and Director of Finance Kim
Allen
ETHICS COMMISSION (10143) $650
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
CONSERVATION OF HEALTH (10132) $139,197
PRESENTATION: Director of Ledge Light Health District Stephen Mansfield
“VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SERV (10133) $27,820
PRESENTATION: Director of the Visiting Nurses Association of Southeastern CT Mary Lenzini
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
SOCIAL SERVICES GRANTS/MISC (10120) $81,780
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS (10102) $74,279
PRESENTATION: Democratic Registrar of Voters Julie Watson Jones, Republican Registrar of Voters
Patricia Waters.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
TAX COLLECTOR (10106) $206,156
PRESENTATION: Tax Collector Alan Wilensky
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES BUREAU (10119) $244,743
PRESENTATION: Director of Waterford Youth and Family Services Dani Gorman.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS (10105} $1,588
PRESENTATION: Assessor Paige Walton
*MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
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VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
ASSESSOR (10104) $283,613
PRESENTATION: Assessor Paige Walton
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
CONTINGENCY (10121) $265,000
PRESENTATION: Director of Finance Kim Allen
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
DEBT SERVICE (10139) $7,628,790
PRESENTATION: Director of Finance Kim Allen
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
INSURANCE (10112) $4,658,000
PRESENTATION: Director. of Human Resources Joyce Sauchuk
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
TOWN CLERK (10109) $267,309
PRESENTATION: Town Clerk David L. Campo
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING (10117) $19,453
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Welch-Collins, to reduce Line Item 10117-552010 Advertising by
$500, from $6,500 to $6,000.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with one member against. (Fioravanti)
AMENDED TOTAL: $18,953
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with one member against. (Muckle)
PUBLIC COMMENT: Town Clerk David Campo acknowledged receipt of two items for public comment
and that they were forwarded to members and posted to the town’s website from the following:
Colleen Lineburgh, Maggie Sullivan. All comments are available for view at www.waterfordct.org or
upon request of the Town Clerk. :
Recess at 7:19 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The Annual Budget Meeting of the Representative Town Meeting resumed at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday,
May 13, 2020, with the calf to order by Moderator Dembek.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE
ROLL CALL
*MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
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PRESENT: Greg Attanasio, Michael Bono, Jennifer Bracciale, April Cairns, Tim Condon, Thomas J.
Dembek, Susan Driscoll, Steve Elci, Tim Fioravanti, Miriam Furey-Wagner, Nick Gathier, Paul S. Goldstein,
Kathleen Kohl, David Lersch, Valerie Metivier, Richard Morgan, Richard F. Muckle, Liam O’Leary, Ted
Olynciw, Sally Ritchie, Michael E. Rocchetti, Danielle Steward-Gelinas, Baird Welch-Collins.
ABSENT: Robert Swansen
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: First Selectman Robert J. Brule Jr, Selectman Elizabeth Sabilia,
Selectwoman Jody Nazarchyk, Chair of the Board of Finance Ronald R. Fedor, Board of Education Chair
Craig Merriman.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Town Attorney Robert Avena, Town Clerk David Campo, and Director of Finance Kim
Allen
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS (10115) $4,310
PRESENTATION: Director of Planning Abby Piersall
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (10113) $8,576
PRESENTATION: Director of Planning Abby Piersall
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
CONSERVATION COMMISSION (10114) $18,250
PRESENTATION: Director of Planning Abby Piersall
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with two members abstaining. (Lersch, Muckle)
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION (10110) $629,267
PRESENTATION: Director of Planning Abby Piersall
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
FLOOD & EROSION CONTROL BOARD (10141) $2,138
PRESENTATION: Director of Planning Abby Piersall
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
BUILDING DEPARTMENT (10118} $289,423
PRESENTATION: Director of Planning Abby Piersall
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
BUILDING MAINTENANCE (10111) $253,045
PRESENTATION: Director of Planning Abby Piersall
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
RECREATION & PARKS COMMISSION (10137) $1,519,608
PRESENTATION: Director of Recreation and Parks Brian Flaherty, Assistant Director Ryan McNamara,
Program Coordinator Kerry Sullivan
MOTION by Welch-Collins, seconded by Driscoll, to reduce Line Item 10137-52420 Maintenance of
Property by $5,050, from $150,133 to $145,083.
Discussion ensued.
RTM Member Mike Bono recommended to reduce the reduction by $2,440, from $5,050 to $2,610.
*MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
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FRIENDLY AMENDMENT by Welch-Collins, seconded by Driscoll, to amend the motion to reduce Line
Item 10137-52420 Maintenance of Property by $2,610, instead of $5,050, from $150,133 to $147,523
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with one member against (Bracciale) and one member abstaining.
(Dembek) :
MOTION PASSED: 22-1-1
MOTION by Furey-Wagner, seconded by Welch-Collins, to reduce Line Item 10137-51810 Overtime by
$5,000, from $25,478 to $20,478.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Attanasio, Bono, Cairns, Condon, Driscoll, Furey-Wagner, Goldstein, Lersch, Metivier,
Morgan, Muckle, O’Leary, Olynciw, Rocchetti, Steward-Gelinas, Welch-Collins.
VOTING AGAINST: Bracciale, Elci, Fioravanti, Gauthier, Kohl, Ritchie.
ABSTAINED: Dembek
MOTION PASSED: 16-6-1
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Steward-Gelinas to reduce Line Item 10137-51920 FICA by $383, from
$81,029 to $80,646.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with one member abstaining. (Dembek)
AMENDED TOTAL Recreation & Parks: $1,511,615
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with one member abstaining. (Dembek)
COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOLS (10146) $86,126
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
FIRE SERVICES (10123) $3,101,562
PRESENTATION: Director of Fire Services Bruce Miller
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
BOARD OF SELECTMEN (10101) $201,320
PRESENTATION: First Selectman Robert Brule
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (10130) $4,689,207
PRESENTATION: Director of Public Works Gary Schneider
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Town Clerk David Campo acknowledged receipt of eight items for public comment
and that they were forwarded to members and posted to the town’s website from the following: Linda
Brailey, Carol Batch, Erika Bassett, Laura McCue, E.J. McCue, Tammy Hullivan, Cheryl Morosky, Susan
Podeswa. All comments are available for view at www.waterfordct.org or upon request of the Town
Clerk.
Recess at 8:59 P.M.
*MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
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CALL TO ORDER
The Annual Budget Meeting of the Representative Town Meeting resumed at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday,
May 14, 2019, with the call to order by Moderator Dembek.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Greg Attanasio, Michael Bono, Jenifer Bracciale, April Cairns, Tim Condon, Thomas J. Dembek,
Susan Driscoll, Steve Elci, Tim Fioravanti, Miriam Furey-Wagner, Nick Gauthier, Paul S. Goldstein,
Kathleen Kohl, David Lersch, Valerie Metivier, Richard Morgan, Richard F. Muckle, Liam O'Leary, Ted
Olynciw, Sally Ritchie, Michael E. Rocchetti, Danielle Steward-Gelinas, Robert Swansen, Baird Welch-
Collins.
ABSENT: None
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: First Selectman Robert J. Brule Jr, Selectman Elizabeth Sabilia,
Selectwoman Jody Nazarchyk, Chair of the Board of Finance Ronald R. Fedor, Board of Education Chair
Craig Merriman.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Town Attorney Robert Avena, Town Clerk David Campo, and Director of Finance Kim
Allen
PUBLIC COMMENT: Town Clerk David Campo acknowledged receipt of thirty-two items for public
comment and that they were forwarded to members and posted to the town’s website from the
following: Craig Merriman, A Concerned Citizen, Marcia Benvenuti, Michael Perkins, Robin Shine, Bonnie,
Palmer, Jo Ann Dumin, Lisa Muti, Lindsey Grgurich, Joy Morin, Tim Burrows, Susan Podeswa, Brian
Nichols, Jeffrey Hotsky, April Brown, Jose Gonzalez, Marissa Nakaoka, Kelly Hurrell, Ben Parent, Bigi
Ebbin, Eric Page, Madeline Parent, Mary Moffett Childs, Stacy Blatnik, Brooke Stutzman, Sue Tonucci,
Wayne Shaedler, Megan Nelson, Joshua Steele Kelly, Joyce Viaun, Terry abate, Molly Quiles. All
comments are available for view at www.waterfordct.org or upon request of the Town Clerk.
RETIREMENT COMMISSION (10116) $5,982,978
PRESENTATION: Chairman of the Retirement Commission Susan Driscoll
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
WATERFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY (10136) $1,073,193
PRESENTATION: Library Director Roslyn Rubinstein
Director Rubenstein recommended a reduction to Line Item 10136-52100 Electricity in the amount of
$3,530
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Goldstein, to reduce Line Item 10136-52100 Electricity by $3,530,
from $37,530 to $34,000.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with one member abstaining. (Furey-Wagner}
AMENDED TOTAL: $1,069,663
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with one member abstaining. (Furey-Wagner)
SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION (10135} $548,127
PRESENTATION: Director of Senior Services Lisa Cappuccio
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
*MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
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FINANCE DEPARTMENT (10107) $701,270
Director of Finance Kim Allen
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT (10145) $266,233
PRESENTATION: Director of Human Resources Joyce Sauchuk
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
BOARD OF FINANCE (10103) $66,000
PRESENTATION: Director of Finance Kim Allen
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT (10108) $298,000
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (10122) $1,087,258
PRESENTATION: Director of Emergency Management Stephen Sinagra, Chief of Police Brett Mahoney
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
POLICE COMMISSION (10129) $6,450,741
PRESENTATION: Chief of Police Brett Mahoney
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with two members abstaining. (Muckle, Steward-Gelinas)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (10147) $824,968
PRESENTATION: Chief of Police Brett Mahoney
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with one member abstaining. (Attanasio)
CURRENT YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS (10138) $2,216,680
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL AND NON-RECURRING EXPENDITURE (10140) $1,401,280
MOTION by Attanasio, seconded by Driscoll, to reduce Line Item 10140-57857 Civic Triangle Upgrades
by $50,000, $50,000 to $0.
Discussion ensued.
MOTION Muckle, seconded by Welch-Collins, to move the question.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
MOTION to move passed
VOTING IN FAVOR: Attanasio
VOTING AGAINST: Bono, Bracciale, Cairns, Condon, Dembek, Driscoll, Elci, Fioravanti, Furey-Wagner,
Gauthier, Goldtein, Kohl, Lersch, Metivier, Morgan, Muckle, O'Leary, Olynciw, Ritchie, Rocchetti,
Steward-Gelinas, Swansen, Welch-Collins.
MOTION FAILED 1-23
*MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
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FINAL ACTION
GENERAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS (Amended Total) $34,359,165
MOTION by Ritchie, seconded by Goldstein, to approve the General Government Operations Budget in
the amount of $34,359,165.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
BOARD OF EDUCATION: 10160 (Amended Total} $50,372,315
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Swansen, to approve the Board of Education Budget i in the
amount of $50,372,315 .
MOTION by Olynciw, seconded by Attanasio, to reconsider.
Discussion ensued.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Attanasio, Elci, Fioravanti, Furey-Wagner, Gauthier, Kohl, Olynciw, Welch-Collins.
VOTING AGAINST: Bracciale, Condon, Dembek, Driscoll, Goldstein, Lersch, Morgan, Muckle, O’Leary,
Ritchie, Rocchetti, Steward-Gelinas, Swansen.
ABSTAINED: Bono, Cairns, Metivier.
MOTION to reconsider failed: 8-13-3
VOTING IN FAVOR: Bracciale, Condon, Dembek, Driscoll, Goldstein, Lersch, Morgan, Muckle, O’Leary,
Ritchie, Rocchetti, Steward-Gelinas, Swansen.
VOTING AGAINST: Attanasio, Elci, Fioravanti, Furey-Wagner, Gauthier, Kohl, Olynciw, Welch-Collins.
ABSTAINED: Bono, Cairns, Metivier.
MOTION PASSED: 13-8-3
CURRENT YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS (10138) $2,216,680
MOTION by Welch-Collins, seconded by Muckle, to approve the Current Year Capital Improvements
Budget in the amount of $2,216,680.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL AND NON-RECURRING EXPENDITURE (10140) $1,401,280
MOTION by Muckle,seconded by Welch-Collins, to approve the Transfer to Capital and Non-Recurring
Expenditure Fund Budget in the amount of $1,401,280
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
DEBT SERVICE (10139) $7,628,790
MOTION by Welch-Collins, seconded by Steward-Gelinas, to approve the Debt Service budget in the
amount of $7,628,790
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
TOTAL BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2020 (Amended Total) $95,978,230
MOTION by Steward-Gelinas, seconded by Muckle to approve a Total Budget for Fiscal Year 2021 in the
amount of $95, 978,230
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
CALL ITEM 4 — Tax Payment Schedule. (See Attachment)
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Welch-Collins, to approve the tax payment schedule for Fiscal Year
2020 — 2021, as recommended by the Tax Collector.
*MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
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MOTION by Welch-Callins, seconded by Steward-Gelinas, to adjourn at 8:08 P.M.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous
eye) submitted,
ine
David L. Caripo,
Waterford Town Clerk
*MEETING ACCESS ADDED TO HEADING AND BOE FINAL ACTION VOTE CORRECTED
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