Representative Town Meeting (RTM) - Minutes - 04/20/2020

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FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD
WATERFORD, CT 06385-2886
MINUTES
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING
ZOOM Conference - Waterford Town Hall
Special Meeting :
April 20, 2020 e 09 a
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The April 20, 2020, Moderator Thomas Dembek called the Special Meeting of the Representative Town
Meeting to order at 3:31 P.M.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Greg Attanasio, Michael Bono, April Cairns, Timothy Condon (4:34 P.M.), Thomas J. Dembek,
Susan Driscoll, Steven Elci, Timothy Fioravanti, Miriam Furey-Wagner, Nick Gauthier, Kathleen Kohl,
David Lersch, Valerie Metivier, Richard Morgan (4:34 P.M.), Richard Muckle, Liam O'Leary, Theodore
Olynciw, Sally Ritchie, Michael Rocchetti, Danielle Steward-Gelinas, Baird Welch-Collins.
ABSENT Jennifer Bracciale, Paul Goldstein, Robert Swansen.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT: First Selectman Robert Brule, Chair of the Board of Finance Ronald R.
Fedor.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT: Selectwoman Jody Nazarchyk; Selectman Elizabeth Sabilia; Chair of the
Board of Education Craig Merriman.
ALSO PRESENT: Town Clerk David L. Campo; Town Attorney Robert Avena; Town Attorney Nick Kepple;
Tax Collector Alan Wilensky.
AGENDA ITEM C ~ April 6, 2020 Minutes
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Driscoll, to accept the April 6, 2020, Special Meeting Minutes with the
following correction made by Driscoll: Finance Director Kim Allen and Director of Public Works Gary
Schneider were present.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
AGENDA ITEM D— BUSINESS ON THE CALL
CALL ITEM 1 ~ Municipal Deferred Program Tax/Utility Bills
PRESENTATION: First Selectman Robert Brule, Tax Collector Alan Wilensky.
MOTION by Welch-Collins, seconded by Rocchetti, to approve Governor Lamont ‘s Executive Order 7S,
Section 6, and implement a municipal Deferred Program which would defer payments by ninety days
for selected municipal tax and utility bills, which become due between March 10, 2020 through July 1,
2020, for all eligible taxpayers pursuant to Office of Personnel Management guidelines, or to provide
this relief for all town taxpayers.
First Selectman Robert Brule read a statement to the Representative Town Meeting. (See Attachment)
Tax Collector Alan Wilensky reported to the Representative Town Meeting that he would update the
members on the outcome of the program.

Town Attorney Robert Avena presented a resolution.
MOTION by Welch Collins, seconded by Rocchetti, to amend the motion, and instead approve the
resolution as presented by Town Attorney Robert Avena which allows for the “Deferment Program”.
(See Attachment) :
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous with one member opposed. (Bono)
MOTION PASSED: 18-1
CALL ITEM 2 — Municipal Rate Reduction Tax/Utility Bills
MOTION by Welch-Collins, seconded by Attanasio, to approve Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 7S,
Section 6, to implement a municipal Rate Reduction Program to provide for a three percent per annum
interest rate (reduced from eighteen percent per annum), for ninety days, on selected tax and utility
bills due between March 10, 2020 through July 1, 2020.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Bono
VOTING AGAINST: Attanasio, Cairns, Dembek, Driscoll, Elci, Fioravanti, Furey-Wagner, Gauthier, Kohl,
Lersch, Metivier, Muckle, O’Leary, Olynciw, Ritchie, Rocchetti, Steward-Gelinas, Welch-Collins.
MOTION FAILED: 18-1
CALL ITEM 3 — Budget Schedule
MOTION by Welch-Collins, seconded by Steward-Gelinas, to consider and act upon a motion to amend
the budget schedule for the FY21 budget review and approval.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Welch-Collins, to amend the schedule to accommodate a 5:00 P.M.
start time.
Discussion ensued.
MOTION by Muckle, seconded by Welch-Collins, to make a friendly amendment to the motion by .
changing the start time to 6:00 P.M.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
MOTION by Driscoll, seconded by Welch-Collins, to amend the schedule to accommodate a new start
date beginning on May 11, 2020.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT to proceed with the same schedule by department, but begin on May 11, 2020.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
AMENDED SCHEDULE: (See Attachment)
MOTION by Welch-Collins, seconded by Muckle, to adjourn at 4:44 P.M.
VOTING IN FAVOR: Unanimous.
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Town Clerk

First Selectman’s statement to RTM prior to action on Tax Deferment. 4.20.20
Mr. Moderator:
| appreciate the opportunity to add a few words to the recommendation ! have
already conveyed to the RTM, that it elect the 3 month deferment of tax and sewer
bills, as the best way to provide maximum relief to Waterford taxpayers and séwer
customers. :
As | indicated in my letter, the rate reduction program provides very modest
financial benefit to most who would be affected and would be cumbersome to
manage administratively. So | believe the 3 month deferments are the best
alternative AND should be extended to all (except the special category of landlords)
WITHOUT the necessity of demonstrating hardship by an application, for the
following reasons: :
1am pleased to share with you that | have reached out to Dominion, which has
confirmed they will be paying their ENTIRE annual tax bill in July, which, combined
with the escrow revenue, assures us we have adequate funds to operate during the
deferment period. - .
| would submit to you these extraordinarily difficult times for our residents and
businesses dictate that we share our town government’s good fortune with as many
in Waterford as possible. | do so for the simple reason that while everyone may not
necessarily reach OPM’s guidance of a 20% decline in recent income, virtually NO
ONE has been spared some sort of adverse impact by the pandemic. Whether in
the form of financial hardship, health issues for family or friends, radical alteration
and how they function each day or just plain life altering stress levels, EVERYONE
has been hurt by COVID-19.
The revenue will be there after the deferment.and we can weather the delay in
receiving these funds. | will also be encouraging all who can pay in July to do so and
would ask you to do the same and | believe large numbers will do just that.
Let’s pass on the benefit of our positive revenue cash flow to all taxpayers without
exception and without making people jump through hoops to get something our
town can afford to offer without condition. It’s the right thing to do and the way we
look out for one another here in Waterford. 1 thank you and the RTM for your time
and consideration and for your service to our great Town. My:téam:will be available
to answer any questions. aaa
Respectfully submitted, IS:KY 02 way na
Rob Brule, First Selectman

RESOLUTION RE: COLLECTION OF TAXES AND SEWER CHARGES PURSUANT TO
GOVERNOR LAMONT’S EXECUTIVE ORDERS 2020-78 AND Tw
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order No. 7S, as amended by
Executive Order No. 7W, requiring municipalities, by a vote of its legislative body, or, in any
town in which the legislative body is a town meeting, by a vote of the board of selectmen,
participate in a “Deferment Program” or “Low Interest Rate Program”, or both; and
WHEREAS, the “Deferment Program” would provide all taxpayers and sewer customers, except
Landlords, a three month “grace period” for any tax or sewer bill due between April 1, 2020
through July 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, participation in the “Deferment Program” is in the best interest of the Town of
Waterford,
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Representative Town Meeting, by an affirmative
vote ofits members, hereby adopts the three month tax and sewer “Deferment Program” as set
forth in paragraph 6(a) of Executive Order 7S and extends the Program to all categories of
taxpayers, sewer customers, businesses, non-profits and residents, except Landlords. Landlords
shall be eligible to participate in the “Deferment Program” provided documentation is presented
to the Tax Collector as required by the Office of Policy and Management.
The First Selectman, Tax Collector and other staff are hereby authorized to implement the
“Deferment Program” in a manner Consistent with the requirements of Executive Orders 7S and
TW.
Eligible taxpayers shall not include financial institutions escrowing taxes for residential,
commercial, or industrial properties.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the First Selectman shall forthwith notify the Secretary of
the Office of Policy and Management of the adoption of this Resolution.
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Adopted this 24 ) day of April, 2020: ©
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CERTIFIED BY:
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Tahs aad 2 OMe
Thomas Dembek David Campo i
RTM Moderator Waterford Town Clerk

REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING BUDGET HEARINGS
FY 2020-21
Town Hall Auditorium
6:00 P.M.
MONDAY MAY 11, 2020
Board of Education
TUESDAY MAY 12, 2020
Ethics Commission
Conservation of Health
Public Heaith Nursing
Social Services Grants/Review
Registrar of Voters
Tax Collector
Youth Services Bureau
Board of Assessment Appeals
Assessor
Contingency
Debt Service
Insurance
Town Clerk
Representative Town Meeting
WEDNESDAY MAY 13, 2020
Zoning Board of Appeals
Economic Development Commission
Conservation Commission
Planning and Zoning Commission
Flood and Erosion Control Board
Building Department
Building Maintenance
Recreation and Parks Commission
Community Use of Schools
Fire Services
Board of Selectmen
Public Works
THURSDAY MAY 14, 2020
Retirement Commission
Waterford Public library
Senior Citizens Commission
Finance Department
Human Resources Department
Board of Finance
Legal Department
Emergency Management
Board of Police Commissioners
Information Technology
Current Year Capital Improvements
Transfers to Capital & Nonrecurring Expenditure Fund
FINAL ACTION
AMENDED 04/20/2020