741 Colonel Ledyard Highway  
Ledyard, Connecticut 06339  
TOWN OF LEDYARD  
Finance Committee  
Meeting Minutes  
Chairman  
Kevin J. Dombrowski  
Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget Work Session  
Monday, March 13, 2023  
12:00 PM  
Town Hall Annex Building - Hybrid  
Format  
Council Chambers - Town Hall Annex Building  
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I
CALL TO ORDER  
The Work Session was called to order by Councilor Saums  
at 12:00 p.m.  
Councilor Saums welcomed all to the Video Conference Meeting; and he noted that the  
remote meeting information for the Town Council Finance Committee Budget Work  
Session and members of the Public to participate in this afternoon’s meeting was  
available on the Agenda that was posted on the Town’s Website - Granicus/Legistar  
Meeting Portal.  
II.  
ROLL CALL  
Attendee Name Title  
Andra Ingalls  
Town Councilor  
Tim Ryan Town Councilor  
Bill Saums Town Councilor  
Kevin Dombrowski  
Town Council Chairman  
Mary McGrattan Town Councilor  
Gary Paul Town Councilor  
S. Naomi Rodriguez Town Councilor  
Fred Allyn III  
Mayor  
Matthew Bonin Former Finance Director  
Jim Mann Director of Emergency Mgt/Fire Marshall  
Steve Holyfield Administrator of Emergency Services  
Jon Mann Ledyard Center Fire Chief  
Tony Saccone  
Gales Ferry Fire Chief  
John Rich Police Chief  
Kenneth Creutz Police Captain  
Heather Haddon Animal Control Officer  
Paula Smith Chief of Dispatch  
Ed Lynch Water Pollution Control Authority Chairman  
Steve Banks Wastewater Supervisor  
Karen Goetchuis Administrative Supervisor - Nursing  
Justin Dube MIS Director  
Jason Hartling  
Superintendent of Schools  
Roxanne Maher Administrative Assistant  
IV.  
PRESENTATIONS  
DEPARTMENTS’ PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 BUDGET  
(Please Note: Scheduled times are tentative - The Finance Committee intends to adhere to  
the schedule as noted below)  
12:00 p.m.10120301 Fire Marshal Jim Mann  
Mayor proposed $98,314 an increase of $4,796 or 5.1% over the approved Fiscal  
Year 2022/2023 budget.  
12:05 p.m.10120401 Emergency Management Director Jim Mann  
Mayor proposed $20,450 a decrease of $390 or -1.9% from the approved Fiscal Year  
2022/2023 budget.  
12:10 p.m.10120401 Administrator of Emergency Services Steve Holyfield  
Mayor proposed $469,569 an increase of $27,721 or 6.3% over the  
approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.  
12:15 p.m.10120501 LCFD - Ledyard Center Fire Chief Jon Mann and Administrator  
of Emergency Services Steve Holyfield  
Mayor proposed $126,130 no change from the approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023  
budget.  
12:20 p.m.10120551 GFFD - Gales Ferry Fire Chief Tony Saccone and Administrator  
of Emergency Services Steve Holyfield  
Mayor proposed $215,094 an increase of $11,220 or 5.5% over the approved Fiscal  
Year 2022/2023 budget.  
Councilor Saums thanked the Emergency Services Volunteers for their service to the  
town, noting the training required and their dedication to help the residents during  
very critical situations was of significant value to their community.  
12:30 p.m. 10120105 ACO - Heather Haddon and Police Chief John Rich  
Mayor proposed $99,752 an increase of $20,917 or 26.5% over the approved Fiscal  
Year 2022/2023 budget.  
Police Chief John Rich noted the increases were related to wages, and operational  
costs. He stated the Animal Control Staff and that the ACO Facility was doing well.  
12:35 p.m.Emergency Dispatch Center - Paula Smith and Police Chief John Rich  
Department 10120103 - Mayor proposed $634,801 an increase of $69,816 or 12.4%  
over the approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.  
The Group discussed the budget overrun of the Dispatch Salaries Account, noting  
that the town moved to the Pitman Schedule to alleviate the pressure that was on the  
overtime budget. However, the Pitman Schedule did not seem to be correcting the  
overtime cost issues. It was noted that this was something that they need to continue  
to discuss in the upcoming contract negotiations.  
12:45 p.m.10120101 Police Department Police Chief John Rich and Lieutenant Kenneth  
Creutz  
Mayor proposed $2,751,520 an increase of $58,690 or 2.2% over the approved Fiscal  
Year 2022/2023 budget.  
The Finance Committee and Chief Rich discussed: (1) Overtime costs; (2) Staffing  
and Retirements; (3) Vehicle replacement schedule.  
1:30 p.m. Water Pollution Control Authority Chairman Ed Lynch and Waste Water  
Supervisor Steve Banks  
Chairman Ed Lynch presented a proposed Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Water Operations  
Budget as follows:  
Sewer Operations: $707,027.52 an increase of $19,658.55 or 4.5% over the Fiscal  
Year 2022/2023 Budget.  
Water Operations: $1,518,724.32 no increase over the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget.  
Mr. Lynch and Wastewater Treatment Supervisor Steve Banks noted the following:  
Sewer Operations Budget:  
·
·
Sewer Rate Increase - WPCA Chairman Ed Lynch the WPCA would be increasing  
the sewer rates by 4.5%. He stated in accordance with Section 5 of Ordinance #400-  
001 “An Ordinance Establishing a Water Pollution Control Authority” the WPCA  
would be scheduling a Public Hearing to present the increased rates.  
Account #50190623-56220 Electricity - $50,000 an increase of $5,000. Wastewater  
Supervisor Steve Banks noted that issues continued with the Solar Panel company,  
noting that they were working with the Attorney. Assistance Finance Director Ian  
Stammel noted that the electric credits they were receiving from the solar panels has  
reduced the Wastewater Treatment Plant electrical costs by about $10,000 annually.  
Mr. Banks stated it was his understating that with the solar panels that they were  
supposed to see about a 50% reduction in their electric bills.  
·
·
Account 50190926-5200- Healthcare - $50,564.54 an increase of $5,883.17 with  
bringing an additional employee into the healthcare plan.  
Wastewater Treatment Facility - Wastewater Supervisor Steve Banks thanked the  
Town Council and Mayor for appropriating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)  
Funding for the $99,414.00 for the Sewer Feed Pump System Replacement -  
Highlands Wastewater Treatment Plant. He stated Russel Resources, Inc., C/O Smith  
& Loveless of Maine has delivered the Sewer Feed Pump System Replacement -  
Highlands Wastewater Treatment Plant, and that it would be installed on or about  
May 1, 2023; noting that the feed pump was part of the Ledyard Center Sewer Line  
Extension Project  
·
Ledyard Center Sewer Line Extension Project - WPCA Chairman Ed Lynch  
addressed the Ledyard Center Sewer Line Extension Project noting that the sewer line  
would run from the High School to Ledyard Center (along Route 214/Route 117 to  
Colonel Ledyard Highway) and would construct an estimated 2,450 linear feet of  
sewer line. He stated the sewer line would support additional economic development  
behind the former Ledyard Center School, as well as support existing businesses in  
Ledyard Center. He stated the new Developments would spread the costs to operate  
the Wastewater Treatment Facility over a larger number of sewer customers.  
New Developments - WPCA Chairman Ed Lynch noted that the Planning & Zoning  
Commission has indicated that the Habitat for Humanity 35 - 40 Affordable Homes  
Project planned for Colby Drive would be coming forward soon, noting that Habitat  
for Humanity were finishing up a project in Norwich and would be turning their  
attention this project in Ledyard. He stated the piping would be installed along Route  
117 while they were constructing the Multi-Model Pathway. Therefore, he stated to  
avoid tearing up a newly paved road that he would like to have the T and Stub  
installed for the Colby Drive Project.  
·
·
Water Operations Budget:  
Water Operations: $1,518,724.32 no increase over the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget.  
·
·
Groton Utilities Water Operations Contract - WPCA Chairman Ed Lynch stated the  
town entered into a new three-year contract with Groton Utilities and that the cost  
decreased.  
Water Purchase Agreement - Mr. Lynch explained that the Water Purchase  
Agreement was separate from the price of water.  
ü Account #50501663-54110 Route 12 - $257,576 no change  
ü Account #50501663-54115 Route 117 - $252,514 no change  
·
·
Account #50590991-59305 $130,000 - Capital Non-Recurring Account - Councilor  
Saums stated that he was pleased that the WPCA has again this year allocated  
$130,000 to their Capital Non-Recurring Account for future maintenance costs.  
Ledyard Center Water Storage Tank Maintenance - WPCA Chairman Ed Lynch  
stated the Contractor has been hired to paint the roof of the Route 117 Water Storage  
Tank, noting that the work was scheduled to start work in April or May. He also  
stated the WPCA has the funding to pain the top of Water Storage Tank set aside in  
their Capital Account  
·
Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA) Well in Ledyard Center - WPCA  
Chairman Ed Lynch stated that SCWA was looking to add a new SCWA Ledyard  
Division Well that would be located across the street from the Ledyard Center Water  
Storage Tank. He explained that the State required that SCWA control a 150-foot  
radius around each well; which would come onto town property where the Route 117  
Ledyard Center Water Storage Tank was located. He stated the WPCA has requested  
a meeting with the Department of Public Health (DPH); however, he stated to-date  
they have not heard back from DPH to schedule a meeting. He stated the WPCA  
questioned why the Department of Public Health (DPH) would approve an expansion  
of SCWA’s existing failing well in the shadow of Ledyard’s Water Storage Tank for  
a number of reasons. Chairman Dombrowski stated the Town Council has not  
received a formal request from SCWA.  
Councilor Saums stated per Ordinance #400-001 that “The Town Council shall  
approve the water system budget. This shall be provided to the residents at the  
Annual Town Meeting on the budget.” He explained although the Town Council was  
interested in the Sewer Operations Budget that per the Ordinance that the Town  
Council was not required to approve the Sewer Operations Budget, noting that it was  
provided for informational purposes only.  
1:40 p.m. 10130101 Visiting Nurse Association Department- Administrative  
Supervisor Karen Goetchuis  
Mayor proposed $785,600 a decrease of $57,042 or -6.8% from the approved Fiscal Year  
2022/2023 budget.  
10130103 -School Nursing Department  
Mayor proposed $332,476 an increase of $18,270 or 5.2% over the approved Fiscal Year  
2022/2023 budget.  
1:50 p.m. MIS Director Justin Dube  
Department 10112151 Management Information Systems( MIS) Justin Dube  
Mayor proposed $342,332 an increase of $4,619 or 1.4% over the approved Fiscal  
Year 2022/2023 budget.  
Mr. Dube noted that the MIS Department Budget included contracts/licenses for the  
various software platforms the town used such as the Munis Financial Software,  
Granicus/Legistar Meeting Portal; Land Use software along with other operational  
expenses.  
eFax - The Finance Committee asked Mr. Dube to look into replacing fax machines  
with efax from local multifunction copier/printer/scanner. MIS Director Justin Dube  
stated that they previously changed from the fax machines to efax; however, he stated  
after a year the company significantly increased the cost. Superintendent of Schools  
Jason Hartling noted that the Board of Education has been pleased with the efax  
company they have been using and that he would share the vendor information with  
Mr. Dube.  
2:00 p.m. Budget Work  
During the work sessions the Finance Committee asked questions about line items in  
each budget category. The Committee also explained to each Department that should  
there be any changes in State Revenues proposed by the Governor’s Budget, that  
they may want to meet again with the Finance Committee to offer alternatives,  
suggestions and recommendations as the Finance Committee works to put forwarded  
a recommended Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget.  
The Committee commented that as they have been working thru the Budget Work  
Sessions that they were pleased to see that Department Heads worked to off-set  
General Government contractual increases with reductions in other expenses to find  
efficiencies. They also noted that it was apparent that the Mayor and his staff were  
well prepared to answer the Committee’s questions and that they appreciated the  
level of detail they provided.  
Councilor Saums stated the Finance Committee would reserve their review of the  
Capital Improvement Plan to their March 20, 2023 Budget Work Session.  
IV  
ADJOURNMENT  
The Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget Work Session adjourned at 2:15 p.m.  
Respectfully submitted,  
William D. Saums  
Committee Chairman  
Finance Committee  
DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the  
Town.