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Waterford board approves $20,000 police transfer, vehicle sale and adopts selectmen budget after debate over fire-services adviser
Summary
The Board of Selectmen approved a $20,000 FY26 transfer for the police department, authorized sale of a 2014 Chevy Caprice (VIN 6G3NS5R34EL958190), and adopted the board's FY26 budget after discussion of a $2,000 consultant for fire-services advising and elected-official pay.
The Waterford Board of Selectmen on Jan. 20 approved a series of fiscal actions including an out-of-series FY26 transfer of $20,000 to the police department, voted to dispose of a 2014 Chevy Caprice via GovDeals, and adopted the Board of Selectmen's proposed FY26 budget after extended discussion.
The board approved the FY26 transfer requested on behalf of Police Chief Mark Balstraasi in the amount of $20,000 to cover fuel, replacements, ammunition and ballistic protection costs and to carry the department through the rest of the fiscal year. Board members questioned why the budget used a $2.20-per-gallon fuel assumption given current prices; staff explained the budget guideline and noted the town locked in a higher rate after budget adoption.
Separately, the board approved a motion to dispose of asset #101275 (a 2014 Chevy Caprice, VIN 6G3NS5R34EL958190; Car 29, mileage 126,610) via GovDeals auction. Members discussed whether to reassign the vehicle temporarily as a courier car and reviewed options for pulling hybrid vehicles from other departments; staff said replacements and interdepartmental transfers must follow normal approval steps.
On the budget, the board affirmed a largely flat Board of Selectmen spending plan. A substantive portion of the exchange focused on a small consulting budget item: the First Selectman described a $2,000 line to hire an experienced, external fire-services adviser to mentor the new fire services director, calling it "the best $2,000 I probably could commit to" and framing it as executive support rather than a shift of recurring responsibility to consultants. The board discussed whether that expense should come from the first selectman's budget or from the fire department budget; the First Selectman said the expense is in his office budget because he is ultimately responsible for director support.
A member raised the larger question of elected-official compensation; the First Selectman said pay for elected positions falls under the RTM's jurisdiction and offered to compile a comparables survey for the board or to deliver a request to the RTM moderator for review.
The board also accepted a routine tax-refund item, approved Jan. 6 meeting minutes and adjourned.
Votes on these items were taken by voice; the $20,000 transfer recorded an exchange in which a tally of "Five" was noted in the discussion.
