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Selectmen clear small unpaid invoices; debate over waiving fee for large taxpayer
Summary
Waterford selectmen approved cancelling roughly $300 in uncollectible inspection/event invoices (three $100 items) and debated treating one invoice as an in-kind waiver because the payer donates to town events and provides facility use; the board agreed to document the rationale and table any rewritten language for the third item if needed.
The Board of Selectmen voted to clear a package of small, uncollectible invoices and discussed whether a large taxpayer’s fee should be treated as in-kind because of donations and facility use.
Finance Director Kim Allen described three small invoices recommended for cancellation: $100 (FY24) from Connecticut Street Warriors, $100 (FY25) from D'Cor Construction LLC for a plan review on a job that will not be completed, and $100 (FY25) from "Mini Nuclear Connecticut," which the fire services director recommended be treated as in-kind because the payer donates to town events and provides use of a training facility. "It is just debt that is owed to the town for various inspections that were done by the department employees that we find and feel that it's going to be uncollectible," Kim Allen said.
Board members questioned how consistently waivers would be applied and asked for documentation of any in-kind arrangements. One selectman said he was uncomfortable if waivers were offered based solely on tax status: "How do you delineate? ... can those that afford it the most get the fees waived and then those that can't afford it the most, right?" Another selectman noted the donations and facility use (including a reported $20,000 summer music donation) as the basis for the director's recommendation to treat the service as in-kind.
Members discussed whether to add the oral explanation to the minutes for transparency. A motion was proposed to approve the first two invoice cancellations and table the third item for rewrite and later consideration; after further discussion the board proceeded to vote and cleared the listed invoices as presented. The transcript records members responding 'I' when the Chair called the vote; the board also agreed staff would add clarifying language to the minutes or consider the third item at the next meeting.
The invoices are small amounts and staff said larger unpaid balances are pursued through collections or small claims when warranted. The board did not record a roll-call tally on the record for this vote; follow-up was requested to document the in-kind arrangement’s rationale in the minutes.
