Board of Selectmen Discuss Motor Vehicle Tax Option, Senior Tax Relief, and Next Steps for Country Club Property

At a special meeting held Wednesday October 29, 2025, the Board of Selectmen reviewed several fiscal policy issues and discussed potential next steps regarding the former Country Club of Woodbridge (CCW) property.

Motor Vehicle Assessment Option

Town Assessor Marcia Beno explained a new state law allowing municipalities to adjust the motor vehicle depreciation schedule from 85% to 90% of MSRP, potentially raising tax revenue by roughly $179,000 (about 0.1 mill). Selectmen discussed that while the potential change would have little overall impact on the town budget it could slightly increase individual vehicle tax bills. The Board took no action and asked that the Board of Finance also review the option in November to provide input before the Selectmen decide whether to proceed or not.

Senior Tax Credit and Stabilization Programs

Selectmen next discussed the town’s existing senior tax relief program, which currently assists about 91 households with $133,000 in annual credits, within a $190,000 budget allocation. Selectmen considered raising both the income limits and credit amounts to reflect inflation and potentially include more residents. Options ranged from modest increases to a potential $300,000 cap, pending further analysis by staff.

In addition, Selectmen revisited an earlier idea proposed years ago to the Ordinance Committee: creating a separate tax stabilization or “freeze” program for seniors based on age and years of residency rather than income. The concept would allow property taxes to be frozen at a certain level and deferred until the property transfers, helping older residents age in place by providing predictability on fixed incomes. While the Selectmen noted the program’s potential benefits for longtime homeowners, they also recognized that past financial models of this option raised concerns about overall cost and equity. The Selectmen agreed to continue exploring the idea while focusing first on modernizing the existing income-based program, with further discussion planned for a joint session with the Board of Finance in November.

Country Club of Woodbridge Master Plan

The Board also discussed “next steps” following delivery of the CCW Master Plan. Town Counsel clarified that any sale or long-term lease of town property must go before a Special Town Meeting, and noted that the Board of Selectmen appears to have the authority to refer such an item from the town meeting agenda to a machine-vote at referendum, if it decides to take this action.

Selectmen discussed how and when residents should weigh in on the overall Plan, and identified possible “quick wins,” such as invasive-species management and community use of the open land, versus larger, costlier steps that might require bonding and public approval.

The conversation grew spirited as Board members differed on interpretations of the Plan and its potential financial projections. While the need for “positive action” and community engagement was stressed, the importance of more detailed focus on fiscal details was also noted as vital steps before advancing any development proposals. The Selectmen agreed to involve the Board of Finance in reviewing the Plan’s financial assumptions as one next step, and will revisit the overall discussion at a future meeting.

The meeting was adjourned shortly after 9:00 PM. The Selectmen’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Central Meeting Room. As usual, a meeting notice will appear in advance, as a listing on the town website’s Agenda Center page. BOS meetings are open to the public and streamed live on the Town’s YouTube channel, WAGTV79. Click below to watch the full meeting recording, below.

Editor’s note: This recap is written by Sheila McCreven in her role as editor of the Chronicle. Sheila is also an elected member of the Board of Selectmen (her term ends December 31, 2025). See the Editorial Note on Government Coverage on our About page to learn more.