Board Watch: Special meeting of the Selectmen followed by joint session with TPZ

Board of Selectmen Special Meeting  – March 25, 2026

The Board of Selectmen convened a focused special meeting on March 25 at 5:00 PM, moving quickly through a limited agenda before transitioning into a joint session with the Town Plan & Zoning Commission (TPZ) beginning at 6:30 PM.

The Board began the evening by making several appointments, including designating the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal as burn officials, formalizing their roles in overseeing controlled burns and related permitting. 

The Board also took action on appointments to its Investment Committee and discussed its composition, as well as how to ensure the Selectmen are well informed as the committee continues its role overseeing the town’s investment strategy and financial stewardship.

Budget advisory committee discussion

The Selectmen then considered the formation of a proposed Board of Finance (BOF) Budget Advisory Committee. The discussion focused on how such a committee might function as a collaborative forum between the Selectmen and BOF members during the budget development process.

Topics included the scope of the committee’s role, how members would be selected, and whether the group would provide early input on budget priorities, including potential policy tools such as a homestead exemption.

The conversation reflected an interest in improving coordination and transparency in the town’s budget process, while also raising questions about how advisory recommendations would be integrated into formal decision-making structures. The discussion concluded without formal action, with First Selectman Mica Cardozo noting that the Board of Finance chairman is expected to place the concept on an upcoming BOF agenda for further consideration.

Police renovation building committee

The most substantive discussion centered on establishing a Police Renovation Building Committee. The proposed structure includes five voting members, with additional non-voting participants, and initial appointments drawn from the Police Commission.

Board members raised questions about the draft charge, including the need for clearer definition of:

• Authority and reporting structure
• Financial oversight and invoice approval
• Procurement processes and consultant selection

The discussion reflected a broader interest in ensuring transparency and clear governance, particularly in light of recent building committee experience. The Board indicated a willingness to move forward with initial appointments while continuing to refine the committee charge, taking preliminary steps without finalizing the committee’s structure.

Additional agenda items included updates from the Commission on the Use of Publicly Owned Properties (CUPOP), Town Counsel, and the Strategic Plan Committee, as well as approval of the consent agenda, including prior meeting minutes and property use requests.

Joint meeting of BOS and TPZ – March 25, 2026

At 6:30 PM, the Board of Selectmen joined the Town Plan & Zoning Commission, along with representatives from multiple town boards and commissions, for a working discussion on housing-related regulatory changes (see agenda).

The session focused on updates required to local zoning regulations under Public Act 25-1 (formerly House Bill 8002), including revisions to the town’s opportunity housing regulations and expanded coordination between local boards on planning and development matters.

Opportunity housing refers to zoning approaches intended to expand housing options by allowing a broader range of housing types, including smaller homes and multi-unit dwellings. In Woodbridge, discussion centers on how these provisions would apply within existing commercial and mixed-use zones — particularly along the Route 63 business corridor — including the potential for mixed-use development that combines housing with existing business uses.

The discussion was framed around aligning the town’s Plan of Conservation & Development, existing zoning regulations, and state guidance, with a goal of meeting a July 1, 2026 deadline for compliance.

No formal votes were taken during the joint session. The meeting served as an initial step in what is expected to be an ongoing process of regulatory review and revision.

Click below to watch the full recording of the March 25, 2026 combined special meeting of the BOS and joint meeting with TPZ.