Board Watch: Strategic planning, budget recommendation move forward in special meetings

Board Watch is a recurring feature designed to provide a concise walk-through of activity as we keep track of the week’s civic work. Longer-form articles will appear when issues warrant deeper coverage.

Woodbridge’s Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance each held special meetings last week, advancing two major pieces of town business: the Board of Selectmen’s draft strategic plan and the FY27 budget recommendation heading to the Annual Town Meeting.

Board of Selectmen reviews strategic plan draft — April 29, 2026

At its April 29 special meeting, the Board of Selectmen continued work on a draft strategic plan intended to guide the board through the remainder of its current term.

The draft plan was described as both an internal management tool and a public-facing framework for setting priorities. Selectman Maria Madonick said the planning committee — consisting of Selectman Amey Marrella, First Selectman Mica Cardozo, and herself — had met three times to begin assembling the document, drawing from the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development, prior planning efforts, and projects already underway.

Much of the meeting focused on the plan’s first theme: protecting natural assets while planning for responsible growth. Board members discussed language around affordable housing, diverse housing options, accessory dwelling units, potential tax incentives, a Housing Trust Fund, and the town’s required planning obligations under Public Act 25-1.

Members also discussed how Woodbridge should coordinate with regional and local entities — including SCROG, the Housing Commission, and statewide municipal organizations — as the state housing law moves toward implementation. A recurring theme was how to balance housing planning with the town’s environmental, agricultural, and watershed priorities.

The board also discussed town-owned land, including how to evaluate which parcels may be appropriate for housing and which should be preserved. Members noted that conversations with nonprofit housing partners could proceed alongside local review by boards, commissions, and the public.

The discussion of town-owned land included the former Country Club of Woodbridge (CCW) property, where a clearer point of disagreement emerged. Marrella questioned the status and clarity of the plan itself as it relates to the property, while Cardozo asserted that the plan was already sufficiently developed and informed by prior input, describing it as effectively complete. That characterization was not shared by all members. The discussion shifted as members suggested that the strategic plan focus more narrowly on advancing the initial steps outlined in the CCW plan as Year One and Year Two actions, consistent with the strategic plan’s timeline, which runs through the end of the current BOS terms on December 31, 2027.

Later in the meeting, the discussion turned to economic development and the business district. Proposed action items included hiring an economic development director if approved in the budget, strengthening communication with local businesses, developing a business support “toolkit,” and coordinating with ongoing Economic Development Commission initiatives.

During discussion of next steps, Selectman Lauren Franchise expressed concern that some members of the public believe there is no clear plan in place — a perception that reflects on the board’s ability to communicate its work effectively. She noted the importance “as soon as possible to make sure that we begin to share… what is taking shape.” The board agreed that the draft Strategic Plan be made publicly available for review and comment. (Editor’s note: As of publication, the draft plan has not yet been posted on the town website — check for future updates on the BOS’s Strategic Plan page.)

Click below to watch the full recording of the April 29, 2026 BOS meeting.

Board of Finance sends FY27 budget to Annual Town Meeting — April 30, 2026

The Board of Finance met the following evening, April 30, to review comments from the Preliminary Budget Hearing, consider any final FY27 adjustments, and make its recommendation to the Annual Town Meeting.

There were no public comments at the special meeting itself. Board members noted that while the earlier budget hearing included limited comment directly on the operating budget, several speakers raised broader concerns about revenue assumptions, long-term debt, and capital planning.

Members discussed uncertainty around potential additional state education funding and whether any late state action after the Annual Town Meeting could affect local revenue or the mill rate. Administrative Officer and Finance Director Tony Genovese noted that unless specific authorization is provided, any additional funds received after the town budget vote would likely flow to fund balance rather than reduce tax bills already set.

The board also revisited longer-term capital pressures, including how to prepare for future debt service tied to major projects. Discussion included possible use of fund balance, internal borrowing concepts, and the challenge of balancing near-term taxpayer impact with longer-term obligations.

Members acknowledged that the most significant debt impacts are expected in future years rather than FY27, and agreed that the issue should remain a focus of ongoing financial planning discussions.

As a final adjustment, the board approved a net-zero budget modification within the Human Services Department, reallocating $12,792 from professional services to part-time wages to support a new in-house culinary program at the Woodbridge Center. Genovese then summarized the budget figures to be recommended to the Annual Town Meeting:

• Total expenditures: $62,277,237
• Non-tax revenues: $4,924,157
• Amount to be raised by taxes: $57,353,080
• Real estate and personal property mill rate: 34.02
• Motor vehicle mill rate: 32.46

The board voted unanimously to recommend the FY27 budget as described to the Annual Town Meeting on May 18, 2026 as the final step in the budgets approval process.

Click below to watch the full recording of the April 30, 2026 BOF meeting.