First regular meeting of new BOS ends with party-line vote on charter revision

The Woodbridge Board of Selectmen (BOS) held its first regular meeting of the new term on Wednesday, January 14, addressing a wide range of planning, financial, and operational matters before a prolonged and contentious debate over the Charter Revision Commission closed the evening.

The meeting, held at Town Hall and live-streamed on WGATV, opened with routine updates that reflected the early administrative work of a newly seated board. Tensions rose later in the meeting as Selectmen disagreed over the composition of the Charter Revision Commission, which had been initiated at a special meeting the previous week.

Planning and POCD updates

Town Planner Mike D’Amato of Tyche Planning and Policy Group, who attended the meeting virtually, provided an update on ongoing planning efforts, including implementation of the recently adopted Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). D’Amato outlined next steps related to housing, land use, and regulatory alignment, noting that much of the work ahead will involve translating policy goals into ordinance and zoning updates.

Public comment

Public comment was held as scheduled at 6:00 p.m. At the outset of the comment period, First Selectman Mica Cardozo read a statement outlining new expectations and limitations for public comment, including time limits and standards for respectful speech, referencing board policy.

During public comment, residents raised a range of issues, including concerns about the newly read public comment statement, questions about housing and development policy, and calls for greater coordination among town commissions as the newly adopted POCD begins to guide future planning decisions. Additional comments emphasized the importance of transparency and public trust at the outset of the new Board’s term.

Town Plan and Zoning Commission update

As a separate agenda item, Town Plan and Zoning (TPZ) Commission Chair Jeff Kennedy provided a commission update. Kennedy echoed themes raised in the Town Planner’s presentation, emphasizing coordination between the commission’s work plan and the priorities laid out in the POCD as implementation moves forward.

Fire apparatus purchase moves forward

One of the evening’s major action items involved the proposed purchase of a new aerial fire apparatus for the Woodbridge Fire Department. Fire Chief Sean Rowland outlined the need for the vehicle, which would replace aging equipment and enhance firefighting and rescue capabilities.

The Board approved both a bid waiver and a financing approach, allowing the purchase process to move forward pending review through the upcoming annual budget process and input from the Board of Finance. Selectmen cited operational necessity and timing considerations in their discussion.

Financial reporting and audit results

Later in the meeting, Tony Genovese, the Town’s Administrative Officer and Director of Finance, presented the monthly financial report and reviewed funding requests before turning to the results of the Town’s FY25 audit. The audit reflected continued financial stability, with no material weaknesses reported. Selectmen asked clarifying questions but took no additional action beyond acceptance of the report.

Town Counsel update

Town Counsel Nick Bamonte provided an update on two ongoing legal matters involving the Town, focusing primarily on the Open Communities litigation and land-use issues. Bamonte reported that the Open Communities case remains in the discovery phase, with the Town continuing to review and produce documents for the plaintiffs. He noted that plaintiffs had already conducted 13 depositions, with several additional depositions of Town officials anticipated over the coming months. Based on the current schedule, Bamonte indicated that the case is unlikely to be ready for substantive court argument for approximately a year.

He further explained that issues related to 804 Fountain Street intersect with the broader Open Communities litigation and outlined remaining regulatory steps for that project, including permit conditions and review by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) due to the site’s proximity to state roads.

Bamonte recommended that the Board consider holding a joint executive session with the TPZ Commission and the Town’s special counsel to allow for a more comprehensive discussion of both pending cases and related planning considerations. No formal action was taken following the update.

BOS subcommittee appointments

As part of its organizational business, the Board finalized appointments to its internal subcommittees.

- Ordinance Committee: Maria Madonick, Amey Marrella, Steve Munno
- Personnel Committee: Mica Cardozo, Lauren Franchese, Andrea Urbano
- Strategic Plan Committee: Mica Cardozo, Maria Madonick, Amey Marrella

Cardozo noted that he typically does not participate in Ordinance Committee meetings to avoid creating a quorum, but will continue as a member of the Personnel and Strategic Plan committees. No formal vote was taken, and the assignments were agreed to by consensus.

Charter Revision Commission appointments

The meeting’s most contentious discussion arose during consideration of appointments to the Charter Revision Commission.

Minority-party Selectmen Amey Marrella and Andrea Urbano raised concerns about the slate of seven individuals put forward by the majority party, nominated by First Selectman Mica Cardozo and seconded by Deputy First Selectman Steve Munno. They noted that they had provided three names in advance with the expectation that those nominees would be individually considered. Marrella stated that the minority had brought those names “in good faith,” with a focus on qualifications. She emphasized that they were not seeking control of the commission but were asking for meaningful consideration of their nominees for the three seats required by state statute to be filled by non-majority party members.

As debate intensified, the Board took an extended recess. When the meeting resumed, Cardozo announced that a compromise had been reached regarding one of the disputed seats. Despite that adjustment, disagreement persisted over the remaining seats and the broader process used to assemble the commission.

Following further discussion, the Board proceeded to a vote. The motion to appoint the seven nominees advanced by Cardozo and Munno passed on party lines, with all four Democrats voting in favor and the remaining two Selectmen voting against.

As a result of this vote, the following individuals were formally seated as members of the Charter Revision Commission: Cynthia Anger, Nicole Donzello, Melissa Durso, Susan Jacobs, Jeffrey Ginzberg, B. Pat Madden, and David Vogel.

The Board concluded the meeting by approving the consent agenda, including meeting minutes and tax refunds.

Looking ahead

With the Charter Revision Commission now appointed, the commission is expected to begin its work in the coming weeks, alongside continued BOS attention to planning implementation, capital projects, and its own subcommittee work. The new term, now fully underway, moves into joint budget planning sessions with the Board of Finance through the remainder of the month.

Meeting notices for the joint budget meetings will appear in advance on the town website’s Agenda Center page. BOS meetings are open to the public and streamed live on the Town’s YouTube channel, WGATV79. Click below to watch the full recording of the January 14 meeting.