Posted to Beth Heller's First Selectman's Column by - 30 -
As January turns into February, I’d like to take the opportunity to share with you some observations on my journey so far as your First Selectman.
As I stepped into office just over six months ago, I had three top priorities for my work on behalf of all the people of Woodbridge.
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Posted to First Selectman Report by Alison Valsamis
Dear Neighbors,
?At our recent Earth Day Celebration, a young Woodbridge resident joined other community members in touring Town Hall. Once back outside, I’m told she asked her parents, “Does Mica live here?”
It feels that way some days…in the best possible way.
There is so much we want to accomplish to ensure that our Town nurtures new sources of economic growth to support the high-quality services we currently offer and to make long-deferred improvements.
As a slide shown at the recent Preliminary Budget Meeting illustrated, funding for Town activities (excluding education) grew only about 11% over the past eight years. Yet, inflation went up almost three times faster.
We continue to work to control costs, but to continue to offer the range of services our community expects without more significant tax increases we must grow our business activity and housing.
And if I have to live at the Town Hall to make that happen, I am more than happy to have at it... |
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Years ago, Woodbridge employed a dedicated Town Planner.
Our planner's role was to offer the focused attention and expert guidance needed to move economic development from vague aspirations to actionable reality.
We have not had this position or resource for over 20 years now.
Our goals now require bringing that expertise back to the community.
But this time, instead of an individual, we will engage an advisory firm with experience and success in towns across Connecticut.
This firm will work with Town leadership, the Town Plan and Zoning (TPZ), the Economic Development Commission (EDC), and other town agencies and resources to identify realistic strategies for growth at the intersection of planning, economic development, and housing in strategic areas of our Town. |
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On Monday, May 20th, at 7:30 PM at Amity Regional High School (25 Newton Road), we will hold our Annual Town Meeting.
This will be an additional opportunity for community members to ask questions publicly about the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget.
As you know, the proposed $58.3 million budget represents a 3.6% increase over the prior year, with nearly two-thirds of this funding for our exceptional schools.
At the meeting, we will highlight a few of the ways that we will leverage grants to help boost long-term economic growth and vitality in our community.
I hope you will join us. |
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U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Amity Regional High School as the 19th-best high school in the state and among the top 4% of high schools in the country.
Last Spring, the Woodbridge School District ranked first among comparable Connecticut districts in reading comprehension and math skills based on annual student assessments.
Beyond bragging rights, how much do these rankings really matter?
That is for each of us to decide. For me they reflect the ongoing commitment of our teachers and administrators to excellence, our parents to ensuring the best possible education for their children, our students to working hard, and our community to the value of a strong public education system.
They also offer an opportunity to recognize and review where and how we can improve. |
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OUR COUNTRY CLUB PROPERTY |
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The Board of Selectmen is close to deciding on a partner to assist us in creating a comprehensive Master Plan for the 155-acre former Country Club of Woodbridge property.
It is a unique asset in many respects, including that it is among the very few properties across our community with access to municipal water and sewers.
We are also looking at how the Town will pay the advisor.
We have earmarked funds for this purpose, and to ensure the funding is sufficient, we have applied for a state grant and feel confident about our proposal.
?If approved, we will move ahead with securing the full scope of what our partner will have to offer. |
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CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY ? ?I began this report with an anecdote from our April 27th Earth Day Celebration.
I’ll now take the opportunity to thank the members of the Sustainability Committee for their exceptional work in organizing a day that combined environmental awareness and learning with the very best type of community engagement.
The Earth Day Celebration provided us all with an opportunity to visit with friends and neighbors, enjoy good food and beverages, and better equip ourselves to be positive stewards of a rapidly changing planet.
We are proud of what was accomplished:
- The BRS Green Team collected hundreds of clothing items and rehomed at least 567 items in our community before donating the remainder to area charities.
- Proshred shredded approximately 4500 pounds of material during the Woodbridge Earth Day event.
- Mattress Recycling Coalition collected 26 mattresses and a box spring, diverting approximately 1160 pounds of waste from trash.
- Woodbridge Lions collected 75 eyeglasses and 24 cell phones.
- Take2 Electronics and Baystate collected approximately 1,100 pounds of printers, computers, televisions, miscellaneous electronic devices, and textiles that otherwise may have been brought to our Transfer Station.
- Dog/pet Freecycle collected and rehomed countless items.
- Religious organizations in town took in many donations for their charitable efforts and spread the word of where items can be donated year-round.
- Goodwill collected 11 blue crates of textiles and housewares and numerous pieces of furniture filling a large box truck.
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