Hello Neighbors and Friends,
I have now been your new First Selectman for about 15 days and, along with your new Board of Selectmen, have hit the ground running.
In less than three weeks, your Board, which includes re-elected Selectmen Sheila McCreven and David Vogel, and newly elected Selectmen Maria Madonick, Andrea Urbano, and Steve Munno, have been sworn-in, had two Special Meetings, their first regular board meeting and an important Special Town Meeting. We have approved bond funding for the much-needed project to replace a portion of the roof at Beecher Road School and care for drainage and grounds issues at the school.
We have appointed and re-appointed over 30 board and commission members, and I want to thank our neighbors that are serving or have served on a town board or commission. Our board and commission volunteers play a crucial role in our governance of our town.
The Board also approved my nomination of Steve Munno as our Deputy First Selectman. Congratulations, Steve.
Next, we turn our attention to the budget process. By this time next month in combined meetings with our Board of Finance, we will have met with the various town department heads who will present their requested operating budgets for consideration. I expect this will be a challenging year with two labor agreements negotiated and a third in progress. This process is open and transparent, and as Beth Heller emphasized before me, you are invited and encouraged to engage and participate in the process.
In other news, I have initiated a search for a new Town Attorney as our long-time Town Counsel, Gerry Weiner, will be retiring. Gerry has been an integral part of Woodbridge Town government for many years, and I thank Gerry for his advice, guidance, and critical service to our town. Gerry is assisting in our search and will remain as Town Counsel until we complete our selection process.
Working with our Finance Director, Tony Genovese, I have also opened and started a review of the Country Club of Woodbridge property RFP responses. We have shared the information portion of the responses with the Board of Selectmen for their review and consideration.
We will also make this information available to the public. The financials will be discussed in executive session to ensure we do not compromise our ability to negotiate should we wish to.
This January has already brought more rain and New England winter weather than last January, and I thank our Public Works crews for their dedication and excellent work in responding.
It has truly been an amazing two weeks. I thank our staff and employees at Town Hall and throughout the Town for your warm welcome and support. I am honored to serve you as First Selectman and am grateful to have your support.
I hope to meet as many of you as possible in the coming weeks.
Mica Cardozo
First Selectman
(203) 389-3401