Where We Stand On Local Issues

Scroll below to read more about,

  • Woodbury Charter Revisions
  • Changes at the Transfer Station to reduce waste, and
  • Ballot measure on November 5, 2024 ballot

Woodbury Charter Revisions

The Woodbury Democratic Town Committee supports the following recommendations for updates to the Town Charter, currently under review by the Charter Revision Commission:

Expand the Board of Selectmen from 3 to 5 members to increase representation for Woodbury residents. The benefits for the town include:

  • Two more selectmen to listen to, consider, and advocate for issues and concerns.
  • Individual selectmen’s time and effort would be re-distributed so that each could focus more productively on specific issues.
  • Individual selectmen could serve as ex-officio members on other town boards to reduce what has been called the “silo effect’ and promote greater cohesiveness in municipal operations.
  • Added oversight of the multiple Town projects, such as new/improved facilities for several departments, sidewalk replacement, waste removal, improved communications, the Plan of Conservation and Development.

The only downside is that it would probably cost an extra $10,000. That is .025% of the current budget and about $19 extra in annual taxes for a $500,000 homeowner.

Retain and amend the current Section 402B, which currently reads: Town Employees.

The Board of Selectmen shall have the power to hire, establish the working conditions of, promote, discipline, suspend, and dismiss all persons employed by the Town, either full or part-time, except as otherwise specified in this Charter. Where personnel policies and rules are adopted, per Section 502, the Board shall follow policies and rules to exercise this power. The Board may delegate this power wholly or partly to the First Selectman and/or to the heads of departments.

Amend 402B by replacing the last sentence with: ‘The Board may delegate this power to the First Selectman after reviewing and approving a hiring recommendation by the Head of the hiring Department.

The First Selectman’s proposal to replace “Board of Selectmen” with “First Selectman” would eliminate any checks and balances in the hiring process and open the door to possible abuses like favoritism. The Woodbury DTC opposes this proposal.

  • Woodbury residents are encouraged to attend the Charter Revision Commission meetings.
  • The meeting calendar and minutes can be found here.

Changes at the Transfer Station to reduce waste:

The Woodbury Democratic Town Committee also supports the Waste Reduction program, first implemented as a pilot program in February 2023 (with a grant from DEEP) and finally implemented as
a permanent program on July 1, 2024.

The intent of this Pay As You Throw (PAYT) program is to reduce household garbage hauled (possibly out of state) by encouraging recycling (as required by CT State Law), composting food waste, and charging for trash bags.

The cost of the bags, which can be purchased at Ace Hardware in Woodbury and LaBonne’s Markets (in Woodbury and Watertown), pays for hauling the trash. Purchased bags are optional for food waste. Recycling is bagless.

With this newly implemented transfer station program, where does Woodbury’s trash, food waste, and recycling currently go?

  • Food waste is taken to Southington to an anaerobic digester, turning it into electricity and fed into the grid.
  • Recycling is taken to Waterbury and sold on consignment.
  • Trash is hauled …to where??? <<<Need to get this info>>>
  • Three-year Transfer Station stickers are now available at zero cost to Woodbury residents. They can be obtained at the Selectmen’s and the Tax Collector’s offices with your proof of residency and CT license plate numbers.

For Frequently Asked Questions, ‘What do I do with,’ and additional information, visit here.

Check Why Compost on the Conservation Commission page to learn more about Home Composting.

Ballot measure on November 5, 2024 ballot.

The Woodbury DTC supports the ‘no-excuse’ absentee ballot change to the Connecticut Constitution. The question of amending the state constitution to allow for no-excuse absentee ballots will be presented to voters on the November 5th ballot.

Note: We will update this page with the wording on the November 5th ballot when it becomes available.

Currently, absentee ballots are available to voters who cannot appear at their assigned polling
place on Election Day due to one of the following reasons:

  • Active service in the military
  • Absence from the town in which you are eligible to vote
  • Illness
  • Religious tenets that forbid secular activity on the day of the election
  • Duties as an election official at a polling place other than your own during all of the hours of voting
  • Physical disability

Grants

In June, the Board of Selectmen adopted a policy/procedure for seeking and administering grants available from public and private sources. The Woodbury Democratic Town Committee supports the Board of Selectmen’s efforts to increase its commitment to finding and using grants that offset taxes and improve the Town. It encourages citizens to help identify such grants.

Emergency Communications Upgrade

Unlike several towns in our area, Woodbury failed to apply for/receive any federal money for an overhaul of its emergency communications system, which will be done by Motorola. Unless the administration can find other grants, the plan is to spread the $1,500,000 cost over three years. This year, if the First Selectman declares an emergency need, the Board of Finance could use $500,000 from the Town’s Unassigned Fund Balance. Then, in each of the next two fiscal years, there would be a budgeted appropriation of $500,000 funded by tax dollars. The Woodbury Democratic Town Committee wants residents to be aware of and prepared for this situation.