Board Watch: Wetlands advances farming proposal at 27 Beecher; Finance board eyes future tax policy as major capital projects loom

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.

Inland Wetlands Agency — June 17, 2026 

The Inland Wetlands Agency's June 17 meeting was dominated by two continuing matters involving 27 Beecher Road: the postponement of a scheduled continuation of the public hearing on the proposed 100-unit affordable housing development, and the agency's continued review of a farming exemption-related wetlands crossing request on the same property (see agenda).

The agency had been scheduled to continue its previously opened public hearing on the proposed 100-unit affordable housing development at 27 Beecher Road. However, members were advised at the start of the meeting that the required legal notice for the continuation hearing had not been properly published, requiring the hearing to be canceled and rescheduled. The hearing concerns wetlands-related aspects of the proposed development, including parking areas, stormwater management, and grading (see WTC articles January 26, 2026 and April 20, 2026).

The agency subsequently scheduled a special meeting and public hearing for July 15 at 7:30 p.m. to continue consideration of the apartment housing application.

The agency also resumed consideration of a previously submitted request by property owner Darius Iwaskiewicz seeking a jurisdictional determination that a temporary timber-mat wetlands crossing and related agricultural activities qualified as an as-of-right farming use.

The proposal would allow access to upland areas for removal of trees, management of invasive species, and restoration of cropland. The matter generated extensive deliberation by agency members, intervenors Walden Dillaway and Peter Morgan, their attorney, and expert witnesses regarding whether the activity qualified as an as-of-right farming use and whether it should be considered independently from the broader development plans proposed for the property.

Following discussion, the agency voted 4-0, with one abstention, to grant the requested as-of-right determination. The motion approved a temporary wetlands crossing within the utility easement area and clearing activities associated with the proposed farming use. Agency members emphasized that any excavation, stump removal, filling, dredging, or other regulated activity would require a separate wetlands permit and further review by the agency.

In other Inland Wetlands business, Wetlands Enforcement Officer Kristine Sullivan reported that fill placed behind the training and storage building at the firehouse on Center Road exceeded approved limits and will require restoration once construction activities are complete.

The agency also began reviewing a complaint concerning site work completed at Beecher Road School during 2024 and 2025 and scheduled a site inspection to take place before its July meeting (see notice of site inspection July 22, published June 18).

Click below to watch WGATV's full recording of the June 17, 2026 Inland Wetlands Agency meeting.

Board of Finance — June 18, 2026 

The Board of Finance (BOF) held its regular meeting June 18 and received a year-end financial update, approved several budget transfers, heard reports on town staffing and economic development planning, and continued preparing for future discussions about debt policy, homestead tax relief, and the potential tax impacts of several major projects expected to come before the board in the months ahead (see agenda).

Administrative Officer and Finance Director Tony Genovese reported that the Town is projected to finish the current fiscal year with approximately a $400,000 operating deficit. He said the shortfall would be covered through the Town's existing fund balance, which is still expected to remain above the Board of Finance's 15 percent reserve target. Genovese also reviewed the recent reduction in the FY 2027 mill rate from 34.02 to 33.99 after Woodbridge received approximately $40,000 in additional state education funding following budget adoption (see WTC article June 8, 2026).

Board member Tom Handler was unanimously appointed as the BOF liaison to the Beecher Road School Building Committee. During discussion of the Beecher Road School (BRS) project, board members also turned their attention to the Town's broader capital planning challenges. Genovese said he expects to present preliminary debt-service projections related to the BRS project in the coming weeks, based on a range of assumptions regarding project cost, state reimbursement, borrowing schedules, and other planned capital expenditures.

Board member Beth Heller, who serves as the BOF liaison to the Police Renovation Building Committee, asked Genovese about the Town's debt policy, noting that several major capital projects are advancing simultaneously. Referencing the BRS project, the police facility renovation, building HVAC needs, roof replacements, and other anticipated investments, Heller said these projects are “coming down the track” and that it would be helpful for the board to review the Town's framework for evaluating future borrowing decisions. Genovese said he has prepared a draft update to the Town's existing debt guidelines (see policy as revised December 2016) and expects to present it to the board at a future meeting.

The agenda continued with remarks from First Selectman Mica Cardozo who reported that the Town continues to recruit for several vacant positions, including Administrative Officer, Public Works Director, Senior Center Director, Executive Assistant, Assistant Administrative Officer, and an economic development position. While he said the Town has received promising candidates for several openings and has begun interviewing for the Public Works Director role, he acknowledged ongoing challenges in recruiting a qualified Senior Center Director within the Town's budget.

Cardozo also provided an update on the Town's efforts to establish an economic development position. He said town officials have been working with the South Central CT Regional Economic Development Corporation — known as REX — to refine the role and determine what mix of responsibilities the position should include, ranging from business recruitment and retention to strategic planning and coordination with zoning and land-use efforts. Cardozo said he is seeking a part-time employee rather than a consultant arrangement and hopes to begin recruiting candidates in the coming weeks, with a goal of having someone in place by the fall.

Cardozo also reported on a Special Town Meeting scheduled by the Selectmen for July 8 to consider approval of a long-term ground lease with New Samaritan Corporation for the Warner Elderly Housing complex on Lucy Street. According to Cardozo, the proposal would result in all 30 units becoming deed-restricted Affordable Housing, up from the current six units, and would allow New Samaritan to pursue state funding for more than $2 million in capital improvements to the complex. Cardozo also said the proposal includes a payment arrangement under which New Samaritan would pay the Town 5 percent of gross rental revenue in lieu of conventional property taxes (see WTC article June 15, 2026).

The meeting concluded with Board members discussing ongoing efforts to evaluate a possible local homestead property tax exemption (see WTC article June 1, 2026). Members of the BOF subcommittee study group said they are awaiting additional modeling from eQuality Valuation Services to better understand how various exemption levels could affect qualifying homeowners, non-qualifying residential properties, and commercial taxpayers. Because the Board of Finance does not meet in August, members noted that much of the analysis and any potential recommendations will need to be completed in July.

During the discussion, Handler raised questions about how accessory dwelling units (ADUs) would be treated under a homestead exemption program and whether any portion of a property's assessment associated with a rental unit would need to be treated differently. While no decisions were made, members agreed additional analysis would be needed to understand how the exemption would apply in such cases before any recommendation is finalized.

Click below to watch WGATV's full recording of the June 18, 2026 Board of Finance meeting.