Woodbridge Selectmen Send $118.5 Million Beecher Road School Project To Referendum

WOODBRIDGE, CT — The Woodbridge Board of Selectmen voted 4-2 on Sept. 23 to authorize a $118.5 million appropriation and borrowing plan for a new Beecher Road School and Board of Education central office, sending the proposal to voters at an Oct. 13 referendum.

First Selectman Mica Cardozo, Deputy First Selectman Steven Munno and Selectmen Maria Madonick and Lauren Francese voted for the resolution. Selectmen Andrea Urbano and Amey Marrella opposed it.

The resolution authorizes $118.5 million in bonds and notes to finance the portion of the project not covered by grants. The selectmen first voted unanimously to waive a reading of the entire resolution because copies had been made available to those attending the meeting. Munno then moved to adopt the resolution, with Madonick seconding.

The board separately voted 4-2 to schedule a special town meeting for 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at The Center Gymnasium, 4 Meetinghouse Lane, where residents can consider and discuss the appropriation and borrowing proposal. Cardozo, Munno, Madonick and Francese supported that resolution, while Urbano and Marrella opposed it.

The question will then go to voters Oct. 13. The ballot will ask whether Woodbridge should appropriate $118.5 million for the new Beecher Road School project and authorize bonds, notes and other obligations in the same amount to finance costs not covered by grants. Voting is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at The Center Gymnasium.

The resolution also authorizes the town clerk to prepare a concise explanatory statement about the referendum question and Cardozo to prepare additional explanatory materials, subject to approval by the town attorney.

The selectmen adjourned at 6:51 p.m.