Woodbury selectmen approve $4.87 million FY 2026-27 pay plan after $125,551 in identified savings

First Selectman Paul Zulpa said the special meeting was intended to preview materials for the upcoming public budget hearing and called on Personnel Administrator Ray Lagasse to explain proposed pay-plan adjustments.

Personnel Administrator Ray Lagasse described four changes across town departments that together reduced the pay-plan cost by $125,551. The largest single saving came from reclassifying the supervising foreman position to a working foreman, which he said allows more workers in the field and creates advancement opportunities while saving $87,099. Lagasse also identified a duplicative summer‑camp budget entry that recaptured $39,808 and the elimination of extra summer help in the tax collector’s office, saving $743.

Chief Fiscal Officer Nyree Pieck assisted in preparing the revisions and confirmed the revised pay-plan total. First Selectman Paul Zulpa moved to approve the FY 2026-27 Pay Plan in the amount of $4,867,800 with the changes as presented; Selectman Karen Reddington‑Hughes seconded. The motion carried, 3-0.

The vote completes the formal action on the pay plan ahead of the public hearing; town officials said the changes were made to meet the Board of Finance’s challenge to reduce the overall budget increase. The board did not take other formal actions during the special session.