Woodbury workshop ranks Public Works complex top priority as officials move from planning to execution

First Selectman Paul Zulpa called a special strategic-planning workshop to order at 8:02 a.m. on May 9 in the Shove Conference Room and led a review of updated Vision and Governance statements intended to guide town policy, budgeting and planning.

The meeting, attended by selectmen, Board of Finance members, and residents, moved into a facilitated brainstorming exercise that identified candidate five- to ten-year capital projects across buildings and facilities, roads and sidewalks, infrastructure and public spaces, and equipment and asset management. Participants emphasized the need to consider both construction and long-term operating and maintenance costs when evaluating projects.

A funding discussion highlighted grants, bonding and phased approaches. Participants underscored the value of making projects "shovel ready" to improve grant eligibility and noted timing, sequencing and funding-source constraints when multiple projects advance in parallel.

Workshop participants conducted a voting exercise to identify relative priorities among project categories. The prioritization results, from highest to lowest, were: Public Works facilities/complex; Hollow Park improvements and Town office consolidation; Main Street improvements, library expansion and business/economic development; police facilities; roads; senior center and open space; and town asset management. Meeting notes state that the Public Works department was discussed as a compound project that could include the garage, transfer station and fleet maintenance, and that project interdependencies should guide sequencing.

Participants agreed that additional planning, order-of-magnitude cost estimates and feasibility analysis are required before advancing implementation. The minutes record conceptual support for forming a dedicated committee or process to advance major capital planning and a directive to share the Vision and Governance statements with boards and commissions and to incorporate consistent branding and messaging across town platforms.

First Selectman Zulpa summarized key outcomes, emphasized a shift toward execution of the top priorities, and said a follow-up workshop will be scheduled to continue work on strategic priorities, including Public Works facilities. The workshop adjourned at 9:30 a.m.

Meeting attendance as recorded in the minutes included First Selectman Paul Zulpa; Selectmen Richard Coates and Karen Reddington-Hughes; Fiscal Officer Nyree Pieck; Board of Finance Chair Karen McWhirt, Vice-Chair Stan Love and member Suzanne Lovig; Irene Conley, Commission for Seniors Chair; and residents Kathy Doyle and Jamie McLaughlin.