First Selectman tells commission 'section 98' is an ordinance; commission to consider tiebreaker changes

First Selectman Nika Cardo told the Woodbridge Charter Revision Commission that a frequently cited "section 98" on the town's online charter is not a charter provision but an ordinance and therefore falls to the ordinance committee and the board of selectmen to address.

"There was a reference to section 98 that is not a charter reference," Cardo said. "That is an ordinance and that's something that'll be taken up by our ordinance committee and the board of selectment." She advised the commission to consult the town clerk and the finance director about items that touch real‑property rules, noting the existing threshold language cited in the meeting ("values is either 0.15% of our total budget and or which is always greater than 50,000").

Commissioners also agreed to place consideration of tiebreaking powers on the Sept. 2 agenda. The discussion covers whether the first selectman should have a tiebreaking vote for the board of selectmen (sections 5-3B/C) and related public suggestions to remove tiebreaking authority from the board of finance. A commissioner noted public submissions requesting revision of the board of finance tiebreaker; the commission recorded that public input for use during deliberations but did not take a final position.

The commission sought clarity about procedural limits: Cardo and staff confirmed the commission's role is to prepare a draft report with suggested language and rationale for the board of selectmen, but the board of selectmen ultimately decides which ballot questions appear and whether voters will see a single omnibus question or separate items for controversial provisions.

No charter amendments were adopted at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to verify editorial notations on the online charter with the town clerk and prior commission records before relying on them as evidence of pending changes.