03/20/2026
First Selectwoman’s March 20, 2026 Community Update
2026-2027 BUDGET REFERENDUM
The Annual Budget Referendum is anticipated to take place on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Details regarding the proposed budget are available on the Town website: https://www.madisonct.org/874/Budget-Information
Absentee ballots will be available by April 6, 2026, and the secured absentee ballot drop box is now open for applications.
Polls will be open from 6:00AM to 8:00PM. The temporary polling location for District 1 voting during the 2026 calendar year will be the Senior Center (29 Bradley Rd), and District 2 voting will be at Brown Intermediate School (980 Durham Rd).
For information on obtaining an absentee ballot or other voting details, please contact the Town Clerk at 203-245-5672 or visit the website: https://www.madisonct.org/399/Registrar-of-Voters
Please note that there is no early voting for a Town Referendum.
TOWN BUDGET PLANNING & PUBLIC HEARING
The Board of Finance will hold a Public Hearing in accordance with the Town Charter (10.4.E) on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 7:00PM in Town Campus (8 Campus Drive) Room C, and on Zoom. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the Town and Board of Education budgets as recommended.
All planning workshops, hearings, and meetings are open to the public, and public participation is welcome.
Budget information, upcoming workshops, and any recordings or minutes of previous meetings can be found on the Town website: https://www.madisonct.org/874/Budget-Information
SUPPORT MEALS ON WHEELS
Stop & Shop has selected Meals on Wheels to benefit from the Community Bag Program throughout March.
Every time a $2.50 reusable Community Bag is purchased at the Madison Stop & Shop (128 Samson Rock Drive) in March, $1 will be donated to Meals on Wheels-- a great way to support the community and the environment!
BEACH PASS, BOAT RACK, AND COMMUNITY GARDEN RENEWALS
Summer 2026 Beach Stickers
Beginning April 1st, beach pass parking stickers for the 2026 summer season will be available for purchase online, through the mail, or in person (at the Beach & Rec office at the Surf Club).
A reminder that parking stickers or daily parking passes will be required at all three Town beaches starting May 23, 2026 on weekends only, and seven days a week starting on Monday, June 22, 2026 through Labor Day.
Boat Rack Registration
If you had a boat rack in 2025, you have until March 31, 2026 to renew the rental. If you did not have a boat rack in 2025 and are interested in one, you can check for availability starting on April 15, 2026.
Community Garden
Likewise, you have until April 1, 2026 to renew your Bauer Park Community Garden plot rental. If you did not have a plot last year and are interested in one, you may check on availability starting on April 8, 2026.
GREEN UP CLEAN UP
Madison’s Annual Green Up, Clean Up Day is on Saturday, April 25th from 8:00AM to 12:00PM.
In previous years, more than 400 residents and diverse civic groups have gathered together and collected up to 4 tons of litter in a 4-hour period-- helping to resolve the problem of roadside litter and keep Madison beautiful!
For more information, and to sign up, visit the Town website: https://www.madisonct.org/1176/Green-Up-Clean-Up
UPCOMING MADISON200 EVENTS
Lee Lecture: A Postcard History of Madison in the Twentieth Century
This Sunday, March 22, 2026 | 4:00PM
Location: First Congregational Church’s Hubley Hall and via Zoom
Presenter: Henry Griggs, Madison Municipal Historian and MHS Preservation Chair
Henry's presentation will highlight the Golden Age of Postcards, Madison then and now, postcards for commerce, and images of Lost Madison. Guests will enjoy dozens of images from his personal collection of more than 900 postcards.
Suggested Donation: $10 / FREE to MHS members
If you are attending via zoom, registration is required; registration for in-person attendance is not required. You can register for zoom attendance through the Madison Historical Society’s website: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/march-frederick-lee-lecture-with-henry-griggs
Want To Learn More About Madison200?
For more information, including how to support the celebrations by volunteering, donating, or sponsoring, visit the Madison200 page on the Town website – and check back frequently for updates: https://www.madisonct.org/1436/Madisons-Bicentennial
PROPOSED MADISON CERT PROGRAM
The Town of Madison has authorized a preliminary recruitment and assessment phase for the proposed Madison Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
CERT is a proposed volunteer auxiliary unit operating under the Town’s Office of Emergency Management, designed to support Madison's first responders during critical incidents.
The program is currently accepting expressions of interest from residents who would like to volunteer for the proposed CERT program; a final decision to formally activate the team will occur in June based on community response.
To fill out the volunteer expression of interest and for more information, please visit: https://forms.gle/naoNpyK4GkHzM7Eu6
INFORMATION ON SENIOR TAX PROGRAMS
Local Tax Abatement & Free Program For Certain Elderly And/Or Disabled Homeowners: The Board of Selectmen recently updated the ordinance for the Tax Relief and Tax Freeze Programs to create a combination program. If qualified, eligible applicants will receive BOTH benefits, the tax abatement (credit) on their property tax bill, as well as the freeze, having the property taxes frozen at the rate that they were at when initially applied, assuming they continue to qualify year after year. For more information, visit the Assessors page: https://www.madisonct.org/851/Tax-Relief-Programs
Local Tax Deferral Program: Eligible applicants can defer payment of the real estate taxes for as long as they meet the qualifications of the program. Deferral of taxes cannot exceed $8,000 in any one tax year. Tax deferrals will be secured by a lien in the full amount and an interest rate is charged.
State Of Connecticut Circuit Breaker Program: The State of Connecticut offers eligible applicants an abatement on their property taxes in addition to the Local program benefits.
The filing period for all three programs is February 1 through May 15. For more information on program guidelines, eligibility, and filing requirements, please stop by the Senior Center (29 Bradley Road) or contact them at (203) 245-5627.
FREE AARP INCOME TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE
AARP Certified Tax-Aide counselors provide free income tax preparation assistance for low-and-middle-income taxpayers of all ages, with special attention to those 60 & older.
Taxes are prepared by appointment only, on Thursdays between February 5-April 9 from 9:00AM-2:30PM at the Madison Senior Center.
Scheduling Your Appointment:
You can book your appointment directly through AARP Tax-Aide's scheduling website: tinyurl.com/Madison26Taxes. No appointments will be scheduled by Madison Senior Center staff. If you are unable to schedule an appointment online, please contact the AARP volunteer hotline at 860-579-3192.
If you do not connect with a live volunteer please leave a message, and someone will get back to you to schedule an appointment.
ACADEMY EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
The Board of Selectmen will continue to evaluate and take action on the next steps for the Academy building in upcoming meetings.
In preparation for future meetings, the community is encouraged to view all the available documents from the process; they can be found on the Academy page on the Town website: https://www.madisonct.org/1434/Academy
Future meetings will be posted to the calendar on the Town website: https://www.madisonct.org/calendar.aspx?CID=14,49
WINTER SEASON PARKING RESTRICTIONS
Residents are reminded that between November 1 and April 1 of each year, there is no on-street parking of any vehicle on any roadway, street, or highway within the Town between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 AM.
Additionally, there is no on-street parking of any vehicle on any roadway, street, or highway when snow removal or plowing operations are being conducted on that roadway, street, or highway by or under the auspices of the Town.
The Department of Public Works asks that residents and property owners cooperate with winter season parking restrictions to facilitate the town's snow and ice control operations.
Visit the Public Works Department on our website to learn more about Winter Season Snow and Ice Control: https://www.madisonct.org/650/Winter-Season
Have a great weekend, Madison!
Peggy Lyons
First Selectwoman
