Comments by First Selectman Rudy Marconi functioned as a tie-breaking vote against giving Ridgefield’s first selectman — Marconi — a $10,000 raise. Although Marconi left the room more than once so the discussions could go on without him, his colleagues kept returning to the issue — one of the few budget adjustments that the Board of Selectmen could not find … read more
Environmentally conscientious homeowners who want to protect themselves from regulations that they believe will restrict them from creating renewable energy sources have created a petition that’s collected a few hundred signatures. The petition’s goal is to “prevent the issuance of any law and regulation restricting the installation of solar panels and arrays in the town of Ridgefield.” It has been … read more
Giving voice to widespread opposition to school regionalization efforts being talked of in Hartford, Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi addressed the legislature’s education committee — acting in his new role as president of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST). “COST opposes forced consolidation/regionalization,” Marconi said at the beginning of his testimony. “…A one-size-fits-all approach to consolidation/regionalizing schools: “(1) does … read more
Within $10,000 of their targeted 0% increase in the budget for town departments — excluding the schools — the Board of Selectmen reviewed some of the “puts and takes” that had gotten it to the verge of a budget that would remain flat from 2018-19 to 2029-20. The town departments’ budget was at $36,493,175 when the selectmen met Friday afternoon, … read more
The independent auditors are comfortable with Ridgefield’s finances and bookkeeping for the last fiscal year. And First Selectman Rudy Marconi likes what the auditors’ 2017-18 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report — or CAFR — has to say about the town. “It looks good, healthy, strong,” Marconi said. “We’re a healthy community, financially. The ratings bureaus love it.” Marconi offered those thoughts … read more
Traffic signs are coming to Blue Ridge Road — just as the town has plans to take others down on Ned’s Mountain Road. The town Police Commission decided Thursday, Feb. 14, to replace two 25 miles-per-hour speed limit signs at both ends of Blue Ridge Road, and install 20 miles-per-hour advisory signs to the road’s dangerous corner signs. “Blue Ridge … read more
A juvenile review board — an appointed board of counselors and attorneys tasked with interceding in the cases of underage offenders — has the support of the chief of police and first selectman. The idea has been floated by the town for the past two years, according to First Selectman Rudy Marconi. Former Police Chief John Roche had proposed the … read more
A renovated — and hopefully rejuvenated — Main Street is still seen as part of Ridgefield’s future. But it doesn’t look like it will be happening as soon as state and town officials had thought. “Everything’s pushed back a year,” said Charles Robbins, a Planning and Zoning Commission member tapped by First Selectman Rudy Marconi to serve as a liaison … read more
The redcoats marching down Main Street, the colonials behind their barricade. Another reenactment of the Battle of Ridgefield is being planned. “They want to do it again — just like that last one,” First Selectman Rudy Marconi said. Marconi said Monday, Feb. 4, that he was scheduled to meet with the organizers of the major reenactment of the battle that … read more
There’s a zero percent increase, and there’s a zero increase. The selectmen started their budget work Monday looking at a $38-million budget proposal for town departments and road work next year that would amount to a 0.58%. Getting it down to 0.00% would mean finding about $223,000 in cuts — in a budget proposal where jobs have already been reduced … read more