Highlights From April 23 Ridgefield Board Of Selectpersons' Meeting

**News Release Submitted by Town of Ridgefield**

April 25, 2025

Highlights from this week’s Board of Selectpersons (BOS) meeting:

• Members of the PRIDE community have been persistent in their request to have the PRIDE flag flown on the flagpole in front of Town Hall during the month of June. The Town BOS Flag Policy, adopted in 2023, prohibits any flags other than the American, Connecticut, POW/MIA, and GRADD (Government of Ridgefield Against Drunk Driving) flags from being flown in front of Town Hall. At the request of two high school students, the BOS revisited the policy and also discussed other options for regulating the use of the flagpole, such as an ordinance that would require flagpole requests to come before a Town Meeting. Ultimately, the BOS decided to keep the policy in place as is.
• College Creamery, a Wilton-based ice cream truck, has been approved for another year of vending in Ridgefield. The permit allows them to vend at private events by invitation only.
• Congratulations to the following candidates on their appointments:
  • Youth Commission: Mirabel Rodgers (Youth Advisor)
  • Cable TV Advisory Council: Robert McCarthy
  • Economic & Community Development Commission: James Classey
  • Parks and Rec Commission: David Shofi and Barbara Dobbins (re-appointed)
  • Pension Commission: Zigmas Kaknevicius, and Christofer Christiansen (re-appointed)
• Every year, the Pension Commission updates the BOS on the finances and status of the Town Pension and OPED plans. This year, the Pension Commission presented an amendment regarding changes made to the pension plan for Ridgefield Public Schools (RPS). The Board voted in favor of accepting the amendment.
• The home at 11 Barlow Mountain Road has been designated as a Local Historic Property. The year-long process included acquiring a study report that was sent to the state historic preservation office for approval, authorization from both the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) and the Economic and Community Development Commission (ECDC), and finally approval from the BOS. The house, which was built in 1738, is the least altered historic house in town.
• East Ridge Road may soon be designated as a Historic District, adding it to the list of the seven others Historic Districts in Ridgefield. The Historic District Commission (HDC) has been in contact with thirteen property owners who have expressed support. Of the twenty-one owners who have properties that fall within the parameters of the proposed Historic District, the HDC needs support from at least fourteen. The BOS approved the seven members of the HDC to act as the Study Committee for the project, as required by the State.
• Chris Murray announced his resignation from the Board of Selectpersons at the last BOS meeting. Once he submits his official resignation to the Town Clerk at the end of May, the BOS will have 30 days to appoint a candidate to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, which ends in November 2027. In accordance with the majority rule requirement as stated in the Town Charter, the candidate who fills the position must be a member of the Republican party. Interested candidates should contact the Republican Town Committee or the Board of Selectpersons.
• E-bikes are all the rage these days among kids. As with many new trends, there comes a list of safety concerns. The BOS began discussing the adoption of a policy to restrict the use of e-bikes on sidewalks in the village district. The discussion will continue as more information is gathered.
• The ECDC would like to add two alternate members to their commission. Alternates are members who attend meetings, and provide input, but are not able to vote unless they are needed to form a quorum. The BOS discussed creating a blanket ordinance that would give all Boards, Committees, and Commissions (BCCs) the option to add two alternate members. The ordinance would enable BCCs to add members in order to meet a quorum when needed without increasing the percentage of members required for the quorum.

Want to know more? Watch the full meeting here.