Highlights From Nov. 6 Ridgefield Board Of Selectpersons' Meeting

**News Release Submitted by Town of Ridgefield**

Nov. 8, 2024

Board of Selectpersons (BOS) November 6th meeting highlights:

• Congratulations to Debbie Prieger on her appointment to the Commission for Accessibility, and to Greg McLaughlin and John Zembron on their reappointments to the Board of Ethics!
• The Purchasing Policy for the Town is getting a much needed makeover. The 15-year-old policy has been rebuilt from the ground up to bring it up to speed with current practices and pricing. The proposed policy was approved at last night’s meeting.
• The Ridgefield Housing Authority (RHA) has requested that the Town waive Fire Inspection fees on public facility housing that falls under RHA management. The mission of the RHA, a nonprofit organization, is to develop and manage public housing facilities for seniors in Ridgefield. With rent being the only source of revenue to offset the costs of maintaining multiple multi-unit buildings, their budget is tight. A PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program is already in place for the RHA. The Board has requested to see the estimated annual Fire Inspection fees before making a decision.
• A petition to fly the Pride flag on the flagpole in front of Town Hall for the month of June has been submitted to the Town Clerk. According to the Charter, the Board of Selectpersons is required to set a Public Hearing and Town Meeting for a vote on the petition. Town Counsel is reviewing any conflicts this may present regarding the current Town Flag Policy as well as with Constitutional laws.
• Project proposals for multi-housing units have been popping up all over Ridgefield. The recent clearing of a property off Branchville Road has sparked speculation about the intention to build. Some members of the community have suggested that the Town buy the property for open space, thereby eliminating the option for more building.
• Has political signage gotten out of control? The Board is considering implementing a size restriction on political yard signs. They will reach out to Planning & Zoning to discuss further.

Want to know more?
Watch the entire meeting online.