Ridgefield Selectpersons Advance Compassion Committee, Approve Deer Hunt

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Ridgefield Board of Selectpersons met Oct. 8, approving several key town matters ranging from committee reappointments and grant resolutions to deer management and the future of the Compassionate Ridgefield initiative.

Compassionate Ridgefield To Become Official Town Committee

Members voted to approve Compassionate Ridgefield’s request to become an official town committee, contingent on the action being ratified through a town meeting. The volunteer group, founded in 2019 after Ridgefield signed the international Charter for Compassion, promotes kindness and civic unity through community programs, youth recognition, and public outreach.

Co-founder Martha Morris said formal town recognition would help sustain the group’s mission beyond volunteer turnover and political cycles. “Town leadership will be vital if this vision is to be sustainable for generations,” she told the board.

Board members Rudy Marconi and Geoffrey Morris recused themselves from the discussion due to personal connections with the group. Selectperson Maureen Kozlark presided over the deliberation and motion, emphasizing that official status would also require adherence to public-meeting laws and procedures.

Following a charter-based question raised over whether a town meeting was required to establish new committees, the board agreed to proceed with a "belt-and-suspenders" approach — approving the motion but making it contingent upon a town meeting vote.

Parking Authority Members Reappointed

The board reappointed Ellen Burns and Jessica Wilmot to the Ridgefield Parking Authority, praising their ongoing work to balance downtown parking demand and improve long-term solutions for business owners and customers.

Burns, who owns Books on the Common, said the authority continues to negotiate parking agreements and encourage employees to use the town’s all-day municipal lot. Wilmot discussed exploring a digital kiosk system on Bailey Avenue to allow shoppers to extend parking time through an app — a possible pilot program to address the needs of local salon clients and other service-based businesses.

Marconi called their service “essential in managing one of the town’s biggest challenges,” noting ongoing efforts to promote fairness between public and private lots.

Board Renews Annual Deer Management Program

The selectpersons also renewed Ridgefield’s controlled deer hunt, a program overseen by the Conservation Commission to maintain ecological balance and reduce Lyme disease risk.

Ridgefield hunters took about 30 deer last season according to the hunt coordinator.

The BOS approved Leibowitz-Knapp Preserve, Laurel Lane, Spectacle Swamp, Colonial Heights, Ledges Road, Bobby's Court, Remington Woods for the hunt. All property owners in the immediate areas adjacent to the hunt locations will be notified prior to any hunting.

One resident questioned whether the hunts were still necessary, noting fewer deer sightings in some neighborhoods, and was informed that maintaining current herd levels prevents future overpopulation.

Town Accepts $180K State Grant for Drainage Repairs

The board formally accepted a $180,640 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant from the state for replacing collapsed drainage headwalls on Canterbury Lane. The motion authorized Marconi to sign related contracts and execute the project.

Legislative Delegation To Attend November Meeting

In closing remarks, Marconi announced that Ridgefield’s state legislators will attend the Nov. 5 Board of Selectpersons meeting to discuss local issues. The session will be open to the public and streamed live from Town Hall.