Highlights From Wednesday’s Ridgefield Board Of Selectpersons' Meeting

**News Release Submitted by Town of Ridgefield**

June 14, 2024

The Board of Selectpersons met this past Wednesday. Here are the meeting highlights:

• The discussion on the use of 66 Grove Street as a possible location for the 18-22 Special Needs students and the Alternative High School continued. Both programs have outgrown their space. A Public Hearing and Town Meeting will be scheduled sometime in August and September.
• Congratulations to Will Knispel on his appointment to the Prevention Council, Christopher St. Victor-de Pinho for his reappointment to the Pension Commission, and Andrew Sternlib on his appointment as the Democratic member to the Board of Assessment Appeals! The Town thanks you for volunteering your time.
• Dan O'Brien has been working with John Katz and Tom McManus on an initiative to replant the trees on Main Street. So far they have raised $27,000 and planted 16 trees. In order to finish the initiative, which includes removing old trees stumps and planting an additional 16 trees, more funds are needed. The Rotary Club has joined the efforts by helping to arrange a public campaign to raise more money. The BOS will look at the budget for possible money to allocate toward the project.
• Teen Talk Counselors Olivia Bucci & Alex Avila, and Ellen Brezovsky, the Director of Outreach & Community of Initiatives at Kids in Crisis briefed the BOS on what’s been going on with the program. Teen Talk, designed by Kids in Crisis, places mental health counselors in schools around Fairfield County. Ridgefield currently has Teen Talk counselors at Ridgefield High School and East Ridge & Scotts Ridge Middle Schools. To learn more, click here.
• College Intern Jack Matthews has been researching the Senior Tax Benefit programs which have not been updated since 2008. In order to properly assess the needs and form a new benefit program, the Town is forming a Senior Tax Benefit Committee. If interested in joining, email torfirstselectperson@ridgefieldct.gov

What exactly are the Senior Tax Benefit Programs? Learn more here.

• For years banners have been displayed on the front of Town Hall to show support for different organizations, programs, events and more. Following the recent implementation of a Flag Policy, the BOS is now faced with the decision to administer another policy, this time for banners. During Public Comment, many people provided their opinions on the subject. The Public Comment portion of a meeting is a time when members from the public have the opportunity to speak freely on topics they feel strongly about. There is a Public Comment at the beginning of every BOS meeting at which all are encouraged to attend.
• After interviewing 17 candidates, the BOS voted to appoint the following 9 members to the Forms of Government Task Force: Dennis Tracey, Jonathan Seem, Rachel Sondheimer, Laurie Christiansen, Charles Robbins, Mike Rettger, Robert Hendrick, Todd Zagorec, and Steve Zemo. Congratulations!

Want to know more? Watch the full meeting here.