Politics & Government
Ridgefield to Switch to Quarterly Town Meetings
Fewer meetings might yield better attended votes, and a broader range of views.
RIDGEFIELD, CT — The Board of Selectmen wants to hold fewer town meetings in 2019 -- but that's a good thing.
The Ridgefield Press has reported that the Board reached a consensus at their Sept. 5 meeting for First Selectman Rudy Marconi to work plans for quarterly town meetings in the next year. Fewer meetings would mean less administrative and logistical hassles, and arguably a broader, better attended debate among more residents of diverse views than the current system.
As it stands now, a town meeting is called whenever a public vote is needed, one meeting for each vote. These meetings typically bring out the residents with die hard interest in that vote, and hardly anyone else.
One foreseen downside to the three-month gap between meetings is the likelihood of unpopular and uncustomary delays between when a hot topic is hot, and when it is voted upon.
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