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ROSA Update - July 19,2001

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Wednesday, July 18 was an exciting and eventful day in Ridgefield!

• The Selectmen had a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. to discuss and vote on a resolution to acquire the Bennett's Pond property. The resolution is divided into two parts - the first, to acquire the northern parcel (458 acres) by negotiated purchase or eminent domain, for "open space, recreation and other municipal purposes." The second entails the creation of a "development authority" under Connecticut General Statute 8-187. This authority will produce a development plan for the southern portion, and then acquire the 155 acres south of Bennett's Farm Road by negotiated purchase or eminent domain. The resolution passed by a 4 - 1 vote, with (predictably) Joseph Heyman voting no.
  
• The Board of Finance approved the resolution at about 11:15 p.m. last
  night by a 5 - 0 vote.
  

While we have some concerns regarding the development authority approach for the southern parcel, our primary goal has been met - which is to allow the town of Ridgefield to determine the future of this important land. The P&Z Commission will have extensive involvement in this process as will the public, through the public hearing/town meeting process.

We will be reviewing the details of the resolution with our attorney today, and will provide you with additional information as it becomes available. There will be at least one public hearing and a town meeting before a referendum can be held. The tentative schedule is for a referendum in late September.

We would like to thank those of you who came out last night for the Board of Finance meeting, and we are sorry that they did not see fit to rearrange their agenda to accommodate those who came for the Bennett's Pond discussion - the vast majority of those in attendance. This sort of tactic to minimize public participation on this and other subjects is entirely consistent with their past behavior. We're looking forward to a change on this Board in November.

Ellen Burns
ROSA