WHEREAS, there exist two pieces of largely undeveloped land in the Town of Ridgefield owned by Eureka V LLC, one of 458+/- acres to the north of Bennett's Farm Road (the "northern parcel") the other, 155+/- acres to the south of Bennett's Farm Road (the "southern parcel"),

WHEREAS, the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection ("Connecticut DEP") has indicated its interest in acquiring all or part of said land by providing 50% of the cost of acquisition, not to exceed five million dollars, to preserve the land as public open space;

NOW THEREFORE, we the undersigned, petition the Board of Selectmen to call a Special Town Meeting pursuant to Sections 3-4 and 3-5 of the Ridgefield Town Charter to discuss and vote upon the following resolutions:

RESOLVED, that the Town acquire, according to law and by eminent domain (or negotiated acquisition in lieu of condemnation), to be maintained as open space, such northern parcel, being all of the property on the northerly side of Bennett's Farm Road within the Town of Ridgefield now owned by Eureka V LLC and containing approximately 458 acres more or less; and it is

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the sum of $7,800,000, together with all legal and administrative costs related to such acquisition, including such sums as may be required to defend the acquisition and award in court, be, and hereby are, authorized to be funded by such means as are deemed appropriate by the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen of the Town, to finance the aforesaid acquisition; and it is

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Selectmen secure the maximum reimbursement available from the Connecticut DEP for the acquisition of part or all of said land; and it is

FURTHER RESOLVED, that, upon an affirmative vote of the Special Town Meeting, the Special Town Meeting shall set an appropriate date for a referendum pursuant to Section 10-4 and Section 3-15 of the Ridgefield Town Charter to vote on the aforesaid acquisition and the financing therefor, and if approved at referendum to complete the acquisition on a date that is no more than 90 days following the date of the referendum, subject to unavoidable delays.