Ever wonder why elected town officials are required to be Ridgefield residents? Or why there are Public Hearings and Town Meetings for some decisions but not others? It all begins with the charter.
The charter is the organic law of Ridgefield. It is the language by which we are governed, and it is about to be amended.
Every four years a Charter Revision Commission (CRC) is appointed by the Board of Selectmen for the purpose of reviewing and amending the charter in order to reflect the best practices of the current times. The CRC solicits input from town boards, committees & commissions, as well as the public. This year’s CRC has been dedicated to keeping the public in the loop with weekly press releases aimed at engaging the community. The opinions of the residents of Ridgefield are as important as those of the boards, committees and commissions. This is the community’s opportunity to be heard.
So far, the Commission has received over 100 suggested changes. The submissions are discussed at the weekly CRC public meetings where they determine whether or not to accept the proposed change. Often times a change is voted against due to a conflict with state statute or because the concept is based off inaccurate information. However, no suggestion is turned down without a full investigation. The Change Request Tracker, which houses all requests submitted, is available for all to see on the town website. Residents will have their opportunity to vote on the proposed changes in November.
The time to get involved is now. You won’t have another opportunity to voice your opinion for another four years!
All comments, thoughts and suggestions can be emailed to crc@ridgefieldct.org