Charter Revision Commission Update

May 8, 2023, Ridgefield, CT; -- At its next meeting on Thursday, May 11, 6:30 PM, in the Town Hall Annex, the Charter Revision Commission will hear from Jerry Myers, Chief of Ridgefield Fire Department.

The Chief will share his perspective on the suggestion the Commission received to establish a Fire Commission that is separate from the Board of Selectmen, whose members currently serve as the town’s Fire Commission. According to Chief Myers, the structure of Ridgefield’s Fire Department is unique, as it relies on both career members and volunteers to protect the community. “Both are equally important to our success,” noted Myers in a letter to the Commission. His input will help the Commission better understand how a separate Fire Commission would impact the balance among the town, the department, and its career and volunteer members before the Commission votes on whether to recommend the change.

Endeavoring to understand the full impact of proposed Charter changes has been a key part of the Commission’s months-long process. Since its appointment in January, the Commission has carefully considered each of more than 120 suggestions for change it received. In some cases, the topic involved research and discussion over several weeks.

The results of these efforts will be presented in the Commission’s first draft report of proposed Charter amendments. That draft report will be posted on the Commission’s website page next week. Printed copies will be available at Town Hall’s information desk. Residents can offer their comments on the draft proposals at the Commission’s public hearing on Saturday, May 20, 9:30 AM, in Town Hall’s large conference room. Once the Commission receives public comment, it will refine the report and send it the Board of Selectmen.

All Commission meetings and hearings are open to the public. Agendas, minutes, and meeting videos are available on the town’s website. To watch a livestream of CRC meetings, or to see recordings of past meetings, go to the ‘government’ tab on the town’s website homepage, click on ‘Board of Selectmen’, and drop down to the ‘Meeting Video’ tab. For a reminder of the upcoming charter revision public hearing, sign up for ‘general government notifications’ on Ridgefield Alerts.

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Submitted by Ridgefield, CT

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