First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Democrat, set new standards for Ridgefield
town government last evening as he knowledgeably presented the Town budget by
line item to a crowd of citizens eager for information. At his first Annual
Town Meeting and Budget Hearing as First Selectman, Mr. Marconi spoke from
slides and text about the aggressive, yet responsible, cost cutting he
achieved with the help of the Board of Selectman and the Board of Finance
which resulted in this year's budget. Taking questions from the floor, First
Selectman Marconi, demonstrated knowledge not only of how the budget is
constructed on both the revenue and expense sides, but also of each line
item. The budget presented last night, will go to referendum of the voters
on May 13, 2000, from 8AM to 8PM at all three polling locations.[Photo, left: First Selectman Marconi addresses the meeting. Right - Marty Carr, who served as Chairman of the Town Meeting Committee, kicks off the annual meeting]
The annual town meeting and budget hearing allows citizens to learn about the planning deliberations of town officials during the budget process. It also provided a unique opportunity for give and take between Ridgefielders, the First Selectman, Board of Finance, Board of Selectman and School officials prior to going to the polls.
Mr. Marconi, breaking past tradition of
"talking heads" presentations, fielded questions as did Board of Finance
Chair, Bernie Dzieslinski, School Superintendant, Dr. Ralph Wallace, and
several other elected officials.
It was clear that Mr. Marconi has the town's current
and future benefits and finances in mind as he carefully detailed the
thinking behind this years' budget and the anticipated challenges the Town
will face vis a vis the school construction projects, open space, economic
development and quality of life. [Photos: Left - Board of Finance Chairman Bernie Dzielinski, Right - Meeting attendees in the East Ridge Middle School auditorium watched a slide presentation of the 200-2001 budget by the Board of Finance.]
After the Town Meeting, First Selectman Marconi went on to conduct a
first-ever public forum on three major public issues facing Ridgefield over
the next several months: the disposition/plan for the Ippoliti property, the
development, purchase/negotiations and status of the Bennett's Farm property
and the school "Bundling" concept whereby the price tag and the plan for the
impending school building projects will come before the voters in one
referendum vs the past practice of multiple, and frequently contradictory,
referenda. Mr. Marconi, who was elected to office in a landslide mandate for new
Democratic leadership last November, is breaking ground with this first
public input session. More are expected to mark his administration. [Photos: Left - School Superintendent Ralph Wallace reported on the "State ofthe Schools." Right- Town officials at the Annual Meeting: from left, First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Town Clerk Barbara Serfellippi (who received an award on the occasion of National Town Clerks Week), Selectmen Joseph Heyman, Steve Zemo, Peter Yanity, and Barbara Manners, and School Superintendent Ralph Wallace.]
The East Ridge Middle School Auditorium was enlivened by the dialogue until
well-past 10PM as Ridgefielders enjoyed the chance to get their opinions
heard and responded to by the First Selectman and other Town elected
officials and Department heads. At the culmination of the meeting, Mr.
Marconi thanked the residents for attending and committed himself to
considering their input as talks and plans progress. He also aksed attendees to provide feedback to meeting planners on what they liked about tonight's meeting, and any improvements they'd like to see in future years. [Photo, left: Town Meeting Committee member Jamie Hastings did an admirable job serving as Moderator of the meeting. Right - Ridgefielders complete their feedback forms.]
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Brought to you by the Ridgefield, Ct.
Democratic Town Committee, Jim Diamond, Chairman
Paid for by The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee, Edwin C. Pearson, Treasurer
