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| Stratford Sherman (left center, at podium) was one of dozens arguing for the town taking the Bennett's Pond property by eminent domain. |
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| Elizabeth Skenga was concerned about eminent domain and the town being in courts, and having our money go to court fees and costs. | Howard Henner believes we should continue to negotiate an acceptable plan, to save taxpayers precious dollars. | Ed Pollack reviewed the history of other projects in Ridgefield, and said he'd like to find some way to have corporate development to keep taxes down. | School board member Bob Opotzner warned that eminent domain represents a "blank check" and urged a negotiated purchase, with the town having flexibility as to the future use of the property. |
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| Marty Carr is concerned about the increasing tax burden, especially on Ridgefield's seniors. | Elliott Miller said he might be considered "politically incorrect," but he felt it was legitimate for both the town and the developer to be concerned about money -- "I'm concerned about money because I'm paying!". | Gayle Henner had a lot of unanswered questions, and said "this is the first time in a long time we have a Town administration I can trust, and I trust them to come up with a good compromise." | Lee Pepin enumerated instances of eminent domain takings resulting in a final price much higher than the initial one. He argued the town should find a compromise to buy the property from the developer. |
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| Helen Dimos argued against the Eureka plan because it relocates historic Bennetts Farm Road. | Bob Kleinberg, a ROSA founder, has argued consistently for taking the property by eminent domain. He's concerned that Eureka can use the land like a Trojan Horse, and sell it to anyone, for anything, in the future. | Ron Keith supports the taking by eminent domain, but wanted more detail on how the ultimate purchase price was to be set. | Theodora Burton said she will soon go on a fixed income, and will find it more difficult to pay higher taxes. But she urged townspeople to "reach down in our pockets and pay to keep Ridgefield as beautiful as it is today." |
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| Pete Stewart, a ROSA officer, scoffed at Eureka's "Dear Neighbor" letter. They should be viewed as a "neighbor" exactly as we would view K-Mart as a "neighbor," he argued. | Edith Mefley explained that she supports the taking of the land by eminent domain, to ensure it continues as open space. | Michael Antkes thanked First Selectman Marconi to getting the town to this point but suggests that the town is "ill-equipped to negotiate with this huge company [Eureka]," and thus supports eminent domain. | Pat Baker wants to take the property by eminent domain. She doesn't think the developer has any regard for open space; "the only green they care about is the green on a dollar bill." |
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| Dolly Whitman said that open space is "a precious asset" and wants to keep our town less congested and safer than neighboring towns; she supports taking the land by eminent domain. | Ellen Burns, the President of ROSA, was greeted with widepsread applause when she rose to speak in support of eminent domain. She is credited with leading the fight to save Bennett's Pond. | Peggy Sharlow applauded ROSA for what they have done for Ridgefield, in leading the fight to save the property. |
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Index to All the News
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