Mar. 21 -- Ridgefielders turned out at referendum today and supported the purchase of the Ippoliti site for a new middle school. The vote authorizes the Selectmen to bid up to $7.55 million in the bankruptcy proceeding to purchase the property. The next move will be the actual bidding in bankruptcy court, in which as many as a dozen commercial bidders are expected to vie for the desirable site. (Photo: The scene at East Ridge Middle School at mid-afternoon, reflecting the light turnout.)
This sample ballot states the question upon which Ridgefielders decided today: "Shall the Town of Ridgefield appropriate $7,550,000 for acquisition of the Ippoliti property and for preliminary costs of a grades 5 through 6 school to be constructed thereon, and authorize the issue of bonds and notes to finance the appropriation?" While the referendum question is simple, the issue is extremely complex. A majority of voters resolved the Town should proceed with the acquisition.
The vote was extremely close, with the "Yes" position passing by only 50.89%, or 57 votes. Barely 20% of Ridgefield's 14,700 registered voters turned out on an icy, blustery day. Democratic Registrar of Voters Pat Baker, who observed the voting throughout the day, said, "The turnout was light, but most people who did vote appeared to be those with strongly held positions." Updating us in mid-afternoon, Baker had reported "when the polls opened at 8 AM, there was virtually no one voting. We chalked that up to the icy rain and sleet that had begun to come down at that time. Then, about 10 am, there was a break in the weather, and we had a fair size crowd come through."
Supporters of the measure, which included both Democratic and Republican Town Committees, the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Education, P&Z, and most PTA's in town, had hoped for a solid referendum victory. Since the winning bidder will be decided by a bankrputcy judge, there was a sense that the Town's bid, even if it turns out not to be the highest, would be strengthened by the Town's ability to execute its offer more certainly than a commercial bidder. Selectman Mike Jones, who served on the School Site Committee which recommended the Ippoliti site, said "with passage of the referedum, the Board of Selectmen will now have the Town's 'full faith and credit' behind our offer. This should strengthen our position with the court." (Photo: Voters had little company in today's light turnout. Here a solitary man enters the Yannity Gym polling place to cast his ballot.)
| District | For | % | Against | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | 620 | 52.4% | 563 | 47.6% |
| District 2 | 587 | 54.4% | 492 | 45.6% |
| District 3 | 350 | 45.0% | 430 | 55.1% |
| Absentee | 67 | 45.0% | 82 | 55.0% |
| TOTAL | 1,624 | 50.9% | 1,567 | 49.1% |
GO TO
Campaign News
Brought to you by the Ridgefield, Ct.
Democratic Town Committee, Rudy Marconi, Chairman.
This site hosted by
Web-Connect of Ridgefield
