Town’s tax base grows less than 1%

Written by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
Friday, 10 February 2012 05:30

The more than $5-billion tax base that finances Ridgefield’s schools, police, firefighters and road repairs has grown by close to 1%.

“The 2011 Grand List is complete and totals a net of $5,602,283,978. This is an increase of $49,292,222 in assessed value over the previous Grand List,” Assessor Al Garzi said in a press release Wednesday morning. “...This is an increase of 0.8876%.”

The increase in assessed values will generate an additional $1,015,912 in revenue, at the current tax rate, Mr. Garzi calculated.

This Weekend: What's happening in Ridgefield

Written by The Ridgefield Press
Friday, 10 February 2012 05:32

Although Valentine’s Day is Tuesday, celebration will begin this weekend in at least two establishments.

• Buck, a documentary about a cowboy and his sensitivity for horses, will be screened Friday at the Playhouse.
• The Valentine benefit at the Playhouse includes love songs and a lot more.
• Venus will be one of the heavenly bodies eyed by astronomers Saturday.
• An auction will benefit St. Padre Pio School Saturday.
• Snowshoes will be the subject for a clinic at Windwing Saturday, if there's snow.
• Decorate your body for your Valentine Sunday at the Aldrich.
• Götterdamerung will be on the HD screen Sunday.
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Bankruptcy filings decline in Connecticut

Written by Michelle Laczkoski, The Warren Group
Friday, 10 February 2012 05:24

Personal bankruptcy filings in Connecticut dropped by 14 percent to 8,518 in 2011, down from 9,887 in 2010, according to a new report from The Warren Group, publisher of The Commercial Record.

Chapter 7 is the most common option for individuals who are seeking relief from their debts, and accounted for 89 percent of bankruptcy filings in Connecticut in 2011.

In the fourth quarter, 1,795 filers statewide sought bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7, compared to 2,348 in the fourth quarter of 2010. The fourth quarter saw the slowest quarterly bankruptcy pace of 2011 - it represented 21 percent of the annual total.

Bridgeport Diocese reacts to Egan: Abuse apology still stands

Written by Susan Shultz, Hersam Acorn Newspapers
Thursday, 09 February 2012 12:29

The Diocese of Bridgeport, which includes Ridgefield’s two Roman Catholic parishes, is distancing itself from comments made by its former leader, Cardinal Edward Egan, to Connecticut Magazine.

In the magazine’s February issue, Cardinal Egan, who left the Diocese of Bridgeport in 2002 to become Archbishop of New York, said he retracted his apology for sexual abuse that reportedly occurred in the diocese.

“I never should have said that. I did say if we did anything wrong, I’m sorry, but I don’t think we did anything wrong,” Cardinal Egan said.

Brian Wallace, spokesman for the Diocese of Bridgeport and its current leader, Bishop William E. Lori, told Hersam Acorn Newspapers that “our apology stands. There’s no denial it happened, and it was a tragedy.”

Selectmen approve Schlumberger purchase, March 13 library referendum

Written by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
Thursday, 09 February 2012 04:58

The Schlumberger deal is done and the library question will have an early referendum.

On two split votes Wednesday night, the selectmen completed the $6-million Schlumberger purchase that voters had approved in December, and scheduled a referendum for March 13 on the proposed $5-million grant to the library's $20-million renovation plan.

The library proposal will also be the subject of a combined town meeting and public hearing in two weeks, on Feb. 22, with the town meeting's power to vote transferred to the referendum.

Their environmental due diligence period over, the selectmen's vote to buy the 45-acre Schlumberger property was 3-2, with First Selectman Rudy Marconi and Selectmen Barbara Manners and Maureen Kozlark in favor. Selectmen Andy Bodner and Di Masters opposed.

In this week's Ridgefield Press

Written by The Ridgefield Press
Thursday, 09 February 2012 06:05

Here are some of the stories and features in this week's Ridgefield Press, out today:

• The Grand List, the town’s taxing base, rose less than one percent this year.
• Who are the town’s top 10 taxpayers?
• As the selectmen begin working over budgets, the tax rate increase is around 2.39%. But that’s by no means final.
• Do Ridgefielders want a wintertime school vacation week? Take part in a survey.
• Renovations to The Barn, Ridgefield’s teen center, are nearly finished. A fund-raiser will help keep programs going.
• NASA has selected the Ridgefield Library for a special program aimed at girls.
• The fire department is seeking some additional life-saving gear, especially useful for heart-attack victims.
• St. Padre Pio Academy on Tackora Trail is a source of traditional Catholic education.
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Malloy talks government efficiency, jobs and education in State of the State

Written by The Ridgefield Press
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 13:13

Governor Dannel P. Malloy outlined his vision for the state in a midterm address today, focusing on efforts to stabilize the state’s finances and continue job creation. Gov. Malloy also announced the final part of his education reform agenda — an overhaul of the state’s tenure system intended to reward educators for quality, not just longevity.

The following is the complete text of the governor’s address:

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Senator McKinney, Representative Cafero, my fellow state officials, ladies and gentlemen of the General Assembly, honored members of the judiciary, members of the clergy, honored guests, and all the citizens of our great state who are watching or listening today, thank you. Thank you for the honor of inviting me into the people’s House to address you.

Police workload has its ups and downs in 2011

Written by Jake Kara, Press Staff
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 05:21

Domestics were up. Drug arrests were down. Larcenies decreased, but burglaries increased. Juvenile incidents and car accidents remained pretty flat.

Last year was basically business as usual for the Ridgefield Police Department, at least by the numbers, and that’s good news to Chief John Roche.

While the 20,774 incidents was in line with the 2010 figure of 20,950, up about 1,000 from 19,849 in 2009, the police force was short staffed, he said.

“I give a lot of credit to the men and women who are in the field,” he said. “They’re working hard.”

'Affordable' apartment project gets hearing tonight

Written by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
Tuesday, 07 February 2012 05:40

A trimmed-down 14-unit version of the affordable housing project proposed on North Salem Road will be up for public comment tonight — the fourth time since early summer a public hearing has considered Eppoliti Realty’s plans under the state affordable housing law, 8-30g.

A resubmitted plan is scheduled for a public hearing on today, Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 in the town hall annex off Prospect Street. With a crowd expected, the hearing will be in the larger school board room on the ground floor of the annex, not the usual planning and zoning room.

Shays will appear on Heiser TV show

Written by The Ridgefield Press
Tuesday, 07 February 2012 05:54

Chris Shays, Republican candidate for U.S. senator, will be on the Marty Heiser show Thursday, Feb. 9, from 9 to 10 p.m. on Comcast Channel 23.

The call in line is 203-438-2003.

Mr. Heiser, a Ridgefielder, is a longtime town official.