Friday, December 2, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
CT's unemployment rate is down but the devil is in the details
The state Department of Labor announced Monday that Connecticut's unemployment rate has decreased to 8.7 percent, which is the lowest rate since Sept. 2009, according to the Hartford Courant.
Anyone need a job?In addition, 6,500 jobs were created by state employers in October and the number of jobs in the state overall has grown by 8,800 in 2011, according to preliminary figures.
The state's unemployment rate decreased to 8.9 percent in September, marking the first time that the rate has fallen below 9 percent in two years. According to the CT Post, October marks the second straight month of decline in the state's unemployment rate.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Why vote for an unaffiliated candidate?
Written by Jan Rifkinson
Monday, 07 November 2011 05:26
Monday, 07 November 2011 05:26
Who am I, what do I stand for, why am I campaigning for a seat on the Board
of Selectmen?
I’m a retired, middle class married guy living on a fixed income, financially squeezed like many of you.
Philosophically, I’m for transparency in government, full disclosure and working more closely with Ridgefielders.
Fiscally, I’m careful. I want to understand the reasons for spending and exactly how that spending will benefit the taxpayer. I believe more revenue streams must be developed to reduce the tax burden.
People move here not only for our excellent schools, but because both housing and taxes are lower by comparison to other Fairfield towns in our category. If that formula changes, Ridgefield’s charm will change. I am not in favor of that.
I love new ideas. I like to converse with people. I admire thoughtful individuals with common sense.
I am not politically driven, which is why I made a conscious decision to run as an unaffiliated candidate.
Demagoguery, dogma and political gamesmanship don’t belong in Ridgefield.
Someone willing to volunteer their time for the community, running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen as I am, should understand the town’s major issues. I attended almost all board meetings for the past four years and I can say that I am knowledgeable about those issues.
If I am elected, I may not always get it right, but I’m sure going to do my best to balance the interests of everyone in the entire community.
I’m a retired, middle class married guy living on a fixed income, financially squeezed like many of you.
Philosophically, I’m for transparency in government, full disclosure and working more closely with Ridgefielders.
Fiscally, I’m careful. I want to understand the reasons for spending and exactly how that spending will benefit the taxpayer. I believe more revenue streams must be developed to reduce the tax burden.
People move here not only for our excellent schools, but because both housing and taxes are lower by comparison to other Fairfield towns in our category. If that formula changes, Ridgefield’s charm will change. I am not in favor of that.
I love new ideas. I like to converse with people. I admire thoughtful individuals with common sense.
I am not politically driven, which is why I made a conscious decision to run as an unaffiliated candidate.
Demagoguery, dogma and political gamesmanship don’t belong in Ridgefield.
Someone willing to volunteer their time for the community, running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen as I am, should understand the town’s major issues. I attended almost all board meetings for the past four years and I can say that I am knowledgeable about those issues.
If I am elected, I may not always get it right, but I’m sure going to do my best to balance the interests of everyone in the entire community.
Press endorsements in election
Written by The Ridgefield Press
Monday, 07 November 2011 05:29
Ridgefielders are lucky to have more than 30 candidates — Republicans, Democrats, an unaffiliated voter — running for office on Nov. 8, including 23 in five contested races. It takes concern and courage to run: hats off to them all.
Monday, 07 November 2011 05:29
Ridgefielders are lucky to have more than 30 candidates — Republicans, Democrats, an unaffiliated voter — running for office on Nov. 8, including 23 in five contested races. It takes concern and courage to run: hats off to them all.
Ridgefield is great place, and doing remarkably well considering how tough the economic times are — a 1% tax increase last year. The four incumbents on the Board of Selectmen deserve re-election: two Democrats, Barbara Manners, who has done so much for the arts and to enrich community life in town, and Di Masters, the community center director and a former Planning and Zoning chair; and two Republicans, Andy Bodner, the board’s house skeptic and numbers man, and Maureen Kozlark, the moderate longtime school board veteran.
That said, Jan Rifkinson, the unaffiliated petitioning candidate, deserves credit and the town’s thanks for making a contest of it and running a clean issue-oriented campaign. [...]
The Numbers > 2011 Town Elections
| First Selectman | Total |
| Rudy Marconi (D) | 3552 |
| Board of Selectmen | Total |
| Di Masters (D) | 2786 |
| Barbara Manners (D) | 2936 |
| Andrew Bodner (R) | 3085 |
| Maureen Kozlark (R) | 2866 |
| Jan Rifkinson (U) |
1324
|
| Town Clerk | Total |
| Barbara Serfilippi (R) | 3537 |
| Town Treasurer | Total |
| Maureen Kiernan (R) | 3498 |
| Tax Collector | Total |
| Jane Berendsen-Hill (R) | 3256 |
| Board of Finance | Total |
| Jessica Mancini (D) | 2798 |
| Steven Coury (R) | 1866 |
| Paul Sutherland (D) | 2331 |
| John Palermo (R) | 2253 |
| David Ulmer (D) | 2638 |
| Board of Education | Total |
| Adeline Merrill (D) | 2468 |
| Linda Lavelle (R) | 2335 |
| Karen Sulzinsky (D) | 2549 |
| Michael Raduazzo (R) | 2554 |
| Richard Steinhart (R) | 2824 |
| Austin Drukker (R) | 2945 |
| Christopher Murray (R) | 2474 |
| Board of Assessment Appeals | Total |
| Robert Lavelle (R) | 2656 |
| Planning and Zoning | Total |
| Philip Mische (D) | 2747 |
| Peter Chipouras (R) | 2856 |
| Patrick Walsh (R) | 3124 |
| John Katz (R) | 2952 |
| George Hanlon (R) 2 years | 3040 |
|
Zoning Board of Appeals (5 years, 2011) |
Total |
| Duane C. Barney (R) | 2862 |
|
Zoning Board of Appeals (5 years, 2012) |
Total |
| Sky Cole (D) | 1588 |
| David J. Choplinski (R) | 2022 |
|
Zoning Board of Appeals (One year) |
Total |
| David J. Choplinski (R) | 2413 |
|
Zoning Board of Appeals (5 years, 2011) |
Total |
| Sky Cole (D) | 1247 |
| Michael S. Stenko (R) | 2125 |
|
Zoning Board of Appeals (Four years) |
Total |
| Sky Cole (D) | 1698 |
| Police Commissioners | Total |
| Joseph I. Adams, Jr. (D) | 1493 |
| Charles A. Knoche (R) | 2738 |
| George F. Cain (D) | 2597 |
Ho Hum > Except for the Board of Finance, it was status quo
RIDGEFIELD -- A change in the composition of the Board
of Finance was the biggest development to come out of
Tuesday's election.
Democrats now hold a 3-2 majority on the board, which had previously been solidly in Republican hands, with the GOP previously holding a 4-1 majority.
"I'm sure it's the first time in decades," Democratic Town Chairman Susan Cocco said of the Democratic control of the board.
Overall, excitement over the municipal election was muted this year by the Republican party's decision not to run a candidate against incumbent First Selectman Rudy Marconi, a Democrat.
Because the town's top elected officials now serve four-year terms, Marconi -- who has already been first selectman for 12 years -- will hold that office at least until 2015.
"In hindsight, I would rather have had an opponent so we could talk about the issues to the voters, but selfishly, I loved it," Marconi said.
Nor was there any GOP challenge to the selectmen's race, leaving only petitioning candidate Jan Rifkinson running against the four incumbents -- Democrats Di Masters and Barbara Manners and Republicans Andrew Bodnar and Maureen Kozlark.
Rifkinson garnered more than 1,200 votes, an impressive total for a petitioning candidate, but far short of the number needed to gain office.
The lack of a contest for the top spot resulted in a low voter turnout, with about a quarter of the 16,000 persons eligible casting ballots.
Democrats now hold a 3-2 majority on the board, which had previously been solidly in Republican hands, with the GOP previously holding a 4-1 majority.
"I'm sure it's the first time in decades," Democratic Town Chairman Susan Cocco said of the Democratic control of the board.
Overall, excitement over the municipal election was muted this year by the Republican party's decision not to run a candidate against incumbent First Selectman Rudy Marconi, a Democrat.
Because the town's top elected officials now serve four-year terms, Marconi -- who has already been first selectman for 12 years -- will hold that office at least until 2015.
"In hindsight, I would rather have had an opponent so we could talk about the issues to the voters, but selfishly, I loved it," Marconi said.
Nor was there any GOP challenge to the selectmen's race, leaving only petitioning candidate Jan Rifkinson running against the four incumbents -- Democrats Di Masters and Barbara Manners and Republicans Andrew Bodnar and Maureen Kozlark.
Rifkinson garnered more than 1,200 votes, an impressive total for a petitioning candidate, but far short of the number needed to gain office.
The lack of a contest for the top spot resulted in a low voter turnout, with about a quarter of the 16,000 persons eligible casting ballots.
Faint praise from the opposition > A valid candidate says Susan Coco
No challenge for top spot in Ridgefield
Robert Miller, Staff Writer
Updated 11:35 p.m., Friday, November 4, 2011
RIDGEFIELD -- Even in Connecticut, the Land
of Steady Habits, this town is the soul of political stability.
It votes on the top town officials only every four years, rather than every two years. And this year, when the Republicans had a chance to challenge First Selectman Rudy Marconi after his 12 years in office, they chose to pass.
Marconi is running unopposed, ensuring he'll be first selectman until at least 2015.
Nor did the Republicans even try to pick up a third seat on the Board of Selectmen. Instead, the four incumbents -- Democrats Di Masters and Barbara Manners and Republicans Andrew Bodnar and Maureen Kozlark -- are facing their only challenge from petitioning candidate Jan Rifkinson.
Rifkinson said he finds the lack of competition in town "pretty distressing.'' His candidacy, he said, offers the voters at least one choice in the selectmen's race.
"When you serve too long, the knife can get a little dull,'' he said of the incumbents.
Democratic Town Chairman Susan Cocco called Rifkinson a valid candidate.
"He's certainly on the ballot," she said. But Cocco then quickly praised Marconi and the four selectmen, Democrats and Republicans alike, saying they offer the town proven leadership. [...]
It votes on the top town officials only every four years, rather than every two years. And this year, when the Republicans had a chance to challenge First Selectman Rudy Marconi after his 12 years in office, they chose to pass.
Marconi is running unopposed, ensuring he'll be first selectman until at least 2015.
Nor did the Republicans even try to pick up a third seat on the Board of Selectmen. Instead, the four incumbents -- Democrats Di Masters and Barbara Manners and Republicans Andrew Bodnar and Maureen Kozlark -- are facing their only challenge from petitioning candidate Jan Rifkinson.
Rifkinson said he finds the lack of competition in town "pretty distressing.'' His candidacy, he said, offers the voters at least one choice in the selectmen's race.
"When you serve too long, the knife can get a little dull,'' he said of the incumbents.
Democratic Town Chairman Susan Cocco called Rifkinson a valid candidate.
"He's certainly on the ballot," she said. But Cocco then quickly praised Marconi and the four selectmen, Democrats and Republicans alike, saying they offer the town proven leadership. [...]
Monday, November 7, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Woo, Woo. Ridgefield #1 > CT Magazine
Rating the Towns 2011: 15,000-25,000
The top finishers in this population group enjoy the best educational test
results in Connecticut, the most robust local economies, the greatest number of
cultural and social amenities per capita, and most likely a wonderful feeling of
security. The top 10 finishers, from Ridgefield through East Lyme, have a
combined population of just under 200,000 and a minuscule average crime rate of
1.9 crimes a year per 1,000 residents. Of course, if you check out the median
house price, you’ll see that they pay dearly for all that.
The Numbers We Used
EDUCATION: This category combines five elements: the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Mastery Test results for 4th, 6th and 7th grades; results of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT); local SAT scores for 2008, 2009 and 2010, and the percentage of 2010 public high school graduates who went on to two- or four-year colleges. Test scores are weighted more heavily.
ECONOMY: The strength
of the local economy was determined by the 2011 Public Investment Community
score, compiled by the Office of Policy and Management, which rates all
Connecticut towns under a formula based on population, per capita income, the
adjusted equalized grand list per capita, the unemployment rate, the equalized
mill rate and per capita aid to children.
COST OF
LIVING: This category weighs most heavily the median price of a
single-family house purchased in the first six months of 2011, a figure that
predicts many other local expenses. The sales figures are provided by The Warren
Group.
CRIME: This category is based on major crimes
(murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor-vehicle theft)
committed in 2007, 2008 and 2009 per 1,000 population, the most recent figures
available from the state Department of Public
Safety.
LEISURE/CULTURE: Includes local library
expenditures per capita in 2010, the number of theaters, museums, festivals,
concert venues, historic sites, colleges and universities, golf courses, local
newspapers, radio stations, state parks and forests, voter turnout in the 2008
election and good local restaurants.
Several towns shifted position in and out of the Top 10. East Lyme
leapfrogged both Guilford and Brookfield to grab No. 10. Farmington disappeared
into the next most populous group, making way for Stonington to move all the way
from No. 14 last time to No. 9. Stonington’s numbers for its schools and library
were below par, but the classic coastal town makes up for that in a lot of other
ways.
| Town |
Education
|
Crime
|
Economy
|
Cost
|
Leisure
|
Total
|
| 1. RIDGEFIELD |
4
|
1
|
4
|
29
|
2
|
40
|
| 2. NEW CANAAN |
1
|
4
|
1
|
31
|
4
|
41
|
| 3. AVON |
5
|
2
|
5
|
27
|
3
|
42
|
| 4. WILTON |
2
|
3
|
3
|
30
|
5
|
43
|
| 5. DARIEN |
3
|
6
|
2
|
32
|
1
|
44
|
| 6. SIMSBURY |
6
|
7
|
10
|
23
|
6
|
52
|
| 7. MADISON |
7
|
13
|
6
|
28
|
7
|
61
|
| 8. SOUTHBURY |
9.5
|
5
|
11
|
24
|
17
|
66.5
|
| 9. STONINGTON |
21
|
9
|
9
|
20
|
8
|
67
|
| 10. EAST LYME |
9.5
|
17
|
13
|
18
|
10
|
67.5
|
| 11. GUILFORD |
8
|
19
|
7
|
25
|
9
|
68
|
| 12. TOLLAND |
14
|
11
|
18
|
12
|
13
|
68
|
| 13. BROOKFIELD |
12
|
10
|
8
|
26
|
18
|
74
|
| 14. ROCKY HILL |
18
|
12
|
16
|
17
|
14
|
77
|
| 15. ELLINGTON |
15
|
14
|
21
|
14
|
15
|
79
|
| 16. BETHEL |
16
|
8
|
15
|
21
|
21
|
81
|
| 17. WATERFORD |
19
|
29
|
14
|
8
|
12
|
82
|
| 18. MONROE |
11
|
15
|
12
|
22
|
24
|
84
|
| 19.COLCHESTER |
24
|
16
|
23
|
13
|
16
|
92
|
| 20. LEDYARD |
20
|
18
|
24
|
9
|
22
|
93
|
| 21. SUFFIELD |
13
|
24
|
19
|
19
|
20
|
95
|
| 22. BERLIN |
17
|
26
|
20
|
16
|
19
|
98
|
| 23. N HAVEN |
22
|
25
|
17
|
15
|
23
|
102
|
| 24. WATERTOWN |
28
|
23
|
22
|
7
|
25
|
105
|
| 25.BLOOMFIELD |
32
|
32
|
29
|
4
|
11
|
108
|
| 26. MONTVILLE |
27
|
22
|
25
|
3
|
31
|
108
|
| 27. PLAINFIELD |
29
|
20
|
31
|
2
|
28
|
110
|
| 28. WOLCOTT |
23
|
21
|
26
|
11
|
32
|
113
|
| 29. PLAINVILLE |
25
|
31
|
28
|
6
|
27
|
117
|
| 30. KILLINGLY |
30
|
30
|
30
|
1
|
26
|
117
|
| 31. SEYMOUR |
26
|
27
|
27
|
10
|
29
|
119
|
| 32. ANSONIA |
31
|
28
|
32
|
5
|
30
|
126
|
Clipped from: http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/November-2011/Rating-the-Towns-2011-15000-25000/ On: 10/26/2011 10:27:15 AM By: Jan Rifkinson
Saturday, October 22, 2011
A day in the life of my campaign for Board of Selectmen
Campaign Hdqts open Sat Oct 22, 9:30 > 11:00. Same Place: The Marketplace @ Copps Hill. Wanna lawn sign? Soon it will be a collector's item. Stop by to get one absolutely free w my thanks.
So it was a fun day. People stopped by to say hi, to pick up a lawn sign or two, to take some palm cards to spread out to their neighborhoods. Met some new people, had some substantive conversations. It's amazing how lots of different people are coming to the same conclusion -- well, all except one guy -- more on him later -- that we need some different thinking.
I'm not sure I'm the answer but a lot of folks simply seem dissatisfied w the status quo; not just about the BoS but leadership in gen'l. Maybe it's just standard griping that I'm not used to hearing but these were thoughtful people who just didn't understand the direction in which we seem headed.
One insightful comment: this person moved his/her family to Ridgefield, not because the schools were so good (since all the schools in the DRG are good) but because the house prices & taxes were lower, i.e. one could get more bang for their buck in Ridgefield but this person observed the disparity seems to be disappearing. Example: the doubling of taxes over the last 8-10 yrs.
After Campaign Hdqtrs, I took Stella home to rest because she wasn't feeling well, had my my car washed & went to Stop 'n Shop where I met & handed out about 100 cards. Most people were very receptive -- not necessarily to my candidacy -- but to the fact that I had simply decided to run for office. Very nice but two guys typified the range of reactions:
Guy #1 said to me "Oh, you're the anti-govt' guy. I recognize you. That's good I'm voting for you. My psychiatrist told me that if one is dogmatic one is also catatonic."
Guy #2 asked me why I was running as an un-affiliated candidate. "Because I don't like politics" I replied. With that he returned my palm card with the following "If you don't like politics, you shouldn't be running for office." and marched in to do his grocery shopping. However, he couldn't look me straight in the face when he walked out with a full shopping cart 10 minutes later.
So it was a fun day. People stopped by to say hi, to pick up a lawn sign or two, to take some palm cards to spread out to their neighborhoods. Met some new people, had some substantive conversations. It's amazing how lots of different people are coming to the same conclusion -- well, all except one guy -- more on him later -- that we need some different thinking.
I'm not sure I'm the answer but a lot of folks simply seem dissatisfied w the status quo; not just about the BoS but leadership in gen'l. Maybe it's just standard griping that I'm not used to hearing but these were thoughtful people who just didn't understand the direction in which we seem headed.
One insightful comment: this person moved his/her family to Ridgefield, not because the schools were so good (since all the schools in the DRG are good) but because the house prices & taxes were lower, i.e. one could get more bang for their buck in Ridgefield but this person observed the disparity seems to be disappearing. Example: the doubling of taxes over the last 8-10 yrs.
After Campaign Hdqtrs, I took Stella home to rest because she wasn't feeling well, had my my car washed & went to Stop 'n Shop where I met & handed out about 100 cards. Most people were very receptive -- not necessarily to my candidacy -- but to the fact that I had simply decided to run for office. Very nice but two guys typified the range of reactions:
Guy #1 said to me "Oh, you're the anti-govt' guy. I recognize you. That's good I'm voting for you. My psychiatrist told me that if one is dogmatic one is also catatonic."
Guy #2 asked me why I was running as an un-affiliated candidate. "Because I don't like politics" I replied. With that he returned my palm card with the following "If you don't like politics, you shouldn't be running for office." and marched in to do his grocery shopping. However, he couldn't look me straight in the face when he walked out with a full shopping cart 10 minutes later.
I thought about his comment for a while & tried to understand why politics was mandatory for serving as a volunteer on the board of selectmen. I thought shouldn't reason, logic, common decency & common sense count for more? Maybe I'm naive.
Oh, well. I'm taking the day off tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Branchville Parking, a beauracratic boondoggle & an eyesore.
It seems to me there are far too many man hours required by both town employees & residents involved in the present Branchville parking setup with little return.
Too many people have to jump through too many hoops to simply park at our run-down train station which will never be improved at the rate we are going.
So why is it so complicated? Simply because it wasn't thoroughly thought through by the Board of Selectmen before it was implemented.
To understand the parking regulations for the Branchville station you have to read a full page of instructions on the town website, download an application, pour through the tier 1, tier 2 & tier 3 commuter definitions, understand the deadlines, mailing instructions, penalties, re-application requirements, how and when you can get various permits, i.e. town hall office hours, etc.
If you want to read this mish mash go to URL http://goo.gl/EOgDj titled "BRANCHVILLE PARKING PERMIT INFORMATION" or you can check out my common sense solution below:
Create a detailed proposal for improving the station including all actual costs for the project. Lay out a time line for all improvements to kick in. Work with the Parking Authority to determine pricing to support the plan in a reasonable way.
Make every spot daily, put in a parking kiosk, qualified commuters get a yearly $200-$300 permit. Others pay for what they use. Make a deal with a local towing company. Scofflaws are towed.
End of story.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Schlumberger: Another IBM fiasco waiting in the wings?
Let's put the question of whether buying the Schlumberger property is a good or bad idea aside for a moment and look at the methodology with which our town leaders approached this expensive proposition.
Eighteen months before Schlumberger was to leave Ridgefield, the town was notified of their intentions.
Those eighteen months plus three and a half years later, we are told that we must make a deal to preserve Ridgefield's destiny and it has to be done NOW at a 'guestimated' cost of $4 million without a completed plan in place.
That's exactly what happened at a Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, September 7, 2011 with only a few days notice to the public when the agenda was published on the town's website.
Rather than starting this process 60 months ago, or taking another few months to get it right, our reaction to the IBM fiasco is to put the town in the awkward position of making what might be another bad decision.
So on September 7th, the Board of Selectmen -- with one dissenting vote -- rushed through a proposal to put a $4 million dollar bond to the voters on November 8th to buy 'about' 35 acres of the Schlumberger property, peeling off the other acreage for town and private development with an un-named developer. And what are we going to do with this property? Who knows?
There are all kinds of questions to be asked and answered but as usual we are going forward half cocked.
The First Selectman stated that this deal would not increase our overall debt -- a statement that is just plain wrong.
(1) First, the obvious point: borrowing $4 million dollars is just that, borrowing $4 million dollars. That increases debt by $4 million dollars.
(2) Then there is the issue of paying down the bundle. We are currently doing that in an orderly fashion which is only possible so long as we don't increase our capital borrowing by more than $8 million in any given year.
So let's look at that number.
In a 'normal' year we borrow between $3-4 million in capital to finance the purchase of yet more trucks, fire engines, plows, boilers, complete roof repairs, replace school doors and asbestos tiles and begin energy saving projects, etc.
Already announced will be a fall request by the library -- as a separate referendum -- for a reported $5 million dollars to help build a $20 million dollar library.
As a separate issue the schools want a gas line installed to the High School in order to save energy costs, an admirable goal, but timing is everything in life.
By my calculation, we are looking at borrowing at least $12 million for capital projects which does not allow for the same orderly pay down of Ridgefield's overall debt, currently $95 million, at the current rate, in other words the debt curve changes. We will have more debt longer.
Now I have only the information that is public. Somebody please correct my assumptions with some facts, if I am wrong.
Lest we forget, the town of Ridgefield is currently the most indebted town in CT and Ridgefielders are its most indedebted citizens. So proposing that we spend another $4,000,000 for a half cooked idea is a stunning proposal to say the least.
I ask: is this good management?
Now, as a separate matter, let's look at 'controlling our destiny' by buying the Schlumberger property. An argument could be made that it is a good idea if we know how it is going to be paid for going forward.
It is said that any boat owner -- except perhaps the most wealthy amongst us -- claims the two best days of boat ownership are the day they buy the boat and the day they sell it.
That could be said about buying the Schlumberger property as well. While it may feel good to buy it, how are we going to maintain it going forward? It costs Schlumberger a reported $1 million dollars annually to do that. Wouldn't we have to spend a similar amount? I don't know but one thing for sure: there was no plan put forth by the Board of Selectmen to deal with this question amongst others. And if there is no plan, there will be unforeseen consequences. Maybe to schools, to roads, who knows?
I submit there are more followers than thinkers on the current Board or Selectmen. And we, the residents of Ridgefield, will bear the brunt -- yet again -- of their lackadaisical thinking
Buying Schlumberger, controlling our destiny, may well be a good idea but is it, the way it is currently structured?
Eighteen months before Schlumberger was to leave Ridgefield, the town was notified of their intentions.
Those eighteen months plus three and a half years later, we are told that we must make a deal to preserve Ridgefield's destiny and it has to be done NOW at a 'guestimated' cost of $4 million without a completed plan in place.
That's exactly what happened at a Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, September 7, 2011 with only a few days notice to the public when the agenda was published on the town's website.
Rather than starting this process 60 months ago, or taking another few months to get it right, our reaction to the IBM fiasco is to put the town in the awkward position of making what might be another bad decision.
So on September 7th, the Board of Selectmen -- with one dissenting vote -- rushed through a proposal to put a $4 million dollar bond to the voters on November 8th to buy 'about' 35 acres of the Schlumberger property, peeling off the other acreage for town and private development with an un-named developer. And what are we going to do with this property? Who knows?
There are all kinds of questions to be asked and answered but as usual we are going forward half cocked.
The First Selectman stated that this deal would not increase our overall debt -- a statement that is just plain wrong.
(1) First, the obvious point: borrowing $4 million dollars is just that, borrowing $4 million dollars. That increases debt by $4 million dollars.
(2) Then there is the issue of paying down the bundle. We are currently doing that in an orderly fashion which is only possible so long as we don't increase our capital borrowing by more than $8 million in any given year.
So let's look at that number.
In a 'normal' year we borrow between $3-4 million in capital to finance the purchase of yet more trucks, fire engines, plows, boilers, complete roof repairs, replace school doors and asbestos tiles and begin energy saving projects, etc.
Already announced will be a fall request by the library -- as a separate referendum -- for a reported $5 million dollars to help build a $20 million dollar library.
As a separate issue the schools want a gas line installed to the High School in order to save energy costs, an admirable goal, but timing is everything in life.
By my calculation, we are looking at borrowing at least $12 million for capital projects which does not allow for the same orderly pay down of Ridgefield's overall debt, currently $95 million, at the current rate, in other words the debt curve changes. We will have more debt longer.
Now I have only the information that is public. Somebody please correct my assumptions with some facts, if I am wrong.
Lest we forget, the town of Ridgefield is currently the most indebted town in CT and Ridgefielders are its most indedebted citizens. So proposing that we spend another $4,000,000 for a half cooked idea is a stunning proposal to say the least.
I ask: is this good management?
Now, as a separate matter, let's look at 'controlling our destiny' by buying the Schlumberger property. An argument could be made that it is a good idea if we know how it is going to be paid for going forward.
It is said that any boat owner -- except perhaps the most wealthy amongst us -- claims the two best days of boat ownership are the day they buy the boat and the day they sell it.
That could be said about buying the Schlumberger property as well. While it may feel good to buy it, how are we going to maintain it going forward? It costs Schlumberger a reported $1 million dollars annually to do that. Wouldn't we have to spend a similar amount? I don't know but one thing for sure: there was no plan put forth by the Board of Selectmen to deal with this question amongst others. And if there is no plan, there will be unforeseen consequences. Maybe to schools, to roads, who knows?
I submit there are more followers than thinkers on the current Board or Selectmen. And we, the residents of Ridgefield, will bear the brunt -- yet again -- of their lackadaisical thinking
Buying Schlumberger, controlling our destiny, may well be a good idea but is it, the way it is currently structured?
Monday, September 5, 2011
09/01/2011 Hurricane Irene > Danbury News Times
RIDGEFIELD -- Tree by tree, downed pole by downed pole, road by road, the U.S. National Guard took back the town.
When troops arrived Tuesday afternoon, there were about 125 roads in town blocked by trees downed by Tropical Storm Irene.
When they left Thursday afternoon, they'd reversed that.
"All our roads are deemed passable,'' First Selectman Rudy Marconi said Thursday afternoon.
"I'm so happy,'' said Jean O'Connor, as the Guard arrived to cut apart the felled maple that was blocking Fire Hill Road, along with the utility pole it took down with it. "They're here. They'll get it done."
The Guard unit -- the 192nd Multi-Functional Engineer Battalion -- is based in Stratford. Since there's no record of the guard being deployed in town in the 1955 flood, this might have been its first Ridgefield deployment in town history (It may be argued that since the guard's lineage goes back to the Colonial militia, it made an earlier appearance here, fighting the British in the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777).
But history mattered less to town residents than the boots on the ground and the chain saws in tree limbs this week.
"It's the first sign of progress,'' said Gene Gaisser, of Topstone Road, who watched with his family as the guard cleared a huge fallen locust tree from the road in front of their house. "We wouldn't have gotten this far without them,'' said Lanny Byers, who lives across Topstone Road from the Gaissers. Both families have been without power since 2 a.m. Sunday morning.
Maj. Charles Jaworski Jr., the battalion's executive officer, said working to help communities is one of the guard's two tasks -- serving overseas is the other. "We have a federal and a state mission,'' Jaworski said. "The state mission is to respond to help communities after a natural disaster.''
So that while guard members get trained for combat, they also are up on tree removal -- all guard members are licensed chain saw operators, Jaworski said.
And since all the guard members on duty are young, none served during Hurricane Gloria in 1985, not to mention the flood of 1955.
Irene's damage came as a bit of a revelation. Before arriving here, the unit had gone to flood-damaged Bristol and the storm-beaten town of East Haven.
In Ridgefield, Jaworski said, seeing the number of utility poles and lines and trees down was depressing as it was impressive.
"I've never seen this level of destruction,'' he said.
But the two-and-a-half days the guard spent in town made an "incredible'' difference. Marconi said.
"They allowed us to clear roads that were still blocked,'' he said. "We'll be forever thankful to each and every one of them.''
But what Irene wrought, Marconi said, also showed the failure of Connecticut Light & Power Co., and its parent company, Northeast Utilities, in its ability to respond to a crisis. Although the roads are now cleared, Marconi said the town -- which had no power Sunday -- was still is 60 percent in the dark. That meant about 18,000 residents were without electricity for a fifth day.
"We need to think about this,'' Marconi said. "We don't have a plan to deal with a disaster like this. We need to put words into action.''
Contact Robert Miller
at bmiller@newstimes.com
or at 203-731-3345.
When troops arrived Tuesday afternoon, there were about 125 roads in town blocked by trees downed by Tropical Storm Irene.
When they left Thursday afternoon, they'd reversed that.
"All our roads are deemed passable,'' First Selectman Rudy Marconi said Thursday afternoon.
"I'm so happy,'' said Jean O'Connor, as the Guard arrived to cut apart the felled maple that was blocking Fire Hill Road, along with the utility pole it took down with it. "They're here. They'll get it done."
The Guard unit -- the 192nd Multi-Functional Engineer Battalion -- is based in Stratford. Since there's no record of the guard being deployed in town in the 1955 flood, this might have been its first Ridgefield deployment in town history (It may be argued that since the guard's lineage goes back to the Colonial militia, it made an earlier appearance here, fighting the British in the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777).
But history mattered less to town residents than the boots on the ground and the chain saws in tree limbs this week.
"It's the first sign of progress,'' said Gene Gaisser, of Topstone Road, who watched with his family as the guard cleared a huge fallen locust tree from the road in front of their house. "We wouldn't have gotten this far without them,'' said Lanny Byers, who lives across Topstone Road from the Gaissers. Both families have been without power since 2 a.m. Sunday morning.
Maj. Charles Jaworski Jr., the battalion's executive officer, said working to help communities is one of the guard's two tasks -- serving overseas is the other. "We have a federal and a state mission,'' Jaworski said. "The state mission is to respond to help communities after a natural disaster.''
So that while guard members get trained for combat, they also are up on tree removal -- all guard members are licensed chain saw operators, Jaworski said.
And since all the guard members on duty are young, none served during Hurricane Gloria in 1985, not to mention the flood of 1955.
Irene's damage came as a bit of a revelation. Before arriving here, the unit had gone to flood-damaged Bristol and the storm-beaten town of East Haven.
In Ridgefield, Jaworski said, seeing the number of utility poles and lines and trees down was depressing as it was impressive.
"I've never seen this level of destruction,'' he said.
But the two-and-a-half days the guard spent in town made an "incredible'' difference. Marconi said.
"They allowed us to clear roads that were still blocked,'' he said. "We'll be forever thankful to each and every one of them.''
But what Irene wrought, Marconi said, also showed the failure of Connecticut Light & Power Co., and its parent company, Northeast Utilities, in its ability to respond to a crisis. Although the roads are now cleared, Marconi said the town -- which had no power Sunday -- was still is 60 percent in the dark. That meant about 18,000 residents were without electricity for a fifth day.
"We need to think about this,'' Marconi said. "We don't have a plan to deal with a disaster like this. We need to put words into action.''
Contact Robert Miller
at bmiller@newstimes.com
or at 203-731-3345.
AP > Tablets are coming to a classroom near you
By STEPHANIE REITZ
HARTFORD, Conn. — For incoming freshmen at western
Connecticut's suburban Brookfield High School, hefting a backpack weighed down
with textbooks is about to give way to tapping out notes and flipping electronic
pages on a glossy iPad tablet computer.
A few hours away, every student at Burlington High School near
Boston will also start the year with new school-issued iPads, each loaded with
electronic textbooks and other online resources in place of traditional bulky
texts.While iPads have rocketed to popularity on many college campuses since Apple Inc. introduced the device in spring 2010, many public secondary schools this fall will move away from textbooks in favor of the lightweight tablet computers.
Apple officials say they know of more than 600 districts that have launched what are called "one-to-one" programs, in which at least one classroom of students is getting iPads for each student to use throughout the school day.
Nearly two-thirds of them have begun since July, according to Apple.
New programs are being announced on a regular basis, too. As recently as Wednesday, Kentucky's education commissioner and the superintendent of schools in Woodford County, Ky., said that Woodford County High will become the state's first public high school to give each of its 1,250 students an iPad.
At Burlington High in suburban Boston, principal Patrick Larkin calls the $500 iPads a better long-term investment than textbooks, though he said the school will still use traditional texts in some courses if suitable electronic programs aren't yet available.
"I don't want to generalize because I don't want to insult people who are working hard to make those resources," Larkin said of textbooks, "but they're pretty much outdated the minute they're printed and certainly by the time they're delivered. The bottom line is that the iPads will give our kids a chance to use much more relevant materials."
The trend has not been limited to wealthy suburban districts. New York City, Chicago and many other urban districts also are buying large numbers of iPads.
The iPads generally cost districts between $500 and $600, depending on what accessories and service plans are purchased.
By comparison, Brookfield High in Connecticut estimates it spends at least that much yearly on every student's textbooks, not including graphing calculators, dictionaries and other accessories they can get on the iPads.
Educators say the sleek, flat tablet computers offer a variety of benefits.
They include interactive programs to demonstrate problem-solving in math, scratchpad features for note-taking and bookmarking, the ability to immediately send quizzes and homework to teachers, and the chance to view videos or tutorials on everything from important historical events to learning foreign languages.
They're especially popular in special education services, for children with autism spectrum disorders and learning disabilities, and for those who learn best when something is explained with visual images, not just through talking.
Some advocates also say the interactive nature of learning on an iPad comes naturally to many of today's students, who've grown up with electronic devices as part of their everyday world.
But for all of the excitement surrounding the growth of iPads in public secondary schools, some experts watching the trend warn that the districts need to ensure they can support the wireless infrastructure, repairs and other costs that accompany a switch to such a tech-heavy approach.
And even with the most modern device in hand, students still need the basics of a solid curriculum and skilled teachers.
"There's a saying that the music is not in the piano and, in the same way, the learning is not in the device," said Mark Warschauer, an education and informatics professor at the University of California-Irvine whose specialties include research on the intersection of technology and education.
"I don't want to oversell these things or present the idea that these devices are miraculous, but they have some benefits and that's why so many people outside of schools are using them so much," he said.
One such iPad devotee is 15-year-old Christian Woods, who starts his sophomore year at Burlington, Mass., High School on a special student support team to help about 1,000 other teens adjust to their new tablets.
"I think people will like it. I really don't know anybody in high school that wouldn't want to get an iPad," he said. "We're always using technology at home, then when you're at school it's textbooks, so it's a good way to put all of that together."
Districts are varied in their policies on how they police students' use.
Many have filtering programs to keep students off websites that have not been pre-approved, and some require the students to turn in the iPads during vacation breaks and at the end of the school year. Others hold the reins a little more loosely.
"If we truly consider this a learning device, we don't want to take it away and say, 'Leaning stops in the summertime.' " said Larkin, the Burlington principal.
And the nation's domestic textbook publishing industry, accounting for $5.5 billion in yearly sales to secondary schools, is taking notice of the trend with its own shift in a competitive race toward developing curriculum specifically for iPads.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Whoopie. I’m now legal
Written by Jan Rifkinson
Saturday, 20 August 2011
As
of Aug. 15, with all the financial papers in order, my campaign for
Ridgefield selectman now has an official account at Webster Bank and I
am trolling (singing loudly and without inhibition) for donations.
Candidates can only do so much. The rest of it is up to you, voters,
to support and ultimately vote for the candidate of your choice.
So for those of you who may have secretly enjoyed my posts, discussions, blog, newspaper articles and pictures of my Bouvier, now’s the time to step up to the plate. And if you can convince any of your friends to join the party, so much the better.
Here’s the info: Checks should be paid to: “jan4selectman” which is the name of the campaign committee. Please Mail to: Jan Rifkinson P.O. Box 1197, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
So for those of you who may have secretly enjoyed my posts, discussions, blog, newspaper articles and pictures of my Bouvier, now’s the time to step up to the plate. And if you can convince any of your friends to join the party, so much the better.
Here’s the info: Checks should be paid to: “jan4selectman” which is the name of the campaign committee. Please Mail to: Jan Rifkinson P.O. Box 1197, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
Your donations will be itemized and deposited in the committee account at Webster Bank.
Asking for financial help is an uncomfortable endeavor but a campaign is a group effort so whatever you can comfortably afford will be much appreciated.
Your donations will go a long way to help my grass roots campaign as an un-affiliated candidate (by choice) spread the word that un-affiliated simply means that I will be using my common sense when making decisions that affect taxpayers.
I have been told I am on a Quixotic adventure, that I cannot possibly beat the town’s political machine. I say otherwise and I hope you agree.
I promise not to waste your hard earned dollars on party favors, liveried waiters and limos.
My entire campaign is an open book. Symbolically, our headquarters is out in the open, under a beautiful old Norway Spruce (or is it an old pine?) in the large median between Ross Bread and Talbots.
Asking for financial help is an uncomfortable endeavor but a campaign is a group effort so whatever you can comfortably afford will be much appreciated.
Your donations will go a long way to help my grass roots campaign as an un-affiliated candidate (by choice) spread the word that un-affiliated simply means that I will be using my common sense when making decisions that affect taxpayers.
I have been told I am on a Quixotic adventure, that I cannot possibly beat the town’s political machine. I say otherwise and I hope you agree.
I promise not to waste your hard earned dollars on party favors, liveried waiters and limos.
My entire campaign is an open book. Symbolically, our headquarters is out in the open, under a beautiful old Norway Spruce (or is it an old pine?) in the large median between Ross Bread and Talbots.
We have a park bench, a small metal table and three chairs. Me,
Stella Bella and the campaign brain trust meet on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to
noon, to discuss campaign issues and strategy. We also engage other
residents in conversation about Ridgefield and we are there to answer
questions should any of you care to join us.
I’m really enjoying myself. This exercise in democracy is a wonderful experience and, with your help, I look forward to serving the Ridgefield community as a selectman come Nov 8.
I’m really enjoying myself. This exercise in democracy is a wonderful experience and, with your help, I look forward to serving the Ridgefield community as a selectman come Nov 8.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Ridgefield Patch 08/10/2011 > Ridgefielders For A More Open Local Government
Written by Ridgefield Patch editor Michael Gibney
Recently, Ridgefield residents and the Board of Selectmen have discussed the possibility of including more time during meetings for public comment.
Possible solutions have ranged the spectrum, the more conservative of which would allow time only for members of the board to address private concerns at the end of the meeting. The more liberal solution would open the floor to any and all public comment in an "open-mic" fashioned part of the meeting.
As it now stands, the Board is set to discuss a compromise that would allow for a more open government without letting meetings devolve or slip into the midnight hours.
Jan Rifkinson, who is getting ready to run for a spot on the Board of Selectmen in November on an unaffiliated ticket, first brought up the idea with a request for "Old Business" and "New Business" items on each meeting's agenda to allow for meetings to address issues off the set agenda.
"I understand there's an agenda," Rifkinson said. "But people do come with ideas. Right now there's very little audience participation."
For Rifkinson, the more open the better.
"My point of view is that you encourage people to step up with ideas who may not come otherwise," Rifkinson said. "You allow people to say, 'Sometime down the road, I'd like you to look at X, Y and Z.'"
Both times the subject has come up, the Board has generally agreed with the sentiment, but when it came to logistics, there were some apparent drawbacks, one of which addressed the primary reason for having an agenda in the first place.
"When we have items on the agenda, such as a blight ordinance, for instance, a specific group of people show up," First Selectmen Rudy Maroni said. "People get upset when we talk about things not on the agenda -- that's the reason we have one."
Selectwoman Barbara Manners said that residents are welcome to call Marconi's office beforehand to secure a spot on the agenda, and they are often included.
"We make it clear that people can call the office and put something on the agenda," Manners said. "And I've never known Rudy to turn it down."
The Board of Education currently allows time before meetings for public comment, which draws a large crowd at times. Having been a member of the school board, Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark chimed in on that experience.
"I liked having it on the agenda," Kozlark said. "We don't necessarily want to make it a free-for-all for the public, but we want people to have the opportunity to speak their minds."
Selectman Andrew Bodner suggested opening it up to the members of the board for a "Board of Selectmen's Report," borrowing from the "First Selectman's Report" item currently on the agenda.
"We wouldn't want someone to use it as a pulpit for issues not relevant to the Board of Selectmen," Bodner said, addressing the "open mic" solution.
Currently, Bodner said, the board is "pretty gracious" in allowing people to speak.
"I don't think there's been any meetings that no one's been able to speak," Bodner said.
Rifkinson wants the process to be formalized, though.
The subject is still up for discussion, and the board was open to the compromise of permitting a short time at the beginning of each meeting for comment but without allowing a free-for-all kind of atmosphere.
"The bottom line is to have another conduit for people to comment," Rifkinson said. "Anything we can do to encourage a dialogue should be looked at in a positive way."
Possible solutions have ranged the spectrum, the more conservative of which would allow time only for members of the board to address private concerns at the end of the meeting. The more liberal solution would open the floor to any and all public comment in an "open-mic" fashioned part of the meeting.
As it now stands, the Board is set to discuss a compromise that would allow for a more open government without letting meetings devolve or slip into the midnight hours.
Jan Rifkinson, who is getting ready to run for a spot on the Board of Selectmen in November on an unaffiliated ticket, first brought up the idea with a request for "Old Business" and "New Business" items on each meeting's agenda to allow for meetings to address issues off the set agenda.
"I understand there's an agenda," Rifkinson said. "But people do come with ideas. Right now there's very little audience participation."
For Rifkinson, the more open the better.
"My point of view is that you encourage people to step up with ideas who may not come otherwise," Rifkinson said. "You allow people to say, 'Sometime down the road, I'd like you to look at X, Y and Z.'"
Both times the subject has come up, the Board has generally agreed with the sentiment, but when it came to logistics, there were some apparent drawbacks, one of which addressed the primary reason for having an agenda in the first place.
"When we have items on the agenda, such as a blight ordinance, for instance, a specific group of people show up," First Selectmen Rudy Maroni said. "People get upset when we talk about things not on the agenda -- that's the reason we have one."
Selectwoman Barbara Manners said that residents are welcome to call Marconi's office beforehand to secure a spot on the agenda, and they are often included.
"We make it clear that people can call the office and put something on the agenda," Manners said. "And I've never known Rudy to turn it down."
The Board of Education currently allows time before meetings for public comment, which draws a large crowd at times. Having been a member of the school board, Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark chimed in on that experience.
"I liked having it on the agenda," Kozlark said. "We don't necessarily want to make it a free-for-all for the public, but we want people to have the opportunity to speak their minds."
Selectman Andrew Bodner suggested opening it up to the members of the board for a "Board of Selectmen's Report," borrowing from the "First Selectman's Report" item currently on the agenda.
"We wouldn't want someone to use it as a pulpit for issues not relevant to the Board of Selectmen," Bodner said, addressing the "open mic" solution.
Currently, Bodner said, the board is "pretty gracious" in allowing people to speak.
"I don't think there's been any meetings that no one's been able to speak," Bodner said.
Rifkinson wants the process to be formalized, though.
The subject is still up for discussion, and the board was open to the compromise of permitting a short time at the beginning of each meeting for comment but without allowing a free-for-all kind of atmosphere.
"The bottom line is to have another conduit for people to comment," Rifkinson said. "Anything we can do to encourage a dialogue should be looked at in a positive way."
Ridgefield Press 08/11/2011 > A common Sense Approach to Grants & Abatements
Written By Jan Rifkinson
At the August 3rd Board of Selectmen meeting, the Jesse Lee Church requested an approximate $800 tax abatement on about $12k in income derived from a parking lot business on their property.
After some discussion, the propriety of granting this abatement was tabled with the not-so-unusual statement by First Selectman, Marconi, that it had been rubber stamped for years without question based on some agreement made between some people at some time, some where.
In my view charity is a wonderful part of Ridgefield's heritage. What is problematic for me is how the monies are distributed.
When the last Charter Revision Commission was in session, I suggested that the BoS appoint a 'Grants Commission'.
Going forward any organization that wanted a grant would apply to that Commission in writing, explaining why a grant was needed. The Commission would weigh the various requests, review usage reports from past recipients and present their recommendations to the BoS, which by charter, must disburse monies.
By doing it this way, I reasoned, disbursing grants would be independent of personal relationships and political spheres.
At the August 3rd Board of Selectmen meeting, the Jesse Lee Church requested an approximate $800 tax abatement on about $12k in income derived from a parking lot business on their property.
After some discussion, the propriety of granting this abatement was tabled with the not-so-unusual statement by First Selectman, Marconi, that it had been rubber stamped for years without question based on some agreement made between some people at some time, some where.
In my view charity is a wonderful part of Ridgefield's heritage. What is problematic for me is how the monies are distributed.
When the last Charter Revision Commission was in session, I suggested that the BoS appoint a 'Grants Commission'.
Going forward any organization that wanted a grant would apply to that Commission in writing, explaining why a grant was needed. The Commission would weigh the various requests, review usage reports from past recipients and present their recommendations to the BoS, which by charter, must disburse monies.
By doing it this way, I reasoned, disbursing grants would be independent of personal relationships and political spheres.
The Charter Revision Commission researched,
honed and accepted this approach, presenting it to the Board of
Selectmen who promptly killed it.
The First Selectman was protective of the current system. Di Master's voiced her opposition by saying that 'handing out grants was one of her most satisfying responsibilities'. Andy Bodner mused that the amount involved (currently in excess of $225k) wasn't enough to change the system. Both J Plock and B Manners were also skeptical.
I believe a common sense argument could be made that all grants, rent & tax abatements should fall into a single category so tax payers could easily see how many of their tax dollars were disbursed in this manner.
We might all be surprised how much we spend in discretionary funds.
The First Selectman was protective of the current system. Di Master's voiced her opposition by saying that 'handing out grants was one of her most satisfying responsibilities'. Andy Bodner mused that the amount involved (currently in excess of $225k) wasn't enough to change the system. Both J Plock and B Manners were also skeptical.
I believe a common sense argument could be made that all grants, rent & tax abatements should fall into a single category so tax payers could easily see how many of their tax dollars were disbursed in this manner.
We might all be surprised how much we spend in discretionary funds.
Friday, August 5, 2011
What A tragedy.
 |
| I can't begin to imagine the loss of the 16 year old who was driving this car alone @ 3:25 in the morning Story and photo from the News Times |
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Please sign my petition to get on the ballot as an un-affiliated candidate for Board of Selectmen.
This is a real exercise in grass roots democracy and I love it. I'm running as an
un-affiliated candidate for Board of Selectmen by choice and, as such, I must petition to get on the ballot in Nov.
The CT Secy of State, Dept. of Elections sets the number of signatures I must gather to qualify for a position on the ballot. Those signatures must then be authenticated by the Ridgefield Town Clerk.
If I am successful in gathering the required number of signatures, I can then campaign as a candidate for the Board of Selectmen. My name will appear in 4th place, last on the ballot.
Many people have told me that they are tired of politics-as-usual.
In response, I say the only way things have a chance of changing is if there are different people serving on the boards and I mean all of them; that is assuming you don't like the way things are being handled now.
It's up to you voters. Candidates like me (or anyone else) can only do so much. Then it's up to you. You have to sign petitions and vote. It's called democracy.
I'm told this may be an uphill battle to win a seat on the Board as an un-affiliated candidate but I am extremely excited and positive about the entire process and look forward to meeting all of you.
Fri, July 29th 2:30-4:30 @ Farmer's Market (Garden of Ideas)
Sat, July 30th 10:00-12:00 @ Stop 'n Shop
Sat, July 30th 1:00-3:00 @ Town Hall, Main St.
Thanks.
The CT Secy of State, Dept. of Elections sets the number of signatures I must gather to qualify for a position on the ballot. Those signatures must then be authenticated by the Ridgefield Town Clerk.
If I am successful in gathering the required number of signatures, I can then campaign as a candidate for the Board of Selectmen. My name will appear in 4th place, last on the ballot.
Many people have told me that they are tired of politics-as-usual.
In response, I say the only way things have a chance of changing is if there are different people serving on the boards and I mean all of them; that is assuming you don't like the way things are being handled now.
It's up to you voters. Candidates like me (or anyone else) can only do so much. Then it's up to you. You have to sign petitions and vote. It's called democracy.
I'm told this may be an uphill battle to win a seat on the Board as an un-affiliated candidate but I am extremely excited and positive about the entire process and look forward to meeting all of you.
Fri, July 29th 2:30-4:30 @ Farmer's Market (Garden of Ideas)
Sat, July 30th 10:00-12:00 @ Stop 'n Shop
Sat, July 30th 1:00-3:00 @ Town Hall, Main St.
Thanks.
Website: http://myridgefield.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://goo.gl/RhiIE
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Schlumberger - Another IBM fiasco? > Letter to the Editor Ridgefield Press 2011/07/21
Written by Jan Rifkinson
What's happening with the Schlumberger property?
There are no minutes or recordings of these sessions. What decisions emerge, and come before the electorate, will be fait accompli.
In my opinion strategic thinking is not necessarily the hallmark of this board so will those decisions be in our best interests?
The Schlumberger situation should be important to all of us but it isn't getting any public traction.
Here's what we do know. There is a vacant corporate park, including a vacant Philip Johnson building sitting on 45 acres in the midst of Ridgefield.
Schlumberger has notified Ridgefield of it's intention to demolish the buildings and, when land values rise, they will sell the 45 acres to.... whom.... for what? Only five people know the answers.
How will what the BoS decides about this 45 acres impact us 10-20 years from now? Or are we taking a short view?
Do we want another Casagmo? How about another Fox Hill?
Would we be willing to give Schlumberger a $214,166.80 (what they pay now) tax exemption to help preserve the space for Ridgefield going forward while we try to work out a sensible plan?
How about turning town hall into a privately owned boutique hotel & moving the entire administration to the Johnson building? How about selling the Venus building? Maybe we could save millions by moving the Police station into that complex. Or would we prefer to have 45 acres of open space with another museum?
These are all questions that I can't answer but I do think the public should be part of the discussion.
We are now living with the results of the IBM fiasco. I don't want to be part of another one. How about you?
What's happening with the Schlumberger property?
It's hard to know because all relevant discussions are carried out in
secret, Board of Selectmen executive sessions.
There are no minutes or recordings of these sessions. What decisions emerge, and come before the electorate, will be fait accompli.
In my opinion strategic thinking is not necessarily the hallmark of this board so will those decisions be in our best interests?
The Schlumberger situation should be important to all of us but it isn't getting any public traction.
Here's what we do know. There is a vacant corporate park, including a vacant Philip Johnson building sitting on 45 acres in the midst of Ridgefield.
Schlumberger has notified Ridgefield of it's intention to demolish the buildings and, when land values rise, they will sell the 45 acres to.... whom.... for what? Only five people know the answers.
How will what the BoS decides about this 45 acres impact us 10-20 years from now? Or are we taking a short view?
Do we want another Casagmo? How about another Fox Hill?
Would we be willing to give Schlumberger a $214,166.80 (what they pay now) tax exemption to help preserve the space for Ridgefield going forward while we try to work out a sensible plan?
How about turning town hall into a privately owned boutique hotel & moving the entire administration to the Johnson building? How about selling the Venus building? Maybe we could save millions by moving the Police station into that complex. Or would we prefer to have 45 acres of open space with another museum?
These are all questions that I can't answer but I do think the public should be part of the discussion.
We are now living with the results of the IBM fiasco. I don't want to be part of another one. How about you?
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Rifkinson will run, seeks signatures > Ridgefield Press July 20,2011
Rifkinson will run, seeks signatures
Written by Macklin Reid, Press Staff
Wednesday, 20 July 2011 05:36
Wednesday, 20 July 2011 05:36
Jan Rifkinson
Jan Rifkinson is in. He’s decided to run for a seat on the Board of Selectmen.
“I have indeed decided to make this run as an unaffiliated candidate,” said Mr. Rifkinson, a frequent critic of town government who has been seeking feedback for a couple of weeks on the idea of running for a board seat — and announced his interest in the idea in last week’s Press.
“I’m filing my papers today,” he said Tuesday. “That’s without any guarantees from anybody for anything. I have no assurance of any kind from any of the parties that they will endorse me, or cross endorse me, or side endorse me...
“I’m just going out on my own,” he said. “It’s just me.”
Because he plans to run unaffiliated, Mr. Rifkinson has some work to do to get on the ballot.
“First thing is you get an application for a nominating petition — not part of a party — and then I get this filled out, with the help of the town clerk,” he said. “And then it gets sent off to Hartford, to the elections office.”
The state elections office then computes the number of valid signatures of registered Ridgefield voters — of any party affiliation — he’ll need to sign a petition in support of his being placed on the ballot.
“They send me a letter of acknowledgment that they’ve received my petition, and then they tell me how many names I’ll need on a petition to become a candidate.”
The number of valid signatures needed is one percent of the number of votes cast for the office of selectmen in the previous general election.
In the winter, when Maureen Kozlark petitioned to get on the special election ballot as an unaffiliated candidate after losing the Republican caucus to Marty Heiser, she needed 59 signatures — 1% of the 5,844 votes cast for selectmen in the 2007 election.
Whatever the number, Mr. Rifkinson was optimistic — 1% is [sic] a low threshold.
“It couldn’t be more than 150, because there’s only 15,000 registered voters in town,” he said.
“The entire process has to completed by Aug. 10. It all has to be in to and confirmed by the Town Clerk by Aug. 10. So, I don’t have a whole lot of time.
“I have to have an official form, and then I guess I’ll go stand somewhere and, hopefully, people will sign it,” he said.
People don’t have to plan on voting for him to sign the petition to get him on the ballot.
“I hope people will sign it just on general principle, whether they’ll support me or not. It’s an exercise in democracy,” he said.
Mr. Rifkinson said, “I continue to get comments both privately and publicly that I should run. And it seems to be from a wide swath of the community,” he said.
He has no qualms about doing it the hard way.
“I suppose the conventional thinking is that if I were to run from a party platform I would stand a better chance, and that’s probably true. But I’m just not comfortable doing it,” he said.
“I don’t want anybody calling me or saying to me ‘Don’t support that’ or ‘Do support that’ or ‘If you don’t support that, I’m not going to support you.
“People have written to me,” he added. “They say they’re tired of politics as usual.”
He may not have a party, but he does plan to make his voice heard.
“Oh, yeah, I’m going to run a campaign,” he said. “Certainly I have to sit down with people who know what they’re doing along those lines, because I’ve never been through one of these before.
“I guess, try to find a campaign manager, try to raise some cash, get my face out there, talk to people so they get to know me — and keep my fingers crossed.”
While he’s not going to run on any party’s platform, he said, he wouldn’t mind if the Independent Party, or even one of the major parties, decided to support him.
“Anybody can endorse me, that’s up to them. I’d accept anybody’s endorsement,” he said.
“All three of them can endorse me, as far as I’m concerned.
Mr. Rifkinson said he wasn’t ready to detail the topics he’d be campaigning on, but he had sense of what he wanted to talk about.
“I have a lot of thoughts about that,” he said. “I suppose open government, more transparency, more, more public meetings, more cooperation between the boards...
“I’m hoping people can come around to dealing with issues from a common sense and common good point of view, instead of a political point of view,” he said.
“It should be interesting."
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