A thriving Ridgefield, looking optimistically toward the future — although mixed economic signals suggest some problems to work on — was sketched out in First Selectman Rudy Marconi’s State of the Town address to the Chamber of Commerce.
“What we need to do is work as a team,” Marconi told about 150 business people at the Chamber’s Inaugural Breakfast on Friday, March 11, at Silver Spring Country Club.
Efforts to strengthen the town’s economic base and improve the business climate are important, even if the town’s economy seems fairly good.
“Although it’s OK, some are saying they’re beginning to see foot traffic go down. Why wait?” Marconi said. “Let’s take the bull by the horns!”
The first selectman praised the business community for the strong participation in the Feb. 29 meeting on parking and retail surveys done last year.
“It was fantastic. There was enthusiasm,” he said.
The survey on parking issues showed townspeople are opposed to a garage that some had viewed as a solution to the problem, Marconi said, but that doesn’t mean the idea of adding to the parking capacity in the village is off the table.
“We’re going to be looking at little pockets around Ridgefield — 30 spaces, 40 spaces, 50 spaces,” he said.
The retail survey, he told the Chamber breakfast, had challenged the notion that Ridgefield’s commercial rents are excessive.
“Our rents aren’t too high,” he said. “In fact, they’re right where they should be.”
Ridgefield’s fundamentally strong economy is reflected by a variety of town government functions.
“Basically, we met all our forecasts,” Marconi said, looking at the town’s last completed fiscal year, 2014-15. The town returned money to its roughly $13-million surplus fund balance, he said.
Various other revenue indicators are sending mixed signals when the current fiscal year is compared to last one.
Conveyance taxes, which reflect both the number and dollar value of real estate sales, and follow a seasonal pattern, have been up and down. January last year was very strong, but not as good this year. February was weak last year, but better this year.
“We’re seeing inconsistency,” Marconi said.
“Things are slowing up. I think we might be hitting a plateau.”
Revenues from the Parks and Recreation programs — which represent ‘like-to-haves’ as opposed to ‘have-to-haves,’ Marconi said — “recently have grown” but are “starting to level off.”
For the coming 2016-17 fiscal year, which starts July 1, the town is in the midst of its budget process.
The selectmen just completed their budget review, and are seeking a 2.12% budget increase for town departments.
And School Superintendent Karen Baldwin is seeking a 5.72% increase.
He urged the Chamber crowd to follow the budget process.
“Please, read the paper, stayed tuned,” he said.
Marconi also outlined state plans “to redo Main Street” to better move traffic through the village.
“The press headline was ‘trees will come down,’ ” Marconi joked.
The project will add “through lanes” and “turning lanes” in the village and there are also plans to “install a cable conduit” that would connect the three traffic lights in the village and allow their timing to be coordinated. The Chamber crowd burst into applause, and Marconi sought to tamp down hopes for swift action on the state Department of Transportation project.
“That’s all in the hands of the DOT,” he said.
The costs of the project will be $4 million to $5 million, he said, with the federal government paying 80% and the state 20%.
The job is projected to go out to bid in 2017 and work should begin in 2018, Marconi said.
Planning for the project started 2012, he said.
“With the State of Connecticut, it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil,” he said. “You’ve got to constantly badger them.”
With help from Congressman Jim Himes’ office, Marconi said, there appeared to be progress on getting the post office to demolish the derelict house next door at 28 Catoonah Street — which the Postal Service controls through a long-term lease.
“I think it’s coming down — I’m not sure,” Marconi said of the house. “The post office has finally agreed to take it on.”
He also described the planned “transit-oriented development” or “TOD” project intended to spark economic vibrancy in Branchville, with its train station and two state highways, Route 7 and Route 102.
“There’s such potential to expand it, put in a new Main Street in, first floor retail, second floor condominiums and apartments,” he said.
Marconi also lamented voter turnouts in the 12% to 13% range for budget referendums.
He said Wilton had a minimum turnout clause in its charter, and last May more Wilton voters had opposed their budget than favored it, but it passed because the number of Wiltonians voting hadn’t reached the required 15%.
Marconi didn’t advocate a charter change of this sort for Ridgefield, but he did urge the breakfast crowd to participate.
“Vote,” Marconi said, “no matter what the issue, please vote.”
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