A draft blight ordinance is up for a public hearing tonight in Ridgefield.

The blight ordinance will give Ridgefield residents a way to express concerns about the condition of rundown properties.  First Selectman Rudy Marconi has said this would not be for tall grass or houses that need painting.  The ordinance provides definitions of what would be considered blight.  It includes being dilapidated, having boarded up windows, is a fire hazard or the property is littered with excessive amounts of garbage or abandoned unregistered cars. 

The proposed ordinance calls for a blight enforcement officer to be part of a Blight Prevention Board and the creation of a Citation Hearing Appeals Board.  It still needs approval in a town meeting.

The public hearing tonight is at 7:30 in the town hall large conference room.