A Special Town Meeting is being held tonight in Ridgefield.  Residents are being called on to vote on 4 items, including a ban on cannabis sales in Ridgefield.  First on the agenda is the expansion of the Economic & Community Development Commission from 7 to 9 members, and their term of service from 1 year to two years. 

The next item up for a vote is a contract with Aquarion Water Company for a permanent pressure reducing facility easement and a temporary construction easement over a portion of the Scotland Elementary School Property. 

The third item is an Cannabis Prohibiting Ordinance. 

The last item on the agenda is nearly $233,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to reimburse the RVNA for expenses associated with the Covid Vaccination Clinic.  The clinics were held between January through April of 2021.  RVNAhealth purchased and installed ultra-low temperature freezers required for vaccine storage, did weekly ordering of the vaccine and inventory management. They administered more than 13,000 vaccines during those 4 months.

Under the cannabis proposal, it will be unlawful to commercially Cultivate or dispense Cannabis in any building or land anywhere in town, with some exceptions.  No application will be permitted in any zone in Ridgefield.  Under state statutes, delivery of cannabis is allowed.  Ridgefield will not prohibit the delivery of Cannabis to a consumer, qualifying patient, or caregiver when the delivery is made by an authorized entity.  Also under state law, residents may cultivate up to three mature Cannabis plants and three immature Cannabis plants at home, as long as they are secure from access by others. 

Nothing in the proposed ordinance will prohibit any entirely lawful cultivation, processing, manufacturing, or retail of Hemp or hemp products licensed by the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Consumer Protection. 

The Town Meeting is at 7:30pm.