The Ridgefield Boys & Girls Club is expanding and recently asked the Board of Selectmen to waive the building permit fee.  Some members were uncomfortable with that request, but wanted to help out in some way.  The Selectmen instead asked the Board of Finance to seek approval at a Town Meeting to allocate $45,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to reimburse the organization for the fee.

The funding was approved last week.  

Selectman Maureen Kozlark appreciated that the Boys & Girls Club was raising all of the money for the project, but noted that the building fee is a payment charged to help run the town.  First Selectman Rudy Marconi noted that they wouldn't be before the Board if they didn't need the help, adding that there is a demand among the community for the facility.

The $6.5 million addition would enable staff to serve twice as many young people on a daily basis.  $2 million in state bonding was approved to construct a new teen center as part of the larger expansion project.  The teen center would have a multipurpose space and technology café.  Officials say they can then offer new programs and educational activities.  The 13,000-square-foot addition would be built off of the club's existing gymnasium. The facility last expanded under a capital campaign between 2006 and 2007, from 6,000 to 19,000 square feet.