Now, the chamber has a "Shop Local" campaign under way to bring business to local merchants over this year's holiday season.
Chamber director Penny Hoffman and chamber member Suzanne Brennan of Shoe La La pleaded their case to the town's selectmen last week, asking the selectmen to support their goal of hanging "Shop Local" banners in locations around town. They also want the temporary business sign fee charged for putting up the banners waived.
"There is a temporary commercial sign fee of $20, plus $5 for every square foot of the sign's size," said Zoning Enforcement Officer Richard Baldelli. "Along with that is a $30 fee for any zoning permit issued in Connecticut that goes to the state."
While the banners could be put up for a two-week period provided they are taken down and a new sign fee is paid for the following two weeks -- and they could be repeatedly put up for two-week periods up to four times in a calendar year -- Hoffman and Brennan want to see the banners go up and stay up for three months during the holiday season.
"It's cumbersome to constantly take them (the banners) down and put them back up," Hoffman said. "We want them to stay up and get people's attention. We're trying to promote business in Ridgefield."
The selectmen were sympathetic to the cause of promoting shopping locally, but were concerned about asking the ZBA to extend the two-week period the banners could hang to three months.
"We're extremely supportive of the banners," Selectman Di Masters said. "It's a wonderful marketing program. But what makes your town government non-corrupt is keeping regulations really clear. If we ask for this, we would be open to the accusation that we are prejudiced to your cause over other organizations' causes, like nonprofits who want to put up signs."
Masters said selectmen could help if there was a way to stay within the regulations that exist while supporting the chamber's plan.
Selectman Joan Plock agreed with Masters.
Economic Development Committee Chairman Bob Cascella had sent a letter to the selectmen supporting the banners staying up for three months.
Finally, the selectmen solved the issue by saying they would write a letter to the zoning board, asking it to waive the commercial sign fee and to do what could be done to let the banners stay up for three months.
Three 2-by-6-foot banners are planned, one at Copps Hill Shell, one at Ancona's Market in Branchville and one at a downtown location.