A LETTER FROM POUND RIDGE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

To the Members of the Pound Ridge Town Board:

We, the undersigned residents, parents, and community members, respectfully ask the Town Board to appoint Melissa Farella as Superintendent of the Pound Ridge Recreation Department.

Melissa’s commitment to Pound Ridge extends far beyond the position she currently holds. A lifelong Pound Ridge resident, she has spent years serving our town and its families. She has coached the Pound Ridge swim team, helped lead our recreation programs, and become a trusted and familiar presence to countless local children and parents.

When the Recreation Superintendent went on leave in late 2025, Melissa stepped up to assume the responsibilities of the Superintendent while continuing to fulfill her own role. Following the Superintendent’s passing in May, she continued to provide the leadership and stability our Recreation Department needed.

And the results speak for themselves.

Under Melissa’s leadership, every scheduled winter program was completed without cancellation. Summer programming continued without interruption as well, including successful Float Nights and interactive game events. The town camp welcomed its largest number of campers, while Melissa simultaneously continued coaching the swim team to championships.

For more than six months, Melissa has not simply been preparing for the Superintendent position—she has been doing the job, and doing it successfully.

We were therefore disappointed to learn that the Town has chosen to post the position and require Melissa to apply rather than recognizing her proven leadership and promoting her when the position became vacant.

We respect the Town Board’s responsibility to make thoughtful hiring decisions. But we also believe that experience, performance, institutional knowledge, and commitment to this community should matter. Melissa has demonstrated all four.

We respectfully ask the Town Board to recognize Melissa’s years of service to Pound Ridge, the results she has delivered during an extraordinarily challenging period, and the confidence local families have placed in her by appointing Melissa Farella as Superintendent of the Recreation Department.

Melissa has demonstrated her commitment to Pound Ridge not just over the past six months, but for years. We believe she has earned the opportunity to continue leading the department she has already worked so hard to support.

Thank you for listening to the families and residents who have experienced Melissa’s leadership firsthand.