Preserve Graydon Coalition Asks Village of Ridgewood Council Candidates About Garydon Pool

file photo by Boyd Loving

by Marcia Ringel and Alan Seiden
Co-Chairs, The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc

Ridgewood Nj, With the spring comes our biannual Village Council election. On May 10, or (more accurately) when sworn in on July 1, three new council members will take the seats occupied by Paul Aronsohn, Gwenn Hauck, and Albert Pucciarelli since 2012.
The candidates are Richard (Rich) Brooks, Bernadette (Bernie) Coghlan-Walsh, Ramon Hache, Jeffrey (Jeff) Voigt, Evan Weitz, and Janice Willett. We asked them to share their views on Graydon, environmental preservation, open space, and more, including the future of the Schedler property. Their full, unedited written replies appear in alphabetical order under each question, below.

These comments are also available from a link on the home page of preservegraydon.org.
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If the Coalition decides to endorse candidates, we will announce them soon. Meanwhile, if you would you like to share any thoughts about that, you may write to:info@preservegraydon.org or reply to this message. To ensure authenticity, please sign your email message with your name. Comments will be confidential and not shared or published.

1. Have you or your family been Graydon members in the past? If so, please describe a memory of the park and lake.

Brooks: Yes.  We were seasonal members for many years when our kids were younger and used the pool on an almost daily basis when it was open.  My son was a guard at Graydon while he was still in school.  My daughter and my nephew, who was living with us at the time, attended Graydon Camp, had wonderful times, and met their friends at Graydon all the time.  Our memories of Graydon are great.  We love the sandy beach, cool water, being with our neighbors, etc.

Coghlan-Walsh: My family has been a member of Graydon since 1998.  One of my most vivid memories of Graydon is of my now 12 year old son Emmett when he was 2.   His siblings were in the 4 foot dock area on Linwood and I was with a friend who was helping me watch my children.  She was on one side of the dock I was on the other and she was holding Emmett.  She let him stand on the dock and told him to go to me.  To all of our surprise he ran in the complete opposite direction and leapt off the dock with a huge smile on his face!  We all hurried to that side and when he surfaced he was swimming and laughing.  Now he does that same smile from the high dive!

Hache: Some of my fondest memories are of my brothers and I spending entire summer days at Graydon. We would stay in the water until our fingers looked like prunes. To us, it was more of a lake than just a pool. We would save up our money to buy ice cream from the ice cream truck that would pull up on the Maple Avenue entrance.

Voigt: Patty and I joined Graydon years ago, when our kids were just tykes. We’d come from Minnesota, the land of lakes, and found Graydon not only a reminder of that, but also a great place to meet other young families.  And that was before the Pavilion—which has enhanced it.

Weitz: Yes, my family has been a member of Graydon every year since we moved to Ridgewood several years ago.  My wife is a teacher and she and my children spend at least 4 days a week at Graydon during the summer.  Graydon was amongst one of the reasons we moved to Ridgewood and is one of my family’s favorite places in Ridgewood.
My favorite memory of Graydon is watching my now 6 year old daughter learn to swim at Graydon and then seeing her jump into the water for the first time without a life vest.

Willett: When my parents first moved the family to Ridgewood in the summer of 1966, we joined Graydon immediately and spent many wonderful afternoons there—it was the best possible introduction to Ridgewood. The big slides (now long gone, of course) were a particular highlight. When my children were little, we joined Graydon every summer and spent many equally wonderful afternoons and evenings at the pool. I generally packed a lunch, and on really hot days I would pack dinner as well (or have pizza delivered to Graydon!) and stay till closing time. When my children were in elementary school, I would often pick them up from school at lunchtime on hot days in June and take them to Graydon for a picnic lunch and a quick swim to cool off.
I re-joined Graydon again a few years ago when I stopped working full-time and I go almost every day on my bike for at least a couple of hours—it’s heavenly to sit with my feet in the sand and relax with a book, and I can do my half-mile swim either in the lanes or across the length of the deep end. I’ve already renewed my membership for this summer! Whenever anyone in my family suggests going somewhere on vacation in the summer, I always think in terms of how many Graydon days I’ll have to give up and whether or not it’s worth it, and I usually decide that I’d rather just stay in Ridgewood. I look forward to opening day, and I mourn the end of the season. Graydon is truly my “happy place”—we are so fortunate to have such a wonderful facility right in the middle of town!

2. Where does environmental preservation rank among your personal priorities?

Brooks: Top of the list.  I’ve been a member of the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Board for the last six years; Chairman for the last three.  I’m totally committed to making Ridgewood clean, green and accessible to all who live here.

Coghlan-Walsh: I have been involved in environmental activities most of my life.  My family owned a nursery and I believe our parents instilled in us all the need to be environmentally aware.  We live near Twinney Park and I work with my family and our neighbors to help keep it clean and in winter shovel the pond for skating.  I work for a company that works on sustainability efforts worldwide and I’m proud to be a partner in their endeavors.  I believe it is important for people to always maintain a positive attitude towards the environment and fit into their life the things that they deem important.

Hache: Environmental preservation is very important to me. I personally contribute to both national and state conservationist organizations. Our available open spaces are quickly disappearing. I fear that, at the current pace, my children and their children, will not be able to enjoy as many open spaces as I did as a kid.

Voigt: It’s a plank of my campaign, actually. And it goes beyond preservation. We actually have to clean up toxic sites and make our water safer. You’ve heard there’s lead in our water already. But did you know there’s PFOA too? It’s been linked to cancer, and yet, have you heard one word from the Council on it, ever? So, preservation isn’t enough, in my view.

Weitz: Environmental preservation is amongst my highest priorities.  One of the things that makes Ridgewood special is our green spaces, especially those spaces set aside for family activities like Graydon.  I cannot imagine a Ridgewood that does not value our green space and if elected I will ensure that Ridgewood remains just as beautiful tomorrow as it is today.

Willett: Environmental preservation is one of the most serious obligations of anyone in municipal government—or government at any level, for that matter. As a Councilperson, however, I would always want to weigh the benefits of preservation against the costs, in the interest of fiscal prudence and in order to make the best use of our resources.

3. Could residents who love Graydon Park, with its sandy-bottom, partly spring-fed swimming pond surrounded by a beach, rely on you, as a Council member, to work to preserve it? What does “preserve Graydon” mean to you? What kinds of physical changes, if any, would you support?

Brooks: The Village of Ridgewood, specifically the Parks and Recreation Department, has implemented many capital upgrades and improvements at Graydon over the past several years.  New water diffusers, new pumping systems, the new deck with enhanced food service areas are three examples that provide additional margins of health, safety and comfort for all Graydon patrons.  In the future, the focus must be on enhancements that provide a better Graydon experience, while maintaining safety.  For example, renovating restrooms and changing areas, making the entire park more accessible for residents with special needs, and adding Wi-Fi that can be accessed easily are things that are being considered.

Coghlan-Walsh: I have been a proud supporter of Graydon since we moved to Ridgewood.  And we’ve been active members since!  I supported Graydon during my tenure on the Village Council from 2010-2014.   Preserve to me is simple, make sure the water filling Graydon is always clean and fresh, the sand clean of debris, the filters working properly to maintain the water balance and the buildings including the bathrooms are maintained for use.   I believe Graydon is a treasure and should remain “simple”.   I did support the installation of the ramp into the pool.  It has given access to those with some difficulty.  I’ve watched the use of this ramp and am quite surprised at the number of senior that use it.  Other than making sure the playground is maintained, the benches, etc.  I don’t believe any new physical changes are needed.

Hache: I enjoy taking my children to Graydon.  I want them to enjoy the park just as I did as a kid. Actually, the facilities today are much better than they were when I was growing up, particularly the dining area.  Although at times it may not be self-sustaining, we should preserve it as it not only offers recreation in the summer, but it also helps with flooding issues right next to a brook that floods often. To me, “preserve Graydon” means protecting one of our valuable landmarks that is unique to Ridgewood. It is an intricate part of our historic Village landscape.

Voigt: Graydon is wonderfully different, isn’t it? A real fixture of Village life. Why change it? There are however, more important priorities for the Council, such as the cleanup issues I just mentioned. That said, as you can see from my record on the zoning board, I don’t support changes out of character with the town.

Weitz: Yes, you can absolutely depend on me to preserve Graydon. Preserving Graydon to me means keeping Graydon unique and special.  In terms of physical change, I am open to looking at some of the facilities around Graydon that could be upgraded while preserving the historical character and profile of Graydon – which must include keeping the sandy-bottom, partly spring-fed swimming pond and beach.

Willett: I can assure you that I would be the strongest possible advocate for Graydon. Preserving Graydon means keeping the sandy bottom, holding chemicals to a minimum, and keeping the beach sand clean and the water skimmed—and I would love to see new bathrooms, a new bike rack, and maybe a general sprucing up, such as a new coat of paint on the railings around the entrance. Mainly, though, I want to keep Graydon open and adequately staffed.

4. In some years, opening hours at Graydon have been cut back. (Historically, Graydon closed at sunset.) How do you view such reductions in opening hours? Would it be appropriate to use municipal funds to maintain full operating hours of this Village amenity throughout the swimming season?

Brooks: The primary objective for any entity that provides a water recreation area like a pool, lakefront beach or an ocean beach must be the safety of its patrons with absolutely no compromises made.  Staffing at Graydon is directly related to an available labor pool of people who have the appropriate lifeguarding certifications, training and availability at any given moment.  Staffing at Graydon is only indirectly related to any budgetary considerations, so I think accessing alternate funding centers misses the real challenge.  If we don’t have enough of the properly certified guards to maintain safety at Graydon, and we cannot guarantee the safety of every patron, of every age, we cannot open.  Simply put, the Village cannot allow safety to be compromised at Graydon—ever.

Coghlan-Walsh: My view from when I was on the Village Council has not changed; I believe Graydon should remain open until sunset.  Many families like ours, have both parents working and often the only time spent as a family at Graydon is in the evening and on weekends.  This is a taxpayer funded entity and all taxpayers should be able to use and enjoy the pool.  I would support using municipal funds to keep it open.

Hache: It would be appropriate to use municipal funds to maintain full operating hours. My concern is not only for the hours of operation but also for the season schedule. We must ensure Graydon is on a consistent and full schedule from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Failure to do so would undermine sales of season passes. Ultimately, Graydon should not be viewed as a for profit venture. However, it is worth noting that it is the only revenue-generating recreational amenity of the Village.

Voigt: It’s not an issue right now. What will always be an issue, however, is taxes, and whether the Village would support an increase just to extend hours? I would rather not. We have to be creative, turn to solutions that don’t always come back to taxes, or to tapping into the municipal budget. Let’s see if we can’t make Graydon self-sustaining.

Weitz: I would like to keep Graydon open as long in the season as possible and as late as possible.  However, I prefer not use municipal funds but rather to focus on ways of making Graydon more financially sustainable so that it can support additional services without using municipal funds.
I believe that Graydon is a special place.  However, seasonal membership has been declining while daily passes have been increasing.  We need to better understand that trend.  We also need to look at fees we charge vendors to provide services as Graydon to make sure that we are being as fiscally responsible to the people of Ridgewood as possible.

Willett: I am always a little sad when Graydon closes at 7:30pm—it’s so lovely to be there at sunset, although we do get to enjoy that at the end of the season when the days get shorter—but I also understand the constraints on municipal spending. I was aghast last year when there was discussion of closing for the week leading up to Labor Day, but that ultimately didn’t happen. I was also not a fan when Graydon didn’t open till noon—it just looks so forlorn sitting there unused. Frankly, I don’t even like it when sections of the pool are closed due to insufficient staffing, but I’ve learned to live with it. Right now, Graydon more than covers its direct expenses—but there is a lot of pressure on the overall budget because of our contractual obligations, and I am concerned about various services having to be reduced as a result. This is one of the reasons I am running for Village Council.

5.  What are your views regarding the impact on Ridgewood of New Jersey state law on open space?

Brooks: If the current Governor’s plan is to alter how Open Space funds approved by a majority of state residents in the most recent election, he is making an unforgiveable error in judgment.  Ridgewood will be shortchanged of valuable opportunities to purchase an ever decreasing inventory of available open space, and this is truly unfortunate.  All local government officials should lobby their state government representatives, as well as the Governor’s office, to try and make sure this bait-and-switch does not occur.

Coghlan-Walsh: First, Ridgewood has a dwindling amount of open space.  That is a fact that can’t be denied.  We have only a few properties left that are considered “open”.    I believe any progress in Ridgewood should be the decision of the residents not the State.

Hache: New Jersey’s open space law has aided in adding a few acres of parks and recreational fields to Ridgewood, as well as allowing the Village to accumulate more than $670,000 through the open space tax of half a cent per $100 of valuation on taxable real property in the Village.

Voigt: I’m not a tree hugger–even though I went to UVM undergrad. But, I am for the environment writ large, our quality of life here, and open spaces. I wish we didn’t have such limited resources, or so much utilized space. We have to enhance what we have. And so my commitment is to work with others to do just that.

Weitz: I think it’s critical to honor both the letter and spirit of state law requiring us to have open space.  However, I see the legal requirements in this area as a floor, not a ceiling.  If elected, I will ensure that open space is a priority for Ridgewood.

Willett: Certainly, more open space is always a desirable goal—but again, fiscal prudence must be a consideration.

6. If high-density housing came to town, how should the Council ensure adequate open space for all residents?

Brooks: A discussion of Open Space needs in the Village needs to be a fundamental part of any development discussion in the Village.  We have strong Open Space advocates in place (but we need more volunteers) and they are actively involved in the discussion.

Coghlan-Walsh: High density it appears is coming to town.  The Council has final review but it will be imperative for the Planning Board and Zoning Board to ensure adequate green space is included in each and every development.  They have the ability to demand enough green space to be adequate for their new population of residents.

Hache: These issues are not directly related but the Village should continue to look to add acreage to its open space inventory, when and where appropriate since the Village is currently in a deficit of open space for its residents.

Voigt: Well, you can’t just make space where there isn’t any. And, there isn’t really any here. Now, you may know there’s an open space budget surplus. So we could look into acquiring more land, and enhancing what we have– enough to accommodate modest growth. But high density? Really? It will just put more pressure on our already crowded spaces and town resources.

Weitz: Even independent of high-density housing, I think Ridgewood should strive to have as much open and green space as possible.  I strongly encourage the development of new green and open spaces.  Additionally, I support ensuring that all site plans submitted for any of the locations now being looked at for residential development include provision for new green and open spaces and fully take into account the impact those developments will have on the community.

Willett: Whether or not high-density housing comes to town, we should regularly assess our open space availability and the need—and means—to create additional open space.

7. What’s your feeling about the role of the Village Council to limit or reduce the amount of impermeable surface in town, especially in the floodplain, which includes Graydon, Vets Field, and more?

Brooks: The Village must always consider the needs of all it residents whenever development is considered, but especially our fellow residents who are most vulnerable because of a disability.  Public facilities, like Graydon or any other park in town, should be more accessible for all, not less.  This is what a truly caring community, like Ridgewood, does to help those in need.

Coghlan-Walsh: The velocity flood plain is from just east of Graydon at the Hohokus border to the bottom part of the brook near Brookside field.  History has proven through several floods that this area will flood continually.  The DEP limits some of the construction in the Flood Plain but it is important for the Village Council to work with the Parks & Rec department to ensure no further construction.

Hache: The Village recently added a rain garden which replaced impermeable surface with native plants on the edge of the Graydon Pool parking lot, right next to the brook. We should continue to leverage the resources in our engineering department to identify opportunities where we could continue this practice in our flood plain. It is incumbent upon our Village Council to ensure that those impermeable surfaces are limited to ensure that we mitigate future flooding issues. This can be effectively achieved by setting guidelines that the Village would be compelled to follow.

Voigt: On the zoning board, I vote every chance I get against new impermeable surfaces. If the Council didn’t bypass the zoning board to approve one big development after another, we’d have a lot fewer of these surfaces, too.

Weitz: The use of space along the HoHoKus brook requires balancing many factors.  The creek will flood regularly.  We must balance environmental impact, projected flooding impacts on neighbors including those downstream, sports needs, the ultimate cost to maintain fields (including repairs after floods) and the need for cooling grass/dirt.  I will seek to find ways to balance these concerns and any decisions I make would weigh all of these factors.

Willett: The Village Council should have a voice in every decision affecting Ridgewood. In general, I prefer natural to artificial surfaces—but I would want to evaluate on a case-by-case basis and have conversations with people on both sides of the issue before making decisions in specific instances.

8. Would you approve the construction of a 90-foot baseball diamond on the Schedler property? Why or why not?

Brooks: I cannot predict whether or not we will have a vote for such a project.  I do think the development of the Schedler property needs to be considered carefully with all stakeholders and Ridgewood residents having the option of taking part in the discussion.  If this means taking a step back and re-thinking some decisions that have already been made, by previous administrations, I would support that step.

Coghlan-Walsh: I have never been nor will I ever be in favor of a 90 foot baseball field on the Schedler property.  The dangers of those balls going into the highway far outweigh the need for another baseball field.

Hache: As a father of three small children, I have serious concerns regarding the safety of a 90-foot baseball diamond on Schedler. We also have to consider the adverse impact on noise levels the clearing of the trees would have on nearby residences.  Although I would prefer to have a passive park area on the site, I am willing to support the 60-foot diamond as proposed by Schedler residents. I would also support directing part of the $670,000 accumulated through the open space tax to repair and preserve the Schedler house. It could perhaps be used as a facility for community programs and activities, similar to how The Stable has been used next to Graydon.

Voigt: No. And you’d say no, too, if you realized that the only way a 90-foot diamond gets built there is if home plate is on Route 17. But more to the point is that all of this has an impact on the people who live there. We’re really a Village of neighborhoods and; respecting those neighborhoods and the people in them is important.

Weitz: While I strongly believe in developing the Schedler property into green and open space, I have some concerns about that location for a 90-foot baseball diamond.  Currently studies are under way to assess the feasibility of the Schedler property for the 90-foot baseball diamond and other uses.  I believe the prudent decision is to wait on the results of those studies before making a final judgment.

Willett: I’ve walked the Schedler property and have some concerns about fitting a 90-foot baseball diamond there, but I am in favor of some sort of mixed active-passive refurbishment of that property.

9. Have you ever found yourself thinking, in any context in Ridgewood, “They knew it was there when they moved there”?

Brooks: No.  I live on East Ridgewood Avenue, where the NJ Transit buses and my neighbors from town routinely travel at speeds that are twice the posted limit.  I knew that problem was a potential issue when I moved here, but I love my home.  Some consideration from the offending drivers, however, would be nice, but I’m enough of a realist to manage my expectations.

Coghlan-Walsh: No.  That is a very close minded statement.

Hache: I do not find myself thinking in that context. Ridgewood is made up of a lot of different neighborhoods and many of those neighborhoods are in the proximity of schools, hospitals, and businesses. That kind of thinking is insensitive and can undermine the fact that, significant changes in the intensity of use would adversely impact our residents, their quality of life, health, safety and well-being.  If you move next to a hospital that is 40’ tall, is it ok for that hospital to then be 80’ tall and adversely impact property values?

Voigt: I think we’re all attracted to this Village for what it is already, if that’s the question. It’s not that we can’t grow reasonably/enhance what we have. We have to. It’s how.  I am just not into Supersizing our town and believe we need to treat people with respect—i.e. as if they were our neighbors.

Weitz: No.

Willett: Yes, but only in very specific cases—such as when someone who lives next to a school complains about the traffic on the street at dropoff and pickup times. I’m not sympathetic in those cases.

10. Optional: any additional comments related to Graydon, preservation of a natural environment, open space, clean water, or other environmental issues and how you envision your role to support them as an elected official.

Brooks: Graydon is Ridgewood’s jewel and its amenities and character should be supported and, when possible, preserved so that they reflect the original intent of its founders.  As technologies develop, such as better ways to maintain water quality, and/or customer safety and health, they should be evaluated and adopted, if appropriate.  In addition, special needs users should be accommodated and encouraged to use Graydon easily and without stigma, and we as a Village should support this use though tangible means.
It’s difficult to imagine how an elected official would meander through some of these Graydon issues, because they have not been examined in recent years, and there always seem to be more pressing issues to consider besides a swimming facility that only a relative fraction of residents use.  This is unfortunate, and I hope to get some of these issues back into the discussion.  Graydon is a great asset for the Village.

Coghlan-Walsh: I have always believed that Graydon has not been used to its fullest potential.  After dark events, community parties, etc will bring new people to Graydon that are not as familiar with Graydon as they should be.   It is also a way of finding more volunteers to help with the maintenance of the facility through community organized activities thereby reducing the operating costs.   I’m still hoping to organize a traditional clam bake party!  Perhaps project one of a new term on Council for me!!

Hache: I envision my role as an elected official serving on the Village Council as a steward of the future. I am referring to the future of our children and of future generations. My legacy, I hope, is that I hand over to our future residents a beautiful, unique, and historic Ridgewood.

Voigt: All of these questions come down to one thing: change. How’s it managed? How do we honor our traditions and yet still move ahead? My answers come from leadership experiences with many organizations in times of change, whether as President of the Wharton Healthcare Alumni Association, or as a small business owner right here in town, or as a 5-year member of the Ridgewood zoning board, or simply, as a Ridgewood family man. These answers are to foster give and take, to keep digging until there’s a mutually acceptable answer, and to shine a light on the unintended consequences of a decision––before it is made. Vote for me, and you will be voting for these kinds of answers.

Weitz: I currently serve as the Chairperson of the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) – an organization charged with advising Village officials on the full range of budget and management issues. In that role, I have had a real insight into exactly how our Village is managed on a daily basis that has prepared me to lead on the Village Council.  While on the FAC, I have taken a real interest in Graydon.
Last season, Graydon essentially broke even financially.   I feel strongly that we need to make Graydon financially sustainable by ensuring that Graydon has a capital improvement fund that is funded from Graydon revenue.  Additionally, the number of seasonal passes has declined while the number of daily passes has gone up. I think we need to understand this trend and make sure that newer families to Ridgewood understand the value of Graydon and just how special a place it is.
As I mentioned above, my family has been seasonal members of Graydon every year since we moved to Ridgewood.  On so many occasions, I have watched my children play in the sand at Graydon and enjoyed all that Graydon has to offer.  I am dedicated to making sure that continues for generations to come.

Willett: In general, I feel strongly that one of the most important responsibilities of an elected official is to make sure that anything that is a common good—open space, clean water, clean air, etc.—receives proper oversight and resources.