No Surprise New Ridgewood Council rethinks review process if hospital expansion plan rekindled
MONDAY, MAY 14, 2012
BY EVONNE COUTROS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Last Tuesday’s non-partisan election that ousted one of two Village Council incumbents has left residents questioning what the new mix of leaders will bring to the table regarding The Valley Hospital’s proposed expansion plan — an issue considered dormant since last year.
Mayor Keith Killion, who voted against the $750 million plan to double the size of the hospital, lost his bid on Tuesday for one of three four-year seats up for grabs on the council. The new council could revisit the vote, because a change in the master plan that could permit the expansion still exists.
The most votes Tuesday went to incumbent Paul Aronsohn with 2,479, followed by newcomers Albert J. Pucciarelli with 2,078 and Gwenn H. Hauck with 1,727 votes. Killion lost with 1,711 votes and was trailed by Mary Jane Shinozuka with 1,484 and Russell R. Forenza with 817 votes. Stephen Wellinghorst, who won a seat in a special election two years ago, did not seek reelection.
Killion’s loss was viewed as a blow to opponents of expanding the hospital on Van Dien Avenue. The council had unanimously voted last year against the plan.
Hauck and Pucciarelli should both recuse themselves on any hospital vote because of their personal ties to Valley.
Hauck & Pucciarelli should recuse themselves from any hospital vote because of their personal ties to Valley
Valley has a right to modernize, and if that requires some expansion, so be it. Its obvious that their original plan was too large. There has to be some sort of reasonable ‘middle ground here’ and hopefully a compromise will be reached. Any expansion plan MUST include some sort of PILOT (payment in lieu of property taxes) . I’m a supporter of Valley but judging by the salaries their CEO received, and the amount of $$ doctors make (while some do not accept insurance) the ‘non-profit’ status slips past the definition.
I think the voters have spoken,
A Pilot program must be agreed to by Valley. You can not force them into it. If they had any sense of community the would have entered in to a pilot program a long time ago. When you talk about middle ground have you ever seen Valley hospital seek any middle ground? Now with at least two of their supporters on the council and who knows if there are any other that are going to join the Dog and Pony show that hospital is going to put on. Who is going to keep tabs on Valley ‘non- prof’ status? Because we know they are so forth coming with information. We all know how these hearing are going to go. Valley will take a few 100 sq ft off of here and a few 100 sq ft off over there and the council will proclaim that they have achieved ( reasonable middle ground) by their mediation and slap themselves on the back.
RE: “Hauck & Pucciarelli should recuse themselves from any hospital vote because of their personal ties to Valley”
That’s like saying the the hammer should not pound the nail home.
A tool is only useful if used for its intended purpose.
Some modernization is needed but the massive renewal proposal was over way the top. Add in the heavy handed methods, misleading push polls and advertising, and you have a totally tone deaf approach. This will not go away.
#6 – Huh? Don’t you think that Valley should at least take Ms. Hauck’s picture off of their web site first?
Why should they take her picture off this the kind of in your face that the resident have been dealing with.