VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
SEPTEMBER 13, 2023
7:30 P.M.
- Call to Order – Mayor
- Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act
- Roll Call – Village Clerk
- Flag Salute
- Acceptance of Financial Reports
- Approval of Minutes
- Proclamations
- Fire Prevention Week
- Gold Star Families Day
- National Breast Cancer Awareness Week
- Proclaim September National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
3-20, Decorum, the Village Council meetings shall be conducted in the following manner:
Manner of Addressing Council
Persons other than Councilmembers may be permitted to address the Council in the proper order of business. A person present may, upon recognition by the Chair, be heard either upon ordinances upon second reading or at the time of petitions and oral communications from the public and at such other times as the Council may, by majority vote of those present, specifically permit. No person shall address any remark or question to any specific Councilmember, nor shall any person be permitted to address the Chair while a motion is pending. A Councilmember may, through the Chair, respond to any communication or address received pursuant to this section.
Decorum
Any person who shall disturb the peace of the Council, make impertinent or slanderous remarks or conduct himself in a boisterous manner while addressing the Council shall be forthwith barred by the presiding officer from further audience before the Council, except that if the speaker shall submit to proper order under these rules, permission for him to continue may be granted by a majority vote of the Council.
- Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)
- Village Manager’s Report
- Village Council Reports
- ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
- ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER
3963 – Bond Ordinance – PFAS Treatment Facilities – West End and East Ridgewood (NTE $11,000,000)
- RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
23-288 Award Contract – WaterSmart Customer Billing Portal Software – Year 2 (NTE $43,800) –
23-289 Award Contract – WaterSmart Customer Billing Portal Software (NTE $122,529.70 total, $48,500/year)
23-290 Award Contract – Disposal of Soil Spoils from Repairs and Replacements (NTE $300/container, $50,000 total)
23-291 Award Sole Source Contract – GIS Software Support
23-292 Award Sole Source Contract – SCADA Software Support
23-293 Award Sole Source Contract – GAC Material for PFAS Treatment
23-294 Award Under State Contract – Maintenance of the pH, Chlorine and Phosphate Analyzers
23-295 Award Contract Under Educational Services Commission of New Jersey Contract – Bobcat Compact Excavator
23-296 Award Professional Services Contract – PFAS Treatment Designs – Eastside, Main & Mountain
23-297 Authorize Emergency Water Interconnection with Township of Mahwah
23-298 Authorize Contacting Green Acres – PFAS Treatment Facilities Use of Land Preserved for Recreation & Conservation
23-299 Authorize Change Order – Trolley Gate Replacement
- ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3967 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – 2024 Parking Permit and Pricing for Electric Vehicle Charging
3968 – Amend Chapter 265, Vehicles and Traffic, “Deposit of Money Required; Overtime Parking Prohibited”
3969 – Amend Chapter 212 – Parks and Recreation Areas – Regulations on Electric Bicycles, Electric Scooters, Electric Skateboards, and Non-Human Powered Vehicles
- ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3964 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Prohibited at All Times and Time Limit Parking – North Walnut Street and Mastin Place 3965 – Amend Chapter 101 – Alcoholic Beverages
3966 – Amend Chapter 3 – Administration of Government – Article II – Village Council
- ORDINANCE – CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
3962 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Establish Regulations for Privately Owned Salt Storage
- RESOLUTIONS
23-300 Rescind and Replace Resolution #23- Award Contract – Historic Consultant
23-301 Award Contract – Historic Consultant
23-302 Award Contract Under State Contract –
Tri-Band Radios for Vehicles
23-303 Award Contract Under State Contract – Ammunition
23-304 Award Contract Under State Contract – New Village Website
23-305 Award Contract Under Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing System – Vehicle Tracking Subscription
23-306 Award Professional Services Contract – Archaeological Survey – Zabriskie-Schedler House and Property
23-307 Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Use of Styrofoam Densifier – City of Garfield
23-308 Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Use of Styrofoam Densifier – Borough of Oradell
23-309 Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Use of Styrofoam Densifier – Borough of Paramus
23-310 Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Dewatered Sludge Disposal from Water Pollution Control Facility – Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission
23-311 Authorize Temporary Shared Services Agreement – Removal of Trees on County Roads – Bergen County
23-312 2023 Budget Amendment-State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Grant
23-313 Declare Property Surplus – Police Vehicles
23-314 Declare Property Surplus – Police Car WatchGuard Camera System
23-315 Appoint Local Emergency Management Council
23-316 Appoint Member to Shade Tree Commission
23-317 Appoint Members to Project Pride
23-318 Appoint Members to Ridgewood Arts Council
23-319 Appoint Member to Green Ridgewood
- Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
- Adjournment
Another shitshow of smoke and mirrors
There is no need for a meeting.
The Mayor understands.
We do not have to; HE does the understanding for us.
I know nothing about the allegations tied to the consultant even though it has been raised multiple times at prior council meetings. I am a good listener!
AMEN
Send in the clowns…don’t bother, they’re here.
PV needs a big gavel and a wig. – “Any person who shall disturb the peace of the Council, make impertinent or slanderous remarks or conduct himself in a boisterous manner while addressing the Council shall be forthwith barred by the presiding officer from further audience before the Council, except that if the speaker shall submit to proper order under these rules, permission for him to continue may be granted by a majority vote of the Council”
Just enjoy the show, and be prepared all of your checkbook, because taxes will be going up again next year.
I want to know how much the Village Council is budgeting for landscaping equipment buyback program. If they want to get rid of all gas-powered equipment, it’s going to very, very expensive.
Meeting at the library this Wednesday.
Yep
Gas blower $600
Just drop chk in-my mailbox
I’ve got a hand-held, backpack and push blower . . . about $2K in blowers. Another $600 for the lawnmower . . . add in the line trimmer. Are we banning power washers?
If you want my diesel equipment, it’s gonna cost you around $4K And then I am going to be sending you the landscaping bill ’cause I am a senior and cannot do this by hand.
We don’t mind paying and having our rights and freedoms restricted.
We are
RICH and STUPID
A Councilmember may, through the Chair, respond to any communication or address received pursuant to this section.
Paul is the new gatekeeper.
Did anyone notice that the nit wit has put her HGTV clip on Schedler on her Facebook site. Is this woman starving for attention. These PSAs are not helping her likability or in the case of most people, non-likability factor.
What’s with her hands? Always slapping them around oddly.
I’m waiting for the whole Schedler incident to very publicly fall apart because it’s already over at the state level. Slim shady doesn’t have the pals he claimed in his hour-and-a-half diatribe. He is a con man, and he fooled little pee wee. Big surprise. Wait, I understand.
What excuses will the four numbskulls construct once they have to admit that they wasted thousands of taxpayer dollars and months, if not years by the time it’s all over.
I don’t have any faith in the Ridgewood voters, most of which are rich and stupid. Taxes will increase double digits this coming budget, and pee wee and his pals will continue their big adventure at the taxpayers expense. I’m amused, but that doesn’t help the town.
At this point in time, the village is in the process of big furrows. It’s coming down the road. Money is all gone.
Did you mean ‘furloughs’?
No more stipends.
The shitshow continues and on and on, so are the days of our lives. The fact that this majority block council puts their priorities only in the camp of constituents that they care about, the sports organizations, based on perhaps campaign election or re-election promises that will ruin what was a beautiful piece of property and will devastate a neighborhood is just to much to bear for neighbors we should be caring about. They live in Ridgewood too and pay beaucoup bucks to do so.
Did you mean ‘bloc’?
Furloughs apparently coming down the line soon for Village workers, inability to hire the amount of police requested earlier in the year, Village has no money, CFO can’t provide a clear answer on what funds are actually available for safety projects like West Glen sidewalks, as funds keep get moved around, but we have plenty of money for a shady historic consultant who hasn’t been on the level with his credentials that don’t pan out to be true and who did not work on projects he said he had involvement and negative feedback from references furnished all to create a giant plastic sports complex on a historic piece of land. That we have the money for. Priorities of this council are beyond shocking and taxes will keep going up and up.
And, yet, quarter boy walked away with $800k of our money and never got punished…
Sports bullies in full force again. Usual suspects. Not sure what happened but it didn’t sound good on the video.
Don Delzio
Delzio…what an a-hole.. What a spectacularly embarrassing moment for him and RBSA. First, he insults the Lovings by calling their comment “ridiculous.”. Then, when Jacquie objects to his uncivil behavior, he attempts to control her like a child when he ha NO authority to do so.. “Quiet Jacquie”. Then the Vag plays hear no evil.
Just a washed up middle aged man who is obviously miserable and needs to take out his aggression on others. Kind of pathetic really. Definitely in need of some counseling IMO.
Arrogant bunch, no?
The Mayor said NO to moving the Schedler vote agenda item all the while being informed that Hawes had a Back to School night. As these parents on the East side were ones with the greatest impact, he still said he would not move it. A resident from another town said that their mayor was recalled so we know it can be done. Ridgewood’s mayor should be recalled immediately.
Ridgewood is not a GREEN Village. This is all for show so that they can get grant money and give the appearance that these committees actually do anything to be sustainable, but it doesn’t align with their playbook, you know the one where the lie and scheme and move money around for their special interest projects, like the ballfield on a historic property. They talk about things like “No Mow May” as a priority and non-gas powered blowers and mowers because they are so sustainable minded. Hogwash. This council, specifically Deputy Mayor Pam Perron (liaison for Green Ridgewood), Siobahn Winograd (liaison for the Shade Tree Committee), Evan Weitz (liaison for the Historic Preservation Committee) and most especially Mayor Vagianos who is the biggest flip flopper (on many videos making contradicting statements that suit the occassion) we have witnessed to date, will do whatever he can to advance his own interests in the CBD and cater to the whims of the sports organizations who voted for him. #GREENWASHING, just like Pam said at the council meeting. Yes Pam, you are correct and please remember you voted to pave paradise and put up a parking lot and the giant field. literally!
My heart broke for the guy who spoke about transformers at the end of his driveway where he lives next to a field. I think this should become a sports only village, whereby residents who live here pay incredible taxes but they own all of the homes and pay for all of their fields for their children who need to play sports. They would not be able to whine and complain because they would be directly responsible for maintenance and upkeep. Then they could have as much toxic turf as they would like and could use whatever money they have left over to pay for illnesses the develop or injuries. Makes sense to me. So many people talk about leaving because this council seems to be mis managing the Village finances.
Replace the new garbage cans with basketball hoops
Instead of “I understand” now Paul keeps saying “I didn’t hear that” so he can feign ignorance on not only the shady historic consultant but now everything else. RECALL PAUL NOW!!!
I think Paul now needs a hearing aide. He apparently does not hear testimony given by residents or one of his own council persons week after week all who have provided details that the shady consultant isn’t who he says he is. Also, and consistently whenever someone from one of the sports organizations gets riled up and is disrespectful, he does not hear any of that even though he is sitting right there supposedly listening AND hearing. What do you hear Paul, aside from the ca-ching, ca-ching of your CBD business ventures.
Who needs the Real Housewives of New Jersey when you can watch the Real Sports Bullies of Ridgewood. Coming to a TV near you.
Can Evan just please stop talking altogether?. No one cares about anything he has to say and it is just a disgrace that he is given a proclamation to read on the very serious topic of breast cancer and he starts giggling. what an insult to anyone who has ever had breast cancer-it is not a laughing matter and your behavior as a councilperson is awful based on almost everthing you say. How you got elected is beyond comprehension as you have no personal skills, aren’t paying attention half of the time and constantly come unprepared to meetings and then cannot even read materials that are prepared for you to recite.
I don’t know if the sports bully was drunk. He was kind of slurring his words a little and was very lit up. Of course, Paul conveniently didn’t “hear”.
Rurick Halaby was funny when he said to extend public comments to make them longer, when he is the one that usually goes over and continues to speak after he gets the ding! Can’t make this stuff up!
As per usual, Siobahn lies about the amount of money that was spent on the historic house. Grant money doesn’t count towards what Ridgewood spent, Siobahn. I guess what you lack in finance knowledge you certainly make up for as a marketing spin doctor. nice going.
Did anyone hear Paul say “Siobahn, stop touching the residents”?
Pam sat in on the PFAS party with Siobahn who probably was trying to convince her to change her mind but Pam held her ground with a no vote on turf while Paul, Evan and Siobahn are front and center and willing to put residents at risk after being advised by Green Ridgewood chair and many residents who were concerned about their risks of turf leaking into their private wells. One resident called it willful blindness and I had to look it up. It is deliberate or intentional ignorance, when you know you are doing something that is wrong or that will harm people and you do it anyway.
As Mr. Halaby said last week, you can put lipstick on a pig but what he failed to mention while he is bus complimenting the council is that you can also window dress this village council to make it seem good. Pam was right when she referenced greenwashing but she fails to realize it is already being done with all of the fake initiatives the village pretends to care about.
The Village is definitely greenwashing and all of the proclamations on trees, green Ridgewood nonsense, and all of the other initiatives that they can put on posters that look good and that they constantly parade around with is nonsensical when this Village and majority block council (minus Lorraine) do not walk the talk. I think they only do it because they have to in order to get funding from any and all agencies that are giving away free money. But the total lying, manipulation, greed for some kind of personal gain is just too much (personal gain could also apply to buying votes or pay to play). There is so much unnecessary BS going on, collusion, corruption (IMO) half of the stuff we don’t know about and what we do know about, no one does anything.
I found it also highly unprofessional of Siobahn to behave in the way she did to Lorraine. Truly so disappointing for a council woman to be chastising someone on the dais.