>Village Manager James M. Ten Hoeve revealed during this evening’s Village Council Work Session that The Valley Hospital has agreed in principal to fund construction of a 200-300 space, single story parking deck at the Village operated Park & Ride facility on Route 17. Excess parking capacity at the facility would be utilized by Hospital employees.
Coincident with construction of the parking deck, a Franklin Turnpike accessible entrance and exit would be added to the facility. Also, The Valley was asked by Mr. Ten Hoeve to consider funding construction of a salt shed on the property as well. The Village’s current salt shed, located at the Municipal Garage on Chestnut Street, is in need of major repair.
No price tag for the project was mentioned during this evening’s discussion, nor were any representatives from The Valley present to provide public comment. However Mayor David T. Pfund cautioned members of the audience, and television viewers, not to make any connection between The Valley’s current application before Ridgewood’s Planning Board and their willingness to fund this project.
The Fly has this question for our Mayor: “Do you think we’re all stupid or what Dave?”
>Oh, this is just dandy. I guess they must think we’re THAT STUPID because they are that stupid.
>Audrey should just skip all the civic nonsense and give each planning board and council member a free coupon redeemable for a home expansion of their choice. No limit on the amount, of course.
>ONE WORD – COLLUSION
Maybe this town should wake up and take your blinders off to what is going on here- EXPANSION IS A DONE DEAL WAKE UP AND GET INVOLVED
>WOW- can you spell CORRUPTION
>and so it begins even in the face of so much clear, thought out, and reasoned opposition
>what WOULD be welcome would be a yearly agreed upon ‘HOST FEE” to the village in lieu of the taxes that dont get paid. “IF”one of your posters is correct in that every homeowner pays 500 extra due to valleys presence (doubtful)…then that might be a step in the right direction. that agreement must be signed BEFORE any negotiations on the present expansion/improvement application. that would show that they are ready to be a good neighbor Without any ‘strings attached’ guaranteeing any approvals.
>New Jersey Pay to Play.
>Let me get this straight…Valley is a not for profit hospital that receives millions in donations a year and they are going to take some of that money and pour it into a town run facility out of the goodness of their hearts?!? Well and to of course benefit by having their employees park there. I would be furious if I’d donated $$ to Valley and they are using it to grease the hands of the Village Council. Nice.
>Why volunteer to pay a fee in lieu of taxes when you can just buy off the planning board and council?
>The mayor and one council member (Ms. Ringler-Shagin) are at present members of the Planning Board. They must recuse themselves at once from any Planning Board role involving The Valley Hospital.
>I don’t understand the big deal. Valley has said all along that a major part of their plan would be building/expanding a parking facility somewhere nearby and then using a shuttle to bring employees to the hospital. This seems like it fits in with that plan (which was stated a year ago) and is a win-win for both the village and Valley. Why does something that is a positive for both sides have to be a conspiracy?
>Not that it is conspiracy but lets be honest this sounds as if the Renewal is a done deal. Valley would not fund this lot if they were not planning for the parking spaces to go away from the hospital lot.
>wow- 8:51 you must really be slow- let me spell this out for you- read it s-l-o-w-l-y:
AS A PART OF THE PROPOSAL TO EXPAND, VALLEY HOSPITAL SAID IT WILL NEED OFF-SITE PARKING FOR ITS EMPLOYEES ( AS A PART OF THE EXPANSION) what we have NOW is the VILLAGE APPROVING THE FIRST ASPECT OF THE PROPOSAL THAT HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED YET!!!! HELLO!? WHY DO THEY NEED OFF-SITE EMPLOYEE PARKING IF THEY HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN APPROVAL FOR THE EXPANSION- the answer is CLEAR! BECA– USE THEY ARE IN BED WITH THE BOARD AND COUNCIL.
Our own freakin’ mayor said “this is not a quid-pro-quo” at the meeting. IS HE ON DRUGS!!? What the hell is going on here- RIDGEWOD wake-up this whole thing is being orchestrated and if you all don’t appreciate being SNOWED then STAND UP and GET INVOLVED!!!
>8:51
I see no conspiracy. What I see is an attitude of arrogance from the Village government, management and Valley. Do you think the possibility of the parking lot deal was known by Ten Hoeve (or Pfund, for that matter) before the special public hearing on Monday? Or do you think that he and Valley hatched the entire idea on Tuesday? Do you think they considered the relative plusses and minuses of releasing this strategic information before or after the special meeting? If so, that’s collusion. Isn’t this issue complicated enough, with emotions flairing on both sides, that our local governors could avoid even a sniff of impropriety? Why don’t the Mayor and Council try and play it straight down the middle, instead of muddying the waters with personal hubris and ignorance? My mind’s not made up about Valley plans, but this kind of thing injects suspicion and negativity into the entire process.
>why don’t we make it a 3 level deck and put a turf soccer field on top…will kill many birds with one stone…with no open space left in ridgewood….it is a good idea…and who cares what it looks like….it is out on 17…..
>If we’re killing birds can we please kill some squirrels? And what’s with that exploding population of chipmunksk?
>Hey 8:51
as was stated many times by valley supporters….. “it is all about long term planning”. Stop valley, next they will be digging up the cemetary grounds.
To bad the movie was already made….
>Where are the board of education members…. now I see why they want to widen the road….. BF parents had better wise up… and stop this expansion….
>well mr fly if you are not stupid tell us your real name and we can talk about things how it should be.
>What’s your real name “mr [busy] bee”? … if you don’t tell us we might think you are stupid.
>This Village is turning into a City. It’s soooo sad!
>843 Good point and with big city corruption to boot- Pfund you are a disgrace and you have to sleep at night with your wrongdoings- you are ruining this beautiful village to help your cocktail party crowd and high society. What a legacy -Dave Pfund mayor who downgraded the quality of the town we all loved for his own gain and favors. LOSER
>You people should be ashamed of yourselves. There is no more well-intentioned and dedicated public servant in town than Dave Pfund. Obviously, none of you have ever taken the time to have a conversation with the Mayor about these issues. Why don’t you call him some time (he will be happy to talk to you) and get some background before you slander him.
>Pfund get off the blog
>You’re right, 10:00. The nuts on this blog SHOULD speak to the mayor themselves but they have no backbone for that. And as for the 1:13 comment — I am already a “wised up” BF parent, and I support the Valley Renewal. I support widening the road if necessary, too, so what do you make of that? I am an educated, thoughtful, well-meaning, objective, whatever-the-hell-else you want adult who has lived in Ridgewood for 20 years. I’ve heard it all and I support it!!!! We disagree — fine, so we’ll never be buddies. I can live with that, believe me!!!!!!
>better yet stop voting for them ,the times demand change
>I work late hours and never get home in time for town meetings. What is his telephone number so that I can call him? Thanks.
>10:17 PM posts “The nuts on this blog…”
And you refer to yourself as “educated, thoughtful, well-meaning, objective” ???
Since you’re posting on PJ’s blog then I guess that makes you a “nut” too. What a hoot. Stop polluting PJ’s blog.
>this is so funny i love ;
>hello
>that is the real life.how do you think some of the things in the world get done.a look at the xonadoo a doo doo.what a mess.and they cant even stop it the money the bull.so what are you saying.
>I have spoken to Pfund. And he is a first class dope. Bombace and he should start an institute.
>Who pays maintenance and upkeep of the parking garage?
Where will Valley Hospital employees park once the ‘excess capacity’ is used by commuters?
Will the Ridgewood taxpayers subsidize commuters from other communities?
Has a traffic study been done? What will the impact be to local roads?