file photo by Boyd Loving
February 3,2016
by Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood NJ, The Public Hearing for Ordinance #3519, “Leasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority,” was officially closed by a unanimous vote of the Ridgewood Village Council during a Special Public Meeting held on the evening of Wednesday, January 27, 2016.
At no time either prior to or during the Special Public Meeting was their any detailed financial information made available to Ridgewood’s taxpayers regarding the subject matter of Ordinance #3519, a “Leasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority.” However, on Monday, February 1, 2016, a full five (5) calendar days subsequent to closure of the official Public Hearing on Ordinance #3519, a document entitled “Bergen County Improvement Authority Parking Financial Summary” was posted on the Village of Ridgewood’s official website.
I ask: 1) Why was the Public Hearing for Ordinance #3519, “Leasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority” even held if no detailed financial information about the “lease” was available for public review, and most importantly, 2) Why did all members of Ridgewood’s Village Council vote to CLOSE the Public Hearing on Ordinance #3519 prior to the availability of the document entitled “Bergen County Improvement Authority Parking Financial Summary?”
Mr. Aronsohn and Mr. Pucciarelli used the following adjectives to describe the behavior of a taxpayer who LEGALLY videotaped a recent Open Public Meeting. I suggest that these same adjectives apply to the behavior of the Village Council with respect to closing Ordinance #3519’s Public Hearing prior to taxpayers having access to the document entitled “Bergen County Improvement Authority Parking Financial Summary.”
The adjectives are:
disgraceful
beyond the pale
not a way to conduct business
[should] not be tolerated
surreptitious
secretive
sneaky
awful
deceitful
hidden
Remember these adjectives and who they pertain to prior to casting your vote on May 10 in the Municipal Election.
Lets not leave out Gwen? She part and parcel of the other two.
are you sure that the public comments are closed? As per this document the second reading is scheduled for Feb 10th. Shouldn’t there be open public comments during the second reading?
https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/02042016-309
Scroll to second from the last page on this doc – it says: WHEREAS, the Village of Ridgewood is expected to have the second reading on the
lease ordinance financing the Project on February 10, 2016
8:14 am – Watch and listen to the YouTube. They voted to “CLOSE” the Public Hearing, not to continue it.
I just watched that section of the video. Heather’s words were, “this is a vote to carry the vote to February 10th”. Won’t they have a public hearing on February 10th before they vote? That was my understanding. Can someone confirm or deny this?
All will be revealed. What a bunch of dirt bags they are.
8:33AM, not questioning what they did on Jan 27th, just asking can they close the public hearing before the second reading?
Whether they can or can’t, they did. Mayor Aronsohn specifically made a motion to CLOSE the Public Hearing, not to continue it, to which everyone voted “Yes.” The only thing being carried over is the actual vote.
Dear 11.44. If indeed true..we can then only expect the dark deed itself to finally enter the light with all it’s treachery.
I’m constantly amazed at the contempt that these 3 have for so many of their own neighbors. People that comment at meetings are generally well-meaning and highly involved residents. Many of them are serial volunteers that make great contributions to our Village. The Council majority is at best dismissive and at worst obnoxious to anyone that dares to voice an opinion that differs from the conclusion that they’ve already reached or the deal that they’ve already made. They hold civility hearings and are completely uncivilized, they point fingers claiming conflict of interest and all have conflicts themselves, they disregard their own rules and flagrantly collaborate outside public meetings in violation of the Sunshine Laws.
History has shown again and again when governments try to silence their own citizens, citizens rise up and overthrow the government. Mr Aronsohn has confirmed that he will not seek re-election but there has been no word from the other 2 – one can only assume that they will run again. Please spread the word to your neighbors and send out links to the various recordings of this horrific behavior. We have to make sure that neither of the remaining Council majority gets another term.
Time to say good riddance to the three lying stooges.