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VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING Elks,Cell Towers ,Ridge School and Unlawful Enrollment

Village Council

file photo by Boyd Loving

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD

VILLAGE COUNCIL

REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING

JULY 12, 2017

8:00 P.M.

1. Call to Order – Mayor

2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act

3. Roll Call – Village Clerk

4. Flag Salute and Moment of Silence

5. Acceptance of Financial Reports

6. Approval of Minutes

7. Proclamations

NONE

8. Swearing-in of Police Sergeant Salvatore D’Amico

9. Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)

10. Village Manager’s Report

11. Village Council Reports

12. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER

3606 – Water Capital Ordinance ($1,600,000) – Purchase of Elks Club Property

13. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER

NONE

14. RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER

17-197 Award Contract – Lafayette Reservoir Improvements

17-198 Award Contract – Polyphosphate Pumps for Corrosion Control

17-199 Award Professional Services Contract – Cedar Hill Reservoir Improvements

17-200 Amend 2017 Water Capital Budget

17-201 Authorize Lease of Property for Co-Location of Wireless Telecommunications Antennas

15. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION

3607 – Blue Collar Union Salary Ordinance

3608 – White Collar Union Salary Ordinance

3609 – Amend Chapter 145 Fees – Establish Fees for Tree Protection

3610 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – No Stopping on Portion of West Ridgewood Avenue

3611 – Enact Title 39 on All Public School Properties

3612 – Unlawful Enrollment of Students in Ridgewood Public Schools

16. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING

3601 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Establish Stop Signs at Upper Boulevard and Glenwood Road

3602 – Amend Chapter 222 – Power Tools, Landscaping, and Yard Maintenance Equipment

3603 – Authorize Special Emergency Appropriation – Master Plan Revision ($250,000)

3604 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Hours for Closure of Clinton Avenue to Through Traffic

3605 – Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs

17. RESOLUTIONS

17-202 Title 59 Approval – Police Handguns and Magazines

17-203 Award Contract – Police Handguns and Magazines

17-204 Award Contract Under State Contract – Ammunition for Police Handguns

17-205 Award Contract Under State Contract – Holsters for Handguns

17-206 Award Contract Under State Contract – Tires

17-207 Award Contract Under State Contract – Lifts and Support Stands – Fleet Services

17-208 Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance – Front End Loaders with Snowplows

17-209 Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance – Two Sanitation Trucks with Snowplows

17-210 Award Professional Services Contract – Feasibility Study for 240 Car Parking Garage

17-211 Title 59 Approval – Paint Curbs Yellow

17-212 Authorize Additional Funding for Special Attorney for RCRD Lawsuit (NTE $100,000)

17-213 Approve Major Soil Moving Permit – 240 Associates – Chestnut Village

17-214 Declare Fire Department Property Surplus

17-215 Appoint Members to Schedler Park Ad Hoc Committee

17-216 Endorse Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Application – The James Rose Center

17-217 Appoint Clean Communities Coordinator

17-218 Appoint Recycling Program Coordinator

17-219 Authorize Release of Cash Bond – Capital One Bank

17-220 Accept Donation from Ridgewood Board of Education for Stigma Free Initiative

17-221 Award Contract – Central Valet Services

18. Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)

19. Resolution to go into Closed Session

20. Closed Session

A. Sale of Property – Barrington Road

21. Adjournment

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Fair Lawn Heavy Rescue Squad uses the “Jaws of Life” to free a woman trapped after Accident

The Fair Lawn Heavy Rescue Squad uses the "Jaws of Life"

Photo Courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

July 12,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Fair Lawn NJ, The Fair Lawn Heavy Rescue Squad used the “Jaws of Life” to free a woman who was trapped in her 4-door sedan after it collided with a work van at the intersection of Hemlock Avenue and Maple Avenue in Fair Lawn on Tuesday morning, 07/11. The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries. A second victim, a front seat passenger in the work van, also left the scene in an ambulance. He too sustained what appeared to have been non life threatening injuries. Fair Lawn PD and FD also responded along with mutual aid ambulances from three (3) separate EMS agencies. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by tow trucks.

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Best-Run States Are Low-Tax Republican, Worst-Run Are High-Tax Democratic, Study Finds

new Jersey worst run state

JOHN MERLINE
7/11/2017

Several states, including Republican states, have decided to raise taxes this year to cover budget shortfalls. But a new study suggests that the states might find themselves in worse financial shape after the money starts rolling in.

According to the latest ranking of states by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, the most fiscally sound states in the nation are all low-tax, GOP strongholds, while the 10 least-solvent states are almost all high-tax and heavily Democratic.

The rankings in the fourth-annual “Ranking of the States by Fiscal Condition” report, which was released this morning, are based on a review of audited financial statements for 2015 covering five measures that gauge the states’ ability to pay bills, avoid budget deficits, and meet long-term spending needs and cover pension liabilities.

Cash solvency, for example, measures a state’s ability to pay immediate bills. Budget solvency focuses on whether states will end the year with a surplus or deficit. Service-level solvency gauges a state’s ability to meet a demand for increased spending. Long-run solvency looks at a state’s ability to meet longer-term spending commitments. Trust-fund solvency looks at the states’ unfunded pension liabilities and state debt.

There were several changes in the rankings from last year. Florida moved from sixth place to first, while Alaska dropped from first place last year to 17th this year, driven mainly by the fall in oil prices. Idaho moved into the top 10.

At the bottom of the heap, Louisiana and West Virginia both dropped down in the 10-worst list, while Hawaii greatly improved, going from 45th place last year 27th this year. Connecticut, Maine and New York also climbed out of the bottom 10 list. But New Jersey fell to dead last from last year’s 48th place.

The report also includes rankings for each individual measure of fiscal solvency, in addition to the overall ranking. Some states do well on some measures, and bad on others. New Jersey, for example, is last on long-run solvency and second to last on budget solvency, but ranks 24 on service-level solvency.

Nearly bankrupt Illinois is in the bottom in all but one of the five individual measures — service-level solvency.

https://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/best-run-states-are-all-solidly-republican-worst-run-mostly-democratic-study-finds/

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Ridgewood Teen Selected as Humane Education Contest Winner

Save a Baby, Save a Species

July 12,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), theHumane Education Network (HEN) and the Palo Alto Humane Society officially announced today the winners of the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest. The annual contest provides high school students aged 14-18 with the opportunity to win monetary awards for essay, video, or photography submissions advocating against animal cruelty and for prevention of animal suffering.

“We are proud to announce the winners of the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest,” said Regina Terlau, executive assistant at AWI. “Through the contest, we aim to inspire youth to raise awareness about animals in need through a creative medium. We received a lot of phenomenal submissions from students addressing mistreatment of an animal species, prevention of an animal’s extinction, or solutions to reduce animal suffering. The chosen student submissions truly embody the mission of the contest and we congratulate the students selected.”

Ridgewood teen Myriam Burger won a first place prize in the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest for her video entry, “Save a Baby, Save a Species.” Her entry, which earned her a $650 prize, describes her school fundraiser to sponsor an elephant.

 

The winners of the 2017 A Voice for Animals contest include:

  • Myriam Burger of Ridgewood, New Jersey, who won $650 for her video, “Save a Baby, Save a Species.” Her video, which describes her school fundraiser to sponsor an elephant, earned first place in the “Video” category.

 

 

  • Lisa Wang of Toronto, Canada, who won $500 for her video, “The Buzz About Bees.” Her submission, which brought awareness to the importance of pollinators and described her involvement with pollinator conservation, earned second prize in the “Video” category.

 

  • Naomi Chongsiriwatana of Los Angeles, California, who won $450for her essay, “When the Powerful are Crushed.” Her submission, which educates readers on the mistreatment of captive elephants and exposes the truth of Thailand’s most popular tourism activity, earned her first prize in the “Essay” category.

 

  • Olivia Banks of Nottingham, Maryland, who won $350 for her essay,“Cozy Condos for Feral Felines.” Her submission, which examines feral cat population issues and “trap, neuter and release” programs, earned her first prize in the “Essay/Photography” category.

 

“Every year, we are impressed and encouraged by the commitment that young people show to animal issues through their submissions,” said Jenness Hobart, chair of the board at the Humane Education Network. “We are already looking forward to next year’s entries and continuing to foster students’ interest in showing respect and caring for animals.”

 

For more information on the A Voice for Animals contest and this year’s winners, visit https://www.hennet.org/contest.php.

 

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Kings Food Markets Will Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with a Week Long Celebration

Haagen-Dazs,

July 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Did you know 87 percent of Americans have ice cream in their freezer at any given time and vanilla is the most popular ice cream in the country? As such, Kings Food Markets is celebrating National Ice Cream Day (July 16) with buy one, get one free ice creams pints on 10 brands, to enjoy as you please.

The week-long event from July 14-July 20 is offered at most Kings locations in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut (except for the Hoboken North and South stores).

Popular brands like Haagen-Dazs, Three Twins Organic, Gelarto Gelato and A La Mode lead the charge as customers can choose different flavors of the same brand to fulfill the deal. Looking to try new, funky flavors? COOLHAUS, which is one of the brands in the deal, offers unique flavors like Campfire S’mores, Bananas Foster and Chocolate Molten Cake.

Looking for some ice cream recipes? Kings created the following treats for that sweet summer day:

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Working Past 70: Americans Can’t Seem to Retire

seniors working artchick

file photo by ArtChick

U.S. seniors are employed at the highest rates in 55 years.
By
Ben Steverman
July 10, 2017, 4:00 AM EDT

More and more Americans are spending their golden years on the job.

Almost 19 percent of people 65 or older were working at least part-time in the second quarter of 2017, according to the U.S. jobs report released on Friday. The age group’s employment/population ratio hasn’t been higher in 55 years, before American retirees won better health care and Social Security benefits starting in the late 1960s.

And the trend looks likely to continue. Millennials, prepare yourselves. Better yet, consider this and this, so you have a choice in the matter when your time comes.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-10/working-past-70-americans-can-t-seem-to-retire

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Fresh from budget deal, Illinois awaits fate of credit ratings

bankrupt_monopoly

A decision on whether Illinois becomes the first U.S. state whose bond ratings tip into junk was not imminent on Monday as credit rating agencies said they were still reviewing the state’s newly enacted budget and tax package.

Analysts at the three major rating agencies, which rate Illinois one or two notches above junk, declined to comment on the timing of their decisions.

With the help of some Republican votes, the Democratic-controlled Illinois Legislature last Thursday overrode Republican Governor Bruce Rauner’s vetoes and enacted a $36 billion fiscal 2018 budget and a $5 billion income tax increase.

The action ended an unprecedented two-year budget impasse that ballooned the state’s unpaid bill backlog to about $15 billion.

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, a Democrat, on Monday unveiled a five-step plan to avoid a junk rating that included Rauner taking steps to issue up to $6 billion of bonds the legislature authorized to begin paying off bills. He also recommended the governor visit credit rating agencies to assure them he intends to implement the budget package.

A junk rating would make future bond sales more difficult and expensive.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-budget-idUSKBN19V2PS

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Princeton University Rated “Best College for the Money”

princeton

July 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ in the Best Colleges For Your Money 2017 rankings of 2,400 colleges 711 rated as the “Best Colleges For Your Money” . College is a great investment ,if you choose the right school. According to Money magazine, at $65,300, Princeton University in Princeton, NJ was rated the best value for your dollar. Interestingly enough CUNY Bernard M Baruch College came in a sold second place at about half the price and at a much lower price point with a tab of $31,400.

Find your best college with rankings that combine educational quality, affordability, and alumni success https://time.com/money/best-colleges/rankings/best-colleges/

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Lawyers Spar Over Ex-Judge Wolfson’s Affordable Housing Role

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Douglas Wolfson

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Douglas Wolfson

Michael Booth, New Jersey Law Journal

Lawyers argued Monday over whether a former state judge who handled affordable housing cases should have at least one of his rulings overturned because of his relationship with a developer.

In Trenton, a lawyer for South Brunswick Township squared off against a half-dozen others representing developers and affordable-housing advocates. The township is seeking to have affordable housing rulings made by now-retired Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Douglas Wolfson vacated because of what it alleges is the appearance of a conflict of interest: Wolfson’s acceptance of vacations from, and current representation of, Edgewood Properties.

While on the bench, Wolfson handled litigation involving the township, but not Edgewood Properties, according to documents. And Wolfson recused from cases that came before him involving Edgewood.

Nevertheless, Wolfson for years has had personal and professional ties to Edgewood, and South Brunswick claims Wolfson’s decisions in other affordable housing cases could work in favor of Edgewood or its primary owner, Jack Morris, even though he has no projects pending in the township.

https://www.njlawjournal.com/home/id=1202792630368/Lawyers-Spar-Over-ExJudge-Wolfsons-Affordable-Housing-Role?mcode=1202617074826&curindex=0

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Coffee drinkers live longer and have lower risk of disease, studies find

ridgewood+coffee

Bradley J. FikesContact Reporter

Coffee drinkers live longer, according to two large-scale studies released Monday that add to extensive research indicating coffee consumption is associated with better health.

The studies examined the health histories of hundreds of thousands of people who were tracked over many years. They found that coffee-drinking reduced the risk of various diseases among people from several ethnicities, and this effect was seen in drinkers of regular or decaffeinated coffee. And the more coffee consumed, the greater the benefit.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/biotech/sd-me-coffee-longevity-20170710-story.html

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Cancer diagnoses are steadily declining among N.J. residents, report shows

cancer genetics with logo

file photo

NICOLE LEONARD Staff Writer

Jul 9, 2017

A new report shows invasive cancer diagnoses in New Jersey are on the decline, which may be significant for a state with some of the highest cancer rates in the nation.

The Cancer Incidence and Mortality in New Jersey report, released by the state Department of Health last month, showed cases of invasive cancers among residents in 2014 were slightly down from 2013.

New Jersey dropped from fifth place to seventh among states in cancer rates, according to 2014 cancer statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/pac/cancer-diagnoses-are-steadily-declining-among-n-j-residents-report/article_1fd6009d-f5ad-50e7-aacd-ecfd9e58b634.html

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2017 RHS Summer New Players opens this weekend!

Little Shop of Horrors

July 11,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, 2017 RHS Summer New Players opens this weekend! Tickets on sale now! Come enjoy Little Shop of Horrors, Baskerville-a Sherlock Holmes Mystery and later in July, The Pajama Game!!!
Senior Citizens $5.00 discount! We would love to have you join us in the lovely air conditioned Little Theatre!!

RHS New Players Company at The Little Theatre ,simply click on the below link when shopping online. After that, you will shop at your favorite online stores and New Players makes a percentage of every purchase.

https://rhsnewplayers.com/

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Out-of-town family must pay school district $38K, state says

RHS_theridgewoodblog

Updated on July 9, 2017 at 8:14 PMPosted on July 9, 2017 at 2:37 PM

BY SARA JERDE

NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

BRIDGEWATER — A family was ordered to pay a school district more than $38,000 after it was discovered that a student was living outside of the district’s lines, the Commissioner of Education recently determined.

The parents, identified only in state documents as “M.K.,” were ordered to pay a full year’s tuition, or $38,329.20 to the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.

https://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2017/07/family_must_pay_school_district_more_than_38k_for.html#incart_river_mobile_home

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MONEY STILL MAKES BIGGEST DIFFERENCE TO KIDS’ WELLBEING IN NJ

school kids

COLLEEN O’DEA | JULY 10, 2017

But even wealthiest counties can improve in some ways while the poorest do surprisingly well in some aspects of education, health, and safety

Advocates for Children of New Jersey’s annual Kids Count report on the state’s counties has a different look, but the same basic message: wealth makes a difference when it comes to the education, health, and safety of children.

The organization released today its 2017 profiles and rankings based on a dozen measures of child wellbeing. Rather than give each county an overall rank, ACNJ rated the counties in four areas: economics, health, safety, and education.

There is no top-ranked county this year — last year, Morris took that spot. But the three counties with the best ratings in all those areas were also the counties with the highest median incomes for families with children: Morris, Somerset, and Hunterdon. Meanwhile, Cumberland, Essex, and Camden counties had the three lowest ratings, and all have median incomes below the state average, with Cumberland’s being the lowest at about $52,600. Cumberland had been ranked last in the recent past.

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/17/07/09/money-still-makes-big-difference-when-it-comes-to-kids-wellbeing-in-nj-advocates-report/

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Ridgewood Parks and Recreation for summer camps

ridgewood_summer_camp_theridgewoodblog

July 10,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgwood NJ, Join Ridgewood Parks and Recreation for summer camps that are fun, informative, creative, educational and challenging.  Find all program and registration details in the links below.

Tennis Instruction and Camps with All Pro Tennis – all ages 
PonyShare Petite Equestrian, Pony Grooming & Riding and an afternoon 1/2 Day Camp – Preschool to Teen
Multi-Sports (Elementary) with US Sports Institute
Sport Squirts (Preschool) with US Sports Institute
Arts and Crafts/Drawing with Mrs. C, Grades 2 to 8
Let’s Go Camping Abrakadoodle Style, ages 4 through 10
Skateboarding Summer Camps – Grades 1 to 6
Golf Camps with Skyhawks, Grades 1 through 6
LEGO® Core Engineering with Play-Well TEKnologies, Grades K to 6
Full STEAM ahead! with Education Explorers, Grades K to 4
Lacrosse Mini Camp with US Sports Institute, ages 5 to 7

Register online via CommunityPass if applicable – www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass

Don’t hesitate to contact the Recreation Office if you have any questions or if special accomodations are needed – 201-670-5560, weekdays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.