WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — Gannett is laying off more than 100 employees at a New Jersey media company it recently purchased.
A company executive said Wednesday the layoffs are needed to improve the financial sustainability of the North Jersey Media Group, which publishes The Record, NorthJersey.com and other newspapers.
The McLean, Virginia-based Gannett purchased the news organization in July.
Tom Donovan, northeast regional president of Gannett East Group, said layoff notices will go out to 426 of the company’s employees this week. Among these, he said, more than 200 newsroom employees and about 60 in sales will remain with the company. Donovan declined to say how many people the company employs.
The layoff notices are required under state and federal law when a private company plans wide-scale layoffs.
Donovan said the changes are part of “an ambitious new reinvention” to make its newsroom and sales department more responsive to digital demands.
He said the company will invest in new equipment and “transform our strategy to better serve the sophisticated and increasingly digitally minded New Jersey audience and advertisers.”
Rurik Halaby called Schedler a DUMP, said any plan to spend money there is STUPID, And with his penchant for big fancy words and historical accuracy, he still cannot pronounce the Mayor’s name. Rurik, it is not KAH-nudsen. It is a silent K. You KAH-now how the silent K works, dontcha?
Tony Damiano made a fool of himself and the entire Ridgewood Guild. First he gets all huffy that his name was put on a committee. Seems he is unwilling to serve on any committee unless he knows all the members beforehand, because, well, he wants TOTAL CONTROL. Then he whines and whines about his mom and pop store and how his 8-hour employee has to lock the store and drive around for 20 minutes after four hours in order to find another parking space to cover the next four hours. Ummm …..start at Cottage Place before your work day begins, park there all day, you never need to leave. It is so simple. Damiano LIED when he said there is nowhere for his employee to park. He just doesn’t want his employee to walk a couple of blocks from the always empty Cottage lot. Duh.
The owner of Roots restaurant mentioned that “Roberta” is a bad word that he hesitates to use in the council chambers.
On a very sad note, Mayor Knudsen acknowledged the passing of Meegan Shevlin, who lost her battle with breast cancer last week. Whether you agreed with Meegan or not, hers was always a lively, passionate, and informed voice on various subjects. She was a wonderful person and a fine example of citizen participation in local issues.
And then there was the continuing revelation that the mystery of the concrete which was illegally dumped at Kings Pond last year remains, well, it remains a MYSTERY. Boyd Loving has attempted to learn what contractor did this dumping, who from the Village enabled it, all with the goal of making sure that such an EPA violation never happens again. And to make sure that this contractor is never hired again. And to make sure that anyone on the inside who enabled this illegal action gets called on the carpet.
The meeting was smooth, efficient, and wow, just amazing how Roberta’s absence is a beautiful presence…..or you might say it is the PRESENT that just keeps on giving.
Ridgewood NJ, last night council meeting saw Rurik Halaby in fine form, pronouncing Mayor Susan Knudsen’s name wrong once again and ranting that Schedler was a dump filled with broken glass,plastic bottles and god knows what else. He further claimed the house was a junk heap and there were no endangered species there claiming that Eagles don’t hang out near highways.
Anne Loving remedied the situation, durring the public comment she asked Susan about the pronounciation of her name so that all would hear. Don’t know if Rurik or it was past his bed time but it will be in the minutes.
Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon is planning to request municipal funds to be used to upgrade the tree replacement program which is practically non existent except for volunteer efforts. We have been losing trees due to age, sidewalk replacement, storms and neglect. At one time Ridgewood had nine employees in the Shade Tree Division now we have three.
But the big news I heard is that the sports groups/ field committee are looking to replace the turf at Maple Field. Councilmen Ramon Hache said that it is so hard and damaged that it is unsafe to play on. Artificial turf in a flood plain well here we go again. A little snippet from the Ridgewood blog in 2007 ; Reader says, “All you “fiscally responsible” folks — artificial turf, like that at Maple, is the way to go” https://theridgewoodblog.net/reader-says-all-you-fiscally-responsible-folks-artificial-turf-like-that-at-maple-is-the-way-to-go/
Parking came up as usual and there is concern that it is now on the back burner but the council is currently looking at all their options and revisiting the Hudson Street Garage.
Heather Mailander was very competent and managerial. What a pleasure and such a change from our previous manager who talked more than the whole council put together.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood’s planning board has appointed Chris Martin, of Morrison Mahoney, as the new planning board attorney during the Sept. 6 meeting. Martin replaces Gail Price, who worked for the Village of Ridgewood for many years . Price had been criticized by residents for a perceived all to cozy relationship with Valley Hospital and was challenged when her husband Richard Brooks ran for council.
According to the Morrison Mahoney website , “Chris is the Liaison Partner for the Parsippany Office and has tried numerous cases to verdict involving products, professional and commercial liability matters. Chris has argued before the New Jersey Supreme Court pertaining to construction matters and before the Appellate Division on insurance coverage issues. He has had numerous trials as a Prosecutor and has also worked in the Office of the Attorney General for the State of New Jersey.”
Paul J. Larkin Jr. / David Rosenthal / @DL_Rosenthal / John-Michael Seibler
This week, the infamous “Bridgegate” scandal goes to trial, with former officials in New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration facing serious charges from the U.S. Department of Justice. Not since London Bridge came falling down in 1281 has an overpass caused such a stir.
The backstory: In 2013, Christie was running for re-election. Like every other politician in that position, he was trying to round up support from other state and local pols. Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, however, declined to get on board. That is when the plot thickened.
The story is that several officials in Christie’s administration agreed to shut down some (but not all) of the traffic lanes across the George Washington Bridge into New York, creating a huge traffic jam in Fort Lee. That would “punish” Sokolich for his failure to “get in line.” It was a prank. A dirty trick. Think the end of “Animal House,” just real life.
As pranks or dirty tricks go, it was tawdry, even stupid. (Did they think no one would find out?) Christie himself described the lane closure as “abject stupidity.”
Once the story broke, Christie and his cohorts predictably took a drubbing from the notoriously tough New York media. Christie certainly paid a price in the media for the imbroglio and likely also among the electorate during his later run for the Republican nomination for the presidency.
No one has a constitutional right to avoid traffic or to use three or four lanes when approaching a bridge.
One might think that a media firestorm and political retribution were adequate penalties for a stupid, cheap, political dirty trick. But not in 21st-century America, where the U.S. Justice Department believes that political dirty tricks are actually crimes. The Justice Department has charged Bridget Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff, along with David Wildstein and William Baroni, officials of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, with multiple federal felonies for their parts in the Great Gridlock Shenanigans. The 37-page, 9-count indictment alleges these officials committed theft of federal government property, fraud, the deprivation of the civil rights of New Jersey residents, and that they conspired to do all of the foregoing. (If the defendants had dynamited an empty bridge, they would have committed fewer crimes.)
Wildstein pleaded guilty in 2015 to two counts of conspiracy and implicated his alleged co-conspirators. He will likely regret that because, as explained below, he pleaded guilty to nonexistent crimes.
What property did they steal? The bridge is still there—and probably the traffic, too.
What property did they misuse? The government alleges that the defendants misused “the time and services of unwitting Port Authority personnel.” Really? If that is a form of theft, then the Justice Department inspector general should investigate to make sure no DOJ employee uses a DOJ fax machine to send a permission slip to a child’s school, or uses the government’s WATS line to call a sick parent, or uses an office computer to check the scores on ESPN, or wastes away the day chatting with colleagues—or any of the other matters that go on in the federal government on a daily basis.
What was the fraud? Neither the defendants nor anyone else derived any personal financial benefit from the scheme. Was the fraud an implicit representation that politicians would not act like politicians? Puhleeze! We’re talkin’ “New Joisey” here! Besides, any DOJ prosecutor who thinks that politicians do not pull stupid stunts like this one is guilty of defrauding the federal government for telling his superiors that he is savvy enough to be a DOJ prosecutor.
The only benefit that Christie’s associates got was schadenfreude. If that is sufficient to violate the fraud statute, the Supreme Court has been wasting its time trying to interpret that law because, as Cole Porter wrote, anything goes.
Most outrageous is the civil rights charge. What civil right did the defendants violate? The constitutional right not to be ensnarled in traffic? Fuggedaboutit! Perhaps there is a constitution somewhere that includes a Traffic Clause (right after the Sanity Clause), but the American Constitution sure doesn’t.
The Constitution guarantees everyone a right to interstate migration, not interstate commuting — and certainly not speedy interstate commuting, let alone a right to “localized” driving, as the government’s indictment alleges. No one has a constitutional right to avoid traffic or to use three or four lanes when approaching a bridge. Besides, the defendants didn’t corral Fort Lee residents. There are numerous bridges, tunnels, and ferries into New York. Perhaps someone should show the prosecutors a map.
Look at this matter another way. It would not violate the Constitution for officials to funnel traffic into fewer lanes to repave the bridge. The only difference between that scenario and this one is that these officials are said to have acted with the intent to injure someone—not the commuters, however; they were just the delivery vehicle for the pain.
The defendants’ intent was to injure Mayor Sokolich—not physically, just politically—for not being a “team player.” Yes, that is a shoddy way to treat the public (which always seems to take it in the shorts whenever politicians act like, well, politicians). But the Constitution protects us against political mischief. It lets us vote the perpetrators out of office. That is the proper remedy, not a criminal prosecution.
In a case involving alleged political misconduct (a trade association’s gifts to politicians), the late Justice Antonin Scalia wrote that “a statute in this field that can linguistically be interpreted to be either a meat axe or a scalpel should reasonably be taken to be the latter.” Here, the DOJ prosecutors have gone with a scythe.
A lawyer representing Kelly wrote that “the intentional causing of traffic” has never been the subject of federal civil rights allegations. “No other federal criminal case,” according to counsel, “has been prosecuted anywhere, at any time, with facts even remotely similar to the facts there.” We haven’t looked everywhere, but, by God, we sure hope he’s right.
Last spring, the Supreme Court unanimously spanked the DOJ in McDonnell v. United States for trying to stretch the federal criminal law to punish tawdry political behavior. McDonnell was not an anomaly. It was just the latest in a series of cases (including McNally, McCormick, Sun-Diamond Growers, Skillingand Yates) in which the Supreme Court has told the Justice Department that it is up to Congress—not the DOJ—to come up with newfangled crimes and to define them with precision.
The prosecutors need to listen to the music, not just read the lyrics, in the court’s opinions. The district court should have dismissed this indictment in an opinion that read simply, “GMAB.” Were this case to result in a conviction and ultimately reach the Supreme Court, the court will need to send the DOJ to its room without supper yet again. Why? Because with this indictment the Justice Department has essentially flipped off the court.
It is a good thing that there will be a presidential election in November. It offers every hope that there will be a new attorney general come January 2017. The Justice Department could use some adult supervision.
Strongly Urges Customers Not to Use or Charge the Device Onboard Vehicles or in Facilities
September 13, 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Following safety concerns raised by Samsung about its Galaxy Note7, NJ TRANSIT is strongly urging all customers not to use or charge the mobile device on board trains, buses, light rail vehicles or in stations and facilities.
“We are asking our customers who have the Galaxy Note7, to simply turn it off before entering an NJ TRANSIT facility or boarding a vehicle.” said interim Executive Director Dennis Martin. “Because of the uncertainties surrounding this device, we are issuing this precautionary advisory to ensure the safety of all of our customers.”
The Samsung Galaxy Note7 has been the subject of numerous accounts of the batteries bursting into flames. Both Samsung and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission are urging owners to power down these devices and stop charging or using them.
“NJ TRANSIT is urging our customers to do the responsible thing and heed the manufacturer’s advice to power down the Galaxy Note7” said Gardner Tabon, Chief of NJ TRANSIT’s Office of System Safety. “This is especially critical when riding a transit system along with hundreds of thousands of others.”
NJ TRANSIT has not had any reported cases of a Samsung Galaxy Note7 becoming a fire hazard. In February 2016, NJ TRANSIT restricted customers and employees from using, charging, storing or transporting hoverboards following similar fire safety concerns.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) – State voters are being promised that millions of dollars in new funding will flow to programs for senior citizens and the horse racing industry and to help a struggling Atlantic City if they approve a ballot question authorizing two new casinos near New York City. But what they’re not being told is what tax rate the new casinos in the northern part of the state would pay or how much new money would be available.
On Tuesday, a state lawmaker proposed specific tax rates for the new gambling halls. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo told The Associated Press a casino at the Meadowlands Racetrack might be taxed at 35 to 40 percent while a costlier one in Jersey City could pay 15 to 20 percent.
“We’ve lagged behind in terms of being transparent,” said Caputo, a northern New Jersey Democrat and former casino worker. “There’s no use kidding anybody about that. The tax rate needs to be established.”
The proposal came as pro- and anti-casino expansion forces are pouring millions of dollars into ads in the nation’s most expensive media market to influence the outcome of the November referendum.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have gained ground on Democrats in registering voters in three battleground states and kept their razor-thin advantage in Iowa — encouraging news for Donald Trump eight weeks before Election Day.
Republicans added hundreds of thousands of voters to the rolls since 2012 in states including Florida and Arizona, and narrowed the gap in North Carolina, according to data compiled by The Associated Press. In Iowa, Republicans prevented Democrats from surpassing them, aided by a court ruling upholding a ban on voting by ex-felons, who often register as Democrats.
As Election Day approaches, voter registration drives are in full swing.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign is staging registration rallies and appealing in particular to non-whites and young people, who are more likely to vote early — if they vote at all. Trump is relying mostly on a base of white voters, urging supporters to be vigilant for voter fraud and “rigging.”
hummm what could possibly wrong with that?
Rob Price
We’ve got our first good look at Google’s new burrito-delivering drones in action.
The Roanoke Times has got its hands on footage of some of the first public tests of Project Wing — a drone delivery project run by X (formerly Google X), an experimental lab owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet.
The drones are being tested in Virginia, on the Virginia Tech university campus. X has teamed up with Chipotle to deliver burritos. Previous reports say that X intends to use the drone to deliver burritos from a food truck to students, though The Roanoke Times’ footage appears to just show test flights for now, rather than genuine food deliveries. (But there was a food truck close by!)
By Sara Jerde | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 13, 2016 at 5:56 PM, updated September 13, 2016 at 5:58 PM
Gov. Chris Christie has again nominated Gurbir Grewal to be Bergen County prosecutor.
Christie announced late Monday that he would ask the state Senate to approve Grewal, who has been serving as acting county prosecutor. Christie previously nominated Grewal for the job in 2013, but the Senate did not approve the appointment.
Grewal was appointed acting prosecutor by Christie in January when former County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli retired from the job.
By Myles Ma | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 13, 2016 at 2:45 PM, updated September 13, 2016 at 3:29 PM
EAST RUTHERFORD — The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority plans to address a host of legal issues raised by a group opposed to its plans to issue $1.15 billion in public bonds on behalf of American Dream Meadowlands.
The Sports Authority agreed on Aug. 25 to issue the bonds to help finance the stalled retail and entertainment center.
On Sept. 6, an attorney for the New Jersey Alliance for Fiscal Integrity wrote a letter to the authority claiming the deal was flawed. Thomas Calcagni, an attorney for the alliance, criticized the bond sale in the 11-page document.
Washington DC, Legislation to end bailouts for big banks, toughen penalties for wrongdoing on Wall Street, promote economic growth, and provide desperately needed regulatory relief for small community banks and credit unions passed the House Financial Services Committee 30-26 today.
The legislation – the Financial CHOICE Act – ends the Dodd-Frank Act’s taxpayer-funded bailouts of large financial institutions; relieves banks that elect to be strongly capitalized from growth-strangling regulation that slows the economy and harms consumers; imposes tougher penalties on those who commit financial fraud; and demands greater accountability from Washington regulators.
“Democrats just voted against a bill that increases penalties against those who commit financial fraud. They just voted against a bill that ends taxpayer-funded bailouts, and they just voted against legislation that provides relief from Washington’s crushing regulatory burden for small banks, credit unions and consumers,” said Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), the sponsor of the bill.
“The bill holds Wall Street accountable with the toughest, strongest, strictest penalties ever – far greater than those in Dodd-Frank. And as recent headlines attest, obviously stronger penalties are needed. It requires banks to be well capitalized to prevent another financial crisis and puts in place the toughest penalties in history to protect consumers from fraud and deception.
“The Financial CHOICE Act will help grow the economy for all Americans, not just those at the top. It promotes strong and transparent markets to revitalize job creation in our poorest communities and ensures every American has the opportunity to achieve financial independence, no matter where they start out in life.”
The Financial CHOICE Act, which stands for Creating Hope and Opportunity for Investors, Consumers and Entrepreneurs, received strong support from community banks and credit unions, small business groups and conservative organizations. Large financial institutions did not offer their support for the bill.
Democrats on the Committee – despite having spent months criticizing the Financial CHOICE Act – refused to offer a single amendment to the bill.
For more information on the Financial CHOICE Act, visit www.financialservices.house.gov/choice/.
Organizations offering praise for the Financial CHOICE Act include the following:
“The [Financial CHOICE Act] would provide meaningful regulatory relief to help community banks foster economic and job growth in their local communities.” — Independent Community Bankers of America
“This bill provides significant regulatory relief essential to restoring economic growth. Republican members of Congress have repeatedly promised to get rid of Dodd-Frank and stop taxpayer funded bailouts. Now they have the opportunity to fulfill that promise by bringing the Financial Choice Act to a vote in the House and Senate, and sending the bill to the President’s desk.” — Heritage Action
“Chairman Hensarling’s CHOICE Act would be a win for Main Street consumers, workers and small businesses. Since Dodd-Frank was passed in 2010, access to free-checking has decreased while lobbyists’ importance has increased. The CHOICE Act helps reverse this trend.” — Main Street Growth Project
“Americans for Prosperity applauds your leadership in reining in the overbearing financial regulations that threaten growth and threaten consumer financial stability. Repealing and replacing the failed policies established in the Dodd-Frank Act will mean that Americans will have greater access to capital, which will lead to greater job growth, personal wealth, and overall economic prosperity. We are proud to support the CHOICE Act, and we urge your colleagues to support it.” — Americans for Prosperity
“….[the Financial CHOICE Act] is precisely the right combination to get the American economy moving again. The CHOICE Act offers sensible regulatory relief for qualifying institutions, protects the American taxpayer and consumer from another Wall Street meltdown, and holds federal financial regulatory agencies accountable.” — Independent Bankers Association of Texas
“….several components of this legislation target reforms specifically to facilitate investment in small business. The inclusion of these provisions and others will provide regulatory relief and modernization that will allow the private sector to fuel economic growth in our 21st century economy.” — Small Business Investor Alliance
“This is an important bill that will truly reform rules governing the financial system, encourage innovation across the system, vastly improve access to capital for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and transform a regulatory structure that lacks accountability, is too secretive, and ignores its responsibilities concerning small businesses.” — Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
“We greatly appreciate the Chairman’s efforts in Title III of the bill to reform the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau). This title will help to ensure the Bureau serves as a non-partisan regulator that operates within the framework of the law by giving Congress more oversight authority, taking into account the opinions of all stakeholders, and properly weighing the impact its regulations have on the availability of credit.” — Consumer Bankers Association
“NAR is pleased that the FCA [Financial CHOICE Act] includes provisions that will enhance transparency, accountability and fairness in our financial system. As a result, the FCA will help expand financial product choice and promote economic opportunity. These provisions are an important step towards making property ownership a reality for hardworking Americans and U.S. businesses.” – National Association of Realtors
“If we want the economy to improve — if we want to give all Americans the chance to prosper again — we need to put an end to Washington’s destructive regulatory agenda once and for all. Thankfully, an increasing number of elected officials in Washington are fighting against the harmful effects and unintended consequences of these onerous regulations. Leading the fight in Congress has been House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), who recently outlined a comprehensive plan to turbocharge the American economy. His new legislation, The Financial CHOICE Act, aims to curb regulations to create opportunity and choice for investors, consumers, and entrepreneurs nationwide.” — Conservative Coalition Letter of Support
“If signed into law, the bill would end the era of too big to fail, and would move banking and financial decisions away from Beltway and back to Main Street. This bill is balanced, meets key conservative criteria, and should continue to move through the House to final passage.” — FreedomWorks
“….[the Financial CHOICE Act] would begin the process of implementing sensible, necessary reforms to the U.S. financial system. That system has been saddled with an ineffective regulatory structure and an array of conflicting legislative and regulatory requirements that, individually or collectively, constrain growth. The Chamber believes the Financial Choice Act is a positive first step for unlocking the capital markets to better facilitate the financing of America’s economic growth and job creation.” — U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“….the CHOICE Act offers a strong alternative to Dodd-Frank and the regulatory morass it created. Rather than creating a flurry of complex rules in response to the financial crisis, Congress should have mandated higher capital requirements for financial institutions. That is why NTU is enthusiastic about the CHOICE Act’s “off ramp” from the bulk of the current Dodd Frank regulatory regime.” — National Taxpayers Union
“….the CHOICE Act and the substantial regulatory relief it provides…will generate meaningful economic and job growth in our communities.” — Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America
“….[the Financial CHOICE Act] address[es] the challenging credit conditions that home builders and home buyers continue to experience as a result of an overly zealous regulatory response to the financial crisis. NAHB appreciates your efforts to initiate regulatory reform to support a more robust recovery.” — National Association of Home Builders
“….it is vital that we take heed of any policy that claims to “fix” the voluntary actions of consumers. Price controls go against everything we stand for as a country and do nothing but redistribute wealth, damaging the lives of hardworking Americans. The first step forward is reform. The Financial CHOICE Act is that first step.” — Red State
“….the Financial Choice Act if passed will restore competition in the marketplace by removing arbitrary government price caps. Additionally, it will allow banks the ability to recoup the money they spend on fraud protection from the retailers that reap the benefit of the use of debit cards. Consumers will once again have affordable access to basic banking services, and small businesses will have the freedom to negotiate processing fees that make sense based on the type of goods they sell. In short, all true conservatives in Congress should rally behind Neugebauer and Hensarling’s bill, because it will cut back on big government red tape and allow the free market to thrive again.” — Liberty Unyielding
Ridgewood NJ, looks to be a very full plate for the Village Council for tonight’s meeting .The agenda features some changes in public comment at Village council meetings, the repeal of the requirementof notification of audio/video recordings , amending the Valet Parking Ordinance for Chestnut Street, amending the 2016 Capital Budget for Northwest Bergen County Central Dispatch, authorizing the Application for Historic Preservation Grant for Zabriskie-Schedler House, and authorizing the Application for Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Grant for Kings Pond Park. There are also a host of appointments to the Financial Advisory Committee, Central Business District Advisory Committee and the Ridgewood Arts Council.
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL
REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
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
A. Fire Prevention Week
B. Gold Star Mother’s Day
C. National Breast Cancer Awareness Week
8. Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 5 minutes per person – 30 minutes in total)
9. Village Manager’s Report
10. Village Council Reports
11. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
12. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
13. RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
16-285 Award Contract under State Contract – Two Jeep Patriot Vehicles (NTE $42,793) – Awards a contract under State Contract to Hertrich Fleet Services, Inc., 1427 Bay Road, Milford, DE
14. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3548 – Amend Chapter 265 Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Regulations – Brookside Avenue – Amends this chapter to provide for three hour parking, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, from September 1 through June 30, on both sides of Brookside Avenue from Spring Avenue southward
3549 – Repeal Ordinance 3532 – Audio/Video Recording of Public Meetings – Repeals Ordinance 3532 which requires notification of audio/video recordings of public meetings of Village Boards/Committees which are not usually recorded
3550 – Amend Chapter 275 – Yard Waste Regulations – Amends this chapter to provide new regulations concerning putting leaves out into the street and leaf pick-up as well as new regulations regarding the separation of grass clippings and other types of yard waste
3551 – Amend Chapter 3 – Administration of Government Section 3-13(A) – Order of Business Relating to Public Comment – Amends this chapter to allow for Public Comment at the beginning of the meeting for no longer than 40 minutes; and changing the time for speakers to three minutes each; and allowing speakers to only speak once,
3552 – Various Capital Improvements at Northwest Bergen Central Dispatch ($26,000) – Appropriates $26,000 from the Capital Fund Balance for improvement at NWBCD including cameras, doors, computers, air conditioners, emergency generators and alarm panel
3553 – Amend Ordinance #3547 – Sale of Dogs and Cats – Amends Ordinance #3547 to disallow hobby breeders to sell their dogs and cats in pet stores in Ridgewood
3554 – Amend Valet Parking Ordinance – Chestnut Street
15. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3542 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Violations and Penalties – Increase Parking Ticket Fines
3545 – Amend Chapter 249 – Streets and Sidewalks – Increase Fines for Paving Moratorium Violations 3546 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Sewers and Sewage Disposal Fees – Increase Annual Service Charge for Out of Village Dischargers
3547 – Regulate/Ban the Sale of “Dog and Cat Mill” Animals in Pet Shops
16. RESOLUTIONS
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 16-259 THROUGH
16-284 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
16-259 Title 59 Approval – Laboratory Analysis Services – Approves the plans and specifications for Furnishing Laboratory Analysis Services Beginning January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, Inclusive, prepared by the Engineering Division, pursuant to Title 59
16-260 Award Contract Laboratory Analysis Services – Graydon Pool & Water Pollution Control Facility (NTE $14,316.50) – Awards a one-year extension of the 2016 contract to Garden State Laboratories, Inc., 410 Hillside Avenue, Hillside, NJ, at the same price as 2016
16-261 Title 59 Approval – Sodium Bisulfite and Sodium Hypochlorite Solutions – Approve the plans and specifications for Furnishing and Delivering of Sodium Bisulfite Solution and Sodium Hypochlorite Solution Beginning January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016, Inclusive, prepared by the Engineering Division, pursuant to Title 59
16-262 Award Contract – Sodium Bisulfite and Sodium Hypochlorite Solutions – Water Pollution Control Facility – Awards a one-year extension of the 2016 contract to Miracle Chemical Company, 1151 B Highway No. 33, Farmingdale, NJ, at the same price as 2016
16-263 Title 59 Approval – Property Maintenance Services – Approves the plans and specifications for Rebid Property Maintenance Services (October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017, inclusive) prepared by the Engineering Division, pursuant to Title 59
16-264 Award Contract – Property Maintenance Services – Awards a contract to the lowest responsible bidder, ConQuest Construction, 20 Carver Avenue, Westwood, NJ at various prices based on the tasks performed
16-265 Award Contract Under State Contract – Ford F350 Pickup Truck – Traffic & Signal (NTE $57,416) – Awards a contract under State Contract to Cherry Hill Winner Ford, 250 Berlin Road, Cherry Hill, NJ
16-266 Award Contract Under State Contract – Ford F350 Pickup Truck – Traffic & Signal (NTE $47,284) – Awards a contract under State Contract to Cherry Hill Winner Ford, 250 Berlin Road, Cherry NJ
16-267 Award Under State Contract – Electronic Equipment, Software, and Computer Upgrades (NTE $223,248.77) – Awards a contract under State Contract to SHI International Corporation, 290 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, NJ
16-268 Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance – Brush Chipper – Parks Department (NTE $119,738.36) – Awards a contract under the National Joint Powers Alliance to Northeastern Arborist Supply, 50 Notch Road, Woodland Park, NJ
16-269 Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance – Street Sweeper – Streets Department (NTE $206,896.45) – Awards a contract under the National Joint Powers Alliance to Timmerman Equipment Company, P.O. Box 71, Whitehouse, NJ
16-270 Award Contract Under The Education Services Commission of New Jersey Contract – Two Stump Grinders – Parks Department (NTE $67,504) – Awards a contract under The Education Services Commission of New Jersey Contract to Cherry Valley Tractor Sales, 35 Route 70 West, Marlton, NJ
16-271 Award Extraordinary, Unspecifiable Services Contract – Blower Motor – Water Pollution Control Facility (NTE $30,000) – Awards an Extraordinary, Unspecifiable Services Contract to various vendors: Spencer Turbine Co., 600 Day Hill Road, Windsor, CT; Carfi Electric, 124 Emeline Drive, Hawthorne, NJ; and Keystone Engineering Group, 590 Lancaster Avenue, Suite 200, Fazer,
16-272 Authorize Extension of Contract – Leasing and Maintenance Program for Police Cars (NTE $30,000) – Authorizes the extension of a contract for the third year of a three-year contract to Enterprise Fleet Management, 1550 Route 23 North, Suite 101, Wayne, NJ
16-273 Declare Property Surplus – Parks Department Dump Truck – Declares a Parks Department dump truck surplus property and authorizes the Village Manager to dispose of said property
16-274 Amend 2016 Capital Budget for Northwest Bergen County Central Dispatch Capital Improvements – Amends the 2016 Capital Budget to indicate that $26,000 from the Capital Fund Balance be appropriated to pay for the Village’s share of capital improvements at Northwest Bergen Central Dispatch
16-275 Approve Shared Services Agreement – Child Health Clinic (Glen Rock and Fair Lawn) – Authorizes a Shared Services Agreement with the Borough of Glen Rock and the Borough of Fair Lawn to have their residents participate in the Child Health Clinic in the Village of Ridgewood. Each municipality will pay one- third of the cost for the remainder of 2016, which is $1,266.
16-276 Reject Bid – Janitorial Services – Rejects the sole bid for this service due to the fact that its benefits were outweighed by its detriments
16-277 Authorize Application for Historic Preservation Grant for Zabriskie-Schedler House – Authorizes that an application for a Historic Preservation Grant for the Zabriskie-Schedler House be submitted
16-278 Authorize Application for Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Grant – Kings Pond Park – Authorizes that an application for a Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Grant be submitted for various improvements at Kings Pond Park
16-279 Authorize Cleaning of Gypsy Pond/Kings Pond Park by the Ridgewood Wildscape Association and Partners – Authorizes several volunteer groups to clean the Gypsy Pond/Kings Pond Park, along with a Public Awareness Campaign, on October 15, 2016. The Village Engineer has reviewed the proposal, the group has agreed to certain safety precautions, and the resolution is adopted pursuant to Title 59.
16-280 Establish Annual Service Charge and Payment for Guarantee Bond for Ridgewood Senior Citizen Housing Corporation and Guaranty of Payment of Revenue Bonds – Authorizes the Village Manager to execute an agreement reflecting the annual service charge, in lieu of taxes, for Village services provided to the Ridgewood Senior Citizens Housing Corporation’s housing development. In addition, it requires the payment of $25,000 from the Ridgewood Senior Citizen Housing Corporation for guaranty of the timely payment of principal and interest of 2005 Revenue Bonds.
16-281 Authorize Letter be Sent to the Planning Board for the Review of Ordinances 3489, 3490, 3491, and 3492 – Authorizes that a letter be sent from the Village Council to the Ridgewood Planning Board requesting that the Planning Board openly discuss and
re-evaluate the zoning criteria which was the basis for regulations found in Ordinances 3489, 3490, 3491 and 3492, specifically the appropriate densities of development compared to floor area ratios and on-site parking in the Central Business District
16-282 Appointments to Financial Advisory Committee – Appoints members to the Financial Advisory Committee
16-283 Appointments to Central Business District Advisory Committee – Appoints representatives of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, the Ridgewood Guild, resident members, business owners, Village Council liaison, the Police Chief or designee and the Village Engineer for staggered two-year terms
16-284 Appointments to Ridgewood Arts Council – Appoints members to the Ridgewood Arts Council to terms expiring 6/30/17. Also appoints Audrey Fink as the Chair and Rosemary Gunther McCooe as the Vice-Chair for terms expiring 6/30/17.
17. Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
The prevalence of driving with phone in hand is very high. But the worst case I have seen was a woman driving a Hummer, talking on her cell phone with one hand and holding a cup of coffee in the other. She would regularly turn from Meadowbrook onto Fairfield during the school rush while steering that Hummer with her knees! She was followed closely in stupidity to the man driving down Rt 17S during rush hour while reading his newspaper. PLEASE, for everyone’s sake, DRIVE SAFELY!
