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Readers Cautious on Shared Services Concept

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Readers Cautious on Shared Services Concept

We have and it hasn’t worked ie: the agreement with mp over gas, Central dispatch, the tub grinder with glen rock. the failed attempt to split a ladder truck with glen rock some years ago. The Long Island experience was the merger of small town pd’s into 1 big county force. Costs sky rocketed response time slowed drastically and alot of local municipalities ended up paying way higher county taxes. ( I believe they were deemed public safety tax) The Nassau county, and Suffolk county cops are the highest paid in the nation.

“We have (tried shared services) and it hasn’t worked ie: the agreement with mp over gas, Central dispatch, the tub grinder with glen rock. the failed attempt to split a ladder truck with glen rock some years ago…”

Are you kidding?? Sharing a tub grinder or ladder truck??? These are not example of shared services that generate any meaningful savings. These are agreements of convenience.

I don’t know all the details of Central Dispatch. But, from what I understand, this was poorly conceived and has been poorly run from the start. This entity needs to be audited, at least informally, by the Village (not people connected to Central Dispatch) to understand why Ridgewood contributes $600K+ of the $1.6MM annual cost to this service for 13 towns (almost 5 times the theoretical average share of the expenses) and why a handful of employees are being paid $1MM a year and god knows what else in benefits to operate this service. I think Paramus dispatch offered to run this service for Ridgewood a few years ago for less than $100K. If so, Ridgewood’s Central Dispatch seems like a good example of poor oversight and management, not a “model of shared services” as described by Gabbert.

Chemistry.com

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Anti-Bullying Report Recommends Greater Autonomy for School Officials

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Anti-Bullying Report Recommends Greater Autonomy for School Officials

A task force charged with looking at the benefits and challenges of New Jersey’s new anti-bullying law has published its first report, recommending that schools be allowed more discretion in identifying and investigating possible acts of bullying.

The unit was formed last spring on the heels of the 2011 passage of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights (ABR), which imposed tough new requirements on schools to not just act on accusations of bullying but to resolve the issue within a set timeframe. (Mooney/NJSpotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/13/01/30/anti-bullying-report-recommends-greater-autonomy-for-school-officials/

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Readers, Council Meeting Raised More Questions about Meeting between Developers and selected Council members

Ken_Smith_property_theridgewoodblog.net

The Old Ken Smith Property one of the key CBD properties involved in the “Sunshine law” dispute

Readers, Council Meeting Raised More Questions about Meeting between Developers and selected Council members

I just watched the meeting. The public needs to see the emails in question. How many meetings did Albert Pucciarelli and Paul Aronsohn have with terminal construction, what did they promise terminal? Looks bad. Maybe cause for an official investigation.

The behavior of Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli is an embarrassment for all the town. They were rude and unprofessional in their discussion with Councilwoman Walsh. I was proud to see that Mrs. Walsh maintained a calm, professional manner. Despite their repeated attacks, she never lost her cool. Thanks Bernie.

Its no secret that Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarell has had it in for Walsh ever since she did not support him for Planning Board President. His ego could not except that and has said as much. No doubt thats why he ran for council to get even.

Last night was Ms. Walsh’s finest hour. It was Mr. Pucciarelli’s and Mr. Aronsohn’s worst performances ever. They were an embarrassment to all of us. Imagine such unprofessional, name-calling behavior from our elected official. At least Ms. Walsh is a shining example of how to lead. She is a class act.

Paul Aronsohn could not control the meeting because he is probable just involved as BIG AL. He did not have his consultants there to help him. Typical of his style of politics he went on the attack Walsh intimating that she tried to fix a ticket and when she had the answer for that he brought in the old standby Gabbert’s raise. How many time are we going to hear that line?

Chemistry.com - Lesbian

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Ridgewood explores three options for 2013 budget

Ridgewood_-Village_Hall_theridgewoodblog.net_10

Ridgewood explores three options for 2013 budget
Thursday January 31, 2013, 4:09 PM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The Ridgewood Council will explore at least three different options and consider the recent findings of a volunteer finance committee as it begins discussions on the 2013 municipal budget.

Village Manager Ken Gabbert presented preliminary figures to the governing body Wednesday night to illustrate separate spending plans: one that represents a 1.1 percent budget increase over last year, another showing a zero percent budget increase, and a third that would potentially deliver a zero percent tax increase.

“We started the [2013] budget process with the departments back in October. What’s been done differently is that we went back for an extra round with the departments in accordance to the council’s direction,” the village manager reported. In December, council members instructed Gabbert and his staff to construct a number of budget options for presentation in January.

The 2012 village budget totaled more than $45.2 million, while the average Ridgewood homeowner shelled out approximately $3,900 for each municipal tax bill last year. A proposed total budget amount for this year was not used at this week’s council work session, as several influencing factors are still unknown.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/189257631_Ridgewood_explores_three_options_for_2013_budget.html

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Triaminic and Theraflu Recall

Story

Triaminic and Theraflu Recall
January 31,2013
the  staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  Bottles of Triaminic and Theraflu cold and allergy syrups are being recalled by Novartis because of defective child-resistant bottle caps.

The Triaminic and Theraflu recall covers 142 production lots of Triaminic syrups and 41 lots of Theraflu syrups. Novartis the company that produces the medicines, claims that the defect could allow for the removal the cap without breaking the seal on the bottle.

The company says that it received four reports of adverse events to date related to the Triaminic products.

The Triaminic and Theraflu products were made between May 2010 and December 2011 at a Novartis facility in Nebraska. Novartis shut down that plant in December 2011 after federal inspections found numerous quality-control problems.

Novartis says it believes currently that 97%  of the inventory has been used, returned, or quarantined.

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Dominican prostitute: Sen. Bob Menendez ‘likes the youngest and newest girls’

reorg7_theridgewoodblog.net

Sen. Bob Menendezat Ridgewood REORG

Dominican prostitute: Sen. Bob Menendez ‘likes the youngest and newest girls’

In a little-noticed email published online Wednesday by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a young Dominican woman wrote nine months ago that she slept with 59-year-old New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez at a series of sex parties organized by Dr. Salomon Melgen, a longtime Menendez campaign donor.

“That senator also likes the youngest and newest girls,” the woman wrote on April 21, 2002, according to an English translation provided to The Daily Caller by a native Spanish speaker.

“In the beginning he seemed so serious, because he never spoke to anyone, but he is just like the others and has just about the same tastes as the doctor, very refined. I think they were taking us more often to get us checked [medically] because of him.”

https://dailycaller.com/2013/01/31/dominican-prostitute-senator-bob-menendez-likes-the-youngest-and-newest-girls/

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Ridgewood Police Allege Fair Lawn woman was carrying drug paraphernalia into courtroom

Ridgewood_-Village_Hall_theridgewoodblog.net_10

Ridgewood Police Allege Fair Lawn woman was carrying drug paraphernalia into courtroom
January 31, 2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, For the second time in recent memory Ridgewood Police arrested some trying to enter Municipal court with drug paraphernalia.

On January 24 a Fair Lawn woman was arrested for walking into a court hearing with drugs, police say. Danielle Allegretti, 29, of Fair lawn was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia on Jan. 24, just feet away from the Municipal court  bench.

Ridgewood police allege that unspecified drug paraphernalia was found inside Allegretti’s purse as she was passing through the security checkpoint right outside the court room.

Three months ago, the Ridgewood police had a similar arrest  when it was discovered that a Ridgewood man had prescription pills, marijuana and cocaine in backpack .

Court officials said Wednesday that Allegretti was in court last week on a motor vehicle violation.  Allegretti been released with a court date set for Feb. 14 on the new charge.

Chemistry.com - Lesbian

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Sunshine Law debate heats up in Ridgewood

apucciarelli

Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli center of the Sunshine law issue

Sunshine Law debate heats up in Ridgewood
Thursday January 31, 2013, 4:21 PM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

A discussion among Ridgewood Council members on New Jersey’s Sunshine Law intensified into a verbal brouhaha at Wednesday night’s work session.

WalshB

Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh

Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh’s inquiry into the number of recent meetings involving fewer than three governing officials and other members of the public sparked a heated debate with her council colleagues, particularly Ridgewood’s deputy mayor. And by the end of the argument, the councilwoman called for a “redo” of a December council meeting.

Under the state’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), a gathering of three or more council members constitutes a public meeting, subject to advertisement and adequate notice to the public.

“When we become council members, we get a packet of information that gives us a guideline to follow … it is a guideline of how we do our business and operate as a council. All of us on council want good |government,” Walsh said. “There have been some things recently … the more I mulled them over, |I wanted to have better |government.

“What’s the responsibility to each other when two of us are in a meeting?” Walsh asked regarding sessions that do not require advertisement.

The genesis of the conversation appeared to be an informal meeting in November called by Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli, who sought information on the proposed Graydon Pool ADA ramp. One other council member attended that meeting, and public notice was not required.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/189260611_Sunshine_Law_debate_heats_up_in_Ridgewood.html

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NJ Media Looks to Defend Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez

Reorg3_theridgewoodblog.net

File Photo by Boyd Loving Sen. Bob Menendez at Ridgewood REORG

NJ Media Looks to Defend Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez

FBI raids office of Menendez donor

Wednesday, January 30, 2013    Last updated: Wednesday January 30, 2013, 11:34 PM
BY  HERB JACKSON
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
The Record

The FBI raid of a top donor’s office forced U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez on Wednesday to address anonymous allegations highlighted by a conservative website that the senator slept with prostitutes at parties that donor hosted at a resort in the Dominican Republic.

“Any allegations of engaging with prostitutes are manufactured by a politically motivated right-wing blog and are false,” Menendez’s office said in a statement.

Menendez said the donor, Salomon Melgen, was a friend. A spokesman said that Menendez personally reimbursed Melgen for flights on Melgen’s private plane to the Dominican resort. And the senator’s office said no one there had been contacted by law enforcement in connection with the allegations.

The Daily Caller website had said Menendez accepted free travel in violation of Senate ethics rules.

Due to become chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week, Menendez is no stranger to scandals involving campaign contributors.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/national/Backer_Sen_Menendez_is_target_of_FBI_raid_in_Florida.html

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St. Louis High School To Collect Students’ Hair For Mandatory Drug Testing

High_school_random_drug_testing_theridgewoodblog.net

St. Louis High School To Collect Students’ Hair For Mandatory Drug Testing
January 30, 2013 11:21 AM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CBS St. Louis) — A Kansas City high school will begin collecting hair from students to conduct mandatory drug tests.

KHSB-TV reports that Rockhurst High School will start the random drug testing during the 2013-14 school year.

“Our point is, if we do encounter a student who has made some bad decisions with drugs or alcohol, we will be able to intervene, get the parents involved, get him help if necessary, and then help him get back on a path of better decision making, healthier choices for his life,” Rockhurst Principal Greg Harkness told the station.

https://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/01/30/high-school-to-collect-students-hair-for-mandatory-drug-testing/

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Ridgewood Students Study the Science of Sports Thanks to Grants Funded by Valley The Ridgewood Education Foundation

science of sports

Ridgewood Students Study the Science of Sports Thanks to Grants Funded by Valley The Ridgewood Education Foundation.
January 29, 2013

Ridgewood NJ, Students at Travell Elementary School in Ridgewood recently participated in a new program called The Science of Sports, thanks to a classroom grant funded by The Valley Hospital and The Ridgewood Education Foundation.

The program gave students a chance to learn about the science behind many of the sports they play by exploring scientific concepts like friction, gravity, inertia and angular momentum.  In addition, students learned about hand-eye coordination, reaction-time and wind resistance.

The Valley Hospital has made a generous donation to the Ridgewood Education Foundation (REF) to support health and science programs in the Ridgewood Public Schools.  This is one of 5 classroom grants Valley co-funded with the REF this year.  The Ridgewood Education Foundation supports programs in the classroom and the community that enhance educational excellence in Ridgewood public Schools.

Shown here, left to right are: Kay Murphy, Travell parent and grant writer; Jennie Smith Wilson President, REF Board of Trustees; Megan Fraser Vice President, Communications & Marketing, The Valley Hospital; Margaret Leininger, Principal, Travell Elementary School; and Livia Lauro, physical education teacher, Travell Elementary School.

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Reader says Nothing for me living in CBD

lasttraintoclarksville_theridgewoodblog.net

Reader says Nothing for me living in CBD

I’ve posted this before: if I’m a 20 something IB analyst at Citi working all hours, I am not going to commute to Ridgewood.

Reason #1: NJ Transit thinks that everyone works Fred Flintstone hours and has scheduled their express trains to Ridgewood (even before Sandy) accordingly.

Reason #2: The Office, Park West and Mac Murpheys are terrible places to try to get laid.

Reason #3: Ridgewood cops don’t tolerate the kind of stuff NYC and Hoboken cops will tolerate.

It doesn’t add up. Maybe it would be a great place for divorced Dads who want to stay close to their kids in town, kind of like the place where Millhouse’s Dad had to live in the Simpsons.

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Reader says its not about getting “bigger” it’s about taking advantage of “best practices”

leaf3_pickup_theridgewoodblog.net_

File Photo by Boyd Loving

Reader says its not about getting “bigger” it’s about taking advantage of “best practices”

It isn’t about getting “bigger”. Shared services and outsourcing are about taking advantage of “best practices” and eliminating wasteful/redundant overhead costs. Several steps are necessary:

1) Identify where wasteful costs exist
2) Evaluate whether efficiencies can be achieved through a cooperative agreement with other municipalities and quantify the specific efficiencies/savings and how they will be achieved
3) Structure and implement an agreement that actually realizes those efficiencies/savings
4) Once implemented, the process needs to be monitored to ensure that the savings continue to be achieved

When these agreements fail it is usually because they were entered into without quantifying the efficiency savings, properly structuring the agreement or monitoring them to ensure that the savings are being achieved. Shared services are not always the answer. However, when done properly in the right areas, this approach can be extremely effective. As with anything, it requires attention to detail.

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Ridgewoood Police: What To Do if You Lose Power

pse&G_truck2_theridgewoodblog.net

Ridgewoood Police: What To Do if You Lose Power

If you lose power, first check your fuse and/or circuit breaker box and main breaker if appropriate. If that is not the problem, and your neighbors also have no power, call PSE&G at 1-800-436 7734.

If your fuse or breakers are in a flooded area, do not go near them until the water recedes or is removed.

Always stay away from fallen power lines, and always assume they are energized. Notify the Ridgewood Police 201-652-3900 and PSE&G at 1-800-436-7734 if you notice wires are down in your area.

Know how to open your garage door without the electric opener.
Remember, electric well and sump pumps will not operate.
Unplug all motor-driven appliances like refrigerators and freezers and sensitive electronic equipment (like TVs, microwaves and computers) to prevent a possible electrical overload when power is restored.
Leave one light switch on to indicate when power is restored.
Have a battery-operated radio and flashlight handy.

Tips to prevent food spoilage:
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold enough for a few hours. A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours and a full freezer, between 36 and 48 hours.
Throw a blanket over appliances for added insulation.
You can also extend food storage by packing refrigerated milk, dairy products, meats, fish poultry, eggs, and other foods in a cooler surrounded by ice.
Specific advice on food spoilage is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and from the American Red Cross

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HIGH WIND WARNING

Tree2_on_stevens_theridgewoodblog.net

Photo by Boyd Loving Tree down on Stevens

HIGH WIND WARNING

URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
418 AM EST THU JAN 31 2013

…STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS EARLY THIS MORNING…

…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST EARLY THIS
MORNING…

* LOCATIONS…THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY…INTERIOR PORTIONS OF
NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND NORTHERN FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT.

* HAZARDS…DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.

* WINDS…SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH.

* TIMING…STRONG WINDS INTO EARLY THIS MORNING.

* IMPACTS…STRONG WINDS…IN COMBINATION WITH HEAVY RAIN…COULD
BRING DOWN WHOLE TREES…LARGE TREE LIMBS…POWER LINES AND
UNSECURED OUTDOOR OBJECTS. THIS COULD POSE A HAZARD TO ANYONE
OUT DRIVING OR WALKING…AND TO HO– USES AND OTHER STRUCTURES NEAR
LARGER TREES. DRIVING WILL ALSO BE DIFFICULT… ESPECIALLY IN
HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES AND ON ELEVATED ROADWAYS AND BRIDGES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS
OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.