Monday February 17, 2014, 11:42 AM
The Ridgewood News
Village services should be shared
0Wilkin Santana
To the editor:
As per current village ordinance, the police department table of organization calls for 30 patrol officers.
It is my opinion, a council’s public safety committee should have heard in advance about the intention of the police chief to extend an offer of employment to two individuals, especially when one of them, as reported by the media, is related to a former councilman and mayor and this action will increase the table of organization as per village code. All legal, ethical and managerial considerations should be first made at the village council’s committee level before attempting to support a last minute retroactive amendment to the code. There are legal, cost, ethical and managerial implications to increasing the size of any department.
Biggest rises and falls in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index
The 2014 World Press Freedom Index spotlights the negative impact of conflicts on freedom of information and its protagonists. The ranking of some countries has also been affected by a tendency to interpret national security needs in an overly broad and abusive manner to the detriment of the right to inform and be informed. This trend constitutes a growing threat worldwide and is even endangering freedom of information in countries regarded as democracies. Finland tops the index for the fourth year running, closely followed by Netherlands and Norway, like last year. At the other end of the index, the last three positions are again held by Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea, three countries where freedom of information is non-existent. Despite occasional turbulence in the past year, these countries continue to be news and information black holes and living hells for the journalists who inhabit them. This year’s index covers 180 countries, one more than last year. The new entry, Belize, has been assigned an enviable position (29th). Cases of violence against journalists are rare in Belize but there were some problems: defamation suits involving demands for large amounts in damages, national security restrictions on implementation of the Freedom of Information Act and sometimes unfair management of broadcast frequencies.
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The United States of Decline America unravels at an increasingly dizzying pace.
By Deroy Murdock
America is unraveling at a stunning speed and to a staggering degree. This decline is breathtaking, and the prognosis is dim.
For starters, Obama now rules by decree. Reportedly for the 27th time, he has changed the rules of Obamacare singlehandedly, with neither congressional approval nor even ceremonial resolutions to limit his actions. Obama needs no such frivolities.
“That’s the good thing about being president,” Obama joked on February 10. “I can do whatever I want.” In an especially bitter irony, Obama uttered these despicable words while guiding French president François Hollande through Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson — a key architect of America’s foundation of limited government.
While you would never know it by whats going on in Politics : National clown shortage may be approaching, trade organizations fear
As the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus returns to Brooklyn Thursday, membership at the country’s largest clown organizations has plunged over the past decade amid declining interest, old age and higher standards for the jokesters.
By Natalie Musumeci / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Send in the clowns — please!
As the “Greatest Show on Earth” returns to Brooklyn Thursday, circus folk fear a national clown shortage is on the horizon.
Membership at the country’s largest trade organizations for the jokesters has plunged over the past decade as declining interest, old age and higher standards among employers align against Krusty, Bozo and their crimson-nosed colleagues.
“What’s happening is attrition,” said Clowns of America International President Glen Kohlberger, who added that membership at the Florida-based organization has plummeted since 2006. “The older clowns are passing away.”
Village Business owner Paul Vagianos, mayor face off
Monday February 17, 2014, 11:45 AM
The Ridgewood News
Business owner, mayor face off
To the editor:
I’ve got a bone to pick with Mayor Aronsohn. No, it’s not about multi-family housing, Valley Hospital or the ramp to Graydon Pool. It’s about something important. At the Huddle Zone celebration that took place at the old Bank of America building the day before the Super Bowl, Mayor Aronsohn and I engaged in a “friendly” game of ping pong. Now, I’ve always felt that he and I were friends (perhaps I was lulled into a false sense of security by that nice name of his – the first name, not the last – thinking we were kindred spirits of a sort). But apparently, that is not the case. I always thought he was a different kind of politician, but apparently I was wrong. He will do anything to win.
Yes, he beat me that day and went on to shout it from the rooftops in his “Mayor’s Corner” column in The Ridgewood News (I’m surprised it wasn’t in the headline – “Mayor Crushes Greek Restaurant Owner.”) Well, let’s set the record straight about what really happened that day. Despite the fact that Mayor Aronsohn didn’t give me any time to warm up, after having played several games himself that day, I pulled out to an early lead and kept it the entire way. And then, when I was ahead 15-12, something happened. I’m not sure how he did it but, all of a sudden, I couldn’t seem to find the ball as he was hitting it over the net. It was as though the ball just disappeared. He scored nine consecutive points to win 21-15. Maybe he slipped something into my drink or somehow reflected the sunlight off his wristwatch, blinding me. (Yes, I know it was indoors, but that building has big windows!) Something happened at that point in the game, and I was helpless before him.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/245838501_Letter__Business_owner__mayor_face_off.html#sthash.PPFbGaLo.dpuf
Forget the Internet – soon there will be the OUTERNET: Company plans to beam free Wi-fi to every person on Earth from space
An ambitious project known as Outernet is aiming to launch hundreds of miniature satellites into low Earth orbit by June 2015
Each satellite will broadcast the Internet to phones and computers giving billions of people across the globe free online access
Citizens of countries like China and North Korea that have censored online activity could be given free and unrestricted cyberspace
‘There’s really nothing that is technically impossible to this’
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 09:24 EST, 5 February 2014 | UPDATED: 09:49 EST, 5 February 2014
You might think you have to pay through the nose at the moment to access the Internet.
But one ambitious organisation called the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) is planning to turn the age of online computing on its head by giving free web access to every person on Earth.
Known as Outernet, MDIF plans to launch hundreds of satellites into orbit by 2015.
And they say the project could provide unrestricted Internet access to countries where their web access is censored, including China and North Korea.
Village manager post to be filled in March
Monday February 17, 2014, 11:33 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
More than five months have passed since Ridgewood had a permanent municipal manager, surpassing the period in 2009 when the village was last between full-time chief administrative officers.
But the search for a new manager is reaching its end, Mayor Paul Aronsohn said last week, telling The Ridgewood News that he expects the Village Council to make a decision “by early March.”
Over the past year, governing bodies throughout Bergen County have witnessed changes in their administration for reasons such as inflated salaries and poor decision-making.
In addition to Ridgewood, towns including Hackensack, Emerson and Bogota either lost or removed administrators and managers in 2013.
It was unclear this week whether any of those former administrators applied for the job in Ridgewood.
A President’s Day Message from Bergen County Executive Kathleen
by Bergen County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan
I want to take a moment to wish you a happy President’s Day and to offer you some of my thoughts on why I believe this is a day that deserves to be commemorated by more than car sales and shopping discounts.
Only 44 people in nearly 240 year-old history of the United States have earned the right to be called President.
Among the 44 men who have scaled the highest achievement in American politics a few stand out: They include Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan
While these and other great leaders deserve to be remembered for their role in advancing America, two Presidents in my mind stand out above the others and both happen to be born in February.
George Washington, born February 22, 1732, shaped the newly formed nation and laid out the framework for the office of President of the United States. He gave substance and meaning to a position that never existed until he took the oath of office on April 30, 1789.
For eight years he piloted the America ship through uncharted waters as the world looked on — doubtful that this new experiment in democracy and self-determination would survive. It not only survived, it flourished. And after 8 years Washington relinquished his grip on power – voluntarily, and handed off the reins of leadership to his elected successor.
One of those successors was the inestimable Abraham Lincoln. A common back-woodsman born February 12, 1809 in Hardin County, Kentucky, Lincoln ascended to the presidency against the backdrop of a bitter national fight over slavery and state’s rights. Over the course of four of the most troubled years in our nation’s history, Lincoln miraculously steered the nation on a course that would save the union and shepherd America to its most crowning achievement – the end of slavery. The democratic republic survived and a more powerful nation rose from the ashes of civil war.
Besides a remembrance of great leaders, President’s Day is a celebration of something unique in the world – the peaceful transition of power. America has enjoyed a line of 44 democratically elected chief executives for nearly 240 years.
In a world where national leaders are often toppled by revolution and bloody coups, American democracy has remained a constant steadying force – allowing our nation to prosper and be a beacon for other countries
So while you are enjoying your holiday, take a moment to be proud that you live in a nation that has produced some of the greatest leaders the world has known.
God Bless you, your family and our great country-the greatest country on the face of the earth.
RFP – Concession Refreshment Services – Cafe at Graydon Pool – Opening March 5th
Request for Proposals
Request for proposals will be received by the Village of Ridgewood’s Department of Parks and Recreation, up to 3:00 p.m. prevailing time on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at The Stable, 259 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, for the following:
CONCESSION REFRESHMENT SERVICES – 2014 THE WATER’S EDGE CAFÉ, GRAYDON POOL
Proposal instructions may be obtained from the Department of Parks and Recreation, 259 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., telephone 201-670-5560, by
Email request to [email protected]. Prospective professional responders requesting proposal documents be mailed to them shall be responsible for providing their own postage/delivery service remuneration.
Prices quoted must be net and exclusive of all Federal, State and Local Sales and Excise Taxes. Proposals may be submitted prior to the due date in person or by mail, addressed to the Department of Parks and Recreation. The Village assumes no responsibility for loss or non-delivery of any proposal sent to it prior to the proposal opening.
Each proposal must be enclosed in a sealed envelope with the name of the responder thereon and endorsed, “Concession Refreshment Services 2014 – The Water’s Edge Café, Graydon Pool”.
All professional service responders are required to comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 (Business Registration of Public Contractors), N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq. (Contract Compliance and Equal Employment Opportunities in Public Contracts).
The Village of Ridgewood reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any informalities or to accept a proposal which, in its judgment best serves the interest of the Village. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of sixty-days (60) after the date and time set for the opening of bids.
“Professional Responders are required to comply with the requirements of P.L.1975, C. 127. (NJAC 17:27) regarding Affirmative Action, and Executive Order No. 11246 regarding equal employment opportunity, as amended”.
Readers play the blame game with higher taxes and less services
I’m not sure how linking a property tax increase to snow removal is a good idea ? Will that tax increase be rescinded if we have a mild winter next year ? Permanently raising the property tax base should be for long term cost increases, not to pay for snow removal in one of the snowiest winters in recent memory.
For those who’ve read their Village Budget Newsletters over the past five years, they will have noticed that all of the growth in our taxes has gone to pay for higher wages, pensions & healthcare. That’s despite a 10% cut in the Village workforce by our previous Village Manager, agreed to by the the previous Council. That has gutted our ability to respond to an Arctic vortex. Maybe if the previous Council hadn’t agreed to a retroactive 12% wage increase in 2011 for the previous Manager, or maybe if we hadn’t handed out 4% annual wage increases from 2010-2014 to some of our highest paid municipal employees – again, agreed to by the previous Council – then we wouldn’t be in this mess ?
Agreed though that we need better leadership – what about shared snow removal services ? If Glenrock, Waldwick, Midland Paqrk and Ho-Ho Kus can do a better job of snow removal, pay them a fee to help us as part of a shared service. That’s where the current Village leadership has let us down. But the wheels of budget cuts for snow removal were put in place in 2010 and 2011.
Reader says There is a limit to what property owners will pay, and we are there now.
I have run many businesses in my long career with tens of thousands of employees. Thanks for the compliment, but the Village manager job’s compensation wouldn’t cover my expense account for a month.
Having said that, when a business (or municipality in this case) is overburdened by generous compensations (=pay for you pinheads) and generous benefits (health insurance and retirement), the ONLY way to be able to continue paying these employees their increases is to ‘raise prices’ and ‘raise profit margins’.
In ‘simple speak’ so y’all can comprehend (=understand), that means raising property taxes. The residents are not about to stand for a property tax increase that can be avoided by outsourcing the services that can be accomplished by anyone with a pulse.
I saw in the paper that the Village advertised a position for an equipment operator that was grossly above what a private sector employee would command (what they would GET for pay)
So maybe you simpletons can understand. EVERYONE is replaceable. Your union contract can easily be converted to toilet paper. Do yourself a favor, if you expect job security, make some recommendations for increased productivity (=work harder and do more). Whining and complaining will make your jobs disappear.
In the real world, when wages become uncompetitive, we move manufacturing to states without unions, such as South Carolina and Alabama. The unions lose members, and the lackey politicians in the Northeast lose a taxpayer, which just shifts the burden (=amount of taxes) to other who are unfortunate enough to still live here.
There is a limit to what property owners will pay, and we are there now.
Reader says Responsibility of Village Governance lies with the Village Council
If we were a Faulkner Act (N.J.S.A. § 40:69A-1, et seq.) municipality then proposed ordinances could be introduced directly with the signatures of 10% of the registered voters who turned out in the last election in an odd numbered year. However, in Ridgewood it looks like all ordinances and resolutions need to be prepared for the consideration of the Council by the Village Attorney upon written request of any member of the Council or of the Manager. They then need to be introduced and sponsored by a member of the Council, then called up for action on motion of a member of the Council. Finally, no ordinance may be adopted without the affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the Council or such greater number of affirmative votes as the Charter may require.
Reader says Increasing taxes is not the answer – finding better leadership is
People it’s time to learn how to do more with less – just like the rest of the economy has since the recession. The Mayor and his team have failed miserably at providing basic services. Walk around today and witness icy streets and abandoned trash strewn in snow banks that still protrude into intersections. Increasing taxes is not the answer – finding better leadership is.
How about the overpaid employees learn to do more with less.
Pay your own health care.
Pay your own 401K.
Take a pay cut.
Amend your union contracts.
Don’t like the above? Get replaced by contractors. Low bidder gets the job. (its not rocket science to plow snow, fill potholes, push leaves, or pick up garbage).
file photo Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck as Vice President of the Valley Auxiliary
Readers ask One question for Valley and its supporters: How is the Valley expansion good for the tax payers of Ridgewood?
So who works for who here? Valley pays no taxes, benefits from all of Ridgewood’s municipal services and taxes our infrastructure with patients and employees coming in from surrounding towns. Yet THEY drive the agenda at hearings about THEIR expansion that will use even more municipal services and tax our infrastructure even further. For still no taxes.
While Valley is Ridgewood’s largest employer, less than 10% of its employees live in town. Similarly less than 10% of Valley’s patients are Ridgewood residents. Valley’s plan is clearly to draw from surrounding towns for both employees and patients which is great for surrounding towns but terrible for Ridgewood. We get a 7 year construction project followed by traffic, over taxed infrastructure and a lower quality of life.
Valley does, on the other hand throw a great party so its socialite supporters can see their picture in the Ridgewood News and 201 Magazine.
One question for Valley and its supporters: How is the Valley expansion good for the tax payers of Ridgewood? Maybe Mrs. Hauck can tweet the answer…
Not only was the roughly 100-foot tower placed there without approval, but no one on the zoning board, the approval entity for cell towers, was aware of it until last week.
