>Effective April 2, United States Postal Service (USPS) officials cut window service hours at Ridgewood’s post office by 2 hours each weekday. Attended service now begins at 10:00 AM on weekdays; prior to April 2, these services were available beginning at 8:00 AM. Village Council members voiced their unanimous disapproval of the slashed hours, and directed Village Manager James M. Ten Hoeve to contact Ridgewood’s Postmaster in protest.
Category: Village of Ridgewood
>Sunday Afternoon House Fire On Spring Avenue
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Unattended cooking appears to have been the cause of a Sunday afternoon house fire at 478 Spring Avenue. Career and volunteer personnel from the Ridgewood Fire Department quickly extinguished the smoky blaze and held property damage to an absolute minimum. Although volunteers from Ridgewood’s Emergency Services organization were present in force, no injuries were reported. Police personnel were also on the scene providing traffic and crowd control services.
>Crest Road Overlook Mulch/Woodchip Controversy Resurfaces
>During the public comment portion of last night’s Village Council work session, Ms. Elizabeth Quinn of 250 Hillcrest Road claimed that last fall’s placement of mulch and woodchips along the Crest Road overlook directly attributed to the recent flooding of her property, which caused $20K in damages.
Ms. Quinn and several of her neighbors have been regular fixtures at Council meetings since the mulch/woodchips were placed late last year (reportedly at the direction of Deputy Mayor Betty G. Wiest). Although there has been much dialogue between Council members and the lower Hillcrest Road homeowners, the controversy over placement and planned removal of the debris continues.
Village Manager James M. Ten Hoeve directed Ms. Quinn to file a claim for damages with the Village. Mr. Ten Hoeve also advised Ms. Quinn that there were approximately 150 Village home owners who experienced flooding on a first time basis after last week’s storm, so she was not alone in her plight.
>Meeting Highlights – Village Council Special Public Meeting/Work Session, 4/25/2007
>Susan F. Witkowski was sworn in as the new Deputy Village Clerk. Ms. Witkowski previously served as Deputy Borough Clerk of Northvale. She replaces Laura J. Graham, who left Ridgewood to become the Borough Clerk in Oradell
A community task force on underage drinking, chaired by BOE member Shelia Brogan, asked Council members to consider adoption of a municipal ordinance that would prohibit underage drinking on PRIVATE property (existing laws already prohibit such activity on public property). Councilwoman Kim Ringler-Shagin voiced her strong opposition to introduction of such an ordinance. All other Council members seemed to be okay with it.
Plans to construct a permanent concession stand/restroom facility at Vets Field were officially scrubbed. The estimated construction price of $600K was too much for the Council to stomach. Tom Thurston, representing the Jon C. Vandevander Foundation, indicated that he would now be pursuing purchase of a prefabricated concession stand that could be placed on wheels and moved. An alternate restroom facility plan is still under development.
It was revealed that $27K has been spent to date in 2007 for the repair of 2 sanitation truck transmissions.
Fees associated with police related towing will increase significantly. The minimum tow charge will jump from under $50 to $125.
Village department heads/directors will be getting 4% salary increases this year. Councilman Jacques Harlow suggested that it was time to prevent directors from carry over and unlimited number of sick days, and also appropriate to now start asking the directors to contribute to health care premiums. Further discussion on these topics will be held in closed session.
New signage will be installed along the driveways of Village Hall. Several residents have previously noted that the police department is difficult to find.
No FEMA Money Yet!
>Ridgewood officials are still waiting to hear whether federal funds will be made available for the recovery effort associated with last week’s devastating flooding. If that happens — a declaration by President Bush is expected within days — the Village would be eligible for recovery grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. As of now though, all damages not covered by insurance policies must be paid for with local tax dollars.
The most significant damage reported thus far is a shifted water main along the Saddle River between Linwood and Ridgewood Avenues. The estimated costs to remediate that one condition is $400K.
>Congressman Garrett Tours flood Damage in Bergen County
>Dear Friends:
This weekend, I toured some of the flood damage in Bergen County. Accompanied by local elected officials, police and fire chiefs, and emergency management officers, I visited communities in New Milford, Rochelle Park, and River Edge. And, as the rivers begin to recede to pre-flood levels, there is little doubt that the damage is severe.
I have joined with all of my colleagues in the New Jersey delegation to ask the President to declare parts of New Jersey a federal disaster area. These letters echo the official requests by Acting New Jersey Governor Richard Codey. I have also written to FEMA to encourage them to make assessments and disaster declaration recommendations as swiftly as possible.
FEMA is continuing to work with local emergency management offices to assess the damage from last week’s nor’easter. FEMA had Preliminary Disaster Assessment Teams and resources such as generators pre-positioned in New Jersey before the storm to facilitate quick assessment. I am hopeful that actual aid will be available to residents, municipalities, and businesses soon.
As soon as the preliminary assessments are completed, the President will be able to determine if the threshold for a federal disaster declaration has been met. Once such a declaration is made, FEMA will set up regional disaster recovery centers at which citizens will be able to apply for relief. As soon as more information becomes available, I will be certain to get the word out. In the meantime, if you would like to get an idea of what may be available, you may want to visit https://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm.
Furthermore, you may be interested to know that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extended the deadline for tax filings for those directly impacted by the storm. The IRS initially extended the deadline by 48 hours, but it then extended the deadline a second time to Thursday, April 26th. For more information on this extension, visit the IRS’ website, https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=169543,00.html.
Sincerely,
Scott Garrett
Member of Congress
>Important Notice to Residents about Flood Water Discharges
>Residents dealing with wet or damp basements must not discharge collected
water into the Village’s sanitary sewer collection system. Individuals
pumping out basements are reminded to direct the discharged water to the
street gutter, not into toilets or slop sinks. Connecting sump pump
discharges directly to sanitary sewer lines is unlawful.
Overwhelming the Village’s sanitary sewer collection system with water from
flooded homes could cause malfunctions at the waste water treatment plant,
or at local pumping stations. This could in turn cause effluent discharges
to the environment.
Unlawful sump pump connections may be reported to 201-670-5500, x209.
>RHS Bleachers Cited as "Unsafe" – BOE Acts Promptly to Seal Off Area
>This morning, Village officials declared RHS’ bleachers adjacent to the
Ho-Ho-Kus Brook as being “unsafe.” It is believed that damage caused by
Sunday’s flooding was the principal reason for this declaration. The
bleachers are now completely cordoned off with caution tape and fencing.
Appropriate signage was crafted and installed as well. No details
concerning a timeline for repairs are available at this time.
Freight Container Remains Lodged In Ho-Ho-Kus Brook – Removal Expenses May Be BOE’s Responsibility
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A freight container weighing in excess of 10,000 pounds remains lodged in the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook near Ridgewood High School after washing away during Sunday’s torrential downpour and striking the Ridgewood Avenue bridge. The bridge sustained minor structural damage, but was deemed safe for continued pedestrian and motor vehicle use by Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser.
Despite previous posts on this blog suggesting the container may have washed downstream from a point miles above, it is now believed to have been located on the property of Ridgewood High School. The Village’s engineering staff is currently evaluating methods for the container’s safe removal; unconfirmed reports are that it may be resting on top of a water main. If the container is confirmed to be the property of, or leased by, Ridgewood’s Board of Education, all costs associated with its removal will most likely be billed back to the BOE.
>Budget and Second Question Both Pass by Sizeable Margins
>Voters approved an annual budget of $79,414,637 for the 2007-2008 school
year. The budget represented a 3.5 percent increase in the tax levy.
Property taxes for the average Ridgewood home with an assessed value of
$473,770 will increase by $289. The cost to the average homeowner for
approving the Second Question is $67.81 a year. Final vote tally on
Wednesday.
>April 17th is the Annual School Election
>Annual School ElectionTuesday, April 17th is the Annual School Election. Polls are open from 7am to 9pm. Please Vote!
So here we go another uninspired BOE election and this Blogger asks.” Are we doing the right thing or just sending our kids home on the short bus?” As usual we got the “costs are up” and the “state mandates are killing us”, coupled with the “whacky school funding” argument. No offence to the powers that be but your basically asking us to approve the same old ,same old .With no guarantee that our kids will even have time in the busy school day to learn anything. So the price is higher and the quality is suspect, what’s a voter to due? The real scary thing is no ones even pretending to pursue restoring the quality and the credibility to our children’s education. Seems most are focused on there plum projects ranging from very over priced laptops to self aggrandizing field renovations .But frankly I really don’t care or see how increasing teachers pay at this point ,giving administrators more toys and more days off or puffing peoples resume with the latest new education scheme is educating our kids one bit. You see the 3R’s are in essence very inexpensive, it’s the commitment to excellence that takes time and money and I guess that’s what’s bothering me .It seems more and more apparent that in the rush to spend lots of money this town has simply lost the commitment to excellence that it once had.
VOTE “NO” ON THE BOE BUDGET ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
>Proposed Bandstand at Van Neste Memorial Park – Good idea or bad?
>Members of the Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club Bandstand Committee, led by Deputy Mayor Betty G. Wiest, have proposed construction of a bandstand in Van Neste Memorial Park.
The bandstand, intended primarily as a beautification project, would be constructed at absolutely no expense to Village taxpayers.
But, opponents of the project claim: 1) it will become a hangout for teenagers; 2) has no business being located in a park dedicated to war veterans; 3) might interfere with placement of a permanent Village Christmas tree; 4) planned concerts will draw crowds, which will in turn cause parking problems; 5) no nearby public restrooms may create issues for large crowds.
What’s your position? Should Village Council members okay the construction of a bandstand at Van Neste Memorial Park?
>CONGRESSMAN SCOTT GARRETT’S OFFICE COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU:
>Congressman Garrett’s staff will be holding Mobile Constituent Service Hours in a number of Fifth District towns this week. The Congressman’s Constituent Service Officers are trained to act as your liaisons with Federal agencies. But, it’s not always easy to make it out to one of the Congressman’s district offices – in Paramus and Newton – to meet with one of them, especially when you are dealing with government red tape. These Mobile Constituent Service Hours sessions bring the Congressman’s office to you. So, if you are having trouble with a Federal program, such as Medicare, veterans benefits, Social Security, or more, please feel free to come by. And, please bring copies of any relevant paperwork with you to facilitate their work.
Given the serious flooding, please contact my office before you head over to one of my Mobile Constituent Service Hours as many libraries and borough halls are closed.
Wednesday, April 18th
Ridgewood
10:00 am to noon
Borough Hall, 131 N. Maple Avenue
>Why is April 15th …April 17th Tax Day
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>Ridgewood Avenue Closed Near High School Due To Storm Damage
>A steel container broke loose, entered the Ho Ho Kus Brook, and struck the
Ridgewood Avenue bridge at approximately 11:00 PM. Initial reports are that
the bridge sustained structural damage. The bridge has been closed as a
precautionary measure. Traffic is being diverted to Spring Avenue.
Investigators are still trying to determine where the steel container came
from. Reports are that it may have held athletic equipment on the high
school field, or have been a refuse dumpster located on high school
property.
At this time it is unknown how long the roadway will be closed.
The bridge was deemed safe for passage and opened at 11:35 PM.
