Category: Village of Ridgewood

>Village Council members were briefed last night on three separate and unrelated topics regarding the Pease Library building.

First, Councilman Patrick A. Mancuso introduced the members of his volunteer group, who for the past several months have been investigating options for restoring and using the facility. Mancuso’s committee members outlined their work, which has led to a possible long-term use interest by County of Bergen officials. The County has interest in using Pease to house the Bergen County Historical Society, which is currently homeless. Mancuso suggested the formation of a four person task team to finalize negotiations with County officials. Members of the team would be Mancuso, Mayor David T. Pfund, Village Manager James M. Ten Hoeve, and resident Frank Del Vecchio.

Next, Councilman Jacques Harlow suggested that the Village Council has waited too many years to restore Pease, and outlined his multi-phase plan to begin fixing the building immediately by using taxpayer generated revenue. It is reported that Harlow is still bitter over Mancuso’s role in calling an end to the Council’s relationship with a possible tenant, the consortium led by architect Jeff Wells. The final phase of Harlow’s proposal is directed at finding a suitable tenant.

Lastly, it was revealed that local philanthropist David Bolger has offered to fund a feasibility study focused on the design and construction of a parking structure in the front of Pease. It is believed that Mr. Bolger’s motive would be to gain parking so that the building would then be appealing to potential commercial tenants (with rental income funneled to the Library Board). Bolger is a known supporter of many Library initiatives.

>Councilwoman Kim Ringler-Shagin single-handedly burst the bubble of Ridgewood Community Center Director Nora Muzio’s plans for “Make a Difference Day” by scrubbing any possibility of activity participants working to raise money for the “Habitat for Humanity” organization.

Muzio had hoped the fund raising theme for October 27th’s “Make a Difference Day” in Ridgewood would be raising money to build a house, as was done in neighboring Glen Rock, but Ringler-Shagin squashed the idea by stating it would be inappropriate for a government sponsored event to raise money for a private organization.

So, back to the drawing board it is for Ms. Muzio with respect to developing an overall fund raising theme for this year’s event.

The Fly wonders when it is that Ms. Ringler-Shagin will just shut up.

https://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html

>Although Dr. Deborah Ives has tendered her resignation effective November 11, 2007, the BOE is scheduled to appoint a secretary to her position at Monday night’s Special Public meeting.

iv. Appointments Dr. Brennan

Secretary

MANAHAN, Antonia – secretary to Supervisor of Mathematics 6-12, effective September 25, 2007, through June 30, 2008. $27,610 Cl. VIII, St. 3, prorated

>From Monday’s BOE Meeting Agenda:

ii. Approval: Contract with School Leadership, L.L.C., for Superintendent Search Dr. Brennan

Approval of a contract with School Leadership, L.L.C., New York, New York, to conduct the superintendent search at a fee of $8,000 plus reasonable and necessary expenses, subject to Board approval (expenses anticipated to be no more than $1,000).

>

ARIJIT MITRA

*click on the Post title to see a picture

DOB: Jan 29, 1992

Missing: Sep 10, 2007

Height: 5’7″ (170 cm)Eyes: Black Race: Asian

Age Now: 15 Sex: Male Weight: 140 lbs (64 kg)Hair: Black

Missing From:RIDGEWOOD NJ United States

Arijit was last seen on September 10, 2007. He may be in the local area.

ORDER FINE ART/ STOCK PRINTS ON-LINE

>Read Dr. Brennan’s update as of 4:00 p.m. Thursday.
Superintendent’s Update
Thursday, September 20, 2007 4:00pm
To update you on recent events:
1. There has been no bomb threat directed at any Ridgewood public school. We are in constant communication with the Ridgewood Police Department, which is keeping us fully informed.

2. We have an RHS sophomore who has been missing since September 10, 2007. We are working with the Police, the family, and other agencies to locate this student.

3. There is no evidence of any connection between the missing student and the threats made against the communities in Northern Bergen County.

4. We are again implementing heightened security at all buildings tonight.
The safety of your children is our primary concern. Thanks for your cooperation and support. If there is any change in this information, we will update you immediately on the website and by e-news. To subscribe to e-news: email [email protected]. In the subject line type: subscribe rps.enews.

Tim Brennan, Interim Superintendent

>RIDGEWOOD SCHOOLS ARE OPEN TODAY, THURSDAY, SEPT. 20, 2007
After hearing late yesterday afternoon that the Emerson mayor had received a bomb threat letter, I immediately contacted the Ridgewood police. After several conversations we concluded that there was no specific threat to the Ridgewood schools. Nevertheless, additional security measures were initiated at all buildings overnight. We continue to feel that it is safe for students to come to our schools today. Therefore, Ridgewood public schools are open today for a full session. Dr. Timothy Brennan, Interim Superintendent

>This is not a new idea. You know when your kid is in Kindergarten and they show you his “portfolio” and that is how he is measured…this is “portfolios” for high school students.

There are several issues with this, the first being that a child’s grade is already measured by class work, class participation, group work and the midterm and final. Midterms and Finals in Ridgewood High are only a portion of a child’s grade already(25-40%), so implementing this doesn’t make sense since there is already a “blended” grading system in effect.

The down side is that by removing standard midterms and finals they are eliminating the “test” that 1)ensures that all teachers teach the same content 2)ensures kids get ready for real midterms and finals in college 3)ensures students and parents have leverage if the class participation and “group work” is marked low but the midterm and final grades are high they can lobby for a decent grade.

This is a stupid trend that is not used in any top tier college. When they do it in Harvard, then Ridgewood should adapt it. Otherwise they are buying into a fad presented by a private consulting group who charged them tons of money for training in the concepts. Grant Wiggins is not a nonprofit think tank, it’s like the EST of education.

Ask the President of Princeton if she’s using any Grant Wiggins there…really this is absurd.

>Ridgewood Pool Project – POOL CHATS September 19thAll residents are invited to a “Pool Chat” on Wednesday, September 19th at 9:15am; 12:30pm or 7:30pm – Held in the Youth Lounge, Level 1, Village Hall. All comments are welcome.Click Here

>Dr Ives a proponent of TERC and reform math ,who had become increasingly the target of parent’s angst over reform math issue has tendered her resignation.

>How much more in reduction of services are Village residents going to take? Since the Village Hall building project and other real estate purchases. This Council and administration is bringing living in Ridgewood to new low. Council members and Village Manager should just admit that they were left some serious debt from previous Village Manager and Council decisions and projects.
Take the hit, advise residents that they need to raise municiple taxes to getback on track and bring the Village back to the community it once was. There is point where you have stop cutting back on services this Village proudly had. Streets used to be cleaned of snow and leaves ontime. Village owned properties and buildings used to look clean and functional – no more! And now, start charging for medical attention and transport? I think residents will not take any more of this. We will see at election time, won’t we.

>In an effort to eliminate or significantly reduce the number of complaints alleging inconsistent interpretation and/or application of Historic Preservation Commission standards related to building construction/renovation in the Village Center Historic District, Village Council members will introduce via ordinance a set of clear guidelines pertaining to such activity. The change to an ordinance format was recommended to Council members by the Village’s professional planner, Blais L. Brancheau, PP, AICP, CLA PP.

>

>A “Gross Building Area Regulation” ordinance is scheduled for introduction during the Village Council’s September 19 Public Meeting.

The ordinance, intended to curb the construction of “McMansions” within Ridgewood, will mandate that the square footage of uninhabitable sections of homes, garages hallways, entrance foyers, utility rooms, etc., now be included when calculating total property coverage.

Until this ordinance passes, uninhabitable portions of single family residences are not included in this calculation, which permits larger homes to be constructed without obtaining approvals from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Councilman Jacques Harlow pushed for adoption of this ordinance more so than any other member of the Council.

ORDER FINE ART/ STOCK PRINTS ON-LINE

>The Village of Ridgewood did lthe right thing and entered into an agreement with Superfund Site Remediation in the late 90s for its parcel of property near the Tennis Courts that has ash underneath it.

The BOE did NOT enter into an agreement with this agency. Why? Don’t know. The agency would have monitored and advised the school board with regard to using this site safely.

The BOE also did NOT file a final deed notice as is required for the site. Why? Don’t know.

As of just recently the BOE decided to finally enter into such an agreement with superfund site remediation. Too bad it’s too late for our kids.

The agency monitored the field remediation in 1997 after ash was discovered in 1992. But the agency was kept in the dark and NEVER told or consulted with regard to the huge dig of the field to install an irrigation system.

Today, when I spoke to the Oversight Cast Mgr. was the first he’d heard of that major 2000 dig. This dig also undid the previous remediation of the field in 1997.

They were aware of the dig for the new addition but were told by the district’s contractors that all precautions would be taken.

Were they taken? Don’t know. We just have their word to go by. But now, there’s ash contamination very near the surface. So how did it get there?

I can hazard a guess……