Category: Village of Ridgewood

>Concerned Residents of Ridgewood (CRR) have decided to endorse Tom Riche and Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh for Ridgewood Village Council.

Over the last two weeks, representatives of CRR met with all four (4) candidates and discussed a wide range of issues; revitalization of downtown, parking in the business district and for commuters, the shrinking Village budgets, Graydon Pool, and the proposed H-Zone changes.

On balance, CRR feels that Riche and Walsh are the right people to be part of our Village council. Both candidates bring different experiences to the council. Walsh not only runs a successful business, but has the added responsibility of being a mother of children at Travell Elementary and BF Middle School. Richie, also a successful businessman, has a very strong record of public service in Ridgewood and has previously served on the Village Council. Importantly, both candidates are prepared to take firm positions on the important matters that are facing our Village today, rather than take a “wait-and-see” approach.

CRR urges its members to vote for Walsh and Richie on May 11 (Line #1 and #4).

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Journey to Costa Rica, a land of rich natural wonders and friendly people. Travel beyond San Jose, Costa Rica’s colorful capital city, to explore the outstanding variety of flora and fauna in three important nature reserves: Braulio Carrillo National Park, Tortuguero National Park, and Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the many pristine natural wonders of Costa Rica during exclusive excursions and special presentations and enjoy unscheduled time for personal discovery.

Costa Rica – Nature’s Museum

*Venture off the beaten path with an expert Costa Rican naturalist to discover the nation’s spectacular flora and fauna, geological wonders, and tropical forest ecology.

*Learn about the unique flavors and processing techniques of Costa Rican coffee production at a coffee plantation.

*Enjoy a discussion on the geology of Costa Rica’s active and dormant volcanoes and their environmental and economic impact on the nation.

*Learn about the differences between Costa Rica’s varied forest environments.

*This tour is a value-priced, Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventure. The educational portion of this tour will be provided by specially selected local guest speakers, rather than a study leader. These guest speakers have been chosen by Smithsonian to enhance your tour with insights, enabling you to more fully understand and appreciate your destination. The maximum size of your group for this destination is 40.

*Complimentary door-to-door sedan service on this air-inclusive tour; available within a 50 mile radius of Newark, JFK and LaGuardia.

From $1,499 per person, based on double occupancy

Book now for departures through April 8, 2011

Visit The Travel Center AE on Facebook to see staff photos of Costa Rica.

For complete details on this 9-day tour, stop in or call:

The Travel Center / American Express:

50 E. Ridgewood Ave.

in the Village of Ridgewood

(201) 447-3311 or

RidgewoodAmex@gmail.com

Complete information also available on our NEW website:

https://www.thetravelcenterae.com/

>Letter From Dr. Fishbein to Parents and Guardians – What Chutzpah!

The Fly believes that Dr.Fishbein is delusional to suggest that Village Council members might actually vote to INCREASE the Board of Education’s 2010-2011 budget.

Not even the best comedy writers for Saturday Night Live in its early years could have come up with such an outlandish suggestion.

You’ve got to read this to believe it . . .

https://ridgewood.schoolfusion.us/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/923620/File/Public%20Information%20Officer/Superintendent’s%20Messages/Budget%20Letter%204.22.10.pdf?sessionid=f9c8fedb4091d6205cc31dc00608ee32

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Only event in the Tri-State!

Sean Hannity

Just Announced***Saturday, April 24th @ 9:00am

will be signing his new book Conservative Victory.

Can’t make the signing? We are taking phone orders for signed copies until Thursday(4/22) @ 8:00pm.

Bookends, 232 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726

>Claiming victory in school budgets’ defeat, Christie urges governing bodies to seek wage freezes from teachers

The most generous taxpayers in America said “stop!” in rejecting a majority of school budgets in yesterday’s elections, and public officials who fail to hear the human cry do so at their own peril, said Gov. Chris Christie. “I would urge and encourage municipal governments to heed the words of the voters who voted yesterday,” the governor said at a noon press conference, a day after voters rejected nearly 59 percent of the 537 school budgets presented statewide. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)
https://www.politickernj.com/max/38560/claiming-victory-school-budgets-defeat-christie-urges-governing-bodies-seek-wage-freezes-t

>Blogger Laurie Goodman openly laments the budget loss, she can’t help but call out a fellow citizen for being under-informed and angry lunkhead in true Alinsky style.

If this guy was underinformed, whose fault was it? LG will probably say that he should have one to the budget meetings and open houses (for indoctrination purposes) to get the ‘facts’. Truth be told is that the whole reason for a representative democracy is that no one can know all the facts.

I’m sure the guy has read a blog, the Ridgewood News or approached by the HSA moms who troll Ridgewood like it’s Stepford.

Laurie has a cure to her problem (as do the seemingly clueless BOE members): the mirror. If she was listening to her constituents, she would know that the economic lag in education is about 24 months. Instead of waking to the alarm, the BOE keeps hitting the snooze, expecting things will turn around and Trenton will honor its $10 million dollar coupon for a huge referendum.

We in the private sector face a daily onslaught. Government has been a sacred cow, but when you have endured all you can in the private sector, the knife must turn to BOE & VC budgets.

I suggest Laurie and her mates lick their wounds and open their ears. A small dose of humility goes a long way in mending fences.

>By Liz Keill
April 20, 2010, 9:00AM

https://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2010/04/state_privatization_task_force.html

SUMMIT — Saving taxpayer dollars, as most residents know, has become a major theme in Governor Chris Christie’s administration. And one of those tools would be to privatize some products or services.

About 80 people, many of them state union members, gathered at Summit High School on Wednesday, April 14, to testify before a state Privatization Task Force appointed by Gov. Christie.

The task force has been charged with finding $50 million in savings in the 2011 budget and $100 million in savings for the year.

“We’re looking for ways to outsource or turn over to the private sector whatever services we can,” said task force member P. Kelly Hatfield of Summit.

“We hope to give elected officials the tools that they need to make local government more cost effective,” said Hatfield, who is a former member of the Summit Common Council and Board of Education. The task force was asked to apply the “yellow pages test,” she said, to determine if there was a duplication of services being offered by the private sector or by non-profit organizations. “How can we eliminate impediments? New Jersey has made some mistakes,” she said. A few years ago an effort to privatize motor vehicle inspections led to long lines and a cumbersome process.

The task force has been meeting since March 11 and has interacted with the four major unions in New Jersey, including the New Jersey Education Association and the Communication Workers of America.

Hatfield said other states have been doing this reduction in state government successfully, citing Texas, West Virginia and Virginia as examples. In Texas, she said, highway work and infrastructure projects are being handled by the private sector.

https://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2010/04/state_privatization_task_force.html

>Besides being School Board/budget election day, today is three weeks before our Council election and therefore the LAST DAY on which anyone who wishes to vote in the May 11 Council election, but has never registered to vote, may do so.

According to today’s square on the Village Calendar, the lobby of Village Hall will be open tonight from 4:30 to 9 PM for that purpose. It doesn’t get more convenient than that.

Any 17-year-old resident who will be 18 on or before May 11 may do this. Teens should be encouraged to become politically active and protect their own interests. They must show I.D. proving age and address.

Have a teenage neighbor who qualifies? Consider offering to take him or her to sign up to become a proud voting American. And of course any adult who has never registered before might consider doing so as well.

Questions: Village Clerk’s office, 201-670-5500, extension 201, before 4:30 PM.

Marcia Ringel

Co-Chair, The Preserve Graydon Coalition

>All proceeds go to the Special Needs Children and Camp Moore Sunshine.
These organizations are geared towards these special needs children
and appreciate ours and your support.
Saturday April 24th 7 PM to Midnight
All you can eat dinner includes beefsteak, beer, wine, soda and
great DJ music. Our cash bar is open for other drinks.
Cost $35.00 in advance or $40.00 at the door.

Ridgewood Elks -111 N. Maple Ave 201-652-1100

Thanks
Chris & Liz

>Village manager appointed as CFO in Ridgewood

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

BY MICHAEL SEDON
The Ridgewood News
STAFF WRITER

Village Manager Ken Gabbert will now play a dual role in Ridgewood’s administration — the Village Council approved his appointment as chief financial officer (CFO) by a 3-1 vote at a special public meeting on Tuesday morning.

Councilman Paul Aronsohn cast the dissenting vote. Councilwoman Anne Zusy was absent from the vote. Gabbert was sworn in as CFO immediately following the vote.

“Everyone in village government is being asked to work harder and longer,” Aronsohn said in an e-mail. “It therefore seems wrong to give a few people extra salary, while everyone else works harder for the same salary. A good example is the fire department. The village manager is proposing the elimination of the deputy chief position, but is not proposing an increase in anyone’s salary to compensate them for doing the extra work.”

By serving in both capacities, Gabbert’s salary will increase by $25,000 annually, but the taxpayers will save about $135,000 the first year and about $150,000 the second year of his four-year appointment, officials said. The savings will be realized by not having to hire an additional person to fill the opening left when former CFO Dorothy Stikna retired in January.

“The big picture is restructuring the finance department,” Gabbert said Tuesday morning at Village Hall.

The resolution, read by Village Clerk Heather Mailander, said that the state requires every municipality to have a CFO appointed, and that Gabbert is qualified to hold such a position because he has the proper state certification.

>VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD

2010 BUDGET MESSAGE

The Village of Ridgewood in 2009 felt the continued effects of the worst recession, since the great depression. The Village sustained a significant downfall in anticipated revenues of $455,955. ,which negatively effects fund balance. The 2010 reduction in State Aid revenues of $572,072. only imposes additional constraints on the Village to minimize property tax increases while maintaining the same level of services. Proceeds from the sale of a Liquor license for $450,000. will be anticipated as revenue in this years budget. Contractual salaries, health insurance and pension costs remain to hamper efforts to control budgeted expenses.

The 2010 introduced municipal budget has a estimated tax rate increase of 8.8 percent, or a $302.00 increase for the average residential property assessed at $800,000.

The 2010 budget must meet both State imposed budget (expense) and levy (tax) caps. On the budget side the Village has met its spending cap of $1,106,000. This was obtained by implementing an aggressive expense reduction plan. Total expense reductions to be realized in 2010 total $966,327. The introduced budget however does not meet the levy cap. The Village will request a levy cap waiver in the amount of $1,100,000. The levy cap waiver if granted by the State will enable the Village to provide health and safety services to its resident. Also, the levy cap waiver will be an adjustment or pass on to the 2011 tax levy year. The Village will be in a more stable financial position to satisfy the levy cap, due to the second six month savings from the cost reduction plan which will be undertaken this year. It is anticipated that the expense reduction plan will provide several years of property tax relief. Continued efforts to expand inter-local services with surrounding communities and outsourcing of services will be explored and reexamined.

The 2010 Budget will only increase $243,773. over the 2009 Budget. Large expense items in the budget are:

Group Health Insurance increased 19.83% or $684,219. The Village solicited bids for alternative plans, but was unsuccessful in securing a cost effective solution.

Other Insurance Workers Compensation appropriation rose $62,629. Funds will replenish the insurance reserve fund for future claims which may arise.

Accumulated Absences increased 19.19% or $71,572. Village must provide funding for retirements in 2010.

Police & Fire Retirement pension bill, increased 8.60% or $161,176. Village must meet its financial obligation as mandated by the State.

Unemployment costs increased by $286,288. over 2009. The dramatic increase is the result of implementing staff reductions to comply with the States imposed budget and levy caps, and minimize property tax increases.

Police and Fire contractual Salaries increased on average of 4.3 percent, or $431,160.

The Capital Budget will provide funding for the following :

Rolling stock of Municipal Vehicles

Technology Infrastructure Upgrades

2010 Street Resurfacing & Reconstruction Program.

Stormwater Drainage System Upgrades

Building Improvements, Various Locations

SCADA System Upgrades, Water Pollution Control Facility

>Wildes: Ensuring stable health care for our region
Friday, November 28, 2008
BY MICHAEL J. WILDES

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/35207629.html

To build a new facility at the site of the former Pascack Valley Hospital would be a mistake, one that could end up providing worse – not better – care for local residents.

AS MAYOR of Englewood, I strive continuously to ensure that my constituents receive quality services and care in all areas of life here in Bergen County. There is no area where quality is more important than in health care, and for the people of Englewood, having a hospital in our city provides a valuable facility for everyone in our community.

However, as a mayor with a hospital in my community, I can’t limit my concern to what it means to the people of Englewood. I have to look at what it means to the people who come from other parts of Bergen County. Englewood Hospital and Medical Center serves people from all over Bergen County and the financial strength of the hospital is critical to people in our neighboring towns and to Bergen County as a whole.

According to the January 2008 Final Report of the New Jersey Commission on Rationalizing Health Care Resources (also known as the Reinhardt Commission), New Jersey faces an oversupply of hospital beds, a problem that is particularly concentrated in the Hackensack-Ridgewood-Paterson area.

In part because of this oversupply, Pascack Valley Hospital suffered from low occupancy rates, filed for bankruptcy and ultimately closed in November 2007.

Upon Pascack Valley Hospital’s closing, all the hospitals in Bergen County experienced an increase in their respective occupancy rates. This increase confirmed that there had been too many acute care beds in Bergen County. But, more importantly, this change represents progress for the people in the region, as numerous studies, including one by Dr. Elliott Fisher at Dartmouth University, have shown that having an oversupply of acute care beds actually can have the effect of worsening health care.

A mistake

That’s why I believe that Hackensack University Medical Center and its for-profit Texas-based partner, Legacy Hospital Partners, should not be allowed to open a new acute care facility on the former Pascack Valley Hospital site in Westwood.

To open this facility would be a mistake, one that could end up providing worse – not better – care for local residents.

Make no mistake: Having more emergency facilities in the region is never harmful, and in this case would be a welcome addition to the region. It’s when you add the infrastructure of an acute care facility, complete with all of the administration, overhead and equipment required, that resources become redundant and health care quality can be compromised.

Recently, one of my colleagues asserted that the closing of Pascack Valley Hospital was a devastating financial loss to the town of Westwood, both in terms of commerce and jobs lost.

As a fellow mayor, I certainly understand the challenges that take place when a community faces a hospital closing. But I believe it is vital that we not exacerbate those negative effects by starting a new hospital. A new for-profit hospital in the region could destabilize the entire region’s health care system, and could cause additional hospitals to close. We’d be confronting the same issues that Westwood recently experienced, only in a different municipality.

With today’s economic conditions, we cannot afford instability; we must do everything to keep our hospitals, as well as our businesses, stable.

Additionally, the proposed facility is to be a for-profit hospital, and those types of institutions often do not have the interests of the community at heart. The non-profit hospitals in this region invest in the community and are not beholden to out-of-state investors.

Additionally, our local hospitals take all patients – including charity, Medicare and privately insured patients, which I feel is better for the community.

Replacing the old Pascack Valley Hospital with a similar institution runs counter to the Reinhardt report and could undo some of the benefits that the closing of Pascack Valley provided Bergen County’s residents.

Won’t benefit the people

The introduction of new hospital beds at a location where hospital beds were removed less than nine months ago does not seem to benefit the people of this region. There are seven full-service hospitals less than 15 miles from that site.

All the hospitals in Bergen County support the new emergency facility opened by Hackensack Medical Center at the Pascack Valley site. To add a full-service acute care hospital might be detrimental to the care of the region’s residents and could greatly diminish the continued operational effectiveness and quality of northern New Jersey’s hospitals.

The Reinhardt report should be given a chance to work, to show that the public policies in place are correct and that financially stable hospitals are good for all the people of Bergen County, not just Englewood.

Michael J. Wildes, mayor of Englewood, is an immigration attorney and has been an emergency medical technician for more than 15 years.

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/35207629.html