Bergen County - Page 213 of 228 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 by James — 2 Comments

Ridgewood woman sues judge in challenge of layoff

Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino

JULY 14, 2015, 6:23 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015, 6:39 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

A Ridgewood woman has sued a state administrative law judge, claiming the judge has been violating her right to due process as she contests her dismissal from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office.

The federal lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Newark by Alexis Fitzsimmons, an advanced practice nurse laid off from the Sheriff’s Department in the spring of 2011. Days after losing her job, Fitzsimmons — who’d been working as the department’s chief nursing officer — challenged her dismissal, contending it was “illegitimate” and political retaliation, the suit reads.

Fitzsimmons’ lawsuit, filed June 15, claims she lost her job soon after Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino assumed office. The suit claims Saudino’s move was sparked by “groundless rumors” he had been told claiming Fitzsimmons was romantically involved with his predecessor as sheriff, Leo McGuire. Fitzsimmons’ suit further claims she was given 20 days’ notice prior to her dismissal and not 45 as is required by law.

Months later, the Civil Service Commission cleared the way for Fitzsimmons to appeal her layoff. The matter was assigned to New Jersey Office of Administrative Law Judge Irene Jones. Jones is named as a defendant in Fitzsimmons’ suit, as is Judge Laura Sanders, who oversees the administrative law office.

In February of 2013, Fitzsimmons’ suit claims, she filed a motion to compel the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office to provide discovery as well as answers to several questions. For nearly eight months, Jones declined to rule on the motion, reads the suit. Then, a two-page order issued September 30, 2013 denied the motion without offering any explanation for the opinion.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-woman-sues-judge-in-challenge-of-layoff-1.1374091

Posted on July 16, 2015July 15, 2015 by James — 9 Comments

Lawsuit against Ridgewood Water to be decided by Superior Court judge

JULY 15, 2015, 2:19 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015, 2:23 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Years-long litigation against Ridgewood Water must be decided by a Superior Court judge, a state appeals court ruled on Wednesday.

The Appellate Division of New Jersey’s Superior Court reversed a trial judge’s 2014 decision transferring the suit to the Board of Public Utilities for resolution.

In a 25-page ruling, the Superior Court Appellate Division remanded the matter back to the trial court, noting “this is not a case requiring the particular expertise associated with the jurisdiction of the BPU.”

Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn declined to comment Wednesday, citing the ongoing nature of the litigation.

The class action lawsuit was filed against Ridgewood Water in Superior Court by Wyckoff officials in 2010, with the municipalities of Glen Rock and Midland Park joining the action as plaintiffs a year later.

The lawsuit alleges the water utility raised its rates in 2010 by 21 percent and that rates further rose 5 percent in 2011 and 2012.

The suit contends the rate hikes were approved in an ordinance adopted by the village council, and characterizes the increases as “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable and, accordingly, should be declared invalid and unenforceable.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/lawsuit-against-ridgewood-water-to-be-decided-by-superior-court-judge-1.1374549

Posted on July 15, 2015July 15, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Weinberg v. Yudin and the Bergen County Property Tax Question

John Mitchell, Taxpayer Advocate Award to Bergen County Sheriff Mike Saudino. Under Sheriff Saudino’s leadership the taxpayer has saved over $2.5 million through prudent budget cuts and significant overtime reductions. Bravo Sheriff Mike!!

Three Democrats will try to fend off a challenge by Republicans led by Bergen GOP Chairman Bob Yudin

By Alyana Alfaro | 07/14/15 1:35pm

In the upcoming November 2015 election, Bergen County Republicans will have the chance to usurp three seats on the Board of Chosen Freeholders currently occupied by Freeholder Vice Chairman Steve Tanelli, Freeholder Tracy Silna Zur and Freeholder Thomas Sullivan Jr.

The incumbent Democrats are opposed by Republicans John Mitchell, Ken Tyburczy and Daisy Ortiz-Berger.

For Bergen County Republican Chairman Bob Yudin, the main determining factor of the upcoming November freeholder election is going to be property taxes.

“There was a four percent increase in the total budget this year under the Democratic majority,” Yudin said. “That increase led to increased property taxes.”

According to Yudin, since Democrats currently have the majority on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders—only two of the seven members are Republican—the issue of increasing the budget became a partisan one.

“To call it non-partisan is a joke,” Yudin told PolitickerNJ. “We need a serious reduction in the budget. The Republican Party in Bergen County is overwhelmingly in favor of a reduction in property taxes.

Eschewing Yudin’s argument, Democrats note that the chairman of the budget process was Freeholder John Felice, a Republican; and that the budget passed 7-0 with GOP support.

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-37), also believes that property taxes are an issue in New Jersey. However, she thinks that the issue stems from a reduction in state funding to schools and counties, not a function of there being a democratic majority on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

“I think property taxes are a problem in New Jersey, a big problem,” Weinberg said. “But I don’t think that anybody believes that one party or the other owns it or that one group of freeholders is going to find a unilateral solution.”

Posted on July 12, 2015July 12, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Surprise plea in jogger’s death; admission of guilt brings tears of relief to Paramus family

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE REUVENI FAMILY
Gabrielle Reuveni

Surprise plea in jogger’s death; admission of guilt brings tears of relief to Paramus family

JULY 10, 2015, 12:54 PM LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2015, 12:30 PM
BY ABBOTT KOLOFF AND CHRISTOPHER MAAG
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD

Gabrielle Reuveni’s parents had waited almost three years for this moment: an admission by the man who killed their daughter that he was under the influence of painkillers when his pickup swerved off a Pennsylvania road, striking a young woman who aspired to a future of helping others.

Philip Cise, 51, stood in the chambers of a Pennsylvania judge on Friday, even as potential jurors were assembled in the courtroom for jury selection to hear the case against him, pleading guilty to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, the most serious charge that he faced.

Reuveni, 20, Paramus High School’s 2010 valedictorian and a member of her university track team, had been running along a road near her family’s vacation home in the Poconos on July 14, 2012, when, witnesses say, Cise, a Morris County man with a long history of mental illness and minor criminal offenses, swerved for no apparent reason. Authorities said he told them he had taken painkillers obtained from a friend

https://www.northjersey.com/news/man-pleads-guilty-to-vehicular-homicide-in-death-of-gabrielle-reuveni-1.1372376

Posted on July 10, 2015January 21, 2019 by James — 1 Comment

Major Crash on Rout 17 South takes out Utility Pole

photos Courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facesbook

Major Crash on Rout 17 South takes out Utility Pole
July 07,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, The male driver of a 4-door Toyota Corolla was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center’s main campus following a rollover crash on Route 17 southbound near Route 4 at approximately 10:00 AM on this Friday morning,

The crash severed a utility pole, knocking out phone and electric service to a nearby Porcelanosa tile showroom. The right shoulder and two (2) travel lanes of Route 17 southbound were closed due to the incident. The Corolla was removed by a flatbed tow truck. Paramus PD, EMS and FD Companies 2 & 4 responded to the incident. NJDOT crews assisted in blocking traffic lanes. PSE&G crews arrived at approximately 10:45 AM to attend to the utility pole issues.

Posted on July 10, 2015January 21, 2019 by James — 4 Comments

Proposed assisted living facility in Waldwick rejected

JULY 9, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015, 2:53 PM
BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
CORRESPONDENT |
WALDWICK SUBURBAN NEWS

Waldwick – Following more than two hours of testimony Wednesday, July 8, by residents who have been opposing construction of an assisted living facility on Wyckoff Avenue, the zoning board voted 5-2 to reject the application after 13 months of hearings.

The board will formalize its decision by resolution at its Aug. 12 meeting, said board attorney John D’Anton. He said the developer, Formation-Shelbourne Senior Living Services, would then have 45 days to file an appeal in state Superior Court.

Formation-Shelbourne had originally proposed an 85-unit, 100-bed facility, to be known as Solana of Waldwick, on 3.5 acres that is now occupied by four single-family homes at 237, 239, 241, and 247 Wyckoff Ave. Formation-Shelbourne attorney Robert Podvey said the applicant had submitted a final revised site plan on July 7 that reduced the number of units from 85 to 79 and the bed count from 100 to 94. He said the facility was moved back on the property approximately 16 feet from Cambra Road neighbors by removing six residential units on three floors.

The applicant’s engineer, Joseph Miele of Dresdner Robin, Fairfield, said it had also slightly reduced the building’s floor area ratio and impervious coverage, though both still required variances. The facility required a total of four variances, including ones for side parking and its height of three stories. It also required a minor subdivision.

Board members Eugene Sullivan, George Tencza, Ken Gurian, Jesus Mones and Stan Wekarski opposed the application, while member George Pedersen and chair J. Patrick Hunter favored it.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/business/proposed-assisted-living-facility-in-waldwick-rejected-1.1371608

Posted on July 9, 2015January 20, 2019 by James — 4 Comments

In the trenches with Mahwah recall petition circulators

Mahwah — It’s a rainy Saturday afternoon in June and a dozen people — wearing matching shirts — have gathered at Society Hill, a local condominium complex. (Nobile/The Bergen Record)

https://www.northjersey.com/news/in-the-trenches-with-circulators-1.1371041

Posted on July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Grand Jury Indicts former Ridgewood Lacrosse star In Mother’s Death

July 1,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blogRidgewood NJ, A grand jury has indicted a former Ridgewood Lacrosse Star Nicholas Piotti of Ho Ho Kus for the killing of his mother.

Piotti was accused of stabbing and beating his mother to death in the fall of last year.

Nicholas Piotti, 24, was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of his mother, Karen, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon

According to prosecutors, the 63-year-old victim suffered multiple stab wounds and beating trauma in the Sept. 1 attack.

Piotti’s lawyer said last year his client had psychiatric problems and he’d pursue an insanity defense.

Piotti, is due back in court in August and is currently being held in the Bergen County Jail in lieu of $2 million bail.

Posted on June 29, 2015January 20, 2019 by James — 3 Comments

Midland Park principal accused of filing false complaint in retaliation

JUNE 29, 2015, 7:29 AM LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015, 2:30 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

MIDLAND PARK – A borough couple are claiming in court papers that the principal of a Midland Park school reported them for child abuse and neglect in retaliation for a complaint the couple filed with the state Department of Education about the prolonged bullying of their child.

A lawsuit, filed May 21 in Bergen County Superior Court, alleges that Midland Park Jr./Sr. High School Principal Nicholas Capuano made “defamatory” statements about Cyril and Cathy Burke to the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency with “actual knowledge” the statements were false. He did so, the suit said, as retribution for the Burkes’ April 11, 2014, complaint to the Education Department regarding several years of “harassment, intimidation, and bullying” their child faced while attending the school.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/midland-park-principal-accused-of-filing-false-complaint-in-retaliation-1.1365119

Posted on June 24, 2015June 24, 2015 by James — 4 Comments

N.J. residents don’t want north Jersey casinos, poll finds

TRENTON — Casinos in north Jersey? The odds are against it.

A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll of 913 New Jersey residents released Tuesday found 56 percent oppose allowing casinos outside of Atlantic City, while just 37 percent support it.

“The public is questioning the logic behind allowing the spread of casino gambling,” said Krista Jenkins, a political science professor of political science and director of PublicMind. “They don’t seem to be sold on the idea of saving the gaming industry in the state by allowing it to spread.”

And despite a major push in recent months by politicians and business people who want to expand casino gaming, public opinion has not moved significantly from the last time FDU asked the question in February.

“This degree of attentiveness isn’t turning many people on to the idea. or the premise that the money can and should be rightfully used in places other than where the casinos are ultimately built,” said Jenkins

The polls are important because allowing gaming outside of Atlantic City would require an amendment to the state constitution. That requires voter approval.

North Jersey lawmakers, including Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson), want to put the question on the ballot this year. South Jersey lawmakers have resisted that, even though some – including Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) – have been open to allowing casino gambling in northern New Jersey if hundreds of millions in proceeds go towards helping Atlantic City rebuild.

Supporters of expanding casino gaming have proposed dedicating $100 million a year in north Jersey casino proceeds to the struggling resort, which saw four casinos close in 2012.

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/06/nj_residents_dont_want_north_jersey_casinos_poll_f.html

Posted on June 24, 2015June 24, 2015 by James — 8 Comments

Concerns about civil liberties in the air as Bergen seeks to use drones

JUNE 23, 2015, 3:57 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015, 10:19 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Bergen County’s recent bid to be the first county in New Jersey to add drones to its toolbox for handling emergencies comes amid a growing national debate over the use of unmanned flying machines by government agencies.

Leaders of the county’s emergency management operation are seeking freeholder approval to acquire two drones, which would be used for purposes ranging from finding a lost child to getting a bird’s-eye view of a fire or disaster.

Civil liberties advocates say that’s fine. But they worry that what they termed “mission creep” could open the door to other uses for the new technology and lead to questions of who is watching whom and for what purpose.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/concerns-about-civil-liberties-in-the-air-as-bergen-seeks-to-use-drones-1.1361322

Posted on June 23, 2015June 22, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Glen Rock council to hear proposal for new housing zone

JUNE 22, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2015, 12:24 AM
BY RICHARD DE SANTA
STAFF WRITER |
GLEN ROCK GAZETTE

The Glen Rock Planning Board has approved a draft ordinance that would permit “S-2” zoning at appropriate sites for the building of multiple-dwelling senior citizen housing, and has recommended its adoption by the Borough Council.

At present, the only option now open to developers of such projects is to apply to the borough for a use variance.

The board’s action came at a special meeting called for that purpose on June 9. Planners had previously reviewed an earlier version of the ordinance at a May session, opting to submit it for professional review.

Planning Board secretary Nancy Spiller said the draft approved last week included recommendations to reduce housing density of any such construction to 30 units per acre from 35 in the original draft; increase the front yard setback to 40 feet from 25 feet; and increase side yard setback to 15 feet from 10 feet. In addition, required total property side yard setbacks were increased to 30 feet from 20 feet, while minimum parking was reduced from two spaces per unit in the prior draft to 1.5.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/glen-rock-council-to-hear-proposal-for-new-housing-zone-1.1360691

Posted on June 21, 2015January 21, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

Judge affirms Bergen schools’ right to withhold full security-drill reports from NBC-TV

file photo by Boyd Loving

JUNE 19, 2015, 5:26 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015, 5:26 PM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

A state Superior Court judge has ruled that a dozen Bergen County school districts were within their rights to redact details of their school security drills before turning drill records over to a TV station probing alleged irregularities.

Superior Court Judge Robert P. Contillo wrote in the decision that the safety and security concerns voiced by the districts outweighed plaintiff WNBC-TV’s interest in receiving un-redacted records. The redactions, he wrote, which varied district-to-district but generally blacked out the date, time, and length of the drills, were “necessary to protect defendants’ interest in maintaining the safety and integrity of the school community.”

“Any other result would risk this information falling into the wrong hands and being of use in an effort to cause harm,” he wrote.

Donald Doherty, attorney for plaintiff WNBC-TV, was disappointed by the June 4 ruling, which he said didn’t make sense given that other districts freely gave the network the information.

“If it was such a security risk, you’d have thought everybody would have thought [so],” he said. “But I’m not the judge.”

Doherty said he doesn’t plan to appeal the decision, but that that “doesn’t mean we think the judge is right.”

Named in the station’s Feb. 20 suit were the boards of education in Allendale, Bergenfield, Englewood Cliffs, Hillsdale, Oakland, Old Tappan, Ramapo-Indian Hills, Ramsey, River Vale, and Tenafly, as well as the Bergen County Technical and Special Services districts. Also named were those districts’ business administrators, who serve as public records custodians.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/judge-affirms-bergen-schools-right-to-withhold-full-security-drill-reports-from-nbc-tv-1.1359734

Posted on June 20, 2015June 20, 2015 by James — 1 Comment

FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING

file photo by Boyd Loving
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING…

THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK…
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY…
EASTERN BERGEN…EASTERN ESSEX…EASTERN PASSAIC…EASTERN
UNION…HUDSON…WESTERN BERGEN…WESTERN ESSEX…WESTERN
PASSAIC AND WESTERN UNION. IN SOUTHEAST NEW YORK…BRONX…
KINGS (BROOKLYN)…NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)…NORTHERN NASSAU…
NORTHERN QUEENS…NORTHERN WESTCHESTER…RICHMOND (STATEN
ISLAND)…ROCKLAND…SOUTHERN NASSAU…SOUTHERN QUEENS AND
SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER.

* FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING

* HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THE REMNANTS OF BILL IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT
THE AREA TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS
EXPECTED TO OCCUR DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY
MORNING…AND COULD LEAD TO WIDESPREAD URBAN AND SMALL STREAM
FLOODING. STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE
BETWEEN 1 TO 2 INCHES…ALTHOUGH AMOUNTS OF UP TO 3 INCHES WILL
BE POSSIBLE WITH AREAS OF HEAVIER RAIN…AND IN THUNDERSTORMS.
THE HEAVY RAINFALL SATURDAY NIGHT COULD FALL WITHIN A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME…LEADING TO SHARP RISES ON SMALL STREAMS AND
CREEKS IN NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SIGNIFICANT POOR DRAINAGE
FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE
ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO
FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING
DEVELOP.

Posted on June 19, 2015January 20, 2019 by James — 2 Comments

Court blasts Bergen County prosecutor on pre-trial program denial

Prosecutor_John_Molinelli_theridgwoodblog

JUNE 19, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2015, 7:58 AM
BY PETER J. SAMPSON AND JEAN RIMBACH
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Thursday that it was “a patent and gross abuse of discretion” by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office to deny Carlstadt Mayor William Roseman entry to a trial-diversion program in a criminal case involving health insurance wrongly provided by the borough to his wife after they divorced.

The unanimous ruling comes amid scrutiny of another decision by the office of Prosecutor John Molinelli involving the program known as Pretrial Intervention — twice approving a Teaneck doctor for PTI who had been indicted on charges of groping female patients but avoided trial and was allowed to keep his medical license.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-state-news/court-blasts-bergen-county-prosecutor-on-pre-trial-program-denial-1.1359044

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