Posted on

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING, Bogart ,Cambridge ,and Pomander Walk

village-hall-theridgewoodblog

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING

APRIL 12, 2017

8:00 P.M.

1.   Call to Order – Mayor

2.   Statement of Compliance with the Open Public       Meetings Act

3.   Roll Call – Village Clerk

4.   Flag Salute and Moment of Silence

5.   Acceptance of Financial Reports

6.   Approval of Minutes

7.   Proclamations

  1. Proclaim April as Tree Planting Month and   April 28, 2017 as Arbor Day
  2. Proclaim April 29, 2017 LAX Day in Ridgewood
  3. Proclaim May 7-13, 2017 National Drinking    Water Week
  4. Proclaim May as Building Safety Month

    8.   Presentation by Bradford Fritts, Owner of Jersey     Mike’s Subs – Donation for Restoration of Bell      Tower at Ridgewood High School

     

    9. Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes    per person – 40 minutes in total)

    10.  Village Manager’s Report

    11.  Village Council Reports

    12.  ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER

    NONE

    13.  ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER

    3588 – Amend Chapter 269 – Water Irrigation Schedule      and Water Emergencies

    14.  RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER

    THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-87 THROUGH 17-92 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:

    17-87     Title 59 Approval – Approves the plans and              specifications for Tree Maintenance Services,         prepared by the Ridgewood Water Department,              pursuant to Title 59

    17-88      Award Contract – Tree Maintenance Services –              Awards a contract to the sole responsible              bidder, Downes Tree Service, 65 Royal Avenue,           Hawthorne, NJ on a per item basis

    17-89     Award Contract – Water Main Replacements at               Stream Crossings ($998,500) –Awards a                    contract to the lowest responsible bidder,            Fred Devens Construction, 403 Stonetown Road,          Ringwood, NJ

    17-90      Award Contract Under State Contract –                    Materials and Supplies – Water Main Repairs –      Awards a contract under State Contract to             Stone Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 8310,                    Haledon, NJ

    17-91      Authorize Change Order – Rehabilitation of              Glen Avenue Tank ($29,766) –Authorizes a                change order for this project, to the                    original contractor, Brave Industrial Paint,              LLC, 177 Elmwood Avenue, Long Branch, NJ.                This change order was necessary due to the                fact that additional work, beyond the                    original contract scope, is necessary.

    17-92      Authorize Change Order – Furnish and Install            Control Valves at Various Locations ($26,960)           – Authorizes a change order for this project,        to the original contractor, CFM Construction,       Inc., 5 Bay Street, Stirling, NJ. This change        order was necessary due to the fact that           additional work, not anticipated at the time              of award, is necessary.  

    15.  ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION

    3592 – Establish a CAP Bank

    3593 – General Capital Ordinance

    3594 – Water Utility Capital Ordinance

    3595 – Parking Utility Capital Ordinance

    3596 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic –             Parking Restrictions – Bogert Avenue and              Cambridge Road – Prohibits parking at all times            on the east side of Bogert Avenue within 25-feet     of the 90 degree inside corner in the road north      of Glen Avenue and on the west side of Cambridge     Road within 25-feet of the 90 degree inside         corner in the road north of East Glen Avenue.         In addition, prohibits parking in other sections  of Bogert Avenue and Cambridge Road from 8:00      a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.      Monday through Friday, September 1st through June      30th.

    3597 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic –             Parking Restrictions – Pomander Walk –Prohibits  parking on the South/West side of Pomander Walk         8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on all days and restricts  parking to two hours on the North/East side of          Pomander Walk from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on all     days except Sundays and Holidays

    3598 – Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs – The goals  of this ordinance are: preservation of the           Village’s native tree stock on both public and      private lands; advocating for the removal of          invasive and non-indigenous tree and shrub            species; replacement of trees removed on both          public and private properties; maintain the          number of trees in the Village

    16.  ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING

    3589 – Establish Rules and Regulations for Rental of            Rooms in The Stable

    3590 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Establish Rental Fees     – The Stable

    3591 – Repeal Chapter 29, Historic Preservation             Commission, Amend Chapter 190, Land Use and        Development, and Repeal Chapter 251, Swimming        Pools

    17.  2017 BUDGET INTRODUCTION

    A.   Budget Message

     

    B.   RESOLUTION

     

         17-93      Approve 2017 Municipal Budget and Set                May 10, 2017 as the Date for the Public                    Hearing Thereon

    18.  RESOLUTIONS

    THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-94 THROUGH

    17-118 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:

    17-94      Approve Temporary Emergency Capital Budget

    17-95      Approve Temporary Emergency Budget                        Appropriations

    17-96     Title 59 Approval – Conduit Installation for              Traffic Signals – Approves the plans and              specifications for Conduit Installation for              Traffic Signals in the Village of Ridgewood                prepared by the Engineering Division,                    pursuant to Title 59

    17-97      Award Contract – Conduit Installation for              Traffic Signals (NTE $25,325) –Awards a              contract to the lowest quote, ConQuest                    Construction Corporation, 20 Carver Avenue,           Westwood, NJ

    17-98      Award Contract – Disposal of Recyclable                 Materials – Authorizes a contract for                  disposal of the Village’s recyclable                    materials for the first year of a two-year               contract to Atlantic Coast Fibers, LLC, 101               Seventh Street, Passaic, NJ

    17-99     Title 59 Approval – Gate House Sloped Entry –           Irene Habernickel Family Park –Approves the            plans and specifications for Gatehouse Sloped           Entry at the Irene Habernickel Family Park             prepared by the Engineering Division,                pursuant to Title 59

    17-100    Award Contract – Gate House Sloped Entry –           Irene Habernickel Family Park (NTE $67,735) –         Awards a contract to the lowest responsible             bidder, Onque Technologies, Inc., 297-146             Kinderkamack Road, Suite 101, Oradell, NJ

    17-101    Title 59 Approval – Furnishing, Delivering,             and Maintenance of Emergency Equipment and            Other Patrol Equipment – Approves the plans                and specifications for Furnishing,                        Delivering, and Maintenance of Emergency           Equipment, Radios, Vehicle Computer Systems,             and Other Listed Patrol Equipment for the             Ridgewood Police Department, July 1, 2017             through June 30, 2018, inclusive prepared by               the Engineering Division, pursuant to Title              59

    17-102    Award Contract – Furnishing, Delivering, and              Maintenance of Emergency Equipment, Vehicle            Computer Systems, and Other Patrol Equipment              – Police Department –Awards the second year           of a two-year contract to the lowest                 responsible bidder, Regional Communications,               Inc., 64 East Midland Avenue, Paramus, NJ at             the unit prices stated in the contract

    17-103    Title 59 Approval – Paving – Approves the           plans and specifications for 2017 Road                  Resurfacing and Repair of Various Village               Streets in the Village of Ridgewood prepared                by the Engineering Division, pursuant to               Title 59

    17-104    Award Contract – Paving ($1,000,000) – Awards          a partial award of a contract to the lowest              responsible bidder, J.A. Alexander, 13-158                John F. Kennedy Drive North, Bloomfield, NJ

    17-105    Award Professional Services Contract –                    Traffic Engineering Services – West Side              Study Area ($14,945) – Awards a Professional               Services contract to the lowest proposal by              Petry Traffic and Transportation Engineering,        155 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, NJ

    17-106    Authorize Shared Services Agreement – Police           Pistol Range (Wood-Ridge $150 per                         officer/retired officer) – Authorizes a                  Shared Services Agreement between the Village      of Ridgewood and the Borough of Wood-Ridge so         that the Ridgewood Police Department may use             the Police Pistol Range in Wood-Ridge to                conduct their annual firearms qualifications

    17-107    Reject Bids – School Bus Transportation –              Summer Day Camp – Rejects the sole bid by           First Student, Inc. of Englewood, NJ due to                the fact that the bid received exceeds the              available funding

    17-108    Declare Police Vehicles Surplus Property –            Declares a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria and a           2009 Ford Crown Victoria Police vehicles                surplus property and authorizes the Village              Manager to dispose of these vehicles

    17-109    Declare Radar Systems Surplus and Authorize               Donation to Englewood Cliffs Police                   Department – Declares three radar systems             surplus and authorizes the Village Manager to       dispose of and transfer them to the Borough              of Englewood Cliffs for use by their Police               Department. No warranties or guarantees of            the condition or usefulness of the equipment           are offered by the Village of Ridgewood.

    17-110    Accept Partial Donations – Portable Fuel Cell      Trailer – Parks and Recreation – Accepts                donations from Maroons Soccer Association            ($1,600), Ridgewood Soccer Association                   ($850), and Ridgewood Jr. Football                         Association ($600), toward the purchase of a            Portable Fuel Cell Trailer which costs $5,478

    17-111    Accept Donation – Restoration of Sally Port –         Ridgewood Police Department – Accepts a                donation valued at $3,800 from the owner of           Five Star Painting, 38 East Ridgewood Avenue,        Ridgewood, NJ to paint the walls and floors              of the Sallyport. The owner of the company,               Christian Cruz, has volunteered to donate the       labor and supplies to the Village of                    Ridgewood. He currently has no applications               before any Village Boards or Committees nor                does he have any pending business with the                Village.

    17-112    Support Responsible Pet Ownership –                   Delineates actions to be taken by the Village      to support responsible pet ownership,                    including: enforcing rabies control statutes;        impounding stray dogs and cats; educating all      residents about responsibilities for pet             ownership; increasing the percentage of                  licensed dogs and cats through ease of                    licensing and licensing enforcement;                  identifying and implementing best practices           for spaying and neutering animals;                        identifying alternatives to euthanasia of            adoptable companion animals; assisting in              identifying resources to      improve the                   condition and increasing the capacity of              animal shelters

    17-113    Authorize Mayor’s Pledge for Age Friendly              Ridgewood Initiatives – Authorizes the Mayor                to sign a Mayor’s Pledge to take steps to            adopt some policies widely recognized as            being advantageous for older adults

    17-114    Authorize Release of Cash Security Bond –               Sludge Hauling Contract – Authorizes the             release of a cash security bond for Ridgewood       Green RME, LLC for sludge hauling from the               Village’s Water Pollution Control Facility,              due to the fact that Ridgewood Green RME, LLC       is no longer the Village’s vendor for this               service

    17-115    Authorize Partial Release of Cash Bond – J.P.      Development – 143 & 147 West Glen Avenue –                The project is substantially complete,                  according to the Village Engineer, so the              majority of the cash bond will be refunded,             with the balance being refunded at the                 completion of the project

    17-116    Authorize Cleaning of Kings Pond Park by             Ridgewood      Wildscape and Partners –Authorizes          a cleanup of the Kings Pond area by Ridgewood        Wildscape and their partners on April 30,           2017. The Village will provide assistance by               providing chest waders, gloves and other           protective equipment to handle the debris,               rakes and hand tools, and pickup and disposal      of the debris. This cleanup has been reviewed       by the Village Engineer, pursuant to Title              59.

    17-117    Authorize Installation of Bus Shelter – North      Monroe Street and West Glen Avenue –                 Authorizes the installation of an IKEA                    Paramus, NJ model bus shelter on North Monroe        Street, just north of West Glen Avenue and            authorizes the Village Manager to execute the      necessary agreements

    17-118    Rescind Resolution #15-257 on Schedler Park –      Determination of Uses for Schedler Park                 Property – Rescinds Resolution #15-257 which            laid out the uses of the Schedler Park                     property, to include active and passive                   recreational areas, as well as a 90-foot             baseball diamond

    19.  Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes    per person)

    20.  Resolution to go into Closed Session

    21.  Closed Session

  1. Personnel/Contract Negotiations – Blue    Collar, White Collar and Supervisory Union   Negotiations
  2. Contract Negotiations – Consideration of Purchase of Properties

    22.  Adjournment

Posted on

Reader says supporting simple, low-cost, low-impact, high-ROI programs undermines their entire narrative of over-developing Ridgewood

ridgewood train station parkiong

The crowd who loves high-density CBD housing, massive hospital expansions, and giant money losing garages hate adding more parking to the train station and CBD in a simple and low-cost manner. Why? Because supporting simple, low-cost, low-impact, high-ROI programs undermines their entire narrative of over-developing. Is Sears failing from a lack of parking? Is Englewood, NJ struggling with store-front retail due to a lack of parking? We have the parking, the very well done Walker and Maser reports show we don’t use what we have. Why don’t we try maximizing all the space we have already dedicated to parking first, then think about building. The garages all lose money even while requiring huge fee increases and are really subsidies for the local developer and a couple land owners in the CBD.

Posted on

Wife sues driver who killed her jogging husband

BergenCountyCourthouse

By Anthony G. Attrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on March 21, 2017 at 6:35 AM, updated March 21, 2017 at 8:48 AM

TENAFLY – The wife of a man struck and killed by a car during an early morning jog last fall has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, according to court documents.

Robert E. Hyer Jr., 63, was killed as he tried to cross East Clinton Avenue at Woodland Street in Tenafly. (Google Maps)

Robert E. Hyer Jr., 63, of Tenafly, was killed Oct. 25, 2016, as he crossed East Clinton Avenue at Woodland Street in Tenafly, according to a lawsuit filed March 13 in Bergen County Superior Court.

The driver was Raffaella Garritano, 58, of Englewood Cliffs, according to attorneys for Hyer’s wife Andrea McDermott Hyer, 54.

“Garritano operated that vehicle in such an inattentive, careless, reckless and negligent manner so as to strike and violently knock (the victim) to the ground,” the suit states.

https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2017/03/wrongful_death_suit_filed_against_driver_who_hit_j.html?ath=a661ed5d8cb41fa9dc524c06f451a07d#cmpid=nsltr_strybutton

Posted on

N.J. experiences largest private sector job growth in 16 years

Chris_Christie_Governor_of_New_Jersey

“We’re actually now over-performing the rest of the country, and I would suggest to you that the reason that there is that lag is because New Jersey is still a very expensive place to work and do business, and if the legislature had been willing to do other tax cuts and other measures that I put and recommended on property taxes and income taxes, perhaps we’d be in even better shape and it would’ve happened even faster. But, we’re certainly better off than we were from 2001 to 2009, when there was zero net private-sector job growth during a time” Governor Chris Christie

 

By KATHERINE LANDERGAN

03/13/17 03:08 PM EDT

Gov. Chris Christie on Monday heralded the state’s fiscal health as new figures showed New Jersey last year experienced the largest spike in private sector job growth since 2000.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the state gained 60,800 private sector jobs last year, meaning New Jersey recovered all of the jobs it lost during the recession, and then added another 65,000 jobs.

“This didn’t happen by accident,” Christie, a Republican, said at a press conference in Englewood Cliffs. “The tax cuts we put in place, holding the line on other taxes, the 2 percent property tax cap — all of these things are bearing fruit.”

Christie also said the state has shown strong gains in construction, the tourism industry, and the number of new businesses filings, and has seen a decline in foreclosures.

“It’s great news for the state and we should stop the drumbeat that somehow New Jersey is underperforming from a jobs perspective,” he said.

https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2017/03/nj-experiences-largest-private-sector-growth-in-16-years-110315

Posted on

The Most Expensive Zip Codes in the State of New Jersey

Ridgewood_Real_estate_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

March 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, At the end of last year, PropertyShark compiled a list of the most expensive zip codes in the U.S., and 2 New Jersey zip codes made the cut: Alpine’s 07620 landed the 44th spot on our list, and Short Hills’ 07078 landed the 88th. This year, PropertyShark took a closer look at the market and round up the most expensive zip codes in New Jersey.

The top three zip codes on our list will come as no surprise; the most expensive zip code on our list is occupied by Alpine’s 07620. with the medium price of $2,050,000. The next zip code in the state is Short Hills’ 07078, with a median home price of $1,430,000. The third priciest zip code on our list is Stone Harbor’s 08247, with a median home price of $1,110,000.

Ridgewood’s 07450 came in 26th with the median price of $712,500 with 350 real-estate transactions.

Hoboken’s 07030 ranked 33 but the small city had the largest number of residential transactions in the past year, with 830 sales closed here in 2016, at a median price of $685,000.

The methodology:  In order to determine which were the most expensive ZIP codes in New Jersey, PropertyShark looked at all residential transactions closed in 2016, taking into account condo, co-op, single- and two-family homes. All package deals were excluded.

Check out the full list of New Jersey zip codes below:

Posted on

10 suspended following audit into Englewood school transcripts

Dunce-cap

Michael W. Curley, Jr. , Staff Writer, @MCurleyGannettPublished 11:35 p.m. ET Feb. 16, 2017 | Updated 1 hour ago

ENGLEWOOD — The Dwight Morrow High School principal and nine other high-level district employees were suspended with pay Thursday night after a review by an independent consultant turned up more than 3,000 graduation credit and grade changes in the previous year.

Superintendent Robert Kravitz read a letter from the Department of Education at Thursday’s meeting saying the Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance will conduct a review of the district’s high school transcript records with respect to allocation of credit hours. Later in the meeting, he said the 3,000 credit and grade changes were considered “extremely high” by the state.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/englewood/2017/02/16/10-suspended-following-audit-into-englewood-school-transcripts/97851908/

Posted on

Problems in Ridgewood’s CBD it’s more than just Parking

Ridgewood CBD

January 28,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Check this article out – Englewood has over 2000 parking spaces available, including a 345 space garage, many new, upscale downtown housing developments, and still stores are closing. It has nothing to do with the lack of parking or limited foot traffic/customer availability; it’s the changing face of retail merchandising in America.

Shopping habits have changed dramatically, it going to take more than parking to keep the downtown prospering.

https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2017/01/in_bergen_county_an_upscale_downtown_struggles_for_answers.html#incart_river_index

Posted on

In Bergen County, an upscale downtown struggles for answers

Clock CBD

“This news article, about the increased number of storefront vacancies in an “upscale” Bergen County downtown, may be of interest to many of you, particularly since Joseph A. Banks Clothiers shut their store on East Ridgewood Avenue last week.” Boyd Loving

Editors note : “I am a  Joseph A. Banks customer , yet I never set foot in that store , always shop on line ” PJ blogger

By Fausto Giovanny Pinto | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

on January 22, 2017 at 7:30 AM, updated January 22, 2017 at 7:32 AM

ENGLEWOOD — Signs that advertise available space are prominent on the windows of empty storefronts along Palisades Avenue in the heart of Englewood’s downtown shopping district.

A man walks by two empty storefronts on Palisade Avenue in downtown Englewood.Fausto Giovanny Pinto

Officials and realtors say the changing landscape of retail shopping has affected this area, filled with ritzy boutiques, chain stores and a host of eateries.

“Englewood is not the only one with empty stores,” said Carol Rauscher, president of the Englewood Chamber of Commerce. “Two things have contributed to the decline, online shopping and off-price stores, and that’s something we don’t have and won’t get.”

Recent departures from downtown include Victoria’s Secret, Chico’s, Nine West and Wendy’s. The downtown currently has a 5 percent vacancy rate, according to recent survey by the city’s Economic Development Corp.

https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2017/01/in_bergen_county_an_upscale_downtown_struggles_for_answers.html#incart_river_home

Posted on

Bergen County Police Chiefs Visit Valley Hospital’s Pediatric Patients To Hand out Gifts and Spread Holiday Cheer

Bergen County Police Chiefs Association

December 26,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Representatives from the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association recently accompanied Santa Claus to The Valley Hospital Pediatric Unit and Pediatric Emergency Room to give holiday gifts to hospitalized children.  Pictured here are (standing back row, from left to right):  Aleyamma Varghese, R.N., Bergenfield; Heather Evers, APN, Ocean Grove; Chief Frank Regino, Westwood; Lori Check, Fair Lawn; Chief Daniel Maye, Bogota; Christine Trent, Kinnelon; Chief William Skidmore, Edgewater; Retired Chief Fred Stahman, Glen Rock; Janine Cook, Saddle Brook; Tom Hauck, FBI; and Chief Michael Cioffi, Englewood Cliffs.  Front row (from left to right): Nadine Morton, Waldwick; Santa; and Kristin Harmon, R.N.

Posted on

Reader says The taxpayers don’t want any garage on Hudson street

Ridegwood parking Town  garage 12:10 5 24 2016

We should be honest about what is driving this endless discussion.Note last massively expensive boondoggle on Hudson Street which took an unprecedented Referendum that our own Mayor and management was
Involved in those petitions and steering.

The taxpayers don’t want any garage on Hudson street..it will be a money crime and urban blight as any transit center garage becomes..look at any similar models.It will attract out of towners to flog our streets with transitional commuters not interested in most businesses outside of Coffee grab and go small shops near the train station.

ReLine and pave the existing surface lots at Hudson,Cottage place and the central district lots . Allocate some employee parking and incent those
Employers to enforce that accommodation .yes and everyone will have a walk a bit more that’s the Vallet services who wisk those visitors away
from ridgewood despite the dreams of the small shops to attract walking
Customers who might take a look or pick up a specialty item on the way to their cars parked on surface lots or God forbid at the train station on weekends that almost always have visitor and resident parking after six.

My priority is not to make the restaurants happy on my dime/taxes and fees in ridgewood drive the Boomers to cash out and leave.Lets get a grip on this endless parking discussion..no less the possible housing boondoggles that Englewood Morristown and other Towns have suffered

We don’t want to be a Transit Village,we want to be a smarter Ridgewood
Town leaders figure this out and out Taxpayer first( not restaurants for a change ) lets wish our new management Luck.Middle ground solutions needed..Uber logistics on short trips is taking over the world.

Posted on

ACTING BERGEN PROSECUTOR GURBIR S. GREWAL ANNOUNCES THE ARRESTS OF 40 INDIVIDUALS AS A RESULT OF “OPERATION HELPING HAND”

Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S
September 1, 2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced today the arrests of 40 people from August 28, 2016 through Thursday, September 1, 2016, as the result of “Operation Helping Hand” – an innovative and collaborative law enforcement and public health initiative targeting the heroin and opioid crisis in Bergen County.

Ridgewood had two residents Christopher J. O’Brien and Lyndsay A. Paul, both 32, who were charged with possession of heroin.
This investigation was the result of a multi-jurisdictional task force consisting of local and county agencies coordinated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Chief Robert ANZILOTTI. Assisting in this investigation were members of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael SAUDINO. These detectives and officers formed the backbone of the multiagency task force. The municipal police agencies participating in this investigation were: Bergenfield Police Department; Cliffside Park Police Department; Dumont Police Department; Englewood Police Department; Elmwood Park Police Department; Fort Lee Police Department; Lyndhurst Police Department; Mahwah Police Department; New Milford Police Department; Saddle River Police Department; Tenafly Police Department; and Upper Saddle River Police Department. In addition, valuable assistance was provided by Bergen County officials, including Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco, III, and Bergen Regional Medical Center.In 2015, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Intel Unit and Narcotic Task Force analyzed overdose data as well as deployments of NARCAN, the overdose reversal drug, in
Bergen County. That analysis revealed the following with respect to 2015:
288 total reported overdoses, 231 of which were heroin/opioid-related;
87 overdose fatalities, 71 of which were heroin/opioid-related; and
187 NARCAN deployments by law enforcement officers, resulting in 170 lives saved.In 2015, the hardest hit municipalities were:
Garfield with 23 overdoses;
Lyndhurst with 20 overdoses;
Fort Lee with 15 overdoses;
Lodi with 15 overdoses; and
Cliffside Park with 14 overdoses.Similar analysis of available data for 2016 year-to-date, revealed the following:
202 reported overdoses, 158 of which were heroin/opioid overdoses; and 48 total overdose fatalities, 40 of which are believed heroin/opioid-related.

In an effort to address this issue in a novel way, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office collaborated with Bergen Regional Medical Center to set aside a number of 5-day detox beds for a one-week period for individuals arrested on drug charges, who were battling addiction. Thereafter, on August 28, 2016, members of the multiagency task force described above began enforcement actions in areas known for narcotics sales, namely heroin sales. As a result of those operations, the task force arrested the individuals reflected on the attached spreadsheet. In addition to arresting them, task force members presented the option of participating in a voluntary detox program at Bergen Regional Medical Center that was available to them. The detox program was not in lieu of criminal charges. Approximately 12 individuals have afforded themselves to the detox option, and task force officers then either transported or are presently in the process of transporting those individuals to Bergen Regional Medical Center to enter into the detox program.

Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Grewal states that the charges against the defendants identified on the attached spreadsheet are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and would also like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Bergen County Executive and Bergen Regional Medical Center, as well as all the municipal departments that participated for their assistance with this initiative.

Posted on

Ridgewood One of Many New Jersey Towns to Sue Hospitals Over Property Taxes

Valley_Hospital_theridgewoodblog
August 20,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, In April Ridgewood joined over two dozen other municipalities, including Teaneck, Englewood, Wayne, Paterson, Pequannock and North Bergen challenging the tax exempt status of their local hospital

Like Ridgewood many of these municipalities are looking for new sources of cash to lower their high property taxes, local officials have now filed tax appeals challenging the tax-exempt status of 35 nonprofit hospitals according to NJ Advance Media for NJ.com .

The litigation continues to gain momentum in response to last year’s precedent-setting tax court ruling and settlement which required Morristown Medical Center to pay Morristown $15.5 million in lieu of property taxes. The judge in that case found the hospital operated like a for-profit entity and should share the cost of public safety and other municipal services.

While the Morristown case took 5 years to see it through ,so far two of the 35 cases have been settled already, resulting in additional revenue for the city of Elizabeth and Edison Township.

The settlements have already paid off for local taxpayers.The property tax rate has declined in Morristown by 2 cents this year, as a direct result of the “historic” agreement reached with Morristown Medical Center’s parent company, Atlantic Health Systems.

Ridgewood has quietly pursued Valley Hospital on the same grounds .It has been often repeated that Valley’s current 15 1/2-acre main campus would owe about $4.5 million in taxes if it were fully assessed. That is before the major increase in size by the proposed renovation double its size .

The N.J. Hospital Association says the tax-exempt status of these hospitals have been challenged:

Clara Maass Medical Center (Belleville)
Jersey City Medical Center (Jersey City)
Monmouth Medical Center (Long Branch)
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (Lakewood)
Saint Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston)
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (Newark)
Holy Name Medical Center (Teaneck)
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center (Englewood)
Hunterdon Medical Center (Raritan Township)
Bayshore Community Hospital (Holmdel)
Hackensack UMC Palisades (North Bergen)
Jersey Shore University Medical Center (Neptune)
Raritan Bay Medical Center (Old Bridge)
Raritan Bay Medical Center (Perth Amboy)
Riverview Medical Center (Red Bank)
Chilton Medical Center (Pequannock)
Overlook Medical Center (Summit)
Newton Memorial Hospital (Newton)
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (Rahway)
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (New Brunswick)
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset (Somerville)
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (Hamilton)
Trinitas Regional Medical Center (Elizabeth)
CentraState Medical Center (Freehold)
Virtua Memorial Hospital (Moorestown)
St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center (Paterson)
St. Joseph’s Hospital Wayne (Wayne)
JFK Health (Edison)
Shore Memorial Hospital (Somers Point)
The Valley Hospital (Ridgewood)
Capital Health (Hopewell)
Kennedy University Hospital (Stratford)
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Campus (Atlantic City)
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Campus (Galloway)
Princeton Healthcare System (Plainsboro & Princeton)

Posted on

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services hospital ratings: So How did Valley Hospital Fare ?

valley_hospital_theridgewoodblog

July 27,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The federal government released its first overall hospital quality rating on Wednesday, giving some of the best known local hospitals in New Jersey an average or below average scores .

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rated 3,617 hospitals on a one- to five-star scale . While the hospital industry pressured the Obama administration and Congress to block the ratings and argue the ratings will make places that treat the toughest cases look bad, but Medicare has held firm, saying that consumers need a simple way to objectively gauge quality.

Just 102 hospitals received the top rating of five stars.Nearly half the hospitals or 1,752 received an average rating of three stars. While another 1,042 hospitals were not rated, including all hospitals in Maryland.

Medicare based the star ratings on 64 individual measures that are published on its Hospital Compare website, including death and infection rates and patient reviews. Medicare noted that specialized and “cutting-edge care,” such as the latest techniques to battle cancer, are not reflected in the ratings.

Here are some of our local hospitals and how they ranked:

VALLEY HOSPITAL
223 N VAN DIEN AVENUE
RIDGEWOOD, NJ 07450
(201) 447-8000
3 out of 5 stars

BERGEN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
230 EAST RIDGEWOOD AVE
PARAMUS, NJ 07652
(201) 967-4000
3 out of 5 stars

HACKENSACK-UMC AT PASCACK VALLEY
250 OLD HOOK ROAD
WESTWOOD, NJ 07675
(201) 383-1074
3 out of 5 stars

ST JOSEPH’S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
703 MAIN ST
PATERSON, NJ 07503
(973) 754-2010
1 out of 5 stars

HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
30 PROSPECT AVE
HACKENSACK, NJ 07601
(201) 996-2000
2 out of 5 stars

HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER
718 TEANECK RD
TEANECK, NJ 07666
(201) 833-3000
4 out of 5 stars

ST MARY’S GENERAL HOSPITAL
350 BOULEVARD
PASSAIC, NJ 07055
(973) 365-4300
2 out of 5 stars

GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL OF SUFFERN
255 LAFAYETTE AVENUE
SUFFERN, NY 10901
(914) 368-5000
2 out of 5 stars

ENGLEWOOD HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER
350 ENGLE ST
ENGLEWOOD, NJ 07631
(201) 894-3000
3 out of 5 stars

CHILTON MEDICAL CENTER
97 WEST PARKWAY
POMPTON PLAINS, NJ 07444
(973) 831-5000
2 out of 5 stars

Posted on

Ridgewood Picks New Police Chief RHS Grad Jacqueline Luthcke

Chief John Ward and Captain Jacqueline Luthcke

photo courtesy of Ridgewood PD 2013 4th of July Parade

June 29,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Captain Jacqueline Luthcke will be Ridgewood’s next Chief of Police and Ridgewood’s first woman Chief of Police effective July 1, 2016.

RHS Class of 1988 ie… Jacqueline Bartlett , she took police test and waited 2 1/2 years to be called up. ( at same time as Hoerst (sp) Chemical Co wanted her for international director of security and Prosecutors office  also wanted her. ) She was working as a private investigator and doing executive protection in the meantime. She guarded Christopher Reeves in his first public appearance and the VP of the US at the Baseball Hall Of Fame dinner.

Captain Luthcke started her career with the Ridgewood Police Department in 1996 as a patrol officer advancing to Sergeant in 2005, Lieutenant in 2008 and Captain in 2010. She holds a BA Degree in Sociology/Criminology from Ohio University, where she was graduated with honors. She is a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership course run by the New Jersey State Association Of Chiefs of Police — graduating first in her class and receiving the Chief Harry Wilde Academic Achievement Award.

Jacqueline has also been active in the Ridgewood community and has been the face of the Ridgewood Police Department to our community.  Jacqueline has had a  distinguished career and has impressive credentials. We are confident that she will make an excellent Chief and that out community will be well served.

She was also a panelists with Lynne Algrant, Councilwoman, Englewood; Stephen Borg, Publisher / President, North Jersey Media Group; Jacqueline Luthcke, Captain, Ridgewood Police Department; Robert Sommer, Public Affairs Executive / Jersey City Official; James Tedesco, Bergen County Executive at the Civility in Public Discourse panel discussion in February.

Mayor Aronsohn in what maybe his last act before he leaves office will be swearing Chief Luthcke in on Friday July 1st at 9:00 A.M. at BF Middle School where the ceremony will also be attended by the graduating class of the Junior Police Academy.

Posted on

Garrett Challenger Josh Gottheimer Faces New Questions for Accepting Donations from Saudi Wife Beaters and disgraced former NJ Senator

Josh Gottheimer
May 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ in what could be only considered a media event with no chance of swaying opinions 12 protesters called on Fidelity Investments storefront on Route 17 in Paramus to stop financially backing the campaign of CD5 Republican Congressman Scott Garrett.

The rally was made up of the same 12 people who have been protesting Garrett and supporting his opponent
Josh Gottheimer ,included Assemblyman Tim Eustace (D-38), representatives from New Jersey Citizen Action, Garden State Equality, College Democrats of New Jersey and Ramapo College Democrats. Apparently the few protesters were unaware that a branch office in New Jersey has almost zero input to Fidelity Investments corporate donation policy.

These “rent a mob” protests have been in response to controversial remarks Garrett “allegedly” made last year that he would not support the House Republican campaign arm because of support for gay candidates.
No evidence or transcripts have ever surfaced as to the nature of these “alleged” comments . Most insiders suspect the entire controversy was manufactured by former House Speaker  John “cry baby” Boehner. Who Garrett had voted against his disastrous tenure as Speaker of The House.

While the media loves events like theses that are custom tailored to fit the “evil ,mean ,GOP ” narrative Garrett’s Democratic opposition Josh Gottheimer has had far worse problems with donors . It seems Josh Gottheimer campaign has been partly financed by foreign money .Accepting donations from son of a billionaire Saudi businessman, and infamous wife beater Ibrahim Al-Rashid . Even Senator Harry Reid won’t take Al-Rashid’s money, yet political insider Josh Gottheimer has embraced Al-Rashid, to the disgust of residents of the Fifth District.

To make matters worse Gottheimer has also accepted donations from disgraced NJ Senator Bob “the Torch” Torricelli an Englewood Democrat who abandoned his bid for a second term in the U.S. Senate 13 years ago under an ethical cloud . So bad was Torricelli’s discretion’s he was forced out by his own party. Torricelli quite following a series of seamy revelations that he’d accepted lavish gifts from businessman David Chang, which in turned prompted the Senate Ethics Committee to issue a formal letter of admonishment.