Glen Rock NJ, An intense, but brief, rain storm with high winds tore through Northwest Bergen County early Thursday evening, 05/03. Among the many reported downed trees and large tree limbs was this one, which landed on the roof of a single family home on Prospect Street in Glen Rock, Glen Rock Police and Fire Department personnel responded to investigate. The home was unoccupied when the limb fell and structural damage appeared to have been minimal.
Glen Rock NJ, A Glen Rock resident has filed suit against the borough for denying a records request, and in so doing, has brought to the forefront the continuing legal debate about whether elected officials’ social media accounts constitute a government property to New Jersey Superior Court.
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/glen-rock/2018/04/19/glen-rock-nj-officials-facebook-pages-public-documents-says-suit/528481002/
Glen Rock Mayor Bruce Packer had this is say on his Facebook pages :
April 21 at 9:05pm ·
I cannot comment on ongoing litigation but I want to make it clear that when OPRA (Open Public Records Act) requests are made, elected officials play NO part in whether or not they are granted. As the Borough Clerk is in possession of those records that fall under the rules, it is the Borough Clerk who makes such decisions, at times with the help of the Borough Attorney.
There are times where there are questions as to what constitutes a government record and unfortunately I cannot comment any further.
You can find lots of info about OPRA here:
*Part 2 on OPRA requests*
When a Borough Clerk is not in possession of an item that is requested, it is not possible for the clerk to provide that record. That does not inherently imply that the record is not subject to OPRA but, for example, if governing body members have Facebook pages on their personal email accounts, it is not possible for a Borough Clerk to access them and provide information.
While I cannot talk in detail about the current lawsuit regarding OPRA and Facebook accounts, our Borough Clerk has no access to our accounts and the heart of the issue is whether or not she should.
In short, are the unseen parts of governing body members’ Facebook pages, such as admin settings, block lists, etc, government records? No court has ever made a determination to date on this and the information has never been provided based on my own informal conversations with other municipalities.
In Part 3, I will share an email that I received from the NJ Government Records Council last October.
*Part 3 on OPRA requests*
I believe in full transparency and open access to all records as appropriate. There is a line that protects the privacy of governing body members though and there are times when that line is not clear.
After an OPRA request was received for information relating to a Facebook page last year, I wrote to the state authority on such matters, the NJ Government Records Council (https://www.state.nj.us/grc/). As this is uncharted territory, I wanted to gather all of the facts.
Here is the response to my query and the last paragraph responds to my specific question:
Thank you for contacting the NJ Government Records Council (“GRC”). The information provided by the GRC is guidance and does not constitute legal advice or a final decision of the GRC regarding whether a particular record is exempt from disclosure or not since the provisions of the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) are applied to the specific facts of the request and/or complaint. The GRC cannot tell you exactly how to respond to an official OPRA records request because your response must depend on the specific facts of the records request.
Generally, OPRA provides that “. . . government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination . . . with certain exceptions . . .” N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1. There are 25 specific exemptions from disclosure included in OPRA.
Additionally, OPRA defines a government record as a record “made, maintained or kept on file . . . or that has been received in the course of . . . official business . . .” N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1. Also, OPRA requires a custodian to grant or deny access as soon as possible but no later than seven (7) business days from receipt of the request. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(i). OPRA further requires that custodians inform requestors of the lawful basis for any denial of government records. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-6.
Regarding your inquiry, the GRC has no prior decisions regarding social media and OPRA. Additionally, the current state of the law doesn’t specifically contemplate the disclosability of social media posts. It’s an awfully tricky situation given the interactive nature of social media. At some point, these types of issues will need to be decided either through new legislation, court decisions or Council adjudications.
Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock Mayor Bruce Packer has asked people to please remove the orange ribbons from trees , the color orange is apparently used to communicate a need for construction.On Facebook he explains,”I realize that we live in a time where it is easy to attribute negative intentions to any message that might appear to infringe on your civil liberties.A few days ago the Borough asked people to please remove the orange ribbons from trees as the color orange is apparently used to communicate a need for construction or action by some of our local utilities or cable companies. I am frankly still not completely clear on what the color is used for but I have confirmation that it is used.
I took it upon myself to contact Ridgewood Water and PSEG to let them know that some of our residents have orange ribbons on their tree which should not be misinterpreted. I did not reach out to the local cable companies, who apparently also use this color but likely higher on a pole, nor local tree services who may or may not use this color.
We are in a Borough that has a mayor that has been a proud member of the group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns (https://everytown.org/mayors/ ) since his first year in office (2016) and that has a Mayor and Council that has read and unanimously approved a proclamation for Gun Violence Awareness Month every June that this administration has been in office.
We proudly invited the students to a council meeting the evening that they staged the school walkout to give them an opportunity to share their message with residents.
I have personally offered my help to the students, if needed, to help them to continue to get their message out but they are an amazing group and quite self sufficient.
It is this Mayor and Council that represent the Borough so I would hope that it should be obvious that a request from the Borough to move orange ribbons from our DPW does not reverse all of that.
There is no ordinance that can be enforced which would allow us to force you to move ribbons from trees on your property. However, orange ribbons on a right of way (within 10 feet of the street) are in violation and are at higher risk to potentially be misinterpreted.
If you don’t want to move your ribbon to something other than a tree or further away from the street, that is your prerogative but this request has nothing to do with political stands and everything to do with the color orange. My ribbon would still be displayed on my front railing if it hadn’t blown away.
You still have a right to disagree but the Borough has no intention of preventing anyone’s right to free speech.
Glen Rock NJ, A mini van collided with a utility pole at the intersection of Heather Lane and Maple Avenue in Glen Rock on Thursday morning, 03/15. The vehicle’s driver was transported by an ambulance from The Valley Hospital to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson with non life threatening injuries. A flatbed tow truck removed the wreck. Glen Rock Police and Glen Rock Fire Department responded to the incident. A portion of Maple Avenue remained closed for an extended period while crews from PSE&G worked at the scene.
Glen Rock NJ, The driver of a dark colored SUV was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Center’s main campus following a Harristown Road, Glen Rock crash on Sunday evening, 03/04. The vehicle slammed head on into a utility pole near 371 Harristown Road. Glen Rock Police and EMS personnel responded to aid the victim. A paramedic team from The Valley Hospital assisted Glen Rock EMTs. The vehicle was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. PSE&G’s electric division was summoned to assess the struck pole’s condition. A significant fluid leak was attended to by the tow truck’s driver.
Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock’s Superintendent and BOE passed this resolution March 14th, the day of the 17 minute student walkout. Ridgewood Schools matched the virtue signaling ,but stopped short of endorsing the walkout.
Be it resolved by the Glen Rock Board of Education that the Board, upon recommendation of the Chief School Administrator, approves the following resolution: WHEREAS , A prerequisite to student growth, learning, well-being and success is a safe and secure school environment; and WHEREAS, Children throughout the nation have been negatively affected directly and indirectly by violent crimes involving firearms; and WHEREAS, Military-style assault weapons and large-volume ammunition magazines were used in recent mass killings in schools and other locations; and WHEREAS, Profiles of school shooters illustrate the need for a thorough examination of the care and treatment of the mentally ill and for effective intervention; WHEREAS, The New Jersey School Boards Association’s 2014 study, What Makes Schools Safe?, cited reports by state and federal agencies, which found that mental health intervention did not take place prior to three-quarters of school shootings; and WHEREAS, New Jersey has among the strongest gun control laws in the nation and the lowest incidence of gun-related deaths, but protective laws are not in place in many other states or at the federal level; and WHEREAS, The tragedies of Parkland, Florida, of Newtown, Connecticut, of Columbine High School in Colorado, emphasize the need to address access to firearms and the delivery of mental health services. Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Glen Rock Board of Education, in the County of Bergen, State of New Jersey, urges President Trump and Congress to identify and implement meaningful action to address access to and ownership of military-style assault weapons and ammunition, the delivery of mental health services, and financial support to ensure a safe and secure school climate; and be it further RESOLVED, That the Glen Rock Board of Education supports Governor Murphy’s call to end the “epidemic of gun violence that plagues far too many of our communities” and supports enhancements to state law that will provide protection for our schools and communities; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to President Trump, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer, Governor Murphy, State Senator Robert Gordon, Assembly Representative Timothy Eustace, Assembly Representative Joseph Lagana, the New Jersey School Boards Association, the National School Boards Association, Bergen County School Boards, Bergen County Association of School Administrators, Bergen County Association of School Business Officials, and the New Jersey Education Association.
Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock Police and Ridgewood Police units responded in force to a reported disturbance taking place inside of a NJ Transit bus (Route 175) on Monday afternoon, 02/19. A 911 telephone caller reported that the bus driver was being threatened by an adult male passenger. The moving bus was stopped by Ridgewood Police in front of 348 South Maple Avenue, Glen Rock. Because the bus driver was unwilling to sign a complaint against the passenger, no arrests were made and the bus was sent on its way.
Glen Rock NJ, the Glen Rock Police commented o their Facebook page , “The members of the Glen Rock Police Department extend their deepest sympathies to the community of Parkland Florida. Unfortunately, as we have seen time and time again, schools, religious facilities, shopping malls, night clubs and public buildings continue to be targets of active shooters. No matter where we live, no one has the luxury of saying “this is a quiet town and nothing like happens here”. But this does not mean that we must live in constant fear. We can and will protect ourselves!
In recent years the GRPD has increased training and purchased additional equipment to aid officers in responding to any issue which may arise at our schools and elsewhere in the community. Lessons learned nationwide have shown that local law enforcement needs to be able to respond quickly and cannot wait for assistance to arrive from outside of the community before taking action.
‘Emergency action planning’ and ‘situational awareness’ practices are ever evolving. The GRPD’s training methods, equipment and even uniforms have been modified greatly in recent years as law enforcement adapts to prepare for a potential active shooter response. Like every other law enforcement agency, the GRPD is fully prepared to respond. Likewise, our schools have greatly changed their procedures as well as training for their personnel and drills with students. Our current student body has come up thought their school years with lock-down, hold in place and evacuation drills as common place as fire drills.
What can a private citizen do?
• Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers.
• Take note of the two nearest exits in any facility you visit.
• If something seems out of the ordinary, report it!
If there is an active shooter:
• If you are in an office or class room, stay there and secure the door.
• If you are in a hallway, get into a room and secure the door.
• Immediately take cover (hide behind something hard that will stop or slow bullets), or circumstances permitting, enter an unaffected building.
• In the event neither cover nor entering a building is possible, run in a zig-zag fashion away from the sound of gunfire.
• As a last resort, if you have no avenue of escape, attempt to take the active shooter down. When the shooter is at close range and you cannot flee, your chance of survival is much greater if you try to incapacitate him/her.
CALL 911 WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO!”
Glen Rock NJ, A two (2) vehicle, Tuesday afternoon, 02/13, collision at the intersection of Harristown Road and Prospect Street in Glen Rock injured the adult male driver of a 4-door passenger sedan involved in the crash. Glen Rock Police and EMS responded to aid the victim, who sustained a non life threatening head injury. He was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital. A paramedic team from The Valley Hospital assisted Glen Rock EMTs with patient care. A tow truck was dispatched to remove the wrecked sedan. The other vehicle involved, a small SUV, may have also required a tow.
I’m a resident in the borough of Glenrock for 37 years. The past 30 years the village and Glenrock have had a shared services with grinding leaves in yard waste throughout the year, whatever happened to that. Nothing was brought to any council meetings in the borough of Glenrock that I know about, I’ve been attending council meetings for 20 years what the hell is going on in Ridgewood. I have asked this question to borrow members and they say we don’t know we’re in limbo. My god what is going on in Ridgewood kid you get your daily business in order. The bar of Glenrock just shelled out a good $30,000 for an outside contractor to come in and handle the leaves from the past fall that’s our tax money that went down the t The bar of Glenrock just shelled out a good $30,000 for an outside contractor to come in and handle the leaves from the past fault that our tax money that went down the The tubes that was never voted for, talk about a waste of tax money. First the water department , now that the public public works what’s next surprises surprises. You people are not nice terrible what goes on.
Ridgewood NJ, Glen Rock and Ridgewood share use of a tub grinder. We have heard that the tub grinder has been broken for quite some time now and Ridgewood is responsible for fixing it.
Our source has informed us that the tub grinder “system” is jointly owned by Glen Rock and Ridgewood. Glen Rock owns the tractor and Ridgewood owns the trailer (the tub grinder itself). The “system” can be transported back and forth between Glen Rock’s composting location and Ridgewood’s composting location.
The trailer (tub grinder apparatus) hasn’t been functioning properly since July of 2017. Several attempts were made to fix the device, but no fix lasted for any significant length of time. As of now, it’s out of service, that’s why an outside contractor was called in to grind leaves. Collected leaves can’t sit until the machine is back in service because the NJDEP has rules that limit the time collected leaves can remain in place prior to processing.
Our source also indicated that in all likelihood, the tub grinder is beyond repair and will need to be replaced by a new machine. No bid specifications have yet been advertised for a replacement.
Glen Rocj NJ, It was reported that a Ridgewood Fire Department SUV was involved in an injury-free crash while on the way to assist the Glen Rock Fire Department in the investigation of a fire alarm sounding at the Hamilton School on Harristown Road. The fender bender happened on January 31, Wednesday at the intersection of Ackerman Ave and Maple Ave, Glen Rock. A witness to the crash said that no tow trucks were needed because the damage was so minor. Several Glen Rock police officers were seen at the crash location. Warning lights and siren were said to have been activated on the fire vehicle.
GLEN ROCK NJ , Stag House, a full-service barbershop and salon headquartered in Glen Rock, NJ, announced they are partnering with the Bergen County Protect and Rescue Foundation (BC Protect & Rescue), an all-volunteer, non-profit, no-kill shelter, to run a town-wide dog adoption on Saturday, February 3, 2018, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 228 Rock Rd, Glen Rock, NJ.
Bergen County Protect and Rescue is a No-Kill Animal Welfare Facility located in Cliffside Park. It was founded in 2012 by Bergen County’s very own local Animal Control Agency and concerned citizens. The idea of creating a no-kill facility came to be when animal control officers were forced to take lost and abandoned animals to surrounding veterinarians and animal shelters.
Rachel Israel, Stag House Co-Owner adds, “Several of our stylists and barbers, including myself, have adopted pets in our homes, so this is a really special day for Stag House. In addition to the adoptions, our newest Doe.Tique stylist, Vanessa Hettishiemer, will donate 50 percent of her bookings that day for blowouts.”
Stag House prides itself on supporting the community and using local businesses, products and services to promote each other. For more information visit https://www.njstaghouse.com/ or call (201) 670-0110. To donate to BC Protect & Rescue, visit: https://bcrescues.org/donate.html.
Ridgewood NJ, NJ.com put together a list of the 50 New Jersey public high schools with the highest average SAT scores among their graduation seniors last school year, NJ.com said Statewide, the average SAT score for the Class of 2017 was a 551 in reading and writing and a 552 in math, a total of 1,103 out of 1,600, according to state data. And average scores among the state’s public high schools ranged from a low of 795 to a high of 1,502.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police report that on January 12, a Tenafly, N.J. resident reported while at her place of business in the Village of Ridgewood a male party entered the business and made threats in the past. The reporting party advised the male was advised by an agent his home was being foreclosed in Glen Rock, N.J. on 1/10/18 and he came to the business on 1/12/18 and made harassing statements. The reporting party did not wish to sign a criminal complaint at this time and only requested documentation of the incident.
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![foreclosure[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/istock-bankownerd-foreclosure1.jpg "Home foreclosure in Glen Rock Leads to Threats on Ridgewood Business")
