Readers Support Councilwoman Walsh’s right to raise an issue over perceived secret meetings held with developers
It’s Councilwoman Walsh’s right to raise a stink, both as a Ridgewood resident and as a fellow member of the Council, if her colleagues engaged in a series of off-the-record meetings and related communications with interested third parties on a matter of public interest, only to do a data dump at the end of a closed session, once the public has gone home!
Her suggested remedy of repeating the meeting is appropriate and I’m glad the council agreed. Yes, this will slow things down, but sometimes this is needed in order to get things right.
The possibility that her colleagues will learn a few things about both the letter and the spirit of open meetings laws also makes it worthwhile. And as we “go forward”, I would hope that Ms. Walsh stands ready with additional monkey wrenches to throw should the need arise!
WHAT CAN A CITIZEN DO IF A PUBLIC BODY VIOLATES THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW?
The Law permits any person to file a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court to invalidate any action taken by a public body at a meeting which violates the Open Public Meetings Law. The lawsuit must be brought within 45 days after the public body’s action sought to be nullified has been made public.
In addition, any person may apply to New Jersey Superior Court for an injunction or other judicial relief to insure future compliance with the law.
Usual Suspects look to distract focus with fake Parking Ticket Hullabaloo
February 1,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Due to misinformation reported in Paul’s Glen Rock Patch Councilwoman Walsh has been getting flack for what has been misreported and repeated by the usual suspects of an alleged attempt to fix a parking ticket ,Of course they don’t get the fact that Council Women Walch pays $650 a year for a UP3 pass that lets her park in any lot in the Village.
Readers ask if the Ridgewood PD is now playing favorites?
Any doubt yet that Hudson County is now running Ridgewood ? Shame, shame we noticed James Kleiman of Paul’s Glen Rock Patch buried the story altogether! Looks like the Patch is doing for Mayor Paul Aronsohn what he did for then Governor Jim McGreevey.
Strange how local media continues to ignore the Tiger Teams recommendations and gloss over the cozy relationship between some of our present council members and the rather tarnished Senator Bob Menendez .
Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg : Menendez Dominican scandal a “distraction” , yes child sexploitation usually is
February 1,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg said today that the burgeoning scandal surrounding U.S. Sen Bob Menendez is a “distraction” from what’s important to Garden State residents right now. Funny we didn’t hear that when both the Bergen Record, Star Ledger and Channel 12 News spent the better part of last year discussing seat belts for dogs, only to be told that this was stupid by Christie himself. (https://www.politickernj.com/62836/weinberg-menendez-dominican-scandal-distraction )
Weinberg told Politico , “It’s very distracting,” Weinberg said while aboard the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce train to Washington D.C. “Certainly I haven’t seen anything that makes anything true. Whne there are side issues like this they are distracting.” . I’d say so sleeping to underage prostitutes in third word countries smacks of human trafficking and appears even for ethically challenged New Jersey politicians this may be a bit to far . Couple this with and illegal intern with a dubious record and an whole host of of other election as well as ethical violations being investigated by the FBI and I bet this story has legs .( https://www.politickernj.com/62836/weinberg-menendez-dominican-scandal-distraction )
Given Menendez beat Christie’s good friend Joe” Kyrillos and TV personality Geraldo Rivera is contemplating a run for NJ Senate this story is bound to get even bigger . The only people who had a worse week than Menendez is the NJ media establishment which ignored story till it became national as well as an international issue .
New Jersey ‘s media establishment has for too long been a tool of special interests and Democrat party bosses . This has lead to the states precipitous decline in economic standing . Menendez is the latest in a long line of fools ,Robert G. Torricelli, Jim McGreevey , Jon Corzine to name a few ,who’s image is carefully cultivated and maintained by the New Jersey media making him one more example of why people all over the WORLD think NJ is full “Jersey shore” wannabes .
With media backing Trenton’s view is that the only bigger fools than them and the people who report on them in the media are New Jersey’s voters .
My question for Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg , do you really think people are this stupid? Oh that’s right Dominican under age girls don’t vote in New Jersey .
Photo credit:Boyd A. Loving Car Hits Tree After Careening Off Of Road, Driver Injured
February 3,2013
Boyd A. Loving
4:09 PM
Ridgewood NJ, The driver of a Honda Accord sustained minor wrist and facial injuries on Super Bowl Sunday afternoon after her car careened off the road and hit a tree in front of a home located in the 900 block of East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood.
Members of the Ridgewood Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported the victim to The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood for treatment. A police source at the scene indicated that the accident was likely due to an existing medical condition. No summonses were issued at the scene; the accident remains under investigation.
Here we go again Foes Push to Repeal Bergen County “Blue laws”
February 3, 2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , Bergen County’s blue laws in some peoples eyes represent the last vestige of a civilized society are once again being challenged by the forces of darkness.
According to the Bergen Record a group lead Rosemary Shashoua, a resident of Westwood think the time is right “once again” to attempt to get rid of the highly prized ,traffic-less Sundays in Bergen County . While the record goes to great lengths claim this Westwood grandmother is the guiding force ,we all know from past experiences that most of the charge to be open on Sundays comes from outsiders , political consultants, lobbyists, big retailers and Xanadu supporters.( https://www.northjersey.com/news/189548961_A_Sunday_shopping_fight_for_the_21st_century_gear_up_again.html )
Previous attempts to repeal the “Blue Laws” have been met with overwhelming failure , and politicians seeking reelections should be careful if they wish to stay in office. County residents much prefer that time be better spent seeking indictments for those that proposed “Xanadu” to begin with and push for both jail time and confiscation of assets to help pay for the taxpayer funded mall fiasco.
Any attempt to eliminate the “Blue Laws” will met the fiercest opposition from residents of Paramus, who feel the “Blue Laws” are a quality of life issue ,little to do with religion and everything to do with their right to have one weekend day free of traffic.
Frankly the opposition to “Blue Laws” will have to find more a compelling reason than residents cant live for one day without shopping at Bloomingdales . Local malls are open till 9:30 pm 6 days a week and Food and liquor stores open on Sundays after 12. Gas stations are open every day and many movie theaters are open Sundays, street fairs operate and many sporting events are held. And you can always go to church !
Sen Mendez at Ridgewood REORG File photo by Boyd Loving
Watchdog group: Menendez violated ethics rules with free trips
Thursday January 31, 2013, 3:43 PM
BY HERB JACKSON
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
The Record
The leader of a watchdog group said today that Sen. Robert Menendez violated ethics rules by taking two free trips on a friend’s plane in 2010, but he may avoid prosecution because he paid the charter rate of $58,500 for the trips this month.
Registration for the next session of YWCA Bergen County programs starts Monday, February 4 at 8:30 a.m. Classes run from February 24 through April 20, and members can register at www.ywcabergencounty.org, by phone, or in person.
New for Adults: Body Sculpting is a sculpting-only class that uses resistance equipment and natural body weight to strengthen, tone and boost metabolism. Dance Meditation draws on the principles of Qi Gong and dance, using fluid, meditative movement and breathing techniques. Tai Chi Yoga is a low-impact, mindful practice performed in slow movements to reduce stress and restore vitality.
New for Kids & Teens: Jazz it Up combines jazz-style stretching, toning and dance for a fun workout. Synchronized Swimming (ages 7 and up) teaches synchronized swim skills and figures and prepares swimmers for competition with the YWCA Synchro Stars. Lil’ Dragons Judo (ages 4-7 yrs.) and U.S.J.A. Judo (ages 5 to adult) teach self-defense as well as important life skills like self-confidence and discipline.
The YWCA offers dozens of other fitness, wellness, and enrichment programs for kids, teens, adults, and seniors, as well as American Red Cross certified swim classes for swimmers at every age and level. Drop-in child care is also available at the 112 Oak Street, Ridgewood facility. Visit www.ywcabergencounty.org or call 201-444-5600 for a free brochure.
Voters Get Buyers Remorse On the Aronsohn , Pucciarelli and Hauck Team
Aronsohn is a snake and now that he has the microphone that will become more and more evident. Someone who really supported him (put together meetings etc…) said to me the other night that he can not believe how bad he is and he regrets helping him. He was opportunistic in aligning himself with Pucciarelli and Houck because he knew that would get him elected.
Pucciarelli has an agenda and Houck is a puppet. Aronshohn will twist and turn which ever way the wind is blowing. Have you ever spoken with him? He is not the brightest bulb in the box. The three of them repeated over and over one of the first things they were going to do if elected was to replace Gabbert. I might have missed something this morning but as of last night Gabbert was still in Village Hall.
Arohnson is not someone who should be trusted on anything at anytime. He is going to help turn downtown Ridgewood into Hackensack and Valley into Hackensack Medical Center North.
We have and it hasn’t worked ie: the agreement with mp over gas, Central dispatch, the tub grinder with glen rock. the failed attempt to split a ladder truck with glen rock some years ago. The Long Island experience was the merger of small town pd’s into 1 big county force. Costs sky rocketed response time slowed drastically and alot of local municipalities ended up paying way higher county taxes. ( I believe they were deemed public safety tax) The Nassau county, and Suffolk county cops are the highest paid in the nation.
“We have (tried shared services) and it hasn’t worked ie: the agreement with mp over gas, Central dispatch, the tub grinder with glen rock. the failed attempt to split a ladder truck with glen rock some years ago…”
Are you kidding?? Sharing a tub grinder or ladder truck??? These are not example of shared services that generate any meaningful savings. These are agreements of convenience.
I don’t know all the details of Central Dispatch. But, from what I understand, this was poorly conceived and has been poorly run from the start. This entity needs to be audited, at least informally, by the Village (not people connected to Central Dispatch) to understand why Ridgewood contributes $600K+ of the $1.6MM annual cost to this service for 13 towns (almost 5 times the theoretical average share of the expenses) and why a handful of employees are being paid $1MM a year and god knows what else in benefits to operate this service. I think Paramus dispatch offered to run this service for Ridgewood a few years ago for less than $100K. If so, Ridgewood’s Central Dispatch seems like a good example of poor oversight and management, not a “model of shared services” as described by Gabbert.
Triaminic and Theraflu Recall
January 31,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Bottles of Triaminic and Theraflu cold and allergy syrups are being recalled by Novartis because of defective child-resistant bottle caps.
The Triaminic and Theraflu recall covers 142 production lots of Triaminic syrups and 41 lots of Theraflu syrups. Novartis the company that produces the medicines, claims that the defect could allow for the removal the cap without breaking the seal on the bottle.
The company says that it received four reports of adverse events to date related to the Triaminic products.
The Triaminic and Theraflu products were made between May 2010 and December 2011 at a Novartis facility in Nebraska. Novartis shut down that plant in December 2011 after federal inspections found numerous quality-control problems.
Novartis says it believes currently that 97% of the inventory has been used, returned, or quarantined.
St. Louis High School To Collect Students’ Hair For Mandatory Drug Testing
January 30, 2013 11:21 AM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CBS St. Louis) — A Kansas City high school will begin collecting hair from students to conduct mandatory drug tests.
KHSB-TV reports that Rockhurst High School will start the random drug testing during the 2013-14 school year.
“Our point is, if we do encounter a student who has made some bad decisions with drugs or alcohol, we will be able to intervene, get the parents involved, get him help if necessary, and then help him get back on a path of better decision making, healthier choices for his life,” Rockhurst Principal Greg Harkness told the station.
Reader says its not about getting “bigger” it’s about taking advantage of “best practices”
It isn’t about getting “bigger”. Shared services and outsourcing are about taking advantage of “best practices” and eliminating wasteful/redundant overhead costs. Several steps are necessary:
1) Identify where wasteful costs exist
2) Evaluate whether efficiencies can be achieved through a cooperative agreement with other municipalities and quantify the specific efficiencies/savings and how they will be achieved
3) Structure and implement an agreement that actually realizes those efficiencies/savings
4) Once implemented, the process needs to be monitored to ensure that the savings continue to be achieved
When these agreements fail it is usually because they were entered into without quantifying the efficiency savings, properly structuring the agreement or monitoring them to ensure that the savings are being achieved. Shared services are not always the answer. However, when done properly in the right areas, this approach can be extremely effective. As with anything, it requires attention to detail.
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
418 AM EST THU JAN 31 2013
…STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS EARLY THIS MORNING…
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST EARLY THIS
MORNING…
* LOCATIONS…THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY…INTERIOR PORTIONS OF
NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND NORTHERN FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT.
* HAZARDS…DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.
* WINDS…SOUTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH.
* TIMING…STRONG WINDS INTO EARLY THIS MORNING.
* IMPACTS…STRONG WINDS…IN COMBINATION WITH HEAVY RAIN…COULD
BRING DOWN WHOLE TREES…LARGE TREE LIMBS…POWER LINES AND
UNSECURED OUTDOOR OBJECTS. THIS COULD POSE A HAZARD TO ANYONE
OUT DRIVING OR WALKING…AND TO HO– USES AND OTHER STRUCTURES NEAR
LARGER TREES. DRIVING WILL ALSO BE DIFFICULT… ESPECIALLY IN
HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES AND ON ELEVATED ROADWAYS AND BRIDGES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS
OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.
BOE Questions the impact that these proposed developments in CBD
January 30,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, It does not come as a surprise to anyone despite assurances on “minimal impact” the BOE wanted to take a look into the proposed housing developments in the CBD in Ridgewood .
Sheila Brogan of the BOE commented on the proposed new developments before the Village of Ridgewood Planning Board, “The Enclave” and “Chestnut Village.. Brogan said , ” There are questions about the impact that these proposed developments will have on the student population. The Board agreed that it would look further at the consultant’s reports and prepare to express concerns if need-be.
Critics have already said the BOE is looking for ways o justify a tax increase.
In other news the BOE despite a continued difficult economy has decided to press forward with a “Resolution Opposing Superintendent Salary Caps”. The Board has stated that it will continue to discuss edits to this resolution, which speaks to the authority of boards of education to set the salaries of its superintendents. This resolution, if approved by the Board, will be taken up by the NJSBA Resolutions sub-committee.
After lengthy teachers contract negotiations and the recent BOE unkind efforts to kick the kids out of Hermance place parking in favor of teacher only parking , one would think that now may not be the best time to be advancing pay raises .
After all the recent Tiger Team report commissioned by the Mayor him self virtually blasted the Village for its over generous contacts and compensation packages with staff and we all know the BOE is no stranger to giving away the store .
Given Ridgewood School’s slip in standardized test scores one would think the school system would be better served by focusing on education issues ,instead of pay raises or meaningless “gun control” resolutions.
But that’s why we have School Board Elections and with two vacancies coming up its should be a very interesting 2013.
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