Category: Uncategorized

Reader Says Outsourcing is not always the answer

Unfortunately there have been other experiments with shared services, even regionalization, as far as cost it really does’nt work out.

Long Island is a prime example their property taxes are higher than ours and their services lag way behind us, bigger isn’t always more efficient . Don’t get roped in by the initial purchase cost savings, once your are into maintenance fee’s and usage disputes all benefits are out the window. The adjoining municipalities could actually lose out in the overall picture.

Ridgewood had an agreement with Midland Park for gasoline and that ended, Ridgewood and Glen Rock had a “joint meeting” to enable” Central Dispatch” Midland Park is out and Glen Rock and Ridgewood pick up the slack. There has been change at central to make it appear cost efficient but the last time I could get documentation of village cost expenditure it was in the area of 750,000.00 dollars. That was when Chief Corcoran was the boss at rpd I would hate to see what the numbers are now especially after someone who knows their way around a budget looks at them. So don’t think outsourcing is always the answer.

Photo by Boyd Loving at the Ridgewood Reorg

Bob Menendez Underage Prostitution Scandal Barely Being Reported By Mainstream Media
Kristin Dross

Last month it was revealed that Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) hired a registered sex offender turned illegal alien sex offender as an intern. It was also revealed that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security delayed the arrest of the intern until after election day Another scandal is materializing for the former private practice attorney who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Women’s Issues: The Daily Caller alleges that Menendez had sex with underage prostitutes on several visits to the Dominican Republic from 2009 to 2012.

The research director at the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW) in Washington, Carrie Levine, is said to have received information from an unnamed source regarding the senator’s alleged dalliances with prostitutes as young as 16. Levine apparently shared this information with ABC News senior investigative producer Rhonda Schwartz in May 2012, but ABC News did not break the story, and, as of January 28, 2013, I was unable to find any article about the allegations on abcnews.com. Instead the Daily Caller broke the initial version of the story on November 1, 2012. The story is gaining greater headway of late because Daily Caller published a follow-up on January 25, 2013 asserting that the FBI is investigating the allegations against Menendez with a slew of FBI emails published as pictorial evidence.

According to the Daily Caller, CREW asked the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate the allegations on July 17, 2012. Additionally, the original source, a “Mr. Williams,” apparently shared the information with an FBI Special Agent in Miami on September 11, 2012.

https://www.policymic.com/articles/24320/bob-menendez-underage-prostitution-scandal-barely-being-reported-by-mainstream-media

Photo by Boyd Loving , Senator Menendez at Ridgewood Reorg

ABC Gives Sen. Menendez Six Minute Interview With No Questions About FBI’s Hooker Investigation
By Noel Sheppard | January 27, 2013 | 13:16

On Friday it was revealed that the FBI is investigating Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) for allegedly sleeping with underage prostitutes in the Dominican Republic.

Despite this, when Menendez was given a six-minute interview with Martha Raddatz on ABC’s This Week Sunday, he was not asked one question about the investigation or the allegations (

Read more: https://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2013/01/27/abc-gives-sen-menendez-six-minute-interview-no-questions-about-fbis-h#ixzz2JI1x8CTn

the Dayton

Reader says New Housing in CBD should focus on Special Needs

All the applicants seeking zoning changes to permit housing should consider the need for special needs housing like Allendale did. That town is a model that others should emulate.

Certainly there are aging parents in Ridgewood with mentally or physically challenged adult children that will need a safe and affordable place to live when their parents pass or are no longer able to afford their homes in Ridgewood (back to the tax problem).

Look at the developments on Franklin Tpke. and Crescent Ave. in Allendale. They are both more aesthetically appealing than the proposed renderings of what the developers want to cram down Ridgewood taxpayers’ throats.

Special note to Mr. Bolger: You are well known for your philanthropic projects and generosity. Using your property on Chestnut Street for a project similar to those that have been successful up in Allendale you would leave Ridgewood a legacy that will be a valuable asset for the future. This type of special needs housing serves a very real need in society.

Tiger Team Recommendations : Align the Provision of Services between the Board of Education and the Village

The BOE decided in 2009 to outsource their grounds and field maintenance/landscaping and snow removal services to GCA and Jacobsen, rather than use the services of the Village. This was done in an effort to decrease the education budget. Together the cost of outsourcing these services was $279,591. This was considerably less than approximately $600,000 that the Village was charging the BOE for these services. It should be noted that the Village imposed a one-time $114,000 termination fee on the BOE.

In our discussions with Village management, the committee was told that the Village could not compete on price with the new contractors. The Village maintains that their services are superior and that they must on occasion back up the BOE contractors. The BOE is satisfied with the level of services that it receives from its vendors.

In 2010, the BOE was informed that the Village would begin charging for garbage and recycling removal. The quotes provided by the Village were $130,637 (2010-2011), $138,475 (2011-2012) and $146,783 (2012-2013). The BOE outsourced these services to Miele Sanitation for $62,125, $63,125, and $64,125 in those years. The 3 year total from the Village was $415,895. Outsourcing this service resulted in a 3 year cost of $189,375; a

$226,520 savings (more than 50%) to the BOE! The total outsourcing savings to the BOE in these areas has exceeded $500,000 and the Village lost $354,966 in potential revenue, including the termination fee.

The Committee feels that it is an untenable position to have two parts of Ridgewood using different means to execute identical services. Either the BOE is correct in outsourcing because Village services are too expensive or not. This situation must be resolved, either by the Village outsourcing the same services or achieving productivity gains in order to bring prices in line with these vendors. The Village Council must demand that the Village Manager take immediate action to resolve this situation. This is a prime example of how the FOB and a long-term Strategic Financial Plan would facilitate synergies and reduce costs for taxpayers.

Readers Continue to Support the idea of the Council Meeting Directly with the Village Workers

THIS SOUNDS GREAT. this shows the work force cares about the town! this is a very wise move. ford just did this a last year, and lee iacocca did this in the mid 80′s and it worked. any good manager should all ways talk to the worker on the ground level. like they say we all have some thing to learn from some one. this good old thinking. I know we have a lot of older workers that been in town for a long time, we have a few that’s been around from the 70′s. who would know more then they. that is a lot of time. I’m sure we can learn a bit from people like that. as a long time village’er this is the best new’s I herd in along time. good for all of you work and talk together. as long the mayor and council care. we don’t need to waste any one’s time. this must be done council. I do know some of the old time mayors and a few council members would talk to the workers in the past. thank you from the people of the village.

We need to have a close door meeting just like the top manager’s have. it’s time union or no union town’s should have this kind of meeting’s from time to time. it just may help the all town’s to save some money. it may be a good thing. and  why would it be DANGEROUS U SAY. it’s just a close door meeting . It may be a danger for you because the truth may come out about a few of you right.

It sound’s like you are one of the problem’s in town. your post say’s it all . are you a bit scared for your job because you are showing it to all of the tax people in town.30 years a go they had this and it worked as a tax payer I like it and yes have the meeting’s with all the village work groups.this should of bin done a long time a go. all village dept’s work to keep this village a great place to work and live. people move into this town not just for the school’s. the service’s play a big part into it.

file photo

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
509 AM EST MON JAN 28 2013

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM
EST THIS EVENING…

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY.

.DAY ONE…TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY AND
MOVE THROUGH BY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. THERE IS A CHANCE OF
STRONG AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF
THE FRONT.

Want a solution to Wall Street? Return to free market principles
January 27, 2013 at 10:35 am
by Dustin Siggins

Over at the Washington Post Wonk Blog, Suzy Khimm discusses how the next four years may look like regarding reformation of Wall Street’s machinations:

Four years ago, President Obama was sworn in as a financial crisis was still engulfing the markets and the economy. Now he can point to a Wall Street overhaul that he helped push through Congress, intended to prevent such a meltdown from happening again. But to a large extent, the real impact of those financial reforms will depend on what happens over the next four years.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act passed in the summer of 2010, but more than half of the new rules have yet to take effect. The law created a blueprint for the most sweeping rules, which the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve and individual agencies still have to write.

https://www.teapartypatriots.org/2013/01/want-a-solution-to-wall-street-return-to-free-market-principles/

file photo Scott Garrett in Wyckoff

Rep. Scott Garrett Supports No Budget No Pay Bill
Jan 23, 2013 Issues: Budget

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), senior Member of the House Budget Committee and Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement regarding H.R. 325, a bill to ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government:

“Today, I joined my colleagues in the House to pass H.R. 325, commonly referred to as the ‘No Budget No Pay’ bill.  This bill is just the first step, of many, that must be taken in the coming months to put our country on a path to prosperity.  I welcome our House Leadership’s—Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, and Chairman Ryan—commitment to the next steps:  advance a 2014 budget that will balance within 10 years, stand firm on automatic spending cuts unless we get comparable spending cuts and reforms to replace them, and seek dollar-for-dollar spending cuts in the next round of debt ceiling talks in May.

“Hardworking American families and small businesses have to budget, yet Senate Democrats have failed to pass a budget—the most basic responsibility of governing—for almost four years.  Today’s bill will require the House and Senate each to pass a budget, and Member pay will be withheld if they fail.”

Photo by Boyd Loving

Reader says Mayor and Council should talk directly to the Village Workers

The union’s are not the problem. the problem is the mayor and council don’t talk to the worker’s who do the day to day work. the problem is the top manager’s are bull shit’in you about a lot of things that are going on in town.

If the mayor and council care about this town like they say they do then they will have a meeting with the work force only. NO MANAGER’S . you need to hear the truth. no bull shit story’s. the top brass all they care about is what they are going to get if they cut worker’s. set up a meeting and the worker’s will show. all I can say is if the council has a meeting some people will be pooping right out side the hall way. I know i talk to the worker’s all the time when they pass my home. do it Mr. Mayor.

New Credit card surcharge

Credit card surcharge: New 4% credit card fee for customers in January 2013
Most customers are surprised to find out that there is a new 4% credit card surcharge when they pay with a credit card; online and in stores. Merchants are now legally allowed to charge customers up to an extra 4% for using their credit cards according to a Time Jan. 25, 2013, report.

“Starting on Sunday, retailers will be allowed to tack a surcharge of up to 4% extra onto your tab if you want to pay with a credit card.”

For years, most credit card issuers have been charging merchants “so-called interchange fees” which earned credit card companies a lot of money.

Read More: https://www.examiner.com/article/credit-c…nuary-2013

Gov issues new building rules for post-Sandy construction
January 25th, 2013
CIANJ

Ridgewood NJ, Gov. Chris Christie issued new standards for building height elevations – a critical step in the post-Sandy rebuilding effort. The standards follow the recommendations of the state Department of Environmental Protection and are expected to comply with the rules of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The governor said he took the extraordinary step because if the state waited on a final decision from FEMA it could take up more than a year and would delay the rebuilding effort. The guidelines call for higher elevations and will reduce insurance premiums.

Christie said he adopted the regulations to help “residents and businesses who have endured so much, to get back on their feet while at the same time ensuring that rebuilding occurs as quickly as possible, without costly red tape slowing this process down for our families and small businesses.”

More details on the new building standards are available on the governor’s office website. https://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552013/approved/20130124d.html

https://www.cianj.org/business-beat/?postid=1911

RHS LEARNING COMMONS FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE HAS EXCEEDED THE GOAL

Ridgewood NJ , Great news THE RHS LEARNING COMMONS FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE HAS EXCEEDED THE GOAL

The 07450 committee is happy to report that through the generosity of parents and supporters, the original fundraising goal of $850,000 has been exceeded, an achievement for which they are excitedly and humbly thank the community. The 07450 Committee is now able to explore additional  technology with the significant funds raised .

It’s not too late to donate!

https://rhslearningcommons.com/donate/

Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Foot Pursuit leads Ridgewood PD Officer to Apprehend Hit & Run Suspect
January 25,2013
Boyd A. Loving
12:33 AM

A Ridgewood Police Department Patrol Officer nabbed a male suspect wanted in connection with a Thursday night, multi-vehicle hit and run accident following a short foot pursuit near the suspect’s home.  The individual was allegedly behind the wheel of a Buick Enclave that crashed into a Toyota Sienna minivan parked on the street near 100 Woodland Avenue.  The crash occurred at approximately 11 PM.

Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving

Ridgewood PD patrol units responded to the Woodland Avenue and Crest Road area after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting the crash.  After learning from several witnesses that the Buick’s driver had fled the scene on foot, a patrol unit was dispatched to the address of the vehicle’s registered owner.  It was there that a Ridgewood PD patrol officer encountered the suspect, who fled through several back yards before being captured.

Following capture, the suspect was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood for treatment of unspecified injuries.  Assisting Ridgewood PD at the crash scene were units from Bergen County PD, Glen Rock PD, and Midland Park PD.  Ambulance transport was provided by members of the Ridgewood Volunteer Ambulance Corps.  Both vehicles involved in the crash were removed from the scene via flatbed tow truck.

Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving

RHS ANNOUNCES NORTH JERSEY REGION MUSICIANS

The following students were selected to participate in the North Jersey Region Honors Ensembles for 2013. Auditions were held on Saturday, January 5 at Paramus High School. More than 1000 students auditioned for the coveted positions in the Region I Chorus, Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. These groups will be rehearsing and performing in concerts during January and February. (Please note: Four names have been omitted due to lack of parental permission.)

Region Chorus: Dan Brennan (10), Caitlin Crane-Moscowitz (9), Kenny Crane-Moscowitz (9), Grace Gil (12), Morgan Mastrangelo (9), Payson Meistrich (11), Allison Milch (11), Olivia Saporito, 9

Region Orchestra

Violin: Jaesung Son (10) — ranked 2nd of 112 violins, Paul Park (9), Isabel Park (9), Katie Lim (10), Rachel Choi (9), Heesung Son (12)

Viola: Keiko Nagami (11)

Cello: Daniel Kim (9)

Region Symphonic Band: Stephanie Pizza (9) – principal flute; Helen Cho (9) – clarinet; Halina Maas (9) – bassoon; Daniel Kim (10), alto saxophone; Emmett Rapaport (11), principal tenor saxophone

Region Wind Ensemble: Yunseok Choi, 10, clarinet; Katy Wong (10), harp

RHS Teachers: Steven Bourque, Choirs; Kristi Gaspari, Orchestras; Jeffrey Haas and John Luckenbill, Bands