Posted on 13 Comments

Reader asks So why doesn’t the council do a true economic evaluation (and read the Green Acres law) and give the residents a true perspective?

Green Acres theridgewoodblog.net

Isn’t it time to say “yes some people LOVE Health Barn” but how much is it costing the Village of Ridgewood? As has been pointed out, their activities spread over much of the property rent free while preventing residents from having access to “Their park”. They take many more than their assigned parking spots, for free. They even serve alcohol on Village property! Has anyone checked into the insurance they need? Or is she “self insured” by Ridgewood? A drinker gets into an accident? Ridgewood has the deep pockets and it is OUR property on which the drinking occurred. I’m willing to bet that she has not told her insurance company that she allows alcohol to be served there. She certainly doesn’t want her basic policy (if she has one) to be raised to cover that. Why should she? So far Ridgewood has provided immediate free response to all her requests. Susan, as much as you love them, you have said their costs to the village should be counted in. So why doesn’t the council do a true economic evaluation (and read the Green Acres law) and give the residents a true perspective? So far the only “Green” in this whole boondoggle seems to be her bank account! Ridgewood, instead, apparently is happy to allow her freedom, at no additional cost, to do anything she wants. That leads to red ink for us. You can’t keep avoiding reality. Villagers will not shut up until some honest answers are presented by the Council. We’ve been asking for several years; how long are you going to continue to not acknowledge we have a problem? And if you claim there is no problem, please give us honest answers that prove it!

Posted on 21 Comments

Municipal Workers Who Volunteer as Firefighters or EMS face Delay of Pension Benefits

Paramus firefighters battle a smokey blaze at the Denny Wiggers Garden Center

file photo by Boyd Loving

January 5,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ,  Many firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other volunteer first responders in New Jersey are being told to leave their posts for six months.

Many volunteer first responders come from the ranks of the local town employees .

The State of New Jersey is saying that  technically these volunteers hold two positions and must terminate from both positions in order to qualify for retirement benefits, when they retire .

State law says there must be a six-month separation of service from the town  retires from before he can receive any compensation from the town again or else he puts his pension in jeopardy.

State Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-Westwood) said many towns rely heavily on volunteer services. Thus, she introduced a bill two years ago that would get rid of the six-month separation for firefighters.

“Went through committee unanimously; went through the entire senate unanimously,” Schepisi said.

The problem is that the bill has not been put up for a final vote in the assembly. If it is not voted on by this week, it expires.

Only Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus) can bring the bill up for a vote. Schepisi said he assured her it would move forward, but so far, it has not

Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi , “For my NJ friends please call your state assembly representatives and ask them to get Assembly Bill A-536 posted for a vote by Speaker Vincent Prieto on Monday. Our volunteer firefighters and EMS face losing their pensions if they continue to volunteer after retirement from a State, school or municipal job. My bill fixes this absurd requirement but time is running out.”

Posted on 14 Comments

Reader says Councilmen Voigt Misled Voters to get Elected

Jeff Voigt Ridgewood

Let’s look at what Jeff Voigt run his campaign on. He misled us with all his fancy signs & quotes. What a liar….. people voted for him & what he told us be wanted to do for the Village. Such a big disappointment for the residents & for the residents who thought he shared the same views.

Posted on 4 Comments

Reader feels Healthbarn misrepresented itself back in 2015 about the activities it was actually offering

Habernickel HealthBarn USA protest

Seems this business is ruffling a lot of feathers. Maybe if questions were answered there would not be such negativity.

If the business did not misrepresent itself back in 2015 and was transparent about the activities it was actually offering the village may have all said NOWAY! But because of the BS that was fed to everyone it seems like the ones in the know are wrong

If the business had nothing to hide or worry about it would not need losers like Jeff and Roberta to advocate for it

The whole thing is a sham just like Jeff and his buddies and his lies to friends and neighbors to get office

Posted on 5 Comments

Reader raises more questions on HealthBarn lease

Healthbarn USA ridgewood

file photo by Boyd Loving

What needs to be explored is #1 what does this business do for Ridgewood besides pay a below market rent?

What benefits are there for Ridgewood to place a business in a park? To have changed the use of a home and whole residential area?

Why are certain folk supporting this to the extreme of embarrassing themselves?

And most importantly how much is this business costing the town of Ridgewood to be here?

And lastly if the business was down the street in waldwick would Ridgewood lose out on anything besides the under market rent?

Any class she does for the town or Ridgewood she gets paid,so why do we tax payers have to give up a park and a rental property?

Posted on 12 Comments

Bergen County Pushes for More Shared Services

Bergen County Executive James Tedesco
file photo Boyd Loving
January 5,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, according to Bergen County officials for the past six months the county has been working to make it easier for our municipalities to borrow county owned equipment to meet local needs. These new shared service agreements allow the county to swiftly cut through the red-tape that was previously associated with these requests. These agreements are open to every Bergen County municipality and we encourage local leaders to pursue these opportunities if they have not already done so!
Posted on 21 Comments

Ridgewood Village Council resorting to name-calling of residents who express concerns about impact to a neighborhood or tax dollars.

Maura McMahon DeNicola with Bernadette Walsh ,Ramone Hache,Mike Sedon, Susan Traina Knudsen and Jeff Voigt

January 5,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen spelled out her position on Facebook , “My position about placing a business in a public park in the middle of a residential zone MUST NOT be confused with my opinion about the business itself. Healthbarn is a successful, active business with a variety of offerings for all ages including weekend children’s birthday parties.It is adorable. Stacey should be commended for her success and charitable work.

However, I stand by my “NO” vote (abstained in September 2015 due to lack of information and opposed in February 2016) for several reasons including a failure to follow GA procedures in the correct order likely tainting the outcome of the Public Hearing requirement. Again, my liking or supporting a business and/or the proprietor has no bearing on the discussion of appropriate location; the issue was the placement of a business in a Village residential zone. ”

But Mayor Knudsen once again took no prisoners with here condemnation of Councilmen Voigt attacking a Ridgewood resident for questioning so clearly a poorly thought out decision by the previous Aronsohn led council ,the 3 amigos, ”    I take great exception to any member of the Ridgewood Village Council resorting to name-calling of residents who express concerns about impact to a neighborhood or tax dollars. Such name-calling is an attempt to bully into capitulation and represents an abusive vilification of residents for merely disagreeing. Village Council members must be held to a higher standard, by themselves and by residents. “
Posted on 1 Comment

Village of Ridgewood Winter Reminders

snow day

January 5,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Heather Mailander reminds everyone that , “We experienced a substantial snowfall today, along with windy conditions and extremely cold temperatures.  Our crews have been working since early this morning, clearing the ice and snow.”

Garbage collection today on the west side was extremely difficult, due to the icy conditions.  Because of this continued extreme weather, please place your garbage cans at the end of your driveway for collection, until further notice.  Please follow this practice of placing your garbage cans at the end of your driveway any time there is a snow/ice event.  Remember that after the snow/ice event, until there is a clear path to your rear yard garbage cans which is free of ice and snow, continue placing your garbage cans at the end of your driveway.  Recycling barrels will continue to be picked up at the end of your driveways, as usual. We appreciate your assistance in keeping our Village employees safe.

As a reminder, all sidewalks in residential districts must be cleared within 24 hours of the snow falling. Please do not place snow into the street; instead, place it back onto your own property.  In addition, if you have a fire hydrant on your property, please clear it of any snow accumulation.

Posted on 9 Comments

Ridgewood Councilmen Voigt At It Again !

Jeff Voigt Ridgewood Council

January 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Resident Jacqueline Hone explains why she thinks Jeff Voigt’ s letter/behavior is “appalling.”

Letter: In support of HealthBarn https://www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/readers/2018/01/02/letter-support-healthbarn/997445001/

A resident, trusting in our local government, came forward to state his concerns and file a complaint about a Village matter. Along with his complaint, he provided pertinent information substantiating his claim (some of which is above).

Councilman Voigt published a statement, in the local newspaper and social media, smearing the resident, attacking his character and the complaint.

It is the Council’s fiduciary obligation to investigate citizen’s complaints, without bias, and provide a determination to the complaining resident. It is not their job to publicly slander residents, spread malicious gossip or tarnish a resident’s reputation in order to endorse one side.

Healthbarn advocate or not, a resident has the right to complain and question the Village on process, without fear of reprisal. Shame on Voigt for this attack and for misleading residents to believe the complaint was against Healthbarn. Residents are questioning the Village not the business. The deflecting has to stop.

Posted on 7 Comments

Ridgewood Yardwaste Drop Off

yard_work_theridgewoodblog

January 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Yardwaste Drop Off – There will not be a truck available to dispose of yardwaste on Tuesdays and Thursdays ONLY for the month of January at the Recycling Center.  You may dispose of yardwaste on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Posted on 11 Comments

Reader claims Vagianos owns this town !

Itsgreektome_theridgewoodblog

Gosh, it is impossible to criticize this mayor or VC without being called names or even worse being named an Aronsohn supporter. I like Susan, her husband also is a noble man. I want her to succeed for her sake and also for ours so Aronsohn & Co do not come back and that’s why I criticize. It is not too much to ask for better streets, lighting etc. These are items that affect everyone.
One thing I have learned during my life in Ridgewood is that Vagianos owns this town.

Posted on 14 Comments

Reader says don’t forget the hostile tenant is a friend of former manager Roberta and classmate

Habernickel Park Gate House

There is a claus I believe #7 in the lease where the Village can terminate. Why they have not done this is beyond reason. NO answers. The tenant is hostile and has filed reports against neighbors so maybe they are doing their HW before setting her off into a suit against the village as she has threatened!

Rumor of her suing her old tenant is being looked into to.

Great person to rent to!

Aside from that the lease is vague and was written under the supervision of the old council in favor of the tenant not the town!! The 3 amigos and Roberta had an agenda to get this business in this space…don’t forget the hostile tenant is a friend of former manager Roberta and classmate

There is also an appendix to the lease so you really have to dig to get all the facts and “gifts” that were given to this business it was not written with the tax payers or residents of Ridgewood in mind at all!

Again a mis use of tax dollars and should be terminated immediately but has not…I believe because of the threat of a law suit.

Sad situation for those neighbors!!

Posted on Leave a comment

VILLAGE OFFICES CLOSED – JANUARY 4, 2018 – SNOWSTORM

Ridgewood Police Snow

January 4,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Village Offices will be closed January 4th, due to the snowstorm. The Ridgewood Public Library is also closed today and Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen ask residents to stay safe and check in on their elderly neighbors .
The offices of the Ridgewood blog will remain open email : [email protected]

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Reader says Rumor Aronsohn was pushing Delzio

paul Aronsohn

Rumor has it aronsohn was pushing delzio and now Paulie boy is apoplectic about state vindicating knudsen while the aronsohm and sonenfeld ethics violation stands along with the fines yes, aronsohn and sonenfeld were found to be guilty.. S-onenfeld A-ronsohn D-elzio. SAD and pathetic.

Posted on Leave a comment

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM THURSDAY TO 1 AM EST FRIDAY

snow blizzard of 2017 photo courtesy of Jennifer Artz Contrucci‎

January 4,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Thursday morning 1 am till 1 am Friday .

* WHAT…Snow and blowing snow expected. Plan on slippery road
conditions, including during the morning commute on Thursday.
In addition, areas of poor visibility are expected. Total snow
accumulations of 2 to 5 inches are expected.

* WHERE…Portions of northeast New Jersey and southeast New
York.

* WHEN…From 1 AM Thursday to 1 AM EST Friday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will
cause areas of blowing and drifting snow.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow means periods
of snow and blowing snow will cause primarily travel
difficulties. Be prepared for snow covered roads and limited
visibilities, and use caution while driving.