The contract was signed by former (thanks be to God) Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld.
Is a single village able to sign off and approve a contract with this value by themselves ? No other approvals required?!! WTH?! Also who is performing internal control audits on this type of stuff? What is the market commission rate for this type of app at the time?!! Everyone but RIdgewood’s had them for years correct? Who submitted the pro-con analysis and comparirison of competitors and what did it say?
teach a man to fish free..( other people’s quarters ) and both of them (the Teacher and Student ) will learn to pick your pockets forever….Sad & quite maddening ..there was focus on this earlier major crime against the taxpayers as well…
Modern version of the quarter theft. Don’t just blame one “undisclosed” person. Many others had to notice the exorbitant amount being paid vs. revenue. Simple math.
Last I heard, we’d paid ParkMobile USA about $200k during the most recent 12 month period. That equates to $1 million of ParkMobile USA transactions in the Village during that 12 month period. Makes you realize how much of a cash cow the Village’s parking utility is. $1 million alone in app transactions. How much cash did we bring in from the meters and placard sales? I’ll bet the total parking utility revenue is close to $4 million. Now you know why the powers that be don’t want to take away the meters. Mo money, Mo money!
Ridgewood NJ, Amazing kids of Ridgewood, Annual Holiday Show .Amazing kids of Ridgewood and friends invite you this Sunday, 7pm at Old Paramus Reformed Church. This is our 4th annual holiday show. The play starts sharp at 7pm.
Everyone is invite and the event is FREE for Ridgewood Residents.For questions, please contact Sanjukta Basu @ 206-484-4485
Ridgewood NJ, As many of you have already heard, Gladys passed away on Monday, after a short illness.Her wake will be on Friday December 8, 2017 from2-4 and 7-9 at Feeney’s Funeral home on Franklin Avenue in Ridgewood, NJ. Her funeral mass will be held on Saturday at 10:30 at Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, NJ.
Here is a link to her obituary:
Gladys Marian Jones VanLangen passed away peacefully with her family on Monday, December 4, at the ripe young age of 95. She was born in the Bronx, raised in Hasbrouck Heights, lived in Glen Rock for 54 years, and spent her final years in Ridgewood. At the age of 68, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of graduating from college with a degree in Psychology and Religion from Montclair State University.
Between working for the FBI during WWII and raising seven children, she pursued many personal passions, including painting, writing, playing the piano and organ, and feeding her birds.
She was a Pastoral Associate for over 40 years and volunteered in Pastoral Care in Valley Hospital and Hackensack Medical Center. Her work as a hospice volunteer was deeply meaningful to her. She was very active with many ministries in the parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St Catharine’s of Glen Rock. She was also an associate of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace.
She is predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Ted (1993). She is survived by her seven children: Linda Buckley, Jim VanLangen, Gail VanLangen (partner Tom Litow), Bob VanLangen (wife Kathy), Lisa Martin (husband Don), Rich VanLangen (wife Debbie), and Jeanne VanHassel (husband Abe). She was also the grandmother to 17 and great-grandmother to 12. She is also survived by her sister, Betty Dates.
Viewing will be at Feeney Funeral Home, Franklin Avenue in Ridgewood on Friday, December 8 from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM. A funeral mass will be held at Mt. Carmel RC Church in Ridgewood on Saturday, December 9 at 10:30 AM with burial immediately following at George Washington Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Rosary Hill Home (Hawthorne, NY) or Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America are appreciated.
There’s still time to send flowers to the Visitation at the Feeney Funeral Home from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on December 8, 2017.
Ridgewood NJ, at last night council meet Dr. Salvin Santino made a compelling case during public comment that Dr. Santino said he was flabbergasted that the Village was still considering sports fields at the Schedler Property. The Dr. went on to say that is it “medically wrong” to have children exercise in an area with close proximity to a very trafficked high way .
Dr. Santino went on to share the science data that led to his statement . “Pollutions comes in many different forms . Most pollution we talk about is small particle carbon dioxide but there are other kinds of pollution ie large particle pollution generated from cars and trucks” in exhaust, with diesel fumes being among the most carcinogenic . The Doctor then referred to the brake down of rubber from car tires, and the release of carcinogens when brakes on cars are applied.
Exercise he said ,”only increases your metabolism and increases your intake of carcinogens if you are near them”. he went on “Children are even more susceptible to the negative effects of these carcinogens.”
Ridgewood NJ, Gov. Chris Christie’s special commission on public pensions and health benefits released its final report on Wednesday: only swift and broad reforms stand a chance of rescuing a system in crisis.
New Jersey’s benefits for state government workers are now on track to consume a quarter of the state’s annual operating budget in 2023, and “the cupboard of relatively easy reforms is now bare,” the report said.
As it was for Christie, the pension system will be one of Gov.-elect Phil Murphy’s most pressing and imposing tests.
Christie earned national acclaim for working with Democrats to revamp benefits for government workers by increasing the retirement age, freezing cost-of-living adjustments and forcing workers and state government to contribute more to the system., but the Christie’s administration didn’t live up to its own ambitious payment plan, making deep cuts to the pension contributions, and he eventually set the state on a slower, more modest ramp up to the full payment recommended by actuaries.
Governor elect Phil Murphy has said he’d like to meet or beat the Christie schedule, But according to the commission “something more is needed, and quickly,” The commission report went on “Neither the 2010-11 reforms, nor the limited initiatives taken since then, will do anything to stop benefits from consuming 26 percent of the budget five years from now.”
Christie could barely scrape money together to get through the first half of a 10-part ramp up to full pension funding with a $2.5 billion payment this year , but the state will need more than $6 billion in yearly payments .
Murphy has already promised to raise roughly $1.3 billion in new taxes , but measured under national accounting standards, the state is $134 billion short of what it needs to pay for current and future retirement benefits. Combined with local government employers, the total system has racked up $168 billion in unfunded liabilities and has assets to cover just 31 percent of its debts.
Ridgewod NJ, at last nights council meet the Village of Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen revealed that the previous council never authorized payments to Parkmobile USA above the .35 cent user paid convenience fee .
The Village of Ridgewood now pays Parkmobile 21% of each parking transaction that involves the use of the Parkmobile APP . This was the direct result of a contract signed by an unnamed Village official .
Ridgewood NJ, West Side will offer four uniquely different worship services on Sunday, December 24. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.
10:00 am: Interactive Christmas Pageant (pictured), ideal for all ages
4:00 pm: Traditional Lessons and Carols, featuring a special chapel service for children from 4 years through 4th grade
6:30 pm: Contemporary Candlelight Worship with a live band
10:00 pm: Traditional Candlelight Service with Communion
For more information about West Side, please visit www.westside.org.
Sunday, December 24 at 10 AM – 11:30 PM
West Side Presbyterian Church Ridgewood, NJ
6 S Monroe St, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Ridgewood NJ, tune up those singing voices , join the Pro Arte Chorale for our Annual Messiah Sing along on Monday December 11, beginning at 7:30pm. Admission is $10, we will have scores available for those who do not have one. Refreshments following. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ridgewood, NJ No reservations required.
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey has long been the punching bag of state tax scholars. The state has the worst state business tax climate of the 50 states and the third highest overall state and local tax burden (behind only Connecticut and New York). Any New Jersey resident knows they pay the highest property taxes in the country, but other taxes are also high: income taxes (5th highest top rate), corporate taxes (6th highest in collections), sales taxes (16th highest in collections), cigarette taxes (10th highest), and gas taxes (8th highest) are all high, and New Jersey is currently one of two states with both an estate and an inheritance tax (the estate tax half is scheduled to be repealed in 2019, but we’ll see if the new Governor changes this). The state has more outbound net migration than any other. One bright spot: you can drink away your sorrows, with a mere 12-cent per gallon beer tax, lower than 40 other states.
The state and local tax deduction considerably reduces the sting of New Jersey’s tax bill, and it’s no coincidence that four of thirteen Republican nay votes on the House tax bill came from New Jersey representatives. New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney and newly elected Governor Phil Murphy, both Democrats, had pledged to make a higher income tax on millionaires a key early priority in 2018.
Now, however (Politico):
“We’re going to have to re-evaluate everything” if a federal bill repealing the state and local tax deduction becomes law, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney said Wednesday in Atlantic City. Just days before, Sweeney had said he would make passage of a millionaires tax his chief priority in the new administration. “I’m just saying that what’s happening in Washington is concerning the hell out of me,” he added.
The changes to SALT are likely driving the reassessment. As ITEP, a group that promotes millionaires’ taxes, has explained, the state and local tax deduction “makes state income tax hikes a good deal,” since “income and property taxes are effectively less costly to state residents than are sales and excise taxes.” Take it away and New Jersey residents must pay full freight for their state and local governments. That may explain the seemingly contradictory rhetoric that millionaires taxes won’t affect the economy but eliminating the SALT deduction will be terrible.
New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney recently remarked that “We’re going to have to re-evaluate everything” if a federal bill repealing the state and local tax deduction becomes law.
If federal tax reform prompts New Jersey to re-evaluate its tax code, it’s long overdue.
New Jersey has long been the punching bag of state tax scholars. The state has the worst state business tax climate of the 50 states and the third highest overall state and local tax burden.
In the 1960s, railroad scholar George Hilton noted that the state’s practice of loading its property tax burden onto interstate commerce had ruined the viability of every railroad crossing the state.
A 2003 state report dryly observed that state revenues had grown 1,700 percent since 1970, compared to population growth of 19 percent and inflation growth of 483 percent.
The state adopted a sales tax in 1966 and an income tax in 1976, both with promises that they would be used to reduce crushing property tax burdens.
Today New Jersey still has the nation’s highest property taxes, but with high income and sales taxes as well. It’s probably time for a rethink.
If federal tax reform prompts New Jersey to overhaul its tax code, it’s long overdue. There are 244 townships, 265 boroughs, 49 cities, 15 towns, 3 villages, and 677 school districts. The three-member board running Tavistock, NJ, is a majority of the borough’s 5 inhabitants. A 1912 article recounted the history of New Jersey tax administration, which is a seemingly unending tale of bloated local government, corruption, and inequitable assessment. In the 1960s, railroad scholar George Hilton noted that the state’s practice of loading its property tax burden onto interstate commerce had ruined the viability of every railroad crossing the state. A 2003 state report dryly observed that state revenues had grown 1,700 percent since 1970, compared to population growth of 19 percent and inflation growth of 483 percent. The state adopted a sales tax in 1966 and an income tax in 1976, both with promises that they would be used to reduce crushing property tax burdens. Today New Jersey still has the nation’s highest property taxes, but with high income and sales taxes as well. It’s probably time for a rethink.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police department has received a report that a company going by the name of Pro-Line Sports has been calling local businesses asking for donations for Ridgewood Athletic tee-shirts. They are stating the proceeds from the sponsorship pledges and sale of the shirts would go back to the Ridgewood High School Athletic Department to help support teams and students. According to the director of athletics at Ridgewood High School this group has neither affiliation nor tie to the Ridgewood Athletic department.
Ridgewood NJ, Next Tuesday December 12th at 5:30pm is Ridgewood’s 5th Annual Menorah Lighting! Come celebrate the first night of Chanukah with us in Van Neste Square!
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Parks & Recreation present December children shows :
DECEMBER RECESS CHILDREN’S SHOWS:
Ridgewood Parks and Recreation has two children’s shows planned during the holiday recess in December. We hope you will join us!
Animals in the Winter
Pat from Pat’s Pals will bring a live animal show and talk to children about how different animals survive the winter. They will learn about migration, hibernation and more.
Wednesday, December 27th, 11:30 am
The Anne Zusy Youth Center in Village Hall
131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood
$5 admission – all attending, ages 2 and older
(caregivers must be ticket holders also)
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Preschool Winterfest with Mr. Jon
With guitar, songs and playful props, Mr. Jon will excite, engage and entertain as we celebrate winter.
Thursday, December 28th, 11:30
The Anne Zusy Youth Center in Village Hall
131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood
$5 admission – all attending, ages 2 and older
(caregivers must be ticket holders also)
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In addition, the following workshops are planned for elementary students:
Mythbusters with Education Explorers
Using scientific method and their innate curiosity, students will participate in a variety of hands-on experiments that put common “myths” to the test.
Grades 1-5
Thursday, December 28th
9:30 am to 12 noon
The Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood
$50 includes all materials
(non-residents $60)
Please bring a NUT-free snack
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Colorful Warriors Art/Yoga/Meditation Camp
This combination class is all about encouraging healthy bodies and creative minds! Beginning with animal focused yoga, children will have fun learning the positions and movements of downward dog, cat, turtle and monkey. Afterwards the children will create a canvas painting – a sea turtle with florescent colors. Sea turtles symbolize patience, wisdom, endurance and good luck. The session will end with a relaxed, guided meditation.
Grades K-5
Thursday, 1:30 to 3 pm
The Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood
$30 – includes all materials (non-residents $40)
Please bring a yoga mat and a NUT-free snack
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You may purchase advanced admission for the shows or register for the workshops online at CommunityPass, www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass, (Visa/MasterCard) or in person/by mail at the Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood (cash/check).
Please call the Recreation office at 201-670-5560 with questions or if special accommodations are needed.
Ridgewood NJ, Jim Ross will be appearing at Bookends in Ridgewood on Wednesday, December 6th @ 6:00pm
Host of The Ross Report and inductee into the WWE, NWA and National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Jim Ross, will sign his new book: SLOBBERKNOCKER: My Life In Wrestling
Special Instruction for Our Events
Due to the popularity of our events, many of which sell out, we require that you preorder your books ahead of time by visiting our website at www.mkt.com/bookends or calling the store at (201)445-0726.
As always, Books must be purchased from Bookends Bookstore in order to attend events.
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.
Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.
First In Line Certificate use is the the discretion of Bookends. Blackout dates may apply.
Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.
Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.
While we try to ensure that all customers coming to Bookends’ signings will meet authors and get their books signed, we cannot guarantee that all attendees will meet the author or that all books will be signed. We cannot control inclement weather, author travel schedules or authors who leave prematurely.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S
PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA
DECEMBER 6, 2017
7:30 P.M.
7:30 pm – Call to Order – Mayor
Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act
Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
Roll Call – Village Clerk
Flag Salute/Moment of Silence
Public Comments (Not to Exceed 3 Minutes per Person – 40 Minutes in Total)
Discussion
Ridgewood Water
Award Change Order #2 – Lafayette Reservoir Improvements
Motion to Suspend Work Session and Convene Special Public Meeting
Special Public Meeting – See Attached Agenda
Motion to Adjourn Special Public Meeting and Reconvene Work Session
Presentation
Burbio Calendar App
Presentation by Schedler Ad Hoc Committee
Discussion
Ridgewood Water
Award Contract – Water Billing and Data Collection/Processing Services
Award State Contract – Emergency Generators
Award Professional Services – Evaluation of Water Quality
Award Contract – Line Stop and Valve Insertion Services
Award Change Order #1 – Professional Services for Lafayette Reservoir Improvements
Award Change Order #1 – Scada System Software
Parking
Budget
Budget Transfer
Quarterly Financial Report
Authorize 2018 Cash Management Plan
Adopt 2018 Temporary Budgets – Current Operations, Water & Parking Utilities
Declare 1998 Ford Econoline Club Wagon Surplus – Emergency Services
Cancel Real Estate Taxes for Disabled Veteran
Award Contract – Professional Services – Update Fixed Asset Inventory
Award Contract – Landfill Disposal of Solid Waste 2018/2019
Award Contract – Recreation Program Instruction for 2018
Award State Contract – Police Radios
Rental of Two Parking Spaces – North Broad Street for Taxi Stand
12 Leasing of Police Vehicles
13 Award Contract – Poster Displays Advertising at Train Station Complex
Planning Board Master Plan
Award Contract – Minute Preparation for Village Council Meetings
Policy
Update on Glenwood Road
Establishment of Housing Authority
Operations
Approve Application for Bergen County Community Development Block Grant for SHARE
Approve Application for Bergen County Municipal Alliance Grant – Drug & Alcohol Educational Programs 2018/2019
Approve Application for Bergen County Community Development Block Grant – Ridge Road Ramp
Confirm Endorsement of Community Development Projects – Family Promise of Bergen County
Review of December 13, 2017 Public Meeting Agenda
Manager’s Report
Council Reports
Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
Resolution to go into Closed Session
Closed Session
Legal – Anticipated Litigation
Adjournment
Village Council Special Public Meeting VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING DECEMBER 6, 2017 7:30 P.M. Call to Order – Mayor Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act MAYOR: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.” Roll Call RESOLUTIONS
17-369 Authorize Change Order #2 – Lafayette Reservoir Improvements ($32,527.40)
PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA Tuesday, December 5, 2017 Village Hall Court Room– 7:30 P.M.
(all timeframes and the order of agenda items below are approximate and subject to change)
7:30 p.m. – Call to Order, Statement of Compliance, Flag Salute, Roll Call – In accordance with the provisions of Section 10:4-8d of the Open Public Meetings Act, the date, location, and time of the commencement of this meeting is reflected in a meeting notice, a copy of which schedule has been filed with the Village Manager and the Village Clerk, The Ridgewood News and The Record newspapers, and posted on the bulletin board in the entry lobby of the Village municipal offices at 131 North Maple Avenue, and on the Village website, all in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.Roll call: Knudsen, Voigt, Joel, Patire, Scheibner, Torielli, McWilliams, Barto, Van Goor
2. 7:30 p.m. – 7:35 p.m. – Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board
3. 7:35 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. – Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics, Correspondence Received by the Board 4. 7:40 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – 257 Ridgewood Avenue, LLC, Block 3703, Lot 4, 6, & 8.01, Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan – Adoption of Memorializing Resolution of Approval
5. 8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Ordinance #3625, which amends Chapter 190, Land Use and Development to permit certain illuminated signs in the B-1, B-2, and C Districts
6. 8:30 p.m. – 8:35 p.m. – 200/210 South Broad Avenue, LLC, Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan and C Variance, Block 3905, Lot 6 and 7– Pubic Hearing continued from November 7, 2017 – to be carried to January 16, 2018 without further notice and without prejudice to the Board
7. 8:35 p.m. – 9:35 p.m. – Hopper Ridge Townhomes, Informal Review, Durar Avenue, Block 4104, Lot 3 –carried from October 3, 2017
8. 9:35 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. – Robert Jennee, Minor Subdivision and C Variance, 246 Mountain Road, Block 2509, Lot 13.01- continued from October 17, 2017 without further notice and without prejudice to the Board
9. 10:30 p.m. – 10:35 p.m. – Adoption of Minutes: February 7, 2017
10. 10:35 p.m. – Executive Session (if necessary)
11. Adjournment – In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work sessions, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings, which are always open to members of the general public.
Professional Staff: Christopher Martin, Esq., Board Attorney; Christopher J. Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Brigette Bogart, Planner; Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary
Members: Susan Knudsen, Jeff Voigt, Joel Torielli, Melanie McWilliams, David Scheibner, Richard Joel, Debbie Patire, Frances Barto, James Van Goor
