“The intent of the ordinance,” Sonenfeld said, was to clean up the language in the code “to reflect what is and has been reality.”
What a load of BS. Clean up the lanugage in the code? Come on, Roberta, do you think that we concerned citizens of this town are stupid? You hired for a position that did not exist. The Council knew you were doing this, and two objected. You did not care, because you had the vote of the threesome in your pocket, so you knew that the hiring would go through. Your “clean up” statement is clearly intended to imply that this was along-standing discrepancy, instead of a very recent discrepancy that you intentionally created in order to hire Ms. Matthews.
Paul – The system is not broken, I agree with you on this.. The system is fine. You and your buddies bent the rules, broke them in half. But the system that is in place is fine. If only you and Albert and Gwenn and Roberta had respect for the law.
JULY 24, 2015, 4:42 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015, 4:51 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — The village library’s interior is being studied for a makeover that could cost an estimated $5 million.
The Ridgewood Library’s Board of Trustees has met with three architects this month to discuss potential upgrades to the high-traffic facility, according to the library’s director, Nancy Greene.
“We hope to make the library building more bright and welcoming in the busy central circulation area,” Greene said.
Any plans would “open up more inviting areas throughout the library, especially for teens and adult reading, study group projects and discussions,” she said.
The board also wants to expand the teen center at the library, and provide additional “reader seats with natural light,” Green said.
The Ridgewood Library’s trustees hope to have initial designs for the interior update this fall, along with concrete cost projections.
A recent estimate put the project’s potential cost at $5 million, to be paid for with a mix of private and public funding.
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD RESIDENTIAL PERMIT AMNESTY PROGRAM – Ends August 21, 2015
PERMIT AMNESTY PROGRAM
The Building Department is offering an amnesty program for residential work that has been previously completed without the required permits from the Village of Ridgewood.
The purpose of the amnesty program is to ensure that any work that was completed without permits does not cause a safety hazard to our residents. The program will also give Village homeowners the opportunity to apply for these permits before they are subject to administrative action.
Construction permits are required for, but not limited to, decks, interior renovations, pools, mechanical equipment installations, generators, fire/burglar systems, electrical services and subpanels, additional light fixtures or receptacles and water and gas piping. The program requires that homeowners apply for all permits and securing all the necessary inspections during the amnesty period. A comprehensive list of permitted items can be found on the Village’s website at www.ridgewoodnj.net under The Department of Community Services.
To participate in the amnesty program, you must apply for the proper permits prior to any discovery by our inspectors. Violations will not be issued to any owner occupied dwelling provided the homeowner takes advantage of the amnesty program while the program is in effect from April 20, 2015 until the close of business on August 21, 2015.
Residents doing work without a permit and who do not take advantage of this program will be subjected to the normal administrative procedures mandated by the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. Please note that if your property has zoning non-conformities, you will be required to obtain the proper zoning approval. This is an opportunity to ensure that should you consider selling your home, all the necessary paperwork will be in order and you will avoid any last minute delays.
The amnesty program does not exempt any zoning, engineering or any other required prior approval issues which must be satisfied prior to the issuance of any permits. Also, some work may have an impact on your property taxes.
Contractors and commercial properties are not eligible for the amnesty program.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Construction Department at 201-670-5500 extension 506.
JULY 24, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015, 12:30 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Print
Process for HR position ‘broken’
To the Editor:
At a recent council meeting, Councilman Mike Sedon was chastised for saying that he was misled in the budget process because he had not received any information regarding a part-time HR position becoming a full-time one and that it was not brought to the council level for discussion and/or a vote as required by our own village code. Now we find that the title of this newly instituted position is confidential secretary.
Disregarding the notion that this sounds like a job right out of “Mad Men,” it seems that this title was a way to circumvent the Civil Service guidelines. Confidential secretary is not a competitive position and therefore need not be appropriately advertised, applicants tested and rated accordingly.
Two members of the council have further questioned the process and have publicly said that they had no opportunity to debate or to vote on this hiring. If 40 percent of our council was left out of the loop on purpose or inadvertently, then the process is broken as has been charged. Rather than an acknowledgement of this scenario from the village manager and/or the mayor, Mr. Sedon and Councilwoman Susan Knudsen have been treated with disrespect for voicing their concerns.
It now appears that the entire HR hiring was not in accordance with current village code, hence all the resolutions to change it (notably after the fact).
Some will say, “What’s the big deal, we needed an HR director.” The big deal is that this will be a permanent position with a salary of approximately $100,000. Council members vote on vehicle purchases, upgrades, etc., but not a newly created department head?
Also, we didn’t get an HR director, we got a confidential secretary.
Guidelines are in effect to protect the process and the people involved. They were not followed and now there is doubt about the integrity of our village hiring practices. This did not have to happen.
JULY 24, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
HR director job should be posted with Civil Service
To the Editor:
I attended the Ridgewood Council meeting on July 15, 2015, to hear the discussion regarding the changes in village government. I was most interested in the newly formed HR director position.
I am in agreement that an HR position is warranted. I am in disagreement with the process of hiring the current HR assistant and elevating her to a director without a change in job description. No one on the Village Council, as well as the village manager, could explain how this position goes from an assistant – actual title per Civil Service “Confidential Secretary to the Village Manager” — to a director without a change in the responsibilities. It is also being elevated to a full-time position with an enormous salary increase plus benefits.
The job was posted as an assistant position, which limited the pool of applicants looking for full-time work and with the credentials of director. If this position is now going to be a full-time director position, it should be reposted through Civil Service for all eligible applicants throughout the state to apply.
JULY 24, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
An ordinance to reflect structural changes made within the village government’s organization was passed last week, though not without dissenting opinions of some members of the council and public.
The alterations were adopted by a 3-2 vote and reflect internal changes being implemented by the village, including the establishment of standalone departments for Health and Building and Inspections. Previously, these departments were under the supervision of the Department of Community Services, which no longer exists.
The village has also added a Division of Assessments under the supervision of the Department of Finance and a secretary to the Department of Planning to perform various administrative functions. The new mandate also lists additional duties for the Division of Parking and Traffic.
However, much of the discussion on this ordinance in the past month has been centered on the establishment of a Human Resources Department and the appointment of its director, Sharyn Matthews, and that was the case again during last week’s public hearing.
Resident Anne Loving commented that she did not understand why the ordinance was being changed after decisions relating to the creation of new departments had been made.
“There’s some sort of salary and benefits package which will be recurring every single year,” Loving said. “That job used to be managed under the village manager, so I personally feel like the taxpayers are getting shafted on this.”
JULY 23, 2015, 5:58 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015, 6:01 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — The council’s decision to appoint a human resources director was challenged last week by residents who suggested the hiring might have violated village ordinance.
Ridgewood’s council voted 3-2 on July 15 to update the ordinance that lays out the village’s organizational structure. The move formally establishes a human resources department and creates a director’s position for that department.
Roberta Sonenfeld, the village’s manager, said at last week’s council meeting that the ordinance was being updated to reflect operations in Village Hall.
Sharyn Matthews, director of the village’s new human resources department, was hired in the fall as a senior personnel assistant, earning $92,000. Matthews, whose pay will remain the same, holds degrees in labor relations and human resources from Cornell University and Mercy College and is certified as a senior human resources professional.
The changes approved by the council last week effectively eradicated the Department of Community Services, Sonenfeld said, while moving some of its subdivisions to other departments and adding some new positions.
“The intent of the ordinance,” Sonenfeld said, was to clean up the language in the code “to reflect what is and has been reality.”
JULY 21, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015, 9:35 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Ridgewood Public Library will likely get a makeover in the near future.
Earlier this month, the library’s Board of Trustees discussed potential interior changes to the building and listened to renovation ideas pitched by architects.
Nancy Greene, the library’s director, said there are three major needs for the new library. The first, she said, is a more efficient use of the floor space.
“A lot of the space is used by book stacks, and we want to condense the stacks and turn the space where they are into open public space,” she said. “We don’t have enough tables for people to study.”
The added floor space will allow the library to expand its children’s and teen sections, Greene said, noting that the library “doesn’t have a great facility for them” in the existing space. Additional space will also open the opportunity to create more meeting rooms.
“People come in to meet, and the library doesn’t have enough to offer them,” she said.
The library’s second need is improved natural light.
“Nowadays, people don’t come take out a book and go home. They stay in the library,” Greene said, explaining the need for “welcoming” light.
Third, she said the board needs “to identify the cost once they identify the architect,” giving them an estimate of how much the whole project will cost.
Once they find out which plan is best for the community, the board can request municipal funding from the council.
PARKING GARAGE -We are so excited -the Parking Garage got the needed 4 Votes.
Thank you so much!
The Ridgewood Chamber now invites you to a”call to action” meeting to put the facts on paper why this garage will not:
cost the residents more taxes,why it will save their “downtown town”.All businesses have a vested interest in this parking garage.
Ridgewood NEEDS to bring the infrastructure of its business district up-to-date -NOW IS THE TIME.
This topic has been talked about for over 88 years -NOW IS THE TIME.
Ridgewood Parking Garage Facts
Yes No
Parking Garage Needed X
Developer Interest X
Land Study X
Zero Cost to tax payer X
Vote X
First “call to action” meeting…
Thursday, July 30, 2015 9am – Chamber office.
many more meetings to follow.
Please call 201-445-2600,
if you are attending.
Ridgewood NJ, Members of a Village of Ridgewood sanitation crew escaped injury on Monday afternoon, 07/20 after the female driver of a white Mercedes SL 450 failed to stop in time and rear ended the truck they were working from. The Mercedes driver was also uninjured in the crash, but her vehicle sustained heavy front end damage and was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. The garbage truck was not damaged. No summonses were issued at the time of the crash, which occurred on Avondale Road near its intersection with Heights Road in Ridgewood.
Summer weather can pose certain dangers for your pets. The American Red Cross has some steps people can take to keep the family pet safe and healthy this summer.
The first step is to know what is normal for your pet – their gum color, heart/pulse rate, body temperature and breathing rate – so you can recognize when something is wrong.
Heat stroke is a problem for pets in the warmer weather and is more common in the early summer because pets are not yet acclimated to the warm weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are prone to heat stroke. This is also true for any obese pet, a pet with an extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems.
Some signs your pet may be developing heat stroke include heavy panting and being unable to calm down, even when lying down. Their gum color may be brick red, their pulse rate may be fast, or they may not be able to get up. If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees. Bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage.
As the weather gets nicer, many pet owners take their pets in the car with them. Do not leave your pet in the car, even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees.
Pet owners also need to be aware that animals may try to get out a window or door, which are more likely to be open as the weather warms. And some plants in your garden can be hazardous to animals. For instance, many lilies are very poisonous to cats. Visit the ASPCA Poison Control information to find out which plants and flowers are poisonous to animals.
You can download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app to have veterinary advice in the palm of your hand. The app features first aid steps for more than 25 common pet situations and identifies common substances that are toxic to animals.
The American Red Cross North Jersey Region has announced it will be placing its Ridgewood location at 74 Godwin Avenue on the market in the upcoming weeks. The move comes as part of the organization’s 2017 planning strategy is the utilization optimization of Red Cross facilities.
Currently, the Red Cross North Jersey Region operates out of 13 facilities, some of which are under-utilized and others that are in need of significant repair. The North Jersey Region is in the process of reviewing its real estate footprint taking into account its service delivery, volunteer operations, training locations and storage needs.
The vast majority of Red Cross program and services in Ridgewood and across the region are performed out in the community and not at the organization’s brick and mortar locations, the organization wrote in a statement. The Red Cross remains committed to ensuring residents in all of our communities, including Ridgewood, continue to receive Red Cross services.
Ridgewood NJ, Some of us are having trouble understanding what appear to be a contradiction in the actions and statements of Mayor Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli, and Councilwoman Hauck. For the record, I pointed this out twice at public meetings (which did not result in an explanation of the discrepancy), and recently wrote to each of them for clarification (none replied).
In January of 2014, all three of them seemed pretty adamant that they did not want to violate the Village Code by hiring anyone into a position that did not exist (in that case, it was police officer positions in excess of the stated limit). Quotes from the Minutes of the 01/29/2014 meeting include the following:
Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that the most important question to be answered is whether the Village is now in violation of what is permitted by the ordinance as far as police hires are concerned. Mayor Aronsohn commented that the concerns are twofold: one is that the Village would not be in compliance with its own law, leading to the question of how to remedy that situation;
Councilwoman Hauck sees the current problem as an administrative problem and how it would appear if the ordinance were changed to facilitate an administrative error. She suggested that it might be better to wait until the next round of Police Academy candidates graduate, and hire new police officers in July. That would avoid being in violation of Village Code. Councilwoman Hauck said she feels uneasy about amending the current ordinance in order to bring people in prematurely.
Councilman Pucciarelli said that….for him, the issue is law enforcement, and the Village must obey its own laws.
How, then, do these statements fit in with their more recent actions regarding the hiring of a Human Resources Director (or Confidential Secretary, Senior Personnel Assistant, Senior Human Resources Professional or whatever the job title turned out to be) prior to the creation of this position and its official inclusion in the Village Code? It seemed that in January of 2014 they were determined to follow the letter of the law, whereas in the this situation they decided it was acceptable to completely disregard the Village Code, and then re-write it after doing so.
Certainly the creation of an HR position was not an emergency, and due process could have been followed to first create the position and have it officially entered into the Village Code, and then to advertise the job and hire the appropriate person. Our elected officials are put into office with a clear expectation that they will uphold the laws of our Village, in addition to their other duties. It strikes me that in the case of this Human Resources position, they openly disregarded their own law, even when such was being pointed out to them by Councilman Sedon, Councilwoman Knudsen, and various members of the public. No matter how badly they wanted a Human Resources person, the end does not justify the means. We have a set of laws and procedures, and we expect our elected officials to follow them.
Until the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Councilwoman Hauck clearly state why they acted one way in one instance, and quite the opposite in this instance, we taxpayers will be left feeling very uneasy.
JULY 20, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JULY 20, 2015, 10:58 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Enhancing financial reports for village officials and establishing an audit committee were among the recommendations given to the Ridgewood Council earlier this month by the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC).
During its annual report to the governing body, the group of Ridgewood volunteers tasked with providing the village additional financial oversight presented its submission and fielded questions from council members.
FAC Chairwoman Nancy Johansen suggested that financial reports given to council members and management have a “profit and loss” section similar to what might be seen in a corporate environment. This would help the council track its budgetary expenditures throughout the year to see if the village is trending above or below its budget.
Johansen added the FAC would work with new Chief Financial Officer Bob Rooney on this particular project.
