the Staff of the Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, Last night’s Village Council Work Session was great. All of our elected officials are working well together, even when they disagree. No one teams up on anyone else and there is no disrespect on the dais or from the dais to the audience. There is plenty of laughter and camaraderie while work is being accomplished. This is truly good government at work.
Here are some highlights, in no particular order:
1. Tony Damiano got up and thanked Mayor Knudsen for resolving the schedule problems with the PSEG work on Broad St. Yes, he thanked her. Guess he took so much heat on the Blog and on Facebook for claiming full responsibility for this that he decided he looked really small. Well, he did take some credit, but at least he made a stab at thanking the Mayor.
2. And speaking of looking really small, oh my gosh Mr. Rurik Halaby has completely lost his mind. He is the lone soldier left from those few who ever supported the three amigos and Roberta, and he is fighting mightily. His comments are not worth repeating, but he sure looked like a total idiot. And he sounded like a crazy man, spewing invective about rumors he has heard and such. He actually verged on threatening the council including singling out Ramon. Yep, would love to see a showdown between Ramon and Rurik.
3. Jeff Voigt in his library report announced that “the library” wants 5 Million Dollars for an interior renovation to make the auditorium into a performing arts center and some other sprucing up. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, $5 million. And they will be looking for money. Maybe Mr. Halaby can write the check?
4. It was explained that we will be entering into a shared services agreement with Washington Township in which we will service up to 30 of their vehicles at our Village Garage. Yes, that garage which Mr. Pucciarelli wanted to eliminate will now be making plenty of money for us. Hear that Albert? Yet another of your idiotic suggestions and schemes is going down the drain. Do you have any comments? Oh, that’s right, no comments from the former Deputy Mayor as he is named in a lawsuit and is scrambling to keep his reputation intact.
5. Parking was a huge topic of discussion. Mike Sedon provided an informative history of parking pricing dating back for the past 10 or 15 years, which was interesting. Jeff Voigt had prepared and distributed copies of parking suggestions that he had gathered from many sources. It was very well put together and very transparent because everyone could hold it in their hands and read it. The discussion was cordial, lively, and very productive. A few highlights include paving and re-lining the Hudson lot and thereby adding up to 40 spaces. This would include closing some of the several curb cut entrances into the lot from Hudson. Imagine that, 40 spaces in the blink of an eye. They are also going to have tiered pricing so that those who are willing to walk from Cottage can pay significantly less. Bernie Walsh and Jeff walked in and out of 17 stores to assess where the employees park. She said it was very friendly and informative and she is hoping all the council members can join in this project. New signage will be going up shortly to direct people to the various lots. The Zabriskie Lot is under consideration.
6. Looks like they will be going back to now allow parking on one side of Pomander Walk. This makes good sense. Why did the Pomander Walk residents ever get such an exclusive deal in the first place?
7. Heather Mailander highlighted two Village employees who have gone above and beyond. This was a nice report and one which she intends to do regularly. She is not singing her own praises, nope, she is singing the praises of others. This is the sign of a great manager, one who does not toot her own horn incessantly.
