photo by Boyd Loving
Editor, The Ridgewood Blog:
During a Village Council Work Session held on Wednesday, August 3rd, Councilman Jeffrey Voigt publicly stated that he was approached by two (2) unnamed individuals who are “willing to testify” with respect to possible unethical, unlawful, and/or illegal actions that took place in connection with a previous Village Council’s introduction and subsequent passage of several ordinances related to the construction of high density, multi-family housing in Ridgewood. Councilman Voigt is proposing the formation of an investigative body, fully funded by Ridgewood taxpayers, to issue subpoenas, conduct interviews, hold public hearings, deliberate, and release findings/recommendations relative to this matter.
Although I wholly support finding out if there were any unethical, unlawful, and/or illegal actions that took place in connection with the previous Village Council’s introduction and subsequent approval of several ordinances related to the construction of high density, multi-family housing in Ridgewood, I am NOT supportive of the formation of a investigative body funded by Ridgewood’s taxpayers if Councilman Voigt, or anyone else on the Village Council, is already in possession of information that could be passed to an appropriate governmental investigatory agency, such as the NJ State Attorney General’s Office.
Why spend Ridgewood taxpayers’ money if there is already an agency that could handle this for us? Having an independent agency conduct the investigation would also serve to calm those who are already shouting “this is going to be nothing more than a witch hunt!”
If Councilman Voigt or anyone else on the Council has details of improprieties having taken place, he/they should PICK UP THE PHONE NOW AND CALL THE AG’s OFFICE – DO NOT HESITATE! There is no need to begin the long, drawn out, VERY EXPENSIVE process of forming a committee, issuing subpoenas locally, and conducting public hearings – I would view the initiation of such a process as intended to serve publicity purposes only.
Again, let’s cut right to the chase on this one – If someone is willing to testify that they are aware of things having been done that violated laws, DROP A DIME NOW!
Let’s stop the pussyfooting around and get on this immediately!
Thank you.
Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood resident/taxpayer
Im OK with Councilman Voigt’s approach as long as it’s part of the effort to undo 35 units/acre. Unraveling the chos wrought by the previous Council majority won’t be cheap.
If the Village conducts the investigstion it will always look biased.
Give the information that we have to the AG and let him do the investigation.
I do not want to see anyone go to jail, they probably did not think that what they were doing was criminal. I would like to have the mess that they crested undone.
Aronson left us these problems and we need to deal with them now, ourselves. How much money is too much to unravel what was done? Besides, this is not a witch hunt – – this is a targeted effort to try and determine the truth of repeated allegations of improper favoritism in Village life. There is a reason there is a law on the books that allows the council to conduct this inquiry. This is exactly the situation where an investigation is required.
If Mr Voigt already has this information, then is he just trying to create a drama? Provide the information to the appropriate authorities Mr Voigt. Some of these cronies need to get justice and spend rest of their lives in jail.
We have a new AG who might be more responsive. Report it now and don’t forget the phone call, mischaracterized as email, from Mayor Drop-a-Dime to Mike Sedon’s then-employer (March 2014) to try to force Mike of the council race on the false grounds of a conflict of interest. That investigation must not be lost in space! Stop Aronsohn’s attempts at a higher-level political career NOW.
OMG you people are tedious. How about this council tries actually accomplishing something rather than just entertaining the same old peanut gallery with their bright ideas.
6:58 – What are you suggesting, Mr. Peanut? That we should let possible illegal deals with developers and former elected or appointed officials go by the wayside? Sounds like you might have something to hide.. The Attorney General’s office needs to be called immediately on any credible information that Mr. Voight has.
Tedious is nun talk for slacking
6:58pm – once some people go to jail, it will be easier to do new work. As long as they are out, they will continue to interfere.
There is no information, it is just an attempt to intimidate developers
7:30 am handcuffs are coming.
7:30……getting nervous? Firm declarations of a lie do not change the fact that it is a lie.
Can a private citizen call the attorney generals office? Could someone call and tell,the attorney general to contact Voigt? Has Voigh shared his information with the rest of the council? Come on folks, this needs to be managed immediately.
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well put Boyd. Please call the AG and let them investigate.