APRIL 15, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015, 7:17 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Village officials have authorized the signing of a contract with an armored car service to provide transportation and counting services for coins collected by the village from parking meters.
With a resolution adopted earlier this month, Ridgewood entered into an agreement with Trenton-based Eastern Armored Services for the secure transport, counting and subsequent depositing of coinage from the Parking Utility.
The measure is another step to prevent theft in the wake of the $460,000 in coins that were stolen by former Public Works employee Thomas Rica between 2010 and 2013 and the subsequent 2015 audit, which posits that an additional $377,000 in coins had been swindled during that time.
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said this agreement would relieve the village of its duty to count coins, handing off the job to an outside company, which would then deposit the collected coins in the bank.
Repeal Pfund’s Folly, i.e. Ordinance 3066 !!! In the very least repeal the Chapter § 190-143 ( here https://ecode360.com/6694062 ) that allow for applications to amend the Master Plan. Application to Village Council or Planning Board.Any interested party may request that an amendment or amendments be made to the Village Master Plan or development regulations. The request(s) shall be made to the Village Council and/or the Village Planning Board.
Ridgewood NJ, The Village has announced that starting Thursday, April 16th the new regulated hours for parking at the Cottage Place Lot will be from 10AM to 6PM; Monday through Saturday at a cost of .75 cents per hour. Payment for parking can be made using coins at the meter (nickels, dimes, quarters) or by purchasing a CBD Monthly Pass.
As in the past, the programs for RPP’s for Non Residents and Residents and the Monthly CBD Permits are still in effect.
The Parkmobile App will be available for use in all lots the week of May 4th.
APRIL 8, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015, 1:21 AM
THE RECORD
Vaughn Crenshaw
Pearl Restaurant, Ridgewood
When he was 13, Vaughn Crenshaw was living out of a car in the streets of Paterson. Today, the 29-year-old is executive chef at Pearl Restaurant in Ridgewood.
Crenshaw has an associate’s degree in culinary arts and a bachelor’s in food service management, both from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. He has cooked at the Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack, the Brick House Inn in Wyckoff, Jacksonville in Paterson, Mocha Bleu in Teaneck, and Fort Lee’s Khloe Bistrot before arriving at Pearl in January 2013.
The Hackensack resident also appeared on the Food Network show “Chopped” in 2012; he made it to the entrée round before he was “chopped.”
Here, he tells how he evaluates a restaurant, and the strangest customer request ever.
How I evaluate a restaurant: I evaluate them on a 1-10 scale that has to do with the greeting, the curb appeal and the setting in the dining room; that’s what’s going to tell me if I’m going into another typical old-world restaurant where there’s no lively, electric energy. I also evaluate it by the clientele — the clients become a reflection of ownership.
APRIL 7, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015, 9:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
With a dearth of places to build parking in downtown Ridgewood, officials may need to look at technological solutions to maximize the remaining space.
One of those solutions could come in the form of an automated parking system, which could potentially house more cars than a standard parking garage in the same amount of space.
Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser and his team gave a presentation on this kind of parking system – in which a patron drives into a stall, exits their vehicle and their car is automatically parked within the structure – at a Village Council meeting last month
Interest in automated parking systems has been spurred in recent weeks by a presentation made by Langan Development in early March, which proposed a type of automated parking as part of its development at North Walnut Street.
The Hudson Street lot, which is another desirable site for a parking structure, is also a candidate to receive automated parking if the village decides to go in that direction. Rutishauser described Hudson Street as a “tight site,” and an automated setup would allow the village to park significantly more cars.
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
April 6, 2015 Last updated: Monday, April 6, 2015, 8:39 AM
The Ridgewood News
Print
Planning Board deliberations regarding multifamily housing in downtown Ridgewood previously scheduled for April 7 will be carried until Tuesday, April 21.
Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, a member of the Planning Board, announced last Wednesday night at the Village Council meeting that the public hearing for the land use element of the Master Plan AH-2, B-3-R, C-R and C Zone Districts would be moved to 7:30 p.m. on April 21 in the Sydney V. Stoldt Jr. Court Room.
The delay was attributed to information from the League of Municipalities regarding the state Supreme Court decision on affordable housing in early March, said Knudsen, which ruled that the courts would decide affordable housing rules, at least temporarily. Knudsen said the information would hopefully be available on April 20.
At the Planning Board’s March 17 meeting, it was suggested that board members compile a list of elements to work through with Village Planner Blais Brancheau.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/downtown-housing-hearing-moved-to-april-21-1.1303434
April 6, 2015 Last updated: Monday, April 6, 2015, 8:39 AM
The Ridgewood News
Print
Planning Board deliberations regarding multifamily housing in downtown Ridgewood previously scheduled for April 7 will be carried until Tuesday, April 21.
Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, a member of the Planning Board, announced last Wednesday night at the Village Council meeting that the public hearing for the land use element of the Master Plan AH-2, B-3-R, C-R and C Zone Districts would be moved to 7:30 p.m. on April 21 in the Sydney V. Stoldt Jr. Court Room.
The delay was attributed to information from the League of Municipalities regarding the state Supreme Court decision on affordable housing in early March, said Knudsen, which ruled that the courts would decide affordable housing rules, at least temporarily. Knudsen said the information would hopefully be available on April 20.
At the Planning Board’s March 17 meeting, it was suggested that board members compile a list of elements to work through with Village Planner Blais Brancheau.
APRIL 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015, 1:20 AM
BY DEENA YELLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Tenafly’s attempts to organize local business owners into a cohesive group that will help improve their section of the borough and generate new business has run into challenges that threaten to destroy the effort.
It is a familiar scenario that has played out on main streets across the state amid conflicting priorities and unfulfilled expectations. A business improvement district, commonly referred to as a BID, collects funds from businesses within a designated area to improve and promote the district. But business owners say BIDs do not always accomplish what they promise, and several municipalities have disbanded them.
Rutherford property owners signed a petition last year asking the borough to dissolve its BID; the council has not yet done so. The improvement districts in Palmyra, Atlantic City, Highlands and Roselle Park have been dissolved in the past few years.
“We did away with it last year because the merchants said they weren’t getting the bang for the buck,” Roselle Park Mayor Carl Hokanson said of his borough’s 8-year-old BID. “We’re happy it’s gone.”
The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce Networking Group
Tue, April 21, 2015
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Park West Tavern – Park West Loft, 38 Oak Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 – 6:00-8:00pm
Park West Tavern – Park West Loft – (second floor)
38 Oak Street
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Cash Bar – delicious lite fare food
FREE Valet parking
Put away your scarves and hats-
Let’s do business!
$20 Chamber and ICC members
$30 non-chamber members
April 3, 2015, 5:05 PM Last updated: Friday, April 3, 2015, 5:08 PM
By CHRIS HARRIS
Staff Writer |
The Record
RIDGEWOOD — Village officials have shut the doors over at Finca, a tapas restaurant that opened along East Ridgewood Avenue a little less than three months ago.
A notice adorning Finca’s front door Friday claims the eatery will remain closed “until further notice due to fire code violations.” The notice further says the restaurant will “reopen as soon as possible” while inviting patrons to visit its nearby sister restaurant, Cravings Tapas Bistro.
Ridgewood Fire Chief James Van Goor said on Friday that Finca was cited Thursday evening for nine violations to both the fire and building codes.
Isn’t $80.00 a month a bit excessive? How much does a typical employee earn? Was that ever investigated or was $80.00 chosen because it sounded good?
It is bad enough that hourly parking rates have been doubled. Ridgewood may find that it’s parking problem is solved because people won’t pay those rates. (and an extra .35 cents if you use your smart phone!).
January – December 2015
Ridgewood Parking Permits – RPP
Hourly meter rates in all Village lots and streets are now $.50 per hour from 10AM to 6PM,
Monday through Saturday.
RPP – Ridgewood Parking Permit provides ‘coinless’ convenience and can be used for unlimited parking at all lots. Annual permits are issued for a calendar year to residents at a cost of $750. RPP are issued to Non Residents at a fee of $1,500 and require parking in the Cottage Place or Rt. 17 Park & Ride Lots. As in the past, you can pay by check or cash. We have added a credit card feature that will have a 3% convenience fee charged to the purchaser.
Applications are available at the Village Hall Reception Desk or by Clicking Here, Monday to Friday, 8:30AM to 4:30PM starting December 19, 2014. Applicants – residents and non residents – must show current Driver’s License and valid Vehicle Registration(s) for up to three vehicles. For flexibility, you can list 3 vehicles on a permit, but the permit can only be used by 1 car for 1 parking space at a time.
All lots including the Train Station Lot will require a free Ridgewood Commuter/Resident Parking Sticker in addition to the purchased RPP. Resident/Commuter parking stickers are issued annually for free to residents only at the Village Hall Reception Desk. This sticker confirms you are a resident.
RPP permit can be used in any metered space in lots to provide unlimited parking from the hours of 6am to 2am. They are not valid for street parking. The hangtag permit must be displayed on the rearview mirror when the vehicle is parked. RPP does not guarantee availability of a parking space.
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Central Business District Employee Permits – CBDEP
Hourly rates in all Village lots and in streets are now $.50 per hour for a maximum of 3 hours. Street and Lot meters are regulated from 10AM to 6PM, Monday through Saturday. Vehicles parking for more than 3 hours will be in violation and subject to a ticket. Repeat parking is also prohibited.
CBD employees have the opportunity to purchase CBD Employee Parking permits issued on a monthly basis. These permits provide parking in either the Ken Smith Property (at the corner of N. Broad/Chestnut and Franklin) or the Cottage Place Lot. Monthly permits are issued to employees of Central Business District businesses at a cost of $80 per month. CBDEP are reduced after the 15th of the month to $40. Permits may be purchased by check, credit card, or cash. Lost permits are not replaced.
Applications are available at the Village Hall Reception Desk or by Clicking Here, Monday to Friday, 8:30AM to 4:30PM. Applicants must document that they are employed by a Ridgewood business and show their current Driver’s License and valid Vehicle Registration (s) for up to three vehicles. For flexibility, you can list 3 vehicles on a permit, but the permit can only be used by 1 car for 1 parking space at a time.
CBDEP can be used in any space at the Ken Smith property or any metered space at Cottage Place Lots to provide unlimited parking during the hours of 6am to 2am. The hangtag permit must be displayed on the rearview mirror. CBDEP does not guarantee availability of a parking space.
Please refer to the Ridgewood Parking Guide that provides information and maps for locating parking lots in the Village at www.ridgewoodnj.net .
Raymond’s in Ridgewood, Montclair to pay $345K in back wages
March 30, 2015 Last updated: Monday, March 30, 2015, 2:50 PM
By MELANIE ANZIDEI
A Ridgewood restaurant chain and its owners must pay $325,534 in back wages to 160 workers for overtime and minimum wage violations, the U.S. Department of Labor said Monday.
Raymond’s Ridgewood LLC did not pay members of its kitchen staff for overtime and failed to pay tipped workers the proper wage rate, an investigation by the department’s Northern New Jersey Wage and Hour District Office found.
Employees at two locations were affected. At Raymond’s in Ridgewood, 84 employees are due $100,048 in back wages, said the department. This includes overtime back wages to its kitchen staff and tipped employees. The employer also failed to pay tipped workers in Ridgewood the proper wage rate from the beginning of their employment, the department said. At Raymond’s in Montclair, 76 workers are due $225,486 in overtime back wages, the agency said.
The restaurant chain agreed to make the payments, which are in the process of being paid, according to Department of Labor spokeswoman Leni Uddyback-Fortson. The back wages cover employee compensations from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2014.
Raymond Badach and Joanne Ricci, owners of the restaurant chain, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Ridgewood’s Engineer Chris Rutishauser explained the pros and cons associated with automated parking structures
MARCH 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Village officials continue weighing potential solutions to the downtown’s parking paucity, and could end up turning to robots for help.
Ridgewood’s Engineer Chris Rutishauser explained the pros and cons associated with automated parking structures to the village council this week.
Village officials, who have met with representatives from the county in recent months to discuss a possible partnership on a parking garage facility, are considering an automated parking garage system at its worn lot on Hudson Street, Rutishauser said.
“It is something worth exploring, but we’re not ready to unequivocally recommend it,” Rutishauser said. “We’re enamored with the idea but we’re not ready to say this is the best thing for the village.”
In automated parking garages, cars are driven into a loading bay. When the car’s occupants leave the bay, a button is pressed, closing a glass door.
The vehicle is then scanned before a robotic pulley system carts it off to a space. For the forgetful, the scanning system can even detect pets or children.
Vehicle owners pay for parking time when they return, as the computerized, robotic mechanism retrieves the vehicle.
A conventional parking garage at the same site on Hudson Street could net the village 170 to 230 additional spaces, spread out over four parking decks and a roof. An automated garage, Rutishauser said, could hold up to 475 cars.
All of those spots would also comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, the village engineer said.
Village Council Discusses Automated Parking Systems at March 25th Village Council Meeting
Ridgewood NJ, As a follow up to the March 25th Village Council Meeting and the Engineering Department’s presentation of automated parking systems. To view the systems discussed at the meeting, please click on the videos below.
Park Plus, Inc
Park Plus, Inc. is the leading provider of Mechanical and Automated Parking garage systems in North America. Originated in 1969 the Company continually provides State of the Art solutions to the parking industry. Our years of experience as Park Plus, Inc. and the professional service through our subsidiary and affiliated companies in Engineering, Material Handling, Construction, Installation and Service keep Park Plus, Inc. the first choice provider for the parking professional.
Park Plus, Inc ‘s Automated Vehicle Storage Systems are designed to store and retrieve vehicles with robotic devices that lift, lower and transfer vehicles from localized transfer stations to unoccupied storage vaults, without the need for human intervention. These systems can be retrofitted into existing buildings, or designed specifically for new building projects to maximize efficiency and space utilization in high density parking.
Boomerang Systems develops robotic valets that could spell the end of the human parking attendant. They market their parking technology as a cutting edge, space-saving approach to an antiquated system.
The RoboticValet has changed the development game by unlocking valuable air rights previously consumed by parking, and in some cases by making it feasible to develop sites previously thought to be unprofitable due to space required for parking.
