The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
by the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, Did Councilman Jeff Voigt try to block a public Village document from being posted on The Ridgewood Blog? It sure looks that way to The Ridgewood Blog’s staff. The councilman continues to demonstrate a lapse of judgement .
May 16, 2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, An Appellate Court ruled today that the right to request records under the state’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) is not limited to New Jersey residents. The ruling upheld a lower court opinion in Burlington County and reversed lower courts in Cape May and Atlantic Counties. The three cases were consolidated for the purpose of the Appellate Court’s review.
An excerpt from the 5/16/2018 Appellate Court opinion:
“We conclude that the reference to “citizens” — found in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and nowhere else in OPRA — expresses the Legislature’s general intent to make New Jersey government records open to the public, rather than expressing an intent to limit access to only New Jersey residents or domiciliaries. Because the more specific provisions of OPRA refer to “any person,” and because OPRA is to be construed broadly to achieve the Legislature’s over-arching goal of making public records freely available, we conclude that the right to request records under OPRA is not limited to “citizens” of New Jersey.”
Today’s Appellate Court ruling has statewide application. See NJFOG’s website here for background.
Editors note This article is clearly Aronsohn planted
Mark Krulish , Staff Writer, @Mark_Krulish7:20 p.m. ET May 27, 2017
The release of Open Public Records Act requests submitted by two Ridgewood council members, targeting a third council member, have brought to the surface a level of distrust on the village’s dais.
Councilman Jeff Voigt, who has been ordered to turn over his email correspondence with a journalist and several Ridgewood residents, says he’s being harassed by Mayor Susan Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon, who filed the OPRA requests. Voigt, who has been critical of the mayor at times since taking office last July, called the requests “pure bullying” and “intimidation,” an effort to force him into silence.
file photo by Boyd Loving
December 22,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, many continue to speculate on all the recent hubbub around Councilman Jeff Voigt. The Councilman suggested the FAC were trying to “fix” a “mess”. The reality is that the FAC was created by former Mayor Paul Aronsohn to take out Village Manager Ken Gabbert and former mayor Keith Killion and promote Aronsohn’s pet projects in the Village thereby creating the “mess”.
December 20,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Over the last few weeks Jeff Voigt publicly slammed Mayor Knudsen for looking into complaints against the Financial Advisory Committee. He also implied our Mayor acted unjustly and had broken the law. However, he never gave specifics and failed to substantiate his allegations. As if that wasn’t enough, he then turned to social media and started a “behind closed doors” movement to talk about his beef with Mayor Knudsen.
Residents responded to his social media posts demanding transparency along with a public explanation and proof of his allegations. Jeff Voigt has yet to respond.
Residents response to Voigt’s public message, “You publicly berated the Mayor and implied that something illegal was going on. A PUBLIC explanation is due. Lies, bullying and back door talks will not be tolerated. PROVE IT OR RESIGN.”
If you missed it, here are links to Voigt’s attacks.
December 16,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, one of Paul Aronsohn’s babies and was clearly set up as a ruse to manipulate spending priorities, like pushing Garagezilla. Where is the Value Added for The Taxpayer from the Financial Advisory Committee?
At the time Councilman Tom Riche “expressed some trepidation that the governing body might surrender some of its decision-making powers by forming a new committee.” (from the RidgewoodNews)
In May a reader suggested, a reader said the Financial Advisory Committee was created by the mayor solely as a breeding ground for future council members willing to live in his shadow and image. It didn’t work. Disband it!
https://theridgewoodblog.net/ridgewood-financial-advisory-committee-political-hacks-or-valuable-input/
FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Resolutions:
13-88
14-171
Members:
NAME TERM EXPIRES
Charles DiMarco 6/30/17
Alex Kisilevich 6/30/17
Brian Lahey 6/30/17
Evan Weitz – Chair 6/30/18
Rei Shinozuka 6/30/18
John Cavanaugh 6/30/19
David Hough 6/30/19
Robert Kotch 6/30/19
Nick Whitney 6/30/19
Councilman Jeff Voigt is the Council liaison
MISSION AND BY-LAWS
Establishment:
A new committee known as the “Financial Advisory Committee” was created by the Village Council of the Village of Ridgewood on April 24, 2013, by Resolution No. 13-88.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Committee is hereby charged with the following duties and responsibilities:
The Committee shall assist the Village Council by marshaling and channeling its expertise and insight to complement the judgment of the Village Council and Village management with respect to financial matters.
The Committee shall identify both short- and long-term financial challenges. As potential issues are raised, the Committee shall study selected issue(s) at its own initiative and at the request of the Village Council and recommend solutions/potential actions to the Village Council.
The Committee shall have ongoing responsibility for the following:
Analyze and evaluate the annual Village budget process (expense and capital) and the resultant budget, to advise the Village Council in their decision-making process to ensure that necessary revenues are raised in an equitable manner and that taxes are spent effectively and efficiently.
Review the quarterly financial reports and the current year’s revenue and expenditure projections.
Advise on the development and implementation of effective financial reporting policies and procedures for the Village Council and Village management that build upon and retain the public’s faith and trust in the Village’s policies and procedures.
Assist in the review and improvement of organizational structures and recurring contracts arrangements, including collective bargaining agreements, with due regard for applicable legal requirements governing civil service, procurement and labor relations.
Provide an annual report to the Council.
The Committee may also perform the following:
Study critical issues and perform independent research to formulate and develop thoughtful and well-developed recommendations on strategies and opportunities.
Provide a forum for community education and discussion concerning the financial condition of the Village and various alternatives for improvement.
Meetings:
The Committee shall meet once per month and/or on an as-needed basis. Decisions shall be made by consensus and if necessary, by majority vote. The minutes for regular monthly meetings shall be kept, transcribed, and made available to the Village and Council and such other Village officials as the Village Manager shall direct. Public comment will be requested at the beginning of a meeting and will be capped at 3 minutes per person; public comment will not exceed 15 minutes. The Committee may also hold closed working sessions as needed.
Composition and Terms:
The Committee shall comprise up to nine (9) regular members of the public appointed by the Village Council, a liaison from the Village Council, and a liaison from the Department of Finance of the Village at the discretion of the Council and the Village Manager. The public members of the Committee shall be appointed on July 1 of each calendar year and serve for a term of three (3) years, with the exception of the initial Committee appointed as of July 1, 2013, with three members appointed for a term of three (3) years, two members appointed for a term of two (2) years, and two members appointed for a term of one (1) year.
If a public member resigns, the Village Council shall appoint a replacement as
soon as possible to serve out the remainder of his/her term. The Financial Advisory Committee, through the Village Council liaison, will provide input into this process.
