the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, did the Village Council just turn public meetings into the “Gong Show”? At the December 3 Village Council meeting, a new feature was implemented. Now when someone from the public speaks during public comments, a loud BELL rings after 2 minutes and at the end of alloted 3 minutes a loud buzzer then goes off.
Continue reading Ridgewood Village Council Turns Public Meetings Into the “Gong Show”
From Bike Lane Dream to Parking Nightmare: Ridgewood Residents Furious After Grant Money Kills Street Parking on South Pleasant
screen shots from original presentation May 2024
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The Village of Ridgewood is once again embroiled in controversy over a new bicycle infrastructure project, sparking outrage among residents of the Pleasant Avenue neighborhood. This time, the issue isn’t a “bike lane to nowhere,” but a newly implemented restriction on street parking on South Pleasant Avenue that residents were explicitly told would not happen.
The latest project, spearheaded by Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser, utilized grant money to create a new bike lane—but in a major development, the project has now effectively banned residents from parking in front of their own homes.
VILLAGE COUNCIL
SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
AUGUST 9, 2023
7:00 P.M.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, when a picture is worth a thousand words. What Ridgewood Dogs Think of the New $59k Garbage Cans.
Continue reading What Ridgewood Dogs Think of the New $59k Garbage Cans
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Village Council was chastised by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network for the Village of Ridgewood signing the “Green Amendment” . In a letter to the Village Council ,the Delaware Riverkeeper Network called the planning to remove all the trees and install an artificial turf field at the the historic Schedler property ,”direct opposition the the principles outlined in the (Green amendment)”. They referred to the clear cutting of trees and putting in a turf field as a “substantially damaging environmental action” and and finally they called the Village Council “hypocritical” for signing the amendment .
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, since the mask mandate and consistency of its application has been in the news (FOX NEWS) lately , here is the latest from AP News on children and masks:
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD
VILLAGE COUNCIL
REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
JUNE 9, 2021
8:00 P.M.
Continue reading VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING JUNE 9, 2021 8:00 P.M.
photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Village of Ridgewood Council awarded a professional services contract for communications for the Police Department to Julie Parker Communications, LLC, 618 Center Point Way, Gaithersburg, MD.
Continue reading Village Council Approves $10K for professional Police Department Spokesperson
Ridgewood Mayor Ramon Hache
Ridgewood Nj, according to Mayor Ramon Hache , the Village Council tackled a broad range of issues during 2018. I will list just a few of our accomplishments and then provide an update on issues that are still pending a final resolution. During 2018, the Village Council:
rainbow flag at Ridgewood High School
Constitutional Law 101. Municipalities are certifiably insane if they imagine that it could be in any way appropriate to dance this particular two-step: 1) Evaluate in a legislative body the substance of a third-party message proposed for public display on public property; and 2) Approve such public display on municipal property because said legislative body loves that message and darn well wants to signal its approval of same.
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Why did our well-paid village attorney not put the Kibosh on this? Regardless of what one thinks of the particular message that received approval and (by now) two month’s free advertisement from our elected village legislative body, how (constitutionally speaking) can that body now legitimately say “no” to a similar-situated month-long display containing, say, an opposite message, or even any other message for that matter!?! Why did the Village’s legal counsel not lay out this easily-predicted problem in stark enough terms to persuade our illusurious council members of the utter folly of their planned course of action?
photo by Boyd Loving
July 12,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Village of Ridgewood debated moving move forward with the purchase of the Ridgewood Elks club , Councilwomen Bernie Walsh objected to the purchase of the Elks Club for Ridgewood Water , at $200,000 over the appraised value plus $500-700 to 1.5 million in renovations for 30 people . Walsh reiterated that the purchase was just for Ridgewood Water.
Walsh went on noting that class “A” and class “B” office space are plentiful in Bergen County and there was no need for such a major under taking . Walsh felt is was just, “not a smart idea at this time”.
Former Mayor Knudsen pushed the idea for consolidation of space as well as the Elks is last contagious piece of property near the Municipal complex creating greater efficiencies . Mayor Hach wanted confirmation on the renovation estimates because there seemed to be significant disagreement about what was or was not estimated .
file photo by Boyd Loving
The council created this problem and the time has come for the council to fix this problem.
This “business” has destroyed what was once a lovely and charming neighborhood.
As a reminder, the principle that government must be both “limited in power and ACCOUNTABLE to the people” lies at the core of our constitutional traditions (especially so in local government). Take action against Health Barn or we the people will take action by voting you out when your terms expire…
Can you hear us know?
Nicholas Katzban , Staff Writer, @NicholasKatzbanPublished 7:22 p.m. ET July 13, 2017 | Updated 7:22 p.m. ET July 13, 2017
HACKENSACK — A Bergen County Superior Court judge found probable cause Thursday to proceed with three harassment complaints against Ridgewood Councilman Jeffrey Voigt.
The complaints against Voigt were filed by three residents who say the councilman made their unlisted cellphone numbers, emails and home addresses known to the public via posts on his Facebook page.
The judge dismissed Voigt’s counter complaint against the same residents.
Mark Krulish , Staff Writer, @Mark_Krulish2:57 p.m. ET April 27, 2017
RIDGEWOOD — In an effort to add parking spaces at the train station, the council is weighing a plan to reduce the size of a grass median and create new spots for compact cars.
The design, presented by Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser to the council Wednesday, calls for narrowing the island on the western side of the train tracks by 4.5 feet to accomodate parking for compact cars on both sides of the median. The new layout would add 41 spots.
April 6,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, at the Wednesday Council meeting ,Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser spoke at length on the addition spaces at the train station . Rutishauser suggested some compact car parking spaces to add more spaces . He also said the new plan would involve the planting of more trees at the train station then currently exist.
The Village engineer also suggested moving the Ridgewood Bus Station to the Train Station Property and claimed a net increase in parking spaces would amount to 38. (28 at Train Station and 10 more at Van Nest Square ).
The advantage would be more (10) spaces CBD parking near Van Neste Square, and buses would travel on Franklin ave instead of East Ridgewood Ave . The current bus station is in need of repair and has been a point of contention for the Ridgewood Police department.
According to New Jersey Transit over 900 people take the bus per weekday,300 on Saturday and 100 Sunday’s . There are 6 bus routs the 163,164, 175, 722 ,746, and 752 . On a typical weekday there are 301 bus movements through Van Neste. With peak movement being 7:30-8:30 am (38) and 6:00-7:00 pm (21).
Rutishauser assured the council the cost would be around $300,000 .
The council peppered the engineer with questions on traffic congestion and traffic flow at the Train station as well as Franklin Ave. They asked about the impact of new previously approved development coming to the Central Business District which will add to Franklin avenue traffic. The discussion also veered to returning the Gerber square streets back to their original two lanes .
