I highly doubt the BOE is looking to the blog for guidance. HOWEVER, this blog has been pretty on the money as it relates to Ridgewood sentiment having predicted recent council elections and referendum votes correctly. Perhaps the BOE SHOULD be reading here? Furthermore, if you look at the Ridgewood Moms and DADs facebook page, most posts about the REA are met with silence. Why do you think that is? Lastly, the losing council candidates had probably 10x as many visible signs as the support the Ridgewood teachers sign. What does THAT tell you?
Ridgewood, N.J. It seems we write this story every summer , once again Stop signs and other road signs are disappearing in Ridgewood, in what has now turned into an annual and costly event.
Ridgewood police said a stop sign at Grove Street and Stevens Avenue was stolen this week. Creating a dangerous hazard for unsuspecting drivers .
Ridgewood Chief of Police Jacqueline Luthcke spoke with CBS News on why street sign thievery is an ongoing problem in Ridgewood.
Luthcke said ,“We generally average two to three per month for stop signs,” she said. “When it comes to all other types of signs, by the end of the year, it’s over 100.”
Luthcke continued stating the problem spikes in the summer. “Summertime is always one of the hardest, because although the kids think it’s not a problem – they want to take it off to college with them – it’s really something that is both a financial and a safety issue.”
According to Luthcke last year, it was such a big problem that Ridgewood offered amnesty to anyone willing to bring back the stolen goods.
“The amnesty that we did last year got an amazing amount of signs back,” Luthcke said. “We haven’t had a discussion yet this year.” Its was reported the over 20 signs were returned during the amnesty period.
In April of this year a social media post led to a Wyckoff man being charged with theft after police found a picture of him with stolen street signs from the village .
If they are caught and convicted, sign thieves face fines and even jail time.
The Board of Education is committed to settling the contract with the Ridgewood Education Association (REA). To this end, the full Board will meet with the state-appointed super conciliator on July 20 at 5 p.m. at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place.
The REA negotiating team will also be present that evening. The Board is unanimously steadfast in its desire to resolve the on-going impasse with the REA and is prepared to stay as long as needed to finalize the settlement and reach agreement on a successor contract to the one that expired on June 30, 2015. The Board fervently hopes that the 2016-17 school year will start with a new contract and put an end to the difficulties that this impasse has caused. When the Board’s negotiating team first met with the super conciliator on June 27, the team presented a threeyear contract proposal that included a salary increase for each of the three years of 1.1%, 2.8% and 2.8%, with additional one-time payments for the highest paid teachers to defray part of the increased costs for their healthcare premiums. The average salaries for Ridgewood’s teachers are currently near the top when compared to salaries in other Bergen County school districts. Our starting salaries for teachers are at the top. If the REA were to accept the Board’s proposal, our teachers would continue to maintain that comparative advantage. The Board’s proposal includes a change to the health benefit plan from NJ Direct 10 to NJ Direct 15. Both plans offer the same provider network. With NJ Direct 15 there would be a nominal increase in copays for primary care doctors and specialists. The copay would increase from $10 to $15. A change in the health insurance plan would lower premium costs for both the district and the staff. The Board’s proposal would fairly compensate our teachers and secretaries for the excellent work they do. To date, in every negotiation session the Board’s team has delineated the economic impact of the proposals discussed.
The team has been forthright in its discussions with the REA, the mediator, the fact-finder, and the super conciliator that the cost of the contract must be affordable and aligned with the district’s financial realities, which include a two percent limit on tax increases. The Board remains hopeful that a settlement can be reached that addresses the needs articulated by our teachers and secretaries but does not set the stage for drastic cuts to staff and programs nor jeopardize the district’s financial future.
REA statement :
“Once again tonight the BOE has refused to accept the report from the impartial State Appointed Fact Finder. In fact the Board has not improved its position since February, and tonight presented nothing new to the REA negotiating team.The BOE continues in its position that it cannot afford the Fact Finder report. The impartial Fact Finder examined the Board’s books when he made his recommendation. Despite the BOE’s false statements, the report shows it has the resources to fund the recommended settlement. If the BOE cuts programs, it will not be because of the REA. Instead the Board is using scare tactics and the threat of cutting programs as an attempt to scapegoat the REA. This is no time for divisiveness; instead it is time for compromise. But as long as the Board remains set in their discredited “cost neutral” position, until it is willing to truly negotiate, this impasse will not end.
This meeting was the last chance of a settlement before September. Its failure to negotiate tonight means that teachers and secretaries will return to work beginning their second year under an expired contract. In addition, the Ridgewood Administrators Association (RAA) contract has also expired. The recalcitrance of the Board now means that in addition to teachers and secretaries, every principal, assistant principal, and supervisor will also begin September under an expired contract. This should not be acceptable in Ridgewood.
The Board needs to stop posturing and begin the work of negotiating in good faith to settle this contract. The BOE obviously, as stated in its email to the school community, is NOT “prepared to stay as long as needed to finalize the settlement and reach an agreement on a successor contract”.
The Council repealed 3066 Kings Pond will get a fix Jackie Hone will be vindicated Parking problems will be remediated People at the mic are respected Our Mayor is smart and educated The best of the best were elected All and all we’re feeling elated!
by Linda McNamara
July 21,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The council meeting was business like and everyone was respected. People are now allowed to ask questions and the new council actually answered. It is amazingly difference from when Aronsohn ruled and they all stared at the speakers or, worse yet, they attacked the speakers.
A couple of people spoke happily about 3066 being repealed. It will not be finally repealed until the August public meeting.
A man spoke about fixing Kings Pond and it sounds like that will happen . Susan has already put money in the budget to finance that. Saurabh asked and asked about the supposed $60,000 spent by Stacy Antine at Health Barn. Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld waffled on providing info and Boyd blasted her for this.
The swearing in of Chief Luthke was wonderful and the high point of the night The room was packed standing room only. There was much applause and John Ward came and pinned his own stars on Jackie’s epaulets. The whole thing was very moving. The female chief from Bergenfield was in attendance as were three freeholders.
The only blemish on the event was that the unelected village manager as usual planted herself in the midst of the swearing in, where she has no right to be. Someone needs to remind Ms. Sonenfeld that she needs to stay up on the dais as the other unelected members (Heather and Matt) do for proclamations and swearing-ins.
Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council repealed an ordinance that has in many residents eyes opened the door to unpopular village master plan amendments that included clearing the way for The Valley Hospital’s expansion and construction of high-density housing downtown.
The ordinance, No. 3066, was adopted in 2007 and states that “any interested party” can formally request amendments to either the master plan or its development regulations. The requests must be reviewed by the village, and the ordinance also outlines how a party must file such requests, as well as the fee structure for doing so.
Village Planner Blais Brancheau authored the ordinance nine years ago and has steadfastly claimed it was to “establish a clear procedure” for handling amendment requests and let the village charge the requesting party the cost of the professionals involved. Brancheau claims that without the ordinance, those costs would be carried by Ridgewood taxpayers.Critics of 3066 have long felt the Village had lost control of the planning process.
It was introduced by the Village Council under Mayor Pfund in 2007 (https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/minutes/07RPMJUN13.pdf ). Chapter § 190-143 of the amended Village Code is the kicker; it established procedures for interested persions (i.e. developers) to request amendments to the Village Master Plan or development regulations.
Council members Mancuso, Ringler Shagin, Wiest, and Pfund all voted in favor of the ordinance. Chapter § 190-143 is here https://ecode360.com/6694062 .
Over the years many residents argue that this should be repealed to ensure that we don’t see overdevelopment at Valley and in the CBD in terms of densities and building scale. It’s felt this will better protect our property values.
But last night the council agreed to repeal Ordinance 3066 once and for all in all its glory which will allow the Village to once again gain control of its own destiny and close the door on incongruous non conforming development. The final repeal will come in the August public meeting.
Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen administers the formal oath of office to Ridgewood Police Chief Jacqueline B. Luthcke before a standing room only audience in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Courtroom at Village Hall on Wednesday, 07/20/2016.
Ridgewood NJ, Is there some reason that Paul Aronsohn and Gwenn Hauck both continue to maintain their respective ego driven, pretentious, outdated web sites?
In his recent article in the always Democratic machine friendly Bergen Record former Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn engages in what can only be categorized as an attempt to set the stage for a political comeback though historical revisionism ,blatant dishonesty and a subtle attempt to undermine the current council.
The former mayor clearly still does not understand Ridgewood ,where it has always been considered very bad form for previous council members to criticize current new council members before they get a chance to get their seats warm.
Aronsohn’s term as mayor can be best described as contentious ,dishonest, controversial and to many the worst and most ineffective mayor in recent history. Rivaling the darkest days of Jane Reilly and the abject stupidity of the Village Hall reconstruction.
Aronsohn needs to face facts that Hudson County Machine Politics do not belong or according to the last election will be tolerated the Village of Ridgewood .
As we read through Aronsohn’s opinion piece it felt like we had heard all this before. Phases like “Ridgewood at a crossroads “, “Progress and Tradition “, “Kick the can down the road “and “Need to move forward ” all sounded eerily familiar. And yes they are these very words are the words of Councilmen Ramon Hache in the Ridgewood blog on March 9th (https://theridgewoodblog.net/ramon-m-hache-announces-candidacy-for-ridgewood-village-council/)
So it seems the the former Mayor found in necessary to praise himself while plagiarizing from Councilmen Hache’s campaign.
Perhaps former mayor Aronsohn’s time would be better spent gracefully retiring to a life of gardening and back yard barbecues.
THE VILLAGE of Ridgewood is at a crossroads. For the first time in recent memory, our community has been discussing, debating and even deciding some of the big issues that have long simmered just beneath the surface — issues such as taxes and government services, multifamily housing, parking and, of course, the Valley Hospital. Rather than play it safe and continue to “kick the can down the road,” we have sought to resolve issues that have long eluded us.
YOU ARE INVITED TO RIDGEWOOD WATER CONSUMER FORUMS TO BE HELD JULY 27 & AUGUST 2
You are invited… Ridgewood Water consumers are invited to attend two public forums for information and explanation of the recently mailed Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The first event will take place on Wednesday, July 27 at 9:00 am in the Courtroom of Ridgewood Village Hall. The second event will take place on Tuesday, August 2 at 7:00 pm in the Youth Center of Ridgewood Village Hall. Village Hall is located at 131 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood. Space is limited, so please register by contacting Donna Omelianuk, Ridgewood Water, at 201-670-5500 ext. 271 or by email at [email protected]. The CCR that was mailed contains minor errors that have been corrected in the online version available at water.ridgewoodnj.net. Any questions on this issue or Ridgewood Water will be answered at the forums.
A reader told us that ,”On my walk this morning at 6am the Ridgewood Fire Dept was taking pictures of houses that had their sprinklers running that shouldn’t have been…. Reminder follow the stage 2 restrictions.”
But seem to think its going a bit over board , “What is going on in this town? There are employees going around issuing summonses for watering, sidewalks and “suspected” unlicensed pets.”
Another reader said they , “actual had a court date because I didn’t register my imaginary dog. When I called and asked why they thought I had a dog, they said a neighbor informed them!!”
One reader said they heard a neighbor got a warning because they ,” had a child’s wooden play house in the yard. It was very large. They said it was a dog house. “.
“The pet one is insane. I feel like I live in North Korea.”
The median HOUSEHOLD incomes in Ridgewood are $138,000… teachers work for 10 months a year with tenure in many cases, so if you annualize teacher pay for 12 months work, they get paid paid the same as an entire household at the median in Ridgewood, i.e. $118,000 for 10 months = $136,000 for 12 months, with the added safety of tenured job security. Add in:
1) taxpayer subsidized $28,000 annual family “platinum” health benefit plan, which is much better than the average private sector employer plan (equivalent to “bronze”), and has much lower premiums, $5-10 co-pays, and covers up to 96% of all billable costs; as well as,
2) defined benefit pension plans for life which TPAF members contribute less than 7.5% of their annual wages towards (still!) and start drawing at an average age of 62 in NJ which can be worth over $2 million if the retiree lives to average US lifespan; and,
3) sick leave which gets carried over year after year instead of the “use it or lose it” sick leave offered by private sector employers
It becomes very clear that teachers have a MUCH better deal than the median Ridgewood household, which pays much higher health plan co-pays and deductibles for less health benefit coverage (on average, private sector plans only cover 84% of medical expenses), loses unused sick leave that cannot be carried over, runs the risk of job loss, and contributes up to 16% of their annual wages towards defined contribution pension plans, i.e. 401(k) plans. Combined teacher benefits are already too high even for well qualified, experienced, certified, professionals… which, by the way, is not what we got from the REA in the 2015/16 academic year. We got petulant, greedy, bad faith, so-called professionals who let our kids and schools down in a multitude of ways, from recommendation letters, to after school programs and activities, to community outreach. Notice the lack of signs supporting teachers in Ridgewood; we’ve had enough.
The committee members who signed those advertisements and letters to the editor should also resign. As citizens they have a right to free speech. They signed those letters as advisory committee members going.
They were never an independent voice. Their mission should be defined, their minutes should be public. Otherwise they are political hacks.
All boards should have by laws and minutes.
The FAC seems like a tool of the council and not an independent body. They did not help to dispel this image when two members ran for council supported by the current council majority. Their letters to the editor in support of the council majority causes showed that they did not exercise good judgment.
“The third section details capital investments that Health Barn has made at Habernickel. Health Barn has already exceeded its $60,000 capital commitment.”
ZERO FACTS to support this statement, and despite numerous e-mail requests made to Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld for backup details, NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO DATE.
In fact, in response to several e-mails from residents, Sonefeld replied in writing that “Stacey Antine is currently out of the country . . . ” (i.e., currently unable to provide the requested details) – however, within hours of Sonefeld’s e-mail being sent, Ms. Antine was observed walking to her car at 1057 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood, NJ USA. Huh?
Leading many residents to wonder if the ” . . . already exceeded its $60,000 capital commitment” is a BOGUS statement (i.e., a lie).
In fact, remembering the details of a meeting well enough to approve or question them is only possible within a very short time. Not to mention that just getting it out of the way immediately is the only sane way to proceed.
There are rules (laws?) about this, which the previous council broke constantly. And this has happened before, with previous councils approving months and months of meeting minutes all at once just before some of them stepped down from the dais for the last time. Hearing them approve many months of minutes that they couldn’t possibly have read through was proof positive, if we needed it, that they were hiding everything they could from the public and press and spending time only on issues from which they would benefit personally. Or at the very least, they were comfortable flouting the law and making things much harder for residents as well as others, including attorneys, researchers, developers, etc., seeking meeting minutes.
Ridgewood NJ, Is the new council really planning to approve minutes from the last meeting this Wednesday. We noticed an agenda line item for July 20th meeting which says :
6. Approval of Minutes
If the new council is planning to approve the minutes from July 13th meeting on July 20th, that will be a surprising change for the village residents.
The previous administration had stopped releasing meeting minutes for almost 2 years while they went on to approve multi family housing and garage issues. They had forced residents to watch long video recordings which could take hours instead of quick text searches in the meeting minutes.
Here is a short video of how they approved 2 years worth of meeting minutes on their last day in the office.
https://www.tubechop.com/watch/8188452
Although surprising, this will be a good change for the village of Ridgewood.
Ridgewood NJ, Two (2) individuals injured during a rear end crash at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Cottage Place on Saturday evening, 07/16, refused to be transported to a hospital for medical treatment and left the scene via means other than an ambulance. Both vehicles involved, a Subaru and a Honda, were towed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. RIdgewood FD personnel attended to a minor crash related fluid spill. Ridgewood PD and EMS personnel were also present at the crash.
