Ridgewood NJ, 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!
The new council need a clean sweep of Village Hall and the Financial Advisory Committee which has added little to no input to Village budgeting should be eliminated.
The Financial Advisory Committee was created on April 24th 2013, resolution 14-171. The leadership of Financial Advisory Committee is there just to stamp the Village Manager’s decisions. So she can say ‘an expert panel has looked at it and they agree with my approach”. She comes from the corporate world and knows how to put everything on outside ‘consultants’.
What is the purpose of the Financial Advisory Committee? They were cheerleaders for the three council members? Populated by partisan Bergen Leeds people ,they should be neutral. So, they are not a financial advisory committee, they are nothing more than a political action committee.
The Financial Advisory Committee has been populated with political hacks and friends of the former mayor and supporters of the Village manager with their own agenda’s leaving out Village tax payers .
The Financial Advisory Committee does not even have bylaws or keep meeting minutes .Lets face it , it was beyond funny that the Chairman of FAC, was a candidate for the council election, and Weitz is not even a finance guy.
The new Council needs to be prudent but decisive in their actions. Let’s not replicate the mistakes of the past
First, thank you for your vote of confidence during the recent election. I am humbled by that confidence and committed to working towards solutions that are in the best interests of the Village.
Most especially, I would like to thank my campaign team: Sergio Alegre, Chad Chadwick, Wendy Dockray, Carol and Kevin Mattessich, Bill McCabe and Ann Spalckhaver. They are a great group of people who care deeply about Ridgewood. I would also like to thank many of you in the audience for your help during my campaign. It was a blast to work with you and I look forward to doing so moving forward.
We have a number of issues facing us over the coming years – a few of them 800 pound gorillas that are all too obvious. The solutions to these issues actually lie within this room with those who have influence over our Village – and I am talking most specifically about those in the audience. I sincerely hope this energizes you as; you are going to be asked to help in solving these issues. This also includes those with opposing views as; we need your inputs and help in this. They say that listening to, understanding, and incorporating opposing views and differences of opinion make for better decisions. I could not agree more. Let’s work together.
It is important that in these solutions we do what is best for our Village. These solutions can result in making our Village more user friendly, accessible, attractive to others, affordable and; a better place to live for us all. We as a community can do this if we keep this this in mind – namely in doing what is best for our Village.
Let’s also try and figure out solutions through less expensive and time consuming means such as compromise – meaning opposing sides sit down with each other and give to get and; in turn win in the end.
My goals over the coming 4 years are to work with you in solving these issues for the betterment of the Village and its residents. In touring our Village infrastructure with Roberta Sonenfeld, our Village Manager, I was struck by the fact we have a number of under-utilized assets that we can take advantage of for increased revenue generation – potentially marketing these services to other municipalities/businesses. These additional $$$ can be used for numerous initiatives, including lowering our taxes. We are going to look at maximizing these assets to increase our revenue streams with the committees I will be working on.
Job one, however, and I believe as well for my colleagues on the dais, is to solve our parking issue downtown, with a focus on a re-alignment of parking spaces and streets, a smaller Hudson St garage, and with innovative pricing – while simultaneously making our downtown more accessible, user friendly, and safer.
With innovative pricing, the parking utility can be a more significant revenue and surplus generator for the Village – helping to defray other costs. Let’s also re-think high density housing downtown in a way that makes sense, fits with, and actually enhances the character of our Village. Additionally, Valley Hospital needs to be a better neighbor and come up with solutions that actually make sense for our neighbors in the surrounding Valley area. Having relevant expertise in the field of healthcare, I am confident Valley can work towards this and in turn thrive in this rapidly evolving healthcare market. With these and other initiatives, I plan to reach out to all relevant constituencies whether they be developers, Valley, the chamber of commerce, and the residents to keep the dialogue going in order to work towards viable solutions.
Not surprisingly, some of these issues have been hotly contested with the outgoing council majority – Mayor Paul Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli, and Councilwoman Gwen Hauck. I have to thank them for teeing up a number of them. It can safely be said that there was never a dull moment in
Village Hall with you on the council. One of my concerns is that future council meetings may not be as entertaining as they have been in the recent past.
Interestingly, by your making us keenly aware of these issues it may make the path towards resolution easier. Let’s use any momentum that has been gained through this process in putting some of these issues to bed.
I look forward to working with the residents and various boards and committees on these and other initiatives. We have many committed, smart, and talentedcitizens on our boards and committees and in our Village who can help in figuring out how to make this a better place to live. This is what I am actually looking forward to most – in working with you to accomplish this. My commitment is to work hand and hand with you and; in ensuring those who do the work, get the credit and recognition.
I also look forward to working with the new council – Susan Knudsen, Bernie Walsh, Ramon Hache, and Mike Sedon. You the residents have voted in 5 independently minded people and now the fun begins.
They say what you put into something is what you get out of it. I wholeheartedly agree. This is going to be my second full time job and I am confident it will be time well spent and extremely gratifying.
Lastly, I would like to thank my family – my wife Patty and my children, Ryan, Kevin, and Emily. We have lived here for over 23 years and call Ridgewood home. It is a great place to raise a family and live the rest of your life in. Patty and I plan on doing so and in calling many of you our friends and neighbors over the coming years.
Let’s all work towards making Ridgewood an even better place to live than it
Ridgewood NJ, After what has been called by some as the “Reign of Terror” , the newly elected Village of Ridgewood Council opened on Friday with the election of its two remaining council members to the position of mayor and deputy mayor.
A celebratory atmosphere greeted the new council in what can only be characterized as a triumph of the people .
Councilwomen Susan Knudsen, who was elected to the council in 2014, was unanimously voted in as mayor and Councilmen Michael Sedon also elected in 2014 was then named deputy mayor by the same 5-0 vote.
Over the last several years Knudsen and Sedon made up the council minority often voting against their former colleagues . For their efforts they were often ostracized but continued to fight for sanity in a Village government driven by bullying tactics ,special interest and machine politics.
The pair is joined by newly-elected Ramon Hache and Jeffrey Voigt and former Councilwoman Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh to form the Village Council for the next two years.
Text copied from post by “Take Back Ridgewood”Facebook page :
The referendum petition which over 1200 Ridgewood residents signed and submitted under Home Rule to the village clerk, called for a referendum question in November election with the following text:
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“Shall Ordinance No. 3521 authorizing the Council of the Village of Ridgewood to issue $11,500,000 bonds or notes to finance the cost of constructing the Hudson Street Parking Deck, currently contemplated as a 4 story, 5 level Parking Deck, be ratified?”
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Our Mayor and current council majority are forcing this election before they leave, and they changed the referendum question to:
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“Shall ordinance No. 3521 submitted by referendum petition providing for the Council of the Village of the Ridgewood to issue $11,500,000 bonds or notes to finance the cost of constructing the Hudson Street parking deck, be adopted”
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Summary: Over 1200 Ridgewood residents submitted a petition, asking for a question in November election for 11.5M bond for a 5 level garage. The Mayor and his team fast tracked that election and removed the text about 5th level from the question.
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1.Mayor Aronsohn is trying to ignore May 10th election and people’s will. If this question is voted “yes” on June 21, he will award a 5 level garage contract in his last 9 days. NO BIDDING has been done for this 11.5 Million$ contract and the details are only known to Gwenn / Paul / Roberta / Albert (I.e. Parking committee). The new council elects and Susan and Mike will have to work with this new contractor for project completion, while they are NOT being part of the contractor selection process or any other design / engineering discussions. Mayor Aronshon and his team will not be here to see through this project to it’s completion – and won’t have any accountability. Why are they hiding the contractor selection process from other council members?
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2. Mayor Aronshon is again pulling the “it’s only financing question” card, which he did in November election. He is writing to residents saying “Basically, do you support financing and building a parking deck at Hudson Street that could cost up to $11.5 million.”. He is hiding the fact that this special election was called for because of the size and design of the garage. The residents united to stop the financing because of the size of the garage.
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Please vote ‘NO’ on June 21st, and let the new council pick a contractor for Hudson Street Garage after July 1st. So they can see through the project to it’s completion and can be held accountable for picking the right contractor.
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Ridgewood Nj, a reader commented that , “hopefully the new Council pushes hard on challenging Valley’s not-for-profit status. If we can capture $4.5mn in annual property taxes from Valley for everything they own in Ridgewood, then the property tax burden on residents could be reduced. This would be enlightened tax policy from the new Council and smarter governance. They pay their CEO $2mn a year to run a single hospital – not a system – and acquire every building they can yet pay no property taxes?!?! Not fair to village residents who effectively subsidize their public safety services, snow plowing around the local roads by Valley’s properties (which get removed from rateables), etc. time to pay your fair share.”
New Jersey courts have established a three-part test that, in essence, provides that for an organization to be entitled to property tax exemption, it must show that:
1. it is organized exclusively for a charitable purpose (or other qualifying purpose enumerated in the statute);
2. its property is actually used for such a charitable purpose (or the specific qualifying purpose applicable to that organization); and
3. its use and operation of the property is not for profit.
Morristown Hospital failed the third test, so will Valley.
I am writing this letter to announce my wholehearted support for three candidates for Village Council – Ramon Hache, Jeff Voigt, and Bernadette Walsh. Each of these candidates is an independent thinker, and each is truly dedicated to improving the Village of Ridgewood without ruining it. They are informed and involved. They are intelligent and reasonable individuals. As a regular attendee at Village Council meetings, as well as being involved in other village governance activities, I have come to know them well and trust them completely. They will work with the two Village Council members whose terms are continuing, and we will once again have discussions instead of diatribes, and votes on important matters will no longer be in the form of a 3-person bloc on every single issue. There will no longer be bullying of citizens by elected officials from the dais and outside of Village Hall, no more bullying behavior at “safe harbor” places like church and in restaurants. I encourage everyone to vote on May 10, and to cast your votes for Hache, Voigt, and Walsh. We deserve a change for the better.
For many decades, busy Ridgewood residents could safely ignore municipal elections, if they chose (and many always have), confident that whoever won would govern appropriately and benignly. Too many elections; why bother?
But “politics as usual” has been redefined over the past four years.
Our direction has been forcefully pushed toward overdevelopment and fundamental changes that would forever alter our landscape and quality of life. Developers are gaining an increasingly strong foothold, as they push projects through, encouraged by a specific ordinance introduced by former mayor (now municipal judge, appointed by the current mayor) David Pfund, a willing “council majority,” and board, committee, and commission members appointed to promulgate their views. We are watching the results of a carefully orchestrated long-term plan come to fruition, and we are appalled.
What happens to the voices of residents when a majority platform follows a clearly articulated mandate to vote in tandem on every issue, especially on downtown housing and other building, regardless of increasingly vocal citizen alarm? In a democracy, with citizen participation, consensus moves government forward. In contrast, predetermined, preemptive voting blocs such as the outgoing council trio’s can destroy towns like ours. They have already turned neighbor against neighbor, perhaps part of the grand plan, while fomenting an unprecedentedly toxic atmosphere.
Unless three independent voices join the two continuing council members’, next Tuesdaycould mark our last chance to redeem our village. That may sound hyperbolic, but it’s not. We are on a precipice.
The stakes in this election are higher than ever because of the potential tremendous financial gain of developers who support the trio bloc and their would-be replacements at the ultimate expense of and detriment to Ridgewood and its residents. Our opportunity to protect the value of our town and our votes is waning. If we fail to act now, we will face higher taxes, overcrowded schools, endless construction with accompanying disruption, and a condensed high-rise downtown with worsened traffic and loss of our village context.
With a dearth of buildable space, developers here and throughout the state are pressing for higher density in towns such as Ridgewood. The benefit would accrue to them, not to the taxpayer, who would provide their clients with the amenities of a lovely low-scale village (as long as it lasts). This is “progress”?
We must consider the consequences of development on every aspect of our community, not focus on retailers who understandably crave more sales and diners. Our economy is downsizing, not expanding; retail malls are waning; online retail is growing. All this makes our small-town feel all the more appealing and rare. We are lucky to have it; why destroy it now?
If you are among the countless residents who feel powerful affection for the Village and wish to retain its small-town atmosphere, please make your voice heard by voting in next week’s municipal election.
As council members Paul Aronsohn, Albert Pucciarelli, and Gwenn Hauck step down, three candidates are being groomed to take their place as the new “council majority.” The sponsored candidates are openly running as a team, with a shared group name and branding created by a professional campaign consultant.
They are supported by developers and by outgoing council members, two of whom published separate signed letters of endorsement in last Friday’s Ridgewood News. They are not supported by any grassroots groups in town.
Do we want another four years of watching three council members make almost every decision, elbowing out the other two?
Some residents feel fatalistic and burned out. They assume we’re doomed to face a Valley Hospital nearly doubled in size…an enormous parking garage and rampant high-density housing that exacerbate congestion in our streets and crowding in our schools…and more.
These things may happen, but they are not inevitable—depending in part on who wins the council election next Tuesday.
Valley Hospital:
The Planning Board recently agreed to a reduction by only 3% in Valley Hospital’s proposed expansion. But as many do not realize, Valley sued not only the Planning Board, but also the Village Council, in a separate lawsuit. (One of the two council members appointed to a mediation team by Mayor Paul Aronsohn was former Valley Auxiliary Vice President Gwenn Hauck.) The next council will make many decisions related to this. They could rescind the legal appeal, for example, and revert to Valley’s previous (2010), larger expansion plan, or resist and demand more concessions. Which would you prefer?
We must remain vigilant for Graydon:
Comments on Facebook and elsewhere suggest that keeping Graydon natural is never a “given.” The park must not be used for new building, such as apartments or a school, because of underlying natural springs, severe area flooding, and many other reasons. But LET’S JUST NOT GO THERE. Coghlan-Walsh, Hache, and Voigt would not argue “fiscal responsibility” to harm Graydon.
GarageMahal:
The group supporting the other three candidates has made support for a specific parking garage design their rallying cry. It should not be such a big deal, but they’re making it one. What’s neglected is that “our” candidates all support building a garage at Hudson and Broad. They just don’t want it to be so enormous and expensive.
On Monday, those promoting the new voting bloc held a “rally” for their chosen candidates in the room of a local restaurant in a building partly owned by a developer. This get-together was originally called a “candidates forum.” The terminology shifted when only the three developer-/council-majority-sanctioned candidates signed up to attend.
Reason: The quid pro quo for attendance was to sign a pledge to approve, “immediately,” a certain version of the parking garage and its funding, even though the garage will be the subject of a referendum in a special election on June 21. Click here for details about the “pledge.” Among the email invitations to the renamed “rally” were those issued on Saturday by our deputy mayor over his law firm’s logo.
The three candidates endorsed by us and by Concerned Residents of Ridgewood, Citizens for a Better Ridgewood, Friends of Schedler, and (new!) the Ridgewood Chinese American Association and the Ridgewood Blog had no intention of running together, and are not a “team.” Coghlan-Walsh, Hache, and Voigt retain their independent views and share no logo, tag line, or predetermined plan or alliances. 30-second video by resident Dana Glazer
I can’t stand by and let the old voting bloc be replaced by the new voting bloc without saying anything. Ramon Hache, Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh, and Jeff Voigt are intelligent, honest, and most important, independent thinkers. They are not running mates, although it might seem that way, since the three other candidates have been lashed together by themselves and others as a “team.” I know how the “team” story ends, as do many other residents. That’s why I fully support Ramon, Bernadette, and Jeff in the May 10th election. They will respect and listen to all residents, as good stewards of the Village should.
Michael Sedon
Councilman, Village of Ridgewood
To preserve and protect Ridgewood, moving forward cautiously and thoughtfully toward a well-planned short-term and long-term future, please vote onTuesday, May 10, for:
ROW 1 Jeffrey VOIGT
ROW 4 Bernadette COGHLAN-WALSH
ROW 6 Ramon M. HACHE
Polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM.
MEMORY JOGGER: Vote for the 3 candidates with tiny slogans in three languages above their names on the ballot. You can vote to protect Ridgewood’s future even if you can’t remember their names!
Over the past few weeks a number of the Schedler core members have had theopportunity to observe and evaluate the perspectives and agendas of the six candidates in the upcoming village council election. Based upon our meetings we hereby express oursupport for the candidacy of Jeff Voight, Ramon Hache and Bernadette Walsh.
Jeff, Ramon and Bernadette provide an honest, pragmatic, and hopeful insight into ourcommunity’s problems and needs. Their willingness to examine the issues and listen closely to the public’s questions and concerns, sets them apart from the other candidates’expected techniques and decisions. These candidates provide independent voices, but they have demonstrated that they will run a government of inclusion not just on the Schedler issue which impacts our neighborhood, but on all of the issues that impact the entire Village.
We are writing you to express our support for Jeff’s, Ramon’s and Bernadette’s respective campaigns, to encourage you to vote for them in the upcoming election and to spread word to others of the value of their policies and abilities. As a reminder, the election is on May 10.
Paul D’Arpa posted a more detailed response on the Friends of Schedler Facebook page
Dear Neighbors,
Over the past few weeks a number of the Schedler core members have had the opportunity to observe and evaluate the perspectives and agendas of the six candidates in the upcoming village council election. Based upon our meetings we hereby express our support for the candidacy of Jeff Voight, Ramon Hache and Bernadette Walsh.
Jeff, Ramon and Bernadette provide an honest, pragmatic, and hopeful insight into our community’s problems and needs. Their willingness to examine the issues and listen closely to the public’s questions and concerns, sets them apart from the other candidates’ expected techniques and decisions. These candidates provide independent voices, but they have demonstrated that they will run a government of inclusion not just on the Schedler issue which impacts our neighborhood, but on all of the issues that impact the entire Village.
We are writing you to express our support for Jeff’s, Ramon’s and Bernadette’s respective campaigns, to encourage you to vote for them in the upcoming election and to spread word to others of the value of their policies and abilities. As a reminder, the election is on May 10.
Would you approve the construction of a 90-foot baseball diamond on the Schedler property? Why or why not?
Coghlan-Walsh: I have never been nor will I ever be in favor of a 90 foot baseball field on the Schedler property. The dangers of those balls going into the highway far outweigh the need for another baseball field.
Hache: As a father of three small children, I have serious concerns regarding the safety of a 90-foot baseball diamond on Schedler. We also have to consider the adverse impact on noise levels the clearing of the trees would have on nearby residences. Although I would prefer to have a passive park area on the site, I am willing to support the 60-foot diamond as proposed by Schedler residents. I would also support directing part of the $670,000 accumulated through the open space tax to repair and preserve the Schedler house. It could perhaps be used as a facility for community programs and activities, similar to how The Stable has been used next to Graydon.
Voigt: No. And you’d say no, too, if you realized that the only way a 90-foot diamond gets built there is if home plate is on Route 17. But more to the point is that all of this has an impact on the people who live there. We’re really a Village of neighborhoods and; respecting those neighborhoods and the people in them is important.
While this blog may be correct in assuming that the finance board and the planning board are stacked with Aronsohn appointees that would approve his agenda,
there is a board that is not – the zoning board (quite possibly to Paul’s chagrin). I have been a member of this board since 2011 and can confidently state that the decisions made by it are non-partisan in nature
and most always benefit the Village and the applicant. The Chairman of this board, Joel Torielli, has done a wonderful job in ensuring the board deliberates in a fair an open manner.
It has been an absolute pleasure in working with all of them. If there is a board which operates in a manner that benefits the public it is this one. Lastly on a personal note, two of my campaign
team members, Wendy Dockray (planning board) and Sergio Alegre (zoning board and my campaign manager) work as part of the Village process and; are 2 of the most ethical people
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Council candidate Ramon Hache also shared his feeling on the high density meeting tonight , “I think tonight’s meeting is unfair to residents. There are two major decisions on the agenda tonight. Having two major topics on the same agenda will cause the meeting to go until early Thursday. The issues should have been split onto two agendas.”
First Ramon commented on the Hudson Garage ,”I hope the Council will vote to bond the garage ourselves. The newest design option, although not perfect, represents a compromise between residents and the Council. The original proposed size and footprint of the garage were simply too large.”
Then Ramon followed up on the high density housing, “The Council will vote on the proposed housing density of 35 UPA. I understand the need to develop the proposed sites but I would like to see mixed use, and a density of between 20 and 24 units per acre, more in line with the total average throughout the CBD. Although the recent study by BFJ suggest there would be minimal to no impact to the schools, Ridgewood is known for its schools and exceptional educational programs for special needs children. Therefore I would be cautious to rely on the student enrollment projections alone, which did not take into account the higher cost of special needs programs.
Ideally, I would rather see us approve one of these zoning changes first, to see how it goes. We would get real-world data while providing a good ratable which we need to finance the things we need and to stabilize property taxes.”
Ramon emphisized, ” These are very important issues that will have an enduring impact on the future of our community. I encourage residents to attend the meeting. I hope the Council will listen to the input from residents and will decide on responsible development that will preserve the character of our town while improving traffic safety.”
Ridgewood NJ, Readers say , “The only way to stop this is to fill up the room and let our Village Council know how we feel about this vote. It is important that everybody in town come out tonight. It is probably the most important vote in Ridgewood history because it is a question as to whether we want to continue living in a village or make it into a city. If the Village Council votes in favor of this high density master plan amendment, nothing will ever be the same again in our town.”
As Dave Slomin from CBR pointed out, “Ridgewood’s future held by the current powerholders in our Village Council and Planning Board, and that of a large majority of Residents. These powerholders see downtown Ridgewood as bigger scale, taller, denser, and much more bustling. They are planning a town center with a more urban look and feel, not a small town character. I don’t really know what is influencing them, as virtually every Resident CBR has spoken with – 1,000s of them over the past 4 years – wants Ridgewood to maintain its small town feel. Residents want to give their children and grandchildren the same wonderful town we enjoy.
Slomin went on , ‘Oddly, all three of the Council Members who support this over-scaled development are not running again. Why? We can only guess. But what we do know, is that in approving such unprecedented development as a Council Majority, but a Ridgewood Minority, they leave the mess to the next Council and to every Resident of this town… and to our children. Again, bad and unfair planning.”
Most readers find the idea that there will be No material impact? Really? These studies were hastily arranged at best and are not at all credible. If 70 units is so immaterial, why can’t you and your developer friends and family live without them?
The reality is that most residents for or against the planned development have no confidence in the Village Council majority aka the 3 amigos and do not think they are the people who should be making this decision . The current council majority has no overall vision of the future , and no plan just funding from special interests ,turning the Village into an urban environment .
Ridgewood NJ, The blog was mention by our buddy Rurik Halaby, and the council spoke on how uncivil everyone is. The best part was Gwenn who spoke about not believing everything people write on Facebook. I guess she is the only one people should believe ?
Rurik Halaby as we said ,took yet another swipe at The Ridgewood Blog during Wednesday night’s Village Council meeting when, during a public comment period, he publicly announced that he’d been named “Villian of the Year” by The Ridgewood Blog.
Of coarse it was OK for the head of the civility committee to characterize all residents at Village Council meetings as “Grand Standing”.
As for civility you live in a town where the Deputy Mayor makes threats in public meetings more than once, anyone who speaks his mind get harassed, anonymous emails get sent to peoples place of business and do not let us forget a physical assault took place at a council meeting , but yes the meanies on the blog are a tough bunch …
I’m against the single super sized garage and how the Council plans to fund it through the County. However I understand why developers and the Chamber are in favor of it – they stand to profit from it’s construction and/or operation. Much as I disagree with them I at least understand their motives. What I can’t fathom however is that our Council majority seems so set in its ways on THIS design and THIS way of funding it. Why? Do they think that this is really the best solution for Ridgewood? It seems more like they have a bone to pick with their Council mates.
The Council’s job is to say to the developers and the Chamber that yes, we understand you’d like to make more money but this is not the best solution for the Village. It isn’t. What they’ve actually done is side with the developers to use all of their collective authority to ram this plan though as quickly as possible. Again, why? The Council majority is treating the results of a NON BINDING referendum as an electoral mandate when the only question they posed to us in the fall was essentially “do you think we need more parking?”. E-mails I received from the Mayor said that the design was not final (apparently it was) and made no mention of financing the project through the County. Just when I thought my intelligence couldn’t be any more insulted by these 3.
And to those that say that we could bond the garage through the Village if only Mr. Sedon and Mrs. Knudsen would agree with the developers, I’d say that Mr. Sedon and Mrs. Knudsen are the only 2 on the Council actually doing their job. They, like many of us, feel that while we need a parking solution, there are better ways to go about it. And the rush to get this done now in the face of growing doubt and opposition only raises questions about the Council majority’s motives.
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD – Ridgewood’s Village Council continued its budget meetings this week, with representatives from various departments reporting on their successes and needs.
Health Department
Dawn Cetrulo, a health officer, said, “2015 was a great year for the Health Department,” noting that the department was easily able to deal with the Ebola virus crisis from last year, showing the staff’s preparedness. She also stated that the village’s weight-loss challenge went well, with a lot of participants “keeping the weight off.”
Furthermore, she noted that Animal Control Department provided 118 rabies vaccinations and 32 dog microchips to villagers free of charge.
Cetrulo said that some of the department’s goals for 2016 are to “continue to improve outreach programs in the community,” as well as “focusing on a monthly health positive.”
photo by Boyd Loving minutes after the alleged assault at the council meeting
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD – Ridgewood’s Village Council voted 3-2 to bond with the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA) on Feb. 10 in order to fund the proposed Hudson Street parking garage.
This came on the heels of last week’s unanimous vote of the BCIA to authorize the submission of an application to the state local finance board, accelerating the process along.
Just as there was at the BCIA version, Wednesday’s meeting featured both proponents and opponents of the decision to bond with the county, including village residents and council members.
Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, who voted against adopting the ordinance to bond with the BCIA, said that she still has some serious concerns with moving the process along at this time.
“I think that before we get into this, it’s really important to have a conversation with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and be neighborly and have the simulations and all of the information available to address and allay any concerns that they have,” she said.
While she did admit that bonding with the BCIA “seems like a great option,” she said that she continues to believe “that when we find the appropriate scale and design of this garage, it could be done on self-bonding.”
“While there seems to be some financial benefits to be gained by going through the BCIA, some of the detriments are very real,” Knudsen said. “Maintaining ownership and absolute control is imperative to the success of this garage … I think it’s still an opportunity to bond on our own.”
Councilman Mike Sedon, who cast the other dissenting vote against bonding with the BCIA, said he thinks it is necessary to have a payment plan in place before moving forward.
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