Tag: Ridgewood Council

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Ridgewood council revises gift ordinance

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Ridgewood council revises gift ordinance

MAY 30, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER

Financial donations to the municipality will still be subject to scrutiny by appropriate village officials, but a set of recently approved guidelines has modified the process in which contributions are considered.

Ridgewood Council members unanimously adopted a resolution that created a list of checks and balances when donations fall within specific monetary levels. As in the past, the village manager will enforce the rules and procedures, but now, the governing body will have direct input on potential gifts that meet certain criteria.

During a discussion last month, council members briefly reviewed the revisions to Ridgewood ordinance 3273, commonly known as the “gift ordinance.” Four categories of donations have been established: under $500 in value; $500 to $5,000; more than $5,000; and individual contributions when the total annual donation reaches $7,500.

According to the new procedures, all contributions $5,000 and less must be reported to the village manager’s office, which will accept gifts from known and anonymous donors after full vetting. The Ridgewood Council will review all gifts in the event a donor has a permit or application before a municipal board or agency 90 days before or after the contribution was made.

For gifts exceeding the $5,000 threshold, donors will be required to submit the village’s “Contribution Form” and await review and receive approval from the village manager and council members. The manager and council will receive all reports on a contributor whose individual gifts fall below $5,000 but when the “cumulative value exceeds $7,500 in a calendar year.”

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/council-revises-gift-ordinance-1.1026206#sthash.1lLcj0Ue.dpuf

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Knudsen, Sedon win Ridgewood Council seats

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Knudsen, Sedon win Ridgewood Council seats

MAY 13, 2014    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2014, 9:28 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER

Knudsen and Sedon received 2,723 and 2,588 votes, respectively. Jim Albano received 1,021 votes.

Voting results will be declared official after review by the Bergen County Board of Elections.

During her campaign, Knudsen, who serves as vice chair of the Ridgewood Board of Adjustment, displayed her knowledge of municipal concerns and issues, particularly addressing the potential of overdevelopment that might result from a hospital expansion and downtown multifamily housing projects. She was adamant when suggesting that Ridgewood consider repealing an ordinance that permits developers to apply for master plan changes.

Sedon had pledged his commitment to Ridgewood, saying he hoped to streamline local government in ways that would stabilize taxes while improving municipal services. A village resident for four years, Sedon noted that he grew fond of the municipality while an employee with The Ridgewood News.

Though Knudsen and Sedon did not formally create a ticket, several grassroots organizations linked the two through endorsements. Among the groups to support both candidates were the Citizens for a Better Ridgewood, Concerned Residents of Ridgewood, the Preserve Graydon Coalition and Ridgewood Eastside Development.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/knudsen-sedon-win-ridgewood-council-seats-1.1015227#sthash.SSg2g1Le.dpuf

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Opening of coffee stand completes renovations at Ridgewood train station

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Ridgewood NJ, Amelia Ortiz had some extra pep in her step as she boarded her train Wednesday morning. It might have been the coffee.

Flo’s Depot at the Ridgewood train station officially opened for business Tuesday morning, exactly one week after its originally scheduled unveiling. No one, including Ortiz, seemed to mind the seven-day delay – after all, they have been waiting for almost five years for a coffee stand to re-open at the spot.

When New Jersey Transit began a multi-million dollar renovation project and forced the last coffee stand to permanently close its doors in 2009, morning rail riders were compelled to seek their caffeine jolts and breakfasts-on-the-go from other sources. For those residents opting against a travel mug of java from home, the extra stop at a nearby shop or bakery posed a minor inconvenience.

 

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Ridgewood council members, school board trustees talk taxes

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file photo Boyd Loving Village Hall

Ridgewood council members, school board trustees talk taxes

APRIL 10, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014, 2:46 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER

After receiving a short presentation on next year’s preliminary school budget, members of the Village Council questioned the Board of Education (BOE) on Monday about “efficiencies” and expressed an interest in more collaboration to potentially save taxpayers money.

District officials, meanwhile, highlighted the high performance level of Ridgewood’s schools and several already-existing fiscal efficiencies, while noting that Ridgewood’s school district receives relatively little state aid in comparison to poorer districts.

The two elected bodies have collaborated in several ways in the past year. In September, the council confirmed that the district owned Heermance Place and could therefore reserve it for Ridgewood High School faculty parking. In February, the council extended a smoking ban in village parks to sidewalks outside of BOE properties (including fields and schools). Now, the council is also discussing the potential of allocating the district a police officer specifically entrusted to the schools, known as a school resource officer, or SRO.

After Monday’s budget presentation in the BOE building, some council members, all of whom but Councilman Tom Riche were present, suggested there may be future ways to increase the district’s efficiency. Last year, the council managed to present taxpayers with a flat budget increase, and is working on doing the same this year. Ridgewood’s school budget for next year, which accounts for about two thirds of residents’ property taxes, includes a 1.908 percent local tax levy increase.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-council-members-school-board-trustees-talk-taxes-1.898582#sthash.Dfi1OmS6.dpuf

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Ridgewood Council begins budget hearings

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Ridgewood Council begins budget hearings

MARCH 20, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014, 4:33 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER

Ridgewood finance and management officials are working toward a second straight year with a zero percent average tax increase, but they indicated this week that individual departments must seek additional spending cuts to realize that goal.

The Village Council held its first municipal budget public work session Wednesday night, and in traditional fashion, several department supervisors presented and explained their wish lists for 2014.

The department budgets have already gone through at least one round of scrutiny by municipal officials.

Supervisors and other department heads filed their 2014 budgets with the acting village manager and chief finance officer late last year for an initial review and a first set of cuts and recommendations.

Members of the Ridgewood Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) were also a part of that process, according to Heather Mailander, the acting village manager.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/ridgewood-council-begins-budget-hearings-1.746964#sthash.tiRhXFT5.dpuf

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Ridgewood Council, in 3-2 vote, makes manager’s appointment official

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Ridgewood Council, in 3-2 vote, makes manager’s appointment official

MARCH 13, 2014, 1:16 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood has a new village manager.

In a 3-2 vote Wednesday night, the Ridgewood Council approved the appointment of 17-year resident Roberta Sonenfeld to the village’s top administration position, a seat that has been vacant since late last August.

Sonenfeld will start her new job March 31, at which time she will begin receiving an annual salary of $155,000. She has already informed the village that she intends to waive any health benefits and stipends for travel expenses.

“This is my dream job,” Sonenfeld said after a line of about 10 residents spoke in support of her and her appointment.

With many family members in attendance, Sonenfeld, 59, said the combination of three decades in senior management roles and her desire to improve her hometown “brought me to this place.”

“I’m passionate about this town,” she said.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-council-in-3-2-vote-makes-manager-s-appointment-official-1.740095#sthash.GVGfZbJ3.dpuf

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Readers debate Urbanization of the Village

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Readers debate Urbanization of the Village

Editors note : History has shown us the problem is the Village simply has “ZERO” credibility in its ability to plan ,manage and implement large projects and too many seem to have their vision clouded by personal gain. 

No one wants to see empty lots in the CBD , nor do most want to live in the “next, next ” Hoboken .

Like the Train Station renovation before , there is a way for everyone to get something positive, add housing , improve infrastructure ,  take into account schools and of coarse parking.  

Whats lacking is a vision for the future of the Village. A vision uniquely by Ridewood ,for Ridgewood. Not about people getting elected or speculators getting rich off government connections . 

This Vision must include Valley Hospital, CBD housing ,retail and parking , traffic and the Ridgewood School district.

The Village with its excellent schools , parks ,CBD, cultural institutions and easy access to transportation  offers a very unique opportunity .

If we chose to destroy the character of the town , the very character that has attracted so many to the Village over the years , we will lose the very thing that makes us who we are….

 

The people advocating for high density buildings (and for Valley Hospital over expansion for that matter) do not care about our town. They care about making money. Once they make their money, if they don’t like what the town is like they will be able to leave. There is no middle ground we can get to right now because they want maximum $$. They will first try for maximum $$ via high density, and only if we defeat them will they come down a notch and try for slightly less (see Valley Hospital). Maybe after several defeats we might get to a middle ground, but even that will be temporary. People like this do not give up. 10 years after we reach a middle ground solution (if we do) they will be right back at it (or their children will take the helm) seeking to make $$ by ruining our Village…..

 

I think that is what has to be discussed. But to right away jump to conclusion and think over night or even years Ridgewood would turn into any of your examples is foolish and not forward thinking.

You think modernization and growth and you assume that means higher crime, noise, traffic and every negative thing you can imagine… But it doesn’t have to be that way if you develop a sustainable plan for growth through a thoughtful process.

The contextual makeup of Ridgewood is not sustainable. Look every town around us…. Minus glen rock… We are a old folks home… And it’s sad because we have an opportunity to be an example of a modern town that still remains true to its roots.

It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing deal. What i am really saying is that we are going to expand… No way around it it will happen eventually, just being honest. I rather the people that do care about this towns and it’s history be the ones making the plans and not the (as number one stated) money Hungary investors that can up and leave if it fails.

What rather you have?…..

We don’t want to follow the path of Hoboken, Paterson, Hackensack or NYC. Is there a suitable model out there?….

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New coffee stand will brew at Ridgewood train station

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New coffee stand will brew at Ridgewood train station
Tuesday February 4, 2014, 10:03 AM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The Village of Ridgewood is now accepting bids from vendors who are interested in leasing and operating a new coffee stand at the Ridgewood train station, which has been without that particular service since 2009.

The deadline to submit proposals is 11 a.m. Feb. 20, when all public bids will be opened.

 

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/243498621_New_coffee_stand_will_brew_at_Ridgewood_train_station.html#sthash.tD20lT5R.dpuf

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Council Apologist Says Stay out of Politics if you Don’t Want Retribution

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Council Apologist Says Stay out of Politics if you Don’t Want Retribution

Either the town is a civil service town (as we are, and as such we comply with civil service rules) or its not. The ‘nepotism’ policy, despite being well intended, does not have any place in a town that is governed by civil service rules. By applying this on top of civil service, someone could probably spend a few dollars on an attorney and invalidate it.
It would be an appropriate policy if we had a ‘chief’s test’ whereby ‘favorites’ or insiders (such as dispatchers) were hired, like many non-civil service towns.
Anyone who wants to rent a room or an apartment *and file federal income taxes and vote* can become a Village resident, eligible for hiring for any civil service position that requires residency. It does not require you to ‘grow up in town’.
Despite all of the above written by other posters, politics and ‘paybacks’ are the way it is in the real world.
If someone had a bitch with the former Mayor and chose to bring a legitimate question up before the council, so be it. The council must act in accordance with their ‘nepotism’ policy, or rescind it.
If one chooses to ‘throw their hat’ into the political arena, one must be ready to ‘suffer the consequences’. If the former mayor was more concerned about his son’s future employment, maybe he should have not entered politics and sat on the sidelines and enjoyed his retirement check.
That’s the way it is in the real world. And that’s why many successful businessman from the private sector wouldn’t get into politics…EVER.

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Reader says politicians and NJT should try commuting sometime before making infrastructure decisions

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Orange safety hat , for business attire

Reader says politicians and NJT should try commuting sometime before making infrastructure decisions.

I hope this person will be alright. It looks like the guy was walking home from the train. Last I checked day glow yellow suits are not really appropriate for business, so let’s cut him some slack about attire.

We are on track for a horrific accident at the intersection of Broad and Franklin now that the train station renovation forces commuters to cross at the underpass. There are no crossing signals. Cars coming through the underpass and making a right turn are not expecting people to be stepping off the curb right by the corner. More people are going to get hit. Maybe the politicians and NJT should try commuting sometime before making infrastructure decisions.

I am confident that nobody on the board at NJT eats their own cooking. The conditions at Penn are atrocious. Transferring at SEC is ridiculous in the mornings. And the station rebuild at RGWD is terrible. It is as if no part of that project was designed to improve the quality of commuting for non-ADA impacted people (99.999% of the people who use that station).

And yes, crossing at the corner of Franklin and Broad is about 10 times as dangerous as crossing Broad mid-block. There needs to be a full stop on green for right turns from Franklin to Broad, or at least better lighting on that corner. Good luck getting NJT to address it; they won’t even clear the snow from that corner, and evidently neither will Ridgewood.

Eventually you will see a traffic light on Franklin and Chestnut, too.

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NJ Transit has made the commute from Ridgewood a nightmare

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NJ Transit has made the commute from Ridgewood a nightmare

NJ Transit has made the commute from Ridgewood a nightmare. Express service pretty much cancelled — after a $40 million renovation just two years ago to build this big station, it is now no longer a key express stop per the schedule. Trains are so constantly overcroweded that there are fights (literally) over space to get on the trains. Emails, letters and calls go unanswered.

Now, we have large Advertisements for Empire Casino “decorating” the “RIDDGEWOOD” signs at this new station. I am all in favor of advertisements to reduce the financial strain on riders — but were these ad placements part of the drawings? I dont recall seeing them. Village officials never should have agreed to such a large expansion of the station and large advertisements for NY casinos without a committment from NJ Transit to maintain certain service levels. (BTW – why would a NJ based organization like NJ Transit agree to place large ads for a NY casino on its property when Atlantic City is suffering???) Hopefully this will serve as a warning to future Village leaders not to trust NJ Transit.

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Ridgewood Train Station plaza parking lot is reopened a day ahead of schedule

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Photo from the Ridgewood Police Department

Ridgewood Train Station plaza parking lot is reopened a day ahead of schedule.

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“Town Garage” looks to make a comeback

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“Town Garage” looks to make a comeback
September 5, 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, With the Village facing a “”Park-pocalypse” next week the Village council looks to continue discussions during the councils next work session on the recently proposed “Chamber of Commerce” parking plan for the Central Business District and a new plane for the you guessed it “Town Garage” property.

As previously reported members of the Ridgewood business community presented an elaborate, through expensive multifaceted plan last month that included not one but two parking structures and a new retail space as well as a strategy to fund the entire venture. This plan has become known as the “Chamber of Commerce” parking plan.

Criticism has centered on whether the plan can come in on budget to meet the very aggressive requirements to fund the parking complexes without risk to tax payers. A rosie scenario was presented but given the Villages past inability to meet construction budgets ie, the $2 million Village Hall that became a $9 million fiasco or the $400,000 ‘Golden Toilet” at Vets field that much chronicled on this blog leaves readers with doubts .

Tonight the “Town Garage” project is expected to be resurrected by the owners .Village Council members are expected discuss the plan at length. Past plans for the property have always been based on the socialized taxpayer financing with profits kept in the hands of the few. Taxpayers in Ridgewood up till now have been in no mood to finance someone else’s profits., but with the new regime the jury is still out.

There is also the issue of old fuel tanks , and soil contamination at the site if needed with no one really sure what the Village is on the hook for.

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Long-vacant “Town Garage” back on in the news again

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As previously reported in reader commentary  : Urbanization of Downtown Ridgewood is coming

Massive development set to take place in the Central Business District

https://theridgewoodblog.net/reader-urbanization-of-downtown-ridgewood-is-coming/

 

Long-vacant “Town Garage” back on in the news again

THURSDAY JULY 26, 2012, 1:49 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Village Council members are expected next month to resurrect a discussion initiated by the Ridgewood Planning Board, which has asked the governing body to review the stipulations and intentions of the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Area and Redevelopment Plan.

The Village Council will reopen discussions next month on what to do with the Town Garage property.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/163887616_Long-vacant_lot_in_Ridgewood_is_back_on_table_for_discussion.html

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Advertising placements at Ridgewood train station pitched

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Ridgewood NJ, Village officials remain on the fence about several aspects of New Jersey Transit’s (NJT) proposal to sell advertising space at the Ridgewood train station.

New Jersey Transit is proposing the placement of advertisements on platforms and the pedestrian underpass at the Ridgewood train station. Council members and other residents left last week’s work session meeting with a better understanding of NJT’s plan; however, many were not yet convinced that the initial ideas presented by NJT representatives are in the village’s best interest.

In addition, some council members suggested that the transportation corporation, which operates the country’s largest statewide public transit system, must completely fulfill the obligations of the recent $40 million renovation before moving forward with the advertising project.

As of early this week, NJT and its advertising contractor, Titan Outdoor, had hopes of working with the village to sell and install advertising placards at the train station. Transit officials are targeting spots on the platforms and the station building as well as the walls of the pedestrian underpass. The ultimate goal for both NJT and the village is an increase in revenue, transportation officials said.