>Town hall fan calls NJ governor Chris Christie ’hot and sexy’ Last Updated: 2:54 PM, March 9, 2011
HOPATCONG, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has received an unusually warm reception at his latest town hall meeting — warm enough to make him blush.
During Wednesday’s event at a church hall in Hopatcong in Sussex County, Debra Nicholson from Sparta prefaced a question about affordable housing laws by telling Christie he was “hot and sexy.”
Wow, nice attempt at stirring things up. It might work better if you had some facts straight. “Under the table aggreements” for field lighting and improvements to Village and BOE properties” and “Side deals with the BOE appear to have been struck without the consent of the Village Council or parents” are at best stretches of the truth and pretty much out right mis-information but facts have never gotten in the way of stirring emotions on this blog. (And by the way since when does the BOE need “the consent” Village Council?)
Did Councilwoman Walsh really use the term; “under the table agreements or is that your inflammatory spin?” If she did I would assume she could be at risk as the agreements and discussions about that agreement are all part of the public record of open meetings of the BOE. This topic has been beaten to a pulp and the facts are that the BOE and the sports groups in open public meetings discussed and came to an agreement to fund the purchase of the lights. The BOE discussed it in open meetings and voted to accept the funds in an open public meeting. For decades sports groups in Ridgewood have paid to upgrade facilities for both BOE and Village. This is not something new.
Over the last few months the Fields Committee which has both a BOE Member and a Village Council Member on the Committee has worked on the new lighting policy. The new policy which the BOE passed on Monday night was tweaked many times to address a lot of the concerns expressed by neighbors, potential users, parents, etc… I don’t know if it is pefect, I don’t know if it is the best policy for everyone but it is a good start and I’m sure future issues will arise and they will have to be dealt with. However, the reality is the lights are going to be on later for 1 hour a few nights a week during very defined periods of time during the year and that doesn’t seem like a big deal to me.
There is a process to this whole thing and a lot of assumptions have been made before the process has even been completed. The lights on Stevens haven’t even been turned on yet. It’s only been six months and PSE&G still doesn’t have the lights at RHS or Stevens connected. Let’s get the lights turned on, correctly aimed, see how the new policy works and if changes have to be made, we’ll make them. But let’s stop the hysteria generation with poorly written, inaccurate postings which do nothing to help solve the issue.
Saladworks to Develop Six Locations in Bergen County
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Saladworks, the nation’s first and largest fresh-tossed salad franchise concept, announces an agreement with a multi-unit developer for six locations in Bergen County, NJ. The agreement plans for one store to open per year for the first four years and two stores for the fifth year. The first store of this new agreement is slated to open later this year.
“Bob Gallo is a welcome addition to our multi-unit franchisees, as well as to the Northern New Jersey market”
New franchisee for the Bergen County, NJ agreement, Bob Gallo of Ridgewood, NJ currently works in real estate development and construction. Looking for an opportunity where he could work for himself, keep a steadier income, and expand quickly, Gallo turned an eye to Saladworks.
“Saladworks was the most attractive franchise to me because of the support they offer to new and existing franchisees,” Gallo said. “I wanted to help develop the North Jersey market and becoming a part of this cooperative and energetic team is helping me do so.”
With the addition of these six stores over the next five years, Saladworks will have over 40 locations in its home state of New Jersey. With the southern part of the state nearly saturated with locations, the franchise will continue its focus on expanding the densely populated Northern New Jersey market to better serve its fans.
“Coming from a real estate and construction background, I am excited to start the process of building out the 3G model Saladworks. I’m proud to help build both the Saladworks brand and national presence,” Gallo said.
“Bob Gallo is a welcome addition to our multi-unit franchisees, as well as to the Northern New Jersey market,” said Founder/CEO, John Scardapane. “The majority of Saladworks franchisees are multi-unit operators, which is a testament to their loyalty to the brand and the scalability of Saladworks.”
Saladworks, the nation’s first and largest fresh-tossed salad franchise concept operates over 100 franchise locations in 12 states. In addition to its existing stores, the chain currently has over 60 units in development across the country.
>Village’s snowfall costs pile up : $36,000 just for salt.
Village’s snowfall costs pile up Friday, March 4, 2011 BY MICHAEL SEDON THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS Staff Writer
Since Mother Nature rarely keeps regular business hours, this winter’s snowstorms dropped some extra expenses on the village, totaling more than $350,000 so far.
Total accumulation for the eight storms that pummeled Ridgewood equaled about 54.25 inches, said local weather enthusiast Roger Wiegand. At one point between January and February, there was nearly one storm per week.
The expense of those storms is borne mainly by three village departments: Streets, Fleets and Parks and Recreation. Snowstorms create overtime costs for various departments as well as “on call pay,” given to employees who must come to work as the winter weather dictates, explained Village Manager Ken Gabbert in an e-mail.
“Staff are paid to be available in case of an emergent need,” Gabbert wrote. “When called into work, they have a minimum of two hours pay paid.”
Most statistics for this story were obtained by The Ridgewood News from an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request. The figures do not include the Feb. 21 snowstorm, for which information was not included in the request.
So far this winter, the village paid overtime to five departments for snow removal: $107,597 for Streets; $33,769 for Parks; $9,377 for Fleets; $7,701 for police; and $3,049 for the Ridgewood Fire Department. A private contractor, Conquest Industries LLC, was paid $123,960 for snow removal. The “on call pay” went to employees of the Streets ($19,368) Fleets ($2,682) and Parks ($13,968) departments.
Salt, calcium chloride and brine are used to help keep streets ice free, and the total cost for those products so far this winter is $40,376, with more than $36,000 of that price tag covering just salt.
>Flood Watch FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 342 AM EST WED MAR 9 2011
…ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY RAINFALL HEADED THIS WAY…
.A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM WILL SLOWLY TRACK EAST TODAY AND TONIGHT…APPROACHING THE AREA. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THURSDAY INTO EARLY FRIDAY. THIS WILL EXACERBATE THE HIGH WATER LEVELS ACROSS AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS.
NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN NEW HAVEN-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD- SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN-WESTERN PASSAIC-EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON- WESTERN BERGEN-EASTERN BERGEN-WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX- WESTERN UNION-EASTERN UNION-ORANGE-PUTNAM-ROCKLAND- NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER- 342 AM EST WED MAR 9 2011
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING…
>Village of Ridgewood : More details on the Village budget the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ- Parks and Recreation is looking at a budget about the same as last year of $1.5 million budget, which is supplemented by about $800,000 in gross revenue from programs and the Graydon concession stand.
Graydon needs about 250 tons of coarse sand costs around $50,000, and in a possible repair of a large pump that could cost as much as $5,000. Concession stand revenues last summer were$96,000 , with a $28,000 and $41,000 for supplies, netting $27,000 for the summer season.
If the summer weather is anything like last year, adding the slight increase in fees which still has Graydon offering one of the lowest costs to join of any pool in the area the village will move one step closer to its goal of having the facility break even or pay for it self. After a successful season last year the village is looking to promote the pool a bit to further increase members .
The CBD Project Pride has a tiny budget of $22,900 budget with a committee made up of all volunteers doing the work that would otherwise be done by the Village making the expenditure viewed more as a cost savings.
The number of cell phones issued to Village employees has been decreased in the last two years. The number of cell phones on the Village payroll has dropped from 126, to 96 this year. The It department is now looking to consolidate cell contracts by using shared minute plans lowering the cost of new lines from $40 per month to $10 per month.
Last week’s public demonstration by police and fire unions protesting common-sense reforms to employee compensation confirmed a Democratic Party uninterested in solving the problem of high property taxes for middle-class taxpayers, and bodes ill for that party’s claim to ever represent the “center” of NJ’s electorate for years to come. (Michaels, PolitickerNJ)
>Sweeney looking to force shared services on towns
Sweeney plan removes state aid
State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney is expected to announce today a proposal to give a state commission power to take away state aid from towns, school districts and other government bodies that refuse to enter a shared services arrangement. (Method, Courier-Post)
White House memo notes shortage of applicants for contest to have Obama to speak at high school graduation Posted by Peter Maer
The White House is ramping up an effort to promote a nationwide competition to decide which high school wins a commencement speech by President Obama.An internal White House memo indicates that the White House is facing a shortage of applications less than a week before the deadline.
The competition was extended from the February 25 deadline until Friday, March 11 after few schools met the original application deadline. CBS News has learned a White House Communications Office internal memo dated February 22 noted “a major issue with the Commencement Challenge.”
“As of yesterday we had received 14 applications and the deadline is Friday,” the memo said. The memo also urged recipients to, “please keep the application number close hold.”
>Light Gate:the saga continues the Staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ – Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh questioned sports group members asking if the parents whose fees were collected by the organizations knew their dollars were going toward under the table agreements for field lighting and make improvements to both village or BOE properties?
As has been reported previously reported many parents have expressed both unhappiness with the late night filed lights and the fact that sides deals with the BOE appear to have been struck without consent of the Village Council or parents .Sports Groups have responded to paraphrase ,if you don’t like it don’t play . Councilwoman Walsh who apparently didn’t get the memo that Sports Groups now run the Village was not impressed with this answer.
The Sports Groups are non profits run by volunteers and in the past have unilaterally decided to spend their funds on what ever was best for the organization , but the current lighting controversy ,dubbed as “Light Gate” involves more that just the Sports Groups and the children that enjoy participating . Late night light create both a light and noise problem for the neighbors who have argued that they were never consulted before or during the project .
The BOE has relied on the argument that the argument that the field upgrades were approved in a referendum which included the lighting however there seems to be some debate over whether the Lighting and the additional playing times were included or not ,thus the moniker, “Light Gate” . To make things worse the the referendum was barley approved with a majority of its support coming from the Willard School district which has seen a notable absence of field lights.
>HIGH COST OF ENERGY : Assembly Committee seeks to stop hydraulic fracturing before it can start
Assembly Committee seeks to stop hydraulic fracturing before it can start
How crucial is relatively cheap natural gas to the state’s economic recovery?
That question came up repeatedly yesterday, as New Jersey lawmakers took action on a package of bills aimed at halting the practice of hydraulic fracturing, a controversial process that produces natural gas by injecting large volumes of water into wells dug in Marcellus Shale formations. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
>Assembly panel approves bill hiking fines for cell phone use, texting while driving
Legislation cracking down on the use of cell phones while driving received approval by an Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee Monday. (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)
>Sweeney wants concurrent votes on health care, pensions
State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney said Monday that he will not allow passage of pension and health care reform packages unless both are approved together. (Method, Courier-Post)
>Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney will push for shared-services agreements
Senate leader would require more sharing
State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney said Monday he will push for a law aimed at moving the state’s 566 municipalities into shared-services agreements. (Method, Asbury Park Press)
The federal government posted its largest monthly deficit in history in February, a $223 billion shortfall that put a sharp point on the current fight on Capitol Hill about how deeply to cut this year’s spending.
That one-month figure, which came in a preliminary report from the Congressional Budget Office, dwarfs even the most robust cuts being talked about on the Hill, and underscores just how much work lawmakers have to do to get the government’s finances in balance again.
The Senate plans to vote Tuesday on competing proposals to cut spending, but Democrats have rejected GOP-backed cuts of more than $50 billion, and Republicans have ruled out Democrats’ cuts of less than $10 billion, meaning neither plan will draw the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster and pass.
