>New Jersey Pension Reform: Gov. Christie: Pension system antiquated, unsustainable
Gov. Christie: Pension system antiquated, unsustainable
Gov. Chris Christie in his State of the State speech Tuesday called the public employee pension system “antiquated and unsustainable,” but Democratic lawmakers said an overhaul won’t do any good unless the Republican governor restarts funding to the program. (Jordan, Daily Record)
>Education Reform: Christie seeks end of teacher tenure
Christie seeks end of teacher tenure
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called for an end to teacher tenure in his first State of the State Tuesday, a move that would require cooperation from the Democrats in the state legislature. (Fleisher, The Wall Street Journal)
>Former Mayor David T. Pfund – “There will be no tangible loss of service . . . ” as a direct result of municipal worker layoffs
For those of you who remember the former Mayor saying this, but can’t remember exactly when he said it, it was on May 12, 2010 during a Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Village Council.
Here’s the dialog:
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked when the vote on the 2010 budget will take place and if there will be any additional opportunity for public comments prior to the vote. Mayor Pfund said that any public comments concerning the budget would need to be made this evening and that the vote will take place on June 9, 2010. Any general comments could be made prior to the vote on June 9, 2010 during the public comments portion of that evening’s meeting.
Mr. Loving said that the Village of Ridgewood Reports (Spring 2010) states in part: “The 2010 Introduced Budget is accomplished with the unprecedented support of numerous full-time employee retirements, adjustments to existing collective bargaining agreements and numerous full and part time staff layoffs.” Mr. Loving said that with regard to the “numerous full and part time staff layoffs,” the public has not yet been informed what services the Village is considering cutting. Therefore, he said it was difficult for anyone to comment on the budget. He asked if anyone could indicate at this time what services may be reduced or eliminated so that the public would have a better idea of what is going to happen.
Dr. Gabbert replied that the Village has submitted a layoff plan to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and it is up to Civil Service to determine the bumping rights of individuals. Where there are vacancies due to either retirement or elimination of positions, the Village plans to have coverage for those responsibilities/positions. Therefore, Dr. Gabbert did not anticipate any elimination of services. He said that there may be different individuals covering services or acting as supervisors in certain areas, but the services provided by the Village should remain essentially the same.
When again questioned by Mr. Loving, Dr. Gabbert replied that since the 2010 budget has been reduced by 2% from the 2009 budget, health insurance premiums have increased by 18%; contractual salaries have increased by 4.3%; and State aid has been reduced, there will obviously be changes within each department since each departmental budget has been pared down. However, he said that the Village still aims to accomplish its “mission” and if there is a shortfall somewhere, then they will rapidly take care of it.
Mayor Pfund added that this is a very difficult year and there will be changes. He said that there will be no “tangible” loss of service such as the elimination of garbage pickup, recycling services, or street cleaning/plowing. However, with the loss of some jobs, other Village personnel will have to “pick up the slack” in their department to maintain adequate levels of service. Mayor Pfund said that most employees are already working at maximum capacity and, therefore, he said that there is a definite possibility that there will be longer wait times in certain departments as a result. Mayor Pfund said that the Village Council will have to see how this progresses in the future and address any problems which occur. He said that an 8.86% tax increase was unacceptable to him and not fair to the taxpayers. He added that he did not even like a 5.16% increase and stated that the Village Council was going to do whatever it can to reduce this tax rate.
Mr. Loving concurred that an 8.86% tax increase would be unfair. He was concerned about the lack of communication to the taxpayers about what they might expect. He said that a number of people had spoken at the April 14, 2010 meeting regarding reductions in the programming for senior citizens and the Community Center. Mayor Pfund said that more will be known after the determination is made by Civil Service regarding bumping rights. Mr. Loving said that although he had not attended the Board of Education meeting on May 10, 2010, he had heard that Councilman Aronsohn had suggested even deeper cuts in the municipal budget in order to preserve the school budget. He asked if this had been considered by the Village Council and if further reductions would impact services. Mayor Pfund said that, in his opinion, the Village Council will be cutting as much as possible, regardless of the school budget, for the sake of the taxpayers and the Village. He said that there have not been any further discussions in this regard.
Mr. Loving said that a lot of people have mentioned that they moved to Ridgewood for the educational system. He said that in the 1970s, he and his family moved to Ridgewood for the same reason but decided to remain in Ridgewood after their children graduated from high school because of the great municipal services which Ridgewood provides. He cautioned the Village Council to be very careful about which reductions are made because if municipal services are reduced, he predicted that many people whose children are no longer in school will leave Ridgewood. Echoing Mr. Cirillo’s comments, Mr. Loving concluded by saying that it is not “all about” the schools and that there are other considerations as well. He thanked the Village Council for their time. Mayor Pfund thanked Mr. Loving for his comments.
Councilman Killion commented that the Village Council has a choice between raising taxes and making cuts. He said that there was no easy answer and this year will be difficult. He said that it will be even more difficult in 2011 if the proposed 2.5% tax levy cap is passed. Councilman Killion remarked that there is no way that the Village can possibly provide the level of service it does now if that tax levy cap is passed. Mr. Loving said that he understood that cuts need to be made but stated that he was more concerned about the lack of communication to the taxpayers. He said that the Board of Education did a very good job in terms of explaining exactly what their cuts would be. He said that right now, no one knows anything as far as the municipal budget is concerned.
>Light Gate : Ridgewood BOE declines new meeting over field lights
Ridgewood BOE declines new meeting over field lights Tuesday, January 11, 2011 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY JANUARY 11, 2011, 5:58 PM BY KELLY EBBELS THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS Staff Writer
Ridgewood’s Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously Monday night to “courteously decline” an invitation from the village Planning Board to host a new meeting with neighbors of Ridgewood High School (RHS) regarding the installation of stadium-style field lights at the school’s two athletic fields.
BOE members said they have provided enough opportunities for full dialogue with the neighbors – including resolving issues surrounding the fields’ increased usage – in their own forums and meetings.
“I think we need to keep moving forward at all times,” said BOE member Laurie Goodman, a member of the communications committee and the BOE’s representative to the joint Village-District Fields Committee. “I don’t see why we need the planning board to have a dialogue … we have plenty of space here for meetings.”
Neighbors of RHS stepped forward in recent months following the installation of 11 light poles between 70 and 80 feet tall at Stadium and Stevens fields, alleging that the BOE did not provide adequate consultation or properly inform residents of the development. They have raised concerns about how the field lights reflect a new field usage policy, as well as criticized the quality of information presented at the first courtesy review at the planning board on Oct. 5.
The planning board voted in December to extend an invitation for a new meeting
>“Sorry Peter, mail trucks have the right to collide with pedestrians, and so do angry New York drivers, according to the legal experts at the Ridgewood Blog whose word must be accepted as gospel. It’s your own fault for arrogantly slapping your messenger bag against a speeding mail truck, whose government-employed driver had no social responsibility to pay attention while he was driving.
Ditto for the New York driver, a state known for its calm and level-headed residents, who nearly had to deal with the inconvenience of your blood staining his Certified Pre-Owned BMW.
Please improve your walking skills so that property taxes won’t go up in an attempt to save the lives of our children.” PEDESTRIAN SAFETY LAWS CHANGED – APRIL 1, 2010
Revisions to law concerning pedestrian safety and traffic control went into effect on April 1, 2010. Among other revisions, such as an increase to the portion of fines to be deposited into the “Pedestrian Safety Enforcement and Education Fund”, the new law requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians under certain conditions. https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/SoNJ1329PED.pdf
>Energy Tax: Controversial ratepayer-subsidy bill passes both houses
Controversial ratepayer-subsidy bill passes both houses
The legislature gave final approval yesterday to a controversial bill meant to lower the cost of electricity in New Jersey by having ratepayers subsidize the construction of new power plants — but it took new amendments and some behind-the-scenes lobbying to get the measure passed. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
>Doc Gate :Donovan asking Molinelli to probe missing documents
A large quantity of documents is missing from Bergen County government offices, a key aide to County Executive Kathleen Donovan said Monday. (Gartland, The Record)
Gov. Chris Christie says he’s anxious to do away with caps on tuition increases at four-year state colleges, adding that college presidents should be free to seek “market prices” and be given broader autonomy for nearly all management matters. (Jordan, New Jersey Press Media)
>Sheriff Clarence Dupnik: Arizona suspect had made death threats
Arizona suspect had made death threats-sheriff
Jan 8 (Reuters) – The suspect in Saturday’s shooting rampage in which a U.S. congresswoman was critically wounded was unstable and had been known to make death threats in the past, the local sheriff said.
The FBI is investigating whether the man is the same person who posted a rambling Internet manifesto accusing the government of mind control and demanding a new currency.
Jared Lee Loughner, 22, of Tucson, was taken into custody moments after the shooting at a political meeting held by Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords in a supermarket parking lot. Six people died and Giffords had a critical head wound. [ID:nN08246649]
Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County, where the shooting happened, told reporters the suspect had a troubled past. “All I can tell you is that this person may have a mental issue,” Dupnik said.
Dupnik said there had been earlier contact between Loughner and law enforcement after he had made death threats, although they had not been against Giffords. He said the authorities believe he may not have been working alone.
ELMWOOD PARK, N.Y. (WPIX) — As a New Jersey man and his wife, who was entering labor, drove along the Garden State Parkway Monday morning, their incoming baby decided he was not going to wait until they arrived to Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.
Out of time, the anxious couple was forced to pull onto the shoulder of the parkway just near Route 80 at around 6:30 a.m. where they called 911, state police said.
>..COASTAL STORM TO IMPACT THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM TUESDAY TO 6 PM EST WEDNESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM TUESDAY TO 6 PM EST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
* LOCATIONS…NEW YORK CITY…LONG ISLAND AND NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY.
* HAZARDS…SNOW…HEAVY AT TIMES.
* ACCUMULATIONS…7 TO 14 INCHES…WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. HIGHEST AMOUNTS ACROSS LONG ISLAND.
* WINDS…GUSTS 25 TO 35 MPH.
* VISIBILITIES…LESS THAN 1/4 MILE AT TIMES.
* TIMING…HEAVIEST SNOW OCCURS AFTER MIDNIGHT TUESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY.
* IMPACTS…HAZARDOUS TRAVEL TUESDAY NIGHT AND THROUGH THE DAY WEDNESDAY.
Expressing Elvis – Jan 8 Celebrating Elvis Presley’s Birthday in Poetry and Song
Poets list from Saturday:
Arthur Sharon Joe Verilla David Vincenti Maria Gillan Laura Boss Anna Toher Christopher Parke Maude Carolan Pych Elizabeth Marchitti (read poem by Linda Cronin) Susan Lembo Balik Napoleon Nikolai Zivkovik Paul Sacks Jessica De Koninck (I read her two poems)
Musicians were Gregory Gwyn on violin, and Peggy Sawyer (his violin teacher) on piano and violin.
Elvis Fan Tests
7% negative: You either must have lived in a closet…. 26% in the 0-9 breakdown: You’re not a serious Elvis fan (at least not yet…) 13% in the 10-19 category: You like Elvis quite well. 13% in the 20-29 category: Elvis is a big part of your life. 13% in the 30-50 category: You are a serious Elvis fan. 21% in the 60-99 category: We consider you a committed Elvis fanatic. 7% in the 100 plus category: Are you sure there’s not life outside Elvis?
The food : Chef Jesse Jones, WOW!
Emily Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church 271 Lincoln Avenue Ridgewood, NJ 07450 (201) 445-1832
>Christie may cut Medicaid as $10.5 billion New Jersey budget deficit looms
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie gives his first State of the State speech tomorrow after saying he may cut Medicaid and employee benefits to eliminate a $10.5 billion budget deficit in the second-wealthiest U.S. state.
Christie, who took office a year ago, said he’ll tell lawmakers in his address that New Jersey remains in a financial crisis and they need to maintain fiscal controls as employment and revenue recover slowly from the longest recession since the 1930s. The Medicaid program “is one of the things we’re going to have to look at,” Christie said in a Jan. 4 interview.
The 48-year-old chief executive joined 28 other Republican governors asking President Barack Obama and congressional leaders last week for permission to reduce Medicaid outlays below federally prescribed levels. New Jersey budgeted $3.1 billion for Medicaid in the fiscal year ending June 30 and was scheduled to receive $1.1 billion in federal stimulus funding, according to the Treasury Department. (Dopp, Bloomberg)
