>Light Gate : Under the draft Fields Use Policy, sports teams are planning to play up to 75 nights up to 10pm. Of these 75 nights, 16 are on weekday “school nights
Attached is the “Lighting/Field Use Per Proposed Policy 3/4/11” as prepared by the BOE using Gerry Rossi’s chart. What this shows is that under the draft Fields Use Policy, sports teams are planning to play up to 75 nights up to 10pm. Of these 75 nights, 16 are on weekday “school nights” when children start class about 8am the next morning.
Childhood schedules have changed over the years, but I doubt that there are any professionals that will endorse the idea of children playing sports up to 10pm on night before school days. What are these parents thinking of by asking to keep their kids out this late.
In a move denounced by lawmakers and environmentalists, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) yesterday proposed to waive regulatory requirements in limited cases where the rules prove to be “unduly burdensome.” (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
>At least 27 N.J. towns may ask voters by referendum to raise taxes above 2-percent cap
At least 27 towns have notified voters they may be asked to raise their taxes through a referendum next month, the first time New Jersey residents will have a say in their property tax rate. (DeMarco, The Star-Ledger)
Teachers unions, complaining they’re already saddled with historic lows in salary settlements, say they’re bracing for reductions in compensation because of proposals to reform health care plans and the pension system. (Williams Boyd, Asbury Park Press)
>Where the money went: Spending by NJ special interest groups
It’s the who’s who of lobbyists and special interest groups in Trenton, a voluminous report and database that details who is spending how much each year to try to influence legislation and policy. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
>State lobbying report says NJEA spent $6.6 million on ads against Christie
The state’s largest teachers union spent $6.6 million in advertising campaigns during a public relations war with Gov. Chris Christie last year, new figures show, and even the union concedes it earned little extra credit with voters. (Method, Gannett)
>New Jersey nearly sold confidential data at auction
Files on abused children. Employee evaluations. Tax returns. A list of computer passwords. Names, addresses, birth dates and other information on hundreds of foster children and abused children. And, of course, Social Security numbers. (Peréz-Peña, The New York Times)
Many of you have noticed the solar panels being installed :
What is the PSE&G pole-attached solar project?
In July 2009, PSE&G received regulatory approval to install small solar energy units on 200,000 utility poles and street lights in the towns we service in the next two years. The solar power will flow to the electric grid, which serves all customers.
PSE&G’s investment is the largest pole-attached solar installation in the world. Thanks to this and other programs, New Jersey has more installed solar capacity than any state except California.
How does this project benefit customers and the state?
This project will bring the benefits of clean, renewable energy to all customers in New Jersey. In addition, it also will create jobs for people who are needed to assemble and install the units.
Where will the solar units be installed?
The solar units will be installed in residential neighborhoods, as well as on poles and aluminum street lights along main streets near area businesses. We are informing municipal officials when we are working in their towns.
What do the solar units look like and how do they attach to the poles?
The units are 5 feet wide by 2.5 feet high and weigh about 60 pounds. They are safely attached to the pole about 15-18 feet from the ground.
How does PSE&G select the poles that will have solar units installed on them?
PSE&G is installing panels on poles that offer a clear southerly exposure to the sun, as long as the solar unit does not obstruct access to equipment already on the pole.
>Ridgewood opens Graydon Pool membership to non-residents Wednesday, March 9, 2011 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY MARCH 9, 2011, 11:08 PM BY EVONNE COUTROS THE RECORD STAFF WRITER
RIDGEWOOD — The Village Council voted Wednesday to open Graydon Pool this summer to residents of other municipalities, at least through 2012.
Ridgewood traditionally has offered Graydon Pool memberships to residents of neighboring Midland Park and Ho-Ho-Kus. Wednesday’s council vote will allow anyone to purchase memberships for $160 this year and $175 next year. Children up to age 15 would be charged $140 this summer and $155 in 2012.
Tim Cronin, the village parks and recreation director, estimated that revenue will rise substantially from the new rules and fees. The pool had between 3,000 and 3,200 members last year, and the village hopes for more.
“Based on last year, we think we can generate another $41,000 in revenue for the summer of 2011,” Cronin said.
>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.
