VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD
VILLAGE COUNCIL
REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
8:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order – Mayor
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute and Moment of Silence
5. Acceptance of Financial Reports
6. Approval of Minutes
7. Proclamations
“This is all dirty business. The bottom line is the Ridgewood water company is a utility. Everyone that works with the Ridgewood water company works for the utility company. They are not village employees they are utility water workers. My question is from our investigation why is the director of water In charge of the sanitation and recycling department. So what you’re saying is when sanitation and recycling are short in employees On a daily basis they can utilize water utility workers correct. Because they all fall under one. For what is the answer. Can someone clarify this please Or do we have another cluster to deal with.”
file photo by Boyd Loving
If the (Ridgewood Water) suit was filed for the rate hikes in 2010 -2012, then I believe Paul Aronsohn was on the Council from 2008 joined by Albert and Gwenn In 2012. The three served til May 2016 and appointed the 6th council member ( actually manager) Roberta Sonenfeld. A lot of the blame for the current issues fall directly on their shoulders. Adios to the Three Amigos who left us in bad shape.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a three judge appellate court panel has affirmed the 2017 ruling in favor of the three municipalities in their suit against Ridgewood Water for excessive rate hikes during the 2010 -2012 time period .
It is however very unclear if rate payers will receive any relief . The appellate court confirmed the factual findings made by the original judge Perez-Friscia stating they were supported by substantial credible evidence.
Continue reading Ridgewood Water Wins by Losing
“Not so many years ago Ridgewood water was so good that pediatricians said it could be used for babies formula without being boiled. Now it is literally toxic and there are many times that our water filter cannot overcome the purely nasty taste and smell. Recently it was announced that our water rates will once again go up as Ridgewood isn’t selling enough water to meet their cost. Since most of it is being supplied by Suez they have to pay them first. Remember, the neighboring towns who receive Ridgewood water sued them because part of their bill payment was used to subsidize other Ridgewood departments. Ridgewood’s response was to hire someone who “proved” that the rate the other towns were paying was the right rate and thus the suit should be null and void. The other towns did not give up and Ridgewood will be eventually forced to pay reimbursement of the overage in charges. Unfortunately, our “wonderful Council” says the water company is self supporting and that it doesn’t cost anything in Ridgewood taxes. That is why they used “water company money” to buy the Elks. (Presumably all the water company’s cars and trucks will take the Library and Village hall parking spots on Maple as “adequate parking is not available at the Elks.”) Anyone want to bet that that building will not become the Library’s auditorium? Honesty and truth telling cannot be found in the Council, the BOE, or from any other official in Ridgewood. We are left to wonder WHY they prefer to hide their true actions?”
file photo by Boyd Loving
“This just does not seem to be a quality product.
Ridgewood water has a hardness level of 21 g, neighboring utilities, in the worse case was 7 g, water is considered “hard” above 5. This is off the charts, and effects everything from appliances effectiveness and servicing, washing dishes, showers, etc. Our particles (solids) level in the water is excessive, 121 per million, far above the next worse at 45 per million. This is on par with some third world systems. As for water on lawns and scrubs, I guess we can let it all go, would continue our slide towards a city environment, I recall we used to give awards for the nicest lawns and gardens.
Leaving RW Water in place with their ineffective management, sub par systems, ridiculous water rules, and terrible product cant really be the right path.”
“When I moved to Ridgewood 25 years ago, water restrictions were imposed rarely, for relatively brief periods due to drought conditions. In recent times, these restrictions are more-or-less a permanent feature. Now we can justify this, as the first commenter has done, by championing conservation and how unnecessary grass is. However, the reality is that potential home buyers want their green lawns and towns that are competing for this real estate market do not have similar restrictions. This may be a minor point in the real estate decision making, but when people start doing their Google research, the Ridgewood negatives (e.g. school rankings, multi-story garage, low-income apartments, and permanent water restrictions), it has an effect.”
“The continuing inability for Ridgewood Water to not be able to deliver product is amazing and a failure of this town leadership for years. The water that is delivered to our homes rivals many third world countries in quality, hardness, and contaminants. The water is off the charts in hardness and multiple times worse then surrounding town. The infrastructure is not being upgraded in terms of piping, etc except when broken etc. There is just no leadership at all.
If my children were still at home I would be organizing a civil suit to fully identify the risks, inaction, and force solutions. We are the only town with never ending restrictions for a sub par product.
BTW How does anyone think we will supply water to the new apartments . No planning at all.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, This is a reminder that Stage II water restrictions remain in effect.
Odd numbered addresses may irrigate on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. Even numbered addresses may irrigate on Wednesdays and Sundays only. No irrigation is allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays. Irrigation shall be performed before 10 am or after 6 pm, to limit evaporation.
Continue reading Ridgewood Water Reminder Stage II Water Restrictions Remain in Effect.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to Ridgewood water July is Smart Irrigation Month, a public awareness campaign to promote efficient water use. In the United States, more water is used in July than in any other month. In summer months, outdoor watering accounts for more than half the total water use of a home in our service area. And most water used to irrigate lawns and landscapes ends up evaporating or on paved areas. During #SmartIrrigationMonth take a look into some water-saving tips that will also produce financial savings and preserve our water resources.
At Wednesday Nights Council meeting Village of Ridgewood Manager Heather Mailander , Ridgewood water 35 wells that are operational out of a total of 52 . 8-9 additional wells that are currently not operational will be operational by the end of the year . That is a 20% increase in wells providing water to the Ridgewood water service area.
Ridgewood Water FB Page Disclaimer
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water posted a disclaimer on their Facebook page first on June 24 and then on July 9th .
“Ridgewood Water can answer your questions or concerns by calling 201-670-5520 during business hours or emailing us at [email protected]. The opinions expressed by visitors of this page do not reflect the opinions of the Village of Ridgewood or Ridgewood Water. Posted comments will be monitored and the Village reserves the right to remove obscenities, off topic comments, personal attacks, or any other comments that are deemed inappropriate. Alternatively, Ridgewood Water will not be responsible for any claims or complaints made as a result of content or postings that are left on or not removed from this page. Any content posted or submitted for posting is subject to public disclosure.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, To view Ridgewood Water’s annual Consumer Confidence Reports click HERE.
We hope you have had an opportunity to read the report and learn about the water quality parameters that we monitor and the contaminants we test for.
Ridgewood Water is a complex water supply system and our Annual Report is similarly complex. Should you have any questions, please call us at 201-670-5521.
the fly has heard a rumor today that the water department is paying parks department $100,000 to trim bushes at some of their sites and maintenance I thought that supposed to go to bid…..
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, This is a reminder that Stage II water restrictions remain in effect.
Continue reading Ridgewood Water :Stage II water restrictions remain in effect.
“Does it make sense that the Elk’s Club was purchased via the Ridgewood Water utility (100% owned by the Village) for $1.2 million, and now it will cost another $3 million to redevelop? When the original cost proposed by the Village Council majority was under $2 million? Given the likely change orders, and the fact this Village couldn’t manage running a lemonade stand, we’re talking $5+ million for a building to house 30 Ridgewood Water employees right in the CBD. One that doesn’t even have parking for their trucks. How does this make any sense to taxpayers when there so much empty Class A & B office space to lease in Bergen County? It only makes sense to a Council majority that has promised space in Village Hall to the police department”
