Yet another business survey has found that New Jersey has one of the worst tax climates for small businesses, but those numbers may not be telling the whole story.
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council’s Small Business Tax Index 2017 ranked all 50 states on how friendly their tax climates are to small businesses. New Jersey finished second to last overall, beating out only California. The result has not changed since the SBE’s survey was done in 2014.
The five states with the friendliest tax climates for small businesses:
1. Nevada;
2. Texas;
3. South Dakota;
4. Wyoming;
5. Washington state.
Conversely, the five states with the worst tax climates:
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission is offering village residents an opportunity to improve the beauty and value of their properties with its Adopt-a-Tree program. Property owners have until June 30th to submit an application to have a tree planted in the median (village owned property) in front of their home.
Residents are able to select a tree from an approved list of native species, specifically chosen for their ability to provide shade and flourish close to the street. If the application meets all the criteria (i.e. doesn’t interfere with underground utilities, power lines), property owners pay a fee to cover the cost of purchasing and planting the tree, which happens each autumn.
As part of the process of obtaining a new tree, residents also agree to the maintenance of the newly planted tree, such as ongoing watering, weeding, and mulching.
Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to improve the air quality and curb appeal of your home. Applications can be found on the Shade Tree Commission’s website, www.ridgewoodshadetree.org and are due by June 30th.
Additional questions or comments can be sent to Monica Buesser, [email protected].
About the Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission
The Ridgewood Shade Tree Commission’s (STC) purpose is to protect, preserve and enhance the shade trees in the village. Shade Trees are defined as trees planted next to streets on the Village’s property. The STC’s goals are to foster public-private partnerships to 1) educate the community about the contribution shade trees make to the Village environment and, 2) increase the number of shade trees in the village by actively promoting community tree planting programs.
I wish I knew as well, but we have to trust the police – many of whom if not most – live in town, with their kids, so you can believe they have our best interests at heart. No report of this activity is very likely on purpose for a valid reason. It may be something as simple as any news would hamper an ongoing investigation. Call me naive if you like, but I personally believe if the police had to report on something that might hurt the town’s reputation – but would make us safer – I believe they would then still report it.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police, Fire, and EMS units, along with several Glen Rock Police officers, responded to aid the five (5) victims of a Tuesday afternoon, 06/27, rollover crash at the intersection of Kenilworth and Laurel Roads in Ridgewood. Two (2) adults and three (3) children sustained non life threatening injuries in the incident. All victims were transported by ambulances to local hospitals for treatment. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by tow trucks. Ridgewood Police issued one (1) crash related summons. Fire Department personnel addressed a crash related fluid spill.
Ridgewood NJ, Please support the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration Inc. by purchasing a 50/50 Raffle Ticket from a participating vendor.
ONLY 600 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD. GRAND PRIZE OF $25,000.
All proceeds go to the Ridgewood Fourth of July Celebration.
Here are the vendors:
Backyard Living – 235 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood
ConnectOne Bank – 171 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood
Daily Treat – 177 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood
Goffle Brook Farms – 425 Goffle Road, Ridgewood
Hillmann Electric – 133 E. Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood Auto Wash – 450 S. Broad Street, Glen Rock
Ridgewood Cycle Shop – 35 N. Broad Street, Ridgewood
Town and Country Apothecary – 60 E. Ridgewood Avenue
The Wine Seller – 6 W. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood
Ridgewood NJ,Cornered by the deal former Mayor Paul Aronsohn cut with developers including resident John Saraceno, Monday night the village planning board had no legal choice but to approve Saraceno’s site application at the former Ken Smith Ford lot on Franklin. Now Saraceno will build a 66 unit, 5 story apartment complex at one of the village’s busiest, and most dangerous intersections. Taxpayers will be on the hook for the massive upgrades to traffic signals that result through the CBD, those costs could total more than $1,000,000.
Saraceno’s apartments at Maple and E. Ridgewood Ave. are up for discussion next.
The massive over-development of Ridgewood is supported by former village manager Roberta Sonnenfeld and 2015 failed council candidate Evan Weitz. Both are thought to be considering runs for village office in 2018.
Ridgewood NJ, After reading the letter former Ridgewood Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld sent to the Ridgewood news ,readers near Habernickel Park were furious. Many thought she had some nerve complaining about new tax & added fees when she was one of the main people who put a FOR profit business in Habernickel Park.
If you look back at neighbors complaints & concerns which were never considered when they went ahead with the plan to change the gatehouse to recreational & educational space you will better understand what they are talking about.
First off the owner of the business Stacey Antine & Roberta graduated Bergen Leads together even though Roberta denied helping Stacey get her business into Ridgewood everyone found it odd since the class was about 10 students.
Healthbarn only pays $3,700 a month for rent never increasing over her 5 year lease, way below the price of an average rental in Ridgewood. Plus in addition they got 12 parking spots & a garden the size 50 feet X 100 feet. The property tax alone on the size of her garden would be around $10,000.00 a year. The previous renter paid about the same for no extra land & no parking spots.
This business was given 12 parking spots for her employees & patrons yet every other business in town have to pay for meters. Basically she is given about $1,200.00 a month worth of parking for free & displacing parents from parking in the lot for sports practice & games….forcing them to park in the street.
This business is now at the tax payers expense having to under go $20,000.00 worth of construction to the entrance of the gate house to make it handicap accessible for the business. If this was still rented to a family this wouldn’t have had to cost the tax payers $20,000.00 it could of been a simpler fix to the all ready front steps.
This business was also given by the town through tax payers dollars
1. Stadium lights for the parking lot only since her classes go past 9pm on some nights
2. Security camera with direct feed to the police & village hall
3. Fire hydrant was needed because it is a business & a added hose for watering her garden
This business also get full garbage pick up & recycling from the village. No other business in town gets this service they have to use an outside provider.
Parks & rec maintain her property which they didn’t do when it was a rental property. Parks & rec advertises on the website for this business making it seem like this is a partnership & residents benefit from this business. That is NOT true we as tax payers get 0% from her business. The village doesn’t advertise for any other business in town so why must they do for her? When you see the ad on parks & rec it will directly you bring you to Healthbarn so then you can sign up for classes or buy her cookbook which none of it brings in revenue to the village…crazy how much we help her make money all the while residents keep having to pay higher taxes & getting charged fees.
Healthbarn USA offer classes that directly compete with the village classes offered thru parks & rec yet parks & rec continues to advertise for this business….a tad shady!
The present & past business manager ever took the time to punch the numbers he/she would realize the loss of rent the tax payers are incurring. The amount of tax payers dollars already spent to get this business up & running & the continued expenses (mentioned above). Police have been called more because of the added traffic & illegal parking of her buses so that I am sure is an added burden to the police.
The neighborhood got slapped in the face with this business. Neighbors keep sending photos to VC about all the violations to the lease but yet nothing has changed the Village continues to support her financially by advertising for her & giving her full access to parks & rec’s resources.
One would wonder HOW this happened……answer Roberts & her friends. Roberta should be careful what she is complaining about in the paper because her past isn’t perfect.
Are we owed an explanation in the police blotter? They report on shoplifting and underage drinking. At times they add the name of local residents for the enjoyment of the neighbors.
They should tell us what happened. Were the neighbors ever in danger? Are individuals in custody or are they still living in the house?
Ridgewood PD should provide adequate info, not all the gory details, but enough for us to know if we are safe.
Folks have tried to change the Aronson laws that were passed to allow these projects to go forward. The basic enabling law was repealed by the new council. Other attempts were made. But, frankly, due to a lack of backbone on the Council, the Aronson Apartment projects are going forward.
This council and planning board could have done a whole lot more, but they chose not to for reasons only they can explain – – ask them. let them know how you feel. And, don’t forget to let Aronson know how you feel as well about the changes he made to our community in his pathetic pursuit of his personal goals.
Bottom line, however, is that if people don’t speak up, nothing is going to be done to stop the next round of over-development.
The nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $519.8 million industry in New Jersey, supporting 14,342 full-time equivalent jobs and yielding $41 million in local and state government revenue, according to a recent study.
Arts & Economic Prosperity 5, the most comprehensive study of its kind ever conducted in the United States, was conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.
ArtPride New Jersey, the state’s largest cross-discipline arts service organization, worked with Americans for the Arts and local partners to examine the financial power of the state’s cultural community.
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act
MAYOR: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided
by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall,
by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call
4. RESOLUTIONS
17-170 Award Contract – Infra-red Paving Restoration
17-171 Reject Bids – Central Valet Parking Services
17-172 Authorize Application to the Bergen County Historic Trust Fund – Zabriskie-Schedler House, Phase 2
17-173 Authorize Application to the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund – Turf Field at Maple Park
17-174 Annual Renewal of Liquor Licenses
17-175 Set Public Hearing Date for Settlement Negotiation
5. Adjournment
VILLAGE COUNCIL WORK SESSION
THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S
PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA
JUNE 28, 2017
7:30 P.M.
1. 7:30 pm – Call to Order – Mayor
2. Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute/Moment of Silence
5. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 3 Minutes per Person – 40 Minutes in Total)
6. Presentation – Open Space Survey Findings
7. Discussion
a. Ridgewood Water
1. Award of Contract – Infrared Asphalt Restoration
b. Budget
1. Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Grant Application
c. Operations
1. Purchase of Property
d. Parking
1. Rebid Central Valet Services
8. Motion to Suspend Work Session and Convene Special Public Meeting
9. Special Public Meeting – See At tached Agenda
10. Motion to Adjourn Special Publc Meeting and Reconvene Work Session
11. Discussion (Continued)
a. Ridgewood Water (continued)
1. Lease of Property for Co-Location of Wireless Telecommunications Antennas – Glen Avenue Tank Location
2. Award Contract – Polyphosphate Pumps for Corrosion Control
3. Award Professional Services Contract – Cedar Hill Reservoir Improvements
b. Parking
1. Train Station Parking
2. Update on Parking Garage
3. Clinton Avenue Parking – Safety Concerns
c. Budget
1. Declare Fire Department Equipment Surplus
2. Award Contract Under State Contract – Tires
3. Award Contract Under State Contract – Police Handguns, Holsters, & Magazine Pouches
4. Award Contract Under State Contract – Two Police Patrol SUVs
5. Award Contract Under State Contract – Lifts and Support Stands – Fleet Services
6. Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance – Front End Loaders with Snowplows
7. Award Contract Under National Joint Powers Alliance – Two Sanitation Trucks with Snowplows
b. Policy
1. Boards and Committees – Fields Committee
2. Endorse Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Program – The James Rose Center
3. Title 59 Approval – Painting Curbs Yellow
4. Options for Glenwood Road Railroad Crossing
5. Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Tree Protection
6. Garber Square Bike Lane
e. Operations (continued)
1. Appoint Clean Communities Coordinator and Recycling Program Coordinator
2. Municipal Complex Parking Lot Changes
12. Manager’s Report
13. Council Reports
14. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
Planning Board Special Public Meeting Announcement
Monday, June 26, 2017, 7:00PM
PLANNING BOARD AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE
Special Public Meeting: Monday, June 26, 2017, 7:00 p.m.
Addition to Meeting Schedule
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled a special public meeting and work session for MONDAY, June 26, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.in the Ridgewood Village Courtroom, 131 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.
The Board may take official/formal action during this Special Public Meeting at which time the Board will continue the public hearing concerning KS Broad Street, Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan, 76 & 80 Chestnut Street and 25-27 Franklin Avenue, Block 2005, Lots 11,12,13,14,15. All meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.
Michael Cafarelli
Secretary to the Board
c: P/B Members
Ridgewood News*
The Record*
Village Clerk
Village Manager
Village Bulletin Board
Village Website
Bergen County Clerk
Location Village Hall – Court Room/Council Chambers
131 N Maple Ave
Ridgewood
NJ
07450
USA
201-670-5500
Reader suggests ; Interesting article in yesterday’s Record about Millennial interest in living in cities. Suburbs like Ridgewood fit the need with transportation and walkable downtown.
Dave Sheingold , Staff WriterPublished 6:00 a.m. ET June 22, 2017
They want the bustle. They want the convenience. They want the diversity.
In short, they want the city and not the suburbs – even after their children start school.
In a trend that is starting to chip away at the bedrock of suburban North Jersey, a surge of families with young children is gravitating toward New York City, reversing a path worn by generations before them.
Recently released demographic data shows the number of married couples with school-age children rose 10 to 20 percent across middle- and upper-income neighborhoods of New York City just in the first half of this decade, accelerating a trend that began in the mid-2000s. Similar increases were found in urban areas of Hudson County in New Jersey.
Ridgewood NJ, Radicchio Pasta and Risotto Co.is open for Lunch every day and they have a special promotion for everyone who works in the neighborhood. Just let your server know where you work and ask him/her about our friends and family privileges.
Chef Daniel Montoya with over 18 years of experience will oversee the kitchen in the newest location for Radicchio. He will prepare classic home style Italian dishes for your enjoyment.
34 Franklin Ave
Ridgewood, New Jersey
Get Directions
@radicchionj
Call (201) 670-7311
