Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood council took on some local parking issues many of which have been well documented on this blog .
This included live discussions on parking on Pomander Walk, parking Cambridge Road and Bogert Avenue and Repeat Zone Parking.
Unlike the previous council ,the current council tried to look at the local parking issues in a more holistic approach reminded residents that its going to take compromise . Keeping in mind the unintended consequences of parking regulations on neighboring streets , local businesses and pedestrian safety.
Again the Village engineer with help of the Ridgewood Police put together a compromise plan the could hopes will me most of the local parking objections .
Repeat Zone Parking was more of an issues to get CBD employees to not park in customer parking . The issues has been raised that employees have not been parking in the designated spots in the CBD ,the main issue for “Repeat Zone Parking” is the amount of hands on effort needed by the parking utility to enforce the “Repeat Zone Parking”. The council and police clearly need a strict definition of “repeat parking”.
The council seemed to uniformly feel business owners the Chamber of Commerce and the Ridgewood Guild need to remind employees parking in the wrong spots cost them money and in the end they are the ones to suffer.
Ridgewood NJ, at the Wednesday Council meeting ,Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser spoke at length on the addition spaces at the train station . Rutishauser suggested some compact car parking spaces to add more spaces . He also said the new plan would involve the planting of more trees at the train station then currently exist.
The Village engineer also suggested moving the Ridgewood Bus Station to the Train Station Property and claimed a net increase in parking spaces would amount to 38. (28 at Train Station and 10 more at Van Nest Square ).
The advantage would be more (10) spaces CBD parking near Van Neste Square, and buses would travel on Franklin ave instead of East Ridgewood Ave . The current bus station is in need of repair and has been a point of contention for the Ridgewood Police department.
According to New Jersey Transit over 900 people take the bus per weekday,300 on Saturday and 100 Sunday’s . There are 6 bus routs the 163,164, 175, 722 ,746, and 752 . On a typical weekday there are 301 bus movements through Van Neste. With peak movement being 7:30-8:30 am (38) and 6:00-7:00 pm (21).
Rutishauser assured the council the cost would be around $300,000 .
The council peppered the engineer with questions on traffic congestion and traffic flow at the Train station as well as Franklin Ave. They asked about the impact of new previously approved development coming to the Central Business District which will add to Franklin avenue traffic. The discussion also veered to returning the Gerber square streets back to their original two lanes .
Critics were quick to point out : It seems that Chris ” Bike Lane ” Rutishaser is at it again . He has pulled his new old plan to move the bus station to Westside by the train station. I wonder how much this will cost and what about the addition traffic in the area. This should be good. I hope the council learns from his last “traffic calming “design fiasco.”
Ridgewood NJ, Reader said last night , “All Bottled Water flying off the shelves by the case fulls at 2 supermarkets this evening in Glen Rock and Ridgewood/Paramus. Wondered why, the shoppers, said they got a phone call from their schools saying everyone was to have their child bring their own bottled water to school for tomorrow, also, to bring the bottled antibacterial hand soap. Shopping carts were to the brim with cases of bottled water and shelves going bare. Stock workers in both stores were bringing out more loads to put on shelves, as cases were given directly to people waiting for the bottled water.”
Ridgewood NJ,first and foremost there is NO E.COLI OUT BREAK ! At Wednesday night council meeting Ridgewood Water assured the council that all the proper steps are being taken to have the well back on line by as early as Friday .
https://water.ridgewoodnj.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=126&Itemid=75
List of wells locations –“One Group 3 raw water sample collected prior to disinfection from Wortendyke Well #6 indicated potential evidence of vulnerability to fecal contamination. However, water from this well is already being treated to achieve 4-log removal of viruses.”
“This well was removed from service pending further evaluation. All subsequent samples collected from this well have indicated negative for fecal contamination vulnerability indicators. No evidence of potential vulnerability to fecal contamination was observed at any other Group 3 wells”
Two years ago I ran for election to the NJ State Assembly in New Jersey’s 40th Legislative District. With your help and support we came incredibly close to winning an election that many thought could not be won. Along with my running mate, Christine Ordway, we ran an issues-oriented, solution-based campaign. As you know, Chris and I are fiscally conservative and socially progressive–watch your money and stay out of people’s personal lives. As we’ve always said, we are not politicians, we are businesspeople who truly believe that New Jersey can do so much better. From fiscal reform in Trenton to working with people on both sides of the aisle, there is much work to be done.
We are ready to finish what we started in 2015—This is the year we flip the 40th Legislative District. On Saturday April 15, 2017 at 10 am, Chris and I, along with our new running mate Tom Duch, will be launching our 2017 Assembly race from what is probably the finest eating establishment in northern New Jersey–It’s Greek to Me in Ridgewood. It would mean a lot to me if you could join us as we begin our journey.
TAKE NOTICE that the Village of Ridgewood has contacted the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program, proposing to legalize a past diversion of .38 acres of diverted parkland – specifically Block 3905 Lot 19; located at 308-316 South Broad Street and formerly referred to as the South Broad Street Playground. This scoping hearing is intended to alert the public to the Village of Ridgewood’s obligation to legalize the past diversion and provide replacement open space land.
Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-26.8(a) a scoping hearing to obtain public comment on this request will be held at:
Village Council Public Meeting
Village Hall Court Room, 4th Floor
131 N. Maple Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
May 10, 2017
8:00PM
All interested parties are invited to attend and participate in the scoping hearing. Written comments on the diversion legalization may be directed to Village Manager’s Office at (201)-670-5500 x204 or in writing to Village Manager, Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450..Please send a copy of any comments submitted on this request to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program, Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship, Mail Code 501-01,
501 East State Street, P.O. Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625-0420.
Public Comment on this diversion legalization will be accepted during the scoping hearing or until May 24, 2017.
Cross-Honoring Continues, Enhanced Ferry Service to Midtown
April 6,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT is adding additional train service to the holiday schedule for the Wednesday morning and afternoon peak periods on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and North Jersey Coast Lines (NJCL) operating into Penn Station New York (PSNY). Additionally, enhanced cross-honoring ferry service into midtown Manhattan will be available every half-hour at Hoboken Terminal during morning and afternoon peak periods.
At approximately 9 a.m. Monday morning, NJ TRANSIT’s Northeast Corridor line train #3926 experienced a slow-speed derailment while pulling in to Track 9 at New York’s Penn Station. Three cars in the middle of the ten car train derailed. These were cars 5, 6, and 7.
Please Note: Customers are advised to expect this level of service through the close of the service day on Thursday, April 6, 2017 as Amtrak continues to make repairs in PSNY.
Highlights of the additional peak period train service include the following: two additional trains will operate on the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL) providing one seat rides to/from Bay Head during morning and afternoon peak periods; two additional trains on the NEC will operate to/from New Brunswick; and one additional NEC train will operate to/from Trenton making local stops (except Jersey Ave. in a.m.).
The following additional trains will operate inbound to PSNY:
NJCL 5:45 a.m. from Bay Head
NJCL 6:59 a.m. from Bay Head
NEC 8:11 a.m. from New Brunswick
NEC 8:41 a.m. from New Brunswick
NEC 8:32 a.m. from Trenton (local stops except Jersey Ave.)
The following additional trains will operate outbound from PSNY:
• NEC 4:38 p.m. to Jersey Ave.
• NEC 5:28 p.m. to Jersey Ave.
• NJCL 5:38 p.m. to Bay Head
• NEC 6:31 p.m. local to Trenton (including Jersey Ave. stop)
• NJCL 6:38 p.m. to Bay Head
Enhanced ferry service
Beginning at 6:30 a.m. through 9:30 a.m. New York Waterway Ferry will operate service from Hoboken Terminal slip 5 to 39th St. in midtown Manhattan every half-hour. This service will operate in the afternoon peak hours between 3:30 p.m. (39th St Manhattan) and 7:00 p.m. All of these trips will accept and cross honor NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes to New York.
NJ TRANSIT is continuing the HOLIDAY schedule for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL). Customers should locate the SATURDAY/SUNDAY/HOLIDAY schedule on their timetables and note that all trains will be operating, including those listed in the color-shaded columns.
NJ TRANSIT and private bus carriers have increased bus service as much as possible on routes along the affected rail lines. Academy has enhanced their PNC park-and-ride service to accommodate North Jersey Coast Line customers. Suburban Transit has also added service to accommodate Northeast Corridor customers.
MidTOWN Direct trains continue to operate in and out of Hoboken Terminal where customers can access PATH, NJ TRANSIT bus service and New York Waterway ferry.
Raritan Valley Line service will operate on a regular weekday schedule and originate/terminate at Newark Penn Station.
Main/Bergen, Pascack Valley, Port Jervis and Atlantic City Rail Lines will operate on regular weekday schedules.
Customers are encouraged to check njtransit.com for complete details.
Cross honoring remains in effect with NJ TRANSIT bus, light rail, private carrier bus, NY Waterway ferry, and PATH at Newark, Hoboken and 33rdStreet. Path also has increased its level of service to accommodate the additional demand.
Hoboken services will be impacted due to the additional trains in the terminal. Because of track limitation in the terminal some Summit-bound trains will be impacted.
Due to the circumstances, impacted customers are advised to build in additional travel time as delays and overcrowding conditions are anticipated.
Wednesday, 05 April 2017 17:24Last Updated on Wednesday, 05 April 2017 17:27Written by Dylan Hansen
Ridgewood Water (Low Pressure Zone) Tested
Positive for E-Coli
BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING
Our water system recently detected a fecal indicator, E. coli in a groundwater source sample in the low pressure zone, which includes portions of Ridgewood & Wyckoff and all of Glen Rock. As our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation. On April 4, 2017, we collected a sample from a raw groundwater source before any treatment. The sample tested positive for E. coli.
Please note that water from this source is disinfected before distribution to customers, and no distribution system samples have tested positive for fecal indicators or any other bacteria.
What should I do? What does this mean?
• DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
*Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.*
The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking this water.
What is being done?
The source water well is shut down and 4-log inactivation of viruses is being installed as treatment. We will inform you when tests show no E. coli is present and when you no longer need to boil your water. We anticipate resolving the problem before Friday, April 7th.
For more information, please contact Ridgewood Water at 201-670-5520 or 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07451. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. *
This notice is being sent to you by Ridgewood Water. State Water System ID#: NJ0251001
Ridgewood NJ, The New Jersey Department of Education ( NJDOE) has posted its School Performance Report for the 2015-16 school year.
As in previous years, the report allows visitors to view the academic performance of any district or any school by grade level. The report also includes a broad array of information not included in past years.
According to the NJDOE website :The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) presents the 2015-16 School Performance Reports. These reports are designed to inform parents, educators and communities about how well a school is performing and preparing its students for college and careers. In particular, the School Performance Reports seek to:
Focus attention on metrics that are indicative of college and career readiness.
Benchmark a school’s performance against other schools that are educating similar students, against district and state-wide outcomes, and against state targets to illuminate and build upon a school’s strengths and identify areas for improvement.
Improve educational outcomes for students by providing both longitudinal and growth data so that progress can be measured as part of an individual school’s efforts to engage in continuous improvement.
The latest report provides data on faculty attendance, absenteeism, PSAT and ACT performance in addition to SAT scores, advanced placement and international baccalaureate counts, and the percentage of students concentrating in approved career and technical education programs.
However the report no longer provides “peer school comparisons,” however, which compared each school’s data to a group of similar schools.
For Ridgewood High School “Academic Achievement” : School wide Performance 72% of students met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts Literacy Met or Exceeded Expectations putting RHS in the 91% Statewide Percentile.In Mathematics 71% of students met or exceeded expectations putting RHS in the 99% Statewide Percentile.
For College and Career Readiness Indicators , Percent of Students Participating in PSAT , RHS 64.4% vs Statewide 95.5% .
Percent of Students Participating in SAT ,RHS 42.4% vs Statewide 58.0% .
Percent of Students Participating in ACT ,RHS 58.4% vs Statewide 27.6%.
2017-18 SCHOOL BUDGET PRESENTATION EVENT April 5 2017 7:30 PM to April 6 2017 7:30 PM Location Benjamin Franklin Middle School, George Washington Middle School
April 5,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, At the March 6 Board of Education meeting, Business Administrator Dr. Alfredo Aguilar presented the preliminary 2017-2018 budget, which is based on a .97% local tax levy increase. The total preliminary budget is $105,565,593, which would mean a $184.39 annual tax increase on the average assessed Ridgewood home of $696,093.
Click here to view the preliminary budget presentation as a PDF.
Following discussion, the Board approved the following resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Ridgewood Board of Education, to approve the 2017-2018 school district preliminary proposed budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police remind everyone the West Glen Ave will be closed today April 5th 2017, between North Maple Ave and Heights Road for paving.
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. Ridgewood Water Presentation – Lead and Copper
7. Discussion:
a. Ridgewood Water
Award Contract – Tree Maintenance Services
Award Contract – Water Main Replacements at Stream Crossings
Award Contract Under State Contract – Materials and Supplies – Water Main Repairs
Authorize Change Order – Rehabilitation of Glen Tank
b. Parking
1. Update on Hudson Street Parking Garage
2. Request for Proposals – Pilot Program – Alternative/Non-traditional Commuter Transportation Services
3. Preliminary Design for Train Station Parking Area
4. Parking on Pomander Walk
5. Cambridge Road and Bogert Avenue Parking
6. Repeat Zone Parking
c. Budget
Reject Bids – School Bus Transportation Services – Summer Day Camp
Award Contract – Professional Traffic Engineering Services – West Side Study Area
Award Contract – Gate House Sloped Entry – Habernickel Family Park
Award Contract – Communications – Police Department
Award Contract – Paving
Award Contract – Central Valet
Surplus of Police Vehicles
Temporary Emergency Budget Appropriations
Temporary Emergency Capital Budget
Capital Ordinances
d. Policy
Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs
Sustainable Jersey Actions Regarding Responsible Pet Ownership
Age Friendly Ridgewood – Mayor’s Pledge
Boards and Committees – Structures and By-laws
Historic Preservation Grant Proposal through Bergen County Open Space Trust – Zabriskie-
Schedler House – Phase II
e. Operations
Release of Cash Security Bond – Sludge Hauling Contract
Installation of Bus Shelter/Bus Bench – West Glen and North Monroe
Upgrade of County Traffic Signals
Accept Donation – Restoration of Sally Port – Ridgewood Police Department
Surplus & Donation of Police Equipment
8. Review of April 12, 2017 Regular Public Meeting Agenda
9. Manager’s Report
10. Council Reports
11. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
12. Resolution to go into Closed Session
13. Closed Session
a. Personnel/Contract Negotiations – White Collar and Blue Collar Negotiations;
Boards/Committees
b. Contract Negotiations – Consideration of Purchase of Properties;
By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 04, 2017 at 7:31 AM, updated April 04, 2017 at 11:14 AM
TRENTON — New Jersey’s new plan for grading its schools for the federal government places less weight on passing state exams and extra importance on other factors, such as the performance of students learning to speak English and academic progress among students who don’t pass standardized tests.
The state Monday filed its federal accountability plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the new federal education law that replaced No Child Left Behind. All states are required to file a plan to the federal government.
The ESSA plan calls for decreasing the importance of standardized test scores in rating schools and giving states more flexibility to decide how to intervene in struggling school districts.
Cross-Honoring Continues, Enhanced Ferry Service to Midtown
April 5,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT is adding additional train service to the holiday schedule for the Wednesday morning and afternoon peak periods on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and North Jersey Coast Lines (NJCL) operating into Penn Station New York (PSNY). Additionally, enhanced cross-honoring ferry service into midtown Manhattan will be available every half-hour at Hoboken Terminal during morning and afternoon peak periods.
At approximately 9 a.m. Monday morning, NJ TRANSIT’s Northeast Corridor line train #3926 experienced a slow-speed derailment while pulling in to Track 9 at New York’s Penn Station. Three cars in the middle of the ten car train derailed. These were cars 5, 6, and 7.
Please Note: Customers are advised to expect this level of service through the close of the service day on Thursday, April 6, 2017 as Amtrak continues to make repairs in PSNY.
Highlights of the additional peak period train service include the following: two additional trains will operate on the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL) providing one seat rides to/from Bay Head during morning and afternoon peak periods; two additional trains on the NEC will operate to/from New Brunswick; and one additional NEC train will operate to/from Trenton making local stops (except Jersey Ave. in a.m.).
The following additional trains will operate inbound to PSNY:
NJCL 5:45 a.m. from Bay Head
NJCL 6:59 a.m. from Bay Head
NEC 8:11 a.m. from New Brunswick
NEC 8:41 a.m. from New Brunswick
NEC 8:32 a.m. from Trenton (local stops except Jersey Ave.)
The following additional trains will operate outbound from PSNY:
• NEC 4:38 p.m. to Jersey Ave.
• NEC 5:28 p.m. to Jersey Ave.
• NJCL 5:38 p.m. to Bay Head
• NEC 6:31 p.m. local to Trenton (including Jersey Ave. stop)
• NJCL 6:38 p.m. to Bay Head
Enhanced ferry service
Beginning at 6:30 a.m. through 9:30 a.m. New York Waterway Ferry will operate service from Hoboken Terminal slip 5 to 39th St. in midtown Manhattan every half-hour. This service will operate in the afternoon peak hours between 3:30 p.m. (39th St Manhattan) and 7:00 p.m. All of these trips will accept and cross honor NJ TRANSIT tickets and passes to New York.
NJ TRANSIT is continuing the HOLIDAY schedule for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL). Customers should locate the SATURDAY/SUNDAY/HOLIDAY schedule on their timetables and note that all trains will be operating, including those listed in the color-shaded columns.
NJ TRANSIT and private bus carriers have increased bus service as much as possible on routes along the affected rail lines. Academy has enhanced their PNC park-and-ride service to accommodate North Jersey Coast Line customers. Suburban Transit has also added service to accommodate Northeast Corridor customers.
MidTOWN Direct trains continue to operate in and out of Hoboken Terminal where customers can access PATH, NJ TRANSIT bus service and New York Waterway ferry.
Raritan Valley Line service will operate on a regular weekday schedule and originate/terminate at Newark Penn Station.
Main/Bergen, Pascack Valley, Port Jervis and Atlantic City Rail Lines will operate on regular weekday schedules.
Customers are encouraged to check njtransit.com for complete details.
Cross honoring remains in effect with NJ TRANSIT bus, light rail, private carrier bus, NY Waterway ferry, and PATH at Newark, Hoboken and 33rdStreet. Path also has increased its level of service to accommodate the additional demand.
Hoboken services will be impacted due to the additional trains in the terminal. Because of track limitation in the terminal some Summit-bound trains will be impacted.
Due to the circumstances, impacted customers are advised to build in additional travel time as delays and overcrowding conditions are anticipated.
