Ridgewood Nj, in a shocking turn of events the Village Council had almost no public comments on Wednesday night.The Village Council continued to move forward on a variety of issues.
Village Manager Heather Mailander reminded everyone about the Village budget meetings;
Thursday, March 9 Senior Lounge @ 5:30pm
Wednesday, March 15 Court Room @ 5:30pm
Monday, March 27 Court Room @ 5:30pm
Councilmen Voigt said that the Financial Advisory Committee was putting together an analysis of parking garage and how to pay for it, and working on an analysis of Village fees.
Deputy Mayor Michael Sedon in what may come as a surprise to many said the Village council has been looking to advance a Garage on Hudson street for months, the Village council will roll out a 3 story garage plan with a modified conceptual design that fits on the property and takes into account all the criticism of previous Garagezilla.
Councilmen Ramon Hache said the Central business advisory committee floated the idea of a local merchant reward card, earning credits against tax liabilities
Mayor Susan Knudsen reiterated that Village boards are for people invested in the community and to represent the Village of Ridgewood.
In what can be can only be considered a major breakthrough, in parking, the restrictions have been removed from backing into spaces.
Residents will be relieved to note that the fees will remain unchanged for Graydon Pool and Ridgewood Tennis this summer.
And finally the council also passed a new ordinance regulating the “Water Irrigation Schedule and Water Emergencies”. The new ordinance limits watering of lawns for both governmental and non-governmental properties to two days per week, year-round. Irrigation by a hand-held hose or drip/micro irrigation system is allowed any day. Defines the exceptions to this ordinance as well as the hours when watering of lawns is permitted, and enforcement policies and procedures.
Ridgewood NJ, During the Ridgewood Village Council Public Meeting held on Wednesday, 03/08, Village Council members honored members of Ridgewood High School’s Cross Country Team, who were recently crowned as the “2016 Boys Cross Country North 1, Group 4 State Sectional Champions.”
2017-2018 PROPOSED PRELIMINARY BUDGET Dr. Fishbein i.
Resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools It is recommended that the Board approve the following resolution:
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:
Dr. Fishbein Budget Tax Levy General Fund $ 100,503,229 $ 91,519,173 Special Revenue Fund $ 1,378,767 $ 0 Debt Service Fund $ 3,683,597 $ 3,265,784 Total Budget $ 105,565,593 $ 94,784,957 The district has proposed programs and services in addition to the Core Curriculum Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education.
Information on this budget and the programs and services it provides is available from the school district. There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).
By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on March 08, 2017 at 3:12 PM, updated March 08, 2017 at 3:25 PM
For commuters navigating congested platforms at Penn Station New York, the definition of frustration is looking at four brand new sets of stairs for almost a year that they can’t use.
The new staircases and a new West End Concourse were built as part of the $148 million first phase of a project to convert the Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue into Moynihan Station. The Moynihan annex was supposed to have a fall 2016 opening date. The stairwells connect the concourse to platforms 3,4,5 and 6 which serve two tracks each.
While NJ Transit commuters are stuck in pedestrian gridlock on the platform, Long Island Rail Road commuters have been able to use a section of the new West End Concourse. That section of the new concourse is open during the morning and afternoon commuter rush and closed for work during midday.
Ridgewood NJ, the regular public meeting of the Ridgewood Village council will feature Graydon Pool Fees,Ridgewood Water irrigation policies, sewer discharge fees, parking, the Stable rental and Recognition to 2016 Boys Cross Country!
VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD
VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
MARCH 8, 2017
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
Declare March Red Cross Month
Declare March Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
C. Declare March as DeMolay Month
8. Presentation of Certificates of Recognition to 2016 Boys Cross Country North 1, Group 4 State Sectional Champions
9. Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)
10. Village Manager’s Report
11. Village Council Reports
12. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER
3588 – Amend Chapter 269 – Water Irrigation Schedule and Water Emergencies – Limits watering of lawns for both governmental and non-governmental properties to two days per week, year-round. Irrigation by a hand-held hose or drip/micro irrigation system is allowed any day. Defines the exceptions to this ordinance as well as the hours when watering of lawns is permitted, and enforcement policies and procedures.
13. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
14. RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-68 THROUGH 17-70 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-68 Title 59 Approval – Water Billing and Data Collection/Processing Services –Approves the specifications for Water Billing and Data Collection/Processing Services prepared by Ridgewood Water, pursuant to Title 59
17-69 Award Contract – Water Billing and Data Collection/Processing Services (NTE $237,395) – Awards the second year of a two-year contract to the sole responsible bidder, Computil, Inc., 30 Controls Drive, Shelton, CT
17-70 Authorize Agreement for GIS Data Exchange from Ridgewood Water to Bergen County for Use by Public Safety – Authorizes a GIS Data Sharing Agreement between the Village and Bergen County for the GIS Data Exchange from Ridgewood Water to Bergen County. This GIS data will be used by Bergen County and other Municipal public safety agencies in order to deliver emergency services.
15. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3589 – Establish Rules and Regulations for Rental of Rooms in The Stable – Establishes rules and regulations for rental of rooms at The Stable, including an application form, Hold Harmless Agreement, and Certificate of Insurance. Also establishes Class Usages, based on the group’s affiliation with the Village; whether or not they are charitable and/or civic in nature; and the size of the groups.
3590 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Establish Rental Fees – The Stable – Establishes various fees for the use of rooms in The Stable, depending on the group’s affiliation with the Village; whether or not they are charitable and/or civic in nature; the size of the groups; and the hours the rooms are rented
3591 – Repeal Chapter 29, Historic Preservation Commission, Amend Chapter 190, Land Use and Development, and Repeal Chapter 251, Swimming Pools – This ordinance deletes duplicative or obsolete provisions in the Village Code; clarifies the meaning and application of existing regulations; reconciles conflicting and/or inconsistent provisions in the Village Code; addresses various omissions in the Village Code; and provides for more reasonable and more rational development standards
16. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3581 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Prohibit Parking – Sections of Sherman Place 3582 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Angle Parking
3583 – Amend Chapter 238 – Sewers and Sewage Disposal – Addition of Masticated Food Waste
3584 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Sewers and Sewage Disposal – Liquid Waste Acceptance Program Fees 3585 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Bus Stops
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-71 THROUGH 17-82 ARE TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE EACH RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. EACH RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-71 Endorse Submission of Recycling Tonnage Grant – Annual resolution which endorses the submission of the Municipal Recycling Tonnage Grant Application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and designates John R. Spano, Recycling Coordinator, to ensure that the application is properly filed
17-72 Approve Budget Reserve Transfers – Annual resolution which transfers money in the 2016 budget from departments which have excess funds to those departments which do not have adequate funds
17-73 Award Contract Under State Contract – Purchase of Parts and Related Services – Fleet Services – Awards a contract under State contract for various parts and related services used by the Village’s Fleet Services Division
17-74 Title 59 Approval – Horticultural Supplies – Approves the plans and specifications for Horticultural Supplies for the Years 2017 and 2018 prepared by the Parks and Recreation Department, pursuant to Title 59
17-75 Award Contract – Horticultural Supplies (NTE $45,000) – Awards a contract to the low bidder, SiteOne Landscape Supply, 100 Weyerhauser Road, Mahwah, NJ. The Parks Department budget will pay $35,500 and the Project Pride budget will pay $9,500.
17-76 Title 59 Approval – Coach Bus Transportation Services – Approves the plans and specifications for Supply of Coach Bus Transportation Services prepared by the Department of Parks and Recreation, pursuant to Title 59
17-77 Award Contract – Coach Bus Transportation Services – H.I.L.T. (NTE $9,000) –Awards a contract to the low bidder, Vanderhoof Transportation Co., Inc., 18 Wilfred Street, West Orange, NJ
17-78 Title 59 Approval – Concession Refreshment Services – Graydon Pool – Approves the plans and specifications for Concession Refreshment Services – 2017, 2018, The Water’s Edge Café, Graydon Pool
17-79 Award Contract – Concession Refreshment Services – Graydon Pool –Awards a contract to the sole proposal by Michael Sims, Mellsworth Foods, Inc., 102 East Main Street, Ramsey, NJ which will pay the Village $9,300 for the summer season
17-80 Authorize Payment for Settlement of Property Damage – PSE&G Pole ($6,643.95) – Authorizes the payment for settlement of property damage to be paid to PSE&G for damage sustained to their pole which was caused by a Village vehicle
17-81 Award Professional Services Contract – Professional Appraiser –Appoints Ernest Del Guercio, SCGREA, CDA and Darren Raymond, MAI, of Associated Appraisal Group, 266 Harristown Road, Glen Rock, NJ to provide professional appraisals of several properties
17-82 Appoint Member to Green Team Advisory Committee – Appoints Christopher Rutishauser as the staff member of the Village of Ridgewood for a term which expires on 12/31/17 and Emily Shovlin as a resident member for a term which expires on 12/31/19
18. Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
James, something doesn’t make sense here: When the Ridgewood teacher contract was approved last October, it put the district $2.5 million over the 2% property tax cap during the life of the three-year contract for teacher salaries alone which grow over 2.7% in year two and three of the contract and over 2.13% for the life of the contract. At the time Sheila Brogan explained that the amount was still above the 2% cap, necessitating certain cuts to be made to programs and personnel to make the district cap compliant and that the challenge of funding the contract “will require budgetary reductions next year that will result in changes to staffing and programming.” So what happened? This budget is a $4 million YoY INCREASE in spending. How is that a sign that the BOE has worked closely with Superintendent Fishbein to identify reductions that will have the least impact on the instructional programs and extra-curricular offerings? Looks like this budget adds to the budget above and beyond the $2.5 million three year excess just for teacher salaries under the new contract, how does this make any sense? Let’s hope this budget is voted down. It’s all about teacher salaries, not about our kids.
Ridgewood NJ, on Saturday Ridgewood ‘s favorite ice cream shop Van Dyk’s opened for the season. Daylight savings time is near and spring can’t be far behind.
In 2012 Van Dyk’s was named by CBS as one of New Jersey’s 4 best homemade Ice Cream shops. In 2014 New Jersey family magazine also picked Van Dyk’s as one of the Garden States best ice cream shops.
Don’t be surprised if you have never heard of Van Dyk’s.Unless you’re a long time Ridgewood native or heard about it via word of mouth, you probably don’t know about Van Dyke’s.Van Dyke makes all its own ice cream right on premises. The shop is located on the intersection of Ackerman Avenue and Spencer Place in Ridgewood. There’s a wooden sign in the parking lot which isn’t lit up at night, they don’t advertise and the shop basically looks like a residential house with a somewhat bigger parking lot than some of the other houses in the neighborhood.
Van Dyk’s It’s located at 145 Ackerman Ave and open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week,(201) 444-1429.
2017-2018 PROPOSED PRELIMINARY BUDGET Dr. Fishbein i.
Resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools It is recommended that the Board approve the following resolution:
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:
Dr. Fishbein Budget Tax Levy General Fund $ 100,503,229 $ 91,519,173 Special Revenue Fund $ 1,378,767 $ 0 Debt Service Fund $ 3,683,597 $ 3,265,784 Total Budget $ 105,565,593 $ 94,784,957 The district has proposed programs and services in addition to the Core Curriculum Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education.
Information on this budget and the programs and services it provides is available from the school district. There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).
Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood PD Patrol Officer Salvatore D’Amico assists Detectives Douglas Henky and Steven Shortway in the investigation of a Swastika found etched in a sidewalk at the intersection of Northern Parkway and Overbrook Road, Ridgewood on Monday morning, 03/06. Ridgewood PD had learned of the Swastika via posts on numerous Ridgewood based Facebook groups.
Ridgewood Village staff quickly jumped into action and “Erased the Hatred” from the sidewalk.
Photo courtesy of Village of Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen
Location Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ
DescriptionThe public is invited to attend the meeting, or watch it live on Fios channel 33, Optimum channel 77, or on the “Link in Live” tab of the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.
Teacher and Education Services Professional Recognition
March 6,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Teacher Recognition Committee is accepting nominations for the 2016-2017 school year. Pleaseclick here for more information and nomination forms. Completed nominations can be mailed to Human Resources at the Education Center or emailed to [email protected].
Ridgewood NJ, this was shared on Facebook by Ridgewood resident Dana Glazer ; the discovery of this swastika at the intersection of Northern Parkway and Overbrook Road. It has evidently been here a while.
If you think that our village is immune to hatred, think again. Dana asks everyone to “Please be vigilant. Thank you.”
Mayor Susan Traina Knudsen is on top of the situation and prompt removal will occur today.
Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal reminds us of law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute bias incidents/crimes, including the need to report such events and the $10K reward offered by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office for information leading to a bias crime conviction.
Ridgewood Police are, by and large, very good. The question that was put to us was, why does NJ have more cops per capita than other states? Answer – unions. Unions exist to make sure that the least qualified are guaranteed work and paid as well as the most qualified. Additionally, the union pension system is hopelessly unsustainable and when it finally breaks things will be ugly for everyone – those of us that pay for it and union members that collect it. The sooner we address this, the less bad it will be.
WORK SCHEDULE UPDATE: March 6, 2017 – March 10, 2017
March 6, 2017 –March 9, 2017
Underground Pipe Installation
Franklin Ave.
(Chestnut and North Broad Street)
When working inside the intersection, access to N. Broad will be impacted. Detailed detour signs will be in place. When working on Franklin Ave. 2 lanes of traffic will be maintained,
Parking on Franklin Avenue near the intersection of Chestnut will be impacted during working hours.
March 10, 2017
Underground Pipe Installation
Intersection of
Franklin Ave. & Walnut
Traffic will be shifted, two lanes will be maintained.
Parking will be impacted during working hours.
As part of our electric reliability improvements in Bergen County, PSE&G will be performing utility underground work in the Village of Ridgewood. As of early-March 2017, PSE&G will beperforming the following activities in your area:
Safety is our primary concern. PSE&G will work with the Ridgewood Police Department to minimize any traffic concerns or inconveniences to the public. During construction, please refrain from going near our construction work zones.
The upgrades will enhance your electric capacity, system redundancy, and service reliability within the Village of Ridgewood, as well as surrounding communities. If you have questions or concerns, please call our toll free number at 1-877-678-5784
Ridgewood NJ, The Friends of the Library Author Luncheon is less than 2 weeks away! If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, now’s the time!
The day will be jam-packed with an insightful Author talk, book signing and fabulous auction.
Auction highlights include: a beautiful condo for a weekend to ski Stratton, VT, bike-to-beach and relax at Hilton Head Sea Pines resort, sports tickets from the Devils, Mets and Nets, and the opportunity to train with a fantastic tennis pro! For our foodies, there are opportunities to treat the gourmand in you with a food and wine experience at Astor Center in NYC, Happy hour for 20 with a CIA-trained chef, and more!
The Author is Jamie Ford , “Ford is a first-rate novelist whose bestselling debut, ‘Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,’ was a joy to read. With his new book, he takes a great leap forward and demonstrates the uncanny ability to move me to tears.” -Pat Conroy, author of “South of Broad”
Join us on March 15th to support our amazing programs at the Ridgewood Public Library!
