The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
May 14,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Through the collaboration of the Parks Recreation & Conservation Board (PRCB) and the Villge of Ridgewood IT Department, the Village will start offering free WiFi at certain public locations. It will be first rolled out at Graydon Pool and The Stable in early June. The Village is currently working on other locations including Van Neste Square Memorial Park which is located in the heart of our Central Business District.
file photo
January 3,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Health Department Director, Dawn Cetrulo announced that January has been designated as National Radon Action Month in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Radon Program. During Radon Action Month, the Village of Ridgewood will provide radon information and test kits free of charge at the Ridgewood Health Department, 131 N. Maple Ave., 5th level from 8:30 am until 4 pm.
Radon is a serious health risk. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer — and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. But because radon is invisible and odorless it is easy to ignore this potential hazard in our own homes.
Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium and radium break down in the soil and in rock formations. Radon gas moves up through the soil and finds its way into homes through cracks in the foundation and openings around pumps, pipes and drains.
Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. The average U.S. indoor level is 1.3 pCi/L. At 4 pCi/L, the risk of lung cancer from radon is greater than the risk from fire or other home accidents. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the DEP recommend that action be taken to reduce radon levels if the level in the home is greater than or equal to 4 pCi/L.
If the test indicates a radon problem, radon mitigation systems can be installed at a cost similar to that of other home repairs. A list of certified mitigation companies is also available from the Radon Program.
For more information on radon, contact Dawn Cetrulo at 201-670-5500 ext. 245 or the DEP Radon Program at (800) 648-0394 or visit www.njradon.org.
where the hell is the secret money Tree in RIDGEWOOD…It’s on the island in the middle of Graydon… and they’re cutting it down.
Our quiet, serene, beautiful and peaceful neighborhood on Van Emburgh Avenue stretching from Washington Township into Ridgewood and made up of 100 percent single family homes is about to be shattered by a court-ordered imposition of a 44-unit apartment complex. This mandate is to satisfy some nebulous rules about complying with Affordable Housing politically-correct social engineering forced on our town by the state.
I spoke against this mandate at a recent Township of Washington Planning Board for the following reasons: Many of the Township and Village residents moved here specifically to get away from densely-packed areas which have multi-family complexes.
The construction mud and noise pollution will disrupt our peaceful lives and enshroud us in a cloud of dust and dirt probably for something like two years. The now-empty land parcel they are plopping this monstrosity in is practically across the street from Immaculate Heart Academy High School. This will mean that the dozens and dozens of parents who drop their daughters off at school each morning will now be competing in traffic with arriving construction workers — excavators, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, roofers, painters, sheetrockers and landscapers, etc.
Since most people nowadays have two cars, and are two-worker households, that will mean that 88 more cars belonging to potential residents will join the traffic during the early mornings; and that number of cars doesn’t even include arriving faculty.
The loud sounds of earth movers, bulldozers, backhoes, bucket loaders, cement trucks and dump trucks as well as huge rigs delivering lumber, massive sanitary and storm pipes, roofing supplies, siding and landscaping materials will disrupt our peaceful existence.
Even if 12 of the residents of the 44-unit apartment complex have children, that means 100 brand new instant neighbors on our street.
The trouble with politically-correct mandated solutions to social concerns is that they don’t take into consideration the impact on the existing local governments. The prime example being the local school system population, police, fire, street sweeping and snow removal.
I want to urge the Township of Washington and The Village of Ridgewood to join Park Ridge and Hillsdale to put the question of “Affordable Housing” rules on the November ballot and put pressure on our state Legislature to straighten out the rules and regulations of these mandated nightmares.
Edward Galorenzo
Washington Township
“Buy.”
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Yeah, right. It’s that simple. The VOR will just “buy” the Town Garage lot.
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First things first. The town initially needs to lower the price of the property in question, and simultaneously eliminate the Village’s competition for buying it. This is done by declaring that portion of the VOR business district “blighted” which is defined either narrowly, i.e., by the very borders of the property in question, or a little more broadly, i.e., by the square block defined by Franklin Avenue, Walnut Street, Ridgewood Avenue, and Oak Street.
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/s (sarc off). Governments these days, be they federal, state, county, or municipal, don’t just wade into fights anymore. For a modern politician, there is no fight worth having unless it is fixed fight, meaning, safely fixed in advance. This is sadly probably true with respect to our current Village Council.
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How many times does this need to be repeated? Many years ago, Ridgewood borrowed some fifteen million dollars via a formal municipal bond, both to finance the purchase of this same Village Garage site AND to erect a municipal parking garage thereon. This maneuver being undertaken in the immediate aftermath of the US Supreme Court’s notorious “Kelo” decision (the noxious holding of which being that a Constitutionally acceptable public use is any use an elected official can dream up and get approved, however hare-brained the scheme), village residents were actually wise to this trick. They loudly objected to the use of the eminent domain power to deprive a fellow VOR property owner of his/her holdings at an artificially depressed price when the “public use” to which the property was to be put was of dubious future value to the public (in this case, a parking garage boondoggle). In light of this, the spooked Village Council dropped the plan before the parcel was even acquired. The bond money, rather than being used to pay off the bond, was promptly spent on other priorities. What a racket, right? We’re still paying off that debt!
Ridgewood NJ, Coming your way! For Ridgewood residents and Ridgewood business owners. The Estate Card is on its way- to help residents with tax savings and discounts and business owners to increase revenue with local traffic.
Time to start shopping locally and get your rewards!
For more information
MyEstateCard.com
support@localcardrewards.com
Attention: Ridgewood Water Customers
Stage II restrictions (2 days per week irrigation) were imposed in June 2016 and are still in effect in Glen Rock, Midland Park, Ridgewood and Wyckoff. Without these restrictions, the use of drinking water for irrigation will continue increasing toward levels that are unsustainable regardless of drought conditions. To reverse this trend, an ordinance was approved by the Village Council on April 12, 2017 to amend the provisions governing Watering and Water Emergencies in the Village of Ridgewood Code. Changes include:
Making 2 days per week irrigation permanent year round,
Restricting irrigation hours to limit losses to evaporation,
Restricting irrigation using private wells to 2 days a week,
Adding new exemptions, including drip irrigation and smart controllers.
This ordinance became effective on May 2, 2017 and applies only to Ridgewood, but it is expected that the Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park, and the Township of Wyckoff will enact similar rules as they have in the past. Below is the approved ordinance. Questions can be directed to Ridgewood Water at 201-670-5521 or cswater@ridgewoodnj.net.
file photo by Boyd Loving
December 31,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, the staff of the Ridgewood blog has assembled the biggest winners and the biggest losers in Ridgewood for 2016.First the Village losers;
Far and away the biggest loser was former Mayor Paul Aronsohn, voters rejected not only his future vision of Ridgewood, voters also rejected everything about it from staffing, political appointments, planning and anyone who supported and promoted him. The only upside was that he united the Village against him and his triad of power mad ill-mannered and deceitful proponents. For many, the Aronsohn Mayorship was a huge step backward and marked the low water point for the entire history of the town. Voters rejected Aronsohn by giving his opponents a landslide victory over his chosen Village council slate.
Garagezilla; according to proponents for 80 years the Village has needed parking, looks like it might be another 80. Garagezilla was the victim of an ill-conceived design, dubious motivations and extremely poor execution. What ever happened to Municipal planning?
Other major losers this year were Valley Hospital for their continued failed vision of expansion. Valley’s self-absorbed blindness has also guaranteed it once again the “poor neighbor award”. Valley may someday get their way but they are also assured to be a victim of own arrogance opening the door for a huge property tax assessment.
Ridgewood developers were also big losers, first and foremost by supporting the failed regime of Paul Aronsohn, secondly, by being so ill informed thinking Ridgewood wanted to become Union City. A misplaced support for the former mayor has left Village developers under a cloud of suspicion, tarnishing their names and reputations and failing in their business endeavors.
And finally, the Village Financial Advisory Committee, formed by former Mayor Aronsohn to help push his pet projects through, sabotage opponents, and create a pool of like-minded power made self-absorbed flunkies. Every single FAC recommendation has gone up in flames and now their new attention is set on attacking the new Mayor Susan Knudsen . The attacks follow the same ill-mannered , innuendo driven , and sexist rants that have and continue to make fools of the all the wannabes on the FAC .
PUBLIC NOTICE – US EPA BROWNFIELD GRANT APPLICATION HEARING
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD
PUBLIC NOTICE
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Grant Application
In accordance with the US Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Grant Applications, community notification policies, the Village Council of the Village of Ridgewood, at its regularly scheduled public work session to be held on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 starting at 7:30 pm, or shortly thereafter, in the Level Four Courtroom of Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, will hear a presentation on the following:
“US Environmental Protection Agency 2017 Brownfields Grant Proposals
For the Site Remediation of the North Walnut Street Parking Lot ; Lots 3 and 4, Block 3805”
The Village of Ridgewood is seeking to apply for two (2) US EPA 2017 Brownfield Grants. One is an Assessment Grant and the second is a Cleanup Grant for the Village property known as the North Walnut Street Parking Lot, also known as Lots 3 and 4, of Block 3805. The purpose of this discussion will be to hear a presentation on the grant funding proposals for assessment and cleanup of the Village parcel, as well as to solicit public comment on the grant applications and the proposed use of funds.
A copy of the 2017 USEPA Brownfields Grant proposal applications will be available in the Office of the Village Clerk, Level 5, Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey. Comments regarding the grant proposals will be incorporated into the grant applications and may also be submitted in writing to the Village Clerk no later than December 15, 2016 by the close of business.
Heather A. Mailander, Village Clerk
JOB: ASSISTANT WATER SUPERINTENDENT
Ridgewood NJ, The Village of Ridgewood is seeking an Assistant Water Superintendent for the Water Distribution Facility. Qualified individual must minimally have current NJDEP W-2, and the ability to advance to W-3 or higher licenses in the future. Strong leadership skills required, as well as at least 5 years’ experience in water distribution maintenance, repair, upkeep, and operation, and at least 2 years’ supervisory experience. Please send resume and salary requirements to Sharyn Matthews, HR Director, 131 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450 smatthews@ridgewoodnj.net
Offer developers incentives to build public parking
Editor, The Ridgewood Blog:
I get frustrated beyond belief whenever any member of the Village Council mentions all of the public parking spaces that will be permanently “lost” when the Brogan and Ken Smith properties are both fully developed (portions of both properties are now configured as surface parking lots and provide public parking to commuters and/or employees of CBD located businesses).
Yes; parking spaces will be lost during construction, but they don’t necessarily have to be lost permanently if someone on the Village Council would heed to my suggestion of offering incentives, in the form of tax abatements, exemptions, or reductions, to any developers who incorporate a public parking component into their development plans.
Believe me, if it were financially advantageous for a developer to incorporate a public parking deck/garage into their plans, they would rush to do so in a flash. Money talks, nobody walks.
So let’s get with it Village Council members – how about picking up the phone today and calling J. T. Bolger, Ned Cancelmo, John Saraceno, and Mike Smith to see what they have to say?
Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood resident
Apeil 29,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog has learned that the Village of Ridgewood was put on notice regarding Schedler historic preservation of both parcel and house, wildlife and migratory act despite claims to the contrary .
According to the County the house must be registered historically and the parcel must be inspected for historical elements . The New Jersey DEP identified two species of protected or endangered species with in the property .Including as previously reported on this blog the American Bald Eagle and the Heron. Its seems the Village manager lied on record dismissing the claims .
Council Members:
As stated during public comment, attached are the County public meeting minutes ofMarch 28. The Village was put on notice regarding Schedler historic preservation of both parcel and house, wildlife and migratory act.
As such, the Village must move forward with historic registry of the Schedler house, historic eligibility of parcel and enforce wildlife preservation. Additionally, nothing can be done on this parcel, NO clean up/Phase 1, until after July 31 and only after historic and wildlife preservation/eligibility/
registry is complete. I have all the supporting documentation if you need them as well.
Regards,
Jackie HoneBergen_County_Trust_Fund_Public_Hearing_Transcript_March_28_2016
file photo by Boyd Loving
February 23,3016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, While we looked away village expenses are now up 181%. We also now have the largest municipal government in Bergen County . Our village manager has hired a director of finance, a director of human resources and there are other hirings of part-time employees to fill in positions. Our village manager has not only a secretary but a full-time assistant. Some of the other positions also have assistants. Things must be good. We should expect a major tax increase down the line.
https://www.northjersey.com/…/village-reps-talk-numbers-1.15…
photo by Boyd Loving
Sad day for the Village – but only a day.
We should neither despair nor capitulate. We can prevent the council from handing the Village over to failed developers and downtown businesses. The May 10th election really isn’t that far away, and these things can still be derailed and prevented. Thankfully there are people working on doing just that. We need to all join in. Aronsohn knows his plans can be undone – – that is why he acts like he does when you try and nail him down on specifics. What scares him beyond belief is that if he doesn’t deliver, his developer friends will drop him like a hot potato. He’s not loved in either the local or state level democratic organizations or other groups. He knows the developers are his last hope to ever winning a real election. And yes, our current debates about Village life are all about one man’s political future (or lack thereof) – – that is what makes the sell-out so despicable.
Let’s keep the pressure up. And let’s see what happens in the May election. If those of us opposed to the overdevelopment are truly in the majority, as I suspect we are, then the council votes will reveal just that. In the meantime, lets not have this fellow undo over a hundred years of village life just so he can try and advance his own failed political career.