The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, speaking about bad planning , will wonders never cease, the Village Council plans to purchase a property at 510 West Saddle River Road to build a parking lot and bathrooms on top of the new new Schedler plan which involves clear cutting 8 acres of trees and laying a turf field to create a sports complex on Route 17.
the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, NJ’s “Sunshine Law” (Open Public Meetings Act) strictly prohibits public officials from censoring the speech of residents making remarks during designated public comment sections of open public meetings.
file photo by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood under fire for closed session
MARCH 11, 2015, 11:59 AM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015, 12:10 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD – A councilwoman with three sons in line for village police jobs claims several officials broke the law last month by meeting behind closed doors to discuss changes to Ridgewood’s residency requirement.
“This belonged in open session,” Councilwoman Susan Knudsen insisted at a recent council meeting, noting no specific village employee’s position was discussed during the closed-door meeting, but rather a policy relating to Ridgewood’s hiring practices.
“We did not follow the law,” Knudsen said. “That’s not an allegation, it’s a fact.”
But Village Attorney Matthew Rogers maintains officials acted appropriately, saying “the topic under discussion” by the council that evening “fit into the exceptions” outlined in the Open Public Meetings Act.
The village’s labor attorney also concluded the council did not violate the law.
“Generally, at the time the decision was made, it is my understanding there was reason to believe such discussions could impact upon the terms and conditions of employment of specific prospective employees or employee groups,” said Beth Hinsdale-Piller.
Knudsen opposes any change to the requirement.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-under-fire-for-closed-session-1.1286592
