Tag: Village Council

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Pike Parking Garage Presentation for Ridgewood

Pike Parking Garage Presentation for Ridgewood

photo by Boyd Loving

May 4,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ, the Pike Company made a very impressive parking garage presentation to the Ridgewood Village Council . Pike uses a pre-manufactured system , like a modular home ,and they have been doing so for 15 years.Pike looked at Hudson Street ,and came up with a precast approach to the Hudson Garage . The reason for pre-cast is to keep down the cost and also cost controls.

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Pike was founded in 1873 and is a billion dollar company ,has no debt and no law suits .Pike views Ridgewood as a good risk and they would front the costs ie… a “no money down ” deal.

Pike used aerial drone footage and then semi imposed the proposed garage on the site . Pike pointed out that there would be fire access on all sides of the garage . Pike said there would be no encroachments on any easements. The company seemed to go to great lengths to fit the garage into the Central Business District ,be respectful to Mount Carmel Church and think through the logistics of building the garage unlike in the past. Planning included everything from lighting ,safety to the brick face.

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Pike offered many options including even a management lease option .According to Pike the project would take about 8 months of construction with cost estimates for 240 spaces coming in at $8 million dollars. Pike would provide all financing using lender mandated requirements .

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Higher Taxes and Congestion Likely from New Ridgewood Apartment Complexes

high density housing CBD

May 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The massive new 66 unit, multi-retail store complex coming to Franklin and Broad sets off a chain reaction of traffic problems in Ridgewood. As always, taxpayers will be left holding the bag for nearly a million dollars worth of needed traffic signal upgrades alone.

In the zoomed in version of developer John Saraceno’s “rendering” above we see the Franklin & Broad intersection which will be drastically impacted by the new 5 story building and the nearby 4 story Chestnut apartments. The archway on the right is one of two entry/exit for the 150 new parking spots on Franklin. The current lot is private and not open to the public. There will be a great deal of new traffic at one of the most important, dangerous, and crowded intersections in the village.
The new light at this intersection will cost $300k, Saraceno has offered to pay 25% [which is more than the law requires]. The bigger problem is how other, non-upgraded intersections will handle the traffic flow. By law, developers of Ridgewood’s 4 new high-density buildings only have to pay a small fraction of any needed new lights.
Listen here to the village’s traffic expert, Andrew Feranda: https://youtu.be/ENr_LFZAQuQ?t=10238
As northjersey.com reported:

The board also spent considerable time with its own traffic professional, Andrew Feranda, further discussing the Franklin Avenue thoroughfare.  They looked specifically at the coordination of traffic lights in the area. Feranda recommended coordinating the timing of the lights on Franklin Avenue at Broad Street and Oak Street to ensure more efficient traffic flow.

Voigt said any traffic improvements made to those intersections, the two closest traffic lights to the development, could necessitate changes at all lights from Wilsey Square to Maple Avenue. Feranda agreed the corridor would be more efficient with all the lights working in tandem.

“It certainly doesn’t move traffic efficiently if they’re not coordinated,” said Feranda.

Feranda said his layout would look “similar” to the plans put forth by the applicant. He cited the use of the signalized intersection at Broad Street and Franklin Avenue, and the fact that the driveway, on Chestnut Street, was about as far away from Franklin Avenue as possible.

 https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgewood/2017/04/19/ridgewood-housing-hearing-focuses-franklin-ave/100647038/
All 4 of the high-density developments downtown are allowed thanks to controversial laws championed by Ridgewood resident Saraceno and then-mayor Paul Aronsohn.
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Ridgewood Mayor puts an end to personal attacks during the pubic comment period

Village Council -Halaby

photo by Boyd Loving

May 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Mayor puts the hammer down on personal attacks during the pubic comment period . After a bitter attack by Rurik Halaby on the council praising former Mayor Paul Aronsohn and former Village manager Roberta Sonnefeld .Halaby called the council unprofessional amateurs at the same time praising the Financial Advisory Committee .Halaby questioned weather the FAC was invited into the village budget discussions.

Once the Ridgewood blog reminds you that in order for the Financial Advisory Committee to be an effective part of the Village governance the following criteria must be met:

Publish clear and realistic by-laws
Post agenda’s of all meetings
Post minutes of all meetings promptly
All members must sign Financial disclosure forms  
All members must sign NDA’s or non-disclosure forms

These are professional standards that are used and commonly accepted everywhere in the world.

In the real world this is how you run a financial decision body. It is also important to fill the committee with people who have some experience in finance, not failed or “wannabe” politicians who are promoting their own secret agenda.

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The 3 high schools in each county with the best SAT scores

sat-test-2

Updated May 03, 2017
Posted May 03, 2017

By Kathleen O’Brien | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The average SAT score in New Jersey high schools varied greatly among the state’s 21 counties last school year.

Some counties had multiple high schools with average scores above 1,300, while other counties did not have a single school with an average score better than 1,200 out of 1,600.

The average SAT score among New Jersey’s public high schools overall was a 1,075 out of 1,600 last school year, but plenty of schools posted significantly more impressive scores.

The range of scores also varied. Some counties had one school that far outperformed its neighbors, and others saw close competition for the top spot.

Specialized schools with selective enrollment and run by county vocational districts once again dominate the list of highest average scores, taking home the top 12 spots.

Here are the top three average scores in each county:

BERGEN COUNTY

1) Bergen County Academies

Location: Hackensack

Score: 1,470

2) Bergen County Technical School

Location: Teterboro

Score: 1,330

3) Tenafly High School

Location: Tenafly

Score: 1,307

https://www.nj.com/education/2017/05/high_schools_with_the_top_3_sat_scores_for_each_co.html?ath=a661ed5d8cb41fa9dc524c06f451a07d#cmpid=nsltr_stryheadline

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DHS Issues Warning for Water and Wastewater Systems Targets

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May 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Water and Wastewater Systems Sector provides millions of people in New Jersey with drinking water and wastewater removal services vital to public health. As if Ridgewood does not already have issues with water, these facilities may be targeted by terrorists looking to disrupt a sector on which the public heavily relies

The Water and Wastewater Systems Sector consists of drinking water and wastewater systems that treat, transmit, store, collect, and distribute water across the nation.

The water sector in New Jersey includes about 600 community drinking water systems. The 20 largest systems collectively serve roughly 3.8 million people and support water service to another 140 systems in the state.

Wastewater systems include treatment plants, pumping stations, collection systems, and sludge management processes. There are approximately 350 wastewater facilities, which vary in size and function. The largest 50 facilities process and treat 88 percent of the sludge residuals and 90 percent of wastewater generated in New Jersey.

THREAT

Cyber: Moderate
The threat to the Water and Wastewater Systems Sector is moderate because of the known targeting of critical infrastructure by both state and non-state actors capable of conducting disruptive, manipulative, or destructive attacks. While there are no specific threats to this sector in New Jersey, numerous incidents over the past decade have demonstrated the vulnerability of industrial control systems (ICS) that regulate various components of water and wastewater operations. In 2015, the Water and Wastewater Systems Sector reported 25 cyber incidents to the US Department of Homeland Security ICS Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT), a roughly 80 percent increase from 2014.

Terrorism: Low
Terrorists have not targeted the Water and Wastewater Systems Sector in the last decade in the United States. Internationally, drinking water sources remain vulnerable to terrorist attacks because of limited security. In January 2016, Turkish intelligence officials reported individuals affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria plotting to poison the water supply using tularemia, a bacterial disease found in animals that is transmissible to humans.

Natural Hazards
During Superstorm Sandy, 427 community water systems in New Jersey lost power. The heavy reliance on electric power makes any water or wastewater system vulnerable to extreme weather. Ninety-one wastewater treatment facilities were affected by flooding or power loss, resulting in reduced treatment capacity and discharging as much as five billion gallons of raw sewage into state waterways. Additionally, coastal flood waters damaged water utility infrastructure, leaving the communities they serve without clean water.

There are currently no credible threats to the Water and Wastewater Systems Sector in New Jersey.
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2 N.J. towns are finalists in national main street competition

CBD ridgewood ArtChick

file photo by ArtChick

Maple Shade is in contention for a best main street competition, as is Haddonfield, 

By Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on May 02, 2017 at 1:42 PM

New Jersey is home to some of the country’s most beloved main streets and downtowns, according to an ongoing national contest.

Maple Shade and Haddonfield are both contenders in Independent We Stand’s America’s Main Streets competition.

The winner of the contest, whose goal is to “help promote the importance and strong economic benefits of these main streets and the small businesses that help them thrive,” gets $25,000. Business associations, improvement districts and main street groups were all invited to enter.

Independent We Stand is a national network of independent small business owners. The competition is sponsored by Stihl, a manufacturer of chainsaws and other outdoor equipment (the winner also gets a $1,000 certificate for Stihl products).

https://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/05/americas_main_streets_contest_haddonfield_maple_sh.html#incart_river_index

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How Amazon’s ‘invisible’ hand can shape your city

amazon_theridgewoodblog

The Seattle e-commerce company’s influence goes well beyond shopping

BY PATRICK SISSON  MAY 2, 2017, 11:43AM EDT

It begins with boxes. For most people who order goods from Amazon—with nearly half of U.S. householdsenrolled in the company’s Prime program, that’s quite a few of us—interactions with the Seattle e-commerce giant start with a search and a click, and end with a delivery.

While the ubiquitous company—a retail and shopping juggernaut worth roughly $430 billion that personifies the rapid growth in e-commerce—has an extensive footprint, a growing warehouse network, and a nascent brick-and-mortar retail presence, most of us just see piles of boxes on stoops, on doorsteps, and in apartment lobbies.

But that passing perspective would be a gross underestimation of the way e-commerce in general, and Amazon specifically, has and will reshape cities and communities around the country.

A growing web of Amazon warehouses is poised to further speed up and reshape commerce, putting more pressure on retail. Increasing deliveries, a result of this bigger and better logistics network and consumer demand, is leading to increased freight traffic on city streets. And an expansion into physical retail, including brick-and-mortar Amazon grocery stores, predicted by many analysts, could make an even bigger dent in urban landscapes and commercial strips. Curbed reached out to Amazon for this story, but they declined to comment on the record.

https://www.curbed.com/2017/5/2/15509316/amazon-prime-retail-urban-planning

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The New Jersey Choral Society presents Monteverdi “Vespers of 1610”

New Jersey Choral Society Ridgewood small
May 2,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Celebrating the 450th anniversary of the composer’s birth, Eric Dale Knapp conducts the New Jersey Choral Society’s presentation of Monteverdi’s monumental Vespers of 1610 (Vespro della Beata Virgine). The NJCS Festival Youth Chorus, directed by Noelle Dachis, will join NJCS for performances of this rarely-performed masterpiece, the first to be held on Saturday, June 3 at 8:00 pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave., Montclair, in celebration of the 100th Centenary of the church’s Austin Organ. A second performance will take place Tuesday, June 6 at 7:30 pm at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe St., Ridgewood.

Orchestra Nexus and organist, Linda Sweetman-Waters, will accompany the chorus. Guest soloists are Kristen Plumley, soprano, Noelle Dachis, soprano, Teresa Buchholz, mezzo-soprano, David Adams, tenor, Scott Joiner, tenor, Wesley Morgan, tenor, Damian Savarino, bass, and Edward Schmiedecke, baritone. The NJCS chamber choir, Camerata, will also be featured.

Advance tickets are $35.00 for adults and $30.00 for students, seniors, and patrons with disabilities. (Add $5.00 at the door). A 10% discount for groups of 10 or more is also available. Come one hour prior to performance time forThe Inside Line, a complimentary lecture for all ticket holders that provides an intimate and entertaining preview of the music. For reservations or more information, visit www.NJCS.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at(201) 379-7719.

Established in 1980, the New Jersey Choral Society is one of the state’s most prestigious choral groups, well-known for presenting outstanding and unique programs. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, NJCS performs three major concerts annually in Bergen and Essex counties. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House and have toured internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, China, Australia, England, France and, this summer, in Italy.

Church of the Immaculate Conception and West Side Presbyterian Church are wheelchair accessible. Large-print programs and assistive listening devices are available with two weeks’ advance notice. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

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VILLAGE COUNCIL WORK SESSION TONIGHT : Flag Flying Policy,Parking Garage,Ridgewood Water ,Valley Hospital and Schedler Property

village-hall-theridgewoodblog

VILLAGE COUNCIL WORK SESSION  5/3/2017

THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA

MAY 3, 2017

REVISED

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:

a. Addition of Name to War Memorial

b. Estate Card – Property Tax Reduction

c. PIKE – Parking Garage

7.         Discussion:

a. Ridgewood Water

Water Conservation Ordinance

b. Parking

1. Village Hall & Library Parking Lot

c. Budget

Award of Contract – Firehouse Roof

Award of Contract – Rebid of School Bus Transportation

Authorize Additional Funding for Special Attorney for RCRD

Award of Contract – Rock Salt

Award Professional Services Contract – Historic Consultant – Schedler Property

d. Policy

1. Flag Flying Policy for Village-Owned Lands and Buildings

2. Boards and Committees – Structures and By-laws

3. Amend Chapter 212 – Parks & Recreation Areas – Prohibition of Dogs in Parks

e. Operations

1.   County OEM Shared Services Agreement – Borrowing of Equipment

2.   Encroachment Agreement Resolution

3.   Amending Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Illuminated Signs in the Business District

8.         Review of May 10, 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.   Legal – COAH; Valley Hospital; Divestiture of Ridgewood Water

b.   Contract Negotiations – Whole Foods; Property for Green Acres Division

c.   Personnel – Appointments to Boards and Committees; Appointments of Professionals

d.   Personnel/Contract Negotiations – Blue Collar, White Collar, and Supervisory Unions

14.       Adjournment

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Falling Tree Limb Takes Out Utility Pole on Hillcrest Road in Ridgewood

Falling Tree Limb Takes Out Utility Pole

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving

May 3,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A large tree limb fell unexpectedly during an operation being performed by a Village of Ridgewood Shade Tree Division crew working near 558 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood on Tuesday morning, 05/02. Primary electrical wires and a pole mounted transformer were damaged as the limb fell. Ridgewood PD and FD personnel responded to the incident. A portion of Hillcrest Road was blocked for several hours until PSE&G workers completed repairs. It is unknown how many homes in the area lost power as a result of the mishap. No injuries were reported by members of the tree crew.

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We must stop the affordable housing crisis

CBD high density housing

Holly Schepisi 12:06 p.m. ET May 2, 2017

New Jersey has the highest property taxes, foreclosure rate and is the most expensive state in the nation to own a home.  Common sense and basic economics tell us that there is too much supply and too little demand, with high taxes and a dense population distorting total housing costs upward.

Now we are facing the equivalent of housing Armageddon.  A non-profit entity with ties to developers is attempting to force towns across the state to build 280,000 affordable housing units in the next nine years.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/05/02/we-must-stop-affordable-housing-crisis/101146216/

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Beautiful Crest Road Tudor Most Expensive Listing In Ridgewood

Crest road tudor ridgewood

May 2,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Pam Christian, Keller Williams Village Square Realty has listed the most expensive house in Ridgewood .This $4.6M Home Is Most Expensive Listing In the Village. The home is a beautiful 6 bedroom, 7 baths  ,6,716 sqft Tudor home on one of the most desirable streets in Ridgewood.The magnificent six-bedroom Tudor offers unparalleled views of Manhattan , once graced the pages of Architectural Digest thanks to the handiwork of famed decorator Victoria Hagan.

The stately and elegant, yet comfortable, this premier residence features rich architectural details throughout and impressive amenities including a luxurious master suite, four additional en suite bedrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen with butler’s pantry, three fireplaces, a gym, wine cellar, surround sound both inside and outside the home and so much more. The 1.38 acres of impeccably manicured grounds are equally impressive, boasting an expansive stone patio; heated pool with retractable cover; pool house with kitchenette, full bathroom and laundry; and a three-car heated garage. The home truly is a one-of-kind masterpiece that must be seen to be believed.

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Pianist Drew Petersen will be featured with the Ridgewood Symphony this Friday

Pianist Drew Petersen will be featured with the Ridgewood Symphony

May 2,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Pianist Drew Petersen will be featured with the Ridgewood Symphony on Friday May 5th at 8:00 PM. Drew, currently a masters student a Juilliard, just won a major piano competition – The American Pianist Award ($50,000 prize!). Read more at: https://www.northjersey.com/…/oradell-pianist-23-…/100374270/
This is going to be a very exciting concert.

The Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra (RSO), with Artistic Director and Conductor, Diane Wittry, will perform its final concert of the 2016-2017 season on May 5, 2017, at 8:00pm at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street, in Ridgewood, NJ.

The program will feature Oradell native Drew Petersen, playing Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

The Ridgewood Symphony will also perform Jean Sibelius’ Karelia Overture, Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and the world premiere of composer Craig Morris’ Enigma Fantasy.

Advanced ticket prices for the performance are $25, $20 for senior and $10 for students. At the door prices are $28, $23, and $13. For tickets and more information call: (201)612-0118, or go to the RSO website: www.RidgewoodSymphony.org.

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NJT Ridgewood Bus Customers Have More Options to buy Tickets

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MORE TICKET OPTIONS AND IMPROVED NAVIGATION FOR NJ TRANSIT MOBILE APP

May 2,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT’s latest mobile app upgrade has a redesigned look that brings additional features and functionality to the home page screen. Bus customers also will be able to use the app to purchase one-way, round-trip and discounted 10-trip tickets.  In addition, the enhancements provide customers with service alerts and service information for specific train stations or bus stops at a glance.

The new app will be available to Android users first with iOS release to follow, possibly within two weeks.  NJ TRANSIT is rolling out the new version so that it can make any needed refinements before it is available to its larger customer base of iOS users.

“Technology continues to evolve and with that, NJ TRANSIT is continually working to improve our customers’ experience with our app,’’ said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Steven H. Santoro. “I heard first hand from our customers that they also want service information right on the app – this version does just that.”

“Our mobile app users also demand a clean, functional interface, and this redesigned look provides for one-tap access to each of the most popular features. We are proud to be an industry leader in mobile ticketing, and we will continue to look for ways to put the latest technology in the hands of our customers,’’ Santoro added.

Visually, the crisp look features a new home screen with a tile layout, larger buttons, and clearer colors for easier viewing and selection of the options. Tiles provide access to tickets, train schedules, DepartureVision and MyBus right from the home screen. A Quick Buy tile provides for one-tap purchases of favorite tickets. DepartureVision and MyBus will display and auto refresh right on the home screen.

Additionally, DepartureVision and MyBus information on the home screen are auto populated based upon your favorites.

NJ TRANSIT bus customers can now purchase monthly passes, discounted 10-trips, roundtrip and one-way tickets for both interstate and intrastate travel.

The use of mobile ticketing through the MyTIX program has grown steadily since its introduction in 2013 and now has more than 1.25 million customer accounts.

The NJ TRANSIT mobile app is available for free download on any web-enabled iOS or Android device. To purchase tickets, customers simply install the app and create an account, which will securely save a customer’s profile information and purchase history.

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These towns will give you a property tax break for buying locally

parking CBD fullhouse theridgewoodblog.net

By Dino Flammia May 2, 2017 2:53 AM

You hate taxes but love buying stuff. So what’s better than reducing your tax burden by purchasing a slice of pizza or new floors for the house?

A growing number of New Jersey municipalities are introducing property tax rebate cards into the community — an idea birthed by Marlboro Township in 2012.

Residents register cards with their homes, and when they present their cards upon making a purchase at participating businesses, portions of those purchase are eventually shaved off their third-quarter property tax bills.

Since May 2016, Union Township residents realized $4,350 in property tax savings as of February with the Union VIP card, according to Fatimah Raymond, executive director of the town’s Special Improvement District.

Read More: These towns will give you a property tax break for buying locally | https://nj1015.com/these-towns-will-give-you-a-property-tax-break-for-buying-locally/?trackback=tsmclip