BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD – Members of Ridgewood’s ruling body last week voted by a narrow margin (3-2) to adopt HealthBarn USA’s lease at the Habernickel Family Park.
Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck, Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli all voted to adopt the lease, while Councilman Mike Sedon and Councilwoman Susan Knudsen cast the dissenting votes.
The process got going due to a resolution for HealthBarn USA to occupy the gatehouse at the Habernickel property passing by a 4-1 vote at the Feb. 10 Village Council meeting. The second resolution on the lease was postponed until Feb. 18 because the council wanted to review the finalized lease before authorizing signature.
And due to the majority vote at the Feb. 18 budget meeting, the lease was adopted.
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD – The Village Council meeting on Feb. 24 was an eventful one, as it included a spirited debate between council members as well as a presentation and a number of public comments.
Reintroducing the bond ordinance
Mayor Paul Aronsohn announced via email that the council would be voting to reintroduce the bond ordinance for the proposed Hudson Street parking garage at the upcoming council meeting on March 2, which would allow for the facility to be funded in-town as opposed to by the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA), which residents had been clamoring for. Though the vote will require a supermajority to pass (4-1), the vote, as it stands is 3-2. This means that just one more vote to bond the garage in town is needed.
Should a supermajority be reached, the council will vote on whether to actually bond within the village at the upcoming March 23 council meeting.
“Hopefully, this council can agree to it,” Aronsohn said. “That’s great if we can do it in-house.”
Aronsohn did note, however, that while he is open to bonding in Ridgewood, he is still committed to bonding with the BCIA should there not be enough votes to fund the garage through the village.
“Either way makes sense,” he said. “I think a partnership with the BCIA is fantastic; I think there are a lot of benefits to that for us, for them, but I think if we can do it in-house, and if that brings us together as a council and as community, so be it, let’s do that.”
I’m against the single super sized garage and how the Council plans to fund it through the County. However I understand why developers and the Chamber are in favor of it – they stand to profit from it’s construction and/or operation. Much as I disagree with them I at least understand their motives. What I can’t fathom however is that our Council majority seems so set in its ways on THIS design and THIS way of funding it. Why? Do they think that this is really the best solution for Ridgewood? It seems more like they have a bone to pick with their Council mates.
The Council’s job is to say to the developers and the Chamber that yes, we understand you’d like to make more money but this is not the best solution for the Village. It isn’t. What they’ve actually done is side with the developers to use all of their collective authority to ram this plan though as quickly as possible. Again, why? The Council majority is treating the results of a NON BINDING referendum as an electoral mandate when the only question they posed to us in the fall was essentially “do you think we need more parking?”. E-mails I received from the Mayor said that the design was not final (apparently it was) and made no mention of financing the project through the County. Just when I thought my intelligence couldn’t be any more insulted by these 3.
And to those that say that we could bond the garage through the Village if only Mr. Sedon and Mrs. Knudsen would agree with the developers, I’d say that Mr. Sedon and Mrs. Knudsen are the only 2 on the Council actually doing their job. They, like many of us, feel that while we need a parking solution, there are better ways to go about it. And the rush to get this done now in the face of growing doubt and opposition only raises questions about the Council majority’s motives.
I am new to Ridgewood, so here comes a newbie question –
Were previous village managers also as politically active as the current one? i.e. supporting and promoting specific council members and their agenda, and withholding information from other council members? Shouldn’t that be a politically neutral position?
I have wondered why the village manager ,Roberta Sonenfeld has been such a vocal supporter for the council.
In the past is was a low key position, the managers just did their job.
Schoenfield was a member of the self proclaimed “Tiger Team” that worked as a self-important financial advisory committee. Now we have a permanent financial advisory committee that also is active in promoting the council projects. They are intertwined and hardly objective.
Readers not happy with council response to unacceptable attacks of residents :
Seriously, someone argues it is ok to knock a camera out of a person’s hands? Yes, no one should shove a camera in someone else’s face. But that is not what happened here. (And if it did, someone should have called the Police earlier.) Condoning and urging violence between Villagers cannot be viewed simply as the ravings of a self-styled curmudgeon. It is what we would expect to hear from a fascist who seeks to undermine democracy. Sadly, the comment personifies the mire into which we have been led by members of our Council.
This just in from Big Al – clearly he is running on defense. We know that Albert hates Dana, we heard him threaten Dana a few weeks ago, then we saw him join in a middle-school-boys’ bashing of Dana in cahoots with Aronsohn and Bob Fuhrman. Albert may claim that he does not want to outlaw taping, but he sure as hell does What he hates more than anything is that all of his nasty, inappropriate outbursts have been caught on tape by the Village cameras (and by other peoples cameras) and replayed over and over and over. It makes it impossible for him to escape the truth about himself, that his temper is unmanageable and flares up often and publicly. So read what Albert is saying here:
·If the reference in this article to an ordinance “introduced” at the January 27 Village Council meeting is referring to a draft ordinance that I circulated for comment, that ordinance does not purport to prohibit or restrict video or audio recording at Council meetings. It would require that participants at meetings that are not otherwise being recorded, such as a meeting of the Arts Council, be informed that the meeting is being recorded.
Albert Pucciarell
Reader says Delzio was standing with his foot inside the legs of Dana’s tripod. He had his face in Dana’s face. He was twisting his neck and putting his face in front of the camera lens. Dana was silently standing there with his camera, as he is entitled to do by law. He did not rise to the provocation of this aggressor at all. The only thing he did was take out his cell phone AFTER Delizio started cell-phone-taping HIM. Delzio was 100% aggressor and Dana was 100% passive, quiet, and orderly. You did not see what happened, and your wife sure as heck did not because her eyes were glued onto Jim Griffiths’ event. So your commentary is less than meaningless. You constantly criticize the blog, but you are posting based on the skewed report that your friend Gwenn gave you – and remember, GWENN STATED THAT SHE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING and that NO ONE SAW ANYTHING. Consider your source. Have some warm milk and go to bed.
Ridgewood NJ, Councilwomen Gwen Hauck has announced her re-election bid for Ridgewood Village Council. On her email she lists village hall as the mailing address for her campaign?Maybe that is ok in NJ, but it does seem odd. Maybe she should also have add. ” Or visit my Field Office located at The Valley Hospital Campus in Ridgewood.
Gwen’s term on the Village council has been marred by controversy . In 2012 when she ran Gwen promised a return to a more “healthy dialogue” in the Village , results have been anything but. Gwen’s is part of the triumvirate known in the Village as the “3 Amigos” which includes Mayor Paul Aronsohn ,Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli and Gwen Hauck . The 3 Amigos are led by Mayor Paul Aronsohn and vote as a block on all issues .
Gwen known for her cookie baking for senior citizens had her tenure on the Village Council marked by massive conflicts on interest with Valley Hospital , the over reliance of electronic devices during council meetings, her absence during a key reorg vote, the use of a taxpayer funded newsletter to self promote ,the constant documented attacks from the dais on Village residents , and now the revelation of her implication in the whole sale murder of “wood turtles” at Irene Habernickel Family Park a “Threatened Species” and most recently totally ignoring and some suggest covering up of an alleged assault at a Village council meeting on a Ridgewood resident.
Dear Friends,
I am very excited to announce that I will be running for re-election on May 10, 2016.
Over the next five months I will be hosting focus groups in many of your neighborhoods to explain what I have accomplished and what I believe in. Most importantly, I will be listening to what residents have to say.
Ridgewood deserves diligent, centered leadership. Ridgewood deserves someone who works to find common ground; someone who works for all citizens, a practical problem solver who considers economic, political AND administrative details. My goal is to be that leader for you.
I have created a website, GwennHauck.com, which will highlight current council issues and my thoughts on them. I hope you will find this to be a place you come to understand my views on the current events that are affecting Ridgewood.
Find something interesting? Email me directly after you read an article to share your views. Want to join the discussion? Sign up to host a focus group where residents can learn more about me, and I can learn more about the issues that concern them.
Let’s work together to make us all proud of Ridgewood.
“I find the Village Council’s response to tonight’s assault at the town council meeting simply atrocious. It is also beyond vile that one of the council members attempted to find reason for why the council took no responsibility to address the assault. To request that we find a better time to call the police? Yes, it was a shame it occurred during a feel good ceremony, but I certainly hope you are not insinuating that the attack was planned for that time. A town council with a sense of responsibility and care for its residents would have addressed the incident after the ceremony, not turn a blind eye. Nor would they try to find reason for turning a blind eye.
Let’s also remember that the alleged victim is someone who has been attacked repeatedly during these meetings for recording public meetings. Lead by example – what you have done is open the gates up to give others the sense of right to attack those who wish to record.
Shame on you. I hope your children and grandchildren weren’t watching – you certainly taught them an interesting lesson tonight.
Bonita “
“I totally agree. The Village Council should have called to have Don Delzio removed and banned from all future meetings. They clearly sent a message that this type of behavior is acceptable.
I had high hopes for Albert and Gwenn when I helped run a grass roots campaign to get them elected. Now they have not only turned their backs on residents by moving forward with this mammoth garage structure, they are allowing people like Don Delzio to intimidate other residents.
Hopefully, our new VC that will be voted in next summer can overturn the debacle that has been caused by poor representation. Look forward to getting a new VC and possible new VM who are more responsive to resident’s needs.
photo by Boyd A. Loving Police summoned to disturbance at Council meeting
February 11,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridhewood NJ, resident Dana Glazer had his cell phone knocked out of his hand by a meeting attendee. Police investigation underway. No charges pressed as of this writing.
Witnesses state that it happened when Jim Griffiths was being honored and was especially disturbing especially with so many small children in the room. But, it did happen, “and the choice of timing was fully in the hands of the person who hit the man with the camera. I saw the entire thing because it had caught my attention that one resident was inches from another,bothering him, so I was watching. When the “aggressor” hit the man with the cell phone and knocked the phone to the ground, that was when I ran to get the police.”
The witness went on , “By the time I got to the police desk, one flight down, an officer was already radioing in to get to the courtroom, so either someone else called the police or the police saw on closed circuit camera I counted four officers that came up. What was even more shocking was that at the end, was that Councilwoman Hauck had the audacity to suggest that “no one saw it happen” (you can watch the tape tomorrow, I don’t want to put words in her mouth) – so if she didn’t see it then does that mean it did not happen? And the suggestion that I could have handled it differently, really? So if I see one person hit another, but something nice is going on at the same time, I should just sit back and do nothing.”
A long time resident who did not witness the attack said ,” I think it a sad day for Ridgewood when members of the pubic are afraid to come to meeting for fear of possible assault or harassment by other members of the public.. This was all fueled by the council majority who berated this same member of the public in recent council meeting for video taping them, We have sunk to a new low here in Ridgewood. Never in all my years in town have I see such distrust, in fighting,berating of the public by council members and i’ve been here a long time. ”
The victim Dana Glazer is also someone who has been threatened repeatedly for recording public meetings. This has now opened up the gates for others to attack those who wish to record.
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.
I’m constantly amazed at the contempt that these 3 have for so many of their own neighbors. People that comment at meetings are generally well-meaning and highly involved residents. Many of them are serial volunteers that make great contributions to our Village. The Council majority is at best dismissive and at worst obnoxious to anyone that dares to voice an opinion that differs from the conclusion that they’ve already reached or the deal that they’ve already made. They hold civility hearings and are completely uncivilized, they point fingers claiming conflict of interest and all have conflicts themselves, they disregard their own rules and flagrantly collaborate outside public meetings in violation of the Sunshine Laws.
History has shown again and again when governments try to silence their own citizens, citizens rise up and overthrow the government. Mr Aronsohn has confirmed that he will not seek re-election but there has been no word from the other 2 – one can only assume that they will run again. Please spread the word to your neighbors and send out links to the various recordings of this horrific behavior. We have to make sure that neither of the remaining Council majority gets another term.
Ridgewood NJ, The Public Hearing for Ordinance #3519, “Leasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority,” was officially closed by a unanimous vote of the Ridgewood Village Council during a Special Public Meeting held on the evening of Wednesday, January 27, 2016.
At no time either prior to or during the Special Public Meeting was their any detailed financial information made available to Ridgewood’s taxpayers regarding the subject matter of Ordinance #3519, a “Leasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority.” However, on Monday, February 1, 2016, a full five (5) calendar days subsequent to closure of the official Public Hearing on Ordinance #3519, a document entitled “Bergen County Improvement Authority Parking Financial Summary” was posted on the Village of Ridgewood’s official website.
I ask: 1) Why was the Public Hearing for Ordinance #3519, “Leasing agreement with the Bergen County Improvement Authority” even held if no detailed financial information about the “lease” was available for public review, and most importantly, 2) Why did all members of Ridgewood’s Village Council vote to CLOSE the Public Hearing on Ordinance #3519 prior to the availability of the document entitled “Bergen County Improvement Authority Parking Financial Summary?”
Mr. Aronsohn and Mr. Pucciarelli used the following adjectives to describe the behavior of a taxpayer who LEGALLY videotaped a recent Open Public Meeting. I suggest that these same adjectives apply to the behavior of the Village Council with respect to closing Ordinance #3519’s Public Hearing prior to taxpayers having access to the document entitled “Bergen County Improvement Authority Parking Financial Summary.”
The adjectives are:
disgraceful
beyond the pale
not a way to conduct business
[should] not be tolerated
surreptitious
secretive
sneaky
awful
deceitful
hidden
Remember these adjectives and who they pertain to prior to casting your vote on May 10 in the Municipal Election.
A Senate committee Thursday voted 5-0 to dissolve local and county ethics boards and turn the responsibility of investigating the questionable behavior of any government official to the State Ethic Commission. Susan K. Livio, NJ.com Read more
I was absolutely shocked at the end of last night’s meeting to witness such extraordinary uncivil and intimidating behavior regarding the taping of public meetings.
First of all, a resident was permitted to verbally attack another resident (who was not even present) and make wild hypothetical accusations about what might or might not be done with a videotape of the meeting. Both Susan and Michael attempted to stop this diatribe and defend Dana, and Matt Rogers quickly explained that taping is legal as long as the individual is not disruptive. Susan, Michael, and Matt all did the right thing, and quickly, and I appreciate their actions. Unfortunately, they were unable to stop the Bob, Albert, and Paul.
Certainly Dana had not been in the least bit disruptive, quietly standing at the side of the room. That Bob Fuhrman was allowed to go on and on about how we are all at risk of some sort of unspecified internet wickedness was completely wrong. Gwenn remained silent, instead of trying to stop this barrage of accusations; silent inaction speaks volumes. Compounding the mess, Paul and Albert then fueled the conversation, agreeing with Bob Fuhrman, contributing to his rant, and bringing up another meeting (of the HPC) at which Dana was legally taping the proceedings. Residents as well as elected officials should not be allowed to attack other residents, and should be stopped from doing so immediately. Unfortunately we have seen you allow as well as participate in this repeatedly, but last night really went over the top. Just a few weeks ago I was publicly accused by Albert and Gwenn of being a stalker, a bully, intimidating, and weird because I had my cell phone up while I sat quietly in my seat; again, my taping was completely legal and nondisruptive.
Whether it becomes a requirement that those who wish to tape a meeting must announce their intentions before doing so remains to be seen if Albert introduces his resolution. But at this time it is not required, so Dana’s actions at the HPC meeting you cited were neither illegal nor disruptive. (really, since when is sitting quietly in a chair considered to be disruptive?). And Dana’s actions last night were certainly not in any way disruptive. Remember, Matt Rogers clearly stated that it is legal to tape these meetings as long as the person is not disruptive.
Last night’s meeting ended on a horrible note thanks to the actions of Albert and Paul, and the inaction of Gwenn. It was actually horrifying to witness this scene, in which it was clear that you wished to intimidate and discredit one of our citizens. I am expecting that corrective action will be taken to rectify the damage you have done.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood failed to send elected representatives to a mediation session Wednesday January 8th that was an effort to settle the long running class-action lawsuit against Ridgewood Water .Ridgewood Water is a public water utility owned by the village of Ridgewood , which services Ridgewood ,Wyckoff, Midland Park, and Glen Rock.
The class action lawsuit was filed against Ridgewood Water in Superior Court by Wyckoff officials in 2010, with the municipalities of Glen Rock and Midland Park joining the action as plaintiffs a year later.
The municipalities claim that Ridgewood Water artificially inflated its costs by commingling funds with the village budget and the utility raised its rates in 2010 by 21 percent and another 5 percent in 2011 and 2012. In total in the past 7 years rates have increased 37% which the plaintiffs called , “unlawful” and “excessive”.
The suit also contends the rate hikes were approved in an ordinance adopted by the village council, and characterizing these increases as “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable and, accordingly, should be declared invalid and unenforceable.”
The suit also suggests Ridgewood officials conceived of the fee increases as a way to offset the village’s annual municipal budget using the utility to offset non related expenses .
In a more recent press release the plaintiffs called the rate increase a Village of Ridgewood scheme and that the Village transferred wholly unrelated operating costs to Ridgewood Water and used the rate increase to in-effect subsidize Ridgewood Tax payers with Wyckoff, Midland Park, and Glen Rock rate payers.
This action seeks millions in refunds for customers in all three towns. Refunds paid for by Ridgewood tax payers. While in the past the Mayor seemed to suggest confidence in the resolution of this law suit . The Ridgewood blog has continued to warn over and over that the Village faced significant liabilities due to Ridgewood Water in both billing actions ,infrastructure and water quality.
A long term plan for either disposal of the utility or a financing major strategic upgrade is long over due .
Here we are yet again at yet another important Village Council meeting, Tonight at 7:30pm at the Village Hall. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to not making VC meetings a must attend every few weeks.
But that’s just how it is. For now anyway. Until we can get some folks onto the council who we can trust will listen to us and do the right thing when it comes to our village. That day will come sooner than later but for now, we must remain engaged.
So, in case you didn’t know already, tomorrow is the night that the Village Council likely plans to vote on overriding itself and go to the County for a bond. This is without a parking garage proposal that fits within the footprint of the Hudson street lot. This is with us being on the hook for several hundreds of thousands of dollars for the County bond, not to mention the likelihood of millions more for the building of a garage. This is against many of the the findings of the Maser Traffic Study from October 15th, which Councilwoman Knudsen and Councilman Sedon were unaware of until late December. I could go on and on…
The bottom line is that, inconvenient as it is, we must remain vigilant and protect Ridgewood, which means showing up and voicing our concerns.
Hoping to see you tomorrow night. And if you can’t make it, please email our Village Council and Village Manager to let them know that even considering voting to go to the County for a bond at this point is against the better interests of our village.
