The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
Continue reading Hiring of new Ridgewood Village Manager in Jeopardy?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Village of Ridgewood is looking for a Full Time Village Manager. A post on the Village of Ridgewood website says: Full-service residential community of 26,000 residents, with AAA bond rating in Northwest Bergen County, with $54.7 million budget, paid police and fire departments, sanitation division, sewage treatment facility, parking utility ($2.5 million budget) and water utility ($18.5 million budget). Council Manager form of government, operating under Faulkner Act. Five member non-partisan Council elected for staggered four-year terms.
Continue reading Village of Ridgewood Posts Opening for Village Manager Position
by the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) is currently conducting an extensive search for a new Schools Superintendent. Information about the BOE’s search process is posted on their publicly accessible website:
Continue reading And the Next Ridgewood Village Manager will be – Ta Da!
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Village council unanimously voted to give Heather a raise. Even though 4 of the five planned to oust her shortly thereafter. Did they give the raise in order to raise the base salary for the new manager?
Continue reading The “New” Ridgewood Council Faltering at Every Step
file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Heather Mailander will resign as Village Manager upon appointment of a new Village Manager by the Village Council. Ms. Mailander will retain her position as the Village Clerk and the search for a new Village Manager will begin immediately . The announcement was not unexpected.
Continue reading Heather Mailander will Resign as Ridgewood Village Manager
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, recently there has been a renewed push of disinformation as to the defunding of the Per Diem EMT Program . To set the matter straight the Ridgewood is re-posting the May 10, 2021 article recounting all the FACTS in detail . For the record this blog has always been a big fan of the volunteer EMT’s in the Village of Ridgewood , but certain agenda pushing residents have tried to use this event to further their own aims ,distort the public record and hurt Ridgewood Emergency Services Reputation.
Unfortunately candidates Winograd and Weitz driven by special interests have opted to engage in a disinformation campaign in an attempt to misinform voters .
Continue reading The Real Story on the Defunding of the Per Diem Ridgewood EMT Program
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Continue reading Village Council Votes on Defunding the Per Diem EMT Program on Wednesday
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Watch and listen to Ridgewood Village Manager Heather Mailander’s publicly televised, 4 1/2 minute diatribe concerning the proposed purchase and installation of dog waste (poopie) bag dispensers in selected Village parks. Clearly this Village employee (yes an employee; not an elected official) does not like dogs and made every attempt to poo-poo the implementation of a simple program that many nearby municipalities have fully embraced. Thankfully, the Village Council did not heed her advice and will continue their discussion of poopie bag dispenser installations at a later date.
Please. They should be on a timer. Why are we having so many different problems in town. What the hell is going on. It’s amazing. Everything from the lawn not getting cut in town. What is the problem. We can’t even get Porta John’s cleaned out on Maple field. Forget about the lighting. You can’t make this poop up. Well last year the Porta John was over flowing with a duty. Who the hell is in charge.
August 10,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to the Village Manager Heather Mailander , many issued have be raised on social media about the Healthbarn lease at Habernickel Park .
During Wednesday night Mangers report Mailander said the number of visitors at Healthbarn does not exceed the fire code . The types and sizes of the buses are allowed under the lease , and Healthbarn reports quarterly on the number , size and number of people on the buses to the Village .
During the first quarter of 2018 there were 23 schools trips to Healthbarn , 95% used one small bus one field trip had 2 small buses and one field trip had 3 small buses with 10-12 students on each bus . Larger buses park at Graydon Pool parking lot , small vans can park at Habernickel .
Mailander went on to say that Healthbarn is not using space beyond the lease ,in fact part of the teaching garden has space for Ridgewood community gardens . No one sleeps at Healthbarn , if a vehicle is parked over night ,it means that the director of Healthbarn has taken mass transit home or to a conference . Three parking spaces are allocated to the tenant . The village does allow consumption of alcohol in public parks for various events with a one day liquor license . The Chef’s events at Healthbarn often involve the patrons bring there own booze .
Healthbarn is a sanctioned program under Ridgewood parks and recreation and is supervised by that department and also inspected by the Village Health Department . Healthbarn is sanctioned by Green Acres .
January 24,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Heather A. Mailander sent out a few winter reminders for Village residents .
LEAF COLLECTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED
Leaf collection in the Village has been completed. Through February 28, 2018, residents may bag their leaves in paper biodegradable bags and place them on the curb. Once the bags are on the curb, please call the Street Division at (201) 670-5585 to pick them up. Residents may also bring leaves to the Recycling Center, Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
CHRISTMAS TREE PICKUP
The final Christmas tree pickup will be on the West side, on January 25th. The final day for all residents to bring their Christmas trees to the designated location at the Graydon Pool parking lot is also January 25th. For additional information please contact the Parks Division Office at 201-670-5565.
REMINDER ABOUT GARBAGE PICKUP DURING SNOW AND ICE EVENTS
We have already experienced several days of snow and icy conditions. As a reminder, if it is snowing when you leave your home in the morning or if it is icy, please place your garbage cans at the end of your driveway for collection. The Village will resume rear yard garbage collection as quickly as possible after the snowstorm, but please continue to put your garbage cans at the end of your driveway until you have a clear path to them. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our Village employees safe.
REMINDERS ABOUT SNOW REMOVAL
All sidewalks in residential districts must be cleared within 24 hours of the snow falling. Please do not place snow into the street; instead, place it back onto your own property. In addition, if you have a fire hydrant on your property, please clear it of any snow accumulation.
file photo by Boyd Loving
Bottom line is if this business was placed in a green acres park by past council and VM without following the proper procedures it is time for present council and VM to make the proper adjustments to the lease
If the lease was written in favor of the business without the tax payers rights being considered it is time for VM to make the proper adjustments
The fact that a business was placed in a residental neighborhood WITHOUT a trial period is absurd!! And the fact that it has been there for 21/2 years and the council and VM get endless complaints about the neighbors quality of life AND these have been ignored needs to be looked into too!
December 17,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Village Manager Heather Mailander sent out an email with a list of Year-End News from the Village of Ridgewood starting with the Sale of 2018 Ridgewood Parking Permits (RPP), Final Leaf Collection, Public Valet in Central Business District, Winter Reminders, and Village Hall Holiday Hours.
SALE OF 2018 ANNUAL RIDGEWOOD PARKING PERMITS (RPP)
The 2018 Annual Commuter (Ridgewood Parking Permits – RPP) will go on sale December 18, 2017 at 8:30 a.m., at the Reception Desk in the lobby of Village Hall. All applicants must bring their driver’s license and vehicle registration(s) for car(s) they wish to list on their permits, as the RPPs allow up to 3 cars on each hang tag. The RPPs allow commuters to park in designated Ridgewood parking lots without having to pay the parking meters. The following is a summary of the Ridgewood Parking Permits (RPPs) and their prices:
Premium RPP – $1,000 annual fee – allows Ridgewood residents to park in the Train Station lot, Hudson Street lot, Prospect Street lot, and all Ridgewood lots, including Route 17 Park and Ride lot. A maximum of 210 Premium RPPs will be sold, on a first come, first served basis.
Non-Premium RPP – $750 annual fee – allows Ridgewood residents to park in Chestnut Street lot, North Walnut Street lot, Cottage Place lot, and Route 17 Park and Ride lot.
Park and Ride RPP – $750 annual fee – this price is for both Ridgewood residents and non-residents, and allows parking in the Route 17 Park and Ride lot.
Non-resident RPP in Central Business District – $1,500 annual fee – allows non-residents to park in the Cottage Place lot.
Ridgewood Resident Sticker – Free – All Ridgewood resident commuters who wish to park at the train station must bring in their driver’s license and vehicle registration(s) to obtain a free Ridgewood Resident sticker. Free Ridgewood Resident stickers will also be issued to all Ridgewood residents purchasing RPPs.
The Village will accept checks, cash, or credit cards (with a 3% transaction fee to the user) for payment.
There are also Central Business District (CBD) Employee stickers and hang tags that may be purchased by those who work in the CBD and allows parking at designated meters in the North Walnut Street and Cottage Place lots.
For more information, please visit our website: www.ridgewoodnj.net.
FINAL LEAF COLLECTION
The Village is currently picking up leaves in Section D, and that section should be finished by Christmas, weather permitting. The final leaf placement dates for the entire Village will be December 23rd through January 1st. After January 1st, do not place any more leaves into the street, along the curbline. Our leaf crews will pick up the leaves, beginning January 2nd. After January 1st, residents having additional leaves to dispose of must keep them on their property, until the spring.
PUBLIC VALET IN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
The Village Council has funded a Public Valet in the Central Business District on Friday and Saturday nights, from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., throughDecember 30th. The location is Van Neste Square, by the park, and the cost is $5 per vehicle. Come and enjoy a night in the Central Business District with family and friends, during this holiday season, with easy parking through the Public Valet.
WINTER REMINDERS
We have already experienced a couple of snowfalls this month. As a reminder, when it snows or is icy, please place your garbage cans at the end of your driveway for collection. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our Village employees safe.
All sidewalks in residential districts must be cleared within 24 hours of the snow falling. Please do not place snow into the street; instead, place it back onto your own property. In addition, if you have a fire hydrant on your property, please clear it of any snow accumulation.
HOLIDAY HOURS
All Village offices will be closed on December 25th, December 26th, and January 1st, in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Wishing you and yours a joyous holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year!
