CANCELLED: DECEMBER 22, 2015 and December 29, 2015
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT public meetings for TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 and TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2015, in the VILLAGE HALL COURT ROOM, 4th Floor, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning at 7:30 p.m. have been cancelled.
The next regular meeting will be held on January 12, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Hall Courtroom, 4th Floor, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.
All meetings of the Ridgewood Board of Adjustment (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog is the lone independent voice of headline news in North Jersey . While much larger competitors have
come and gone the Ridgewood blog has persevered with your help. The Ridgewood blog is a unique social experiment were readers have the ability to create and determine what news matters most to them. With your support the blog has been mindbogglingly successful and its because of reader participation that has made it so .It is a unique interaction experiment in community dialogue .
We appreciate and are grateful for all the contributions made by readers and from the suggestion of several readers would like to
extend readers an opportunity to become patrons . The patron program is open to all . For as little as $25 you can become a patron .Patrons
will be listed d on the side bar or like always chose to remain anonymous. Contributions of $250 or more receive a special gift ,which
will be sent out in January . Every little bit helps , from contributions to content.
The response to our recent email was very gratifying !
or if you prefer checks can be sent James Foytlin PO Box 227 Ridgewood NJ 07451
The funds will be used to offset IT services which have been a bit
staggering the last couple of years .
Founders Day : the History of the Ridgewood blog
the History of the Ridgewood blog
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Ridgewood blog ( https://theridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/ ) was founded in March of 2006 by James J Foytlin aka PJ Blogger .[1] Mr.
Foytlin was born and raised in Ridgewood ,New Jersey and is a graduate of Ridgewood High School .[2] [3]
After many years living in New York City[4] Mr Foytlin returned to Ridgewood after a divorce and the tragic events of 9/11 . Once he
settled in he noticed a lack of sufficient news coverage of local events . One day a friend from Brazil[5] showed him her home town on
the internet and to Mr. Foytlin’s great surprise when he tried to reciprocate he was utterly dismayed at the absolute lack of coverage
of his home town. After all Ridgewood is only 18 miles from midtown Manhattan[6] the media capital of world and there was not a single
picture of Ridgewood to be found . How could this be? Ridgewood is a picturesque upper middle class village of around 25,000 located in
Bergen county in northern New Jersey[7] . Founded by Dutch settlers before it became an English colony[8] . The town or village as its
called is steeped in rich history and tradition .Known for a large amount of Victorian era housing , a quality school system and a family
friendly atmosphere.
Though busy getting reacquainted with his home town the fact that the Village of Ridgewood was so under represented on the internet
continued to disturb Mr. Foytlin. Mr. Foytlin had been writing news letters for his job in financial services since the mid 1990’s . The
popular flip, off beat investment strategy news letters had become email blasts with the advent of readily accessible internet.[9] By
2004 the email blasts were converted into blog format for the One Small Voice blog ( https://onesmallvoice.blogspot.com/ ). [10]
Around that time the Village of Ridgewood had finally completed it’s much anticipated and long delayed renovation of the Village hall which
has been flooded out due to Hurricane Floyd.[11] The renovation was marred by huge cost over runs and lengthy delays. In 2005 it opened
with great fan fare , was once again flooded with the very first rain . Mr. Foytlin was more shocked by the abject lack of responsibilitytaken by elected officials than the fact that the $9 million dollar renovation had to some extent been a failure . That was the breaking
point and Mr. Foytlin had had enough so he decided to give , citizen journalism a go and created the Ridgewood blog in March of 2006. [12]
The birth of PJ Blogger .By this time Blogging its seems had become quite the rage and mainstream news anchors such as Dan Rather had
questioned the validity of information from non professionals sitting around in their Pajama’s blogging.[13] Mr. Foytlin not a fan of Dan
Rather or any of the mainstream media decided to blog under the name PJ Blogger as a play on words and to plant himself firmly in the camp
of the new digital media.
Innovations by the Ridgewood blog to citizen journalism.
“The Fly” is a column on the Ridgewood blog the originates from the expression ,”I’d like to be a fly on the wall “ . The idea is that
every citizen has both a unique perspective and experience and these two factors can be used to gather news and opinions about local
issues. Originally only of handful of people in town participated but with time the Ridgewood blog can now count on 20–40 semi regular
contributors. These post are both anonymous and signed and are largely opinion as well a breaking news.[14]
The Ridgewood blog brings a free market lassie fare point of view to local issues . Mr. Foytlin aka PJ Blogger has stated that for local
issues there are only two kinds of people ;the ones who say spend what every you want because I will not be around to pay the bill and the
second group which are more focused on the ,”be careful this is my money your spending” . The Ridgewood blog is dedicated to the
interplay of there two groups.[15]
[1][12] the Ridgewood blog website https://theridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/
[2] Birth Certificate born in Valley Hospital , Ridgewood 04/09/1962
[3] Ridgewood High School Class 1980
[4] 444 East 86th street ,530 East 72nd
[5] Monica Rocha
[6] Mapquest
[7] United States 2000 Census, the village population was 24,936.
[8] https://www.americantowns.com/nj/ridgewood/organization/village-of-ridgewood
[9] Fahnestock & Co. now Oppenheimer & Co.
[10] https://onesmallvoice.blogspot.com/
[11] https://www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/localhistory/lh_vh_pease.htm
[13] https://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110005611
[14] [15] James J Foytlin
Meet the Manager – Wednesday, Decelber 16th- 4:30PM – 7:30PM
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld will hold office hours for Ridgewood residents and business owners every month. The next session will be Wednesday , December 17th between the hours of 4:30PM to 7:30PM. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts and provide input to Roberta. These sessions will be scheduled at 15 minute intervals and will be held in the Court Room – on the Fourth Level of Ridgewood Village Hall. Please contact Beth Spinato at 201-670-5500, ext. 203 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome but should realize that the schedule may already be booked. We will announce the schedule for these meetings on a monthly basis.
Senior Survey – Residents 55 + Please Complete the Survey
Share your thoughts with us! The Ridgewood Community Center Advisory Board needs your input to determine the priorities, needs and concerns of the Village’s eldest citizens. We are committed with maintaining and improving the Community Center and serving the broader Ridgewood community. The survey is anonymous and intended for ages 55 and older. Please click the following link to access and print survey. Once completed, it can be returned to the Stable, the front reception desk at Village Hall or the Circulation/Reference Desks at the Library. If you would like to receive a copy by mail please call the Recreation Office at 201-670-5560.
Survey of Ridgewood NJ Residents 55 Years and Older
Updated Information on Leaves from Ridgewood DPW:
• Collection: We are still running three to four days behind. With the recent damage to the pusher catching up is going to be unachievable.
• Schedule: We are recommending a shift in the leaf schedule based on the following new dates:
Ridgewood Neighbors Protest the Removal of Tree by the Village
December 11,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Christina Ercolano, age 51, of 59 Ehtelbert Place, Ridgewood, blocked Village of Ridgewood employees from removing a towering shade tree on Friday morning, 12/11, until threatened with arrest by Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser. Several of her Ethelbert Place neighbors stood by as Ms. Eroclano asked Village officials why a “perfectly healthy” tree was being cut down.
Two (2) Ridgewood PD uniformed patrol officers and a uniformed supervisor were called to the scene and were ready to take the woman into custody had she not voluntarily stepped back from the tree. The tree was reportedly being removed to facilitate the expansion of a nearby home. According to Engineer Rutishauser, the tree will be replaced by a new tree at a later date.
Record Number of Consumers Are Aware of Small Business Saturday®, Almost two-thirds (65%) plan to spend at least $100
Small Business Saturday is November 28th
77 percent of U.S. consumers are planning to ‘Shop Small®’ this holiday season
November 27,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, As small business owners across the nation gear up for Small Business Saturday, a record number of shoppers are making plans to support their favorite local businesses. According to the fourth-annual Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, released today by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and American Express, supporting local small businesses continues to be a priority for shoppers nationwide.
“We’re immensely proud to be a founding partner of Small Business Saturday, and it is gratifying to see how it has become the movement that it is today.”
Small Business Saturday was created by American Express in 2010 as a response to small business owners’ most pressing need: getting more customers. Held on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday helps rally communities to support local businesses. As Small Business Saturday enters its sixth year, 55 percent of U.S. consumers report they are aware of the day – the highest figure yet recorded – and even more encouraging, 83 percent say Small Business Saturday inspires them to Shop Small all year long.
“Small Business Saturday is a major part of the holiday shopping tradition, and has become a celebration of the local small business owners that we call friends, neighbors and family,” said Janey Whiteside, Senior Vice President and General Manager of American Express OPEN. “We’re immensely proud to be a founding partner of Small Business Saturday, and it is gratifying to see how it has become the movement that it is today.”
“Small Business Saturday has grown every year and it’s been a big boost to Main Street America,” said NFIB CEO and President Dan Danner. “We are very proud to partner with American Express once again this year to promote an event that connects American consumers with their hometown businesses.”
Additional findings from the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey include:
80% of consumers are willing to pay slightly more for an item if it is purchased from a small, independently-owned retailer as opposed to online or at a large retailer On average, consumers are planning to do 35% of their holiday shopping at small businesses 45% of consumers who expect to shop on the day plan to spend more on Small Business Saturday this year than they spent last year Almost two-thirds (64%) of consumers who plan to shop on Small Business Saturday are motivated by the contributions that small businesses make to their community
Community Involvement Grows; Additional Activities Provide Shopping Experiences Throughout the Day
Part of what helps make Small Business Saturday a success is the Small Business Saturday Coalition, which helps rally communities to Shop Small on November 28th. The Coalition was created in 2011 and is led by Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP). The Coalition is comprised of national, state and local associations that help coordinate Shop Small activities with merchants, consumers and small business owners.
Another important group that drives Small Business Saturday activities is Neighborhood Champions, which is comprised of small businesses, business associations, local Chambers of Commerce, and other community organizers. To date, more than 3,500 Neighborhood Champions – an increase of 26 percent from 2,786 in 2014 – have signed up to plan local community activities leading up to and on the day.
file photo by Boyd Loving
November 27,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
The Ridgewood Blog just received this information –
Ridgewood NJ, In a departure of past practice, Village Council members have hired Mark Ruderman, Esq. and the firm of Ruderman and Glickman to negotiate a contract between the Village of Ridgewood and members of Ridgewood Policeman’s Benevolent Assocation (PBA) Local 20. Village Council members authorized the hiring of Mr. Ruderman and his firm under a no-bid contract, expiring on June 30, 2016, for an amount not to exceed $75,000; this was done via Resolution 15-182, passed on June 24, 2015.
For as many years as those who have been around for many years can remember, the PBA contract was always negotiated by the Village Manager, with labor attorney review only after the contract terms were accepted by both parties. The staff of The Ridgewood Blog wondered why the sudden change, and why Mr. Ruderman. Then we ran across this article:
So in a nutshell, Mr. Ruderman was successful in forcing the Tenafly PBA into arbitration, which resulted in a 3-year no raise contract, and a scaled back pay system that forces their members to work longer before reaching maximum pay. What the news article didn’t say was that Mr. Ruderman charged Tenafly $225,000 for his legal/negotiation services. Although the Ridgewood contract has a cap of $75,000, the cap expires on June 30, 2016. If terms are not reached by then, an opportunity may exist for Mr. Ruderman to either achieve or exceed his Tenafly payout.
The hiring of Mr. Ruderman begs the staff of The Ridgewood Blog to ask what role, if any, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld and Director of Human Resources Sharyn Matthews are playing in the PBA negotiations, particularly since each of their roles include labor negotiations as a responsibility.
Bottom line – Why are taxpayers shelling out $92,000 a year in salary plus benefits for an HR Director who can’t negotiate? And then another $75,000 for someone who can? Good grief Charlie Brown!
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood has always been a quaint and desirable village notably distinct from its neighboring towns and will always have some degree of crowding. A 300 space parking garage is only another step away from that “quaintness”.
When the Mayor Aronsohn was at the train station one morning lobbying for yes-votes for the garage, Residents asked him if 300 spaces would solve any problems. His response was that some people estimate it at 1,000 spaces and he’s looking at other locations for other garages as well. It’s like a runaway train.
The fact that we have some congestion goes hand-in-hand with desirability. Many would rather have the village we have now and pay the price that charm requires rather than chip away at its ambiance (and these are pretty big chips) and end up paying an even larger price in the long run.
Ridgewood NJ ,Join the Ridgewood PBA Local 20 on Monday December 7th 2015 as we honor six officers retiring from the Ridgewood Police Department with a dinner and Comedy show at Seasons Restaurant in Washington Township.
Leaf Collection Schedule Including dates for leaves to be placed in the street
Ridgewood NJ, It is Village policy and a requirement for residents that all leaves must be placed directly in the street no more than 7 days prior to your scheduled pick up date. Please have your leaves in the street on the first day scheduled for collection. If you employ the services of a landscaper communicate these dates to them. No brush will be collected during leaf season. You may continue to bring leaves as well as brush to the Recycling Center. The hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Leaves can also be placed in paper biodegradable bags. Bags will be available at the Recycling Center on a first come, first serve basis. When using bags please place them on the curb area and they will be collected separately.
According to the Village Hall the most vocal comment heard from residents last year was on properties who did not comply with the schedule. Therefore enforcement will be vital to the Village’s success to improve this service. An enforcement agent NOW ISSUING SUMMONS to those that violate these guidelines.
As weather is a key component to this operation, if changes become necessary it will be posted on the Village of Ridgewood website. In addition you are encouraged to sign up for e-mail notifications via the Village website and to share this information with your neighbors. As a reminder, use caution when our leaf removal crews are on your block. When possible please take an alternate route to ensure the safety of all. Should you have any questions, please call the Street Division at (201) 670-5585.
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON LEAF COLLECTION DATES
This past week we have stepped up our enforcement efforts for leaf removal. As a result warning letters were issued to those homes which had leaves out not within the timeframe provided or too close to a storm drain. There seems to be some confusion as to when leaves are to be placed in the street. A clarification of the dates is as follows:
AREA A
Collection Date – Nov. 5 – 10 (Leaves MUST be placed in the street between Oct. 29 through Nov. 5)
Collection Date – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3 (Leaves MUST be placed in the street between Nov. 23 through Nov. 30)
AREA B
Collection Date – Nov. 9 – 13 (Leaves MUST be placed in the street between Nov. 2 through Nov. 9)
Collection Date Nov. 30 – Dec. 4 (Leaves MUST be placed in street between Nov. 23 through Nov. 30)
Collection Date – Dec. 14 – 18 (Leaves MUST be placed in street between Dec. 7 through Dec. 14)
AREA C
Collection Date – Nov. 12 – 18 (Leaves MUST be placed in street between Nov. 5 through Nov. 12)
Collection Date – Dec. 7-11 (Leaves MUST be placed in street between Dec. 1 through Dec. 7)
AREA D
Collection Date – Nov. 19 – 25 (Leaves MUST be placed in street between Nov. 12 through Nov. 19)
Collection Date – Dec. 14 – 18 (Leaves MUST be placed in street between Dec. 7 through Dec. 14)
With the heavy leaf drop upon us it is important that you have leaves out by the FIRST DATE of your scheduled pick-up. Leaves WILL NOT be picked up on all dates shown for pick up but rather during that timeframe. Your leaves will only be picked up ONCE during that timeframe. We will not go back to your street until your next scheduled day once we have picked up your leaves.
Ridgewood NJ , the Ridgewood police report that on Wednesday November 4, 2015, a Newcomb Road resident reported that someone had entered the garage at his/her home that was under construction removing construction equipment, an aluminum breaker and aluminum scaffolding valued at $1,800. The stolen property belonged to the contractor working at the home. The detective bureau is investigating the matter.
Also on Thursday November 5, 2015 a Franklin Avenue business owner reported merchandise (a large wheeled metal serving cart with a tiled mosaic top) valued at $650. stolen from his/her store sometime between October 31, 2015 and November 2, 2015. The matter is being investigated by the detective bureau.,
NOVEMBER 11, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2015, 9:13 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The village’s professional staff last month gave an update to the council regarding an ongoing project related to cleaning up Ridgewood’s salary ordinances and ranges.
The issue of updating the salary ranges and titles was first broached in September when Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld presented the possibility of hiring certain employees at a salary higher than the minimum listed in the village’s salary ranges.
The purpose of changing the ordinance was to give the manager discretion and flexibility in hiring employees with qualifications that would suggest bringing them in at a higher salary and allow the village to get the best employee for the position. The ordinance could extend to both public safety and non-public safety employees.
At that time, Sonenfeld also offered to include in the ordinance a provision that anytime an employee is brought in at a salary higher than the low end of the pay range, the details would be discussed during the open session portion of a council meeting for the sake of clarity.
Since then, Sonenfeld, Village Clerk Heather Mailander and Human Resources Director Sharyn Matthews have met several times to continue work on the ordinance and discovered more aspects in need of an update.
Discussion focused on the addition of new titles and the deletion of unused ones. Sonenfeld said ranges had not been adjusted, but new ranges would be presented for consideration when the yearly salary ordinance is adopted.
