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State Workers: Sick time reform pitched

Government workers would no longer be able to be paid for unused sick leave but could use the value of that time to offset their costs for health benefits after retirement, under the latest legislative proposal to revamp sick-leave rules.

Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, D-Camden, introduced legislation this week that would attach an actuarial value to accumulated sick leave that exceeds 60 days, then permit retiring public employees to use that value to reduce their post-retirement medical benefits by up to $7,500.

Retired public workers who choose a medical plan that requires them to pay $1,500 a year from their pension toward their benefits, for instance, could use the value of those unused days to eliminate that cost sharing for five years.  (Symons, Gannett)

https://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20111130/NJNEWS/311300043/Sick-time-reform-plan-pitched

>Legislation intended to increase odds of tigers’ survival in wild goes before N.J. Senate committee

>Injured Raccoon Wanders Into Ridgewood Antique Shop
Boyd A. Loving
   
Ridgewood Police Officer John Chuck with animal control officers Lisa Slick and Kristen Schmidt of Tyco Animal Control Services capturing an injured raccoon that wandered into Pangea Antiques and Art at 35 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood (201-445-4199) at approximately 12 noon on Friday, December 2.

Photo credit:  Boyd A. Loving

>Downtown for the Holidays kicks off Friday in Ridgewood

THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2011, 4:01 PM
BY JOSEPH CRAMER
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is going “around the world” and back again to draw residents to the village’s Central Business District (CBD) this holiday season, giving an international theme to Friday’s Downtown for the Holidays event.

The goal of the annual celebration, now in its 26th year, is to generate excitement about shopping locally for the holidays in a time where much of commerce is dominated by shopping malls and online stores, as well as provide a fun event for village families to enjoy, chamber officials said. While the tree-lighting ceremony remains the centerpiece of the event, the chamber has added a few new themes and attractions designed to broaden the event’s appeal.

https://www.northjersey.com/community/134852383_Downtown_for_the_Holidays_kicks_off_Friday_in_Ridgewood.html

>Give this council a break they inherited a slew of problems 

Give this council a break. It inherited a slew of problems from the Mancuso – Pfund years when our economy was flush with money and problems that could have been fixed went unabated. Pfund left, dumping the Hospital issue squarely in the lap of his successors. They have had to deal with that. They have also had to deal with issues such as cleaning up the lingering problems associated with the multi-million dollar fiasco otherwise known as Lake Village Hall.

Give these folks time — they are not perfect, but who is, and at least they are trying.

>Leaf and Brush Pick Up Schedule

Leaf and brush will continue to be picked up according to the schedule in the Village Calendar. Village crews will be performing this task throughout the day.

November 21 – 23 – Area D

November 28 – Dec 2 – Area A

December 5- 9 – Area B

December 12 – 14 – Area C

December 15 – 16 – Area D

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> Rutgers-Eagleton poll: ‘Overwhelming’ support for medical marijuana; majority favors decriminalization

One day after Gov. Chris Christie attempted to kick start the state’s medical marijuana program, a Rutgers-Eagleton poll shows the public is staunchly behind him.

According to the poll, 86 percent of respondents favor legalization of marijuana for medical purposes – a current law being met with roadblocks in the implementation stage.

Yesterday, Christie named a former State Police lieutenant as the new coordinator of the program, but the poll director David Redlawsk, professor of political science at Rutgers University, wondered at the pace at which the program is progressing.

“The slowness with which the Christie administration appears to be implementing the medical marijuana law passed at the end of the Corzine administration seems to fly in the face of public opinion,” said Redlawsk. “While recent reports say some of the problem is related to the difficulties of opening the dispensaries called for under the law, public support for the concept is very strong.”  (Carroll, PolitickerNJ)

https://www.politickernj.com/52815/rutgers-eagleton-poll-overwhelming-support-medical-marijuana-majority-favors-decriminalization

> Port Authority changes reason for toll increase

Remember this summer’s bridge and tunnel toll increases that were needed to help pay for redeveloping the World Trade Center? It looks like the extra money isn’t going there after all.

In legal filings in November, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said none of the money from the toll increases will be used for the World Trade Center but will instead be used for the agency’s Interstate Transportation Network that includes bridges, bus terminals and other transportation buildings.

The filings came in response to a lawsuit filed by AAA of New York and New Jersey, which tried unsuccessfully to stop the increases from taking effect in September. In the suit, AAA argues that the World Trade Center is not a transportation center and, therefore, the toll increases are being illegally collected to pay for it.  (Associated Press)

https://online.wsj.com/article/AP4afddc1fc5d046d48da9f9e363f6317f.html

>Pascack Valley Hospital Closer To Reopening
November 30, 2011 9:22 AM

WESTWOOD, NJ (WCBS 880) – The reopening of a North Jersey hospital is one step closer to reality.

The state health planning board has approved Hackensack University Medical Center‘s plan to reopen the old Pascack Valley Hospital as a 128-bed facility. The health commissioner has 120 days to decide.

The hospital flatlined in 2007.

“The reality is that patients don’t have access to the hospital beds. There’s been hospital closures in Paterson and Passaic over the last three years as well as Pascack Valley Hospital, which have decreased the number of available hospital beds in the Bergen-Passaic region,” said Westwood mayor John Birkner.

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/11/30/pascack-valley-hospital-closer-to-reopening/

>Charter schools sue state, claiming they’ve been shortchanged

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>Neighbors Helping Neighbors : Ridgewood Public Library tonight at 7pm