>In a report recently delivered to Ridgewood’s Mayor and Council, Village CFO Dorothy J. Stikna publicly recently revealed that salaries for the Village’s police and fire employees are expected to rise at the rate of 4% over the next 5 years, while salaries for other Village workers are expected to increase at the rate of only 3% during the same period.

During her prepared remarks, Stikna offered no solutions for keeping the salaries of Ridgewood‘s public safety employees in line with those of other VOR workers. However, it is rumored that some members of the Village Council have privately questioned the need to retain a fire department staffed almost entirely by career personnel; especially since no other community in Northwest Bergen County has such an organization. The Village fire department’s annual budget is reportedly in excess of $3 million.

Rumors are also circulating that the Northwest Center Bergen Dispatch Center, operated jointly by Glen Rock and Ridgewood, may soon be offered for sale to the County of Bergen. With an arm of the County government then entrenched in Ridgewood, a closer look might be taken at merging Ridgewood’s police force into the Bergen County Police Department. Significant savings in administrative expenses would be realized from such a merger.

Ms. Stikna’s estimated 2006 salary was $127, 778 (as reported by www.datauniverse.com).

>Perhaps the most frequently asked question in the Library/Village Hall parking lot, and even in the Village Hall lobby, is “where’s the police department?”

In attempt to help residents and visitors find their way around our municipal complex, Village Council members this year approved the creation and installation of new parking lot and building signage.

However, it’s been several months now since plans were approved and the Fly hasn’t noticed any new signs yet. So, “where’s the police department?” still holds the top spot as the most frequently asked question on Maple Avenue.

P.S.: In case you didn’t know, the police department is located on the second level of Village Hall (use rear entrance – facing southeast, near the yellow mail box).

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>The Fly has received numerous reports of a fatal motor vehicle accident that took place in front of The Valley Hospital on Friday morning. Reportedly, two Valley employees were involved; one was killed.

Members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Investigation Team and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification were observed at the scene taking measurements and photographs.

There has been no newspaper account of the incident thus far. Does anyone have further details? Is The Valley attempting to keep this incident under wraps so residents don’t bring it up at future hearings related to the hospital’s building expansion plans?

>Which math do you want your child to do? Which math do you want to pay for with your soon to be increasing local taxes?

Reform math

This is a fifth-grade math question from “Investigations,” which deals with number sense and getting students to look at different strategies to solve a problem. The teacher would guide students to think of “sensible” ways to approach this multiplication problem:

Choose any two of these as a first step to complete 14 x 9 =

A. Start by solving 10 x 9 =

B. Start by solving 7 x 9 =

C. Start by solving 14 x 10 =

Students are asked to break the question into numbers that are easier to multiply. For instance, they could solve 10 x 9 = 90, and 4 x 9 = 36. Then they would add both sums together: 90 + 36 = 126. (Alternatively, they could start with 7 x 9 and then multiply the answer by 2, or start with 14 x 10 and then subtract 14.)

Not Reform math

This is a fifth-grade math problem from a Singapore Math textbook:
Solve: 492 x 98 =

The Singapore curriculum introduces multiplication problems in the second grade. The materials teach different strategies for doing these problems, such as memorizing multiplication tables and breaking problems down into smaller numbers. By fifth grade, the materials would assume students have mastered these skills, and would be able to multiply complex numbers.
Examples courtesy of the July 12th, 2007 Seattle Times article: New Math Stirs Passions Among Bellevue Parents, Teachers at https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003785645_mathwars12e.html

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Dylan Hansen, the Village’s IT Network Administrator, publicly revealed during last evening’s Village Council Work Session that he is currently building out a technology platform that will support Village-wide WIFI and the use of CCTV cameras in the Central Business District. Hansen also reviewed several of his completed projects, including implementation of increased network security, improved spam filtering, and installation of on-site data servers.

Councilwoman Kim Ringler-Shagin praised Hansen for his efforts, but harshly chastised him for mentioning the possible use of CCTV cameras since she and other Council members have not yet discussed the merits of such an undertaking. Deputy Mayor Betty G. Wiest also thanked Hansen for his efforts in bringing the Village into the 21st Century from a technological standpoint.

Hansen has been employed by the Village since November of 2005. This was his first formal presentation in front of Council members.

>Village Council members last night approved conceptual plans for the installation of approximately 50 new street lights on Ridgewood Avenue, between Maple Avenue and Broad Street. It is anticipated that installation will begin by summer’s end; the project could take until winter to complete.

New, uniform lamp posts (green colored) and globes (with opaque glass) will replace the variety of posts & globes already in place. Total project costs have been estimated at $100K, with work to be performed by an as yet to be named private contractor in conjunction with PSE&G crews. Councilwoman Kim Ringler-Shagin has requested that all removed lamp posts be saved for sentimental purposes (even though they contain lead paint).

>Village CFO Dorothy Stikna last night provided Village Council members with a list of possible opportunities to establish revenue streams and/or reduce expenses associated with certain Village provided services. Stikna’s list included:

1)Charging for emergency ambulance transportation
2)Establishing a “voluntary” charge for curbside removal of yard waste
3)Increasing waste water disposal fees for non-residential customers
4)Outsourcing lawn maintenance and landscape services at all VOR owned properties
5)Seeking opportunities reduce expenses at the VOR Central Garage
6)Making changes in the Solid Waste Removal process
7)Examining expenses associated with Fire Prevention services

>Despite yesterday’s drenching rain storm, Village Manager James M. Ten Hoeve announced that Stage II water restrictions are now in effect for all communities serviced by Ridgewood Water.

Stage II conditions permit watering of lawns only on an odd/even basis; no sprinkler use is allowed on Mondays. However, use of hand held hoses will be permitted at any time.

Police departments in the four communities impacted (Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff) are being asked to enforce the Stage II watering policy through the issuance of summonses when necessary.

>….several sources that have voiced strong words to the fly claiming that the fireworks were rushed in the rain due to pressure form the police department which had gambled that the weather would hold up and was unprepared and unable to support a rain date.

>We love the out door dining in town but sometimes I feel like I am walking into someones dinner.

A reader asks how much of the sidewalk are restaurants allowed to take (from the public) for outdoor dining? Fratelli Trattoria on E. Ridgewood between Oak and Walnut has three rows of tables, leaving only about 24 inches of clearance to pass between their tables and a tree.

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