December 14,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, What is happening to Councilman Voigt? Since his appointment, many say they’ve witnessed Jeff Voight lash out and verbally attack residents and fellow council members. One resident said, “Pre-election Voigt and post-election Voigt are two very different people. His aggressive behavior is a threat to everyone and we should all be very concerned.”
What triggers the outbursts? A disorder? Some say, it appears as though Councilman Voigt has an ASSIGNED agenda. If anyone or thing poses a threat to that, it must be plowed down.
Recent complaints prompted a review of committees, their function and bylaws. When Councilman Voigt realized the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) was included, he lashed out, made false accusations and tried desperately to invalidate the fiduciary practice of rules and regulations. Of course now the question is, why is Voigt so protective of the FAC and what is he afraid a review will uncover?
What is your take? His recent attack, on Mayor Knudsen, can be seen on this clip.
AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
WOW! That video is telling. On top of everything, he kept interrupting and speaking over Mayor Knudsen. Is he for real? Don’t worry…we reviewed ourselves and found we did nothing wrong. The way he acted, I’d say all eyes on that committee and Councilman. Mayor Knudsen, you handled the situation perfectly and with grace. The public deserves periodic review of all government affairs.
The Orange Man gets away with it, why can’t he??
nice try
Planted?
he has become a big Friend of the worthless Aronsohn based FAC
I saw it first hand at a meeting and was shocked at his conduct. I supported him so at first I thought he may not know how to act at a meeting, even though interrupting is never welcome, but as time went on I realized his views were the same as the old council and that his promises were lies. He spoke to a few groups about issues we were having and he acted as if he was in agreement with us and would help if he was elected. Instead he was rude and extremely non supportive of those who helped get him where he is in the first place…sadly this behavior is all too familiar. I would rather be sincere and have friends then to crave power and have all enemies
Mayor Knudsen, you know you are over the target when the flak is heaviest. Don’t let up simply because one of your colleagues is developing an allergy to sunshine.
Didn’t he do the same thing in the debate with that whole crazy water impurity quiz? I don’t see any real difference.
Wow-the video really does show that Councilmember Voight went way too far. He used quite a few derogatory adjectives over an extended period of time when referring to the mayor. For her part, Mayor Knudsen was right there politely listening and not interrupting him while being attacked personally–ad hominum style. Regrettably, this is reminiscent of recent and repeated behavior of the three amigos. A few years ago, then-mayor Aronsohn went so far as to personally abuse and besmirch Council Member Walsh during a regular Council meeting. Both then and now, this is all quite ungentlemanly behavior. It also seems cowardly and immature, puerile, and borderline intimidating. There is no place for this in local government. Mr. Voight owes the mayor a prompt public apology. His personality may get in the way, though.
Jeff Voigt is a hothead, plain and simple. He came right out of the starting gate in July being large and in charge, interrupting, making obnoxious comments. He is so much like Aronsohn, Pucciarelli, Hauck and Sonenfeld that there must be a link. There are no coincidences in life.
3:57 – Mr. Voight will not apologize. Believe me. He will never apologize. Like the four assholes who left (the three plus Sonenfeld)
Why would a guy behave this way in full view of the public, with his every utterance being recorded for all posterity? It’s not like he has a ‘hot mic’ excuse. He was blatantly trying to reduce a popular mayor’s reputation in the eyes of the public. What’s the purpose of that other than naked politics?
Having only saw the video, I felt that Councilman Voigt was very general in his accusation of what he termed as “illegal” and “crappy”. I would like to hear some specifics as to his gripe having any merit or not. I don’t expect the council to move in lockstep but the days of Hudson County politics should have ended. Mayor Knudsen has been a good public servant for Ridgewood and I expect her professionalism and regard for the the village has been her top priority.
Shame on Voigt! Even if he apologizes, he should step down and make way for someone without personal agendas. Clearly he was planted. I’m sure they are waiting for the next election hoping to gain back the block/majority vote. With that rage, he’s going to have a heart attack first. Give it up already.
He is class-less. And the other four are class acts. Question is, why didn’t someone on the dais stop him when his language deteriorated so badly?
He’s not a majority in and of himself. He is an elected officeholder, so as the mayor says, he has certain prerogatives. But there are four other equally empowered individuals on the council who are worthy of respect and need not sit and take it from him. Robert’s rules of order can be used to make a recalcitrant member’s life difficult if he’s making trouble for the wrong reasons.
Voight may be angling to become mayor in two years and be part of a three-member majority together with two new councilmembers. The new members would obviously need to defeat the current mayor and deputy mayor in their re-election bids in order to get on the Voigt train and make him mayor. Residents should track who among his colleagues he tends to interrupt, demean or insult most often. If Knudsen and Sedon are the usual targets, we’ll know he’s acting politically and not just being a hothead.
Take this discourse off line and resolve or don’t resolve it..was a disgraceful public attack on a new mayor.resignation is always an option…but this is Ridgewood where this behavior is common..
4:51 Great point! His targets are definitely the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Listen carefully. Aside from wanting to discredit our Mayor, he repeatedly addresses her by name, not as Mayor, Pauses and emphasizes to pronounce her name. He can’t/refuses to respectfully address her by title. This guy has a major problem.
The Mayor is clearly a target of the FAC
Not to let facts interfere, but i think 4:51 has it right. The whole Arhonson plant thing is a bit far fetched given that Voight wanted a special investigative committee to lock him up. I think it is much more that Voight felt he should have been mayor or at least DM this time and is making a move. It will be interesting to watch–thats for sure.
Ridgewood let the buyer beware ..each election season..replay this nasty speech and the former mayors audio tape talking down Father Ron and the other Church Communities as to how we should reverse ferry the deseased after their final right of passage through the skinny streets of Ridgewood,s Parking renewal for restaurants in receivership row.We need to clean up their former mess before we take on any new hack agendas…
Happy Holidays to the honest citizens trying to make a living and show some respect to their neighbors.This was the Mayor being talked down publicallly here by a colleague,Resignations please .
He certainly has changed his tone now that he is in office.
4:38 You have my attention. Please tell us more about Robert’s Rules of Order. Can Voigt be RECALLED?
Voigt should apologize to the Mayor, Council and the public for his outburst. Disagreeing is one thing – this felt like a personal attack. Those of us at the actual meeting were horrified by his actions.
Mayor Knudson was calm, polite and professional during this outburst. A wonderful role model for our towns young people and future voters.
Well, Mr. Voigt knows not what he is up against. We are sick to death of incivility and backroom deals and courtroom drama. That is why we voted out the three who Aronsohn-Pucciarelli-Hauck supported. Ridgewood is sick of all this and Mr. Voigt we are not going to take it.
And I agree with the poster who pointed out that he always refers to the Mayor as Susan. He is a class-A jerk.
His comments were unprofessional and meant to publicly humiliate our great mayor. I would have been extremely impressed if one of the three council members stood up on her behalf to let him know he was inappropriate. It was very unsettling to witness his behavior.
The way he snarls out the Mayor’s first name….SUSAN….is so incredibly transparent. We see clearly what a jerk he is.
There is a meeting tonight. 8pm Village Hall. I certainly hope Councilman Voigt, at the very least, apologizes to the public for his rude behavior, and to Mayor Knudsen for his disrespectful tone and speech. I am incredibly disappointed, and was one of his biggest supporters.
Voight was trying to publicly humiliate our mayor. It was hard to witness it. I wish one of the other three council members stood up for her and called him out on his inappropriate behavior. I agree that the mayor could not have handled the situation better.
Usually the rules of order are loosely enforced. When there’s conflict, the rules can be applied to keep a lid on it. The rules don’t apply to recall elections. That’s a matter of statutory law.
I have to see this douche in action….
Well the meeting is over and Voigt not only didn’t apologize but reiterated his baseless accusations and in the same disrespectful tone and words. The public dosen’t hear the message as loudly as how it is said. He doesn’t understand that people think less of him because of his behavior. I voted for him but would not do it again not to mention his parking flyer with his name printed in large letters across the top. He is one of 5 and it is evident that everyone is working on a parking solution. He is clueless to the fact that he is acting just like our past mayor and cronies and their candidates were rejected in a land slide decision in May.
Someone forgot to plug in the Verizon FIOS line for tonight’s council meeting. Channel 34 is blank, not even a message.,, But find Glen Rocks 32 station has a very nice orchestra..
Don’t worry Jeff, the majority of these comments come from the same 3 individuals. Keep up the good fight and hold feet to the flames.
here we go again lol nice try
Wolf in sheep’s clothing.
5:17 AM, yeah you wish. Jeff has pretty much pissed off everyone except for maybe five people…..Aronsohn, Hauck, Pucciarelli, Weitz, Sonenfeld.
Knudsen and Sedon went through Hades for two years with the Three Amigos insulting them at every turn. They do not deserve this kind of treatment from Voigt. It really must grate on them. If you think about it, that must be the desired result — to demoralize them, wear them out, and persuade them not to run for re-election. They are certainly under no obligation to run again but Ridgewood would be very fortunate if they were to do so. We need as many people like them as we can get in elected office. The amount of destructive energy the Three Amigos mustered and expended on a regular basis while in office was prodigious. They were constantly conniving and dissimulating, spewing their duplicitous rhetoric like possessed Energizer Bunnies. How good officeholders can justify dealing with that kind of stuff without resigning on the spot is a mystery but we are lucky here in Ridgewood.
If the members of the FAC are nothing but Voigt cheerleaders the committee should be eliminated. If Voigt’s ego has become a problem he should be deprived of his Amen Corner. Perhaps he’ll calm down.
Amen, 1:12. YOu are 100% correct
Why are the overwhelming majority of the posts above anonymous? If the “anonymous poster’s” have to hide behind an anonymous post it puts into question their purpose, integrity, credibility and questions how many of the posts are from the same anonymous poster.
If the anonymous are so concerned with this situation I would point out you YOU ELECTED HIM !!!! I did not hear any cries for the recall of the “three amigo’s” when they served. A councilperson elected by the voters in a free election speaks out and some anonymous people do not like it so they demand a recall? It reads very much like “Banana Republic ” politics.
How about a different perspective. Is this the continuation of Susan’s, o sorry the Mayor’s, meddling in every aspect of Village activity??????
Voigt ain’t gonna calm down.
Nice to see all the comments. Actually I am quite consistent in how I treat people. When I find that someone is abjectly unfair, deceitful to others, and violates the Faulkner Act, I will speak out. We need this in government. I would be happy to speak to any anonymous person above about what occurred any why you should be concerned.
Enjoy your holidays.
Jeff Voigt
201-251-8204
What a tool…
Jack Egan she is elected Mayor. Jeff Voigt won his election because of her and her supporters, not because of his own ability.
Those who elected him, have all tools in their possession to recall him if he is working with those who want to harm our village.
She has full support of residents and she was elected our Mayor and has 100% authority and resident support to “meddling in every aspect of Village activity”.
Exactly what occurred. …Jeff…? Why should we be concerned…Jeff…? Sincerely:…Anonymous…!