January 8,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ ,the clearly stated responsibilities of the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) , yet are we the only ones who see no evidence that the FAC is meeting its responsibilities?
- The Committee shall assist the Village Council by marshaling and channeling its expertise and insight to complement the judgment of the Village Council and Village management with respect to financial matters.
- The Committee shall identify both short- and long-term financial challenges. As potential issues are raised, the Committee shall study selected issue(s) at its own initiative and at the request of the Village Council and recommend solutions/potential actions to the Village Council
FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Members:
NAME TERM EXPIRES
Charles DiMarco 6/30/17
Alex Kisilevich 6/30/17
Brian Lahey 6/30/17
Evan Weitz – Chair 6/30/18
Rei Shinozuka 6/30/18
John Cavanaugh 6/30/19
David Hough 6/30/19
Robert Kotch 6/30/19
MISSION AND BY-LAWS
Establishment:
A new committee known as the “Financial Advisory Committee” was created by the Village Council of the Village of Ridgewood on April 24, 2013, by Resolution No. 13-88.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Committee is hereby charged with the following duties and responsibilities:
- The Committee shall assist the Village Council by marshaling and channeling its expertise and insight to complement the judgment of the Village Council and Village management with respect to financial matters.
- The Committee shall identify both short- and long-term financial challenges. As potential issues are raised, the Committee shall study selected issue(s) at its own initiative and at the request of the Village Council and recommend solutions/potential actions to the Village Council.
- The Committee shall have ongoing responsibility for the following:
- Analyze and evaluate the annual Village budget process (expense and capital) and the resultant budget, to advise the Village Council in their decision-making process to ensure that necessary revenues are raised in an equitable manner and that taxes are spent effectively and efficiently.
- Review the quarterly financial reports and the current year’s revenue and expenditure projections.
- Advise on the development and implementation of effective financial reporting policies and procedures for the Village Council and Village management that build upon and retain the public’s faith and trust in the Village’s policies and procedures.
- Assist in the review and improvement of organizational structures and recurring contracts arrangements, including collective bargaining agreements, with due regard for applicable legal requirements governing civil service, procurement and labor relations.
- Provide an annual report to the Council.
- The Committee may also perform the following:
- Study critical issues and perform independent research to formulate and develop thoughtful and well-developed recommendations on strategies and opportunities.
- Provide a forum for community education and discussion concerning the financial condition of the Village and various alternatives for improvement.
Meetings:
The Committee shall meet once per month and/or on an as-needed basis. Decisions shall be made by consensus and if necessary, by majority vote. The minutes for regular monthly meetings shall be kept, transcribed, and made available to the Village and Council and such other Village officials as the Village Manager shall direct. Public comment will be requested at the beginning of a meeting and will be capped at 3 minutes per person; public comment will not exceed 15 minutes. The Committee may also hold closed working sessions as needed.
Composition and Terms:
The Committee shall comprise up to nine (9) regular members of the public appointed by the Village Council, a liaison from the Village Council, and a liaison from the Department of Finance of the Village at the discretion of the Council and the Village Manager. The public members of the Committee shall be appointed on July 1 of each calendar year and serve for a term of three (3) years, with the exception of the initial Committee appointed as of July 1, 2013, with three members appointed for a term of three (3) years, two members appointed for a term of two (2) years, and two members appointed for a term of one (1) year.
If a public member resigns, the Village Council shall appoint a replacement as
soon as possible to serve out the remainder of his/her term. The Financial Advisory Committee, through the Village Council liaison, will provide input into this process.
The committee was given too much to do. Responsibilities belong with elected officials and village employees.
Where are the agendas and minutes?
Does the FULL council find this committee useful? If it is just Voigt then disband the committee.
The Committee was not given too much to do. Under the direction of failed VC candidate Evan Weitz they have taken on way more than their charter. Now he want to be in on contract negotiations with the police and fire departments. Is Weitz for f’ing real? We do not need volunteers working on confidential negotiations. Also, we now have Bob Rooney to do pretty much everything the Committee was formed for. The FAC needs to be killed, and killed now. Swiftly and painlessly.
Shut down the committee immediately. No reason needed. Goodbye.
We especially dont want fiscally responsible citizens to negotiate contracts now that the mayor’s family are on the police and fire department. Huge raises for all! Let the tax payers suffer. No reason to tap the expertise we have in town to get better contracts and lower expenses.
once again Brian let see some proof we hear this BS over and over yet the FAC pushes for every major taxpayer funded expenditure
Brian what “huge raises” , better tread carefully
During the campaign the claim was made that Roberta and the FAC had negotiated very favorable (to the citizens) contracts. Jeff even said he tipped his hat to her for the negotiation which he called really hard nosed. Those contracts were not signed. I presume they are working towards more favorable (for them) contracts.
The mayor has a major conflict of interest. I liked that idea of a law forbidding nepotism. Just for this reason. Even if everything is on the up and up it just feels wrong as a taxpayer.
Brian once again you are implying the Mayor is going to negotiate contracts with the police union , which does not happen
who is Brian?
James–I hope you are right. I fear that what will happen is a Village Manager who is beholden to the mayor for her job will negotiate the contract of the mayor’s sons. That doesnt _feel_ right even if no one does anything wrong. It just doesnt feel like my best interest will be represented.
Brian lying about the Mayor and Village employees for your friends can get you sued better be careful
I dont have friends. Just what I read here and see on youtube. Feelings are protected speech so I am entitled to feel something is distasteful.
you are claiming with no evidence the Mayor is in collusion with the police union undertaking to violate the Faulker act and about a million civil service rules , if you dont think the police union is not going to get pissed off you may be real surprised