April 21,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Yes the debate was pretty mundane. No big shockers. Voight, Walsh and Hache all said the Valley compromise is too big, and a 3% reduction is no compromise. They will work to have it come to a better conclusion.
Both Weitz and Brooks both defended their support of the Valley expansion as if reading from the same script: “You know, Valley Hospital is our neighbor, too.”
They all spoke about the current divisiveness in the council, and that they could work with anyone.
Voigt had a lot of knowledge about many of the topics being discussed. He will dig beyond the surface of all of the issues.
Walsh showed she has the experience and knowledge to jump right in. Hache was confident, intelligent, and thoughtful in his responses.
There was no mention of Brooks being married to Gail Price (lawyer for the planning board that guided them to
a yes for Valley, and a yes to tripling Ridgewood’s density)
Evan Weitz has only lived here a few years. When asked why he hasn’t been seen at any council meetings, his response was
basically, “The council meetings are late, I have young kids, I have a day job, I watch on TV after they go to bed.” He has not voted in a municipal election since he moved here.
On a side note many readers felt Brooks looks just like radio’s Don Imus .
Best parts of the night: Rurik Haliby was told to sit down by the moderator, and was not allowed to ask a question.
Paul Aronsohn was up to ask a question, when the moderator called time. He was not allowed to speak! The crowd broke out into applause!
The big shockers were the statement from Weitz about being too busy for Council meetings and too busy to vote and Brooks’ failure to mention that his wife is employed by the Planning Board.
So I guess that Weitz is also too busy to remove his campaign signs from the planters in town like everyone else has.
Janice “I’m home alone” Willett.
Is there an online video available?
I thought the other shocker was Ms. Willett’s comment that she was ok with an influx of new students from the multi-family housing. Where does she think the money is coming from to educate them and build new classrooms for them? Not very fiscally responsible.
Hey, understand the Weitz, Willet & Brooks team are having a joint coffee at the home of one of the departing council members. So much for independent thinking!
Weitz seems to be nothing more than someone who wants to get connected without putting in the time. “Valley Hospital is our neighbor, too ?” We in Ridgewood have figured that out, it’s Valley that has an issue treating people (neighbors) who live here with respect. Brooks wants to stay connected through his wife, and Valley. Another West sider saying screw Ridgewood. If you trust either one you really don’t care about the future of this town.
1:17, you know what they say about people who think alike being in the same room? No one does much thinking.
Willett actually said that Valley LIVES in Ridgewood too. Really? They live here? Oh man, she has to be defeated.
When all of the other candidates realized the CBD looked shabby with their signs in every planter most pulled. Evan – clearly new to town and less interested in the charm, has not pulled his signs as of 4/21. The last thing we need is another politician in this town putting HIS needs and wants over what is best for OUR Village. IF he won’t do what is right for the Village now as a candidate, do not expect him to do so as a councilmember.
Bernie Walsh thinks that water is a throwaway like a styro foam cup. “I don’t drink Ridgewood water,” she stated last night. What if every place all over the world thought the hell with taking care of water, let’s just sell our systemand get if from somewhere else. We should not treat our water like it is easily replaceable. Whatever it costs it should be taken care of and made safe and drinkable. And if an owner refuses to clean up a toxic site in Rikdgewood and grants are not available for the cleanup, we the taxpayer must divie up. My god, what else is more basic than water. Bernie is not for me.
Hache is.
Evan Weitz said there is ‘opportunity’ to build / ‘give the land to private developer’ for almost every available land in the village including the north walnut lot.
Willet has not pulled hers either. There’s one by the train station (not allowed), Two in a flower bed by the train trestle (not allowed), and several in planters throughout the CBD (allowed, but looks crappy). Help keep our CBD beautiful. Let the flower pots have flowers!!!
By the way, Bernie is correct about the water company. It is the biggest money drain in town and the water sucks. We need to get rid of this money pit. Thank you Bernie
Ridgewood water is nothing but a black hole for money. Resident have forgotten all the trouble we resident have had with this utility and that BS the Queen Bee gave us last night about the Ridgewood Water Dept head is just that BS . If you believe her you probably voted for the 3 Amigos and their BS. Ridgewood Water cannot keep up with the new EPA
and future regulation. Do you enjoy being on water restriction while your neighboring towns that are not served by Ridgewood Water are not? Do you enjoy getting tickets for violating those restriction? . Prospective Council Candidates talk about shared services with other towns or the county to save money but what to retain control of a failing water system. Ridgewood Water has lost their creditability. Get ride of it or privatize it and that goes for the other black hole our very own Ridgewood Sewerage Plant. Oh wait I guess some residents want to retain control of our sewerage.
Remember this 8:45 From the Ridgewood blog.
Residents Flip Over Outrageous Ridgewood Water Bills
October 07,2015
Jane Shinozuka
Ridgewood NJ, I know people have been concerned about their “re-calculated” Ridgewood Water bills, but the mismanagement is worse than I thought. I’ve paid my bills, and while they do talk about them being “estimated” – this is just ridiculous! If it is not illegal it is surely unethical! Has anyone pursued this issue?
They assured us they are owed the full amount billed – it not being THEIR fault that they didn’t have the manpower to do anything but estimates for 6 or 7 years! Customers not changing their phone systems for better monitoring to suit Water’s purposes is not an excuse. Where is the genuine attempt at a public awareness campaign? This is outrageous. I’d also like to know if this new calculation is based on current rates. Have those rates been the same for the last 7 or 8 years? At which rate is the catch up bill measured? With each re-calculated bill should come a full reconciliation of each account from when it was first considered underpaid. They insisted they are indeed entitled to the whole amount and offered us a 24 installment payment plan. I’ve since heard from someone else that had a similar problem that he too called to raise the issue and was offered a 15% discount over 5 years… I’d love to know who rates a sweet deal and who doesn’t!
If anyone has an opinion or has dealt with this, please enlighten me. I am always very supportive of all things Ridgewood, even when I’ve had to give the benefit of the doubt – but this is Not Right! Even if every re-calculation turned out to be correct – this is no way to run a business!! Who is “minding the store” ?!
Maybe Ridgewood Water should buid a tank in your backyard at any cost 8:54
Ridgewood Water has elevated current water restrictions to level 2 nearly one week after announcing it would increase enforcement of its usage regulations.
The move, announced Wednesday night by Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, is effective Aug. 6 and will remain active until officials lift them.
According to Sonenfeld, the decision to declare Stage 2 restrictions comes on the heels of the area’s recent downgrade to a “moderately dry” drought condition by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Conditions worsened, Sonenfeld said, following a recent stretch of 90-degree weather as well as a “big increase” in residential lawn irrigation.
“Stage 1 hasn’t efficiently moderated the water demand to have enough reserves for firefighting and other emergencies,” she noted.
Stage 2 restrictions prohibit the activation of irrigation systems at all properties on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Property owners with odd-numbered addresses are permitted to use irrigation systems on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while those with even-numbered addresses can irrigate lawns on Wednesdays and Sundays.
The use of hand-held hoses, however, is permitted at any time.
Restrictions apply to all Ridgewood Water customers. The water utility provides service to subscribers in the village, Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff.
-Darius Amos
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — Ridgewood Water is warning Glen Rock, Ridgewood, Midland Park and Wyckoff residents that there are elevated levels of lead in drinking water.
The discovery of elevated lead levels dates back to a June 2012 monitoring of buildings in the area.
A notification that Ridgewood Water sent out to residents on Wednesday is a required follow-up by the Environmental Protection Agency.
RW Director Richard Calbi says the company is doing everything it can to remedy the problem.
“RW is making every effort to remediate for this contamination and is currently optimizing a treatment method to control lead corrosion in the piping of its water system.”
In the interim, RW offers several methods to reduce levels of lead in your water:
Run water from the tap for about 15-30 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking anytime the tap has gone unused for more than six hours
Use cold water for cooking or preparing baby formula. Hot water can dissolve lead more quickly . If you need hot water, heat up cold water.
Do not boil water to remove lead. It does not work.
Look for alternative sources or treatment of water, such as bottled water or a water filtration system.
Be sure to get your children tested. Children tend to be a greater risk for lead exposure.
Grease spill cleanup continues near Ridgewood Sewer Treatment Plant
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Grease spill cleanup continues near Ridgewood Sewer Treatment Plant
September 5th ,2014
Boyd A. Loving
11:17 PM
Ridgewood NJ, Employees from the Village of Ridgewood’s Water Pollution Control Facility at 561 Prospect Street, Glen Rock cleaning up remnants of a grease spill that entered a tributary of the HoHoKus Brook on Friday afternoon, 09/05/2014.
Approximately 200 gallons of gases, oils, and watery fats spilled when a truck transfer line burst earlier in the week. Some of the material escaped efforts to contain it, and drained into streams that feed the nearby Brook.
Enough is Enough
Residents Receive $6,500 Bills From Ridgewood Water
Village residents ask elected officials to help them fight the exorbitant bills they’ve been receiving.
Ridgewood-Glen Rock, NJ
By Daniel Hubbard (Patch Staff) – October 8, 2015 10:08 am ET
Residents Receive $6,500 Bills From Ridgewood Water
One resident received a $6,500 bill from Ridgewood Water. Another received a $7,000 bill.
Residents pleaded with the Village Council Wednesday to do something about the unbelievable high utility bills they have received recently.
One resident who said she received a $6,500 bill said Ridgewood Water told her that she used hundreds of thousands of gallons of water more one quarter than she did the previous quarter. Her previous quarter’s bill was about $150.
“Something is very wrong there,” the woman said. “I don’t know what the answer is.”
The embattled utility company provides water to Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Wyckoff, and Midland Park. It has seen its share of problems this week.
More from Across Patch
Rock Royal Prince Dead At 57
Well-Timed Screams Save Man from Being Crushed in Demolition
Adorable Rare Baby Lemurs Born at National Zoo [VIDEO]
Watch: Biker’s Flight From Deputies Recorded On Helmet Cam
The chlorine level in the water supply ran as high as five parts per million Monday and Tuesday. The state allows a maximum of four parts per million. A pump at the Twinney Treatment Facility failed and pumped too much chlorine into the water supply and the automatic notification and shut down system was not working, the utility said in a notice.
“There is nothing that suggests that there was a hazardous public health issue,” a notice on the village’s website said.
Ridgewood Water flushed the system as a precaution and the treatment facility was operational Wednesday afternoon, the notice said.
The notice said that it is working on better ways of communicating more quickly with the public as a result of what happened.
I don’t give a damn about water restrictions , if it doesn’t rain we have to conserve. I don’t violate restrictions. We have cleaner water than bottled water here , and we have to keep it that way. Every major newspaper and news show on every major network stresses that you don’t know what you are getting with bottled water, but you do with town tap water, and it is VITAL TO KEEP IT clean. Whatever the cost. What else is there? Guys, this is basic. Air water , food, Do you have another planet to live
For the record, I never voted for the three amigos . I fought for no garage, no high density and no development at Schedler.
I will cross the divide, this time guys, with a vote for Hache, Brooks and Vogt or Weitz. Voigt didn’t commit to saving Ridgewood water. He quoted the Record articles of Feb. and March 2016 about pollutants in the water that are being studied by Rutger scientists and info will be given to EPA as soon as jury is out. If we need to put filters on Ridgewood wells , we should do so over a period of years. Water is worth it. .
Where can you get your water? from the French alps, and then when that is used up? Come on guys, get real. We have to save our local wells.
Access to clean water is a major crisis all over the United States. Not just Flint Mich. Get real.
Ridgewood Water class action lawsuit trial delayed
By Richard De Santa
STAFF WRITER |
Glen Rock Gazette
GLEN ROCK – Originally scheduled to begin April 5, the class action lawsuit trial involving Glen Rock and other municipal customers and the Ridgewood Water utility is delayed through at least mid-June.
At last week’s Borough Council work session, Mayor Bruce Packer reported that the New Jersey Superior Court case, whose plaintiffs also include Midland Park and Wyckoff, has been held up due to personal circumstances affecting a participant.
The matter was assigned the original trial date following the failure of two mediation attempts earlier this year, held in Ridgewood and presided over by retired Superior Court judge Peter E. Doyne.
Following the first meeting, Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn told North Jersey Media Group, “We remain committed to resolving this situation amicably, in a way that best serves the interests of all of the ratepayers in all of the four towns, but if necessary, we remain fully prepared to defend this case in court.”
The class action by municipal water customers Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff alleges some $3.3 million in past overcharges, and that the Village of Ridgewood improperly applied water company revenues to other areas of its municipal budget.
Attorney Joseph Fiorenzo, representing the three towns, said previously that they are seeking a return of the amount officials believe their residents were overcharged – Glen Rock, $1,049,165; Midland Park, $619,635; and Wyckoff, $1,640,492.
In an advisory following the initial January mediation attempt, Fiorenzo, noting that Ridgewood Water is not regulated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), stated that the mediation process has “reaffirmed and reinforced the position of the plaintiff municipalities that the actions taken by Ridgewood in adopting water rate increases in the amount of 37 percent were illegal and unwarranted.”
Prior to the January session, conducted by retired judge Peter E. Doyne, the last development in the case came in July 2015, when the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division reversed a previous decision that the matter should be judged by the BPU, and not the courts. That ruling had been handed down by a Superior Court judge in December 2013, a year-and-a-half earlier.
The 25-page appeals panel opinion reversing the 2013 judgment stated, “We conclude the trial court misconstrued the jurisdictional provision [in state statute] causing it to erroneously transfer this case to the BPU.”
It continued, “We discern no legal or public policy basis to defer to the BPU’s jurisdiction a function historically associated with and inherently performed by the Superior Court.”
Email: desanta@northjersey.com
So, Ridgewood water will learn from it’s bookeeping mistakes. And we will pay with higher taxes or bigger water bills. Well worth it to protect an endangered resource: clean local water.
Remember Flint! You guys take water for granted. You’re lucky.
I think Bernie Walsh was the only one willing to challenge the status quo of Ridgewood Water. If we can have clean water and a reasonable water bill why wouldn’t we sell to a larger water company.