file Photo by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood residents claim Village Hall violated New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act
THURSDAY DECEMBER 20, 2012, 4:19 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
An informal meeting organized by a Ridgewood councilman last month is now being questioned because some residents claim the gathering violated New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).
Points presented by Ellie Gruber at last week’s Village Council meeting raised the legal uncertainty of an information session on the Graydon Pool ramp that was called by Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli on Nov. 27. The concerns were the latest curveball in what has already been a controversial debate and discussion.
After nearly two years of reviewing site plans, expert opinion and public input, the Ridgewood Council voted, 3-2, on Nov. 28 in favor of the ramp design known as Option 1.
The design is considered by its proponents to be the most inconspicuous while using the least amount of concrete. Opponents previously argued that the ramp design is flawed as it leads into the facility’s spillway and only several feet away from the pool’s deep end.
Pucciarelli invited approximately 10 members of the public to his information session, held Nov. 27 at Village Hall. The invitees included members of the Preserve Graydon Coalition, a grassroots group that has spoken against Option 1, as well as some members of the Ridgewood professional staff.
No other member of the Village Council was invited to the session; however, Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck was in the same building and eventually attended the session. Mayor Paul Aronsohn was not present at the meeting, and council members Tom Riche and Bernadette Walsh said they were unaware that it took place until the following day.
Either Mr. Pucciarelli was unaware of the law or sought to circumvent it. Neither is acceptable.
Look for more of Mrs. Walsh and Mr. Riche being excluded from “informal” Council meetings in the future. I am very skeptical of the Aronsohn/Hauck/Pucciarelli axis as they seem to be moving and voting as a block. Mr. Aronshon is an unapologetic political operator while his partners are political neophytes. This gives way to much influence to a politician about whom we should all be skeptical.
Aronsohn/Hauck/Pucciarelli axis have also met with Terminal Construction several times on the Ken Smith m project. What excuse will they use for these meetings. I can here it now. “We just ran into them at my field office”