the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Deputy Mayor Susan Knudsen made a statement for the Ridgewood Village Council requesting a rescheduled joint meeting date to discuss this topic. BOE member Jennie Smith Wilson gave a Board presentation outlining the facts and regulations that pertain to Ridgewood’s school budget vote and Board member elections. The presentation was followed by a period of public comment. Two more dates for public comment on this issue are scheduled for the Board meetings of November 5 and 19.
Click here to view the resolution approved by the Board at their September 17, 2018 Regular Public Meeting regarding the school budget election .
Presentation: https://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=15982261
A reader said , “The president of the BOE, Vince Loncto, counted the Yea and Nay votes incorrectly. Which tells me a lot about how he manages that massive budget.
22 people spoke in favor of letting the residents vote. 3 were opposed. “
Will residents’ opinions cut any ice? “Is anybody there? Does anybody care?” (John Adams in “1776”)
The obvious answer to your questions is No and No. Town members care, but the people in charge act like we don’t exist –so nobody is there, and they all have soundproof earplugs–so nobody cares! They have set up an impenetrable wall between themselves and the voters. They only pretend to care when it is nearing the elections. They pretend to listen to villager complaints but continue on their merry way with excessive spending on ANY project that ANY ONE thinks they’d like to see in Ridgewood. We can’t just vote them all out because they take their turns at election time. Nobody who seems to have a brain in their heads and some financial awareness wants to run. Who wants to take on all the personal attacks they would be subjected to if they try to contradict any of the rotten ideas presented? I am afraid that no-one with a brain or financial ability will stay/or move to Ridgewood.