file photo by Boyd Loving
May 9,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Village council responds to erroneous assertions made by former Village Manager Roberta Sonenfled.
IMPORTANT: In response to a recent Ridgewood News letter to the editor written by Roberta Sonenfled: Residents should be cautious relying on the content due to errors, omissions and misrepresentations.
• Sonenfeld’s suggestion that the process wasn’t transparent is remarkable! The process follewed is the same shwas required to follow as former Village Manager. AS REQUIRED BY LAW, once the budget is introduced it must be reviewed by the Village auditor and afterwards, again as required by law, must be submitted to the State in THEIR BUDGET FORMAT for review with the completion of check list and all required documentation. This process is no different than any other year – even during those she was village manager. When the budget is advertised, it advises the public to contact the Village CFO with the appropriate phone number and extension. No phone calls have been received to date.
• Sonenfeld’s feigned surprise about the use of “rainy day” funds is curious since Sonenfeld utilized the surplus over and over again. She need only review her use of $3.032mil in 2015 and $3.3mil in 2016. The 2017 use of surplus, at approximately 10% more, is well within the amounts stipulated by the guidelines of the resolution recommended by Sonenfeld and adopted by Village Council last year for the utilization of “rainy day” reserves.
• Sonenfeld writes, “the budget proposes $7.4 million in authorized general debt for 2017 – an 88 percent increase over last year.” If she had provided the actual 2016 amount of $6.021 million ( authorized general debt) readers would have recognized her math error…. The increase in 21% NOT 88% – the difference is for possible property acquisition. Remember this is not incurred debt, IT IS AUTHORIZED BUT NOT ISSUED
• Too many error, omissions and misrepresentations to list!!!
Again readers should consider the source. Email if you have any questions: sknudsen@ridgewoodnj.net
I wouldn’t be bragging about using 10% more “rainy day funds” when it hasn’t rained.
Just because they used it, doesn’t mean you need to.
Sonenfeld had to know that there would be a response. Her letter just stirred the pot about the former administration. Time to let it go. And take Rubrik with you.
Roberta is, was and will always be Paul Aronsohn’s puppet. This move is part of a much larger scheme to discredit Susan Knudsen. Why? Because they are gearing up for the next election. The dark side has to win the two opening spots so they can regain the voting block. Jeff Voight is holding their third spot. Salivating for 2018. They have a lot of shady agendas waiting to push through.
Erroneous Assertions Made By Former Village Manager….OLD NEWS. That’s all she’s ever done. Go away Roberta. Time to bury the hatchet.
I give a lot of credit to our Mayor and current Council (except Voight). They’ve had to work endlessly to clean up Roberta, Paul, Gwenn and Alberts mess. Now they have to protect residents from their misinformation.
I met Voight at someone’s home at a meet the candidate coffee. He seemed to have a firm grasp of the issues. The issues seemed clear.
I do not recognize the Voight on the council. I guess that sou d bites from a coffee do not give enough insight.
Our tax and spend mayor is concentrating on the trees instead of the forest. I dont care what the prior council did. We didnt like them either. That doesnt change the facts of this budget or the questions it raises:
Why do we have a massive tax increase after 4 years of flat taxes? What changed? Why are we running $7m in debt this year? Why did we have to use over $3m in rainy day funds again this year?
At least our Mayor and Roberta have something in common, the love for the rainbow flag. They’re both glowing on this in FB.
why is the d p w budget have risen so much this year. what is going on. it looks to me some bad dirty moves have been going on. And the past manager is two blame part of this. she was told not to hire any more top managers. but she told the mayor and council that i will do what ever i like. wow. people more dirty dirt will come out.
hey woody, they love to waste money. so true on the dirt. why is it that they keep hiring at the top and not the bottom. that is what the village needs.
I was at the council show down. it was good. boy when it cam to the street department’s budget they changed the story real fast. huh’ more bull shit from you know who. I’m glad I was stuck to the wall.