all photos by Boyd Loving
Taxpayers on hook to fund portion of signs for CBD businesses
March 14,2015
Boyd Loving
Ridgewood NJ, As a result of Village Council approval of Resolution 15-90, Village taxpayers are now on the hook to pay a portion of the expenses associated with installing new “Wayfinding” signs in the Village’s Central Business District (CBD). The “Wayfinding signs are intended to direct pedestrians to businesses located on side streets off of East Ridgewood Avenue in the CBD.
Estimated construction expenses to be paid by taxpayers for additional poles to hold the signs are between $6K – $9K.
Village of Ridgewood employees will also be responsible for the installation of each new sign. Taxpayers will be reimbursed $25 per installed sign by the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce (including reimbursement for previously installed signs). The Chamber collects an annual “maintenance fee” from each sign owner, as well as a fee for the signs themselves. 36 signs have been sold to date, this according to the Chamber’s president, Paul Vagianos.
No explanation was offered to the public as to why taxpayers needed to provide funding if installation and annual maintenance fees are being collected by the Chamber. Nor was any explanation offered as to why a private contractor could not be hired to install the signs (as is done in Montclair).
Additionally, no review of the sign project was undertaken by the Historic Preservation Commission nor the Planning Board, and questions regarding ownership of the signs as it pertains to liability insurance coverage in the event of an injury caused by a sign defect were left unanswered (during the Council meeting at which the resolution was passed).
Here’s the full text of Resolution 15-90:
Res. No. 15-90
RESOLUTION NO. 15-90
WHEREAS, the Village of Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce continues to strive to enhance the public’s knowledge of the various stores on the side streets in the Central Business District by means of the installation of”wayfinding” signs at various intersections; and
WHEREAS, each proposed wayfinding sign, identifing the various businesses, would be a plaque no larger than approximately 6 to 8 inches tall and no more than 24 inches in length affixed to a pole at the approved intersection locations, with no more than 8 plaques per designated pole or no more than 4 plaques per PSE&G decorative streetlight pole location, while maintaining a vertical clearance of 84 inches from the sidewalk; and
WHEREAS, the Chamber is seeking approval for additional locations for designated poles for wayfinding signs, in accordance with the location sketch presented to the Village Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Village Council of the Village of Ridgewood that it approves the installation of wayfinding signs at the various locations along East Ridgewood Avenue, in the Central Business District, to direct patrons to the various businesses on the listed side streets; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village Council agrees to install the concrete bases for the new designated poles for no more than 4 locations, have the Village Traffic and Signal Division install the designated poles on the new bases for no more than 4 locations; have the Traffic and Signal Division install new sign plates for a $25.00 per plaque fee paid by the Chamber of Commerce; have the Traffic and Signal Division perform an annual sign plaque maintenance which would remove any invalid sign plaques for a $25.00 per plaque fee to be paid for by the Chamber of Commerce; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce agrees that they will purchase the designated poles in the color black, without a globe, matching the existing PSE&G decorative streetlight poles for the wayfinding signs; agrees to have installed no more than 8 sign plaques on designated poles, and no more than 4 sign plaques on PSE&G decorative streetlight poles; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Village Council of the Village of Ridgewood agrees to authorize the Village Manager to approve any subsequent locations for wayfinding signs in the Central Business District, upon review and approval by the Village’s Engineering Division and Public Safety Departments.
“No explanation was offered to the public as to why taxpayers needed to provide funding” Here is one explanation. Promises were made during the election and now the it time to pony up. I wonder what they will promise special interests groups this time around.
Driving down Ridgewood Avenue looking for small signs =’s accidents?
According to the Village Attorney the Village is not liable for anything but what he didn’t say is how much money it will cost us for him to legate his opinion in front of a judge when someone does sue.
The question asked was: “Does the Chamber of Commerce have sufficient (or any) liability insurance in the event a sign defect causes injury to a person or persons?” No answer was provided to that question.
Yet another fine example of the Aronsohn Team’s “do as we say, not as we do” attitude toward the public. If you’ve ever tried to erect any type of sign in the downtown area, you know what a pain in the ass the Village’s approval process is. These signs went up without anyone but the Council giving the go ahead. Proving once again that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Paulie the Greek is in like Flynn.
the liability case is stronger when the village funds the signs
True 8:16 but as stared at the last Council meeting this a joint partnership.So whom ever bring ligation will go after the Village’s DEEP POCKETS. Not to mention as 6:15 stated the way it was done. Make no mistake about it the Village will be named as co defendant. It may be that they the Village will be not held liable but there is the problem of attorney fees. All because the Council did not take their time to make sure these signs the COC is paying for and the concrete footing that the Village is construction follow the same rules as anyone else in town.
One set of rules for those who kiss up, another set for us common folk.
As our Mayor is heard to say incessantly – “I think we can all agree on this.” Which means, of course, that no one agrees and he is uncivilly trying to railroad something through. Paul Aronsohn and Paul Vaggianos have such an obvious friendship that it is no wonder this got shoved through and, what a kick in the head, we are paying for part of it too.
What if I had a business on North Maple Avenue – I am not eligible for this taxpayer-funded sinage.. Disgusting..
saw the spray painted marks for where the new poles are going and think they will present an obstruction hazard for motorists making right turns someone who gets hit while walking will certainly sue
Besides the business do not seem to last than long anymore – looks like the signs will have to constantly be replaced
NJ Title 59 affords negligible exposure to the Village for accidents related to the signage. The real issue is why the VC views this as an appropriate expenditure of Village funds. It seems way too cozy.
Just like Rica and friends stealing Village funds – at least $850,000 worth that we know of – seems way too cozy. C’mon people, this is $6-9K to improve signage in the CBD. NJ Title 59 is just another state mandate that causes PW jobs overseeing stupid regulations. We’re over regulated as it is in NJ, and all these state mandates do is protect union jobs. They are private sector job killers, nothing more.