By Anne LaGrange Loving
I am delighted that Village Council meetings are now being held live, and that those who wish to attend in-person can now do so.
However, as I expressed in a letter to members of the Village Council on this matter, I fail to understand why the option of making a public comment via telephone or Zoom was completely eliminated the moment the meetings went “in-person.”
Councilwoman Pamela Perron replied that she tended to agree with my concern. Mayor Susan Knudsen and Councilwoman Lorraine Reynolds told me that the phone system in Village Hall is not compatible with phoned-in commentary. This sounds very unlikely. Many years ago, the Director of I.T., Dylan Hansen, was able to have former Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck phone in to a meeting from safari in Africa. There is no doubt in my mind that a system could be devised for phoned-in comments in 2021. Neither Mayor Knudsen nor Councilwoman Reynolds offered any explanation as to why the Zoom software platform could not be used in conjunction with the in-person meetings (as is done with Board of Education meetings).
The pandemic continues, even though hospitalization numbers are headed in the right direction. But, again, we are still in the midst of a global pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands in our country, and almost four million people worldwide, with these dreadful numbers increasing daily.
Failing to allow residents to comment remotely during a global pandemic is completely disrespectful, as well as reckless, and it makes no sense. There are many residents who, for completely legitimate reasons, do not feel safe in the presence of individuals who might not be vaccinated.
The refusal by the Village Council to offer this option appears, to me, as a mechanism to stifle public comment. For example, at the June 23 meeting only two residents spoke, whereas there were regularly many, many speakers when residents could comment from home.
Our Board of Education continues to allow, and indeed encourage, comments that are either telephoned in, or made via the Zoom platform. Some people attend those meetings, while others call/Zoom their comments in. I sincerely appreciate the Board’s respect for the various levels of health concern among members of the public. On a related note, members of the Board of Education ALL wear masks during their meetings; during the two live Village Council meetings that have taken place, not one person on the dais wore a mask.
I am so disgusted with the failure of our Village Council to acknowledge that there is a virus among us that is seeking out the unvaccinated and the otherwise-vulnerable. While attending these meetings in-person is a safe and reasonable activity for some, there is zero reason that phone/Zoom commentary cannot be enabled for those who cannot safely go to Village Hall for the foreseeable future.
No wonder this town is one big joke. Each and every day it just gets worse. The Village of Ridgewood used to be a leader no more. We are just followers.
O well ,
I’m shocked to find myself agreeing with Anne Loving.
Susan Knudsen trying to control the message. Typical. She got tired of all the pickle ball people calling in.
Why were calls eliminated? Because they were tired of so many constituents calling in. You know, the residents who they serve.
Regardless of the pandemic, I think the comments should be able to be called in at all times. There are senior citizens who can’t drive at night. There are young people with babies that have to be put to bed. Why don’t they embrace the increased number of comments? And not even related to the pandemic. I think it’s a great idea.
Ann— Give it up ! The pandemic is over. Liberals like you are ruining America. Fear! Fear! Fear! You like it for political reasons. That’s what this whole thing has been about. Political control.
Give it up. The pandemic is over. Unless you’re a liberal. Then you want to continue being controlled, wear your little mask and spread fear fear fear! You like being controlled and told what to do by the government. To me, you and people like you are destroying America.
In 2021 public comment should be available for meetings by phone, zoom, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Whether there is a pandemic or not. No excuse really. It’s easy and free. The government is paid for and meant to serve the ALL tax payers. Therefore it should be as convenient and accessible as possible for people of all lifestyles to have their viewpoints heard and considered. When you only consider in-person comments, you only get regular public comments from a person of a very particular and narrow phase of life .
I am 85 years old. I have lived in Ridgewood for more than 50 years. I used to come to Council meetings all the time, but I cannot drive safely at night anymore. I also have difficulty sitting in an uncomfortable chair for an extended period of time. I love watching the council meetings, and I did so enjoy when I could call in and comment. This from me has nothing to do with Covid. It’s simply has to do with including everybody. Open up the phone lines for god sake
Let’s not forget about the pickle ball crew, illegal actions have been taken. There’s a few need to be reprimanded.We don’t forget. Our eyeball is on you. The few that were involved with that should be terminated. The mayor and council need to get a set of balls. They let this slide it shows that their week, week, right.
Town issues for the most part or nonpartisan thanks to our form of government. So few people actually attend council meetings for a multitude of reasons but there are many of opinions that should be heard. Writing to council members is not a good option as the public never knows the contents of these letters and they do not become part of the minutes. We now have proof positive that residents will participate if they can do it from home via phone or written comments that will be heard by others at the public comment sessions and entered into the minutes . There can be no reason for the council’s abrupt ending of other forms of public comment than to limit citizen participation. All the rules can remain in place including decorum and time limits. Thank you Anne and to Boyd for your years of attending council meetings and keeping us informed. There needs to be some form of accountability at all levels of government.
I am a life long resident and in the past six years I will definitely leave because of all the changes of the way things are done and the changes of people living here.
I used to enjoy it now I do not for the reason of the newcomers dictating even to cancel fireworks and leaf blowers and complain complain complain. I guess democrats want to strip citizens of everything.
The virus IS within the council, sedon reynolds and knudsen. Walsh doesn’t do anything and perrone is way too liberal and new