Village Council Budget Meeting 20150322
A SPECIAL PUBLIC BUDGET MEETING OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON MARCH 22, 2015 AT 12:00 NOON.
1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL
Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 12:06 p.m. and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli and Sedon. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Stephen Sanzari, Deputy Chief Financial Officer.
2. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. There was also a moment of silence held to honor the American men and women serving in the Armed Forces as well as those serving as first responders.
3. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
There were no comments from the public.
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
Prior to the start of the Departmental/Utility/Other Accounts budgets, Ms. Sonenfeld did a recap of the previous budget meeting. Ms. Sonenfeld reminded the Village Council that more than 50% of the expenses in the budget are related to the Police and Fire Departments. Some numbers have increased, and some are flat.
In other budget areas, she noted that gasoline prices are lower; there were issues at the Water Pollution Control Facility which had to be taken care of through repairs or improvements; and the Capital Budget numbers are reduced. In other municipalities, they have a Surplus Policy for their annual budget. This is a best practice, and something which will be discussed further with the Village Council in the future.
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that between now and April 16, 2015 there will be more work done on the budget. There will be a couple of different budget numbers presented to the Village Council, with different tax rate increases for the Village Council to look at and decide upon. The overall budget will not come in higher than 2%.
a. REVIEW OF DEPARTMENTAL/UTILITY/OTHER
ACCOUNTS BUDGETS
1. Parking Utility
Ms. Sonenfeld said that the Parking Utility is an active area as there is the Ken Smith parking lot for Central Business District (CBD) employees; and credit card payment in the future with ParkMobile. The Chief Financial Officer/Parking Director is also being hired. She said that she is about to sign the contract with ParkMobile. Ms. Sonenfeld recommended that a parking garage be considered.
Ms. Sonenfeld said that the Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs) are charged to the Parking Utility. The budget allocations for this have been increased by 33%. There is $250,000 in deferred charges because the Village picked up the deficits from the Parking Utility from 2008 forward, due to the quarter theft. She said that this year’s budget will pay back less than half of what is owed to the Village. The other half will be paid back to the Village next year. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that the Village will be contracting with a new company to pick up the quarters from Village Hall, which are collected from the parking meters. She said that the Village will no longer be doing the coin counting; instead, it will be done by the company picking up the coins.
Councilman Pucciarelli asked about an RFP to construct a parking garage. Ms. Sonenfeld said that there is money left in the Parking Utility surplus for an RFP.
Mayor Aronsohn asked about revenues for the Parking Utility. Ms. Sonenfeld said that the revenues will increase, and there will be more money to pay off debt. Councilman Sedon said that he is concerned, because he sees more open parking spaces, meaning less revenue. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if the Village has been monitoring the number of empty parking spaces since making the changes in parking, where the time limit in all parking lots is three hours, except in the Park and Ride lot and the train station lot. Ms. Sonenfeld said that fifteen to sixteen spaces are not being used in the Hudson Street parking lot, which used to be full by 8:00 a.m. on weekdays.
Mayor Aronsohn said that this is an exciting topic, and there are a lot of serious strides in this area. He said that they are all necessary and welcome changes. Mayor Aronsohn also indicated that it is a great idea to hire a combination Chief Financial Officer/Parking Director.
2. Tax Assessor
Michael Barker, Tax Assessor, said that a Reassessment was recently completed and it resulted in fewer tax appeals. He said that technology plays a big role in what they do, because it allows them to analyze data. The hardware and software is provided to the Tax Assessor’s Office by Bergen County.
Mr. Barker explained that the Tax Assessor’s records are provided to Village Departments, people with billing lists, and they also deal with local realtors and appraisers.
Mr. Barker stated that they are currently dealing with tax appeal backlogs from 2009 and 2010. Mr. Barker pointed out that in 2014, he became involved in the abandoned properties list and program set up by the Village Council to help deal with abandoned properties in the Village.
Mr. Barker said that in 2015, the Tax Assessor’s Office will continue improving technology, and they can go paperless with deeds, which means they will be available on-line.
Mr. Barker said that his budget is flat, because some costs, like software maintenance, have been shifted to the County.
Mr. Barker explained that he has a breakdown of the CBD by the type of business which is in a particular space in the CBD, such as a store, restaurant, bank or office. He stated that any information he maintains is a public record. Mayor Aronsohn said that he would like to see this list, to give the Village Council an overview. Blais Brancheau, Village Planner, said that in 2007, there was an overview of the uses in the B-1 zone, so the Village Council can see how the uses have changed in the CBD over time. Mr. Barker explained that the assessments Village-wide are $5.75 billion.
3. Village Clerk/Elections
Heather Mailander, Village Clerk, went over the Village Clerk/Elections budget. She went through the 2014 accomplishments including the numbers of Workers’ compensation claims processed; number of raffles licenses issued; number of Open Public Record Act (OPRA) requests responded to; number of Social Affair permits for groups to serve alcohol for a one-day function; and numbers of train station, UP3, garage sale, landscaper, and CBD permits which were issued.
In addition, in 2014, the Village Clerk’s Office ran the Municipal, Primary and General Elections; took over preparation of Work Session agenda packets; initiated the training of all Village Hall employees, as well as all Department Directors and Supervisors for Active Shooter/Active Threat situations in the workplace, in conjunction with the Ridgewood Police Department; trained two new part time employees in the Village Clerk’s Office; continued to work with the NJ Civil Service Commission in processing paperwork; and partnered with Councilwoman Hauck to bring a healthy food vending machine back to Village Hall.
Ms. Mailander explained that her strategies for 2015 include organizing a training session for liquor license owners, led by the NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. She hopes to implement the “Municipality in a Box” for OPRA requests and tracking terms of members on Boards and Committees. In addition, she hopes to have the DORES on-line records destruction system up and running because the only way to destroy public records throughout the Village is to apply to the State of New Jersey for permission to do so, on-line.
Ms. Mailander stated that the most time consuming part of her job are the OPRA requests, because there must be a response to the requestor of the public records within seven business days. She said that commercial companies have found out about OPRA and they now send in OPRA requests to complete Phase I Environmental assessments for their clients. Unfortunately, if the companies ask for the information to be sent to them electronically, then the Village receives no money for these requests. She said that she is happy to provide public records to anyone, but when OPRA requests are being used for commercial purposes, she does not think that was the original intent of OPRA. She noted that the OPRA requests have increased by approximately 50% over last year.
Councilman Pucciarelli said that he did not realize the breadth of responsibility given to the Village Clerk. Ms. Mailander was asked to quantify the percentage of time spent on fulfilling general OPRA requests and the percentage of time spent on fulfilling commercial OPRA requests. It appears that using OPRA requests for commercial purposes undermines the spirit of OPRA.
4. Planning Board/Historic Preservation Commission
Blais Brancheau, Village Planner, said that the Re-examination of the Master Plan must be completed by the Planning Board by February 2016. This is due to the NJ Supreme Court decision on affordable housing which requires a new housing element of the Master Plan.
One of the risks to the Planning Board budget is the fact that the new housing element of the Master Plan will probably cause litigation. Also, because of the fact that some of the Planning Board meetings will have many people attending, there are costs associated with moving the meetings outside of Village Hall to a larger venue including Police, sound technicians, and payment to the Board Secretary. Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed that it costs approximately $2,000 when the Special meetings of the Planning Board are moved offsite. Mr. Brancheau stated that the applicant is not charged for the Special Meeting costs unless the applicant agrees to pay for them. Mr. Brancheau said that going forward, the applicant should be told that the meeting will not be held off-site unless they pay for it. Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the Planning Board meetings should be televised and the money to do so should be put into the Planning Board’s budget. Since a vast amount of people do not speak at the Planning Board meetings, they can watch it on television.
Councilwoman Knudsen said that a Valley Hospital hearing was held in Village Hall and it was full to capacity. She said that the Village should look at other locations for overflow of meetings. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that this is why it would be a good idea to televise the Planning Board meetings.
Councilwoman Hauck asked why this budget has doubled from 2013-2015, to $181,000. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the main increase is due to legal bills. Councilwoman Knudsen agreed and explained that the Village’s issues are more onerous and more complicated at this time.
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that the budget for the Historic Preservation Commission is flat to last year.
5. Emergency Services
Brian Pullman, Chief of Emergency Services, stated that 1,736 EMS calls were answered last year. Their revenue exceeded their costs by $55,000 and they have eighty active volunteers who give exceptional service to the Village. In fact, there is a waiting list to be an EMT in Ridgewood.
Chief Pullman stated that in 2015, they are going to strengthen the program and have increased training. He indicated that he is going to be stepping down as Chief at the end of the year, and he would like to see someone promoted from within to the Chief’s position. He would like to appoint a Deputy Chief of Emergency services in order to train that person, from September through December, to be the new Chief of Emergency Services in January 2016.
Chief Pullman indicated that they have an old fleet in EMS and that the other ambulances are seven and twelve years old. Ms. Sonenfeld said that these vehicles will not be replaced in 2015; instead, they will be replaced in 2016.
As far as the increased training, Chief Pullman stated that there will be EMT training for all new Firefighters. Chief Pullman indicated that his budget is flat from 2014.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Chief Pullman for coming in with a flat budget and for his leadership. He noted that Emergency Services is a great organization. Chief Pullman said that Emergency Services also covers Special Operations, putting out generators when needed, a dive team, and a communications truck.
Councilman Pucciarelli said that there are so many volunteers to honor, and he also thanked Chief Pullman for bringing in a flat budget. Councilwoman Knudsen indicated that the report and charts produced for the Emergency Services budget are incredible. She said the fact that there are eighty volunteers is a tribute to Chief Pullman’s leadership.
6. Municipal Court
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the Municipal Court’s budget is flat and the total revenue to the Village is $360,000. Police Captain Jacqueline Luthcke explained that there are currently four part-time Parking Enforcement Officers writing parking related tickets in the CBD.
7. Attorney Fees
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that legal fees have been reduced by $46,000, and this is because the Human Resources function is doing the work that the attorneys used to do. There were three employees who were terminated in 2014. In addition, nothing was spent on the FMBA Contracts because Sharyn Matthews, Human Resource Professional, re-wrote the contract for the FMBA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that there is a risk to the budget numbers for legal expenses if the Police negotiations do not go as smoothly as the Fire negotiations.
8. Finance/Tax Collection/Insurance
Mayor Aronsohn acknowledged and thanked everyone who attended the meeting today, since it is being held on a Sunday. Stephen Sanzari, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, reviewed some of the 2014 accomplishments within the Finance Department. They completed the bond anticipation notes, borrowing money to pay off capital projects that are in progress during the year, i.e., purchasing of vehicles, building improvements, and infrastructure improvements at Ridgewood Water. There were no notes issued for the Parking Utility. He collaborated with the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) team to improve budget reporting and to streamline budget processes from years past. The 2015 budget highlights include the planning and coordination of the 2007 refunding bond issue and another bond anticipation note sale. The Village is paying about 4% on its 2007 bond issue. A refunding issue is very similar to a homeowner refinancing a mortgage at a lower interest rate. He would also like to work with the FAC to establish a written fund balance policy. This would establish guidelines to review expenses and financial obligations during the year, to determine how much fund balance should be retained on hand.
Mr. Sanzari said another highlight for 2015 is to prepare the official statement for the 2007 refund bond issue, compiling statistical data on the Village and completing the statements for the backup for the refunding issue. He also would like to continue cross-training within the Finance Department regarding accounts payable, payroll, and treasury computations. Additionally, he would like to formulate a financial forecast (3-5 years) which would project revenues and expenses, perhaps in anticipation of developing new departments or enhancing or realigning Village services to be more efficient. Lastly, he would like to prepare an RFP for a cost study for the Finance Department, which would address allocations between utilities and the trust funds with the operating budgets.
Mr. Sanzari indicated that the budget for the Finance Department will increase for the 2015 year, which will represent the addition of a full-time Chief Financial Officer and a Parking Utility Director. The actual expenditure for salaries is somewhat less than budgeted, attributable to vacancies within the department. General operating expenses for the Finance Department have remained steady. The fees for the auditor for 2015 have decreased.
Councilman Pucciarelli indicated that when looking at the budget for the Finance Department, it seemed as though the fringe benefits were not included in the total expenditures for 2015 and he was trying to reconcile the 2015 anticipated indirect expenses of $363,959.56 with the 2014 figure of $422,641.68. Mr. Sanzari concurred that the fringe benefits of approximately $185,000 would have to be added to the bottom line figure. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the FAC sheets were separate and distinct from the budget sheets.
Councilman Pucciarelli also asked whether or not a prorated amount of the salaries for the new Chief Financial Officer and Parking Utility Director were reflected in the budget figures (deducting the part-time employee amount), and Mr. Sanzari replied that they were. Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that this was reflected in the salary and wage budget credits of $151,175.92. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if there was a spreadsheet or similar accounting which set forth clearly the components of the total salary and wage budget credits. Ms. Sonenfeld replied that $41,866 of those credits was allocated to the Parking Utility for the new Parking Utility Director. She also indicated there had been paperwork previously supplied which delineated all of the allocations, primarily allocations made to either the Parking Utility or the Water Utility. Councilwoman Hauck inquired as to how many employees there currently were in the Finance Department. Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that there had been five employees in 2014 and there are six employees in 2015, some of whom are part-time employees.
Regarding the Tax Collection Department, Mr. Sanzari indicated that the staffing level will be the same as in 2014. One of the priorities of this department is to achieve a high tax collection rate and they currently achieve a 99% tax collection rate. They continuously strive to improve efficiencies, such as having residents make tax payments utilizing automatic checking account debits. The merchant service provider has been changed to Global Payments to take advantage of savings on the user fees. The operating expense budget is about the same, with the biggest expense being postage for the entire Village. Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that the Tax Collection Department budget is 3% below the budget for 2014.
Mr. Sanzari then reported on the “Other Insurance” budget. The biggest insurance premium paid by the Village is for the Joint Insurance Fund, which covers the Village for all of its general liability claims, professional liability insurance for the Police Officers, liability insurance for the Recreation Department, and insurance for the gasoline tanks located at the Fleet Services Garage. Flood insurance premiums have increased only 2% for 2015, which includes $125,000 paid over to the Village’s Insurance Trust Fund to pay for claims that may arise during the year. There are several flood insurance policies on several locations within the Village. There is a deductible of $25,000 for vehicles and $100,000 for general liability. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned two insurance payouts which the Village will be receiving: one for the meter coin theft and one for the unfortunate drowning which occurred at Graydon Pool. Mr. Sanzari indicated that insurance premiums will go up eventually (within a year or two) as a result of these two claims in particular. Mr. Sanzari stated the second largest insurance item in this budget is for Workers’ Compensation Insurance. There are outstanding or incurred claims totaling $287,000 in Workers’ Compensation, which will be paid out over the course of the year. There is $151,000 in the Reserve Fund.
Mr. Sanzari stated that the next line item of insurance is Unemployment Insurance of $140,000. The Village is self-insured and the Village reimburses the State for any unemployment monies paid to a Village employee by the State. He stated that this category has decreased over the years since laid off employees are deployed to other departments in the Village whenever possible and, therefore, unemployment benefits do not have to be paid.
Councilman Pucciarelli asked about the difference between the 2014 actual budget of $275,000 versus the 2014 budget appropriations of $254,000 for Workers Compensation Claims. He asked whether this represented claims paid or insurance premiums paid. Mr. Sanzari replied that this represents claims that the Village is going to pay. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that it was actually the other way around: the 2014 actual budget was $254,000 and the 2014 budget appropriations totaled $275,000. She also pointed out that in 2013, this figure was $400,000. Mr. Sanzari reported that in 2010 and 2011, the Village did an emergency appropriation for Workers’ Compensation Claims to cover several major incidents.
Mr. Sanzari then reported on the Group Insurance for Employees budget. The overall budget has gone up 9% from 2015. The State health benefit premiums have increased from 6.7% to 10% annually. This budget also includes the employee co-pays. Some of the union groups and non-union groups are at 35% of premium; however, some of the bargaining units are not at 35% yet. This budget also reflects dental and vision care insurance premiums, both of which remained steady. Retiree premiums and active members’ premiums have seen the most increases. He stated that the only way to gain some control over these costs is to do an RFP at some point and get all the union contracts at the same level. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that once Sharyn Matthews, in the Human Resources Department, took care of other pressing matters, she will work on seeing if more cost-efficient premiums can be obtained regarding health benefits.
9. Library
John Johansen, President of the Library Board of Trustees, introduced Nancy Greene, the Library Director, and Gail Campbell, Treasurer of the Library Board of Trustees. Ms. Greene thanked the Village Council for their support and reported that the Ridgewood Library has become number one in the State in terms of cultural and educational programs offered, despite the advent of the internet and e-books. She stated that while they are seeing a decrease in the use of print materials, similar to other libraries, this is offset by the increased use of electronic materials. One example is Zinio, which grants Library members free access to more than 300 full color on-line magazines, including The New Yorker and Consumer Reports. She reported on how the Library is continuously searching for ways to create intergenerational and multicultural events and programs. They offer an English as a Second Language course which has been attended by individuals from 29 different countries. They have added world language discussion groups (French/Italian/Spanish). The Ridgewood Irish Dance event attracted 200 people, and the Friends of the Library Author Luncheon had an attendance of 475 people (with 60+ people on the waiting list). They offer arts and crafts programs and are always open to suggestions on how to improve their program and expand their outreach.
Ms. Campbell stated that the Library is requesting $2,355,229 as an appropriation for 2015. This represents a 1.5% increase over 2014 which equals $34,783. They have continuously strived to economize, but several areas have required them to ask for an increased appropriation. They have experienced a continued decline in patron-generated fees (decreased by $18,000) due largely to changes in technology and a drop in non-resident memberships. Future savings will be realized from having eliminated surviving spouse lifetime health benefits for all employees and lifetime health benefits for all employees hired or newly eligible after January 1, 2014. Since 2004, employees have been contributing to their health benefits and have not been eligible for terminal leave for unused sick time.
Ms. Campbell explained that the largest proposed expenditure for the 2015 Library operating budget is $16,000 for terminal leave for retirements and $35,000 for increased cost for health benefits (due to changes by employees in their health plan). The budget for buildings and grounds has been decreased largely by moving the cost for the oil tank remediation from the operating budget into the capital budget. They spent a considerable amount in 2014 for repairs to the building and to the HVAC system.
Regarding the 2015 capital budget, Ms. Campbell said that the first request of $50,000 is for oil tank remediation, excavation of contaminated soil from the 1997 tank removal site, and replacement of damaged landscaping. She is uncertain how much it will actually cost to take care of the contaminated soil. The second request for $26,000 is for automatic doors and a heat curtain at the main entrance of the Library. The lobby has been extremely cold and unusable, and some of the employees at the circulation desk have had to wear gloves while working. The doors have also been costing several thousand dollars in repairs each year. The third request of $24,900 is for technology equipment (13 new computers, 6 e-readers, 5 monitors, some iMacs, and 4 wide screen television monitors). The fourth request of $9,594 is for new furniture. The fifth request of $11,000 is for the addition of two new book drops on North Maple Avenue, which will make book returns more convenient for the public. The sixth request of $13,965 is for upgrades to the air-conditioning system for the Library café. The last request of $125,000 is for a generator to sustain emergency community services during inclement weather events (a similar request was made in 2014 for a similar amount, with the total cost being $250,000). They have incorporated the recommendations and comments by the FAC into their plans.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked everyone from the Library for their thoughtfully organized presentation and commented that the Library was central to the life of Ridgewood residents. Councilman Pucciarelli stated that it has been an honor to serve as Council Liaison to the Library. He stated that the Library was a cultural and historical center, serving numerous citizens from Ridgewood and neighboring towns.
Regarding the lease income from the Pease Building of $108,000, Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the building was currently fully tenanted. Ms. Campbell replied that it was fully occupied. During the year, they renegotiated the lease of one of the tenants to a lower amount, considering the fact that there were other empty spaces in Ridgewood where the tenant could have relocated, and the cost of acquiring a new tenant would have outweighed the minimal reduction in the lease amount. Councilman Pucciarelli gave a brief history of the acquisition of the Pease Library and its subsequent renovation. He asked if the café was an income-producing entity. Ms. Campbell replied that they anticipated approximately $5,000 in revenue from the café this year. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that half of the total budget increase was taken up by employee terminal leave. He asked whether the efforts by the Village Manager to reduce employee terminal leave for Village employees extended to the Library employees as well. Ms. Sonenfeld replied that she herself has not discussed this with Library officials, but that the Library has taken action in this regard by limiting some amount of terminal leave for their employees. Ms. Greene stated that they have eliminated terminal leave for all new staff as of the beginning of 2004. A small discussion was held regarding how terminal leave and unused sick days were calculated.
Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that the Library Foundation and Friends of the Library receive donations from the citizens of Ridgewood. Money donated to these two organizations is used to fund capital projects, special books and media, technology, speaker programs, performance programs, and the Village-wide newsletter. Ms. Greene explained the various fundraisers held by the Friends of the Library and the Library Foundation and how monies are disbursed by each.
Councilwoman Knudsen thanked the speakers from the Library for their very comprehensive budget presentation. Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the Ridgewood Library is unparalleled compared to other libraries and is a municipal center which serves the people of the Village. She praised the Library staff for taking an aggressive approach to realize savings in employee benefits and recouping the loss in patron fees/use of printed materials by increasing technology. Councilwoman Hauck asked if the Village got fined for the oil tank soil contamination at the Library. Mr. Johansen replied that no fines were incurred, but they have been incurring costs for professional services fees to remediate the situation. He explained that while testing for soil contamination around the present oil tank, they found a small level of a different contaminant in soil used to fill the ground from a prior oil tank removal in 1997. Both Mayor Aronsohn and Councilwoman Hauck commented about the “curious” constant enforcement by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in Ridgewood. Councilwoman Hauck stated that she felt it was important for the Library to have a generator on hand in case of an emergency and loss of power. Ms. Sonenfeld remarked that it made more sense to have a generator at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, rather than the Library or Village Hall, which are both located in a flood zone. Councilman Sedon thanked everyone for their presentation and for all their efforts. Mayor Aronsohn indicated that thoughtful consideration will be given to the Library’s requested budget.
10. Debt Service
Mr. Sanzari explained that the 2015 Capital Budget Summary he will be discussing at this meeting is different from the proposal he presented at the last meeting. There is a reduction in the original budget of approximately $400,000. It was originally $3,558,000 and it was reduced to $3,194,354 because they were able to eliminate several vehicles and some infrastructure projects after further review. The proposed funding is for the Capital Improvement Fund of $159,800 and debt to be authorized, but not all issued, of $3,034,554. The principal for the debt service in 2015 is $3,785,228 and interest would be $1,213,074. The serial bonds are from 2007, 2005, and the 2013 bond sale. The bond anticipation notes currently outstanding of $630,000 are usually paid down by the Village at the rate of 10%. This includes notes on the FEMA money received by the Village in 2014 of $353,000 and funds received from Zurich Insurance Company in the amount of $97,000. The total of these sums will be used to pay down the notes issued on three capital projects that occurred in 2013 and 2014: the renovations to the first level of Village Hall; curb and sidewalk improvements; and repairs to buildings owned by the Village which had been damaged during Hurricane Sandy. The bond anticipation note paydown is $140,000, which are the outstanding notes on the Schedler property.
Ms. Sonenfeld elaborated by stating that the Village is paying off $3.8 million in principal, which will reduce the amount of the debt at the end of the year. Mr. Sanzari explained the total gross debt is $48,867,950.41 as of December 31, 2014. The 2015 paydowns of $3,785,228 are the appropriations that will be in the 2015 budget which will pay down the principal on the bonds and notes. The 2015 issuance of $1,500,000 is an estimation of the bond anticipation note sale that will occur in June, to fund projects that have already been authorized, i.e., paving from 2014 where the contractor has been paid and the fund needs to be replenished. There are bonds and notes authorized, but not issued, of $3,034,554 (assuming that the Village Council approves the 2015 capital program). Ms. Sonenfeld said that these numbers will probably be changed further as discussions take place. There was further discussion regarding interest rates, debt service paydown, and how monies would be allocated if, for example, there would be a deficit in the Parking Utility between Mayor Aronsohn, Mr. Sanzari, Ms. Sonenfeld and Councilman Pucciarelli.
Councilman Sedon asked about the total being paid for debt service in 2015, and Mr. Sanzari replied that it will be approximately $5 million ($3,785,228 principal and $1,213,074 interest). Councilman Sedon asked what the trajectory of the debt was, and Mr. Sanzari replied that it has been somewhat flat because the Village has been paying down the debt. However, as projects arise, this trajectory could fluctuate either up or down. Councilman Sedon also asked what the average interest rate was that was paid on either notes or bonds. Mr. Sanzari replied that some bonds had variable rates (3-4%) and the interest rates on the bond anticipation notes vary as well, based on the Federal Reserve. The current rate is 1%. Ms. Sonenfeld replied that there are some under 1%. The Village has 10 years to pay off the bond anticipation notes.
11. Terminal Leave
Mr. Sanzari explained that the figure of $320,000 represents accumulated absences and terminal leave (accumulated sick days), and the trust fund figure of $293,549 represents monies that will be used from the fund for terminal leave, making a total appropriation for 2015 of $614,549. Incurred liability for police, fleet and the Water Pollution Control Facility totaled $301,944. The total incurred liability and the total expended as of March 7, 2015 for deferred terminal leave payments leaves a grand total of $614,549. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that when an employee retires and has accumulated sick time, vacation time or compensatory time that has to be paid out, those figures are not in this general budget. Those figures are in each individual department’s budget. This budget deals with accumulated sick time relating to the unfunded liability, and she will have that figure on April 6, 2015. Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that there was some risk associated with the top figure of $320,000 since there are more possible retirements which might occur in the Fleet and Police Departments in 2015.
12. Trust Funds and Surplus
Mr. Sanzari explained there is a three-year trend on surplus balance at the end of the year (2013-2015). He stated that his report also shows the amount of money utilized to offset taxation in the municipal budget. The adopted budget for 2014 was $46,226,000 and the Village utilized 6.45% of its surplus, which was $2.9 million, leaving a remaining balance of $1.4 million. Ms. Sonenfeld explained the two basic ways surplus is generated is by revenues which are greater than anticipated and/or expenses that are lower than anticipated. She advocated the buildup of surplus to have some “money for a rainy day” and to offset taxation. They are currently recommending that a like amount of surplus be taken out for 2015, as was done in 2014, leaving the Village with an estimated $1.58 million in surplus. This is almost $200,000 more in surplus than the Village had at the end of 2014. This procedure is done in multiple municipalities.
Councilman Pucciarelli recalled the 3-2 Village Council vote in 2014 regarding the surplus, with the proponents advocating for the surplus stating that they were afraid the Village would run out of money. However, catastrophic events did not occur, and the Village still had the same surplus at the end of the year. He credited this to the management team and stated that they stopped the “sky from falling in” despite predictions to the contrary.
Mr. Sanzari then explained the major trust funds that the Village has on hand. The trust funds are separate from the operating accounts, and these funds are collected and disbursed to support a specific project or function within the Village. These funds also offset indirect costs in the operating budget. The first trust fund is the FTA Fine Reserve Fund with a beginning balance of $12,977.89. These are specific monies that are generated from certain categories of tickets that are issued in the Village of Ridgewood, and they are collected and placed into the trust fund. The Village gets permission from the State to utilize a certain amount of trust funds to support personnel within the Municipal Court Department.
The next large trust fund is the Recycling Trust Fund, with a beginning balance of $452,359.09, receipts of $308,407.26, and disbursements of $492,644.47. This fund was utilized to support taxation relief in 2014 and 2013, where there was $150,000 each year anticipated. This trust fund also supports the operating budget within the current fund budget for the Recycling Department. The balance in this trust as of 12/31/14 was $268,121.88. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that this represents a challenge because the balance in the trust fund at the end of 2014 is a lot lower than it was at the beginning of 2014.
Mayor Aronsohn asked for clarification of this trust fund. Mr. Moritz stated that the Recycling Trust Fund is dependent upon the market and heavily influenced by what China does and whatever initiatives they undertake. For instance, he explained the “Green Fence” initiative in China which takes into account the quality of the materials they are receiving. They are no longer accepting certain things or they want certain purities, and the market is directly affected by this. Mayor Aronsohn asked what the risk was with this fund. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that with a higher trust fund balance in 2014, the Village was able to offset more taxation and more operating expense in the Recycling Department than the Village will be able to do in 2015 with a lower trust fund balance.
Mr. Sanzari then explained the Recreation Trust Fund, which represents all the programs that are run through the Recreation Department that are self-supporting. An allocation is drawn from the Recreation Trust Fund to support the Recreation Department salary and wages. It had an ending balance of $25,106.96 as of December 31, 2014. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that some of the revenue from Recreation Department events and programs are diverted into this trust fund, which monies are utilized in the event there is a program held that does not generate enough revenue to offset the costs for hosting the program.
The next budget reserve item described by Mr. Sanzari was the Terminal Leave Trust Fund. He explained that this funds accumulated absences for people who are retiring during the year. The beginning balance as of January 1, 2014 was $479,590.06. Cash receipts placed into the fund totaled $650,000.37, and cash disbursements in 2014 were $493,020.78, leaving an ending balance as of December 31, 2014 of $636,569.65. The figure of $650,000 is generated by the current fund budget appropriations. In 2014, the sum of $420,000 was budgeted; the remaining funds were paid out of the prior year’s budget (2013) to offset any future liabilities. Ms. Sonenfeld remarked that terminal leave is in better shape in 2015 than it was in 2014. However, there is risk involved if another employee decides to retire in 2015.
Mr. Sanzari next spoke about the Snow Removal Trust Fund. As of January 1, 2014, there was a balance of $210,955.79. Cash receipts from the 2014 operating budget totaled $130,000. Cash disbursements totaled $182,605.79, leaving a trust fund balance as of December 31, 2014 of $158,350. He stated that most of this balance has been expended this year due to numerous snowstorms. Ms. Sonenfeld will report on the actual year-to-date amount spent related to snow removal at the next meeting on April 6, 2015. It was flagged as a risk in 2014 and proved to be a risk during the winter months.
The next budget reserve item discussed by Mr. Sanzari was the Police Outside Details Trust Fund. There was a beginning trust fund balance as of January 1, 2014 of $258,518.26. Cash receipts totaled $1,148,219.32 and disbursements totaled $1,178,980.25, leaving a balance as of December 31, 2014 of $227,757.33. This represents outside details and the funds have to be paid out either to the vendor or to offset the operating expenses. Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that the payments either go directly to the Police Officer or they are applied to a revenue line item.
Councilman Pucciarelli asked if all of these funds were actual funds held in separate accounts. Mr. Sanzari replied in the affirmative and stated that the Village has approximately 25 checking and savings accounts. The trust funds are held in one checking account, but there are separate accounts for COAH fees and the Open Space Trust Fund. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if any of these trust funds are mandated by law or were deemed good practice by the Village. Mr. Sanzari replied that all of these trust funds are approved by the State of New Jersey. Any type of trust fund requires a Dedication by Rider Resolution. Councilman Pucciarelli said that he understood that, but asked if any of the trust funds were required by the State. Mr. Sanzari replied that most were required by law (Recreation, Recycling and Terminal Leave) and stated that it was simply good fiscal management to have trust funds for the remaining items, especially snow removal. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if a surplus in one fund could be shifted to another trust fund. Mr. Sanzari replied that in order for that to be accomplished, the Village Council would have to pass a resolution. For example, if no more terminal leave liability was due and there was a surplus in that trust fund, then a resolution could be passed shifting funds from that trust fund to another trust fund.
Regarding the Recycling Trust Fund, Councilman Sedon asked Mr. Moritz asked if the limitation on recycling tonnage was still in effect. Mr. Moritz replied that they had a five-year contract and there is a $60 per ton floor on fiber and $25 floor on comingled. Councilman Sedon asked how many more years were still left on the contract. Mr. Moritz replied that there was still approximately 1-1/2 years left on the contract. Councilman Sedon asked if that contract would be renewed. Mr. Moritz said the contract would be renewed, but not necessarily at those floor prices. He said that they have been fortunate to have the existing floor prices. Councilman Sedon asked what recycling revenue would look like going forward, given the fact that China and the rest of the world were slowing down. Mr. Moritz said that it was difficult to predict that market. Fiber is holding strong currently. Some of the recycling materials accepted a year ago are no longer being accepted today, and these materials will go back into the waste stream. Councilman Sedon asked if recycling could become an expense, rather than generate revenues, if the market took a drastic downturn. Mr. Moritz replied that it had to be viewed as a “left hand/right hand” type of correlation; if 40% of the total waste stream is recycled, that represents a 40% less expenditure for dump fees. He stated that this would represent a large number in and of itself, and the key is to keep the recycling numbers up. Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that this is one area where there might be a decrease in revenues.
13. Electric and Gas
Mr. Sanzari stated that the Village Engineer actually prepared the summary sheet for the goals and accomplishments that occurred during the year. The utility bill for 2015 will remain relatively flat for the appropriations, attributable to lower diesel and gasoline prices. This can also be attributable to the fact that the Village participates in the Sustainable Energy Management (SEM) program, whereby the Village receives competitive prices for therms or kilowatts from various vendors. Ms. Sonenfeld added that the budget figures could probably be decreased somewhat, particularly as they relate to the Fleet Garage. She mentioned that the hydrocarbon market is in turmoil, and that is the reason why that category has been budgeted higher in 2015 as compared to 2014. She stated that the overall budget is somewhat lower than 2014 because of decreased oil/gasoline prices. Mr. Sanzari concurred, stating that the reduction was $200,000 in that line item.
Mayor Aronsohn asked what revenues or savings were being realized from the solar panels. Mr. Rutishauser replied that the Village gets a fixed rate on the electrical charge per unit with the solar panels, even if the market fluctuates. Mayor Aronsohn asked if the panels were impacting positively on the overall electric bills, and Mr. Rutishauser replied that they were generating savings when the electric utility rate is higher. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she was trying to obtain a quantifiable number as it relates to savings from the solar panels.
14. Office of Emergency Management
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that there was a correction in the FAC page. Instead of the 2014 actual budget being $111,269, it should read $11,269. Jeremy Kleiman, Emergency Management Coordinator, stated that one of the goals in 2014 which his department achieved was the organization of emergency communications with Ridgewood residents. They have converted over to a Village-wide flat pricing contract with Swift Reach Communications, which will save the Village approximately $4,000 annually. Their corresponding goal for 2015 is to take that platform and increase the database with more Village residents’ phone numbers (both home and cell numbers) and emails. They have made strides in improving their Emergency Operations Center (EOC), a multipurpose facility which doubles as a conference room. Through the efforts of Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Pullman, significant savings were realized from monies which had been budgeted in 2013 for furniture upgrades. They were able to secure surplus work stations from Bergen County Social Services at no cost to the Village.
Mr. Kleiman reported that they completed the Lightning Detection System (LDS) at all Village ball fields and parks. However, they are operating on two different systems: the original system is on a radio-activated system (which hardware is no longer available) and the locations added in 2014 are on an IP-based system. This means increased prices, since the Village will be paying two different vendors; however, he will work on this going forward as old equipment is replaced and all locations are converted to the new technology.
Mr. Kleiman stated that they have ordered the first of the two LED Village message boards, both of which will hopefully be installed in the next several months. For the first time in 2014, his department worked with the Emergency Services, Police, Fire, Streets and Signal Divisions to develop a coordinated plan during a Village-wide emergency, particularly emergency traffic control during power outages. Costs for certain emergency items were included in the OEM budget and distributed to the aforementioned departments, such as traffic cones and road flares. In addition, three intersections within the Village which are controlled by Bergen County have been outfitted with automatic transfer switches so that the traffic controls at those locations can be powered by Village generators in the event of a prolonged power outage.
Regarding goals for 2015 for the OEM Department, Mr. Kleiman said that the biggest goal is to develop a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) which the Village does not yet have. After 9/11, the Federal government mandated every Federal executive agency and department to enact such a plan. In 2010, the State of New Jersey required that every State agency and department enact such a plan. There is no requirement at the Municipal level. However, he highly recommends that the Village have a comprehensive, workable plan detailing how the Village will operate during a catastrophic event, basically a Business Continuity Plan. For example, a COOP would be useful for providing continued services to residents if the Village Hall became uninhabitable for whatever reason. The development of a COOP would require a department-by-department analysis of essential functions (communications, recordkeeping) and how these various departments would continue to function, i.e., at an alternate site or remotely. There is a request in his 2015 budget for $15,000 to hire an expert in this area to perform that analysis and develop a COOP. Some other goals for 2015 enumerated by Mr. Kleiman include obtaining new technology for the EOC to make it more functional, as well as a mobile storage trailer to store stockpiled shelter supplies such as cots, blankets and sanitary supplies for distribution during an emergency.
Regarding the proposed 2015 OEM budget, Mr. Kleiman pointed out the difference between the 2014 actual budget ($26,011.04) and 2014 budget appropriations ($32,613.00). Savings included the non-use of the anticipated Swift Reach charge-backs from the Water Department, in the event the system had to be used on a per-call basis to make emergency calls, and the non-use of $5,500, which was budgeted in 2014 for the Nixel contract (emergency alert system). He pointed out the requested appropriation of $15,000 for Other Professional Services represented the hiring of a consultant to prepare the COOP. There is an increase in Other Contractual Services, which represents the second lightning detection contract (split with the Board of Education) and OEM’s share of the flat Swift Reach contract. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that were it not for the requested $15,000 for the consultant, the OEM Department would be under budget, year to year. She felt that it was important for the Village to develop a COOP, and this issue will be discussed again at the next meeting scheduled for April 6, 2015.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked how many Village residents are currently registered to receive emergency communications. Mr. Kleiman said that there were 6,896 calls. Councilwoman Knudsen said that this doesn’t necessarily mean that there were that many households receiving those calls since some households have multiple phone lines, including cell phones. She asked how the Village could help to increase the database for OEM. She added that she felt the $15,000 to hire a consultant to develop a COOP is money well spent and that the benefit far outweighed the burden. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that a COOP would help the Village determine where to store the emergency generator.
Councilwoman Hauck asked if OEM would require more communications technology/equipment for backup facilities once a COOP was devised or if any subsequent expenses would be incurred besides the $15,000 for the consultant. Mr. Kleiman replied that the $15,000 would cover the costs of the departmental analysis and writing the plan. In order to actually implement the plan and make it functional, there may be other significant costs involved, but he was not sure exactly what those costs would entail.
Mayor Aronsohn asked if the Village should wait until after the development of a COOP to determine where the emergency generator would be located. Mr. Kleiman said that the OEM Department submitted a FEMA grant application last year for one or more trailer-mounted generators that could be moved where needed. They recently received an inquiry from FEMA as to where the generator(s) would be stored. The Library was not included among the locations where the generator(s) would be stored since it is located in a flood zone. The OEM Department suggested Ridgewood High School, Benjamin Franklin Middle School or George Washington Middle School. Mayor Aronsohn also asked how long it would take to obtain a consultant and have the necessary analysis performed and COOP developed. Mr. Kleiman said that he was not clear on how long it would take. However, he stated that other than major weather events such as hurricanes, most emergencies are taken care of via the existing Emergency Operations Plan. The COOP is different; it is basically a business continuity plan to relocate municipal offices so that all Village services and functions can continue uninterrupted. Mr. Kleiman estimated that the COOP could be in place by the fall of 2015.
15. Village Manager
Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that most of the 2014 accomplishments are contained in each of the individual department summaries. The differences between the 2014 and 2015 budgets includes the hiring of a full-time Human Resources employee (Sharyn Matthews) and sending one Village employee to the Bergen LEADS program for a leadership development course ($2,700). This increase is offset by a reduction of $46,000 in legal fees. Councilwoman Hauck spoke about salaries and mentioned that the Senior Transportation appropriation is the actual amount they anticipate spending this year. In past years, they have actually doubled this figure. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that many municipalities feel that it is important to have a surplus. She is proposing a 6% surplus, which is comparable to other municipalities. However, Glen Rock has a surplus goal of 3% and Demarest has a 10% surplus goal, so it fluctuates. Mayor Aronsohn mentioned that the State has only a 3% goal. Mr. Sanzari also commented on the benefits of having a fund balance (surplus) on hand. Councilwoman Knudsen asked about the salary and wage budget credits shown in the Village Manager budget, and Ms. Sonenfeld clarified how the credits were arrived at, particularly allocations to the Parking Utility. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if there was also an allocation to Ridgewood Water, and Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed that there was.
16. DEP Fines and Fees
Mr. Sonenfeld reported that the total fines paid to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2014 totaled $132,300 (Central Garage, Graydon Pool and Saddle River Bank Restoration). There is one NJDEP fine pending currently with the Water Utility of $30,000. In 2013, NJDEP fees for permits totaled $234,000. Some NJDEP fees were not billed in 2014, so Ms. Sonenfeld is expecting that these fees will be billed in 2015. However, funds to handle these fees are built into each respective departmental budget. Over the course of four years (2010-2014), the Village has paid $724,466.12 in NJDEP fees. There was some discussion about the Saddle River Bank Restoration after Hurricane Sandy.
17. Village Council
Ms. Sonenfeld reported that the 2015 budget for the Village Council remained steady. Some of the charges in the budget have been allocated to the Parking Utility. There are no raises in the 2015 budget for Councilmembers. Councilwoman Hauck asked how much the Village would save if it went paperless. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned the volume of paperwork involved in running the municipality. There was a brief discussion regarding the Village going paperless in the future. Ms. Mailander indicated that she obtained estimates three or four years ago regarding the software involved in the Village going paperless, and it cost approximately $25,000 at that time. She said it would probably be around $30,000 currently. Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that it would pay for itself in three years, according to the printing fees of $7,000 indicated on the 2015 budget for the Village Council. Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that this needs to be researched.
18. Water Department – Ridgewood Water
Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that while the Water Department budget is important, it does not impact upon the tax rate for the Village. Frank Moritz, Director of Ridgewood Water, indicated that Ridgewood Water serves four communities: Midland Park, Glen Rock, Ridgewood and Wyckoff. There are approximately 20,000 accounts and they serve 60,000 people. He stated that this is a very difficult utility to run, especially since they serve four communities and there are numerous wells, pump stations and tanks to maintain and repair. There are some interconnections with Hawthorne Water and United Water.
In 2014, Mr. Moritz stated that they finally bid out the last phase of the automated water meter installations. He said that about 50% of their customers were satisfied and about 50% were unsatisfied, especially since some residents received very large water bills. Once the water meter installation is complete, Mr. Moritz predicted that less than 1% of their bills will be estimated.
There were some major events in 2014 which resulted in cost overruns in the Water Department. The first major impact was the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Sanitary Survey, conducted by three people from the USEPA and three people from the NJDEP. These six people spent a total of three weeks reviewing the utility’s pump stations, tanks and analytical processes, including the laboratory. As a result, they received an administrative order to make certain corrections. Action on these corrections was taken immediately, but Mr. Moritz indicated that they had a “long road ahead” before achieving full compliance. Laboratory analysis grew from $45,000 to $124,000 due to the additional testing and consulting assistance required to achieve compliance. There were changes mandated regarding metering, the Supervising Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) program, and reporting requirements.
Mr. Moritz stated that the second major event that occurred which affected the 2014 budget was the lead and copper analytical survey, which the Water Utility failed in 2012. As a result, Ridgewood Water had to develop a hydraulic model to prove to the NJDEP that their proposed plan would correct these conditions. They proceeded to perform corrosion control, which in turn caused an increased expenditure in chemicals for the purchase of a phosphate base additive, which coats the inside of plumbing and plumbing fixtures so that the water does not come in contact with actual metal any longer. The cost of these chemicals will run approximately $175,000 to $200,000. Each facility will require piping, pumps, containment and delivery of the chemical. This will drastically impact the 2015 budget.
Mr. Moritz indicated that his 2014 budget was also impacted by an increase in temporary and seasonal staff required to assist administratively with the automated meter change out. Overtime costs also impacted the budget due to numerous system leaks encountered during the severe winter conditions, along with an increased expense for materials and supplies to fix the leaks. Between January 2015 and March 22, 2014, he said that there were between 37 and 40 water main breaks, occurring mostly during non-business hours. Maintenance of their pumping equipment also overran budgeted funds by $34,000 due to equipment failure.
There were some decreases in other line items in the 2014 budget. Electrical power for pumping came in approximately $175,000 under budget ($1.2 million had been allocated). The allocation for paving was not utilized due to the harsh weather. The utility enjoyed a good revenue year, and they are in a very good position to remain a self-liquidating facility.
The 2015 budget includes an increase in overtime costs due to the aforementioned abnormally high number of water main breaks. Mr. Moritz indicated that additional money is requested for materials and supplies to repair water mains and hydrants. Additional funds are also being requested for tree removal, as well as additional employees to meet the regulatory and reporting demands of the NJDEP.
Mr. Moritz reviewed the department’s goals and strategies for 2015. They will continue to respond to the requirements of the USEPA Sanitary Survey. Once all of the requirements have been met, Ridgewood Water will be a role model for other utilities to follow. He is seeking to upgrade the SCADA system and add redundancies, considering the fact that their building is located in a flood zone. He commented that water allocation permits run close to $50,000, which are just permits allowing the utility to take the water out of the ground. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the budget for Ridgewood Water was up around 1% as compared to the 2014 budget, despite all of the work done to comply with the NJDEP. Mr. Moritz indicated that of the nine water utilities, whether municipal or public, in the surrounding area, Ridgewood Water is number eight with regard to water rates, one of the lowest in the area.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Moritz for his clear and thorough presentation. He also thanked the staff of Ridgewood Water for their fine and diligent work, especially concerning the water meter replacement initiative, and dealing with complaints from numerous residents regarding payment of very large water bills they had received. He asked Mr. Moritz how unusual the number of water main breaks were so far in 2015 and what the Village could expect in the future. Mr. Moritz replied that the number of water main breaks in 2014 was above normal, and he can predict that 2015 will be above normal as well, based on the number of water main breaks thus far in 2015. That is the reason more money has been requested for 2015 in this area.
Councilman Pucciarelli said that Ridgewood Water’s budget for 2015 is $12.5 million and that Mr. Moritz has indicated the utility is self-liquidating. He asked Mr. Moritz whether he anticipated revenues of $12.5 million to cover these budget appropriations. Mr. Moritz concurred that this was correct. Councilman Pucciarelli also asked whether the round of very large water bills has ended (many residents received extremely large water bills due to actual readings as opposed to estimated bills in the past). Mr. Moritz indicated that there will probably be a couple of more months of residents receiving these large bills. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if these bills were being taken care of with payment plans to accommodate customers of Ridgewood Water, and Mr. Moritz concurred that this was being done. However, if any monies are due by Ridgewood Water to customers due to overestimation, they are paid immediately.
Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that she was pleased to see the increased staffing at Ridgewood Water, even if it was due to regulatory requirements. She is also pleased that the billing problem is being solved because it was “nightmare” for everyone. She encouraged the input of monies into the Ridgewood Water budget for maintenance and repair of the water mains, considering the Village’s aging infrastructure. Mr. Moritz indicated that, in the near future, he will be approaching the Village Council to ask for funds to update the plans for infrastructure repairs and replacements. Councilman Sedon agreed for the need to have a plan in place to address the need to improve aging infrastructure before major events occur, such as water main breaks.
b. Wrap-Up of the Day and Next Steps
Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that this concludes the operating budget presentations for 2015. On April 6, 2015, the revenue side of the budgets will be presented. The meeting will commence at 5:00 p.m. on April 6, 2015. The goal is to complete the revenue presentations and formulation of actual budget numbers so that the budget can be introduced on April 22, 2015. Mayor Aronsohn asked anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to the Village Manager. He thanked everyone for their budget presentations and everyone who attended today’s meeting. He praised the collaborative format of the meeting, which he felt resulted in a more strategic and holistic understanding of how all the budget pieces fit together.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no comments from the public.
7. ADJOURNMENT
On motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Knudsen, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Special Public Budget Meeting was adjourned at 4:32 p.m.
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Paul S. Aronsohn
Mayor
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Heather A. Mailander
Village Clerk
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