20170906 Special Public Meeting
A SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR. COURT ROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 AT 7:30 P.M.
- CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Knudsen called the meeting to order at 7:49 P.M. and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen. Also present were Heather Mailander, Village Manager/Village Clerk; Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney; and Donna M. Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk.
- PUBLIC HEARING
- Open Space Trust Fund Grant Application - Maple Park Turf Field
Ms. Mailander explained that, annually, the Village of Ridgewood applies for Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund/Municipal Park Improvement matching grant funding. This year, the Village has chosen to use this funding to replace the turf surface at Maple Park East. The grant is a 50/50 matching grant between the County and the Village. The Village is requesting $100,000 from the County. The Village will provide $100,000 out of the Village of Ridgewood Municipal Open Space Trust Fund, plus another $284,305 out of the 2017 Capital Budget. The turf was physically examined by the professional staff, and, with the support of the Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board, have deemed the replacement of the 12-year-old turf surface to be essential at Maple Park East. The replacement of this turf surface will provide a safe, durable surface to the existing multi-purpose field, which encompasses play for: soccer, little league baseball, girls’ softball, lacrosse, football, and additional active and passive recreational play purposes. The required Public Hearing is scheduled for this evening and was advertised in the newspaper.
Mayor Knudsen announced that the Public Hearing on the application for an Open Space Trust Fund Grant for the Maple Park East Turf Field is now open.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked if some of the cost for the replacement turf could be recouped from the settlement of a class action suit against the manufacturer of the existing turf, which disintegrated prior to the guaranteed life span. Village Attorney Matthew Rogers explained that several meetings were held with representatives of Field Turf, the original supplier, back in 2005/2006. Field Turf is the company involved in the class action suit. Ridgewood’s issues are similar, but different, from that which applied to the class action suit. Ridgewood’s issues with the turf involved damage from silt that resulted from flooding. Other municipalities, especially those located in the southern portion of the country, experienced problems that occurred from heat exposure. The Village and Field Turf are in the process of working out the parameters of an agreement to try and defray the cost of what it would be for putting in a brand new turf field. Field Turf will not give the Village a completely new, free turf field; it will still cost the Village money.
There being no other comments, Mayor Knudsen moved that the public hearing be closed. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
- RESOLUTIONS
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 17-248 THROUGH 17-250, WERE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL, AND WERE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
- ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Mayor Knudsen, seconded by Councilman Sedon, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Special Public Meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
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Susan Knudsen
Mayor
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Donna M. Jackson
Deputy Village Clerk
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