Village Council Special Public Meeting Minutes 20140305

A SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014, AT 7:30 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL

Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 7:32 P.M., and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Heather Mailander, Acting Village Manager/Village Clerk; Donna Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

2. PUBLIC HEARING – Ordinance #3408 – Amend Chapter 3-43(D) – Police Department Personnel

Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3408. Councilman Riche seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:None

The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3408 by title:

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, SECTION 43 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD ENTITLED “ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, PERSONNEL”

Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open.

William Corcoran, 371 William Street, commended the Village Council because he believes they are doing the right thing by adopting this ordinance. Mr. Corcoran noted that there were some mistakes made, for which he publicly condemned the Councilmembers, but he now thinks they are taking the right steps to correct those actions.

There were no other comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Riche seconded the motion.

 Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None 

Councilman Riche moved that Ordinance 3408 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None

Councilman Walsh thanked everyone for sending emails and being involved in this ordinance. As the Councilmembers reviewed and discussed it, they acknowledged that public safety is very important to the residents of Ridgewood, and the Councilmembers wanted to do the right thing in the right way, and Councilwoman Walsh believes they did so. She asked Ms. Mailander how soon could the two candidates be given new letters of employment or sworn in. Ms. Mailander responded that, after speaking with Police Chief John Ward, he needs at least two weeks to make the necessary preparations for the two candidates, including purchasing and preparing new uniforms for them; paperwork that must be completed for the Police Academy; and the pre-assessment that is required at the Police Academy. All of that must be completed before the next Police Academy session on March 13^th, so the sooner those letters can be given out, the better it would be.

Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that in addition to resolving the situation for the two candidates in question, there is another equally important aspect of this ordinance, which is that going forward, the staffing level of the Police Department will not be determined by ordinance. The Village Manager and Chief of Police will work together will now determine the number of staff necessary on an annual basis, which should be done based upon the personnel who are in the Department at any time; the staffing needs at any time; and budgetary constraints for staffing.

Councilman Riche noted that once the two new candidates have completed their Police Academy course work, Councilman Riche will be looking for them to patrol the CBD to help with some of the pedestrian issues there.

Mayor Aronsohn commented that there are two things he likes about the new ordinance. One of them is that it finally eliminates the “ceiling” that was mandated for the Police Department, and allows the public safety needs of the community to drive the number of staff required by the Department. The other point is that it is hoped that amending the ordinance will mean that the position of School Resource Officer will be reinstated, which is a strong recommendation included in the amendment.

3. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Riche, seconded by Councilman Pucciarelli, and carried by voice vote with one absence, the Special Public Meeting was adjourned at 7:33 P.M.

                                                                                                PAUL S. ARONSOHN, Mayor

DONNA M. JACKSON, Deputy Village Clerk