Village Council Public Work Session Minutes 20140326

  

 

A REGULAR WORK SESSION 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 26, 2014, AT 7:30 P.M.

 

1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE – MOMENT OF SILENCE

Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 7:31 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 Donna Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney; and Frank Moritz, Director of Operations for Ridgewood Water.

Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and asked for a moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those who serve as first responders in Ridgewood and throughout the United States.

2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.

Steven Roth, 217 Sollas Court, had some comments about the proposed site of a day care center near the intersection of Linwood Avenue and Sollas Court. There have been a number of automobile collisions in that area, as well as many deer that have been killed by motorists. In addition, there are a number of cars that park in that area. The situation could only worsen if traffic were to increase. The current level of traffic throughout the day frequently makes it difficult to enter Linwood Avenue from side streets. For example, on Sollas Court, it can sometimes take as long as 10 minutes to make a left turn onto Linwood Avenue. If a day care center is added, the situation will only become worse. The appearance of the proposed day care center is also very different from the surrounding houses, and Mr. Roth said he would distribute photographs of a similar site owned by the company that owns the proposed day care center. It would be an eyesore, and would undoubtedly be a source of noise. If allowed, Mr. Roth believes its construction would be accompanied by the removal of many trees on the site, as well as the construction of two buildings: the day care center itself, and the demolition and construction of a landmark house on an adjacent site. Therefore, Mr. Roth asked the Councilmembers and other citizens of Ridgewood for their help in stopping the proposed construction. The issue will likely be decided after a final hearing by the Paramus Board of Adjustments in the Paramus Borough Hall, located at One Jockish Square in Paramus, on April 24th.

Rurik Halaby, 374 Evergreen Place, speaking on behalf of his wife and himself, welcomed Roberta Sonenfeld as the new Village Manager. Mr. Halaby said he is only her positive things about Ms. Sonenfeld, and he is very confident that she is the right person for the job. He noted that some people have expressed concerns that Ms. Sonenfeld does not have any municipal experience, and Mr. Halaby finds that to be a factor in her favor. He feels that what is needed is a capable executive with vigor in perspective, as well as the ability to right the many things that need to be done in Ridgewood. What is not needed, according to Mr. Halaby, is someone with narrowed expertise in municipal affairs. He referred to the recent occurrence in which nearly $500,000 worth of quarters disappeared over a two-year period. Mr. Halaby maintained that if there had been a capable Village Manager in charge who had set up the correct systems, none of that would have happened. The only fault Mr. Halaby could find in the appointment of Ms. Sonenfeld to the position of Village Manager is that the vote of the Village Council was not unanimous. Mr. Halaby believes that is “dirty politics” at its worst. He is sure that the merits of the various candidates were debated, and he thinks a once a majority was determined in favor of one candidate, she should have been welcomed by all of the Councilmembers.

Mr. Halaby continued by saying that there are many serious challenges facing Ridgewood, which will require everyone to work very hard and to work together. It is hoped that the new Village Council will be more compatible.

Leonard Eisen, 762 Upper Boulevard, commented on the disappearance of the quarters, as Mr. Halaby had previously mentioned. Based on Mr. Eisen’s calculations, the perpetrator will pay back approximately $180,000 in five years. Mr. Eisen noted that the article stated that the Mayor and Village Council had worked very closely with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office to find available legal remedies in order to recoup as much of the financial losses as possible, and he wondered if that means that the Councilmembers will try to obtain the rest of the balance, which is approximately $280,000. Mr. Rogers responded that, as part of the plea agreement, the defendant admitted to the amount of money that he took, which was approximately $460,000. He also agreed to make restitution of the entire amount to the Village, or its assignees. Mr. Rogers noted that the Village carries insurance coverage for employee theft, and another aspect of the plea agreement was that the defendant must enter into and consent to a judgment for the full amount taken, and the repayment of that amount, along with a waiver of any right to argue that he has an inability to pay. With those significant safeguards, Mr. Rogers said it is expected that the Village will recoup the full amount. He added that negotiations must be made with the insurance carrier with regard to how the money will be collected, and assigning any rights the Village may have in the judgment or the right to collect to any insurance carrier as a result of any agreements reached with the insurance carrier. Some of the conditions of the agreement were made part of the agreement by the Prosecutor’s Office to ensure that the Village would be repaid as much money as possible, but the important point was to have the defendant admit that he must repay the full amount taken.

There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.

3. DISCUSSION

         a. Policy:

                 1.)Support Legislation to Permanently Extend 2% CAP on Interest Arbitration Awards

 Mayor Aronsohn said this is a very important topic now being debated in Trenton. Councilman Pucciarelli gave some background on the issue. He began by saying that originally, the Councilmembers had hoped to support the legislation that would have extended the 2% cap, in much the same way that the previous legislation did. It would have simply been a matter of changing the expiration date of the previous legislation, and moving it forward. However, recent amendments to the bill that came out of the State Assembly and Senate have altered the bill in three respects. Councilman Pucciarelli wants to ensure that, if the Councilmembers support the passage of the law, they are supporting the law as it was written prior to the most recent amendments. The law provided a 2% cap on arbitration awards that would result if a community and its collective bargaining committee reach an impasse, and it only applies to uniformed services, such as Police and Fire Departments. If an agreement could not be reached, it would require arbitration, and the arbitrator would be subject to the 2% cap on any awards.

According to one of the recent proposed amendments, that 2% cap is maintained, but it can only be applied once. That means that the Village could take advantage of that cap in the arbitration of one collective bargaining agreement, but it could not be used in any subsequent arbitrations. A second proposed amendment would eliminate the initial random appointment of the arbitrator. Under the current law, an arbitrator was always appointed in a random fashion, as opposed to the standard method, in which each side in a negotiation chooses an arbitrator, and the two chosen arbitrators together choose the third arbitrator. The second proposed amendment would revert to the standard system, so that the parties would select the arbitrators, who would then select the third member of the arbitration panel. Councilman Pucciarelli does not believe that is the preferred way to do it, for reasons that were explained to the Financial Advisory Committee by the Village’s labor counsel. The most important reason is because it is means that the arbitrators have a vested interest in the outcome of the arbitration, as opposed to using a random selection method in choosing arbitrators. The third proposed amendment, with which Councilman Pucciarelli disagrees, is that if a municipality realizes any savings, either through a workforce reduction or through changes in the benefit payment schedules, so that employees are paying more and the Village pays less, the cap is credited in the amount of the savings realized. In other words, the extent of any potential savings to the Village could be added to the 2% cap. Therefore, if the Village or to realize any savings in a particular area, it would be possible for the arbitrator to apply them to any salary awards, and increase them accordingly. These three amendments, in Councilman Pucciarelli’s opinion, make the law no longer supportable. He asked his colleagues to support the version of the law as written prior to the three amendments.

Mayor Aronsohn explained that the reason this is important is because the Village has a 2% cap on taxes. Therefore, if the arbitration awards were to be more than 2%, the funds would have to be found somewhere else in the budget, possibly requiring a reduction in other municipal services to pay for it. That is very important for the financial stability of Ridgewood, as well as any other municipality, and it is also a question of fairness and the ability to determine what services can be provided by a municipality, and how those services will be funded. Mayor Aronsohn said that makes it vital that the current law be maintained. In its current form, the law expires on April 1, 2014. The legislation could possibly extend the law in its current form indefinitely. However, legislation has been introduced that is weaker than the current law, and it would enable all of the situations outlined by Councilman Pucciarelli.

Councilman Riche said he is not sure how effective this resolution will be, because it will be voted by the State Assembly and Senate tomorrow. He added that, after reading the current proposed law, he is not sure that it addresses any of the amendments that were added today. Mayor Aronsohn responded that, as with many resolutions, it is simply the voice of a municipality, via its Councilmembers, expressing the same support that many other municipalities are giving to the existing law. Regarding the second point made by Councilman Riche, it was recommended by Ms. Sonenfeld that the language of the resolution could be tweaked so that it would apply to current law. Councilman Pucciarelli suggested that wording to the effect of supporting the extension of the existing law, without reference to the most recently proposed amendments, could be included. As Councilman Riche also pointed out, the amendments have been vigorously denounced by the League of Municipalities. Ms. Sonenfeld found examples of collective bargaining agreements showing that the law as it currently exists has benefited many communities in the collective bargaining process. Councilman Pucciarelli also noted that the Village has some significant collective bargaining negotiations ahead in the next 24 months.

Mr. Rogers advised that the language be inserted on the second page of the resolution, in the paragraph starting with the words “Now, therefore, be it resolved that the governing body of the Village of Ridgewood strongly urges the Legislature to permanently extend the present 2% cap…”. The words “absent the three proposed amendments” could be inserted, with the three amendments listed. The word “existing” could also be used instead of “present”.

4. MOTION TO SUSPEND WORK SESSION AND CONVENE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING

At 7:52 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Riche, seconded by Councilwoman Walsh, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.5. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION

At 7:53 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilman Riche, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council reconvened its Work Session. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Donna Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney; and Frank Moritz, Director of Operations for Ridgewood Water.

 6. PRESENTATIONS

             a. Girl Scout Troop 1326 – Par Course Improvements

Councilwoman Walsh explained that the Girl Scouts in attendance were members of her Girl Scout Troop 1326, who are working on their Silver Award.

The members of the Troop explained that they were asking for approval from the Village Council for their Silver Award project, for which they had already received approval from the Department of Parks and Recreation. Their proposal is to refurbish and install new par course stations along Northern Parkway and Veterans Field. The Scouts proposed to complete all fundraising and the project itself by September 2014. They provided supporting documents, including maps, to show where the existing par course stations are, and where the new stations would be placed. Charts were also included showing the existing equipment, which includes parallel bars; chin-up bars; and sit-up and back extension equipment. The Girl Scouts said they hope to complete as many of the stations as they can, which will depend upon how much funds can be raised.

Chloe Young outlined their fundraising plans. She explained that each apparatus costs approximately $600, and they hope to raise enough money for 10 pieces, or $6,000. The Girl Scouts hope to set up booths at some of the Village festivals to ask for donations, as well as visiting local businesses to ask for their sponsorship. Any businesses that choose to sponsor these efforts what have a plaque placed next to the particular piece of equipment sponsored by that business.

Some of the fundraising ideas include: donations; funding through the schools, such as bake sales; and other activities created by the members of the Troop. Approximately 10 structures are needed, some of which are already installed. The budget for each structure is approximately $3,000-$5,000. Other expenses may include cement fillings if the structures chosen need to be installed in cement, as well as construction charges. It is hoped that the costs will be covered by fundraising monies. One example of a structure is the upright cycle, which focuses on just one of the workout areas. The upright cycle costs $3,044, and is just one example of the proposed equipment to be installed.

The Scouts pointed out that many other towns have successfully installed these fitness zones, including Bogota and Teaneck. The Borough Administrator for Bogota discussed the advantages of fitness zones, and mentioned that they can be used on walks. In addition, the Borough of Bogota recently received a grant and is now in the process of selecting their equipment. The Borough of Teaneck has had fitness stations installed since the 1990s, and although there are only a few currently installed due to lack of funds, they have started installing them again.

Mayor Aronsohn thanked the Girl Scouts their presentation, and for this great idea. He finds the idea very ambitious.

Councilwoman Walsh summarized some of the items presented by explaining that the existing par course was installed in the 1970s. According to the Village website, it contains 18 stations, but there are actually only three existing stations. The Girl Scouts hope to raise funds to complete a circuit of 10 stations, and the prices of various apparatus differ. They will work with staff members from the Department of Parks and Recreation to determine which apparatus will be chosen. Councilwoman Walsh commented that she is very proud of the girls, and the project is an ambitious one. However, she believes they can rise to the challenge. The project must be completed by September 2014, and Councilwoman Walsh predicts that Ridgewood residents will have a much improved par course to follow Mayor Aronsohn’s initiative for a healthy Ridgewood.

Councilwoman Hauck asked if the products listed in the documentation are the same ones installed in the Borough of Teaneck, and if it is the same company. The Girl Scouts responded that they did not know. Councilwoman Hauck asked if the lifespan of the equipment would be approximately 15-20 years, and the response was that the Girl Scouts believe it will. Councilwoman Hauck said that would be a great selling point to mention when beginning their fundraising campaign.

       b. Ridgewood Arts Council

Councilman Pucciarelli commented that the Ridgewood Arts Council (RAC) was re-launching. The RAC has existed in Ridgewood in various iterations for many years. Most recently, Mayor Aronsohn and Councilman Pucciarelli invited people interested in the arts to get together, and quite a large crowd showed up. They were very enthusiastic about the prospect of promoting the arts in Ridgewood in any way possible, recognizing that there is already a lot of artistic endeavors occurring in the Village. However, many of those endeavors are not known, and there are areas of Ridgewood that are yet to be explored by the artistic element.

Members of the Ridgewood Arts Council were appointed in a very informal way, and Tony Damiano, who was also head of the Ridgewood Guild, undertook the task of forming the RAC in its first year. They have already done some very good work, such as the Pop-Up Art Gallery in June 2013; the poetry reading in the Bank of America building several months ago; and other projects that they have sponsored. Now, Councilman Pucciarelli believes it is time to make the RAC an official body of Village government, which will serve the purpose of giving them a higher profile and facilitate their ability to have access to parks, Village Hall, and other public venues that would benefit from the display and performance of art. Some very qualified people have stepped forward and agree to take on the responsibility of the RAC. Therefore, Councilman Pucciarelli proposed a resolution whereby the RAC would become a body of the Village government, to be appointed annually by the Village Council. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson would also be appointed by the Village Council. It is initially envisioned that the RAC will have seven members, and its purpose will be to assist in the promotion of artistic and cultural programs, and provide educational opportunities for Village residents and employees in the areas of art and culture. An example of what might be expected from the RAC is to promote the display of art in Village Hall.

Mayor Aronsohn added his enthusiasm, saying that he believes this is a great idea. When this was first discussed in 2012, Mayor Aronsohn said he was very excited to resurrect the RAC, for two primary reasons. One is that there is a wealth of talent available in Ridgewood, covering a very broad spectrum, and it sometimes seems that there is so much talent that it is impossible to make everyone aware of just how much there is. Mayor Aronsohn hopes that the RAC will serve as a sort of “clearinghouse” where people who want to become active in the arts can turn. The second reason is because Mayor Aronson has a vision of someday having a Ridgewood Arts Center in the Village, which would be a performing arts center to showcase the many musicians, singers, and other artistic talent in the Village.

Councilman Pucciarelli invited Margie Downs, Sherry Frank, and Sean Flanagan, who are board members of the RAC, to speak about some of the ideas currently being proposed. Ms. Downs acknowledged that having a Ridgewood Arts Center is a worthwhile ambition, but it is a long-term goal at this point. The RAC does have some short-term goals, and Ms. Downs, Ms. Frank, and Mr. Flanagan offered a short presentation with information about those goals.

Mr. Flanagan spoke about what the RAC did in the past, and what they have planned for the future. He recalled that approximately one year ago, Mayor Aronsohn, Councilman Pucciarelli, and Ridgewood Guild Chairman Tony Damiano re-established the Ridgewood Arts Council, which became part of the Ridgewood Guild. The members of the RAC now feel that it is time to organize under their own auspices. The prospective board members have been instrumental in founding and serving in leadership roles in many Village cultural activities, such as: Dads’ Night; Jamboree; Ridgewood Arts Council; Ridgewood Sculpture Exhibit; Ridgewood First Night; Fourth of July Committee; Orpheus Club Men’s Choir; Ridgewood High School New Arts Gallery; Kasschau Band Shell; Ridgewood Arts Festival; and the Public Art Show. They have a lot of experience in these past endeavors that can be brought to future endeavors.

Ms. Downs continued by saying that there was previously a Ridgewood Arts Council some years ago, which was established in 1989 by a group of local citizens with the encouragement of Dr. Frederick Stokely, then-Superintendent of Ridgewood Public Schools. For the following 14 years, the RAC became an active and visible presence in the Village. Its membership included approximately 30 arts organizations, and more than 250 families, individuals, artists, students, local businesses, and corporate members. In the past, the RAC produced a newsletter/calendar, which publicized events for local artists. Each year, they offered scholarships and awards to individual artists, arts organizations, and to Ridgewood High School seniors planning a course of study in the arts at college. Members’ visual art shows were held semi-annually: indoors at The Stable in December; and outdoors in the spring at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. An arts café at the Public Library was offered several times throughout the year, co-sponsored by the Ridgewood Public Library in. The annual Ridgewood Arts Festival in the spring drew crowds of families to performances, artists’ exhibitions, and hands-on activities. The February Gala is another event that includes dinner, musical entertainment, awards, and an arts exhibition auction.

Mr. Flanagan mentioned that the RAC continues to believe that one way to measure the character of a community is through its public commitment to the arts, not as a luxury, but as a conviction that to make and experience art is a basic part of human nature, without which our sense of community is weakened. The mission of the RAC will be to foster community-wide awareness of and appreciation for the arts and culture by: supporting and encouraging arts organizations in existence already in the Village of Ridgewood through a common newsletter and calendar that will enhance publicity for and cooperation with those groups by acting as a clearinghouse for the events on the various dates; providing a platform for individual artists and groups to express ideas and identify needs; supporting public and private educational programs in the arts; sponsoring art events for all age groups; and soliciting financial assistance and community support to achieve its goals.

Councilman Pucciarelli noted that, in addition to the three members of the RAC who were present at this meeting, there were seven others who had come forward to offer to serve on the RAC. Mr. Flanagan noted that they had met at various times with different people, and they look forward to continuing what was done in the past by doing it better. He asked for the cooperation of everyone in the Village to make that happen. Councilman Pucciarelli reiterated that in addition to publicizing the existing artistic opportunities, of which there are many, the members of the RAC stated that they would like to initiate some of their own programs, such as bringing performances into Village Hall. The RAC will be working with the senior citizens of Ridgewood in promoting the display of art in the downstairs rooms of Village Hall. Bill Carbone will be serving as the liaison between the RAC and the senior citizens group. Ms. Downs emphasized that it is important to get everyone in the community involved, whether by performing or attending performances, or as artists, or as members of the RAC.

Mayor Aronsohn stated that the resolution would be put on the agenda for the April 2, 2014, Work Session Meeting for discussion. It is hoped that the resolution will be adopted on April 9, 2014, at the Public Meeting.

7. DISCUSSION

            a. Budget:

                     1.)  Award of Contract – 2014 Concession Refreshment Service – Graydon Pool

 Mr. Moritz explained that this is to award the contract for the refreshment service at the Water’s Edge Café at Graydon Pool. There was one bidder, despite the fact that nine packets were sent out. The sole bidder has had a good performance record in the past, and has been vetted by Timothy Cronin, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and his staff. Mr. Cronin recommended that this contract be awarded to Green Light Food Service, in the amount of $21,050. Mayor Aronsohn corrected Mr. Moritz’s statement about the number of bidders, noting that there were three bids received. Councilman Riche asked if this is the current vendor, or someone new. Mr. Moritz said he did not know the answer. This will be put on the agenda for the April 9, 2014, Public Meeting.

                  2.)  Ridgewood Water Properties – Administrative Maintenance Fee

 Mr. Moritz noted that this is an annual fee that is charged to Ridgewood Water in lieu of taxes. This will be put on the agenda for the April 9, 2014, Public Meeting.

                 3.)  Authorize Cost of Mailing Tax Sale Notices – Tax Collector

Mr. Moritz stated that this provides for a fee of up to $25 to cover the cost of mailing tax sale notices. Councilwoman Walsh asked if the fee is for certified letters to be sent, which Mr. Moritz confirmed. This will be put on the agenda for the April 9, 2014, Public Meeting.

              4.)  Award Coach Bus Transportation Services – HILT Trips – Recreation Department

Mr. Moritz noted that this bid to award transportation services for the HILT Trips, sponsored by the Recreation Department, is being awarded to a sole bidder. The winning bidder is the Vanderhoof Transportation Company, which also has a positive history with the Village. This will be put on the agenda for the April 9, 2014, Public Meeting.

             5.) Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services – Foley, Inc. – Water Pollution Control Facility

As previously discussed, Mr. Moritz said this payment is for repairs and service performed on the generator at the Water Pollution Control Facility. Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, was available to answer questions.

Councilman Riche noted that this was obviously an emergency situation, and many questions arose as a result of this emergency service. They included questions about whether a program of preventive maintenance was in place; and the hourly labor rates charged by the vendor, which seemed excessive, especially with respect to travel time, and holiday charges that were levied. Councilman Riche suggested that for the future, an RFP be prepared on an annual basis for preventive maintenance of some kind if that is appropriate, or if there is a County contract already in place that the Village could join. However, Councilman Riche said his main concern is that it appeared to him that this was an extraordinary expense. The vendor was trying to include charges for an annual contract as a hidden charge, for which they Village may not have been billed originally. Councilman Riche said he does not consider that to be an extraordinary emergency expense. Mr. Rutishauser responded that when the technicians from Foley examined the motor, they noticed that it had not been serviced in more than three years. They commented, in writing, that some of the rubber hoses had started to harden, and strongly recommended a preventive maintenance service. That was in January 2014. A requisition had been submitted in January 2013 to the Finance Department requesting preventive maintenance services on a number of generators, including this particular generator, with a quote from Foley. The January 2013 quote was the same as the amount charged in January 2014 for the delayed service. Councilman Riche stated that his question was not answered, and he pointed out that this was supposed to be for an extraordinary unspecified service due to the generator breaking down. Although he was not comfortable with all of the charges, Councilman Riche said he understood what happened. However, he did not understand why a charge for an annual maintenance contract was being added to the bill, which is for an extraordinary expense. Mr. Rutishauser corrected Councilman Riche’s terminology, saying that it was not for an annual maintenance contract, but for an annual service. That included a needed oil change, as well as changing the hoses which had hardened, to prevent another failure. Councilman Riche answered that such an expense should be a bid item, not submitted as an extraordinary expense. He considers it to be a separate issue, not part of the events of that day, and he asked again why it was included as part of the invoice for extraordinary expenses. Mr. Rutishauser responded that, as he said before, it was due to a situation that had been noted by the technician from Foley, and it was determined that, while the technicians from Foley were there, it would be preferable to get the generator repaired as best as they could. Councilman Riche stated that hourly labor charges are levied for that purpose, as well as the other expenses. He continued by saying that his recommendation would be to pay the invoice after subtracting the fees for the maintenance contract, and put the maintenance contract out for bid. Mr. Rutishauser said it was his understanding that the charges were for services performed on the unit, including the oil change. Mayor Aronsohn asked if a one-year service contract is an additional item, as Councilman Riche had been asking. Mr. Rutishauser responded that it was his understanding that the $1,691 was charged for work performed, but he could ask if that included charges for work to be performed, as Councilman Riche mentioned. Councilman Riche pointed out that the invoice states “complete yearly service per contract,” and he asked what contract is referenced. He again suggested that the invoice be paid with the $1,691 subtracted, and that charge should be investigated. Mr. Rutishauser said he would go over the invoice again, and get information from Foley, but he believed it was for work performed on the generator. Mayor Aronsohn agreed that the invoice should be paid, less the $1,691, which should be investigated. Mr. Rutishauser asked the Councilmembers to bear in mind that the generator has a Caterpillar engine, and the regional distributor in this area for Caterpillar engines is Foley. The next-closest distributor is H. O. Penn, in upstate New York. There is also another distributor in the Philadelphia area. It is preferable to have a Foley technician for the Caterpillar engine, because that technician would have access to Caterpillar parts. Councilman Riche commented that the travel charges seem to be rather excessive, and he would not want to enter into such a contract in the future. Mr. Moritz pointed out that the $1,691 charge is below the bid threshold, so if the service contract was for that amount, it would not necessarily require a bid.

      b. Operations:

              1.) 2013 Recycling Tax Certification

Mr. Moritz explained that this certifies that the Village pays $3 per ton for solid waste that is processed into a landfill facility. The Village will receive at least $3 per ton back, and in 2011, the Village was awarded a total of $61,227 for recycling waste. This will be put on the agenda for the April 9, 2014, Public Meeting.

             2.)  Declare Surplus – 1997 Chevy Pickup Truck – Fire Department

Mr. Moritz said this would declare the 1997 Chevy pickup truck from the Fire Department as surplus. This will be put on the agenda for the April 9, 2014, Public Meeting.

       c. Policy:

               1.) Tree Ordinance – Ridgewood Planning Board

 Mr. Moritz noted that the Planning Board submitted their comments, which were mostly concerning engaging citizens to try to create a program, as well as simplifying some of the items contained in the program. In addition, the Planning Board asked the Shade Tree Commission to identify more specifically the problems that they see, so that they can be dealt with. Councilman Pucciarelli attended the meeting of the Planning Board, and he said the discussion about the tree ordinance was a very thoughtful one. The Planning Board made two findings leading to their recommendations. The first was that the Village already has regulations that prohibit, for example, the removal of trees on steep slopes and riparian buffers. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) also regulates tree removal in wetlands and wetland transition areas, and when development applications come before the Planning Board, they are scrutinized for their landscaping plans, and developers are often told where trees must be planted, as well as which trees must be preserved, as a condition of approval. The Planning Board members were concerned that the draft ordinance was somewhat cumbersome, and that it would require permitting for the removal of trees that are not very large, as well as becoming bureaucratically cumbersome for existing Village staff, who would have to check whether such permits are required and issue any necessary permits. The Planning Board rejected the plan as submitted, with recommendations set forth in a letter from Charles Nalbantian, Chairman of the Planning Board. Councilwoman Walsh commented that no one from the Shade Tree Commission or the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) were invited to the Planning Board meeting, so they were surprised that they were not given the opportunity to answer any questions. Mayor Aronsohn asked if the Shade Tree Commission was in existence at that time, and Councilwoman Walsh answered that it was. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that George Wolfson, Chairperson of the Shade Tree Commission, as well as other members of the Commission, could discuss this with Mr. Nalbantian for further recommendations.

Mr. Wolfson recalled that in its report, the Shade Tree Commission listed eight different goals toward which they would be working. They have already held three meetings since the Shade Tree Commission was formed, and projects are already being developed. One of the eight goals that were set is something that Mr. Wolfson believes is outside the spectrum of the Shade Tree Commission Ordinance. The issue of clearcutting is of great concern to the members of the Commission, and they have identified more than one site in Ridgewood where clearcutting has occurred. Mr. Wolfson believes that the section in question can be rewritten in a way that is not threatening to an individual, but can be limited to a certain size of development relative to the acreage involved, the size of the trees involved, and other criteria. Mr. Wolfson noted that the concern is that because there is not a lot of open space in Ridgewood, clearcutting may not be perceived as a threat in people’s minds. However, if one looks at how land is currently developed, it is apparent that people are buying contiguous properties, combining them, and thus have a larger tract of land to develop. When that happens, it is necessary to have some kind of guidance in place. The rules do not exist to keep people from improving their properties, but to give guidance about what can be added or removed. Mr. Wolfson believes there may be a requirement to register administratively when trees are removed only to keep track of what is going on. Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Wolfson for his comments, and noted that this matter will continue to be discussed with the Planning Board, and such discussions can only be useful. He added that everyone is excited that the Shade Tree Commission is now in existence, and that Mr. Wolfson is the Chairperson of such a wonderful group of people.

          2.)  Authorize Execution of NJPDES Permit for Water Pollution Control Facility

 Mr. Moritz stated that this item authorizes renewal of the present New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permit for the Water Pollution Control Facility, which expires on August 31, 2014. Councilman Riche noted that the letter from the NJDEP requires that the renewal application be initiated 180 days prior to the expiration, yet the memorandum indicates that the renewal process has just started, which is less than 180 days from the expiration date. Mr. Rutishauser explained that the permit is a five-year permit, and will expire on August 31, 2014. Notification was received from the NJDEP at the beginning of March that the permit will expire in August, which was already past the six-month deadline. Mr. Rutishauser contacted the NJDEP about the late notification, which they acknowledged. They are aware that the renewal is in process, which is rather laborious, due to the number of on-line forms that must be completed. Councilman Riche clarified that they will waive the 180-day requirement, which Mr. Rutishauser confirmed. Councilman Riche suggested that written approval should be obtained. Mr. Rutishauser said he would request that, but it is essential to get approval for the renewal from the Councilmembers now. This will be put on the agenda for the April 9, 2014, Public Meeting.

           3.)  Backwoods Dances

 Councilman Riche explained that Captain Jacqueline Luthcke of the Ridgewood Police Department had provided some information requested by Councilman Riche, because there had been some safety issues with this particular event. Councilman Riche said his concerns are that everyone has a good time, the safety of the children, and the safety of the police officers.

According to Captain Luthcke, in June 2012, there were eight officers for 1,000 attendees, with nine juveniles detained, as well as some adults under 21 in alcohol-related incidents. In June 2013, there were 11 officers for 1,100 attendees, with 10 juveniles turned over to their parents and several adults under 21 detained, three of whom were detained for possession of alcohol, and the other one for disorderly conduct. In September 2013, there were 11 officers for 1,100 attendees, with 12 juveniles detained, including 11 for alcohol-related incidents, and one for lewdness. One juvenile was taken to the hospital by emergency medical services and another by his/her parents. Empty booze tubes were found in the park after the event, and it was recommended that additional officers be assigned to this event, especially at the beginning.

Councilman Riche said he is very concerned that there is a ratio of approximately 100 children to one officer at this event, and there appears to be an escalation of problems associated with the event, most of which seem to be alcohol-related. If a major incident should occur, Councilman Riche is concerned that such a small amount of officers do not stand a chance against such a large group of children.

David Zrike, a resident of Ridgewood and a parent, and Paul Vaggianos, 280 Rivera Court, gave some background information on the Backwoods Dances. It was founded by Mr. Zrike and the former principal of Ridgewood High School three years ago to try to create an event to keep students busy and out of trouble during the weekends. There are many events held in addition to the dances, such as a talent show, movies in the park, and other similar events. The dances are held at the beginning and end of each season, and are attended by approximately 1,000 students, as noted before. As part of Backwoods Week, Mr. Zrike stated that alcohol awareness information is shared with the children, in cooperation with the Ridgewood Alliance. The goal is to teach students that they can go to events and have a good time without drinking. However, as indicated by the numbers, a small percentage of students choose to imbibe anyway. There seems to be a greater awareness among the students about “pre-gaming” and the associated dangers. Prior to Backwoods Week, the word “pre-gaming” was not known to parents and students. It involves imbibing a lot of alcohol quickly prior to an event. The dances also help to raise funds for the events held during the Backwoods season. Mr. Zrike said that most of the students do seem to stay safe during the dances.

Mr. Vaggianos said that many people asked him why he is involved with these efforts when his children are no longer in high school, and he explains that when his daughters were in high school, no events like this existed. There were parties every weekend at various houses throughout Ridgewood, and they always seemed to be held at homes where the parents were away. The parties would often get out of hand, and emergency medical services were needed on a regular basis. Most of the incidents were alcohol-related. Mr. Vaggianos points out that it is not possible to stop high school students from drinking, but the Backwoods Dances are an effort to give them a safe environment and control the parameters under which they are drinking. Before every dance is held, Mr. Zrike and Mr. Vaggianos sent a letter to parents explaining exactly what will occur at the dance and asking for their cooperation, so that when they drop off their children at someone’s house, or allow them to go out for a couple of hours before the dance, they know that pre-gaming is likely to occur. Mr. Vaggianos noted that the goal of the Backwoods Dances has never been to stop high school students from drinking, because he does not believe that will ever occur, but to have the students do it in a controlled environment. He addressed Councilman Riche’s concern that the number of incidents is escalating, and Mr. Vaggianos responded that they remain pretty constant. He added that paid speakers have come to school assemblies to address the students on these issues, so that students have a better understanding of the dangers associated with drinking. In addition, when every student enters the school, Mr. Vaggianos said they do a “10-second sobriety test,” in which he or Mr. Zrike looks each student in the eye, asks him/her how s/he is doing, what sports s/he participates in, who s/he is, and if the student does not respond well, s/he is passed to Captain Luthcke or one of the other police officers for further evaluation. This process is repeated for every student who attends the dance. Mr. Vaggianos stated that he and Mr. Zrike take personal responsibility for the students who attend the dances.

Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Vaggianos and Mr. Zrike for their efforts in all of these activities.

Captain Luthcke said that the way to describe the dances is “organized chaos”. She agreed with Mr. Vaggianos that high school students will find ways to drink alcohol, and to do so in a controlled environment with 30 adults chaperoning them is preferable to having them do it in someone’s basement when no adults are present to monitor the situation. Captain Luthcke pointed out that only approximately 1% of the students are detained by officers, although she acknowledged Councilman Riche’s point that those are only the ones who have gotten caught. She commented that the Police Department has many concerns with the sheer volume of people in attendance, and dealing with the traffic involved. One of the things that are essential to the program is parental awareness and involvement, so parents will pay attention to everyone. Officers are assigned to work in the street, as well as in the middle of the event, to try to keep everyone safe.

Sergeant John Chuck of the Ridgewood Police Department emphasized that it is a great program. He noted that a house party can have as many as 50 students in attendance, and when the noise gets too loud and a neighbor calls the police, approximately 95% of the students are drinking or using drugs, or even fighting. A huge party can have as many as 200 students in attendance, which is nearly uncontrollable, with 95% of the children drinking. The Backwoods Dances enable students to be with their friends and act silly while having a great time, with only a very small percentage of them having any type of negative interaction with parents and/or police officers. Some of them are very drunk, but many of them are not. Sergeant Chuck pointed out that many of the students who are detained during the dances have been detained by the Police Department on multiple occasions. He understands Councilman Riche’s concern about the number of children present, and that it can easily get out of control, but Sergeant Chuck is not that concerned about students turning on the police officers. Over the years, students who have been drinking too much or fighting have been kept in a separate area so that everyone else can see them. Discussions have been held with Mr. Vaggianos and Mr. Zrike regarding the possibility of purchasing portable Breathalyzer units, which Sergeant Chuck believes would be a huge deterrent to students who are considering drinking alcohol. There are some other tools that Sergeant Chuck police could be used to optimize the officers who attend the dances. Captain Luthcke stated that the vast majority of interactions that the police officers have are positive ones, and when they encounter students after the dances around Ridgewood, the students are much more willing to approach police officers who have worked at the events and talk to them.

Mr. Vaggianos said that before and after each dance, he and Captain Luthcke formulate a plan of action based on occurrences at the previous dances. After each dance, he and Captain Luthcke assess how the dance went, and what could be done for the next time.

Councilman Riche said he was glad to hear that everyone is promoting a zero-tolerance policy, and he hoped that would continue. He added that he was satisfied with what he had heard.

Councilwoman Hauck acknowledged that this is the type of job that most people would not be willing to do, and it is risky for everyone involved. She thanked everyone involved for their efforts to keep children safe.

Councilman Pucciarelli believes this is an outstanding way to bring young people together in a public forum being watched by other adults, as well as police officers.

Mr. Vaggianos also commended the Ridgewood Police Department, saying that when they deal with a student who is very intoxicated, who is not being as polite as s/he should be, the student is treated very well, and with respect.

4. MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Moritz reminded everyone that the new Village Manager, Roberta Sonenfeld, will be taking her position on Monday, March 31st. He assured Ms. Sonenfeld that she will be pleasantly surprised about the level of cooperation she can expect from the staff.

The new Coffee Depot will open at the train station on Tuesday, April 1st, from 5:30 A.M.-10:30 P.M.

Yard waste collection starts next week, and residents should check the dates on their Ridgewood calendars.

Mr. Moritz reminded everyone to sign up on the Village website at www.ridgewoodnj.net to receive electronic updates. There is now a Ridgewood Service Request System for residents to report potholes, which will be expanded in the future so that residents can report other things. Signing up will also enable residents to receive e-notices to alert them to any emergencies or changes in sanitation or recycling pickups.

5. COUNCIL REPORTS

Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) – Councilwoman Walsh reminded everyone that Earth Day is Saturday, April 26th. The Ridgewood Baseball/Softball Association will hold their annual parade in the morning, and LAX Day is also being celebrated that day. The members of REAC will be in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square from 10:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M. to celebrate Earth Day.

Planning Board – Councilman Pucciarelli reported that the Planning Board met last week and has adjusted the redevelopment zone criteria for the area on Walnut Street and Franklin Street, and that a revised redevelopment zone will be sent to the Village Council for consideration. Councilman Pucciarelli said he is enthusiastic about the opportunity presented to attract the development of that corner that will be sensible and result in a garage. The goal is still to increase available parking. The original proposal that came to the Village Council some months ago envisioned an assisted living facility, with a public parking garage.

Financial Advisory Committee – Councilman Pucciarelli said the Financial Advisory Committee met this past Monday, and they went to school with the labor counsel to learn the nuances of municipal labor law. They learned about what is and is not negotiable in the context of negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and it was a very informative session.

Open Space Committee – Councilman Riche mentioned that the Open Space Committee has a meeting scheduled for April, and a request was just received from the Parks and Recreation Conservancy Board to have a joint meeting to see if there any shared issues to be discussed.

10. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Aronsohn stated that they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked Mr. Moritz about the administrative maintenance fees in lieu of taxes associated with Ridgewood Water, and whether property taxes are collected on Village-owned properties in the three municipalities outside of Ridgewood that are served by Ridgewood Water. Mr. Moritz said that they are collected, and that property taxes are paid on the land, but not on the buildings. Mr. Loving asked if the administrative maintenance fees are based on properties with buildings, or properties only. Mr. Moritz responded that in Ridgewood, they are based on properties only.

There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.

11. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION

The following resolution, numbered 14-80, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Deputy Village Clerk, as follows:

 12. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come to before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilman Riche, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 8:57 P.M.

                                                                                                                                               

                                                            PAUL S. ARONSOHN, Mayor

                                                                                   

DONNA M. JACKSON, Deputy Village Clerk