20180606 Village Council 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, RIDGEWOD, NEW JERSEY ON JUNE 6, 2018 AT 7:30 P.M.
- CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL
Deputy Mayor Sedon called the meeting to order at 8:00 P.M. and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call the following were present: Councilman Hache, Deputy Mayor Sedon, Councilman Voigt, Councilwoman 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 ON GRANT APPLICATION FOR KINGS POND PARK DEVELOPMENT/PHASE II
Deputy Mayor Sedon stated that the proposed improvements to Kings Pond Park included in Phase II of the development plans, which were discussed in the Work Session this evening, are being considered. A Public Hearing on the Phase II improvements is required due to the fact that the Village is submitting a grant application for this project from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund. The Public Hearing this evening is specifically on the proposed improvements to Kings Pond Park, Phase II and the Village Council will listen to comments from the public specifically on this matter. The Public Hearing is now open.
Elle Gruber, 229 South Irving Street, thanked the Village Council for their work in understanding how important this beautiful space is. She stated that they want native plants and trees, and added that Ridgewood Wildscape received permission from the Council to do spraying of invasive plants. So, they were trying to get a DEP authorized company to get in there soon, and she didn’t know if this was going to interfere because cutting down Knotweed doesn’t do anything unless it is treated because it loves to be cut down. The DEP would treat it a certain way by cutting it down and treating the roots.
Mayor Knudsen stated that she didn’t believe it interfered, but asked Ms. Bigos to come up and speak about this. Ms. Bigos stated that what she understood in working with the Village Engineer is that all of the work that is being done regarding the invasive Japanese Knotweed is going to be sprayed. It was through the Kings Pond Quest and the Wildscape where it says to bring the sheers and cut down the Knotweed at the trail entrance. Ms. Bigos agreed that it would be treated after being cut down.
George Shabet, 334 Lakeview Drive, stated that for the last 20 years no Council has done anything except this one, and he wanted to thank the Village Council as last week there was a meeting with the neighbors and the committee. He added that the neighbors were very pleased with the committee’s commitment and willingness to move ahead. Looking at Phase I, he said it was an excellent way to prepare the area for what was to come. Phase II was mainly cosmetic and did nothing to enhance the pond itself. Mr. Shabet stated that the park name is Kings Pond Park and so he was suggesting that somewhere in between Phase I and Phase II that somehow funds can be diverted to dredge the pond which is currently looking at its worst. He suggested methods to divert funds, and asked that the Council put in an effort to dredge the pond.
Robert Peacock, 252 Lakeview Drive, thanked the Village Council as he was here 23 years in the Village and the pond was dredged 20 plus years ago. He stated that when it was dredged, the material was placed in the field and left to dry. He shared that his concern was for the tractors and trucks that could disturb the area. Mr. Peacock stated that they have enjoyed the area with fishing and kayaking. Ten years ago, the High School ice hockey team practiced there for two winters. He added that currently it doesn’t freeze as it is currently runny and full of muck so it doesn’t freeze well. Lake Street Brook was fixed 8-10 years ago, and the Engineers said that it would help things as there was a better path for the water to come through, but residue is still there from that construction project and has never cleared. Mr. Peacock stated that he was pleased that the project was moving forward, and a lot of wildlife was coming back. He asked that if the opportunity was there to dredge it should be done between Phase I and Phase II.
Deputy Mayor Sedon moved the Public Hearing be closed. Councilwoman Walsh seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
- PUBLIC HEARING ON GRANT APPLICATION FOR ZABRISKIE-SCHEDLER HOUSE/PHASE III
Deputy Mayor Sedon stated that the proposed improvements to the Zabriskie-Schedler House/Phase 3, which will include additional word required to be done on the house so that it can be opened to the public, which were discussed in the Work Session this evening, are being considered. A Public Hearing on the Phase 3 improvements to the Zabriskie-Schedler House is required due to the fact that the Village is submitting a grant application for this project from the Bergen County Historic Preservation Trust Fund. The Public Hearing this evening is specifically on the improvements to the Zabriskie-Schedler House/Phase 3 and the Village Council will listen to comments from the public specifically on this matter. The Public Hearing is now open.
Elle Gruber, 229 South Irving Street, congratulated the Village Council for what they were doing adding that it was money well spent. She stated that everyone was against The Stable and it is now the most used building. She thanked the Council for all of their hard work in preparing the grants.
Deputy Mayor Sedon moved the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Hache seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Knudsen asked with regards to the dredging, if that was something that the Village Council could work with Ridgewood Wildscape on, as Jeannie Epiphan had some idea on de-snagging versus dredging, so maybe they could coordinate with her as it does make sense that if anything was to be done it would happen before Phase II.
Chris Rutishauser stated that the pond was last dredged just before Hurricane Floyd hit and it was re-dredged after that. To do a dredging project would require permitting with NJDEP as they would need to get a lot of material out, as the work on the Lake Street Bridge probably brought more sediment down. The pond currently doesn’t have significant depth, there are branches and it should be dredged as he didn’t think de-snagging would do much of anything. Mayor Knudsen stated that they should reach out to Ms. Epiphan and coordinate that effort and figure out how it fits into this. Mr. Rutishauser stated that the Village has a partnership with Bergen County Mosquito Control, they have a long reach excavator that is used for dredging. Every year they help with getting Graydon Pool ready for the season and he would reach out and see if they were available to help. Mayor Knudsen asked if there was a particular time that it would be good for the dredging. Mr. Rutishauser stated that it was a good winter job as during the summer it would stink and depending on what is excavated you may have to dewater it on site so that you are not trying to transport the wet material offsite.
- RESOLUTION
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 18-166 AND 18-167, WERE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY AND READ IN FULL:
Councilman Voigt stated that regarding resolution 18-167 he was concerned that there wasn’t a plan in place for potential uses of the site and if he had that information he would be more comfortable voting yes, so he was choosing to abstain.
- ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, Mayor Knudsen called for a motion to adjourn, on a motion by Deputy Mayor Sedon, seconded by Councilman Hache, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Special Public Meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M.
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Susan Knudsen
Mayor
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Donna M. Jackson
Deputy Village Clerk
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