20220323 - Village Council Public Workshop Minutes
A REGULAR PUBLIC WORK SESSION 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 MARCH 23, 2022 AT 7:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Knudsen 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 Perron, Reynolds, Sedon, Vagianos, and Mayor Knudsen. Also present were Eileen Young, Deputy Village Clerk; Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney; and Richard Calbi, Director of Ridgewood Water.
Mayor Knudsen led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. There was a moment of silence for all citizens of Ukraine and in war-torn countries, as well as Russian citizens who are against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Andy McGonnell, 457 Upper Boulevard, was speaking this evening regarding the outdoor dining corrals. He emphasized that there was no battle between retailers and restaurants in the CBD and that the entire CBD needs the support of the community and the Village Council. The main goal is to ensure that the businesses in Ridgewood continue to be the best in Bergen County. He stated that the Village Council should stop and listen to Village residents before taking final action on whether or not to continue the dining corrals. Mr. McGonnell indicated that the petition to keep the dining corrals has reached over 2,300 signatures, and there have been multiple news articles published in the last two weeks regarding the dining corrals. This topic was covered by CBS News, and there have been hundreds of social media posts, along with dozens of letters received, in support of the dining corrals.
Mr. McGonnell announced that there is currently a bill in the Legislature to extend outdoor dining statewide in New Jersey, which has unanimous bipartisan support, sponsored by Senators Sarlo and Johnson, representing towns and constituents across Bergen County. He strongly believes that the dining corrals should be extended through the fall of this year and urged the Village Council to give their approval to let them continue. He feels that Ridgewood planners and engineers should consult with business owners and the community as a whole before this valuable amenity is lost. He stated that the CBD cannot stand to lose the outdoor dining corrals at the end of March 2022. He feels this would result in Ridgewood getting left behind other Bergen County towns, which do offer outdoor dining.
Rurik Halaby, 1 Franklin Avenue, spoke about the 2022 budget. He stated that Mr. Rooney, Chief Financial Officer, should present the budget in a heavily advertised Town Hall meeting where the residents of Ridgewood can participate in person and via Zoom. He stated that the presentation of the budget on the Village website is unintelligible and should be presented in a more user-friendly manner. A Town Hall meeting is the only way to allow for true transparency concerning the budget.
Regarding hybrid meetings, Mr. Halaby stated that he remotely attended the Board of Education meeting on March 7, 2022 and was able to offer comments via Zoom. Having Zoom access at the meeting did not delay their return to normalcy and no one shed any tears.
Regarding the Village website, Mr. Halaby stated that it must be the worst in New Jersey, if not in the entire United States, and that the Village Council should not have delayed updating the website. Mr. Halaby stated that Ridgewood Water upgraded their website on its own, and the Ridgewood Police Department is finally upgrading its website on its own. He stated that anyone with a basic business sense would have made the decision to hire one web developer to work on all three websites at the same time, which would have resulted in a cost savings. He said autocratic regimes seek to control information given to the public so that they can control the people, citing examples such as Putin and Trump. Mr. Halaby said that the mediocrity of the Village website effectively chokes the flow of information to Village residents. He said that the only reason the dates of meetings are listed on the website is because he himself requested that this be done. Mr. Halaby said that it took him 15 minutes to discover where the budget was posted on the Village website.
Jeanne Johnson, 325 Mastin Place, said she was speaking this evening as a pedestrian and bicycle safety advocate. She has been actively involved in spearheading initiatives to promote safe walking and cycling in Ridgewood for 15+ years. She has written multiple grants that provided the Village with over $2 million in funding to improve infrastructure such as sidewalks, crosswalks, blinking beacons, and educational programs. She has worked with countless experts and designed public forums to help educate the public on the importance of re-establishing principles on which Ridgewood was founded – to be a safe, walkable community.
Ms. Johnson stated that, according to Walk Score, a walkable neighborhood has a center – a main street or public space – with enough people for businesses to flourish, along with frequent public transportation. It is mixed income, mixed use, with affordable housing located near businesses. She asked why the Village is catering to vehicles. Several years ago, the Village Council hired an expert to aid in revamping the Master Plan at a cost of approximately $250,000.00. Ms. Johnson felt that this was a great investment which would yield a great return.
Ms. Johnson said that it was encouraging to read the answers to some of the visioning process surveys. “Pedestrian Plaza” was the third choice when people were asked what their favorite event was in the Village. The most pressing transportation need in the Village was bicycle access, and the most pressing transportation problem was congestion. According to this survey, the biggest issues facing the CBD were pedestrian safety and heavy traffic. The favorite cultural resources were community events and festivals, and she feels that pedestrian plazas fall into this category. The commonly requested improvements were additional sidewalks, traffic calming measures, safety measures for cyclists, and closing vehicular traffic in certain areas during certain times of the day and week. The most common answers to “What business or activity would you like to see downtown?” were art, performances, and a bike park.
Ms. Johnson said that, in order to survive, restaurants in the CBD had to “pivot” and she believes that retailers need to pivot as well. More walkers in the business district will improve the CBD economy. Visitors to the CBD are not just coming to have dinner – they also want to go out and have an experience. She asked the Village Council to take into consideration the suggestions made by the Master Plan Committee.
There were no further comments from the public.
Councilwoman Perron said that she has also been frustrated with the Village website; however, there is a new tile on the website titled “Ordinances and Resolutions,” which allows residents to access ordinances and resolutions which have been either introduced or passed. She stated that this is a wonderful addition to the Village website and she encouraged all residents to use it.
Councilwoman Perron stated that the Village Clerk’s Office has made a herculean effort to bring the minutes up to date on the website, which fell behind during Covid. She believes that the minutes are fully up to date; however, she urged residents to notify the Village Clerk’s Office if they find that any minutes are missing. She thanked the League of Women Voters for bringing to their attention that the minutes were falling behind. In addition, with regard to the request for a Town Hall meeting on the proposed budget, she asked the Village Manager’s Office if this could be arranged. Mr. Rogers said that he would defer to Ms. Mailander in this regard upon her return.
Mayor Knudsen remarked that a public hearing on the budget is scheduled for April 13, 2022. There will be a presentation of the budget, which is open to the public. The public will be given the opportunity to ask questions and participate. Through February and March of 2022, multiple budget meetings were held, including overviews by all Department Directors of their Capital and Operating Budgets. Staffing levels were discussed as well. These meetings were televised and Mayor Knudsen encouraged all members of the public to participate in the upcoming public hearing on the budget. She remarked that despite the budget meetings being publicized, no members of the public showed up at most of the meetings.
Regarding the dining corrals and pedestrian plaza, Mayor Knudsen stated that in March 2020, everyone experienced something which they had never experienced before – a global pandemic. Immediate steps were taken in an effort to help businesses in the CBD to survive, resulting in the pedestrian plaza and dining corrals. It was understood by all parties that things would be returned to normal once the Covid crisis had abated. She mentioned that many people speaking in support of the dining corrals do not pay rent on Ridgewood Avenue. She has heard from landlords who cannot rent out space in the CBD because of the dining corrals and pedestrian plaza. In addition, landlords are fearful of losing existing tenants if their businesses fail.
Mayor Knudsen has personally met with many business owners who state that they cannot continue and sustain their businesses with the existence of the dining corrals. She stated that the 18 parking spaces taken up by the dining corrals are the most valuable shopper/diner/customer parking spaces in the Village’s inventory. The Village Council has worked tirelessly to free up parking spaces in the CBD, such as asking employees to park elsewhere so that the prime parking spots can be left available for visitors to the CBD. The non-food businesses were agreeable to these outdoor dining corrals during Covid, with the understanding that it was only a temporary measure. Mayor Knudsen said that the Village Council has to abide by this agreement and listen to the non-food businesses, which have indicated that they cannot survive if the dining corrals are allowed to continue. She said that the Village Council is working behind the scenes to develop an equitable solution for all.
3. MANAGER’S REPORT
The Daffodil Festival and Earth Day Fair will be held in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square on Sunday, April 10, 2022 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. The theme is “2022 Act Now for a Green Ridgewood.” All residents were urged to attend this special annual event. There will be a petting zoo; green educational displays; information regarding water conservation, Project 1,000 Acres, importance of trees, electric vehicles and charging systems; children’s activities; musical entertainment; and a costume Daffy Dog Parade at 12:30 P.M.
“Easter in Ridgewood,” sponsored by the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2022 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. There will be an Easter Bonnet Parade, music, and arts and crafts, with the Easter Bunny as the guest of honor.
A Parks and Recreation Summer Job Fair was held on March 8, 2022. If any resident was not able to attend and would like to learn more about seasonal employment opportunities with the Village of Ridgewood, they should contact the Recreation Department at 201-670-5560 or go to the Village website.
A recycling event for Bergen County residents, sponsored by the Bergen County Utilities Authority, will take place on Sunday, April 24, 2022 from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., rain or shine, at Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus, New Jersey. It will include mobile paper shredding, electronics and computer recycling, as well as unwanted medication collection. This is for Bergen County residents only and ID is required.
The Kasschau Memorial Shell fundraiser will take place on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. A portion of each check for lunch and dinner at the Steel Wheel Tavern will be donated to support events at the Kasschau Memorial Shell.
All residents should sign up for E-notices on the Village website to be kept informed of Village events and timely notifications. Upcoming Village Council meetings are broadcast live from the Village Hall Courtroom, on the Village website, on FIOS Channel 34, and available afterwards on YouTube. Upcoming Village Council Work Sessions will be held on April 6 and April 27, 2022 at 7:30 P.M. Upcoming Public Meetings are scheduled for April 13 and May 4, 2022 at 8:00 P.M.
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilwoman Perron announced that the Open Space Committee (which looks for properties that can become parkland) and the Parks and Recreation Conservation Board (which determines how Village parkland is used and maintained) are going to have their Joint Annual Meeting on April 21, 2022 in the Youth Lounge at Village Hall. The public is welcome to attend. The guest speaker will be Barbara Davis from The Land Conservancy of New Jersey. That organization has been hired by the Village to draft the Open Space portion of the Master Plan, as well as an environmental resource inventory. At the meeting, suggestions can be made regarding what residents would like to see, going forward, with regard to open space, parks, and recreational facilities. Public comments can be emailed to Ms. Davis at bhdavis@tlc-nj.org before April 14, 2022.
Green Ridgewood met and is planning the Daffodil Festival and Earth Day Celebration, which will be held on April 10, 2022. Many vendors will be there, as well as electric vehicle displays.
The Ridgewood High School New Players Company put on a musical, “9 to 5,” which was outstanding. Councilwoman Perron urged everyone to catch their next show if they missed the last one. She is a New Players alumni.
The Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) met on March 10, 2022 and the dining corrals were one area of discussion. A memo was drafted and a recommendation was made to the Village Council to reconsider their decision to discontinue the dining corrals on March 31, 2022. Councilwoman Perron indicated that she supports this recommendation. The League of Municipalities of New Jersey indicated in their monthly magazine that the Covid pandemic is not over and that municipalities still need to be flexible in using outdoor spaces and roadways.
Councilwoman Perron indicated that a subcommittee of CBDAC met to discuss the pedestrian tunnel underneath the train tracks. They visited the site and took pictures, then met with the Village Engineer to discuss how the area could be improved. The CBDAC will be accepting applications at the end of March 2022 since there is an open (volunteer) position for a business member (any merchant with a business in the CBD). The application form can be accessed on the Village website by clicking on the tile labeled “Employment and Volunteer Opportunities.”
Councilman Vagianos spoke about serving on the Stigma-Free Committee. There will be a Stigma-Free sticker contest for middle school students on March 31, 2022, with a first prize of $300.00. The Health Department has reported that the Village is at a moderate Covid level and trending in the right direction. He spoke about the Lifestyle Challenge sponsored by the Health Department, which helps everyone to stay active and improve their health. It is being held both live and via Zoom, and begins on April 7, 2022.
Earth Day will be celebrated throughout the Village on April 10, 2022. The Library is celebrating May as “Older Americans Month,” and the theme is “Age My Way.” The program affording inner-city children the chance to swim at Graydon Pool will resume again this year, since it had been interrupted by Covid for the past two years. Ridgewood was recently named an up and coming Healthy Town by the New Jersey Healthcare Quality Institute, and Councilman Vagianos said the goal is for Ridgewood to become a Healthy Town.
Councilman Vagianos indicated that he attended a great Parks and Recreation meeting last night. In attendance was Jack Schwartz, an Eagle Scout candidate, whose Eagle Scout project aims to refurbish Citizens Park. He will be rebuilding benches, cleaning up debris, and replanting shrubs at the park, in coordination with the Parks Department. He has already organized approximately 12 volunteers to perform the work, and will be raising money to purchase the necessary supplies. Councilman Vagianos mentioned that it was very inspiring to listen to this wonderful young man, which was refreshing considering what is going on in the world right now.
The spring 2022 recreation programs are open (Graydon Pool, tennis, pickleball, etc.) and applications can be accessed online at www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass. The Parks Department is always looking for ways to get people involved in outdoor activities, and they will be expanding their programs and camps in the month of August 2022.
Councilwoman Reynolds indicated that the Planning Board met on March 15, 2022. The façade paint color was reviewed for the Bagelicious storefront at 41 North Broad Street. It was decided that the red color could remain as is.
An application was received and presented to the board for minor site plan approval, with variances, to construct staircases on an existing building to access the rooftop as an open air fitness area at 129 South Broad Street (the former New York Sports Club). The applicant was questioned about having an elevator to access the roof; however, this is not required in buildings that are less than three floors. Therefore, it will be ADA compliant without an elevator. The business is called Fitometry and is privately owned. The application was approved.
The Planning Board also reviewed a proposed ordinance to amend Chapter 190, Section 190-99, Zoning Map. The Zoning Map was last updated in June of 2012, and therefore it needed updating. It was introduced and passed upon first reading at the March 9, 2022 Village Council meeting and will be considered for final passage at the April 13, 2022 Village Council meeting. The next Planning Board meeting will be held on April 5, 2022.
Councilwoman Reynolds attended the first meeting of the Project Pride Committee last week. There were 12 people in attendance and everyone is really excited to beautify the CBD. They will have a table present on Earth Day held on April 10, 2022. They are hopeful that many people will sign up as volunteers to do plantings in the CBD on May 22, 2022. Anyone interested should contact Councilwoman Reynolds at lreynolds@ridgewoodnj.net.
There was also a discussion about reviving the hanging baskets on the light poles in the CBD; however, the light poles were changed by Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) several years ago from cast iron poles to aluminum poles and the Village Engineer determined that the new poles would not be adequate to handle the weight of the hanging baskets. However, the light poles in Van Neste Park are still the older cast iron style, so the hanging baskets will be hung there.
The committee also discussed native perennials and native annuals for the flower pots, and it was decided that the native perennials are the best for flower beds. However, they are looking into native annuals to be planted in the pots. They are very fortunate to have a horticultural expert on the committee, who is helping them determine what types of flowers will work best for the CBD.
Councilwoman Reynolds was excited to announce that the Project Pride Committee is reviving the Sunflower Project Pride Award, which has not been held for the past seven or eight years. Residents who create a beautiful front yard at their home get nominated to receive a sunflower which is about four feet high. There are about six to eight awards given out every couple of weeks during the summer months. The next Project Pride meeting will be held on March 31, 2022 at 7:00 P.M. at The Stable.
There was a Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) meeting held on March 17, 2022. Some members are working on developing banners for “Smart Street New Jersey” to be hung on the lampposts in the CBD. There are two committee members who will be presenting the banner designs to the Village Council this evening.
The West Glen Avenue sidewalk program will continue this spring. The sidewalks will probably not be completed this year, but they will continue to be constructed. Age-Friendly Ridgewood had a Zoom meeting on March 9, 2022 to discuss the topic of bicycle riding on the sidewalks in the CBD. There were nine people in attendance at the Zoom meeting, and the consensus was that sidewalk bike riding was unsafe and shouldn’t be promoted.
Councilwoman Reynolds announced that Age-Friendly Ridgewood will be developing and conducting several educational programs to promote safe biking habits: “Learn to Ride” programs and “Walk Your Wheels” safety training using the School Safety Officer. Additional bike racks will be installed in the CBD, if possible, to facilitate walking throughout the CBD. The Easy Ride organization will be providing a bicycle program in coordination with the Board of Education at select Ridgewood schools on May 14, 2022.
Councilwoman Reynolds indicated that one resident at the meeting broached the subject of the poor condition of the pavement along Franklin Avenue and the existing light signal at the intersection of North Maple Avenue and Franklin Avenue. Repaving Franklin Avenue is planned for this year, and there is a long-term Franklin Avenue corridor improvement project with Bergen County. This project includes the modernization of signals along Franklin Avenue, and the committee is awaiting word from the County as to a timeline for that project.
This same resident also brought up the recent pedestrian/motor vehicle accident which occurred at the intersection of East Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street. He suggested the use of four-way stop signs at that intersection. A discussion ensued, but nothing was decided since they didn’t have enough information regarding how the accident had occurred. A CSAC member offered to review the police report and bring the information to the April 2022 CSAC meeting.
Several factors that reduce safety in the Village were discussed. Contributing factors which compromise safety include distracted walking and driving, failure to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, failure of pedestrians to give adequate advanced notice of their crossing intentions, failure of vehicles to make complete stops at stop signs, drivers making a right turn on red when there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk, and speeding. Enforcement of these contributing factors is the key to ensure safety of both pedestrians and drivers. They will be reviewing these factors with the Ridgewood Police Department to see if more enforcement can be conducted in the CBD. The next CSAC meeting will be held on April 21, 2022 at 7:30 P.M. in the Garden Room at Village Hall.
Deputy Mayor Sedon announced that the Green Team met last week and they are getting close to the first deadline submission (May 22, 2022) for the Sustainable Jersey Municipal Certification Program. The next meeting will be held on April 5, 2022, at which time the submission will be discussed and reviewed to see what is left to be done. He hopes that Ridgewood can once again receive a Silver Certification. Silver Certification means a municipality has made significant progress in a number of categories toward sustainability and is a statewide and national leader.
The Community Center Advisory Board meets on March 24, 2022 at 5:00 P.M. and the Ridgewood Arts Council next meets on March 24, 2022 at 8:00 P.M.
Mayor Knudsen announced that the Village has received a beautiful plaque and banner for the Lifestyle Challenge program, which will be handed over to Dawn Cetrulo, Director of the Health Department. The Mayor’s Weight Loss Challenge was a success in prior years, with many participants, but it was decided to rename it as the Lifestyle Challenge in order to include more people, focus on lifestyle changes, and avoid the stigma of the words “weight loss.”
The Planning Board will meet on April 5, 2022, at which time Heyer Gruel will present the preliminary Master Plan document. Mayor Knudsen said that the only part of the plan which may be missing is the open space portion. They are working on setting a date for final review and public hearing. Residents are welcome to attend.
The Library Board of Trustees met on March 22, 2022. The Annual Reading Marathon included 1,600 participants, with a total of 36,000 books read. This number of books is lower than previous years, and Mayor Knudson said that this decline was felt to be due to moving from a paper-based log form to an online log form, and some teachers are not seeing what books their students are reading. They are going to troubleshoot this to try to solve this problem.
Tickets for the Author’s Luncheon are almost sold out, with the last day of ticket sales being March 25, 2022. The Friends of the Ridgewood Public Library will be holding the luncheon on April 6, 2022 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. The guest of honor will be Yaa Gyasi, author of “Homecoming” and “Transcendent Kingdom.” The luncheon will be held at Seasons Restaurant, 644 Pascack Road, Washington Township, New Jersey. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can do so by logging on to the Ridgewood Public Library website. There will be 40 gift baskets and prizes to be awarded during the Tricky Tray part of the luncheon. There will also be a Silent Auction.
The RFP for work at the Pease Library went out and two bids have been received from very highly qualified companies. The Library Board of Trustees is reviewing the bids and will make a recommendation to the Village Council shortly. Mayor Knudsen thanked Nancy Greene of the Ridgewood Library and Mr. Rogers, Village Attorney, for getting the RFP done so quickly.
The ACCESS Committee met on March 17, 2022 and they continued to explore options for employment opportunities for the special needs community in Ridgewood. They discussed ways of encouraging businesses to invest in a thrift shop in the CBD, so that some employment opportunities could be established. They are working closely with the United Way and Madeline House.
Mayor Knudsen discussed the Fitometry minor site plan application review. Having to install an elevator in the building (former New York Sports Club building) would have been cost prohibitive for the business owner and, in all likelihood, he would not have been able to proceed with opening his business if an elevator would have been required. The ACCESS Committee will reach out to the Village Attorney in the future to see if any ordinances could be adopted which would require elevators to be installed in commercial buildings that are more than two stories high. The owner of Fitometry indicated that the rooftop amenities would be the same amenities as those offered inside the building, but without the sunshine. Mayor Knudsen welcomed the owner of Fitometry to the Ridgewood business community.
Mayor Knudsen announced that Ridgewood is the recipient of a $2.8 million State and Tribal Assistance Grant (STAG) through the Environmental Protection Agency. These federal funds will be used towards PFAS treatment of the drinking water. Mayor Knudsen remarked that on April 9, 2021, Congressman Josh Gottheimer organized a meeting of elected officials to review different grant opportunities. At that time, Mayor Knudsen learned that Ridgewood would be eligible to receive these grant monies since there already existed a “shovel ready” project with the Water Department.
Mayor Knudsen thanked Richard Calbi and his staff from Ridgewood Water, as well as the Village Manager, who worked so diligently on writing this grant request in less than a week’s time. She also thanked everyone who wrote letters of support, which needed to be included in the grant application: Councilwoman Perron, Deputy Mayor Sedon, Councilwoman Reynolds, former Councilwoman Walsh, Commissioner Hache, the Mayors of Midland Park, Wyckoff, and Glen Rock (serviced by Ridgewood Water), and Board of Education members. Mayor Knudson also expressed gratitude to Congressman Gottheimer and Senator Menendez for expediting the grant application.
Councilwoman Perron asked Mayor Knudsen about the Heyer Gruel presentation of the Master Plan on April 5, 2022. She asked whether or not there would be any documents available beforehand that could be reviewed prior to the meeting. Mayor Knudsen replied that it will only be a presentation and review for input. However, she stated that she would get further information from John Barry from Heyer Gruel and confirm that with Councilwoman Perron.
Deputy Mayor Sedon made a motion to suspend the Work Session and convene a Special Public Meeting, seconded by Councilwoman Perron.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Sedon, Vagianos; Mayor Knudsen
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Deputy Mayor Sedon moved that the Special Public Meeting be adjourned and that the Public Work Session be reconvened. Councilwoman Reynolds seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Sedon, Vagianos; Mayor Knudsen
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
5. PRESENTATION
A. CITIZENS SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE – BANNERS IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
Jane Remis and Anastasia Bamberg spoke about the proposed banners to be hung in the CBD promoting pedestrian safety. Ms. Bamberg indicated that she is a member of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC). Pedestrian safety is a nationwide concern, particularly in New Jersey. The Federal government has designated New Jersey as a Pedestrian Focus State, because New Jersey has double the national average of pedestrian fatalities. In 2021, New Jersey had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in 30 years. In 2022, to date, there is a 10% increase in pedestrian fatalities.
Ms. Bamberg stated that all the comments made during the new Master Plan survey process and during the monthly CSAC meetings demonstrate that there is a concern about pedestrian safety in the Village. Street Smart NJ is one of the many initiatives being conducted in New Jersey to help reach its goal of zero pedestrian fatalities. This initiative, developed by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, aims to raise awareness of pedestrian and motorist laws and change the behaviors that lead to pedestrian and cyclist crashes and fatalities. More than 200 communities in New Jersey have participated in some way in this initiative since the program’s inception.
Ms. Bamberg indicated that the CSAC is recommending that the Village participate in the campaign by displaying pedestrian safety banners in the CBD. There are six different banners proposed: three focused on pedestrians and three aimed at drivers. The core messages are “Walk Smart,” “Drive Smart,” and “Be Street Smart.” Specific messages are worded as follows: “We Look Before Crossing,” “Heads Up, Phones Down,” “We Slow Down for Safety,” “We STOP for People - It’s the Law,” “We Use Crosswalks,” “We Cross at Corners,” “We Cross at the Light,” and “We Wait for the Walk Sign.”
Ms. Bamberg indicated that the committee is proposing to hang these two-sided banners for six weeks in the spring (starting shortly) and six weeks in the fall, on 12 light poles in the CBD, which are equipped with the sleeves to hold banners. They hope to obtain funding through private donations after Village Council approval.
Ms. Remis stated that the banner messages will be viewed by both Ridgewood residents and non-resident visitors to the CBD. Similar banners hung in other communities serve to reinforce their message of pedestrian and vehicular safety. Education and repetition are the keys to their success. Evaluations of previous Street Smart NJ campaigns have shown positive results. Based on an analysis of campaigns in 2018 and 2019, there was a 60% improvement in drivers stopping for people crossing the street before turning at a red light or stop sign, a 40% improvement in drivers stopping for pedestrians before turning at a green signal, and a 20% reduction in the number of pedestrians crossing unsafely against a signal or outside of a crosswalk.
Ms. Remis stated that the banners are a good start. However, the Village, community and business leaders, and organizations should get involved in the Street Smart NJ effort, spreading the word through grassroots public awareness, social media, and public outreach efforts. CSAC is asking for the Village Council’s support in allowing these banners to be hung in the CBD in order to improve pedestrian safety. The driver banners are a bright green with silhouettes of people crossing the road (so as to not distract drivers or pedestrians with too many details), and the pedestrian banners are photo-like. A total of 12 banners would be ordered, since there are 12 bracket poles in the CBD. Each banner costs $35.00.
Councilman Vagianos stated that he thought this was a terrific initiative because reinforcement of pedestrian safety is very important. He said that although Ridgewood Avenue, like many other main streets across the country, appears safe, it can actually be quite dangerous because people are not as careful. He stated that one of his concerns is watching people cross the street in a crosswalk while texting, assuming that they are safe because they are in a crosswalk. He asked if such a message (no texting) could be included on one of the banners.
Ms. Remis replied that these banners were designed by Street Smart NJ; however, she agreed with Councilman Vagianos that texting while crossing a street, even in a crosswalk, is definitely a concern. Councilman Vagianos stated that he completely supported the use of the banners; however, he would like to see some banners addressing the texting issue.
Councilwoman Reynolds remarked that she thought it was a great idea and was looking forward to seeing the banners hung on the light poles in the CBD.
Councilwoman Perron asked if the banners would be hung on both the east and west sides of the Village. Ms. Remis replied that there are no light poles with brackets on the west side of the CBD, but stated that she would like to see the banners hung there as well. Councilwoman Perron also asked if businesses would be able to sponsor the banners. Ms. Bamberg replied that businesses could make donations towards the banners, but that business names could not be advertised on the banners.
Ms. Remis remarked that other towns have installed the banners by tying them to light poles rather than using brackets, which might be a way of displaying the banners on the west side of the CBD. Some banners in other towns are displayed on light signal posts or foam boards.
Councilman Vagianos asked how long the banners would be displayed, since the light pole brackets are used for other messages as well during the year. Ms. Remis replied that they are proposing to hang the banners for six weeks in the spring and six weeks in the fall (late September, October) so that the messages don’t get stale.
Deputy Mayor Sedon thanked Ms. Remis and Ms. Bamberg for their presentation. He stated that it was a great initiative.
Mayor Knudsen indicated that she totally supported this banner campaign. She felt that perhaps the Village Council should look into funding the banners, if possible. She thought it was a great idea to take the banners down and rotate them so that the messages don’t become stale. She stated that she was under the impression that there were more than 12 light poles with brackets or sleeves, because a dozen or more brackets were ordered in either 2016 or 2017 to display the Historic Central Business District banners and “Good Life Ridgewood” banners.
Ms. Bamberg indicated that she has visited the CBD numerous times over the past few weeks, specifically looking at the brackets for hanging baskets. She noticed a lot of light poles with brackets, but she didn’t count how many there were. Ms. Remis said that she did count the number of light poles with brackets, but perhaps did not count every one of them. They counted the ones which had the holiday banners on them at that time, but some may have been obscured by the snowflakes hanging during the holiday season. However, she mentioned that they don’t want the banners to be displayed every 10 feet or so, which would lead to them being ignored by pedestrians and drivers. It was agreed that it would be nice to have them on the west side of town as well. The committee will check with the Village Engineer or the Traffic and Signal Department to determine exactly how many light poles have the brackets.
There was a discussion about using foam boards. It was mentioned that Public Service Electric & Gas is very particular about what is hung on their poles. There was also a discussion as to how high up the banners would be hung so that visibility would not be an issue for either pedestrians or drivers. Ms. Remis replied that she has seen these banners in Westwood and Bradley Beach, and they are hung about five feet off the ground. They may be hung higher on the walk signal posts. Mayor Knudsen thought that the banners would need to be hung high enough so that they would not get lost in the “visual noise,” since there is a lot of signage in the CBD.
6. DISCUSSION
A. RIDGEWOOD WATER
1. AWARD CONTRACT – PRINTING OF PFAS PUBLIC NOTICES
Mr. Calbi announced that the first item regarded the awarding of contract for printing of PFAS public notices for Ridgewood Water. He indicated that Ridgewood Water is required to send quarterly public notices to all consumers regarding the PFAS drinking water contamination. Ridgewood Water received three quotations from local printers, and the lowest responsible bid was received from Ridgewood Press in Ridgewood, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $40,912.00 for the year 2022. This would entail the printing, folding and mail house delivery of four quarterly notices for 2022. Funding is accounted for in the Water Department Operating Budget.
Councilwoman Reynolds remarked about all of the people on social media “freaking out” about receiving such a notice, as though it were the first time they had ever heard about PFAS in the drinking water. She asked Mr. Calbi whether the PFAS presentations he gave before the Village Council a few weeks ago were posted on the Ridgewood Water website. Mr. Calbi replied that the presentations were not recorded, so they are not posted on their website. However, they are planning to possibly do another presentation, which will be recorded.
Councilwoman Reynolds replied that she thought it would be great to do so, so that the public can view the presentation(s) on the website and stay up to date on the latest developments, while at the same time alleviating their fears. Councilman Vagianos concurred with Councilwoman Reynolds. He felt that the public needs to be kept informed about the issues surrounding PFAS in the water, the measures being taken by Ridgewood Water to alleviate the issue, and the fact that this is not strictly a Ridgewood problem, but rather a worldwide problem.
Councilwoman Perron felt that Mr. Calbi speaking about the issue is what reassures people the most, and she suggested that he compose his own video. She mentioned an email from one resident who was not only upset about the PFAS issue, but also that he was having trouble getting through on the phone to Ridgewood Water. Mr. Calbi replied that the Ridgewood phone system is in the midst of being updated, the project is running a bit behind, and his phone system is failing, all of which may account for the trouble encountered by the resident in not being able to reach his office. He said that, hopefully, they are only days away from having the new system completely up and running.
Mayor Knudsen indicated that she and Mr. Calbi had a phone discussion with the same resident recently, and it seemed as though the resident’s fears were allayed. Mayor Knudsen feels that if more people were aware that PFAS is a worldwide issue, rather than just a Ridgewood issue, they would be more understanding of the “forever chemical” situation. Mr. Calbi mentioned that the first three presentations he gave on this matter were very well attended, with over 100 people at each session. Mayor Knudsen suggested putting up a slideshow on the Ridgewood Water website with short, succinct facts about the PFAS problem per slide.
2. AWARD YEAR TWO OF CONTRACT – COLD WATER METERS AND ACCESSORIES
Mr. Calbi indicated that this item pertains to the awarding of year two of a two-year contract for the provision of cold water meters and accessories for Ridgewood Water. Mr. Calbi is recommending the award of year two of the contract to Rio Supply, Inc., of Sicklerville, New Jersey, in the amount of $214,642.50. Funding for this contract is budgeted for in the Water Utility Operating Budget.
3. AWARD SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT – CORROSION INHIBITOR ESC 532
Mr. Calbi indicated that this item pertains to the awarding of a sole source contract award to ESC Environmental of Glenville, New York, to furnish corrosion control materials for use by Ridgewood Water, in an amount not to exceed $185,000.00 for the year 2022. The formula utilized is ESC 532, which is injected into the water stream prior to it entering the distribution system. The phosphates create a thin coating on the inside of plumbing materials, effectively preventing the corrosion of lead and copper into the water.
This corrosion control program has been mandated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Ridgewood Water utilizes poly-orthophosphate to control corrosion in the system. Since using the inhibitor ESC 532 at all of the active treatment facilities in 2016, they have seen lead and copper levels reduced significantly below NJDEP action levels. The last round of lead sampling resulted in non-detect levels.
ESC Environmental uses a unique blend of polyphosphates and orthophosphates that is developed and distributed solely through their company. Utilizing a consistent formula via the same blend is important for Ridgewood Water to maintain corrosion control. Varying treatment formulas can alter the system characteristics and void the protections afforded by the use of the current inhibitor. Funding for this purchase is budgeted in the Water Utility Operating Budget.
Councilman Vagianos asked Mr. Calbi to verify that the polyphosphates are safe, because they didn’t sound so natural. Mr. Calbi replied that all of these chemicals are NSF approved and that food-grade products are used.
4. REFUND OF OVERPAYMENT OF WATER ACCOUNT
Mr. Calbi stated that this next item pertains to the refund of an overpayment made on a customer’s water account. The customer, Wai Lun Chang, erroneously paid $1,763.17 to their water account on February 17, 2022. As a result, they have a credit balance of $1,649.95 (there was some money owed on the account). Mr. Calbi indicated that any refunds over $1,000.00 require approval by the Village Council.
B. PARKING
1. PARKING SPACES ON MAPLE AVENUE FOR NEW RIDGEWOOD WATER OFFICE
Mr. Calbi indicated that this item pertains to a request for changes to the Parking Ordinance. The new Ridgewood Water headquarters are under construction at 111 North Maple Avenue. Mr. Calbi requested Mr. Rutishauser to prepare an amendment to the Parking Ordinance dealing with three parking spaces located in front of the building on North Maple Avenue.
The proposed ordinance is presented for consideration by the Village Council. It will memorialize the proposed parking spaces and make the entrance driveway to the new headquarters from North Maple Avenue to the rear of the Library parking lot as a one-way drive aisle for Ridgewood Water vehicles only. Appropriate signage will be installed stating “Authorized Vehicles Only.” The new spaces will be marked “30 Minute Time Limit Parking” Monday to Friday, except holidays, between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. The time limit is recommended to preserve these spaces for customers who need to visit Ridgewood Water if they have a question or want to pay their bill in person.
When questioned by Councilwoman Reynolds, Mr. Calbi confirmed that one of those spaces will be for handicapped parking. Councilwoman Reynolds stated that a question arose at a Planning Board meeting regarding the width of Maple Avenue in front of the new Ridgewood Water headquarters versus the width of Maple Avenue in front of Village Hall. Mr. Calbi said that he does not know the dimensions, but the Village Engineer did perform measurements and confirmed that it would be safe to go ahead with the proposed ordinance.
Mr. Calbi said that he would have Mr. Rutishauser reconfirm the measurements and announce his findings to the Village Council at the next Work Session. There was discussion surrounding a picture presented by Mr. Calbi showing a tractor trailer parked in those parking spaces. Deputy Mayor Sedon indicated that if a tractor trailer could fit there, then an ordinary vehicle such as a car could park there with no problem and not block the roadway.
Mayor Knudsen asked if there would be signage by the three parking spaces that designate parking for Ridgewood Water only. Mr. Calbi said that the only signage by the parking spaces would designate the 30-minute time limits and days and hours when in force.
C. BUDGET
1. AWARD CONTRACT – ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES AND WATERFOWL MANAGEMENT THROUGH JUNE 30, 2022
This item deals with an award of contract for animal control services and waterfowl management. The Village entered into a two-year contract with TYCO Animal Control Services in June of 2020 and the current contract expires in June 2022. There is a recommendation by Dawn Cetrulo, Director of the Health Department, for a resolution to fund the remainder of the contract. The yearly charge is $31,800.00 ($26,800.00 for animal control services and $5,000.00 for waterfowl management).
2. AWARD CONTRACT – ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES AND WATERFOWL MANAGEMENT 2022-2024
This item pertains to the award of the same contract to TYCO Animal Control Services which will run from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024, at a yearly charge of $32,400.00, an increase of $50 per month from the original contract. The breakdown will be $27,400.00 for animal control and $5,000.00 for waterfowl management.
3. AWARD CONTRACT – HORTICULTURAL SUPPLIES
This item deals with an award of year two of a two-year contract for horticultural supplies for 2021 and 2022 for the Parks and Recreation Department and Project Pride to the sole responsible bidder, Site One Landscape Supply located in Mahwah, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $48,500.00. The original contract date is May 12, 2021. This would be allocated to the Parks Division Operating Budget, Horticultural Supplies, not to exceed $40,500.00, and Project Pride, not to exceed $8,000.00.
Councilwoman Reynolds mentioned that the budget shows that the sum of $16,000.00 would be awarded to Project Pride, instead of the $8,000.00 shown in the proposed resolution. This was confirmed by Mr. Rooney when she spoke with him. She stated that $8,000.00 will not be enough money to complete the planned projects. Mayor Knudsen indicated that this subject is on the agenda for the next meeting and the correct amount will be shown at that time. Mr. Rooney had indicated that he would speak with Ms. Bigos in the Parks Division to work out the amounts. Councilwoman Reynolds indicated that $13,000.00 would probably be enough to complete their projects. Mr. Calbi indicated that a corrected version of the proposed resolution had actually been submitted that day, but it was too late to be copied for this evening’s meeting. The corrected version indicates $35,500.00 for the Parks Division and $13,000.00 for Project Pride.
4. AWARD CONTRACT – ROAD RESURFACING AND REPAIRS
This items pertains to the award of a contract for road resurfacing and repairs on various Village Streets. The Village received bids on Friday, February 25, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. for the referenced project. There were 13 bids received, ranging from a low of $2,189,190.85 to a high of $3,191,185.30 (a spread of $1,001,994.50). The Village Engineer is recommending approval of the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, American Asphalt and Trucking, LLC, located in Newark, New Jersey with a quote of $2,189,190.85. There will be an initial partial award to the contractor of $2 million to start the paving work as soon as possible. Funding for this work is available in the 2022 Capital Budget.
Councilwoman Perron asked why there was such a spread in the bids received. Mr. Calbi replied that there was no specific reason, but he stated that it is quite common to see such a spread when there are a lot of bids received. Councilwoman Perron asked why it was beneficial to make a partial award to the contractor at this time. Mr. Calbi will consult with the Village Engineer about that; however, he stated that the Village Engineer reviews the work that he believes can be completed in 2022 and awards monies that he thinks will be utilized this year. It also is helpful to do it this way in case the contractor does not work out for any reason.
5. DECLARE SURPLUS – POLICE VEHICLES
This items deals with declaring police vehicles as surplus, as recommended by Sgt. John Chuck of the Ridgewood Police Department. Police cars #2 and #24 have been determined to not be needed anymore and are in need of repairs that exceed the value of the vehicles. Car #2 requires suspension work and rear end work, and car #14 needs transmission work, body work, and other general maintenance work. The Fleet Department has inspected the vehicles and agrees that they should not be repaired or rehabilitated. These vehicles will be turned over to Enterprise LLC and sold at public auction. Proceeds from the sale will be credited to the Ridgewood Police Department for the purchase of future vehicles.
6. ACCEPT GRANT – USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE – EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM GRANT
This item deals with accepting a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program to be used by the Village to assist in Streambank Stabilization and Debris Removal at specific locations along the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and Saddle River, resulting from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The Village of Ridgewood has been advised that it is eligible for this grant, due to the efforts of the Department of Public Works, Engineering Division.
The Federal grant amount is $201,960.00. There is a contributing amount required from the Village in the amount of $61,200.00. The proposed resolution is to authorize either the Village Manager and/or the Director of Public Works/Engineering Division to execute all necessary forms for obtaining this grant for the Village. This is the second time the Engineering Division has gotten such a grant to assist the Village, with the first time being in 2012 after Hurricane Irene.
Councilwoman Perron remarked that the proposed resolution was confusing, because in one area it indicates that the Village is eligible for the grant, yet elsewhere the wording seems to indicate that the Village has already been granted these monies. She also thought it was odd that the word “flooding” is never used, while the main purpose of removing debris seems to be to prevent flooding. However, she commended the Engineering Department for their energy and creativity in obtaining this grant to maintain the Village’s streams.
7. RELEASE OF PERFORMANCE SURETY BOND – THE BENJAMIN
This item pertains to the release of a Performance Surety Bond for The Benjamin development at 9-27 Franklin Avenue. This is a recommendation from the Village Engineer based on his review of their request and his determination that the work the bond covered has been satisfactorily completed.
D. OPERATIONS
1. PROPOSED ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT – 80 OAK STREET
This item deals with a proposed encroachment agreement for 80 Oak Street. The resident, Soo Young Lee, is seeking to repair a retaining wall along the front of his property. In going through the permit process, it was discovered that the wall is within the Village’s right-of-way of Oak Street. The resident wishes to maintain the wall and has submitted a request for an Encroachment Agreement relating to the wall’s placement. The encroachment into the Village’s right-of-way is minimal. Approval of this agreement is recommended by the Village Engineer.
Councilwoman Perron pointed out that nothing in the resolution or Encroachment Agreement quantifies the measurements of the current encroachment, other than describing it as “minor.” She said that there is reliance upon a survey done in 1994. She would like to see better language in these documents quantifying the scope of the encroachment. Councilwoman Reynolds concurred with Councilwoman Perron. Mr. Calbi remarked that the subject wall goes right up to the sidewalk and has been there for many years. He remarked that a new survey could be obtained with a metes and bounds description at the homeowner’s cost; however, he said that older surveys have been used in the past.
Councilwoman Perron said that she spoke with Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, and he felt that the survey would be adequate in this regard. Mayor Knudsen said that the homeowner wants to improve/fix the retaining wall and that it was a de minimus encroachment. She feels that the resolution and Encroachment Agreement should proceed. Many similar cases such as this have been considered and approved in the past by the Village Council. Mr. Calbi added that there is an indemnification/hold harmless clause in the Encroachment Agreement, which would protect the Village against any liability incurred during performance of the wall renovations.
7. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Rurik Halaby, 1 Franklin Avenue, stated that the dining corrals are a great attraction to the Village dining scene. The dining corrals will be gone in a few days and he described it as “another nail in the coffin” for the CBD. Regarding the brick-and-mortar merchants in the CBD, Mr. Halaby said that these businesses will not be strengthened by weakening the restaurants, which are now the main drivers of the vitality of the CBD.
Comparing Ridgewood to the healthy shopping environment in Westwood, Mr. Halaby feels that the only way to attract shoppers to the Village is to do something about the ridiculously high parking rates. He said the $1.25 per hour charge and the kiosks drive many people away. Westwood has parking meters and charges 25¢ per hour. He stated that people are attracted to Ridgewood because of the restaurants, and more visitors would come if the parking fees were reduced or eliminated altogether.
Mr. Halaby pointed out that there is no lack of parking spaces in the Village, particularly since the Parking Garage was constructed. He stated that when Mayor Knudsen was being interviewed by CBS, she made the comment that “the garage was built for commuters and employees, not shoppers.” He refuted this by stating that the garage was indeed built for shoppers as well as commuters and employees.
Regarding the budget meetings, Mr. Halaby stated that he did not attend the various budget meetings this year, but did attend them last year, at which time he felt like he was attending a lecture on Egyptian hieroglyphics. He said everything went “over his head” because he had no access to the documents which were being discussed amongst the Councilmembers. Mr. Halaby spoke about transparency and stated that Mr. Rooney should make a public presentation of the budget in terms that the public can understand. He compared the “transparency” of the Village government as “mud in an Iowa barnyard,” stating that there is no transparency whatsoever.
Regarding the Village website, Mr. Halaby said that Village officials should view the websites developed by Franklin Lakes, Westfield and Glen Rock.
Jeanne Johnson, 325 Mastin Place, wanted to speak further about making Ridgewood a safe walkable community. The engineers and city planners who are devising the Master Plan are recommending measures to reduce vehicular traffic in the CBD. Ms. Johnson wondered why Village officials are paying for these consultants if they do not plan to heed their advice. Pedestrian safety advocates know that it takes a significant behavioral shift to create a vibrant downtown. Much has been accomplished in the last two years through the efforts of a small group of committed residents.
Ms. Johnson feels that Village officials need to figure out ways of deterring motorists from the CBD so that residents and visitors can take advantage of the safer environment. Encouraging walking instead of driving is good for everyone’s personal health, for the environment, and for commerce. She spoke about one of the most expensive shopping districts in the world, which is in Paris, France. There, they are closing four lanes of roadway by the Champs-d’ Elysee and converting it to a pedestrian plaza.
Ms. Johnson stated that the dining corrals in the CBD are good for Ridgewood. She asked that the Village Council reconsider their decision to eliminate the dining corrals as of March 31, 2022 or, at the very least, arrive at some sort of compromise so that the traction gained is not lost. She feels that encouraging motorists to park in the Parking Garage will generate income to help pay for it.
Lillian Blood, 250 North Maple Avenue, said that she felt it was silly to limit public comments at the end of meetings to only five minutes, especially for those who waited for the entire meeting before being able to speak. She felt that it would be courteous to allow someone who is speaking an extra minute or two for them to finish their comments. In this way, the Village Council could better understand the residents’ wants and needs.
Regarding pickleball, Ms. Blood said that the players are enjoying their time at the courts and are looking forward to the new sound-absorbing barriers to be installed. She asked if the Village Council could reconsider which days the pickleball players would be allowed to play, since some days are sunny and some are rainy.
Councilwoman Perron mentioned that during budget meetings, the documents relating to the budget are “fluid” and constantly changing as discussions progress. She believes that this is one of the reasons why it is so difficult for the public to understand what is transpiring at the meetings. She does feel that it would be productive for Mr. Rooney to make a presentation and answer questions, not in a Village Council meeting setting, but in an informal question-and-answer session. She would like the Village Manager to consider that proposal. Councilwoman Perron said that she cannot require Mr. Rooney to hold such a question-and-answer session, but rather it is the responsibility of the Village Manager to direct him to do so.
Regarding the parking kiosks, Councilwoman Perron mentioned that there have been so many problems with them (the quarters won’t insert, no receipts are printed) and it happens frequently. Councilwoman Perron asked if the kiosks were still under warranty, since she feels that the manufacturer should have made a better product.
Mayor Knudsen said that she usually takes a picture of the kiosk when the quarter won’t go in and emails the photo to Ms. Mailander. However, she mentioned that there should be some tool that could be used by the Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs) to enable them to push the quarters into the slot on the kiosk. She and Councilwoman Perron stated that this happens to them all the time. She said that some people like to pay with quarters but, if the quarters can’t be inserted into the slot, then she didn’t feel that people should be obligated to pay with a credit card or debit card or use ParkMobile. She would like to troubleshoot this matter and see if there is some way this problem could be resolved. Councilwoman Perron remarked that she figured out that she has to wait a few seconds for the slot to open before the coins can be inserted.
With regard to the dining corrals, Councilwoman Perron stated that she agrees with Mr. Halaby who said that if the dining corrals are removed, this will weaken not only the restaurants, but also the business community as a whole. She mentioned another comment made this evening that there is presently a bill in the Senate which would extend outdoor dining throughout the State of New Jersey. Therefore, if the dining corrals are abolished, she feels that Ridgewood “will be left in the dust.” Ridgewood will not be the destination of diners anymore, and they will go to other towns which offer outdoor dining amenities. In turn, this will affect the amount of foot traffic seen in the CBD, which is needed by the retail businesses.
Mayor Knudsen replied that many retailers and landlords are contacting her saying that the dining corrals are hurting their businesses. She stated that this is a very complex issue since there are many dynamic components involved. Dining corrals benefit the restaurants, but they are hurting other non-food businesses (service and retail). She is not opposed to the dining corrals, but she understand the pleas of the other businesses who have indicated that their revenues have decreased by 40% to 50% due to the dining corrals. Mayor Knudsen fears that those businesses will close, resulting in mass vacancies in the CBD.
Councilman Vagianos, addressing Ms. Blood, indicated that he spoke with Nancy Bigos, Director of Parks and Recreation, and she stated that she has been following up with the vendor for the sound-absorbing panels which are to be installed at the pickleball courts. The anticipated date of delivery and installation is approximately by mid-May of 2022.
Regarding the budget presentation brought up by Mr. Halaby, Councilman Vagianos stated that he didn’t know that anyone was interested in the budget because there was literally no one in attendance at the first few budget meetings. However, at the final presentation of the budget by Mr. Rooney, there were approximately 50 to 60 residents in attendance. He indicated that if the Councilmembers saw a level of interest in the budget process, he would certainly want Mr. Rooney and Ms. Mailander to hold an “open forum” with the public since it deals with taxpayer money.
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Deputy Mayor Sedon, seconded by Mayor Knudsen, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Work Session was adjourned at 9:41 P.M.
Susan Knudsen
Mayor
Eileen Young
Deputy Village Clerk
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