20230322 - Village Council Public Work Session 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 22, 2023 AT 7:30 P.M.

 

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

 

Mayor Vagianos called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call the following were present: Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos. Also present were Eileen Young, Deputy Village Clerk; Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney; and Richard Calbi, Director of Ridgewood Water.

 

Mayor Vagianos led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. He reminded everyone to be respectful and passionate during public comments. He said that no one will agree on everything, but how people disagree determines how the Village is able to move forward as a community. He implored everyone to avoid the cancer of public discourse that has infected national politics in many communities across the country. Mayor Vagianos asked everyone to avoid name calling and personal attacks.

 

2.         COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, stated that she virtually attended the budget meeting last Wednesday during the first portion and then attended in person for the last portion of the meeting. She said that she remains completely dismayed that the Village Council majority, except for Councilmember Reynolds, is considering furloughs for Village employees. She said that it was even more disheartening hearing three of the Councilmembers (Councilmember Winograd was absent from the meeting last week) wring their hands and act so dramatically sad at the thought of furloughs, when this could easily be avoided. Last week’s budget discussions included the allocation of an additional $500,000.00 towards the development of the Schedler property, including the “shoe horning” of a huge field on a not-huge property.

 

Ms. Loving stated that the budget discussions also included spending $10,000.00 to hire a person originally thought to be lawyer; however, that person is not a lawyer and has a very shaky resume. The Village Council is considering hiring this person to aid in overturning the historical designation of the Schedler house and property, which would give the Village Council the freedom to smear the land with toxic artificial turf, stadium lights and bleachers. The budget discussions also included spending $60,000.00 for new garbage cans for the Central Business District (CBD), rather than repairing those that are damaged and using perfectly serviceable cans that are sitting in storage.

 

Ms. Loving stated that the Village Councilmembers were elected to be stewards of residents’ tax dollars and to manage the Village efficiently. She said that the Village Councilmembers are making a “big fat mess” out of the budget. Ms. Loving stated that the entire country is in a fiscal crisis, banks are closing, inflation is raging, and a war is looming as a real possibility, yet the Village Council wants to furlough Village employees. As Councilmember Reynolds has repeatedly pointed out, there are simple ways in which the employees’ salaries can be preserved, so that the Village can continue to function normally.

 

Ms. Loving asked the Village Council to stop the nonsense and put in a small field on the Schedler property that was originally agreed to by neighbors and other residents. Ms. Loving asked the Village Councilmembers not to hire a scheister to further their agenda. If a consultant needs to be hired, she said that the least the Councilmembers can do is to check the person’s background before hiring them. She said that the Village does not need designer trash receptacles and that the Village Council is driving the train completely off the tracks.

 

Ms. Loving said that the rule of only permitting 12 speakers during public comments at the beginning of Village Council meetings is very unfriendly. She said that people are forced to race to Village Hall so that they have an opportunity to speak. Ms. Loving also said that the Village Council is pitting neighbor against neighbor.

 

Chuck Handy, 695 Kingsbridge Lane, stated that he lives a block away from the Schedler property. He has five children, two of whom are now students at Ridgewood High School. He was President of the Maroon Soccer Club for five years and coached the Maroons for ten years. Mr. Handy also coached for the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association for eight years. During those years, it became apparent that the Village is in dire need of more full-sized playing fields and baseball diamonds. He said that the young athletes in Ridgewood need to be given every opportunity possible to play outdoors. When there is a rainstorm and the fields flood, Mr. Handy said that the large multipurpose field at Schedler will be one field upon which sports teams can rely, since the grade is high on this field and therefore will not flood.

 

Mr. Handy mentioned the new housing developments and the parking garage which have been constructed in the Village, and the fact that more and more people are being attracted to Ridgewood. He said that a couple of reasons for this attraction are the opportunities available for youth sports and the school system. He stated that he was thrilled when he learned that a moderate-sized field would be constructed on the Schedler property. However, when he learned that a full-sized field could also be constructed without having to remove any more trees, he was “all in.” He said that he was done worrying about whether there would be traffic or parking issues, and that he fully endorsed the construction of a full-sized field at the Schedler property. Mr. Handy said that he was confident the property would turn into “one heck of a complex.”

 

Jacqueline Hone, 30 Carriage Lane, said that the “Green Amendment” matter was on the agenda for this evening’s meeting. She stated that she wanted to comment on an email sent by Deputy Mayor Perron to Ms. Mailander with the subject line, “Green Amendment to New Jersey Constitution.” The amendment stated that every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, ecologically healthy habitats, and the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic qualities of the environment. The State shall not infringe upon these rights by action or inaction. The State’s public natural resources, among them its waters, air, flora, fauna, climate and public lands, are the common property of all the people, including both present and future generations. The State shall serve as trustees of these resources, and shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people.

 

Ms. Hone said that Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that once approved by the Legislature, the next step would be a referendum so that the voters could decide whether to add these basic rights to the New Jersey Constitution. Deputy Mayor Perron stated that the Village Council could support these important individual rights by passing the attached resolution dealing with the Green Amendment, in order to let State and County representatives know where Ridgewood stands.

 

Ms. Hone stated that through action and inaction, the present Village Council is stripping its own residents of their rights as outlined in the Green Amendement. She called this a “personal attack” and agreed with Mayor Vagianos’s comment that the Village Council can do better. Ms. Hone stated that a full-sized field would entail clear-cutting of the seven-acre Schedler parcel. She said that eradicating the trees would mean that the green tree-filled parcel would not be able to filter out light, noise, visual pollution, airborne particulants, gaseous pollutants or air toxins emitted by diesel trucks and cars traveling on Route 17. Ms. Hone stated that residents have repeatedly pleaded with the Village Council to follow through on recommendations from professionals and experts, as well as the Village’s own appointed Ad Hoc Committee, to complete independent expert impact studies, yet the Village Council has not done so.

 

Ms. Hone stated that residents near the Schedler property have been completely ignored time and time again, speaking without anyone listening. She said that she agrees that there is no reason for personal attacks, but she stated that the Schedler property development issue is pitting neighbor against neighbor. She asked that these residents be respected and given the same exact rights that are contained within the Green Amendment.

 

Al Sienkiewicz, 321 VanEmburgh Avenue, stated that she recently moved back to Ridgewood, after living in New York City for a while. She felt that Ridgewood is not lacking in athletic fields, having participated in many sports when she attended both middle school and high school in Ridgewood. Ms. Sienkiewicz said that building the smaller field at Schedler would in no way affect the athletes in Ridgewood or their ability to play. She said that she noted the lack of walking space and “nature grounds” on the east side of the Village.

 

Since Ms. Sienkiewicz is currently expecting a baby, she said that she would appreciate having a space where she could walk and a safe green space where her children could play in the future. She said that this now does not seem possible, considering the new proposed plans for the Schedler property, especially with the large turfed field. Ms. Sienkiewicz asked the Village Councilmembers to take the need for open space into consideration when deciding how to finally develop this property, not just for her, but also for other people looking to move into Ridgewood.

 

Michelle Italia, 3 Betty Court, said that she is a realtor and she wanted the Village Councilmembers to think about how their actions are going to impact the residents on the east side of the Village. She said that there are many questions asked of her by prospective homeowners in Ridgewood. They ask about nearby schools, whether the street they are planning to move to is a quiet street or if it is noisy, what services are provided by the town, and whether there are any nearby parks or accessible walking paths.

 

Depending upon the location of the property, Ms. Italia said that her answers will vary. She must be honest with her clients and, when asked about schools or parks on the east side of town, or whether the streets are quiet and safe near the Schedler property, she must tell them that there is no nearby school and their children will need to be bussed to school. Ms. Italia must also tell them that there are no nearby parks and that the adjacent streets may or may not be quiet and safe, depending upon what the Village Council decides to do with the Schedler property. She said that property values will be affected adversely if the Village Council decides to move ahead with the proposed larger field, which in turn will result in less property tax revenue to the Village due to reduced property values.

 

Dana Glazer, 61 Clinton Avenue, said that he was happy to see some Little League players in the audience this evening. When his daughter asks him what is going on with the Schedler property, he tells her that the Village Council made an agreement in 2017 with Village residents regarding a certain sized field that would be constructed on the property, and that these plans have now changed. When his daughter asked whether the Village Councilmembers had “squelched on the deal,” Mr. Glazer told her that they had. As a father, he said that his main goal is passing along values to his children. He feels that the actions taken by the Village Councilmembers regarding the Schedler property should teach important lessons to the children in Ridgewood. However, when they go back on their word to construct a smaller field and instead construct a larger field, this sends the wrong message to children.

 

Mr. Glazer said that even though he does not live on the east side of the Village, he still considers those who do live there as his neighbors. He strongly suggested that the Village Councilmembers look at the 2017 plans once again, which Mr. Glazer said were reasonable and agreed upon, and abide by the original plans.

 

Kristina Milian, 530 West Saddle River Road, stated that, regarding the misconception that the Schedler property is flood-proof, the Village Engineer has actually applied for flood insurance for the property, which she discovered after filing an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request, because the Schedler property is in a flood plain. Ms. Milian stated that she is in support of a small grass field at the historic Schedler property, which is optimized for speed and cost efficiency.

 

Ms. Milian stated that she wanted to read some headlines and ask some questions regarding Peter Primavera, who is the consultant the Village Council is thinking of hiring to assist with the Schedler property. The headlines included: “Highland Park Based Archaeologist is Charged for Giving False Testimony,” “Perjury Charge Against Archaeologist Almost Completed,” and “The Damage Has Been Done.” Ms. Milian quoted, in part, from one of these articles: “The public loses when the local government behaves as arrogant as it did in the case of a Highland Park consultant who filed false resumes with the state agency and later lied under oath about his credentials. The facts of the shoddy behavior are not in dispute. Primavera listed his credentials in sworn testimony before the New Brunswick Planning Board on a sensitive project and, in both his resumes and in sworn testimony, he claimed to have graduate degrees that he does not have. He claimed to have an archaeology and history degree from Rutgers University, and a Masters Degree in the same subjects from Columbia University. However, the truth is that he had a Bachelors Degree in anthropology from Rutgers University. As New Jersey’s historic structures fall before the bulldozer, the public needs to feel secure that archaeological consultants advising on what to save and what to destroy have the competency to know the difference and the background to support their opinions. Our heritage is too precious to trust to political expediency.”

 

Ms. Milian asked who first proposed to the Village Councilmembers that they should work with Peter Primavera and whether he was adequately vetted. She also asked what due diligence has been done on this matter to date, and what would be the mandate for the work to be done by Mr. Primavera. She stated that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) follows Federal guidelines, which state that any archaeologist or historian employed on a project that uses Federal funds must hold a graduate degree. She asked whether anyone has called the Registrar’s Office at Rutgers or Harvard University Graduate School of Design to verify that Mr. Primavera indeed had obtained these degrees. Ms. Milian stated that Mr. Primavera also claims to have earned a Ph.D. at Rutgers.

 

Ms. Milian asked if the Village Councilmembers had received written referrals from other municipalities regarding the quality of Mr. Primavera’s work. She also wondered how much it will cost taxpayers if Mr. Primavera is retained. She said that the Village does not have enough money to hire more police to keep Ridgewood safe and may have to furlough Village staff, yet the Village is considering hiring Mr. Primavera. Since Mr. Primavera is not an attorney, Ms. Milian asked where the Request for Proposal (RFP) was posted. She also asked how transparency was prioritized during this process. Ms. Milian recommended that the Village Council stop working with the George Santos of the historian world.

 

Cynthia O’Keefe, 542 West Saddle River Road, stated that the Pledge of Allegiance contains a phrase to the effect of “united we stand,” but the Village residents and Village Council have clearly not stood united over the last several months. Ms. O’Keefe said that most people want a small field on the Schedler property, but there is a faction of people who want a large turf field. She stated that she and her neighbors have spoken at numerous Village Council meetings regarding their concerns about safety that will affect the health and well-being of the neighbors surrounding the Schedler property. She said that certain actions, like the large field, will affect the livelihood of the neighbors, as well as their well water. Ms. O’Keefe said that artificial turf has been known to cause cancer and other ailments. They are concerned that PFAS will leach into their water supply.

 

Ms. O’Keefe said that she walks her dogs along West Saddle River Road and has almost been hit by a car many times, having to dodge cars exiting from Route 17 who are speeding and do not adhere to the speed limit of 25 miles per hour. In addition, when cars are parked on both sides of West Saddle River Road, only 11 feet remains in the middle of the road through which cars must pass in single file. She said that no firetrucks or EMS vehicles will be able to get through, in the event someone is hurt at Schedler Park or if her house is on fire. Ms. O’Keefe stated that their lives are in jeopardy and she wondered how this risk could be mitigated.

 

Ms. O’Keefe said she wanted to talk about review standards set forth by the State Historic preservation Office (SHPO) as they pertain to the Schedler property. Regarding public benefits, SHPO would consider whether or not feasible and prudent alternatives were explored and whether or not sufficient measures could be taken to avoid, reduce or mitigate encroachment. She asked how the large turf field would benefit the public. She stated that it is only serving one group of people in the Village. Ms. O’Keefe stated that the Village Councilmembers have received abundant emails and literature regarding the concerns of the Schedler neighbors. She stated that all of the trees have been razed at Schedler and there are none left.

 

Frettra DeSilva, 521 West Saddle River Road, stated that she is in support of a small grass field at Schedler. By adhering to the standards set forth by SHPO, the Village could complete the Schedler project in an efficient, timely, and cost-effective manner. She urged the Village Council to use the historic Zabriskie-Schedler house in a manner that would preserve the historic character of the house and land. She would like to see the Village Council celebrate America250 (the 250^th anniversary of the United States) by using this occasion as an opportunity to give an enormous gift to the future generations of Ridgewood. They need to know that the land near the Schedler property is where their forefathers fought and took a stand for this country. The U.S. Congress and Governor Murphy have allocated millions of dollars towards this celebration. Nonprofit and for-profit organizations have allocated funds for improvements to historic sites, similar to the Schedler property and house. In this way, children and families have an opportunity to learn of their past.

 

Ms. DeSilva envisioned the house as a center which would display artifacts and which would sponsor exhibits, lectures, crafts, and programs celebrating the history of the United States. This would not only be consistent with the character of the only 1820 Dutch frame home in Bergen County, but would also enhance the recognition of the great historic events which took place right here in Ridgewood. Grants from the Historic Preservation Fund, the American Battlefield Protection Program, the Technical Preservation Services, and others are specifically tailored for projects like the Schedler development. She urged the Village Council to consider these alternatives and opportunities for the proper use of this land and house.

 

Mike SanPhilippo, 706 Hillcrest Road, stated that he was speaking this evening with his son Jack. They have just returned from an 8U practice, which is an instructional league that teaches children ages six to eight years the fundamentals of baseball, such as pitching, batting, and catching. The practice was at Gains Sports Performance, a facility in Waldwick. Despite it being a bright and sunny day, the practice was held there indoors, because there were no fields available in Ridgewood. These children should have been playing outside on a field, rather than being cooped up in a facility with tight quarters.

 

Mr. SanPhilippo stated that he has a son who is on the 11U team and they wanted to have pitching practice because of an upcoming tournament; however, there were no fields available. They actually had a bullpen session at the house of one of the coaches. There is an intrasquad scrimmage with the 11U teams this coming Sunday on a field in Ridgewood. However, since there will likely be rain on Saturday, contingency plans are going to be made in the event the field floods in Ridgewood. They made alternate plans to play teams in Wyckoff on their turf field. Mr. SanPhilippo said that this was the time of year when youth athletes meet their teammates and start to practice. He has been coaching for four years and he said that there are a lot of fields in Ridgewood which are prone to flooding. He added that there are not enough turf fields, which would enable games to be played for longer periods of time throughout the year.

 

Kate Semeniak, 356 Devon Court, said that she was in favor of the construction of a turf field at the Schedler property. She feels fortunate to live in a town where her children can be outside playing sports. However, there are not enough fields in Ridgewood to support the youth in town and to provide fields to visiting teams from other towns when playing against Ridgewood teams. She is in charge of scheduling softball fields for the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA). She currently has 21 recreational softball teams (first through eighth grade) for which she needs to find available fields for practice and games. There are 80 girls who are on the travel softball teams who want to start practicing, but this is not possible because there are no fields that have officially been allotted to her yet.

 

Ms. Semeniak said that softball is on the lower end of the totem pole, and a turf softball field at the Schedler property would help these girls “get out there and play.” She said that she has no fields on which they can play right now. She pleaded with the Village Council to provide more weather-resistant turf fields to youth athletes, and stated that the Schedler property is the solution.

 

Suzanne Ruane, 705 Kingsbridge Lane, stated that she supports a small grass field at the Schedler property. She implored people to stop using their children as pawns in order to pull at heartstrings. Ms. Ruane said that she has heard people who live on the west side of the Village plead for a turf field at Schedler Park, yet they won’t entertain a turf field at Citizens Park. She stated that she disagreed with Mr. Handy’s statement that a full-sided field could be constructed on the Schedler property without removing any more trees. She said that many more trees would have to be removed if a large field were constructed, when compared to a smaller field.

 

Ms. Ruane wondered whether SHPO guidelines were followed, due to the fact that the Village has not explored feasible and prudent options where another field could be built in the Village, other than on the Schedler property. Although the Village Council has insisted that there is a need for more fields due to flooding, there has been no data presented demonstrating increased flooding over time, no data showing the Village Council’s review of current fields for alternative sites, and no data showing why a larger field is needed. There has been no data showing that building a large field on the Schedler property will remedy the lack of fields. She said that there are no fields in Ridgewood adjacent to a state highway or fields which are 50 feet away from a highway exit. No other field required the destruction of an historic property.

 

Ms. Ruane asked the Village Council to explore other areas where a large field could be built, stating that there are plenty of sites in Ridgewood where such a field could be built that are not in a flood zone. She asked the Councilmembers to abide by the standards of SHPO to preserve the historic nature of the property and that they pursue alternative locations and provide information to the public as to why those locations are not viable.

 

Ankit Dharia, 471 West Saddle River Road, said that he moved to Ridgewood with his family in the latter part of 2022. He lives across the street from the Schedler property. He asked if the Village Council could consider the original plans for the Schedler property which were developed in 2017. He said that with inflation on the rise and a recession possibly occurring in the near future, he said that the larger plans for the Schedler property will financially impact the entire Village. Mr. Dharia also asked whether studies could be performed to ensure that a larger field on the Schedler property will not adversely impact the families living in that neighborhood. These would include traffic studies, noise studies, and environmental studies. He said that it did not make any sense to develop a park where children cannot enjoy themselves.

 

Kathryn Schmidt, 123 South Irving Street, stated that she is glad the Village Council is considering the endorsement of the Green Amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution. She urged those Councilmembers who are also Council Liaisons to Village committees check with those committess on issues that come before the Village Council. She feels that the Schedler property is one of those issues and everyone could use as much information as they can get regarding this property. She said that she was surprised after speaking with some friends who are on the Historic Preservation Committee and Shade Tree Commission that they had not been asked by the Village Council what their opinions were regarding the Schedler property. Ms. Schmidt informed her friends that they could let the Village Council know what their opinions were, whether solicited or not. She urged everyone to contact these committees and others to find out their opinions regarding the Schedler project. This would include the Ridgewood Health Department, which has staff who may be able to offer valuable input.

 

Alyssa Matthews, 941 North Monroe Street, stated that she fully supported a small grass field at the Schedler property. She said that it would provide a huge benefit to the entire Village, allowing for a great combination of a field, playground, and walking paths for all to enjoy. She asked the Village Councilmembers to consider the small grass field, since this is the size that would fit best at that site.

 

Robert Koch, 60 North Hillside Place, said that he finds the credentials of the prospective consultant, Peter Primavera, alarming. He said that the Village Council should abide by Resolution 18-236.

 

Denise Lima, 319 East Glen Avenue, stated that she is interested in maintaining the historic Zabriskie-Schedler house and the property and not ”unwinding” it. She said that the Village has an opportunity to do something great in that area. Ms. Lima said that she was also interested in candidates upholding their pledges to voters. She is interested in lawyers upholding the Business Code of Conduct and Ethics and doing the right thing. She said she was also interested in transparency. Over the past five years, she has heard a lot of people asking for better transparency. Ms. Lima said that she believes in conversation and compromise. She said that the Village Council is not doing any of these things very well and that residents unfortunately feel like they are in the dark. She asked how the metrics are defined, and what the demand for a sport field actually is, regarding the Schedler development. Ms. Lima said that no one knows when this project will be completed. Without the facts, Ms. Lima wondered how anyone could make an informed decision.

 

Addressing Councilmember Winograd and Ms. Mailander, Ms. Lima asked when pertinent documents concerning the Schedler property would be posted on the Village website. Despite repeated requests, this still has not been accomplished. Although she has emailed on numerous occasions, she has yet to receive a response from the Councilmembers.

 

There were no further comments from the public. Mayor Vagianos thanked the Village IT team for seamlessly enabling better public outreach through hybrid access. He thanked everyone for voicing their opinions in a respectful fashion, especially on the contentious Schedler issue, which has generated strong feelings on both sides

 

3.         MANAGER’S REPORT

 

Richard Calbi, Director of Ridgewood Water, indicated that he would be giving the Village Manager’s report this evening in Ms. Mailander’s absence.

 

He stated that the next “Council Chat” is scheduled on Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. in the Village Hall Courtroom. Interested individuals must call to make a reservation at 201-670-5500, ext. 2207. Walk-ins are welcome, but priority will be given to those who have made an appointment.

 

The Ridgewood 2023 drive-through mobile shreadding event will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2023, starting at 9:00 A.M. and ending at 1:00 P.M., or when the truck is full. Early arrivals are not permitted. The event will be held in the Graydon Pool parking lot, 200 Northern Parkway, Ridgewood. Residents should stay in their vehicles, since no walk-ups will be allowed. Documents will be securely shredded by IDSAutoshred. Items for shredding should be placed in a paper bag or cardboard box only; no plastic bags will be allowed. There is a limit of five file-sized boxes per vehicle. This event is free to all Ridgewood residents and businesses only, and will take place rain or shine.

 

On Thursday, March 30, 2023, from 10:30 A.M. to 12:00 noon, in the Anne Zusy Youth Lounge at Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, there will be an in-person workshop sponsored by the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Ridgewood Health Department, and Parks and Recreation Department. The workshop will cover Covid-19 and dementia. Individuals can learn about caregiver tips and resources which can help with legal, medical and financial matters. Registration is required through CommunityPass, which can be found on the Village website at ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass, and also under the Village of Ridgewood Parks and Recreation page. Lunch will be provided. The Senior Bus will be available for transportation. Interested individuals should make reservations for the bus by calling 201-670-5500, extension 2203.

 

The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce will present “Easter in the Park” in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square on Saturday, April 8, 2023 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., weather permitting. There will be an Easter egg hunt from 11:00 A.M. to 11:15 A.M. The Easter Bunny will arrive at 11:15 P.M. for photos. There will be tables with games and activities, as well as “Chalk and Walk” in the front of the park and music by School of Rock from Waldwick. There will be lots of fun for children and families.

 

Village Hall will be closed on Friday, April 7, 2023 in observance of Good Friday. There will be no garbage or recycling pickups on that Friday, and the Recycling Center will be closed. Residents should consult the Village calendar for schedule changes.

 

Yardwaste collection will begin on Monday, April 10, 2023. Residents should check the Village calendar for their scheduled collection dates per area.

 

The Opening Day Parade for the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The parade will begin at 9:00 A.M. at the Ridgewood Train Station, will continue down Ridgewood Avenue to Maple Avenue, and will end at Veterans Field.

The Village’s Annual Earth Day Fair and Daffodil Festival will be held on Sunday, April 23, 2023 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. This family friendly event will feature a petting zoo, eco-friendly kids’ crafts, games, magician, and live music in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. This year’s theme is “Ridgewood’s Master Plan: A Vehicle for Change.” Topics covered will include flood remediation, green building, local health, our drinking water, new recycling concepts, and trees and native plants. Sponsorships and vendor spots are still available. Interested individuals should call the Parks and Recreation Department for further information.

 

Upcoming Village Council meetings are broadcast live from the Village Hall Courtroom, on the Village website, on FIOS Channel 34 and YouTube. Meetings can now be attended either in person or via Zoom or phone. On Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 7:30 P.M., the 2023 budget will be introduced. The next Public Meeting is scheduled for April 12, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. The next Village Council Work Session will be held on Monday, April 3, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. The April 3, 2023 meeting will be held on a Monday, due to Passover falling on Wednesday, April 5. There will also be a Work Session held on April 26, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. All meetings will have hybrid access.

 

Mr. Calbi indicated that the Village is currently experiencing some problems with its email server. The IT Department is diligently working to correct this problem, and they hope to restore email function by tomorrow, March 23, 2023. He asked that anyone who has sent an email and has not received a response to please be patient while this issue is rectified. Residents with emergencies should call Village Hall directly.

 

4.         COUNCIL REPORTS

 

Councilmember Winograd stated that on March 17, 2023, the Access Committee met and discussed several matters. There is a consistent need for employment for the special needs population in Ridgewood, and they discussed potential business ventures that are interested in coming to Ridgewood. The committee members feel that there should be more community awareness regard their committee and what they do. Next month, the Access Committee is going to be partnering with Home and School Associations (HSAs) through the Federated Home and School Association in an attempt to establish more outreach. Another business that employs members of the special needs community has been invited to attend an Access Committee meeting. Councilmember Winograd said that there was a field trip to the Rising Above Bakery in Nyack, New York, a company which employs special needs adults.

 

The 37^th Annual Ridgewood Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. at Westside Presbyterian Church.

 

Councilmember Weitz said that he had nothing new to report this week.

 

Councilmember Reynolds stated that the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) met on March 16, 2023. Normally, staff from the Engineering and Police Departments attend the CSAC meetings; however, they were unable to attend the March 16^th meeting. The CSAC members rely heavily on these staff members to speak about many safety issues in Ridgewood, so there was not much discussion regarding safety. However, they did discuss the budget for most of the meeting. The committee members were extremely upset that the funds to be allocated for the West and East Glen Avenue sidewalk construction were removed from the budget this year. Councilmember Reynolds said that the lack of sidewalks in this area create many safety issues. The next CSAC meeting will take place on April 20, 2023.

 

Councilmember Reynolds indicated that regarding the Project Pride Committee, the plantings for all the flower pots in the CBD is set for Sunday, May 21, 2023, starting at approximately 8:00 A.M. They are seeking as many volunteers as possible. Last year, there were a lot of volunteers and they were done in approximately two hours. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Councilmember Reynolds at lreynolds@ridgewoodnj.net.

 

Councilmember Reynolds indicated that she, Mayor Vagianos and former Mayor Susan Knudsen went down to Atlantic City today to attend the Municipal Clerks Association of New Jersey Conference, which Ms. Mailander attends every year and which is the reason why Ms. Mailander is absent from the meeting this evening. Unbeknownst to Ms. Mailander, she was chosen as Municipal Clerk of the Year by the association. This is a very prestigious award, and Ms. Mailander was selected to receive the award out of 565 Municipal Clerks. Councilmember Reynolds said that Ms. Mailander was surprised to receive the award and was also surprised to see Councilmember Reynolds, Mayor Vagianos, and former Mayor Knudsen at the conference.

 

Councilmember Reynolds stated that she was pleased to see many of the staff from the Signal Division present at this evening’s meeting.     

 

Deputy Mayor Perron stated that she was also pleased that Ms. Mailander was recognized for all of her hard work and wished that she had been able to attend the conference as well.

 

The Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) met recently and were questioning whether Chestnut Street and Oak Street would be paved before the start of the pedestrian plaza. She asked anyone who knows to inform her of same. Due to a recent accident on Franklin Avenue, the CBDAC members were questioning whether a blinking pedestrian crossing light could be installed at the corner of Chestnut Street and Franklin Avenue, similar to the one on Maple Avenue. The pedestrian tunnel art project is proceeding. There are 30 artists who applied to design the mural. A jury of volunteers reviewed all of the applications and chose some top contenders. Letters will be going out soon.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that 201 Magazine gave out their Best of Bergen Awards this month, and Ridgewood was voted as the Best Downtown in Bergen County. The next CBDAC in-person meeting is scheduled on April 13, 2023 at 8:30 A.M. in the Senior Lounge on the first floor of Village Hall. There will be a presentation regarding the five-year strategic plan developed by the Chamber of Commerce.

 

The Shade Tree Commission met recently and Deputy Mayor Perron sat in as Council Liaison in Councilmember Winograd’s absence. They reviewed financials given to them by Robert Rooney, CFO. They were happy to see that $169,000.00 was left over in the Capital Budget and hoped that these funds can be used to plant more trees this year. They also spent a lot of time revising the bylaws for the Shade Tree Commission.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that the Planning Board did not meet this week, but the subcommittee charged with implementing the Master Plan did meet. One of the recommendations or action items in the Master Plan for the CBD is that merchants should arrange for events during the day and during the week, in order to entice more people to visit the CBD. WorldFlats is going to be holding a series of “Lunch and Learn” programs. Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that she attended a Lunch and Learn activity this week, where she learned about plant-based protein and healthy eating. Deputy Mayor Perron will be speaking on April 18, 2023 at the Lunch and Learn at WorldFlats on ways to protect waterways.

 

The Open Space Committee met and they discussed what could be implemented from the Open Space Plan, which is part of the new Master Plan. They discussed what items should be prioritized. A table for Open Space will be at the Daffodil Festival and Earth Day Fair scheduled on April 23, 2023. Green Ridgewood is gearing up for this festive family-friendly event. There will be music and exhibitors, as well as a petting zoo and Cahoots contest, with prizes for the winner.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron said that she wanted to respond to some comments made regarding the consultant, Peter Primavera, whom the Village Council is considering hiring to consult them on matters related to the historic status designation of the Schedler house and property. She said that a resident sent an article to the Councilmembers from 1987 about an investigation regarding Mr. Primavera for perjury. Deputy Mayor Perron said that she has not been able to find any criminal complaint or indictment, and she stated that an “investigation” is merely an investigation. She did not find any civil action against Mr. Primavera, either. She said that everyone is presumed innocent until found guilty. She said that if anyone has evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Mr. Primavera, she urged them to send it to the Village Councilmembers. She assured everyone that whatever is sent to them will be read. She said that the evidence cannot be just a rumor or a smear. She said that calling someone a scheister is bordering on defamation.

 

Mayor Vagianos stated that he has no reports. However, he stated that today was the first day of Ramadan and he wanted to wish “Ramadan Mubarak” to all people observing the Muslim holiday. There will be an ifṭār this Saturday, March 24, 2023 at the Youth Center at 7:30 P.M. All are invited and amazing food will be served.

 

Mayor Vagianos recognized that Village staff is present at the meeting this evening regarding the planned furloughs. He assured them that the Village Councilmembers are still looking at the budget and that the budget is not yet final, including the furloughs. He said that they are trying to find the right balance between how much taxes can reasonably be raised and balancing the budget. He said that if any of the Village staff wished to make comments, they were welcome to do so during the public comments portion at the end of the meeting.

 

Mayor Vagianos remarked how wonderful it was to surprise Ms. Mailander, along with Councilmember Reynolds and former Mayor Susan Knudsen, when she won the prestigious award of Municipal Clerk of the Year in Atlantic City. She was selected for this award by over 500 of her colleagues. Mayor Vagianos said that over the past 27 years, he has seen many Mayors and Village Managers come and go, but that there has been only one Village Clerk for more than three decades. He said that the Village is very fortunate to have Ms. Mailander serve in this capacity and he hopes that the Village will be fortunate to have her in the future.

 

5.         DISCUSSION

 

A.        RIDGEWOOD WATER

 

1.         SMART CONTROLLERS

 

Mr. Calbi said that he was following up after the Public Hearing on March 8, 2023, which moved final approval of the ordinance until April 12, 2023, until a Public Hearing could be completed. He said that Ms. Mailander forwarded him some questions regarding Ordinance 3940, which he will try to answer this evening.

 

Mr. Calbi said that he wanted to give an update on Smart Controller data. He could not provide this information beforehand because the 2022 billing had not yet been closed out. Through the end of 2022, a total of 398 permits had been issued for Smart Controllers throughout the four municipalities (Ridgewood, Midland Park, Wyckoff and Glen Rock) served by Ridgewood Water. This represents approximately 2% of the total accounts. Of these accounts, 326 permits were approved through the end of 2021. Mr. Calbi focused on these accounts, since he could track full usage through the end of 2022. Comparisons cannot be made with permits issued in 2022 until the end of 2023.

 

Mr. Calbi stated that out of those 326 accounts, 178 remained as the same owner, which is important because the permit and usage data is recorded by owner rather than by property. A comparison was performed and he found that it was about a 50/50 split: 87 accounts or 49% of the total 178 accounts reviewed reduced their water usage upwards of 33%; 91 accounts or 51% increased their usage upwards, as high as 76%. The average decrease was 28%, and the average increase was 54%. The count breakdown is primarily in Ridgewood, with 152 in Ridgewood, 12 in Glen Rock, 12 in Wyckoff, and 2 in Midland Park.

 

Regarding Ordinance 3940, Mr. Calbi said that some questions had arisen specifically about why Smart Controller use is not limited the same as other watering methods. Mr. Calbi stated that the Smart Controller ordinance was initially created in 2017 and was modeled after the Outdoor Landscape Water Conservation Ordinance prepared by Sustainable Jersey. In that model, they restricted watering to two days per week and allowed exemptions for Smart Controllers. Smart Controllers are not restricted on any day of the week, and they are currently allowed to be used between midnight and 10:00 A.M. on any day. The reason for no restrictions is that there is reliance upon the automatic weather control features of the device. The model is also promoted by the NJDEP and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Mr. Calbi stated that the EPA’s Water Sense products are labeled and defined, and those are the only ones accepted by Ridgewood Water.

 

Mr. Calbi stated that placards are given to residents with Smart Controller permits, which should be displayed prominently. However, he stated that it was not necessary for employees of Ridgewood Water to be able to view these placards when they are doing enforcement. They maintain an updated list of all residents who have a Smart Controller permit.

 

Mr. Calbi said that the proposed revised ordinance presented this evening restricts Smart Controllers to make them consistent timewise with all other irrigation methods. The midnight to 10:00 A.M. allowance was removed and replaced with 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. restriction. This will put Smart Controllers in line with all other inground irrigation, except for the number of days watering is permitted. It had been recommended that the amount of days Smart Controllers can be used be reduced to four days per week. However, Mr. Calbi said that he did not recommend doing so at this time, because it was against the New Jersey model. He said that there are other municipalities that have adopted the model. The three models referenced on the Sustainable Jersey site do not restrict days on which Smart Controllers may be used and allow watering between midnight and 10:00 A.M. He recommends that the ordinance be adopted as written. If the need arises to further restrict watering, Mr. Calbi said that additional restrictions can be implemented later in the year, such as was done last summer.

 

Councilmember Reynolds said that she was glad that the hours would be changed to 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. for Smart Controller usage, but she still could not understand how he would detect violators. If Smart Controllers were only allowed to be used during the times when other irrigation methods could be used, she felt that enforcement would be easier. She asked Mr. Calbi if his staff checks the address of every house where they see lawns being watered on restricted days or during restricted hours. Mr. Calbi replied that his staff targets neighborhoods based upon the days watering is permitted. Now that the Smart Controllers are within the same timeframe, his staff can check for lawns being watered before 3:00 A.M. or after 7:00 P.M.

 

Councilmember Reynolds indicated that she would like to revisit this matter, perhaps mid-year. If only 50% of customers are compliant, then she would like the ordinance to be amended to restrict the use of Smart Controllers during the same times as those without Smart Controllers. Mr. Calbi said that he could certainly report back in a few months with more updated information.

 

Mayor Vagianos wanted to confirm with Mr. Calbi that the use of Smart Controllers are encouraged by the NJDEP and USEPA, because they save water, but that there are a handful of people who are not complaint. Mr. Calbi confirmed that 51% of the accounts would appear to be misusing the Smart Controllers, representing 91 out of 178 accounts, based on the latest data. When questioned by Mayor Vagianos, Mr. Calbi stated that more people should be encouraged to use Smart Controllers.

 

Councilmember Winograd stated that a notification was sent out regarding a pause placed on the issuance of new permits and recertifications until the ordinance amendment is adopted. She wondered if the public would be notified once the ordinance is finally adopted. Mr. Calbi replied that the public would be notified once the ordinance amendment is adopted.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron said that she found the ordinance hard to understand, because it doesn’t specify what days are permissible for Smart Controllers to operate. She asked whether the days could be specified in the ordinance itself. Mr. Calbi said that the days could be inserted if Deputy Mayor Perron wanted to restrict the days for Smart Controller use. The device is “tuned into” the weather, and some even detect the moisture of the soil if equipped with a soil probe. They can be programmed according to how much shade or direct sunlight certain areas of a lawn receive. Based on all of this information and the weather pattern, the computer inside the controller determines whether it needs to operate or not. Mr. Calbi said that if the device knows it is going to rain on a Tuesday, the device will not turn on Saturday or Sunday. However, if it has not rained for a week, the device will know that it needs to turn on to provide the water that the lawn needs.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron stated that the ordinance indicates that Smart Controllers are allowed to be used on permissible days. She wondered what the permissible days are for these devices. Mr. Calbi said that he thinks this is probably a typographical error and the wording could be stricken from the ordinance.

 

2.         NEW JERSEY INFRASTRUCTURE BANK SHORT-TERM FINANCING

 

Mr. Calbi indicated that this is a resolution for the I-Bank funding for PFAS remediation for the drinking water. This resolution is required to close the short-term loan by the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. This was part of the $42 million long-term funding ordinance that was approved by the Village Council in February 2023. The I-Bank requires that the short-term financing (notes utilized to fund the project) be closed, so that they can give permission to Ridgewood Water to go out to bid. The resolution summarizes the process and gives the approval necessary to proceed.

 

            B.        BUDGET

 

1.         AWARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES – FINAL DESIGN PHASE – SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT

 

Mr. Calbi explained that this item pertains to the awarding of professional final design services regarding the Safe Routes to School Grant. This design work is part of the final design authorization and modification #1 to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) grant received on January 31, 2023. Mr. Calbi indicated that NV5 is the consultant for professional services, located in Parsippany, New Jersey. The amount for the final design services is $141,756.20. This grant is for the design of sidewalk and street improvements in neighborhoods where children walk to Village schools, so that they remain safe. Mr. Calbi indicated that he spoke with Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, today and he said that it was urgent for this resolution to be passed at the next Public Meeting. Otherwise, this funding could be in jeopardy of being withdrawn.

 

                        2.         AWARD CONTRACT – ROAD RESURFACING AND REPAIRS

 

Mr. Calbi indicated that this item pertains to 2020 road resurfacing and repairs of various Village streets. In February 2020, the Village received nine bids for these services. The bids ranged from a low of $2,538,450.91 to a high of $3,242,760.60. The low bidder was American Asphalt and Milling Services, LLC, of Kearny, New Jersey, and at that time they were awarded a partial award in the amount of $2,496,000.00. The NJDOT will not release the grant award monies unless the Village awards the total amount bid. This work has been completed, and the purpose of this resolution is to enable the Village to receive the Municipal Aid Program grant funds. Mr. Rutishauser has requested that this resolution be given priority so that the Village can receive these funds. This resolution does not authorize any further work.

 

3.         AWARD CONTRACT – IRRIGATION SYSTEM SERVICES

 

Mr. Calbi indicated that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract for irrigation system services for the Department of Parks and Recreation. The bid opening was held on February 15, 2023 and the Village received one bid from a registered plan holder, Sprinkler Guy Irrigation of Ridgewood, New Jersey. The bid was structured to obtain unit prices for various components of the irrigation systems throughout the Village parklands and municipal properties. It is recommended that this contract be awarded to Sprinkler Guy Irrigation, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $18,000.00. Funding is contained in the Parks and Recreation Operating Budget.

 

4.         AWARD CONTRACT – HORTICULTURE SUPPLIES FOR THE YEARS 2023 AND 2024

 

Mr. Calbi stated that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract for the purchase of horticulture supplies for the years 2023 and 2024. The bid opened on February 15, 2023. One bid was received from SiteOne Landscape Supply, a registered plan holder of Mahwah, New Jersey. It is recommended that this contract be awarded to SiteOne Landscape Supply in an amount not to exceed $35,500.00, plus an additional $13,000.00 for Project Pride. These are unit price items for various landscaping and horticultural supplies for maintenance of Village parks and properties for 2023 and 2024. Funding is contained in the Parks and Recreation Operating Budget.

 

5.         AWARD CONTRACT – EMERGENCY ESCAPE STAIRS – STREETS DIVISION

 

Mr. Calbi explained that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract for the purchase of an emergency escape stairway for the Streets Division located at 220 Chestnut Street. On September 7, 2023, the Department of Public Works Streets Division had an inspection by the Village’s Fire Prevention Officers and a Notice of Violations and Order to Correct was received. They were cited for not having a means of egress from the rear exit of the building. The doors  that currently go out the rear of the building deadend at the railroad embankment, making for unsafe egress. The Village needs to provide an additional means of escape for the second floor at that location. Quotes were solicited by the Signal Division for the installation of a steel staircase down to the parking lot. It is recommended that the contract be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, Superior Steel Solutions of Ringwood, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $29,043.43. Funding is contained in the existing Capital Budget.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron asked Mr. Calbi if a simpler fire escape would do the same job. Mr. Calbi said that a fire escape would not suffice, due to the terrain at this location. The stairway would not be attached to the building, but would instead come down the side of the embankment into the parking lot, by the retaining wall.

 

            C.        POLICY

 

1.         GREEN AMENDMENT TO NEW JERSEY STATE CONSTITUTION

 

Mr. Calbi indicated that there has been a request by Deputy Mayor Perron that the Village adopt a resolution in support of the proposed Green Amendment to the New Jersey Constitution.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that there are currently two bills to pass the Green Amendment pending in the New Jersey Assembly and Senate, with bipartisan support. If it is passed, then the next step would be a referendum so that New Jersey voters can decide whether to add this basic right to the Bill of Rights in the New Jersey Constitution. Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that citizens have the right to free speech, religion, and to bear arms, so this amendment would give citizens the right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and ecologically healthy habitats, and would ensure preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic qualities of the environment.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron said that the passage of this resolution does not ensure that the two bills will be passed, but will show that Ridgewood supports this legislation. New York, Montana and Pennsylvania have already added the Green Amendment to their State Constitutions.

 

Councilmember Reynolds said that she was in favor of the Green Amendment and feels that Ridgewood should support this legislation. However, she stated that she feels it is completely contradictory to what the Village plans to do at the Schedler property. She stated that the State shall not infringe upon these rights (enumerated above) by action or inaction. Councilmember Reynolds stated that the Village is going to infringe on everyone’s rights to a clean and healthy environment, if the larger field is constructed on the Schedler property and a large number of trees are removed. She said that through these actions, the flora and fauna will be disturbed and the neighbors’ well water supply will be adversely affected. She stated that supporting this amendment seems hypocritical.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron said that she was unaware of any directive that tells local government “thou shalt not place a turf field” in a particular area. She does not know of any law or other type of restriction that tells the Village Councilmembers that they cannot construct a field of a given size on the Schedler property.

 

Councilmember Reynolds said that this was not the point and that it was about disturbing what is already there (on the Schedler property). She said the trees are already there, some of which are hundreds of years old, and the trees should not be disturbed. The habitats of animals, flora and fauna are all there. She felt that the Village should not be disturbing those areas and possibly harming people’s drinking water. Councilmember Reynolds said it would be different if there were nothing on the land, but there are beautiful trees already existing on the land.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron said that the cases that have come about as a result of the Green Amendment in other states have been cases where a developer wants to plant too close to a riparian area, a regulation already exists which sets forth a certain setback from the riparian area, and the governing body decides to waive that regulation. Another instance would involve fracking, such as when an industry wants to engage in fracking, there are restrictions pertaining to that activity, and a waiver is granted by the government. Another instance would be gold mining in Montana.

 

Councilmember Reynolds said that after reading the Green Amendment, it appears to her that the Village will be harming the Schedler area in direct contradiction to the purpose of the Green Amendment.

 

Councilmember Weitz said that he does not see a contradiction. He said that if the Village had not purchased this property in 2009, the land would have been privately developed. The fact that there is not a strip mall on this land today is testament to the fact that the Village did the right thing in purchasing the property so that it wouldn’t be developed by a contractor. He said that if the Village had not purchased this property, there would be a 7-11 on it right now. He said that the actions of the Village in purchasing the land was in the spirit of the Green Amendment.

 

Councilmember Winograd said that the League of Women Voters has been a big proponent of the Green Amendment and, therefore, she fully supports it. She stated that before she and Councilmember Weitz were elected to the Village Council, a good portion of the trees on the Schedler property had already been clearcut. She said that, aside from the field, trees will still have to be removed to construct the walking path, playground and parking lot.

 

Mayor Vagianos thanked Deputy Mayor Perron for bringing the Green Amendment to the attention of the Village Council. He asked Mr. Rooney and Deputy Mayor Perron about any possible litigation that the Green Amendment could “spawn” regarding the Schedler property or other property in the Village.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron said that she was concerned about damages and lawsuits resulting from the Green Amendment to the New Jersey Constitution, which could result in bankrupting local government. However, it was explained to her that, just like other rights contained in the Bill of Rights, any complainant would get equitable relief or injunctive relief, sending a message to the governing body that they need to take certain actions. Mayor Vagianos asked Deputy Mayor Perron to explain what “equitable” and “injunctive” relief mean. Deputy Mayor Perron explained that equitable or injunctive relief is a directive to do something or not to do something and does not result in money damages.

 

Mayor Vagianos gave an example of when a municipality puts something into a local stream that is harmful, and there would be an injunction to stop that municipality from continuing their actions. He stated that he personally supports the Green Amendment and has no reservations in doing so. There was a consensus that they would move forward with supporting the Green Amendment.

  

2.         AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF DEED NOTICE – HUDSON STREET GARAGE

 

Mr. Calbi explained that this item pertains to the authorization of a Deed Notice for the Hudson Street Garage. During construction of the garage, the Village remediated soil that was found to be contaminated. Certain areas of the property contained contaminants in concentrations that would restrict the usage on the property, such as the construction of residential buildings or a daycare facility. It is recommended by the Village Engineer, and required by the NJDEP and the Village’s environmental consultant, First Environment, to place a deed restriction on the property. This resolution authorizes the Village Manager and Mayor to execute the Deed Notice.

 

3.         ACCEPT DONATION – SPORTS FIELDS UPGRADES - RBSA

 

Mr. Calbi explained that this item pertains to a resolution to accept donations from the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA). There are two donations. The first donation is the purchase and installation of protective padding to cover the fencing and backstop of the 60’x 90’ baseball diamond at Veterans Field, at a cost of $7,934.82. The second donation is the repair of pitching mounds at various fields throughout the Village, including the baseball diamond at Veterans Field, Lower Hawes, Habernickel, and Citizens Park. This includes filling holes at pitching mounds, home plate and alignment of pitching rubbers. The price for this outside contracted work is $3,750.00. The total amount of both donations is $11,684.82.

 

Mayor Vagianos thanked the RBSA for their generous donations.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron asked Mr. Calbi about the Spring Street well house, and Mr. Calbi indicated that item had been taken off of the agenda. It will be placed on next week’s agenda. It was pulled so that an additional site could be added.

 

6.         PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Diane Vazza and John Vazza, 109 West Ridgewood Avenue, stated they wanted to speak about Smart Controllers. Ms. Vazza stated that there are approximately 326 residents, including her and her husband, who purchased thousands of dollars worth of Smart Controllers. They also spent tens of thousands of dollars for landscaping, assuming that they would be able to use their Smart Controllers to maintain their landscaping. They have to get recertified every year. She said that if the Village was going to “accept the science” offered by the USEPA and NJDEP, the use of Smart Controllers should be encouraged rather than discouraged. In addition, Ms. Vazza stated that she did not understand the validity of a year-by-year analysis. Some people have three zones and some people have 13 zones, so she does not understand how comparisons can possibly be made regarding water usage on these disparate properties.

 

Mr. Vazza added that there are residents with large yards who have invested thousands upon thousands of dollars in landscaping, with the understanding that the Smart Controllers would help the homeowners maintain that landscaping, yet all of a sudden the homeowners are being told that they cannot use their Smart Controllers to their full capacity. Mr. Vazza stated that such residents are being placed in the same category of residents without Smart Controllers, residents who haven’t spend thousands of dollars on landscaping. Mr. Vazza said that the Village should encourage the use of Smart Controllers by not equating the residents with Smart Controllers to those without Smart Controllers. He said that if water conservation is truly the Village’s main concern, they should focus on properties that exhibit large water usage. Pool evaporation accounts for 600 gallons per week. The Village should concentrate on people who fill their pools every year, which uses up tens of thousands of gallons of water.

 

Jacqueline Hone, 30 Carriage Lane, stated that Mayor Vagianos spoke at the beginning of the meeting about respecting each other and not personally attacking anyone. Ms. Hone said that she agreed with such tenets and that the Village Council should start leading by example. She said that she was very taken aback by Deputy Mayor Perron’s response to a resident who called someone a sheister, saying that it bordered on defamation. She said that Deputy Mayor Perron was basically calling the resident who made the remark a liar, and that she was putting the burden of proof on residents to vet the prospective consultant.

 

Ms. Hone stated that this same resident asked what vetting process had been undertaken by the Village Council with regard to the hiring of a consultant to assist with the Schedler property. Ms. Hone stated that a simple Google search reveals that the prospective consultant has quite a record. She said that if the Village Councilmembers had done their due diligence by performing a simple Google search, they would have discovered that Peter Primavera actually admitted to lying by saying things he should not have said and stating that he had earned degrees when, in fact, he had not. Ms. Hone said that she hoped this resident will forward their information to the Village Councilmembers, although she did not feel that Village residents should be doing the “homework” of the Village.

 

Ms. Hone stated that she attended the Shade Tree Commission meeting that was mentioned earlier this evening. She said that she was very alarmed for several reasons. The budget was discussed during the meeting. Someone from the Parks and Recreation Department was also at the meeting, who stated that there was not enough manpower to take care of all of the parks, fields and trees in Ridgewood. While there are funds in the 2023 budget for new tree plantings, there are not enough employees to perform the work. In addition, there is not enough manpower to even water the existing trees, since there will be only two people in the Parks and Recreation Department to perform all of the work.

 

Ms. Hone stated that the trees built on the berm at the Schedler property are not being properly watered. This evening she noted that there is a contract awarded for irrigation system services. She said that during the Shade Tree Commission meeting, there was talk about budget cuts and furloughs, yet money was allocated to award contracts in other areas. She stated that there was money in the budget to outsource the watering of the trees to other people; however, she would prefer to see the work done inhouse. Ms. Hone said that a lot of money was spent on equipment, training and supplies, and there are a lot of loyal staff members in the Village. She stated that she would rather see these employees be taken care of first, rather than awarding contracts to outside independent contractors to do the work that Village employees can adequately perform.

 

Ms. Hone said that during the Shade Tree Commission meeting, there was a lot of talk about hiring outside vendors to plant and water Village trees. She mentioned a comment by Deputy Mayor Perron that she wasn’t sure whether a full garbage pickup schedule would be feasible this year. Therefore, she said that she was confused why the Village Council was considering the hiring of an outside historic preservation consultant for the Schedler property in the first place, let alone one who seems to have a very questionable past. Ms. Hone also wondered why the Village is building such a large park in stark contradiction to the Green Amendment. She urged the Village Council not to do any furloughs of Village employees.

 

Kristina Milian, 530 West Saddle River Road, said that she has been engaged in policy and crisis communications for almost 20 years. She said that when an executive misspeaks or makes a mistake, it is ill-advised for that person to “double down” on that. She is shocked that instead of the Village Council properly vetting someone who may possibly be working with the Village, and someone who could possibly ruin the reputation and integrity of the Village, the burden of proof is being placed on Village residents.

 

Ms. Milian stated that each week, she and others make public comments and ask questions, in addition to emailing those questions to Village Councilmembers, yet no answers are ever received. She stated that she does not understand why the Village would consider hiring anyone who admitted that he perjured himself. In addition, members of the Crossroads of the American Revolution, which is a credible organization, have written to the Village Council with their concerns and have not received a response. Ms. Milian suggested that perhaps the Village Councilmembers could locate a credible historic preservation consultant through that organization or similar organizations. The New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, another credible organization, has also written to the Village Council and have not received a reply. Another organization would be America250, a commission set up by Congress to help with historical tourism. She said that she was confident they would be able to refer someone to the Village without a shoddy past.

 

Joseph DeMarco, 572 West Saddle River Road, stated that he supports the development of a park, including a small grass field, children’s playground, and passive area, including walking paths. He stated that he spoke before the Village Council two weeks ago about his concerns regarding the construction of a full-sized artificial turf field, including the higher rate of non-contact injuries and concussions.

 

Dr. DeMarco said that he wanted to call their attention to another issue which has come to light regarding turf fields. He said that, recently, residents have become very familiar with the term “PFAS” due to large concentrations of PFAS in the Village’s drinking water. These same forever chemicals are the basis for artificial turf, in order to make artificial turf grass blades flexible. The Environmental Responsibility and Ecological Center tested eight different turf samples in 2019, and all tested positive for PFAS. Dr. DeMarco said that these artificial turf fields are far from indestructible, however. The International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities stated that mechanical wear from games causes tiny particles in blades of artificial grass to break off, amounting to over 600 pounds per year of PFAS-laden microparticles to be lofted into the air and eventually washed away into adjacent soil, rivers, storm drains, and in relation to the Schedler property, potentially into adjacent neighbors’ private water wells.

 

Dr. DeMarco stated that in 2021, the town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, contracted a company to install a PFAS-free field at the astronomical cost of $1.6 million. Despite this, the tested turf had a whopping 135 parts per trillion of PFAS, well above even the antiquated 2016 safety level for PFAS in drinking water established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), which was 70 parts per trillion. The tested turf in Portsmouth had double the allowable limit set by the USEPA and 70 times the new acceptable limits of 2 to 4 parts per trillion.

 

Dr. DeMarco said that there has been a lot of discussion about the acquisition of additional funding for a turf field. He wondered whether the Village Council had done its due diligence to research artificial turf. He asked how the Village Council would ensure that the turf field does not contain these harmful chemicals. The components used for artificial turf fields are highly variable and could include other harmful chemicals such as heavy metals, benzine, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and other carcinogens that can affect the long-term health of children.

 

Dr. DeMarco said that socially responsible governments like the city of Boston, Massachusetts, have already banned the development of any new artificial turf fields. He asked all Village Councilmembers to be as forward thinking as Boston’s mayor and not install another artificial turf field in Ridgewood. He stated that Mayor Vagianos has publicly stated that Ridgewood is “well ahead of the national curve” regarding the elimination of PFAS from the drinking water. Dr. DeMarco asked Mayor Vagianos to apply the same sense of urgency regarding turf fields and be ahead of the curve to protect children from irreversible harm.

 

Cynthia O’Keefe, 542 West Saddle River Road, said that she has watched past Village Council meetings in an attempt to find out when the conversation about the Schedler property actually began. She mentioned the Ad Hoc Committee and the gains they made in developing plans for the Schedler property, yet in January 2023, things started to go in a different direction. People started talking about a regulation turf field, sport complex, and lights. Ms. O’Keefe viewed the Reorganization Meeting of the Village Council in January, when Councilmember Winograd and Councilmember Weitz were sworn in as Councilmembers. She said that many beautiful sentiments were expressed at that time, including the newly elected Councilmembers thanking their families for all of their loving support.

 

Ms. O’Keefe stated that this brought to her mind the importance of everyone’s family, especially the families in the Schedler community, including her and her family. She heard a “baseball mom” speak about how she wanted her son to be able to play sports and how she was in favor of a large turf field, yet Ms. O’Keefe wondered if anyone cared about the health and safety of the families who live near the Schedler property. At the initial 2023 Village Council meeting, Ms. O’Keefe said that Councilmember Weitz stated that democracy does not work if good people are not willing to put themselves out there and run for office. She believed him and was confident that Councilmember Weitz would live up to the high standards that Ridgewood deserves and would work on behalf of all families.

 

Ms. O’Keefe stated that Councilmember Winograd was sworn in with her mother and family standing by, which she stated was very sweet. Ms. O’Keefe said that her mother is 93 years old and she can only hope that she will live as long as her mother has. However, she is concerned about the health and safety issues which threaten her neighborhood. She said that Councilmember Winograd indicated that she was going to keep her website up to benchmark her campaign promises. Ms. O’Keefe said that when Councilmember Winograd was elected, she clearly stated that after being elected, she would promptly work to implement the 2017 plan for Schedler Park with its youth athletic field, not turf and a sports complex which are now being discussed, along with a walking path and children’s playscape. When she hears the word “playscape,” Ms. O’Keefe stated that she envisions a nice place for families to bring their kids to play. Councilmember Winograd also stated that she wanted to make communication and transparency of the utmost importance. However, Ms. O’Keefe said that there are mistakes being made on a daily basis. She stated that she will hold Councilmember Winograd to her campaign promises and statements.

 

Ms. O’Keefe stated that only Councilmember Reynolds has taken the neighbors’ concerns to heart. Ms. O’Keefe said that she does not want to be pitted against people whom she cares about, especially those who are “sports people.” She believes that all children should have a place to play and that is the reason why the neighbors agreed to a small grass field on the Schedler property. She thanked Councilmember Reynolds for her support.

 

Addressing Mayor Vagianos, Ms. O’Keefe said that he made many sports references at prior Village Council meetings, stating that every resident is part of the team and everyone needs to get off the bench and get into the game. She said that this is exactly what residents are doing, week after week, pouring their hearts out to the Village Council to try to reach a compromise.

 

In closing, Ms. O’Keefe said that Deputy Mayor Perron stated that the Village Councilmembers need to pay attention to every resident, business owner and visitor with whom they come into contact and listen until they really understand their issues. Ms. O’Keefe agreed with that statement. Deputy Mayor Perron also stated that Village employees are its greatest asset. Accordingly, Ms. O’Keefe said that she was not in favor of furloughing any Village employees. She wondered how the Village could waste precious dollars on a consultant for the Schedler property, yet not be concerned about furloughing Village employees who need to put food on the table for their families.

 

Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, stated that the word creating a lot of mention this evening is the word “sheister.” She stated that a sheister is a person who is professionally unscrupulous, particularly in the practice of law or politics, such as a dishonest lawyer, businessman or politician. A sheister is someone who acts in a disreputable, unethical or unscrupulous way, especially in the practice of law, politics or economics. Ms. Loving said that she stands by what she said about Mr. Primavera, who was not vetted by the Village Councilmembers but instead was vetted by the citizens of Ridgewood.

 

Al Sienkiewicz, 321 Van Emburgh Avenue, said that she recently moved back to Ridgewood. She mentioned the comment made this evening by Deputy Mayor Perron that the Green Amendment is “exclusive” of what the Village is planning to do with the Schedler property. However, she does not feel that the Green Amendment and the proposed Schedler development are mutually exclusive. One cannot say that recycling is important, yet not recycle. The Village Councilmembers cannot say that they support the Green Amendment, yet ignore it and do their own thing anyway. Ms. Sienkiewicz said that she laughed when she heard someone say that they wanted their grandchildren to thank them (for the Schedler Park development). Instead, she said that she would like her own children to thank her.

 

Boyd A. Loving, 342 South Irving Street, stated that the news about Ms. Mailander being honored as Municipal Clerk of the Year was great and the best news he has heard all week. He hopes that something more than the announcement this evening is done for Ms. Mailander, such as the Village issuing a press release which Ms. Mailander does not have to write herself. He said that he felt something big should be done to celebrate this momentous occasion.

 

Michele Italia, 3 Betty Court, stated that she wanted to continue speaking about the Schedler property, the marginalization that is occurring in that area, and the impact of the Village Councilmembers’ decisions on the property values of homes in that neighborhood. By deciding to construct a big field on the Schedler property, Ms. Italia said that the Schedler neighbors will lose the historical relevance of the land and what transpired on that land hundreds of years ago. She said that it helps property values when a town is noted for its historical designation, since people desire to live near historical areas. As a realtor, Ms. Italia sees the Schedler property being able to increase property values in the area, because everyone will be proud of living in an historic district. She stated that there are owners of another house in that area who are trying to obtain historical status for their home.

 

Ms. Italia said that the east side of town near the Schedler property is marginalized because there is no local school which children can attend and no park offering passive recreation. If clients asked her questions about the area, she would have to be honest and tell them that their children would have to be bused to school and that there is no park but rather a sports complex with lights and a lot of traffic. These negative features significantly alter property values, which in turn decreases tax revenue to the Village. Ms. Italia said that the birth of Ridgewood began on the east side of town, even before the railroad and highway were constructed. She urged the Village Councilmembers to make decisions that will add to the betterment of Ridgewood. She added that there are a lot of birds and animals that make the Schedler property their habitat, which will be destroyed if the Village Council proceeds with their current plans.

 

Rich Tarleton, 10 Bergen Avenue, Waldwick, stated that he has worked for the Ridgewood Department of Public Works for 30 years. His family originates from Ridgewood, and both his grandparents and parents lived in Ridgewood. He congratulated Ms. Mailander on winning the award for Municipal Clerk of the Year. Mr. Tarleton said that he wanted to thank Ridgewood residents who attended this evening’s meeting and spoke against the planned employee furloughs. He stated that he and his staff will do everything that they can do to work with the Village. While he and other staff members do not live in Ridgewood, he said that many employees in his department do live in Ridgewood. Regardless of where they live, Mr. Tarleton said that they are all committed to helping the budget process.

 

Suzanne Ruane, 705 Kingsbridge Lane, stated that she does not believe that Village employees should be furloughed. She believes that the funds targeted in this year’s budget for the Schedler property should be allocated instead to employee salaries. She said that she supports a small grass field on the Schedler property. Ms. Ruane thanked the Village Councilmembers for endorsing the Green Amendment, but she agreed with Councilmember Reynolds that there is a contradiction between the Village Councilmembers’ actions regarding the Green Amendment and their plans for the Schedler property. The Green Amendment gives people the fundamental right to clean air and clean water, yet the Village Councilmembers are ignoring the pollutants from the turf field that will inevitably seep into the private wells of the Schedler neighbors, as well as the air pollution caused by the removal of all the trees on the property and removal of a buffer zone along a busy highway.

 

Ms. Ruane urged the Village Council to investigate other fields in Ridgewood that are not in a flood zone, such as Citizens Field. However, Ms. Ruane stated that the residents on the west side do not want to turf Citizens Field, despite their constant complaints about the condition of that grass field, but would rather turf the proposed field at Schedler. She also asked for more transparency, stating that many residents are feeling that things are being done behind the scenes instead of being shared openly with residents. If other fields in Ridgewood have been investigated and it was determined that a turf field was not appropriate, then those facts should also be shared with Ridgewood residents, along with the reasons why.

 

Ms. Ruane congratulated Ms. Mailander on winning the award for Municipal Clerk of the Year. She stated that Ms. Mailander does a great job for the Village and should be recognized for all of her hard work.

 

Kathryn Schmidt, 123 South Irving Street, stated she was very happy to learn that the Green Amendment was endorsed by the Village Council. She said that Ridgewood does not have gold mining or fracking issues, but there are congruence issues between what the Village Councilmembers say and what they do. She said that it is not about the letter of the law, but rather about the spirit of the law. Ms. Schmidt said that it was ironic that the Village Council would support the Green Amendment, yet almost immediately make decisions regarding the Schedler property that fly in the face of the purpose of the Green Amendment. She hoped that the Village Councilmembers will factor the purpose of the Green Amendment into whatever decisions they make concerning the Schedler property.

 

There were no further comments from the public.

 

Councilmember Winograd said that all of the Village Councilmembers have not met with the prospective historic preservation consultant and she is not sure how that misinformation arose. However, if the Village Councilmembers were to meet with the consultant and a decision was made to hire the consultant, it would be done up front. Councilmember Winograd said that when she met with the Schedler neighbors and told them that she would not support the installation of lights on the Schedler property, there is still the assumption by the public that all of the Village Councilmembers support the installation of lights.

 

Councilmember Winograd said that the Village has relied heavily upon outside consultants regarding the development of the Schedler property and the Village Council is still working on the finances regarding same. She said that Connolly & Hickey, historic architects, have been paid approximately $200,000.00 for services related to the Schedler house and property. With a large capital project such as Schedler, it is not uncommon for the Village to use a consultant. She stated that the planned field proposed in 2017 was a turf field.

 

Regarding comments made this evening about furloughs, Councilmember Winograd stated that the budget process is ongoing, with the next budget meeting scheduled for March 30, 2023. Councilmember Reynolds said that the budget would be introduced on that date, and Councilmember Winograd stated that there will be a discussion before the budget is introduced. The original budget introduction date of March 8, 2023 was delayed, since the Village Councilmembers felt that more discussion was needed and understood the severity of the furloughing of Village employees. Councilmember Winograd said that the only way all Village Councilmembers can legally have a discussion is in public. She concluded by asking for patience from the public until the problems with the Village’s email server can be fixed. She asked anyone who has recently sent an email to the Village Councilmembers to please send the emails again, just in case their original emails were not received or were kicked back to the sender.

 

Councilmember Weitz indicated that there are a lot of Village employees at the meeting this evening. He said that their presence at the meeting was very meaningful to all of the Councilmembers, which says a lot more than words, and he thanked them for attending.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.         ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilmember Reynolds, seconded by Deputy Mayor Perron, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Work Session was adjourned at 9:45 P.M.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                Paul Vagianos

                                                                                                                     Mayor

 

                                                                       

    Eileen Young

                 Village Deputy Clerk