20230201 - 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 FEBRUARY 1, 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 Heather Mailander, Village Manager/Village Clerk, and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
Mayor Vagianos led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. He expressed how happy he was to see so many residents participating in Village government this evening. Mayor Vagianos explained the new hybrid meeting format, and he advised residents that if they are accessing the meeting remotely by phone, they will need to press *9 to “raise a hand.” He reminded everyone that all comments must be respectful and passionate.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Angela Leemans, 517 East Saddle River Road, stated that she was representing two households in Ridgewood: 517 East Saddle River Road and 541 East Saddle River Road. She was born in Ridgewood and has lived on the east side of Ridgewood her entire life. Ms. Leemans indicated that she has been heavily involved with the community group that is trying to save and preserve the Schedler property. The group was started and led for many years by the late Isabella Altano. Ms. Leemans urged the Village Council to keep the original plans and not change course. These plans were developed with extensive input from neighbors, after a formal, inclusive process that took several years. At that time, it was agreed that the house would be preserved, and they were promised that many trees would be preserved as well. They were promised that the playing field would be smaller and that there would be no lights or concession stand, in order to avoid disruption to the neighborhood.
Ms. Leemans stated that changing course at the current time on these plans is unfair, unjust, and “just plain wrong.” A large full-sized field would significantly impact the neighborhood in a very negative way, in terms of noise, light pollution, traffic, and aesthetics, due to the loss of trees. Regarding comments that the house and property are not historic, Ms. Leemans asked anyone doubting this to check with the Ridgewood Historical Society. State and local experts have formally recognized the house and property as being of historic value and deserving of preservation. Ms. Leemans stated that the east side of Ridgewood deserves to have a beautiful park, which can be used by people of all ages and abilities, not just by a small group of athletes. She said the land should have walking paths, gardens and trees that everyone can enjoy.
Ms. Leemans said that the Village Councilmembers are the “stewards” of Ridgewood lands and should focus on conservation and preservation, the most critical aspects of parkland management. Regarding a prior comment about the adverse impact caused by the Schedler property being taken off the tax rolls and creating a greater burden on taxpayers, Ms. Leemans stated that this has wrongfully been blamed for the high taxes in Ridgewood. She asked for integrity, honesty, transparency and accountability from the Village Councilmembers, and emphasized that they should not “flip-flop” on their support of Schedler. Ms. Leemans asked them to stop spreading lies and propaganda about Schedler and to stop playing “bait and switch” with field-centric plans. She asked the Village Councilmembers to focus on the quality of life of the neighborhood rather than on the quality of “play.”
Michele Italia, 3 Betty Court, stated that the Schedler property is on the Ridgewood Master Plan and is in the Historic District. The Zabriskie-Schedler house is listed on the Master Plan as a designated historic center. Both the house and property were designated as an historic site. The property was designated as historic because there were some historic artifacts dug up on the property. Ms. Italia stated that there is a protected species of bird that inhabits that area. She stated that she attended a meeting at Bergen Community College, with Mayors of towns surrounding Route 17 in attendance who were discussing drug issues. The Mayor of Mahwah called Route 17 the “gateway” of the drug area.
Ms. Italia said that the Village Councilmembers needed to reconsider the construction of a bigger field on the Schedler property, because a smaller field was agreed to by the neighborhood. She stated that West Saddle River Road is one of the narrowest streets in Ridgewood.
Nancy Brennan Hill, 136 Doremus Avenue, stated that her heart goes out to the residents who live near the Schedler property. They agreed to certain plans, yet now the plans are being changed. She stated that she cannot support any plans, which require the removal of so many trees. Ms. Brennan Hill said that she was delighted to see how much support was given to the planting and conservation of trees at the first budget meeting, and was also happy to see that so many trees were woven throughout the Master Plan. However, she stated that the monies allocated for the planting of new trees and the maintenance of the existing trees is simply not enough. She asked the Village Councilmembers to reconsider the amount of funds to be allocated in the budget, in order to preserve the tree canopy in Ridgewood. She commended Mayor Vagianos for asking during the budget meeting on January 31, 2023, what items each department absolutely needed and which items they could delay purchasing. She would like this question to be asked again of all Village departments so that the air, environment, and people’s health can be supported.
Andrea Mishler, 5 Betty Court, asked the Village Councilmembers to consider the original plans for the Schedler property. She stated that she was dismayed that they are “back to square one” with the plans. She said that a large football field would require the destruction of more trees. Less trees means that the neighbors would not be protected from all the fumes coming from vehicles traveling on Route 17. She said that she was looking forward to having a green space to walk around in, since West Saddle River Road does not have many sidewalks. She was also looking forward to taking her grandchildren to the playground on the property.
Ms. Mishler stated that Habernickel Park has more acreage than does Schedler Park, yet the neighbors near Habernickel got exactly what they wanted, with a smaller field and green space for walking. She stated that the east side of Ridgewood, which gets neglected quite a bit, also deserves green space.
Scott Muller, 118 John Street, stated that he has lived in Ridgewood for 28 years. He is President of the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association (RBSA), leading a group of 28 active adult volunteers and representing 1,350 children in Ridgewood’s largest youth program. Mr. Muller stated that his children have already graduated college and are on their own. He stated that a baseball field was always the main consideration after the Village purchased the Schedler property in 2014. Mr. Muller stated that former Mayor Knudsen decided to include only a tiny, peewee soccer field on the property. He stated that the Village Councilmembers only have “one shot at this” since there is a dearth of vacant land in Ridgewood. Delays have plagued this project, and the Village Councilmembers have caused these delays by “dragging through” the historic preservation of a dilapidated house and requiring noise studies, pollution studies, arborist and land studies, and construction of a 15-foot high berm.
Mr. Muller stated that the arguments must end. He is willing to work with the soccer, lacrosse and football presidents, along with the Village Council, the neighbors, and the naturalists to come up with a plan that will benefit the children of Ridgewood. He said that it will only take one more flood to “wipe out” one of their seasons. Mr. Muller said that not everyone will get what they want, but he hopes that everyone can reach “a happy medium.” He is willing to partner with the other Ridgewood sports associations to donate a substantial financial gift to offset some of the development costs of the Schedler property. He said that self-interests cannot dominate the negotiations on this project. He said that everyone can work together to build a beautiful park which will support both the active and passive interests of the Village residents.
Yishane Lee, 235 Emmett Place, stated that she was speaking this evening on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Ridgewood. She is a Board member and read a statement: “Our Constitution guarantees us inalienable rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and these freedoms cannot be abridged by any political party or administration, but we have no guaranteed right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment. We do have the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, etc., but these are not constitutionally guaranteed. These laws can be and frequently are ignored, depending on political expediency by both parties. Dangerous projects that can harm our environment or our health are often permitted. The League of Women Voters of New Jersey has joined with many other states to urge passage of a Green Amendment to the New Jersey Constitution. This will join with other amendments to guarantee certain rights. In this case, the right to clean air, clean water and a healthy environment. We need this to protect ourselves, our families, and future generations. We are working town by town to ask our Town Councils to pass resolutions to support placing a Green Amendment for New Jersey on the ballot at the next election. Both the New Jersey Senate and Assembly have such bills, but they have not yet been posted for vote. We are simply asking that the residents of New Jersey vote on passage. Until the bill is passed, it cannot be on the ballot. We believe in full transparency and, when towns pass resolutions, the legislators will see this as the will of the people and vote to place it on the ballot as a public question. With more and more towns passing such resolutions, and with over two dozen sponsors of the bill, the pressure to put it on the ballot will convince our legislators that this is a matter that should go before the public. Several states – Pennsylvania, Montana, and New York – have already passed a Green Amendment, and four states – New Jersey, Hawaii, New Mexico and Florida – are working to pass this as of today. We must give our residents the constitutionally guaranteed right to live a healthy life. Therefore, we urge Ridgewood to join the other towns and pass a resolution to guarantee these rights. Councilmember Perron can provide a sample resolution.”
William Pilla, 333 Meadowbrook Avenue, indicated that he has a unique perspective, as an educator and school administrator for the past 25 years, on how the Schedler property can benefit many people on physical, social and emotional levels. He said that a space can be created where everyone young and old can congregate, be outside and be active. He said that Mr. Muller was “one of the good guys.” Mr. Pilla said that he moved to Ridgewood because it is a great place to raise a family. Some of his fondest memories of his four children were when they were playing sports or engaged in a Village-run activity. He has lived across the street from the Maple Park for the past 12 years, which he stated was a great space where people can enjoy the weather and have physical activity. Ball fields, playgrounds and parks are things in which Ridgewood should invest. He urged everyone to think about the children. He recalled many years ago how residents were concerned about the potential noise at the Kasschau Bandshell. He said that he could not imagine Ridgewood without the bandshell. He urged the Village Council to support the development of the Schedler property.
Lauren Cuneo, 373 Mountain Avenue, said that she supports the development of Schedler Park with a multi-use sports field. She has been a Maroons Soccer Club board member for seven years. She has also coached and managed teams for many years. She is the mother of three athletes, aged 15, 13 and 10. Ms. Cuneo mentioned that when she spoke before the Village Council last week, she did not get the chance to address two topics: the size of the field at Schedler and lighting options. In the plans, there is a small field measuring 50 yards by 75 yards. A large soccer field measures approximately 115 yards by 75 yards. She stated that a small field will not maximize usage across any sports. Ms. Cuneo said that the proposed field is so small that only soccer games for children under the age of 12 can be held there. She said that Stevens Field is a strong example of a multi-sports field, which can be used by athletes of all ages and on which soccer, baseball, football and lacrosse can be played. She said that a field measuring 115 yards by 75 yards is a field size, which would maximize usage.
Ms. Cuneo asked the Village Councilmembers to consider permanent lighting on the Schedler property. She said that the Maroons Soccer Club currently uses 17 portable light towers, which are transported around the Village to different grass fields during the spring and fall. These lights require a lot of maintenance and take up a lot of space on the field. Each light tower is powered by a gas generator, which is expensive to fill and is not environmentally friendly. The sound emitted from the generator is loud, which prohibits children from hearing their coaches and bothers people who are close to the field. The illumination from these light towers is dim and, therefore, league games cannot be played at night using these portable light towers. Ms. Cuneo added that it is expensive to fuel the generators, and it is also cumbersome to haul them around and find storage space for them. She would like to see permanent lights installed at Schedler, similar to those at Maple Field. They are bright, environmentally friendly, quiet, and easy to operate.
Leo Ruane, 705 Kingsbridge Lane, said that he and his neighbors have been waiting for years and years for the Schedler property to be developed. He said that he attended numerous meetings in 2014 with community members to develop a plan for the development of this land. He stated that he is dismayed to see the plans being changed. He said that if the plans are changed, he and his neighbors will fight to have the park developed as originally planned. He said that there have been too many delays.
Jennifer Devlin Burke, 400 Lincoln Avenue, stated that she is the mother of three teenage athletes. She emphasized that she has no personal agenda regarding a full-sized field being constructed on the Schedler property. She is thinking about future generations of children in the Village and what will serve the most people. Ms. Burke felt that it made little sense to build a small-sided field, since the number of children over the age of 12 in Ridgewood is significant. There are over 1,800 high school students in the Village.
Ms. Burke mentioned the many fields that have been closed over the last five years due to flooding, which results in many cancelled games and practices. She is hoping that a full-sized field can be built on the property with turf. She asked the Village Councilmembers to give residents some understanding of how this property was deemed historic, since doing so has hampered the proper development of the seven acres of land. Ms. Burke indicated that she reviewed some Village Council meeting minutes from 2017, wherein there was a notice for a public hearing regarding the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund Historic Preservation Application, with a desire to obtain funds in order to restore the home. It only mentioned restoration of the home and never mentioned the land as being historic.
Ellie Gruber, 229 South Irving Street, stated that she was very disturbed that the original plans for the Schedler property were going to be changed. She said that the east side of Ridgewood is often treated like “an unwanted child.” The Glen School was shut down by the Board of Education, there is no recreational field on that side of the Village, and children must be bussed to school. Ms. Gruber said that the Village Councilmembers want to change the size of an agreed-upon field and have caused numerous delays. She stated that they are allowing the sports organizations to determine the fate of the residents who live across Route 17. Ms. Gruber indicated that it added “insult to injury” to even try to remove the historic designation of the house and property. She said that constructing a full-sized field is not something to which the adjacent neighbors or the Ad Hoc Committee agreed.
Ms. Gruber stated that the Village Councilmembers ignoring the wishes of the neighbors on the east side of town, is tearing the Village apart. She urged the Village Council to adhere to the original plans developed for the Schedler property.
Suzanne Ruane, 705 Kingsbridge Lane, thanked the Village Councilmembers for hearing her concerns. She stated that the changes to the plan for the Schedler property will only involve more bureaucracy and delays in developing the land. The removal of the historical designation of the land and construction of a full-sized turf field will undo all of the work done by adjacent neighbors and other members of the community in order to preserve the aesthetics of the neighborhood. She is also concerned about the 18 proposed parallel parking spaces on West Saddle River Road, because this is a very narrow roadway. If cars are parked along the street, other cars will have to take turns in order to pass the parked cars. This will create a “cattle chute” type effect, with only one car being able to traverse the road at a time.
Ms. Ruane mentioned the cars speeding off of Route 17, and stated that she was concerned that the proposed parking spaces on the property itself may have to be eliminated if a full-sized field were constructed. This elimination of parking spots on the property would create even more parking congestion along West Saddle River Road and create safety hazards.
Ms. Ruane said that she was also advocating for the completion of the Kingsbridge Lane Bridge on East Saddle River Road. People are still using Route 17 to access the Park and Ride, which she stated was “an accident waiting to happen.” She asked the Village Council to make the replacement of the Kingsbridge Lane Bridge project a priority.
Katheryn Schmidt, 123 South Irving Street, said that although she does not live on the east side of town, she must stand with her neighbors who live there, regarding their concerns about the development of the Schedler property. She said that she understood the frustration of the neighbors, who thought that the land would be developed according to the original plans developed by the Ad Hoc Committee. Ms. Schmidt said that the east side really has no buffer from Route 17, and the Village Council should create as much of a buffer as possible on this property, for the adjacent neighbors. Ms. Schmidt stated that she was struck by the fact that parents of children who play sports and who live near the Schedler property have not come forward to speak in support of the larger proposed field at Schedler.
Zach Pace, 246 South Irving Street, said that as a resident of Ridgewood, a member of two youth sports organization boards, and a coach for many different youth sports teams, the need for fields in Ridgewood is very important. He is also an active member of the Fields Committee and stated that they try to make the distribution of the fields as equitable as possible, but there is just not enough space for everyone. He cautioned the Village Council not to be “penny wise and pound foolish.” He is in favor of a turfed field, considering the number of athletes who use the fields in Ridgewood. He said that fields are susceptible to inclement weather, with fields becoming muddy and flooded after heavy rains. In addition, grass fields need to be maintained, mowed, seeded, weeded, and treated with insecticides.
Mr. Pace said that lighting is an important factor. He mentioned that the high school sports teams get priority when it comes to field availability, after school until about 6:00 P.M. Lights are required in order to maximize field usage, particularly since many parents work and do not get the chance to get to a game much before 6:00 P.M. Mr. Pace said that he is in support of a larger field, which can accommodate larger regulation-sized soccer, lacrosse and football games, but could also be configured to be used as a smaller field, for both games and practices.
Denise Lima, 319 East Glen Avenue, said that she would be happy to speak with anyone who is wondering about the historical nature of the Zabriskie-Schedler house and property. Since the 1700s, the entire area around the Old Paramus Church has been historic in nature. She said that a place is deemed to be historic if it involves an historic person or event. Ms. Lima indicated that there are six to seven letters at the Old Paramus Church and Schoolhouse Museum, which were sent by George Washington, indicating that he was in this area with 400 to 500 soldiers fighting battles.
Ms. Lima indicated that a neighboring property near her home was subdivided into three lots, and they are “on top of one another.” She said that one house has porch lights, which are glaring into her home. She said that she could not imagine how the neighbors around the Schedler property would feel with stadium-sized lights shining into their homes until 10:00 P.M. Ms. Lima indicated that no one who spoke this evening about a larger field and permanent lights spoke about how those would affect the neighbors in that area. She said that she loves sports, but she wondered whether the sports teams were being overscheduled. She said that the Schedler property is not going to solve “the woes of the community.” Ms. Lima stated that the Village Councilmembers are complaining about the amount of money already spent on this project - $7 million. She said that there were many pre-election promises that the project would be swiftly completed, without spending additional funds, although that does not appear to be happening. She urged the Village Council to think about the neighbors and arrive at a “happy medium.”
There were no further comments from the public.
Mayor Vagianos thanked everyone for speaking this evening, stating that “participant government” is vital. He saw four major points regarding the Schedler property: time, trees, flooding and the neighborhood. Regarding time, Mayor Vagianos said that this property was purchased 14 years ago and it has taken a long time to get to where they are right now. The new Village Council has been seated for four weeks. He promised everyone that the ultimate goal of all Councilmembers is to move ahead as expeditiously as possible. Regarding trees, he said that trees are a critical part of the Village infrastructure. Their goal is to preserve as many trees as possible. Otherwise, it ceases to become a park and becomes a sports complex.
Regarding flooding, Mayor Vagianos said that flooding is one of the major reasons for this discussion, since every full-sized field in Ridgewood is in a flood zone and has flooded five times in the past two years. This was not the case five or ten years ago, and Mayor Vagianos said that this was the reason why the Village Council was “shining a light” on what is to be developed at the Schedler property. He said that input is needed from residents and professionals to arrive at an appropriate resolution, saying that the people who live in the neighborhood cannot be ignored nor can the thousands of families with children who play sports be ignored. Regarding the neighborhood, Mayor Vagianos assured everyone that the east side of the Village has not been ignored, especially since he himself lives on the east side of Ridgewood. He asked everyone for patience, participation and input.
3. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Mailander stated that a new event called “Council Chat” will start on February 4, 2023 from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. in the Village Hall Courtroom. Interested individuals should call to make a reservation at 201-670-5500, extension 2207. Walk-ins are welcome, but priority will be given to those who have made reservations.
Ridgewood High School parents are working on their annual Jamboree fundraiser. The musical will be shown on February 9, 10 and 11, 2023. Senior citizens have been invited to attend the final dress rehearsal free of charge, on February 8, 2023. The senior bus will be providing free transportation that evening. Interested individuals should call 201-670-5500, extension 2203, to reserve a seat on the bus.
There is a bus trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show scheduled on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The theme of “The Garden Electric” was selected to highlight the spark of joy and excitement that accompanies the giving and receiving of flowers. Bus transportation is available from the Graydon Pool parking lot. The admission fee is $80.00 per person, and interested individuals may register online through Community Pass or in person at the Lester Stable. Checks should be made payable to “Ridgewood Parks and Recreation.” Questions will be answered by dialing 201-670-5560.
A Summer Job Fair will be held on March 8, 2023 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. in the Community Center, on the ground floor of Village Hall. The fair will be focused on young adults, ages 16 and older, for summer employment. A wide variety of employment opportunities will be presented. Young adults will be able to speak with supervisors to have their questions answered and learn what the specific requirements are for each employment opportunity. There will be individuals in attendance who can assist with resumes and interviewing skills.
Ms. Mailander announced that all Village departments and offices will be closed on February 13 and February 20, 2023 in observance of Lincoln’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day, respectively. There will be no recycling or garbage pickup, and the Recycling Center will be closed as well. She encouraged everyone to check their Village Calendar for the garbage and recycling schedule, as pickups will change due to the holidays. Ms. Mailander also encouraged everyone to download the Recycle Coach app, since the app sends out reminders regarding changes in garbage and recycling pickup schedules.
Upcoming Village Council meetings are broadcast live from the Village Hall Courtroom, on the Village website, on FIOS Channel 34 and YouTube. The next Public Meetings are scheduled for February 8, 2023 and March 8, 2023 at 8:00 P.M. The next Village Council Work Sessions will be held on February 22 and March 1, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. Budget Meetings will be held on February 23, February 24 and March 6, 2023 at 5:00 P.M. in the Village Hall courtroom. All meetings will have hybrid access.
Ms. Mailander said that she had a discussion with Mayor Vagianos and Deputy Mayor Perron. She was informed that the Village Councilmembers do not want to have a Village Manager who holds a dual role as a Department Director or another management role within the Village. They wish to have a Village Manager who is solely focused on that position. Ms. Mailander announced that she has chosen to revert back to her position as Village Clerk. She will continue in the title of Village Manager until a new Village Manager is hired, at which time she will resign as Village Manager.
Ms. Mailander said that she loves Ridgewood and feels blessed to work with talented, professional directors, supervisors and staff members throughout the Village. She is proud of the many accomplishments during her 6-1/2 years of serving as Village Manager. She thanked the prior and new Village Councilmembers for their support during her role as Village Manager and for the opportunity to serve the Village in this role. Ms. Mailander stated that she will continue working with the Village Councilmembers, Village residents and Village staff to ensure that Ridgewood remains the special place it is today.
Mayor Vagianos thanked Ms. Mailander for her almost three decades of service to the Village and her tireless work. He stated that she works seven days a week, arriving early in the morning and leaving late at night. He said that the Village would not be where it is today without her assistance. Mayor Vagianos indicated how grateful he is to Ms. Mailander for her help in seamlessly integrating into his role as Mayor. Ms. Mailander indicated that she has served in the role as Acting Village Manager on two occasions in the past, and subsequently served as Village Manager for the past 6-1/2 years. Mayor Vagianos said that Ms. Mailander is “always there” when the Village Councilmembers need her for anything. There was a resounding round of applause.
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Weitz echoed Mayor Vagianos’s comments. He said that Ms. Mailander has been of tremendous help to him as a new Village Councilmember. He stated that she is knowledgeable about every facet of municipal government and he is thrilled that she will remain in the role of Village Clerk. Councilmember Weitz encouraged all residents to view the Budget Meetings and pay attention to what the Village Councilmembers do regarding the 2023 budget. He wanted to publicly thank Ms. Mailander and Robert Rooney, CFO, for organizing all of the paperwork regarding the budget.
Councilmember Weitz stated that the budget process is not easy and that the budget paperwork provided to the Councilmembers provides transparency, which will enable them to make informed and wise decisions. In addition, he thanked all Department Directors who gave their budget presentations on January 31, 2023. He was pleased at the candor displayed by all Department Directors, but stated that he wished more residents would have attended the meeting so that they could view the “inner workings” of government.
Councilmember Reynolds indicated that a Village resident, Patty Infantino, 6 Betty Court, has asked her to read the following statement: “As a citizen of the northeast corridor of Ridgewood, I am concerned about the essential role the development of the Schedler property has in the community. The old growth trees are irreplaceable. They are an environmental and health protection for us. It would take 30 years to replace them. As the last open space in Ridgewood, the Council has a responsibility to preserve them. We cannot ask Brazil to save the Amazon when we would cut down our last few remaining trees. Busy Route 17 poses a specific danger with its particulate pollution that the trees shield us from. The danger is even greater for exercising children. The evidence of many diseases in people exposed to this type of pollution is well documented. The original plan for this property, worked out through many meetings with the community, was for a small multipurpose field, 50 x 70 yards, no lights, and consideration for keeping the field closed at night to prevent undesirables from using the parking lot for drug or other criminal use. There was a balanced area for passive recreation and a children’s playground. There was recognition that the field was originally a Revolutionary War site and the house is historic, having been built without nails. Artifacts found at Schedler can be viewed at the Schoolhouse Museum. I thank you in advance, Lorraine, for reading this tonight for me. Many thanks, Patty Infantino.”
Councilmember Reynolds stated that on January 27, 2023, she met with Councilmember Winograd, Ms. Mailander, Rich Tarleton from the Signal Department, and several community residents to discuss the condition of the kissing balls that used to be hung from the Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) poles years ago. There is a plan underway to revive these kissing balls for the 2023 holiday season. After ten years of being in storage, the balls were not in bad shape. With some TLC, Councilmember Reynolds stated that they should be “better than ever.”
Councilmember Reynolds said that she was surprised to hear Ms. Mailander say that the “Council has decided” that they do not want Ms. Mailander serving dual roles, since Councilmember Reynolds was not involved in the process whatsoever. She stated that she would like to know how this decision was arrived at, since she “did not know a thing.” She has serious questions about the process and how the decision was made and delivered. Councilmember Reynolds said that she was shocked to learn from Ms. Mailander that Mayor Vagianos and Deputy Mayor Perron had asked Ms. Mailander to resign from either the Village Manager or Village Clerk position. She said that this was certainly not a “Council” decision. Councilmember Reynolds stated that she asked Councilmember Winograd what was going on but Councilmember Winograd indicated she had recused herself from any discussion in the matter. She wondered whether Councilmember Weitz was privy to this decision.
Councilmember Reynolds said that either two Councilmembers unilaterally took action outside of the governing body as a whole, or there was a meeting in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). She stated that she never received a call from Mayor Vagianos, although he had indicated to Ms. Mailander that he had attempted to reach out to Councilmember Reynolds. Councilmember Reynolds indicated that a “meeting” occurs either through a series of individual phone calls, revolving door communications, or individual text messages amongst officials about official business.
Councilmember Reynolds also felt that a RICE notice was required in order to discuss an employee. There was never a Closed Session discussion regarding Ms. Mailander, and a RICE notice was never issued. A RICE notice and a properly noticed Closed Session agenda item as required would have given the public an idea about the nature of the agenda item. She said that some members of the public may have chosen to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting. A RICE notice would have afforded Ms. Mailander the choice to have this discussion occur either in Closed Session or publicly at an open meeting. Councilmember Reynolds said that not only was Ms. Mailander denied due process, but also Councilmember Reynolds was denied her right to take part in discussions during a proper meeting. She said that her rights and those of Ms. Mailander were violated, and the public trust was violated.
Councilmember Reynolds stated that this has occurred despite the fact that, just a few weeks ago, Ms. Mailander was praised for doing an excellent job as Village Manager and was given a raise. On the evening of November 8, 2022, Councilmember Reynolds stated that she recalled a videotape of Mayor Vagianos, after the election, exclaiming that there would finally be “four fair and normal Councilmembers come January.” She said that it took several weeks for Mayor Vagianos to apologize for excluding her. When Mayor Vagianos was elected as Mayor, he remarked to Councilmember Reynolds that it was a “new day and a fresh start for us [Village Council].” She stated that if the treatment of Ms. Mailander reflects a “fresh start,” then she wanted nothing to do with the way business is being conducted by the Village Council.
Councilmember Reynolds stated that it has become apparent that some of her Council colleagues are engaging in “back room deals” and illegal or improper meetings or actions. Councilmember Reynolds said that this has occurred before, with previous mayors. She asked who was involved and what occurred that led to the decision of Mayor Vagianos and Deputy Mayor Perron telling Ms. Mailander that she could not serve in dual roles.
Mayor Vagianos thanked Councilmember Reynolds and indicated that this matter would not be discussed in public since it is a personnel matter. He said that everything was done legally and the Village Councilmembers were aware of everything that was occurring. Councilmember Reynolds reiterated that she was not aware of anything. Mayor Vagianos stated that he knows Councilmember Reynolds was not aware of anything, and asked for the meeting to move on.
Councilmember Winograd said that she has not attended any official committee meetings since the last Village Council meeting. She stated that there have been comments from businesses in the Central Business District (CBD) that they want to see the CBD “sparkle and shine more” during the holiday season, and that is the reason why the topic of the kissing balls came up. She said that the Ridgewood Guild and Chamber of Commerce are working on this project. Councilmember Winograd encouraged residents to volunteer for the Project Pride Committee, especially florists, to beautify and clean up the downtown area. The Chamber of Commerce is looking for ways to decorate the clock in the CBD as well. Councilmember Reynolds is the main contact for Project Pride.
Deputy Mayor Perron stated that a subcommittee of the Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) met for discussions concerning the refurbishment of the pedestrian tunnel underneath the train station. They have met with various local artists to come up with a plan for painting the tunnel. They would like to engage a muralist so that an attractive design can be painted for all to enjoy. She will advise everyone on next steps. They are also working on prioritizing the downtown economic development action items in the Master Plan. The committee will give a presentation before the Planning Board and Village Council once the draft has been finalized.
Green Ridgewood is planning “No Mow May,” an initiative for residents to let their grass grow during the month of May. In this way, clover can grow, pollinators will be able to get nectar, and insects and birds will thrive in their habitats. Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that this is a nationwide initiative by Bee City USA. Ridgewood is designated as a Bee City. She asked all residents who want to participate to sign up. In this way, participants can get a lawn sign to announce that they are participating in this initiative and not simply neglecting their lawns.
Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that Presidents’ Day, a Federal holiday, will be celebrated on February 20, 2023. She announced that the Village ordinance governing the use of power tools and loud hand tools (such as construction or landscaping equipment) will be in effect on that day. This does not apply to the use of machinery for snow or ice removal.
Deputy Mayor Perron expressed her thanks to Ms. Mailander for keeping the Village Council “on the straight and narrow” and for reminding them of things they had forgotten. She said that she admired Ms. Mailander’s knowledge of procedural matters and her graciousness. It was Deputy Mayor Perron’s opinion that the Village would best be served by having people serve in separate capacities as Village Manager and Village Clerk, acknowledging that Ms. Mailander has performed a great job in both roles. She stated that there were discussions regarding this matter and she assured everyone that the Open Public Meetings Act was not violated in any way.
5. DISCUSSION
A. CORRECTION TO RESOLUTION FOR DISTRIBUTION WATER MAIN REHABILITATION AND REPLACEMENT – CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to an address correction to a resolution for distribution water main rehabilitation and replacement. The company to whom this contract was awarded has several divisions and the wrong address was inadvertently used for the vendor in the previous resolution. The amendment to this resolution is required, so that the vendor can be paid.
B. ENDORSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT – REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM
Ms. Mailander explained that this item pertains to the endorsement of a Community Development Block Grant called “Reintegration into the Community” for SHARE, Inc. Due to Covid, senior residents at SHARE houses were not able to interact with people. There is now an effort to reintegrate these senior citizens into the community through chair exercises, support group sessions, senior sneakers exercise, meditation, bingo, and card games. There will be a variety of educational programs to teach residents about good hygiene, good health, and what they should do if they are not feeling well. Beneficial counseling sessions will also be implemented to assist residents with mental health issues. Community Development Block Grants do not require any expenditure by the Village, but these grants must be endorsed by the appropriate governing body.
For the benefit of the public, Mayor Vagianos explained that there are two SHARE houses in Ridgewood, which are community group homes for seniors. These homes permit senior citizens, who cannot afford the upkeep of a private home, to stay in Ridgewood.
There was a motion by Councilmember Winograd, seconded by Deputy Mayor Perron, to suspend the Work Session and convene a Special Public Meeting.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Weitz, Winograd; Mayor Vagianos
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
At the end of the Special Public Meeting, there was a motion by Deputy Mayor Perron, seconded by Councilmember Winograd, to adjourn the Special Public Meeting and reconvene the Work Session.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Weitz, Winograd; Mayor Vagianos
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
6. PRESENTATION
A. SCHEDLER PROPERTY UPDATE
Ms. Mailander announced that Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, would give a presentation and update on the Schedler property. At the last Village Council meeting, he had been requested to produce additional conceptual plans showing a large playing field and baseball diamond on the property. Mayor Vagianos thanked Mr. Rutishauser and his staff for producing these plans so quickly.
Mr. Rutishauser stated that the credit really belongs to Jovan Mehandzic of the Engineering Department. He stated that the Village Councilmembers raised questions during the last meeting as to whether or not a full-sized soccer/lacrosse field and 90-foot baseball diamond would fit on the property. Mr. Rutishauser presented three concepts showing various configurations of the field and baseball diamond. One concept (Option #1) shows the home plate situated in the property’s northeast corner, with the outer limit lines encroaching upon the berm. With the home plate in the southwest corner (Option #2); there is also encroachment upon the berm. Option #3 shows the home plate oriented a different way, which encroaches upon the berm. All three concepts also encroach upon the wooded tree area, the parking area near the berm, and the playground previously proposed. The playground could be relocated, but the parking area near the berm would probably have to be eliminated, in which case additional parking would have to be created either along West Saddle River Road or on the small triangular piece along the southern tip of the property. He stated that it had been requested that this triangular piece be reserved for a community garden.
Mr. Rutishauser stated that the Engineering Department feels that Option #1 is one of the better options, since it has the least impact into the tree preservation area. If the larger field is constructed, the wooded area can be extended into the western portion of the property, adjacent to the berm.
Councilmember Weitz asked about the tree coverage in the northwest corner and what can be done to preserve the trees that are presently on the property. Mr. Rutishauser said that, on the northwest corner of the property, there is an access path, which was created for construction of the berm. This is located approximately 10 to 15 feet from the eight-foot wide walking path. Beyond that, there are just trees. The proposed playground and parking lot by the berm could be preserved if the 90-foot baseball diamond were not constructed. Councilmember Weitz asked if there was any way to reconfigure the soccer field so that it did not cut into the road and the parking lot could be retained. Mr. Rutishauser said that the soccer/lacrosse field is at the very edge of the roadway. It can be pushed back a little bit towards the berm so that it would fit.
Councilmember Weitz asked Mr. Rutishauser if he had any opinions on what configuration would be the most aesthetically pleasing. Mr. Rutishauser said that he preferred Option #1, although the playground would need to be relocated, the parking lot by the berm would have to be removed, and the restroom would also have to be relocated. Councilmember Weitz asked if Mr. Rutishauser had considered a smaller baseball diamond. Mr. Rutishauser distributed more drawings to the Village Councilmembers, which showed a mid-sized baseball diamond. Even with the elimination of the playground, the smaller baseball diamond still interferes considerably with the parking lot area. There would be more tree space with the smaller diamond. Mr. Rutishauser said that an 8,300 square foot area was indicated on the drawing to offset the 6,600 square feet of the intrusion into the tree area.
Councilmember Winograd thanked Mr. Rutishauser for his quick turnaround. She explained that the meeting this evening is a Work Session at which no voting will take place. She stated that in 2017, the Village Council publicly approved a plan with a small-sided field in conjunction with neighbors and the community. That was the last time that the plan was discussed publicly. Since that time, two different plans were submitted “in complete darkness.” She said that she, the neighbors and the community knew nothing about these new plans. These new plans were rejected by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Councilmember Winograd said that there are presently no plans which have been approved by SHPO, which has oversight of the project. Since her campaign, Councilmember Winograd said that she has asked that all plans be identified and listed on the Village website. She mentioned a “pergola” plan and an “overdevelopment” plan that included pickleball.
Councilmember Winograd stated that in 2019, the property was designated as historic. She is not questioning the historic designation for the house, but she feels that the historic designation of the property needs to be researched. The Ad Hoc Committee, which developed the original plans for the Schedler property, were unaware that the property would subsequently be deemed as historic. The plans presented at the January 25, 2023 Village Council meeting were the plans that were drawn up in 2017. Councilmember Winograd said that she requested that a larger field be constructed on the property, due to the persistent flooding of the other full-sized fields in Ridgewood. She stated that there is a great need for more baseball fields in the Village.
Councilmember Winograd reported that there have already been nine Bond Ordinances passed regarding the Schedler property and house. The bulk of the property has already been bonded. At the budget meeting on January 31, 2023, she learned that there is a need for an additional $500,000.00 in order to complete the project. Councilmember Winograd encouraged residents to contact her regarding their concerns. She said that a larger field could accommodate soccer, lacrosse and football teams. She stated that the plans presented this evening were overwhelming for her, and she gets nervous when people want to do too many things with limited space.
Councilmember Winograd stated that she recognizes the need for passive recreation, especially for the older population. She said that the walking path is critical to her, as well as the larger multipurpose turfed field and the playground. She said that it is too much when trying to “shove” all the desired elements onto the property. She would like to minimize the removal of trees as much as possible. Councilmember Winograd feels that, out of the plans presented this evening, Option #1 is the best one, with just the multipurpose field. She said that she loves baseball, but she is concerned about wayward balls and the safety of cars and people. She wondered if there was another site in Ridgewood on which a baseball field could be built, perhaps Lower Hawes or in the Pleasant Park area.
Mr. Rutishauser said that he believed there is already a baseball field at Lower Hawes. He asked Councilmember Winograd if she was talking about making that field a 90-foot baseball diamond, and she replied in the affirmative. Mr. Rutishauser said that this could probably be done, but they have to be careful on the southern edge of the property, because of the nearby wetlands and Saddle River, which may involve some DEP issues. Councilmember Winograd asked if he has any old renderings of the baseball diamond, and Mr. Rutishauser said that he would have to check. If he finds any, he will furnish them to Ms. Mailander for distribution to the Village Councilmembers.
Regarding lights on the Schedler property, Councilmember Winograd would recommend that no lights be installed. However, she asked whether conduits could be installed in the event permanent lights were installed in the future. Mr. Rutishauser said that additional conduits could be installed, but this would be up to the Village Council. He said that he raised the question about the lights and other questions with SHPO, and they suggested a follow-up meeting to discuss the implications of the proposed changes to the design plans. They said that they would send him some possible dates for the meeting after they had had a chance to review his email more thoroughly. Mr. Rutishauser indicated that he sent an email to SHPO and invited the representatives from SHPO to visit the Schedler site. He would like them to see the work that has been done on the house thus far. He has not yet gotten a reply to that email.
Mr. Rutishauser said that, although he did not receive answers to some of his questions, SHPO has indicated to him that they do not recommend the use of artificial turf on the Schedler property. They indicated that if turf were proposed on the site, the matter would be sent to the Historic Sites Council for a hearing, and the lighting request may end up with the same result. If the Village Council wishes for him to broach this subject with SHPO, he said that he would do so. Mr. Rutishauser indicated that he has been in discussions with SHPO for the past year and a half, and the results of those discussions are what was shown on the plans he presented at the last Village Council meeting on January 25, 2023.
Councilmember Winograd indicated that parking is also a big issue on the property, and she is still awaiting receipt of the traffic study that was performed. Mr. Rutishauser indicated that he has the traffic study that was performed in 2015 by the Ridgewood Police Department. He said that he would furnish this to Ms. Mailander for distribution to the Village Councilmembers.
Councilmember Winograd indicated that, to date, there is no intended usage for the house. She indicated that the Village owns several assets, which are configured for use by Village residents, such as the Lester Stable. Other assets, such as the Pease Library and HealthBarn, are revenue-generating assets. She asked what the proposed usage of the Zabriskie-Schedler house would be. Parking will really be needed when visitors came to see the house, as well as for people enjoying the walking path and watching a game on the field.
Mr. Rutishauser indicated that, once the Village Council gives him some direction about how they want the park to be designed, he will finalize the field layout and look carefully as to where the other elements, such as onsite parking, restrooms and playground, could be situated on the property. He said one of the questions he asked SHPO, but which was not answered, was the query about possibly making a community garden out of the triangular-shaped piece of land near the entrance. If SHPO refuses to allow this land to be used as a community garden, then he will ask them if it can be used as parking instead.
Councilmember Reynolds recalled that Mayor Vagianos had asked Mr. Rutishauser to provide the Village Council with an overlay of the baseball diamond and full-sized soccer field over the proposed smaller field. Mr. Rutishauser said that he did not do this, but he could try to do so. Councilmember Reynolds said that on the plans presented last week, everything has its own space, it was balanced, and nothing was squeezed in. With the smaller field, there was ample room for a nice wooded area, a playground, the rain gardens, walking path and parking lot; however, many of those elements are lost when the bigger playing field is inserted into the plans. She mentioned that the trees, which Mr. Rutishauser had planned to plant around the parking lot, would also be lost. Mr. Rutishauser replied that once a final field layout is approved, that is when he will reconfigure the landscaping, including the tree planting. Councilmember Reynolds stated that she felt the smaller field looked much better.
Councilmember Reynolds stated that she visited the Schedler property today and noted some stakes in the ground. She asked Mr. Rutishauser if those stakes were for the larger field. Mr. Rutishauser replied that the stakes are merely control points, which were used when the berm was constructed. He also mentioned that there are also some survey controls on the property, which makes it easier to locate something. Councilmember Reynolds said that she walked on the property and tried to visualize the smaller playing field suggested by the Ad Hoc Committee (150 feet by 225 feet). The bigger field is 225 feet by 345 feet, which would be squeezed in between the walking path and the trees on the east side of the house. She said that with the bigger field, there was not enough room for spectators around the field to sit and watch a game. Mr. Rutishauser said that all of these finer details will be delineated on revised plans, once the Village Council decides on the size of the field. Councilmember Reynolds said that she appreciated all of the work done by Mr. Rutishauser, but that she prefers the plan presented last week.
Councilmember Reynolds asked if there were two rows of trees on the berm, and Mr. Rutishauser confirmed that there was a row of trees on top of the berm and another row at the toe of the berm, on the inside. The trees are all of the same height and same species. The row at the bottom is just behind the three-rail, post-and-rail fence with the box mesh. Councilmember Reynolds asked how wide these trees would grow. Mr. Rutishauser stated that they would grow between 10 and 14 feet tall. Councilmember Reynolds remarked that the trees seemed like they were planted very far apart, and she asked Mr. Rutishauser if these trees would ever grow wide enough to provide a “screen.” Mr. Rutishauser replied that the trees were planted that way to allow room for growth and, once the trees have grown, they will provide a good sound-absorbing screen from Route 17. He said he will have to wait to see if they “grow into each other.” Mr. Rutishauser added that the trees alongside and on top of the berm will be well irrigated.
Councilmember Reynolds said that the southern wooded area to the left of the entrance is the only buffer the residents have from noise, particulate, and air pollution. She said that she is opposed to removing any trees in that area. She would rather see more community gardens at Habernickel Park. Mr. Rutishauser said there is possibly room for a community garden at Habernickel Park, on the sloping land to the left of the entrance. He said that he could speak with Nancy Bigos, Director of Parks and Recreation, to see if that is of interest to her. Mr. Rutishauser remarked that the community garden off of Meadowbrook Avenue suffers from flooding, just like the playing fields.
Councilmember Reynolds reiterated that she likes the plan presented last week and thinks that it would be approved by SHPO. If this is done, there could be a new field constructed by the end of spring. She feels that the Village Council should abide by the recommendations of the members of the Ad Hoc Committee. Even with the smaller field, there will still be clearcutting of a lot of trees. She counted about 200 trees that would need to be removed, just with the smaller field. Councilmember Reynolds said that, with no leaves on the trees, the noise was really loud from Route 17 traffic. She stated that when the trees have leaves, they provide a wonderful sound and pollution buffer for the neighbors. Councilmember Reynolds indicated that she agreed with Councilmember Winograd that there should not be any permanent lighting installed on the property. In addition, if SHPO indicates that a request for turf will send the matter to the Historic Sites Council, then Councilmember Reynolds would be against the installation of turf.
Mr. Rutishauser read an excerpt from a communication from SHPO: “SHPO does not recommend artificial turf. We’ve had several projects referred to the Historic Sites Council for turf fields.”
Councilmember Winograd pointed out that the 2017 proposal called for a turf field. She did some research and found three municipalities, which have been able to construct a turf field on a property with an historic designation. There was a ball field in Goffle Brook Park in Hawthorne, which was turfed after a court battle. The baseball field at Paterson’s Hinchcliffe Stadium is also being turfed, due to water and irrigation costs, as well as costs involved with grass maintenance. There is a field with an historical declaration in the Ironbound section of Newark that is also turfed. All of these projects were overseen by SHPO, which ultimately approved the turf application. Councilmember Winograd said that she has received many messages from residents stating that the smaller field is useless and there is a great need for a full-sized field due to the constant flooding of the other fields, which has adversely impacted the health and well-being of the Village’s youth.
Councilmember Reynolds thought that the smaller field could accommodate children up to the age of 12. Councilmember Winograd replied that the field could be used for children up to the age of 13 in certain sports. Councilmember Reynolds stated that her three children played multiple sports when they were younger, and decided upon one particular sport, as they got older. She thought that a larger field would not be used as much as a smaller field, since younger children usually play multiple sports.
Councilmember Reynolds acknowledged that there is a need for more fields in Ridgewood, but stated that clearcutting all of the trees on the Schedler property, in order to accommodate a larger field, would be harmful to the neighborhood in terms of noise and air pollution. Councilmember Winograd remarked that a significant amount of trees have already been removed from the property. She added that the property values of the homes in the area will increase due to the development of the Schedler property. She stated that the neighbors will not be harmed. In fact, she pointed out that the undeveloped property was an eyesore for many years before the improvements started.
Deputy Mayor Perron noted that the black lines on the plans denoted the soccer field, and the red lines delineated the lacrosse field. She asked what the red “skip lines” represented around the perimeter of both. Mr. Rutishauser replied that he does not know much about lacrosse, so he could not tell her what those lines represented. Councilmember Reynolds thought that the lines represented the 10 to 15 feet of land surrounding the field for seating.
Deputy Mayor Perron asked where a safety fence or netting would be installed around the field, if needed. Mr. Rutishauser replied that he emailed the question about netting to SHPO, but they have not given him an answer. Regarding a fence, there is a three-tier post-and-rail fence just inside the sidewalk along West Saddle River Road. The fence will have box mesh installed on the inside of the fence, similar to the fence which has already been installed at the toe of the berm. Deputy Mayor Perron asked how tall the netting would be, and Mr. Rutishauser replied that he is waiting to hear from SHPO as to what height they would approve for the netting. Once an answer is received from SHPO, then Mr. Rutishauser indicated that he would speak to the sports groups to see what height netting they would recommend.
Deputy Mayor Perron said that she and Mayor Vagianos visited the full-sized field at Immaculate Heart Academy, which also has a baseball diamond on it. She said that the playing field was huge and really beautiful. She then drove over to the Schedler property and tried to visualize how the larger field would fit on the property. She stated that there are many trees that will have to be removed. The wooded area now starts by the proposed crosswalk in the middle of the property by West Saddle River Road and continues to the northeast corner. She said that not all of the trees are mature, and there are many saplings. Deputy Mayor Perron acknowledged that it would take a long time for newly planted trees to grow.
Deputy Mayor Perron felt that the playground should remain where proposed and stated that the bathrooms needed to be closer to the playground. She thought that the parking lot could be moved and that the driveway didn’t need to be as long as it is. Deputy Mayor Perron said that she was concerned about turf, since she has not read any scientific studies about whether or not there are any harmful effects upon the environment from turf. She recalled reading many articles years ago, sent to her by Linda McNamara, about the detrimental effects of artificial turf. She said that turf may have come a long way since then, but the articles were mostly anecdotal and not scientific, and she found them to be inconclusive. She asked anyone who has any scientific studies from a peer-reviewed journal to send them to her. Deputy Mayor Perron said that she is skeptical about turf, particularly since most of the turf fields in Ridgewood have repeatedly flooded over the years and it costs a lot of money to clean them up after a storm. She also stated that the artificial turf on Maple Field got rolled up and thrown away, ending up in a landfill, and she wondered how long the turf would take to degrade. She does not feel that turf is good for the environment.
Regarding parking, Deputy Mayor Perron thanked the person who made the comment that the streets around the Schedler property are dead ends. She had not thought about the traffic implications on West Saddle River. She thinks that this presents a different situation than other streets in Ridgewood.
Regarding lighting, Deputy Mayor Perron described the big billboard, which will be erected, on Route 17 South, across the highway from the Schedler property. She said that many of the neighbors were not “keen” on the billboard being erected. She described Valleau Cemetery, the Old Paramus Church and the Schedler property as being historic areas, and she said that a giant illuminated billboard was not desirable. Deputy Mayor Perron said that if permanent lights were installed on the Schedler property, it would set a precedent for the future. She has not made up her mind yet about the plans.
Mayor Vagianos said that he was happy to hear comments from everyone this evening in a respectful and passionate manner, even though there are people with differing opinions. Mayor Vagianos said that the baseball field does not really fit on any of the conceptual drawings. He spoke about the 6,600 square feet of woods that would be lost if the larger field were constructed, as opposed to the 8,300 square feet of existing woods that can remain. Mr. Rutishauser confirmed that this is the amount of square feet of woods presently existing on the property. If a full-sized multipurpose field were constructed on the property, an adequate amount of trees would still remain. However, the construction of such a field would necessitate the removal of some trees, with an additional area of the property designated for tree plantings to make up for the loss of the trees removed for the field construction. Approximately the same amount of trees would be removed, whether there were a small field or large field constructed.
Mayor Vagianos said that the parking lot looked “skinny” with the full-sized field. He asked if the two proposed parking lots could be adjusted in any way so that the larger one near Route 17 was moved northward, towards the wooded area along the berm. Mr. Rutishauser said that could be accomplished.
Mayor Vagianos then asked if the parking lot near the house could be relocated more southward. Mr. Rutishauser said that he would have to be careful, because they have already constructed the ADA ramp from the rear of the house to where the parking lot was proposed to be, with a Bergen County Community Development Block Grant. He said that Bergen County would be annoyed if the ramp was not utilized as originally configured. He said that he could look at “flipping” the lot, so that the stalls are on the opposite side. Mr. Rutishauser said that they would have to be careful with the large hickory tree in that location, because the intention is to preserve that tree. Mr. Rutishauser explained that there are two hickory trees on the south side of the house, and a sugar maple on the northwest corner of the house. Mayor Vagianos agreed that these trees should be preserved.
Mayor Vagianos suggested that new plans be drawn up and reviewed at the Work Session scheduled for February 22, 2023. He said he would like to eliminate the full-sized baseball field and tweak the parking and wooded areas. He reiterated the four key aspects: time, trees, flooding and neighbors. He stated that he would like to strike a balance between the interests of all residents, neighbors and sports organizations. Mayor Vagianos said that he would be willing to have coffee with any residents who have questions or concerns. He added that he would like the concerns raised by Deputy Mayor Perron about the environmental impact of turf to be addressed.
It was agreed that this matter would be placed on the agenda for the February 22, 2023 Work Session. Mayor Vagianos added that there was a small baseball field contained within the confines of the multipurpose field at Immaculate Heart Academy. He asked Mr. Rutishauser to develop some further plans so that he could see how this could be accomplished on the Schedler property. He said that this was suggested by Mr. Muller of the Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association.
Councilmember Reynolds asked Mr. Rutishauser if he knew the width of West Saddle River Road. Mr. Rutishauser said that the width is approximately 24 feet from curb to curb. Councilmember Reynolds asked if there were any plans to widen the road, and Mr. Rutishauser replied that there were no such plans, explaining that the proposed street parking spots would be cut into the field side property (8-1/2 feet). The road will remain 24 feet wide. Councilmember Reynolds asked where a playground could possibly be located, and Mr. Rutishauser replied that he would have to take a look at that. Mayor Vagianos said that the playground is a necessity.
Councilmember Reynolds asked if the proposed rain gardens could remain. Mr. Rutishauser replied that once the layout of the field and parking is determined, he would fit the rain gardens in where he can, because the ground will have to be graded in such a way so that the stormwater runoff flows to the rain gardens. There are no inlets for stormwater collection on the property for the parking areas, but there are a couple of inlets in the field location.
Councilmember Winograd stated that she wants to make sure that all Village Councilmembers receive the traffic study. Mr. Rutishauser said that he has a very extensive study, which was done by the Ridgewood Police Department in 2015, which he will forward to Ms. Mailander for distribution. Councilmember Winograd also mentioned the CoolPlay Turf field that was constructed in Ho-Ho-Kus along Hollywood Avenue, and asked that the environmental study performed by Ho-Ho-Kus be obtained. Ms. Mailander indicated that she will probably be seeing the Ho-Ho-Kus Administrator tomorrow, so she will ask him about the study.
Councilmember Winograd indicated that she would like to receive an update from the various sports organizations in Ridgewood as to number of players in each sport. In 2017, the RBSA had 1,400 players, with 110 teams in rec alone, and 210 in kickball.
The Village Councilmembers took a three-minute break. The meeting was reconvened, and at roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos. Also present were Heather Mailander, Village Manager/Village Clerk, and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
7. DISCUSSION
A. RIDGEWOOD WATER
1. AWARD STATE CONTRACT – MAINTENANCE OF GENERATORS
Ms. Mailander explained that this item pertains to the awarding of a State contract for maintenance of generators. The Village awarded a three-year contract for the maintenance of backup generators for Ridgewood Water, in March 2022. There are 15 auxiliary power generators in the Ridgewood Water system. This is the second year of a three-year contract, under the Sourcewell Cooperative Pricing System, and it is recommended that the second year be awarded to Cummins, Inc., of Kearny, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $42,176.15. Funding is in the Water Operating Budget.
2. ANNUAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS SERVICE – VENDOR NAME CHANGE
Ms. Mailander explained that this item pertains to a vendor name change regarding annual laboratory analysis services. The Village Council awarded Annual Laboratory Analysis Services and Annual PFAS Laboratory Analysis Services for Ridgewood Water for 2023 and 2024 in December 2022. Ridgewood Water has been informed that Aqua Pro-Tech, Inc., the vendor awarded the contract, has been sold to Pace Analytical Services, LLC. This name change requires the adoption of new resolutions, so that the vendor can be paid.
3. BID REJECTION – VALLEY VIEW RESERVOIR AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS
Ms. Mailander stated that bids were received for the Valley View Reservoir and Site Improvements for Ridgewood Water. Two bids were received from Brave Industrial Paint, LLC, of Long Branch, New Jersey, and DN Tanks, LLC, of Wakefield, Massachusetts. It is recommended that both bids be rejected since they exceed the cost estimate from T&M Associates, consulting engineer. The exceedance was in the sum of $189,250.00. The project will be rebid, with alternatives to the bid, and both current bids will be rejected.
B. PARKING
1. UPDATES TO PARKING REGULATIONS
Ms. Mailander explained that Police Sergeant Jay Chuck is present at the meeting this evening, as well as Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke and Mr. Rutishauser, to explain what changes will be made to update the parking regulations in Ridgewood. Sergeant Chuck said that the parking enforcement and traffic teams have been working on this project for a while, so that problems can be identified with parking in Ridgewood and some simple solutions determined to alleviate these problems. The main complaint is that of confusing payment structures. Sergeant Chuck said that there are six payment methods in Station Plaza. The downtown area is “littered” with signs, ranging in colors from brown to purple to green, and there are an excess number of signs covering too many rules. In addition, the rules in one parking area are very close to different rules in an adjacent area.
Sergeant Chuck stated that some of the kiosks are too close to other zones, and this has led to a lot of confusion. For example, if someone parked in “the hole” (the parking lot at the end of East Ridgewood Avenue), there is a parking kiosk in front of the entrance. However, that kiosk actually belongs to parking on Broad Street and not “the hole” on East Ridgewood Avenue. People parking on Chestnut Street, close to the Chestnut Street lot, tend to use the kiosk on Chestnut Street, rather than using the kiosk in the Chestnut Street parking lot. They would like to restructure some of the zones, by placing all of the kiosks into one zone, because the present configuration is confusing. Chief Luthcke said that this confusion has resulted in many people being ticketed. Her goal is to make payment for parking more user-friendly so that people are clear on where they need to pay.
Councilmember Winograd asked how many zones there are presently. Sergeant Chuck replied that there are currently 33 zones. He said that this number of zones were established to make enforcement easier for the Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs). Councilmember Winograd asked if the large number of zones is to avoid repeat parking. Sergeant Chuck said that repeat parking pertains to a parking spot, not a zone. One can park in the same zone, but in a different spot. He said that it would be too difficult to enforce repeat parking per zone. Councilmember Winograd asked if there could be two “technical zones,” since the pricing for parking at the Hudson Street Garage is different from the pricing for on-street parking. Sergeant Chuck stated that there are only two rates: a parking lot rate and a street rate. The rates are $1.00 an hour in the parking lots and $1.25 for street parking. The lot at the top of East Ridgewood Avenue is considered street-level parking.
Sergeant Chuck continued by saying that the signage in the parking garage is very difficult to find. He would like to relocate the signs and make the rules in the garage more straightforward. The biggest problem he has are exemptions. Every time they want to establish a parking rule, there are exemptions, and this confuses everyone. He explained that parking on the first floor of the garage is “pay only” (coins, credit card, app.) for a maximum of three hours. On the second floor, it is pay only with a hangtag exemption (premium pass only); after 12:00 P.M., one can pay to park for three hours maximum. On the third floor of the garage, one can park using an employee pass for up to 11 hours; they can have a hangtag or they could utilize a secondary non-premium pass. He said that there are already six 24-hour stalls purchased for the year. On the fourth floor, there is parking for CBD employees only (either a monthly pass or they pay with coins or via the app) and no other hangtags are allowed.
Sergeant Chuck said that he would like to simplify the parking rules. The ground rule would be “pay to park” whenever someone parks in a marked parking spot in the Village (does not apply to an unmarked spot). He said that, currently, the rule is hangtags in some areas; some areas are hangtags or pay; and some areas are pay only. The exemptions will be the hangtags, if allowed in a certain spot. Sergeant Chuck explained that the first, second and third floors of the parking garage will have three-hour limits, from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. (same as street parking). Commuters generally arrive before 9:00 A.M. in order to catch an early train, and they should have no problem finding a parking spot and using their hangtag. The fourth floor would be reserved for CBD employees, who can park up to 11 hours. He said that they cannot “co-mingle” the parking hours. Sergeant Chuck mentioned that a trial period for parking with one of the bigger employers in the CBD did not work out, so only the fourth floor is needed for employees. The top floor of the parking garage is closed during snow days, and those who usually park on the fourth floor will be directed to park on the third floor, when there is snow.
When questioned by Councilmember Reynolds, Sergeant Chuck replied that commuters may park all day long on the second and third decks, using their hangtag. If someone wanted to park in the garage for just a day, he/she would need to purchase a day pass online. Ms. Mailander clarified that day passes can only be used at the train station lot (Station Plaza), in the parking garage, and in the Cottage Place lot. Day passes can be printed out and displayed on a car’s dashboard, or it can be paid for on the ParkMobile app and it is fed into the system.
Councilmember Winograd asked Sergeant Chuck what his observations have been regarding the volume of commuters. Sergeant Chuck replied that Station Plaza is busy, almost at full capacity every day, and the parking garage is “still not there.” He said that the volume of commuters is not what it used to be pre-Covid.
Councilmember Reynolds asked what Sergeant Chuck has observed in the parking garage, and he replied that Monday through Friday (during regular business hours), usage is low (30% to 40%). On Thursday nights, Fridays and Saturdays, the parking garage is 70% to 80% full.
Deputy Mayor Perron asked if people are able to pay for parking on Sundays via the ParkMobile app, and Sergeant Chuck said that they are not able to do so. The same would apply to holidays. Deputy Mayor Perron said that this was an improvement over meters, which would accept coins at any time, including Sundays and Federal holidays.
Regarding Station Plaza, Sergeant Chuck stated that it is a “super busy” place, at which there are currently five different parking rules. He would like to simplify this by allowing people to park there from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, for a maximum of three hours. Exemptions would include the hangtags and the Ridgewood Daily Pass (RDP). Deputy Mayor Perron remarked that this is very good for the west side of the CBD, where parking is limited. On Saturdays, people can pay to park all day, from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M, as well as using hangtags and RDP passes.
Councilmember Reynolds asked if people would be able to pay to park at the parking garage all day, and Sergeant Chuck said he would like to see how these new rules work first. The RDPs can be purchased on the Village website ($10.00 for day) and not on the ParkMobile app.
Sergeant Chuck indicated that, a couple of years ago, the Village decided to have two different pay structures in the parking lots and the streets, to encourage people to use the lots. He stated that this has not worked, and no one has been encouraged to park in these lots for 25 cents an hour less than on the streets. He stated that for the entire reorganization of all of the zones to be less confusing for residents, there needs to be one flat pay structure for the lots and streets. Ms. Mailander remarked that she has spoken to Mr. Rooney and he recommends $1.25 across the board, due to debt service and maintenance costs for the garage. Sergeant Chuck recommended the restructuring of zones to allow for more kiosks, to enhance ease of finding a kiosk in a zone, and to reduce confusion and frustration when people pay the wrong zone.
Deputy Mayor Perron mentioned the Walker Report and the fact that there was a time when the Village Council considered doing revisions to the report. (This was a preliminary financial analysis report for the proposed Hudson Street Garage, done by Walker Consultants in 2015.) She mentioned that she has never seen this report, and Ms. Mailander said that she would speak to Mr. Rooney to see if she can obtain a copy of the report for Deputy Mayor Perron.
Councilmember Winograd said that there are many people who feel that $1.25 is too much to pay for an hour’s worth of street parking. She thinks that the 25-cent difference can dissuade people from parking and shopping in Ridgewood. Chief Luthcke stated that if the rate is not uniform across the board, the changes cannot be made to the zones. Councilmember Winograd indicated that she would like to see all parking rates be $1.00 per hour.
Sergeant Chuck then showed a diagram on the screen showing the proposed reorganization of the parking zones. He pointed out that the major reorganization concerns East Ridgewood Avenue. Currently, East Ridgewood Avenue is a zone on the “north curb” and a zone on the “south curb,” which is confusing to many people. He would like to change this to make the zone east and west of Oak Street. Sergeant Chuck indicated that in this new proposal, they have “married the lots to the streets,” meaning that the Walnut Street lot kiosk is the same as the Walnut Street kiosk; the Cottage Place lot kiosk is the same as the Cottage Place kiosk; the Chestnut Street lot kiosk is the same as the Chestnut Street kiosk; and the Prospect Street lot kiosk is the same as the Prospect Street kiosk. He feels that this will be more convenient for people and avoid confusion. Kiosks would be installed in front of each parking lot, at street level.
Mayor Vagianos said that a quick look at the map shows about 15 different zones, reduced from 33 zones. He asked if the zones could be further reduced, because he gets many angry calls from people who have been ticketed even though they thought they had paid appropriately for parking. Chief Luthcke indicated that the less zones there are, the longer the “sheets” are with license plate numbers, which the Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs) have to scroll through, in order to see if someone has paid for parking or is in violation. The PEOs are performing this function on phones rather than on iPads or some other device, and it is time consuming to scroll through all of the pages on a phone.
Mayor Vagianos wondered if there was a search function, which could be used by the PEOs in order to locate a particular license plate number on the app. Sergeant Chuck said that that is a possibility, but he asked Mayor Vagianos to imagine having to punch in thousands of license plate numbers per day. Sergeant Chuck explained the procedure by which PEOs determine whether or not parking has been paid, is expired, or is about to expire. Mayor Vagianos wondered if the PEOs could merely take a picture of a license plate and then search the app to see if a particular parking spot has been paid for or not. Sergeant Chuck said that the car used by the PEOs has that functionality, but the car is getting old and the PEO would have to stop right in the middle of a street, such as East Ridgewood Avenue, in order to scan a license plate. He said that PEOs feel more comfortable walking on the sidewalks in order to perform their duties, and this function is not available on the phone app.
Mayor Vagianos asked if it were possible to get that capability installed on the phones. Sergeant Chuck said that he could ask someone at the company that developed the software system used for reading license plates, whether or not that function could be installed on the phone app. He indicated that the camera system in the car is expensive. Mayor Vagianos said that he would appreciate Sergeant Chuck looking into this, realizing that additional costs would be incurred.
Mayor Vagianos indicated that the additional signage in the parking garage is a “no brainer.” He said that he was grateful to the Police Department for attempting to simplify the parking situation, rules, zones and signage in the Village.
Sergeant Chuck reviewed some other transitions he would like to make for parking in the CBD. He would like to see the old unsightly meter poles removed. Councilmember Winograd said that there are approximately 1,200 parking meter poles left in the CBD that are decapitated. Mr. Rutishauser clarified that there are between 1,200 or 1,400 poles made out of ferrous metal. Some poles are bolted to brick and some are bolted to concrete. Councilmember Winograd suggested that one pole be removed and studied to see if there is any metal in the poles which could be reclaimed, which could generate revenue. She stated that she sees these headless poles as posing a liability and safety hazard to the Village, as well as adding to the visual pollution in the CBD.
Ms. Mailander clarified by stating that the Signal Division has already come up with a way to remove the old meter poles and “cap” the holes in the concrete or brick. Mr. Rutishauser indicated that the metal posts would be recycled at a scrap yard, and revenue would be based on weight. This revenue would go into the “Municipal Revenues Not Anticipated” account (MRNA). Municipal finance laws do not permit the money to go into an account to buy “more new stuff.” Councilmember Winograd asked if the revenue could go into the Parking Utility account, and Mr. Rutishauser said that Mr. Rooney may attempt to do so, but Mr. Rutishauser would challenge him on that. The Signal Division is ready to start removing the parking meter poles and are just waiting for the weather to improve, so that whatever mortar is mixed to fill in the holes will be cured properly.
Councilmember Winograd asked what the hole caps would look like. Sergeant Chuck indicated that there will be no caps. The poles will be completely removed and the holes filled in with mortar or bricks, as the location may warrant. When questioned by Councilmember Winograd as to whether or not all of the meter poles would be removed at the same time, Mr. Rutishauser replied that they are going to start a test area on Chestnut Street. This work will probably begin very early in the morning, around 5:00 A.M. When asked how long it would take to remove all the poles, Mr. Rutishauser replied that it depends upon how many people are put on the job. Rich Tarleton, Supervisor of the Signal Division, has indicated that he feels the job can be completed fairly quickly. However, Mr. Rutishauser said that he did not want to commit to any timetable.
Sergeant Chuck continued by saying that he would like to have the old signs replaced with fewer, newer signs that are clear and larger on the street. The garage signs should be moved to a location where they are more visible to drivers and pedestrians, such as by the ramps and stairs. Dylan Hansen, IT Director, held up a sample sign which would be placed above the kiosk, saying “Pay Here” and “Pay by Plate,” with arrows directing drivers to the appropriate kiosk and the zone number printed on the sign. Mr. Hansen then held up another sample sign that would be installed underneath the first sign that was shown. It would indicate when parking is permitted in that zone; for example, “Parking 9 AM – 8 PM, Mon-Fri; 10 AM – 6 PM Saturday; 3 hr. limit; Sundays & Federal Holidays Excluded.” This would apply to parking on the street as well as in the lots. Sergeant Chuck feels that the size of the signs and the bright colors will attract the attention of drivers.
Deputy Mayor Perron said that she was concerned about the wording on the smaller sign, where it says “Sundays & Federal Holidays Excluded.” She is afraid that drivers will take that wording to mean that no parking is allowed there at all on Sundays and federal holidays. Mayor Vagianos suggested the wording, “Sundays & Federal Holidays Free.” Deputy Mayor Perron agreed. She stated that for the past 40 years, people have been confused about parking on Sundays, and she is happy to see that this will finally be clarified. Mr. Rutishauser said that this rewording can be done.
Deputy Mayor Perron said that many of these parking regulations have been based on whether or not one has a Village of Ridgewood sticker on their car. She wondered whether this would still be needed under the revamped program. Sergeant Chuck indicated that those stickers will only be needed if one uses a hangtag or a Ridgewood Daily Pass for exemptions. Deputy Mayor Perron wondered if these stickers are able to be read through tinted windows. Sergeant Chuck said they picked a grey color for the sticker this year, which is more difficult to read, but in other years, it was fine.
Deputy Mayor Perron said that the kiosks consistently do not accept quarters, which she finds frustrating. She gets emails from people all the time regarding this problem. Sergeant Chuck said that they have “attacked” that problem this week, especially staff from the Signal Division, by performing maintenance on every kiosk. They are speaking with Cale, the manufacturer of the kiosks, to see if there is any updated hardware that can be used. They are talking about removing the trap door on the kiosks to see if that helps with the use of coins. Sergeant Chuck said that credit cards work well, but people don’t usually want to put 25 cents on their credit card. Deputy Mayor Perron remarked that the 15-minute meters seem to be working fairly well.
Councilmember Winograd indicated that she sent a video to Ms. Mailander regarding the pedestrian plaza. She received some feedback from Beers Flower Shop, Quality Shoe and the dry cleaners (on Oak Street) that they felt they couldn’t be accessed as much, because there were not enough 15-minute meter spots in the Chestnut Street lot. She asked whether or not there could be two 15-minute meters installed in that rear lot, particularly during the summer months. Sergeant Chuck replied that there are currently no meter poles in the Chestnut Street lot, and they would have to be added. He said that the only issue with adding 15-minute spots in the middle of a zone and in the middle of a parking lot, is that people will find a parking spot, pull into it, and ignore the fact that there is a meter there. This is the reason why they prefer the 15-minute meters to be located at either the beginning or end of a street. He said that they could try installing some 15-minute meters in the Chestnut Street lot to see how it goes, but that they could not be placed in the middle of the lot. Councilmember Winograd said that she was thinking more in the vicinity of the end cap by the alleyway. Mayor Vagianos said that he would be agreeable to this, if it were okay with the police and Mr. Rooney. Sergeant Chuck mentioned that the Chestnut Street lot is a pretty active lot and is full most of the day. He will speak with Mr. Rooney about this.
Mayor Vagianos asked what the signage looks like for the 15-minute meters. Sergeant Chuck replied that some of the areas where Officer Tarino worked on, while developing the hybrid loading zones, are signed very well. He said that the other 15-minute spots “lag behind.” Mayor Vagianos said that signs are like advertising, and he felt that perhaps new visible signs could be developed for the 15-minute spots at the same time the new signs are developed for the kiosks. Sergeant Chuck said that he would speak with Mr. Tarleton and his staff to see what can be done.
Sergeant Chuck said that with the removal of the posts, they will have to number the spots on the street level. This will be strictly for enforcement and accountability. He said that if construction is going to occur outside of a business, and the construction equipment will take up three metered parking spots, it will be easier for the crew to indicate the numbered spots rather than describing them in another way. It will also make enforcement easier, particular if a ticket is challenged in court. Councilmember Reynolds asked how large the numbers would be, and Sergeant Chuck replied that the numbers would be approximately eight to ten inches and they are going to try to put the numbers at the head of the parking spot. This will allow for easier readability by the license plate reader.
Mayor Vagianos asked how many parking spaces could be gained if the “safety zones” or additional footage in the parking spaces were eliminated. He said that he spends a lot of time on East Ridgewood Avenue, and he has yet to see these areas used as they were intended to be used. Sergeant Chuck explained that the spaces are bigger to allow for better maneuverability of a car while parking. He said that cars are not 14 or 16 feet in length anymore, but are 20 feet or more in length. If the parking spaces were shortened, larger cars would have difficulty parking in those spots. Chief Luthcke said that the increase in parking spaces, by shortening the current larger spaces, would be directly correlated to an increase in car accidents. Mayor Vagianos said that he has not noted any of these larger spaces in any other municipality. Ms. Mailander remarked that Westwood has the larger parking spaces.
Sergeant Chuck stated that the greatest parking demand is between 5:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. There is ample parking available at any other time of the day. Mr. Rutishauser stated that he discussed the smaller parking spaces with Dave Hefferan, the “sign guy,” who showed him an excerpt from the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) regarding the larger spaces. Mr. Rutishauser said that the larger spaces may be a legal obligation of the Village. The MUTCD governs how streets and parking are conducted in a public right-of-way. Mayor Vagianos asked why the Village would be required to have the larger spots. Mr. Rutishauser replied that they would be required because both he and the Village “know about it” and it could also be related to grants and Federal oversight of monies. He will supply the excerpt to Mayor Vagianos.
Mayor Vagianos asked if his Village Council colleagues had any interest in learning about this regulation and, if not, he would not pursue it. Councilmember Weitz said that he would like to learn a little more about the larger spaces, and he agreed with Mayor Vagianos that he is not aware of many municipalities who have them. He said that he has heard about this issue for years and would like to see some “hard and fast” information on it. Councilmember Reynolds stated that she is sure that most people do not know how to parallel park and the larger spaces are needed. Councilmember Winograd that she appreciates the “nice little buffer” afforded by the larger spaces, particularly since she is the mother of two teenage drivers. She would personally like to see less vehicular traffic on East Ridgewood Avenue and more foot traffic. Mayor Vagianos asked Mr. Rutishauser to provide him with the excerpt from the MUTCD, along with any other pertinent information. He would also like to know the number of additional parking spaces that would be obtained with shorter parking spaces.
Ms. Mailander said that the removal of the meter poles would begin at the Chestnut Street lot, once the weather warms up a little bit. She said that she was concerned about the big sign that says “Pay Here,” because without the “directional,” a visitor to Ridgewood would not know where the kiosk is. She is hoping that the signs will be very visual and clear, so that there is no confusion. Mayor Vagianos thanked Chief Luthcke and Sergeant Chuck for their presentation.
C. BUDGET
1. AWARD COOPERATIVE PURCHASE – POLICE RADIOS
Ms. Mailander explained that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract for the purchase of two Tri-band Motorola mobile radios for use in police patrol cars. These radios will replace broken or failing radios, as well as add new radios to incoming vehicles. The radios being installed will give the Police Department the ability to communicate with all towns and county agencies around Ridgewood, including the ability to communicate on the County-encrypted channels. The purchase would be made under the State’s Cooperative Purchasing Program. It is recommended that the contract be awarded to Motorola Radio c/o Regional Communications of Paramus, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $16,717.00.
Councilmember Weitz recalled that, at the January 31, 2023 budget meeting, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department had indicated that they bulk order these radios for the Police, Fire, and other departments. He asked if there was a way to get a better price for these radios if they were ordered in bulk. Sergeant Chuck replied that they are currently purchasing the Motorola radios, because the County system is Motorola-based for police. He said that Sergeant Scarpa of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, a long-time Ridgewood resident, helps the “radio guru” in the Police Department with their radio systems. This is State contract pricing, so there are no group rates. He acknowledged how expensive the Motorola radios are, but he stated that the Kenmore radios they are currently using, have been used longer than he has been on the Police force, and will be replaced.
2. AWARD COOPERATIVE PURCHASE – ROCK SALT
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract, under the Bergen County Cooperative Purchasing Program, for the purchase of untreated rock salt in bulk. It is recommended that the contract be awarded to Atlantic Salt Inc. of Lowell, Massachusetts, in an amount not to exceed $78.75 a ton. The total is $140,000.00. Funding is in the Street Operating Budget. Last year’s quote for the untreated rock salt was $75.00 per ton, an increase of $3.75 per ton for 2023. However, this is significantly less than the prior year’s increase of $20.59 per ton.
3. AWARD CONTRACT – CONCESSION REFRESHMENT SERVICE 2023
Ms. Mailander stated that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract for concession refreshment services at Graydon Pool Water’s Edge Café for this summer season. One bid packet was received, and it is recommended that this contract be awarded to Michael Sims, Mellsworth Foods, Inc., of Ramsey, New Jersey. Mr. Sims has serviced the Water’s Edge Café for the past six years and has provided excellent service. Mellsworth Foods will pay the Village the sum of $10,500.00 for the summer season. Mayor Vagianos pointed out an error on the bid proposal, stating that the total amount of the bid for 2023 and 2024 was indicated as $10,500.00, yet the paragraph below indicates the sum of $1,050.00. Councilmember Reynolds clarified that the amount of $1,050.00 represents a 10% security deposit to ensure performance of the contract (bid bond), which will be returned to the vendor once the terms of the contract have been completed.
4. ACCEPT DONATION FROM NORTH JERSEY MASTERS - COMMUNITY CENTER
Ms. Mailander stated that this is a resolution to accept a monetary donation of $1,000.00 to the Community Center from North Jersey Masters, which organizes the Memorial Day Run in Ridgewood. Each year, volunteers, made up of Parks and Recreation staff and family members, as well as neighboring residents, host a water table on Fairfield Avenue for the race participants. Any proceeds will go to the Community Center to help fund programs as needed (as unmarked funds), meaning that they can use the funds as they so choose.
5. RESCIND/REPLACE – NJDOT GRANT PAVING
Ms. Mailander explained that this resolution is for the purpose of rescinding and replacing a resolution regarding a New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) grant. A contract for paving was awarded to the low bidder, American Asphalt and Trucking, LLC, of Newark, New Jersey, in the amount of $414,961.62. This resurfacing will be performed on Prospect Street. This project is partially funded by an NJDOT municipal aid grant in the amount of $200,000.00. Last year, pursuant to Resolution #22-364, the Village made an award of $350,000.00 for the work to American Asphalt. Since this was not the full amount of the bid, the Village has been advised that this award is not acceptable and must be in the full amount of the bid in order to comply with NJDOT requirements and be eligible for the grant. This proposed Resolution would award the full amount of the bid to American Asphalt, in accordance with NJDOT requirements, and will rescind Resolution #22-364.
Deputy Mayor Perron asked if the paving on Prospect Street would run from Ridgewood Avenue to Maple Avenue, or perhaps to Grove Street. Ms. Mailander indicated that she would find out the answer to this question.
6. SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR STYROFOAM DENSIFIER – GLEN ROCK
Ms. Mailander said that this item pertains to a Shared Services Agreement for the Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene packaging) densifier at the Recycling Center. The Village has had this densifier for about a year and the department is seeking to share it with other municipalities to generate revenue through a Shared Services Agreement. Research will be done beforehand to determine what price should be charged to an outside municipality wishing to use these services. Neighboring municipalities have been contacted to determine interest. Deputy Mayor Perron asked if she could email any edits to the document to Ms. Mailander, since the agreement was just distributed, and Ms. Mailander said that that would be fine.
Sean Hamlin, Recycling Supervisor, indicated that when they were first considering this proposal, they were looking at a $150.00 flat rate charge for accepting and densifying 95-gallon bags of Styrofoam. However, they eventually determined that this did not make sense, so they have decided to charge per bag, at a competitive rate. Other Styrofoam recycling companies charge $125.00 per truckload, but there is no specification as to how big or small the load should be, so municipalities are not happy with this arrangement, since sometimes they are paying a lot for a small load. Some municipalities also have problems with storage and trucking of the Styrofoam, so they have discontinued their municipal Styrofoam recycling programs. Some municipalities are seeking to “revive” their Styrofoam recycling program with the Village’s Styrofoam densifier.
Mayor Vagianos asked if there are other municipalities recycling Styrofoam. Mr. Hamlin replied that there are, but they do not have a densifier, and many have stopped their program because the only place they can bring their Styrofoam to is a facility located in Haskell, New Jersey. If the Ridgewood Recycling Center had not gotten the densifier and continued to truck Styrofoam to a landfill, as part of solid waste, it would have cost the Village over $10,000.00 a year in disposal fees.
Mayor Vagianos said that it seemed to be a lot of work for municipalities without a densifier to load Styrofoam into 95-gallon bags, but Mr. Hamlin said that it is not labor intensive. In fact, they do it at the Ridgewood Recycling Center, because they get a lot of Styrofoam for recycling and need to store it in the bags until it can be densified. Mayor Vagianos asked if it would be easier to weigh the Styrofoam as it came in, and Mr. Hamlin said that it would not be easier because Styrofoam barely has any weight to it. There was further discussion about whether it would be more prudent to charge per weight of the load. Mr. Hamlin stated that they did an experiment and tried to weigh a huge load of Styrofoam, and it only weighed seven pounds.
Outside municipalities would pay the Village $5.00 per 95-gallon bag. Mr. Hamlin indicated that 25 95-gallon bags would fit in a roll-off. They can densify 25 such bags in half an hour. They are trying to limit each Styrofoam drop-off to half an hour of labor. The densified Styrofoam would then be sold to PolyMold in Princeton, New Jersey. Mr. Hamlin indicated that since the Styrofoam recycling program began in January of 2022, they have successfully collected over 7,000 pounds of Styrofoam, and $3,008.00 has been generated in revenue. The price fluctuates between 42 and 45 cents per pound. Mayor Vagianos asked if there was another market for the densified Styrofoam other than PolyMold. Mr. Hamlin said that there are other companies, but they do not pay as much. He said that the market for this material is infinite, and there was a great need for the recycling of Styrofoam because landfill locations are becoming scarce and Styrofoam must be taken out of the landfills. Ridgewood is the first municipality in Bergen County with a Styrofoam densifier.
D. POLICY
1. OUTDOOR CAFES
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to outdoor cafes, primarily seasonal operation of same. They are currently permitted from March 1st through December 31st, and they are currently not permitted from January 1st through February 28th/29th on the public sidewalk or right-of-way. Mayor Vagianos thought that outdoor cafes should be allowed year round, since there are many warm days during January and February. He said that it was great for both residents and businesses, and also entices people to visit Ridgewood. He pointed out that outdoor cafes were allowed throughout the year for many years, and then it was changed to not allow outdoor cafes in January and February. Ms. Mailander pointed out that, during the Covid pandemic, the outdoor cafes were allowed all year.
Councilmember Reynolds said that she agreed with having outdoor cafes year round, but stated that during extremely cold weather, some of the outdoor dining areas look cluttered and messy. Mayor Vagianos agreed, but stated that restaurants usually bring their chairs and tables inside during inclement weather. Councilmember Reynolds wondered if anything could be specified in the ordinance, which would require restaurants to bring their chairs and tables inside when temperatures are not conducive to outdoor dining. She pointed out that the tables and chairs could be a safety hazard for pedestrians walking on the sidewalk in heavy winter attire.
Councilmember Winograd also would like to see some language inserted into the ordinance about the need for snow removal. Councilmember Weitz thought that this should be addressed separately, to ensure that businesses keep their premises neat and clean, and free of clutter, so that sidewalks may be cleared of snow. Mr. Rogers said that Councilmember Weitz was probably talking about a general regulation with regard to the maintenance and care of premises by a store or property owner, particularly during a snow event when sidewalks need to be cleared or during an event when the “free flow” of traffic is required.
Mayor Vagianos said that such a clause could be written into the “Café Ordinance,” since tickets are issued to the business owner and not necessarily the landlord of the property. Mr. Rogers indicated that a commercial property owner is responsible for the upkeep of the sidewalks in front of their premises. He said that the issue arises when that responsibility is assigned to a tenant in their lease. Mayor Vagianos said that he would like to see this regulation written into the Cafe Ordinance and would like the outdoor cafes to be permitted for 12 months. He said that the enforcement officer could take care of ensuring that restaurants are keeping their premises neat and clean during the winter months. Mr. Rogers indicated that he would draft the necessary ordinance amendments.
2. ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item is in regard to an ordinance amending Chapter 3, Article II, of the Code of the Village of Ridgewood, entitled “Village Council,” pertaining to Section 5 (“Annual Organization”) and Section 6 (“Mayor; Deputy Mayor; President Pro Tempore”), and to change the date from July 1st to January 1st. This is relative to the change in the date of election of Village Councilmembers to the November General Election.
Deputy Mayor Perron said that she was fine with this ordinance amendment, and that she just sent the Planning Board and Zoning Board Ordinances, which need similar amendments, to Ms. Mailander today. Mr. Rogers also indicated that this amendment would make the ordinance “gender neutral” rather than being more masculine-oriented.
3. GRAYDON POOL, TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL MEMBERSHIP 2023
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to Graydon Pool, tennis and pickleball membership fees for 2023. The Parks, Recreation and Conservation (PRC) Board suggested that fees be adjusted to accommodate the increase in cost of living expenses. They are also proposing the addition of a babysitter category for Graydon Pool membership, as the need for this has increased over the years. This would allow a family to purchase a babysitter pass for their household to be used for any babysitter, au pair, or nanny (over the age of 18) that may be caring for their child. The babysitter badge would have the restriction that the user may not enter the facility without the child and those with a babysitter badge would not be able to bring any guests. In addition, they are recommending that the non-resident pickleball memberships be reinstated and that a maximum number of non-resident badges to be sold be set at 50.
A question had previously been raised about the fees for non-resident senior badges for tennis and pickleball, where “N/A” was indicated on the fee schedule. Ms. Mailander indicated that these fees would be the same as for a non-resident adult membership ($60.00). The fee schedule will be amended to reflect same.
There was some discussion about the daily guest badges for Graydon Pool for adult/child/senior residents. Any resident without a seasonal membership could purchase a daily guest badge for $15.00 per day, and could bring another resident guest for $15.00 per day. Otherwise, a non-resident adult/child/senior (sponsored by an adult member/resident) would pay $20.00 for a daily guest badge. Deputy Mayor Perron asked for whom the resident member guest coupon books (11 visits at $150.00) could be used, and she was advised that the coupon book could only be purchased by an adult resident member, for use by their guests. Everyone was in agreement with the fees for Graydon Pool.
Regarding the purchase of badges for tennis and pickleball memberships, Ms. Mailander asked the Councilmembers if they agreed with allowing non-residents to purchase such badges. Deputy Mayor Perron asked how the PRC Board arrived at the maximum number of 50. Ms. Mailander said that she did not know, but it was probably to just limit the number of badges sold. Deputy Mayor Perron said that she would prefer the number to be 30 or 40. Councilmember Reynolds said that she vaguely recalled that the number used to be 70 or 80 non-residents. Deputy Mayor Perron recalled that there was a “big difference” when non-residents were not allowed to purchase badges. She felt that there were probably many non-residents who would purchase badges, so that was why she preferred to start with a lower number. Everyone agreed that the maximum number of badges sold to non-residents would be capped at 30. This ordinance will be introduced next week.
8. REVIEW OF FEBRUARY 8, 2023 PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA
Ms. Mailander announced that there would be several Proclamations on the February 8, 2023 Public Meeting agenda. She asked the Village Councilmembers to let her know if they wanted to take anything off of the consent agenda.
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Rurik Halaby, 1 Franklin Avenue, said that he was very pleased to hear that the parking rules will be revamped. He feels that the simpler they are, the better. He said that people would need a PhD to understand the parking rules and fees in the CBD. He said that he and his wife hosted a small get-together last night and got numerous phone calls from people asking where they should park and how much it would cost to park. Mr. Halaby said that the Village is burdened with the parking garage, which he felt was not economical, given the debt service incurred in its construction. He encouraged the Village Councilmembers to “look at the big picture” and come up with some other solutions to pay for the parking garage deficit. He said that parking was free in Glen Rock and Ho-Ho-Kus, and parking costs 25 cents an hour in Westwood.
Mr. Halaby complimented the Village Council on the progress made this year regarding the Schedler property. He said that the Councilmembers have made more progress in the last month than was seen in the last six years. Everyone’s opinions were welcomed, and some good ideas were generated as a result. Mr. Halaby’s main “pet peeve” about the Schedler property is the berm, which occupies about an acre of the property. He said that the trees on top of the berm will never serve as an adequate sound or safety barrier, because they were planted too far apart from each other. He suggested that the Village retain someone who knows about trees and who can turn the berm into a “wildscape.” Mr. Halaby suggested planting an acre of trees, as densely as possible, all over the berm. Regarding the proposed community garden at the Schedler property, Mr. Halaby felt that in a suburban town like Ridgewood, where most people live in private homes with gardens, there would not be much of a demand for a community garden. He felt that the community garden should be turned into an arboretum of native trees, perhaps with the assistance of the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands.
Jacqueline Hone, 30 Carriage Lane, said that she was involved with the planning of the Schedler property even before it was purchased. She said that the property is extremely unique, with no sidewalks, and only “one way in and one way out” of the east side of Ridgewood. This area is filled with cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets, with West Saddle River Road and Route 17 being the only main arteries. Ms. Hone stated that there is no way to access the property from the west side of Ridgewood by foot. Children would have to be driven to the property, which increases the need for adequate parking areas. She said that the traffic study done many years ago is antiquated, because the east side has changed dramatically and traffic on Route 17 has increased tremendously. She feels that an updated traffic study would be warranted. In addition, since a larger field has been proposed, she has heard nothing regarding parking areas for buses and sports vans bringing children to the field to play a game.
Ms. Hone stated that the Schedler property cannot be compared to the Habernickel property, since the streets in that area are wider and there are many more through streets. She said that she is offended by comments that “nothing has been done” to the Schedler property, since she feels that a lot has been done to date, with due diligence. She feels that the plan developed in 2017 was a reflection of years and years of planning and input. She said that she also has not heard anyone speak about the pandemic, which slowed the progress of this project. There were also many State, County and Municipal meetings, which had to take place, on more than one occasion that impeded the project’s progress. She stated that the 2017 plan was approved by residents, sports teams, and the community at large, and the property was designated as historic in 2019.
Ms. Hone cautioned the Village Council against opening “Pandora’s Box” with regard to this project going before the Historic Sites Council for a variance. She said that multitudes of people will once again appear at the State and County levels, where “things were shot down” and not allowed to go through. This also “opens up” the Village to more bonds, which could also bring opposition from challenging residents. She stated that she cannot understand why the 2017 plan is not being implemented and why so much risk is being taken, which could result in many years of delay. She said that if the 2017 plan is followed, the project could be completed by the summer. She said that the parcel is definitely historic, a Revolutionary War site, and that many relics were found on the property. She felt that the 2017 plan would have been very different if the property had been designated as historic in 2017.
Michele Italia, 3 Betty Court, asked the Village Councilmembers if they were aware of where all the pickleball courts in Ridgewood were located. She said that the only one she knows of is at Hawes School, which is actually a tennis court, which was turned into a pickleball court, because people did not want pickleball courts anywhere else. She said that there are limited hours of play, and many seniors who play pickleball are very upset that the courts close at 5:00 P.M. She said that there is a great demand among seniors in Ridgewood to play pickleball. Ms. Italia said that many people don’t like pickleball because it creates a lot of noise and it bothers them. She said that the Parks and Recreation Department changed the hours so that seniors would have to play during the hottest times of the day.
With regard to property values, Ms. Italia said that she is a realtor and people tend to buy in areas that are quiet and tranquil, instead of noisy, with opportunities to “walk around.” She said that almost every street on the east side is a cul-de-sac that empties onto West Saddle River Road. She said that she has not heard anyone speak about the congestion created on West Saddle River Road when there are major problems on Route 17, such as an accident, in that area. She herself has had trouble accessing West Saddle River Road when there is a major incident on Route 17, because it is so crowded. This creates an atmosphere where “citizens are stuck” and have to wait before going out to do their activities. She encouraged the Village Councilmembers to take a walk in the area of the Schedler property, where they want to remove a multitude of trees. She said that the Village Council wants to cut down all of the trees so that the residents who live on the east side can simply look at the cars whizzing by on Route 17. She said that the residents on the east side deserve the same quality of life as do the residents on the west side.
Mayor Vagianos pointed out that the pickleball courts are at Glen School, and Ms. Italia said that she meant to say Glen School.
Kathryn Schmidt, 123 South Irving Street, said that she felt that this evening’s meeting was very useful. She reiterated her earlier comments that she stands in support of the residents in the Schedler neighborhood. She said that she reviewed the Master Plan and wanted to give some excerpts from it: “Consider broadening historic protections beyond downtown to preserve character and instituting design review; historic preservation tools could be put in place to protect houses and neighborhoods susceptible to teardown, in addition to historic landscapes.” In addition, she quoted, “The Route 17 corridor in the vicinity of Valleau Cemetery, the Schedler property and the Old Paramus Reformed Church is an important part of the Village’s history. The views associated with these sensitive properties should be protected from out of scale visual intrusion. Developments that would be out of scale with the existing built environment along the developed portions of Route 17 corridor should be restricted.”
She went on to quote: “Consider requiring onsite tree planting to offset the development of parking spaces or increases in impervious coverage. The benefits of historic preservation: historic preservation is the identification, evaluation, protection and enhancement of buildings, places and objects of historical and cultural significance so they continue to play integral and vibrant roles in communities. The preservation of historic resources results in economic, social and aesthetic benefits, ensuring that those resources remain intact for the enjoyment of future generations. Preserve and maintain undeveloped open space to protect woodland open spaces for recreation, environmental education, flood storage and carbon sequestration to ensure the resiliency and sustainability of the Village.”
Ms. Schmidt said that she could not find much in the Master Plan that said, “add more lights, add more artificial surfaces” or “cut down trees.” She said that she hoped the Village Councilmembers would consider some of the “directional issues” of the Master Plan as they decide what to do next with the Schedler property. She stated that she likes Councilmember Reynolds’ suggestion that any new plans, such as the larger field, be overlaid with the original conceptual plans developed in 2017, to create more visibility and to determine what the tradeoffs would be with any proposed changes.
There were no further public comments.
Councilmember Winograd said that the question of parking for buses came up at a meeting with Parks and Recreation. She said that this field is not owned by the Board of Education, and none of the youth sports programs partner with any towns that bus. In effect, there will be no buses coming to the Schedler property for any youth programs based in Ridgewood. Regarding the comment made that “nothing has been done” on the Schedler property, Councilmember Winograd stated that the delays have been caused due to the fact that the Village was unable to gain approval from SHPO. None of the plans have yet been approved by SHPO. She still questioned who decided to designate the land as historic. She said that the plans developed in 2017 would have been very different had the people working on the plans known that the property would eventually be designated as a historic landmark.
10. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION
Ms. Mailander read Resolution #23-62 to go into Closed Session:
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Deputy Mayor Perron, seconded by Councilmember Reynolds, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Work Session was adjourned at 11:51 P.M.
Paul Vagianos
Mayor
Heather Mailander
Village Manager/Village Clerk
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