20230330 - Village Council Special Public Meeting Minutes

A SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR. COURT ROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON MARCH 30, 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 asked for a moment of silence in honor of Damien Hamlin, a Village employee who worked for the Recycling Division, who passed away yesterday.

 

2.         COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Mark McCart said that he is a representative for the United Public Service Employees Union (UPSEU), which represents both Blue Collar and White Collar Union employees in the Village. He said that he was glad to see some of these employees in attendance this evening, so that the Village Councilmembers could see “the faces” of the employees who will be affected by the planned furloughs. He said that they, like most people, have been hit with inflation, reflected in higher prices at the grocery store and at the gas pump, along with a 22% increase in healthcare insurance costs. Mr. McCart said that most employees now take home a smaller paycheck due to these increased health insurance premiums. He said that the Village is now asking these employees to take home an even smaller paycheck, which he called a “triple whammy” because they will be losing a full week’s pay this year (five days).  He wondered how many people could afford losing a full week’s pay.

 

Mr. McCart reminded the Village Councilmembers of the commitment made to these employees. The employees made a commitment to provide services to Village residents, and the Village made a commitment to keep these employees employed for the entire year, not a partial year. Mr. McCart stated that his local grocery store, restaurant and bagel store did not cut their employees’ wages, but instead raised their prices. He stated that he did not understand why local governments feel that the answer to balancing their budgets is to furlough employees, rather than raising taxes. He said that the Village also made a commitment to Village residents to provide services for a full year, not for a partial year. Mr. McCart said that many, if not all, of these essential services will be impacted by the planned furloughs. He said that many of these employees worked through the Covid-19 pandemic because they are essential workers. These include employees who perform food inspections, fire inspections, contracting inspections, and administrative duties for the Police Department, such as police reports.

 

Mr. McCart also pointed out that the furloughs will affect employees who work in the Water Department, which will affect services provided not only to Ridgewood, but also to other municipalities serviced by Ridgewood Water. He stated that this cutting back of services will also affect Shared Services Agreements with other municipalities, where the Village will not be able to honor their commitments set forth in these agreements, because employees have been furloughed. Mr. McCart asked what the Village would do in the event there was a summer storm, when trees are knocked down by the wind and rain, and streets and homes become flooded. He said that if he were a resident of Ridgewood, he would not mind paying a little more in taxes if it meant that services would not be curtailed.

 

In addition, Mr. McCart indicated that the Village will have to present these planned furloughs before the Civil Service Commission, as has been pointed out by Ms. Mailander. He said that this will turn out to be a very complicated process, and the Village will have to prove that it has exhausted all other avenues. He said that the Village has the funds available so that employees will not have to be furloughed. There are ways in which employees do not have to be furloughed, such as not hiring a new Village Manager, delaying the development of the Schedler property, constructing a smaller field rather than a large one at the Schedler property, and not buying new garbage cans for the Central Business District (CBD). He said that Robert Rooney, Village CFO, had indicated that the furloughs would not have to occur if there were a small increase in taxes and savings “from here and there.” He urged the Village Councilmembers to abandon their plans for furloughs.

 

Neil Gallone, 111 North Maple Avenue, stated that he is the GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Manager of Ridgewood Water. He said that he is a fourth-generation Ridgewood Water employee of 23 years. He said that his family has contributed a total of 123 years of experience to the Village. He said that they, along with the Village employees in the audience this evening, have made Ridgewood the great town it is today, with the best schools, parks, streets, events, businesses, and public services, everything which families seek when they are choosing a place to live and raise their children. Mr. Gallone said that these employees have worked faithfully and made sacrifices to make Ridgewood a great place to live. He asked that the Village Councilmembers remember these sacrifices by their employees. He said that he and other employees have had to work smarter, harder, and longer, for less than what they took home the year before.

 

Mr. Gallone said that at the Budget Meeting on February 24, 2023, some Village Councilmembers proposed the five-day furlough, representing 2% of his take home salary. He said, “I would like you to consider that it would take a Ridgewood household 97 years at $1.72 a month (the increase in payment of property taxes required to avoid all furloughs), to match the contributions you are asking of each and every employee in 2023, for 5 days of furloughs.” He said that he is proud, and wants to continue to be proud, of where he works. However, he stated that he is embarrassed that he needs to speak before the Village Council this evening to plead that they do not furlough employees.

 

Mr. Gallone insisted that the Village has the money available to avoid furloughs, but is choosing not to use these available funds to avoid furloughs. He said that the Village Councilmembers should explore their various departments to see where accounting procedures could be improved and tightened, and where there could be more return on investments. Mr. Gallone said that he is assigned to oversee asset management within Ridgewood Water and, in order to ensure continued success, he needs to maintain and inspect their assets on a regular basis, which permits longevity. For example, if Ridgewood Water employees did not regularly inspect and maintain fire hydrants, there is a greater chance that those fire hydrants will break down and not work properly during an emergency. He said that employees are also critical assets, the same as investments. If employees are not taken care of, then the morale of employees will falter. Employees need assurances and support of their livelihoods from the Village Council. He asked the Village Councilmembers not to neglect Village employees and shortchange Village residents of their services.

 

Suzanne Ruane, 705 Kingsbridge Lane, said that she supports the construction of a small grass field, playground and walking path at the Schedler property. She said that she wanted to give the Village Councilmembers a copy of a Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department report of an accident involving a minor who was injured after being hit by a car, because he was forced to travel on East Saddle River Road through Ho-Ho-Kus, since the Kingsbridge Lane Bridge is still not repaired. The minor will be fine, but Ms. Ruane said that this was an example of the safety risks being incurred because the footbridge still cannot be used. She said that the last Village Council was committed to repairing the footbridge and she wants to make sure that enough money is allocated in the 2023 Budget for the bridge to finally be repaired, since it has been closed for three years.

 

Ms. Ruane said that she was also speaking this evening in support of the Village employees. She said that the beautification of trashcans in the downtown area could be delayed, if purchasing them would result in the furloughing of employees. She said that the Village is planning to hire an outside consultant for the Schedler property for the purpose of circumventing the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), which will cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. She said that this did not have to be done at this time, if it meant that Village employees would need to be furloughed.

 

David Refkin, 401 Wastena Terrace, said that he is Chair of the Green Ridgewood Committee, which serves as an advisory committee for the Village Council. He said that, this year, the committee members are focused on implementing the recommendations of the newly developed Master Plan, which is the theme of this year’s Earth Day and Daffodil Festival on April 23, 2023. In order to accomplish these goals, Green Ridgewood has established subcommittees on Green Building and Sustainability, Resource Management, Resilience, Flooding and Stormwater, as well as Enhancing Sustainable Jersey Status and acquiring grants. Mr. Refkin indicated that the Village Council approved the Master Plan in October 2022. The plan has 214 recommendations focused on a broad range of issues related to land use, economic development, sustainability, open space and recreation, recycling, and other elements.

 

Mr. Refkin said that the Green Ridgewood Committee members are concerned that funding needed to address these key issues will be reduced or omitted completely from this year’s budget. Specifically, Mr. Refkin said that funds for drainage and stormwater improvements, removal of trees damaged by the emerald ash borer, and planting new trees are currently at risk. He said that there are most likely other cuts in the budget, which could curtail efforts to protect the environment and citizens. Mr. Refkin said that Village residents face challenges that demand effective planning and actions by local government.

 

Mr. Refkin stated that the Master Plan has recommendations related to flood resilience (adapting to flooding), improving air quality (including phasing in of electric vehicles), actions to enhance the Village’s tree canopy, increasing recycling (including public space recycling and composting), and other important initiatives. He said that all of these items require funding. In addition, emergency management communications also require funding. As of last week, the Village’s emergency management plan was not on the Village’s website, and evacuation routes were not identified for residents.

 

Citing the circumstances surrounding Superstorm Sandy and other extreme weather events throughout the United States, Mr. Refkin stated that the Village should be proactive in planning for future events where power is lost, flooding occurs, roads are closed, and extreme heat occurs, rather than just being reactive. By adequately addressing the issues and providing funding for these emergencies and the Master Plan recommendations, the health and safety of Village residents will be protected, home values in Ridgewood will be maintained, and residents can continue to enjoy all that the Village has to offer.

 

Mr. Refkin said that while the members of the Green Ridgewood Committee have professional backgrounds in a broad range of fields and have a passionate interest in the environment, they are not experts on the subject of artificial turf. The members urge the Village Council to diligently look at the health issues of artificial turf, since a growing number of communities are becoming concerned about the health impacts of artificial turf and are banning its use, such as the City of Boston. In addition, at least two states have bills pending in their legislatures to ban the use of artificial turf. Mr. Refkin concluded by stating that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has dramatically decreased the acceptable levels of PFAS in water. These chemicals are used in the production of artificial turf.

 

Rurik Halaby, 1 Franklin Avenue, asked that the 2023 Budget be presented to the public in a public forum, such as a Town Hall Meeting, since the public is entitled to know how their tax dollars are being spent. He said that the budget should be recast on an accrual basis, the form used by most financial analysts. Mr. Halaby felt that the Financial Advisory Committee should be reinstated. He said that the Village Council, during these challenging economic times, should look at its Shared Services Agreements with other municipalities.

 

Mr. Halaby stated that Mayor Vagianos should look everyone in the eye and forthrightly discuss the financial challenges that the Village is facing this year, and how the current budget has been developed.

 

There were no further comments from the public.

 

3.         OVERVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF 2023 BUDGET AND 2023 CAPITAL BUDGETS; 2023 BUDGET INTRODUCTION

 

            A.        BUDGET MESSAGE

 

Mayor Vagianos stated that he, Deputy Mayor Perron, Ms. Mailander and Mr. Rooney all met to discuss this year’s budget, in order to figure out a way to avoid furloughs, and he announced that they have come up with a way to accomplish this goal. He thanked everyone for their diligence and hard work.

 

Mr. Rooney said that the furloughs would have saved the sum of approximately $250,000.00 for the Village. After consulting with the auditor and several colleagues, they were able to move some of the Engineering salaries and wages to capital projects. Under State statute, the time spent by a Village employee while working on a particular capital project can be charged to that project. He confirmed that there would be no employee furloughs this year. There was a resounding round of applause from the audience.

 

Ms. Mailander indicated that there will be a budget presentation this evening. She thanked Mr. Rooney, Mayor Vagianos, and Deputy Mayor Perron for their willingness to listen, and especially Mr. Rooney for trying to find a way to avoid furloughs. Ms. Mailander stated that there have been multiple budget meetings, and she wanted to also thank Department Directors for being willing to make concessions in order to avoid a large tax increase. She stated that the 2023 budget is very, very tight, and she cautioned all Department Directors to be very careful with how they spend their allocations. She would like to have funds remaining at the end of the year, so that budget transfers can be done, if necessary.

 

Ms. Mailander said that she wanted to list some accomplishments and highlights from 2022. The Village had approximately a $2 million street resurfacing program. Irrigation and plantings on the berm were accomplished at the Schedler property, and the contract was awarded to begin the final phase of the restoration of the Zabriskie-Schedler house. The Village’s Community Rating System was recertified by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) at a lower rating of 6, which provides property owners in the Village who need to purchase flood insurance, with a 20% premium discount. The Chief Financial Officer and Director of Ridgewood Water worked together to submit applications for funding of PFAS treatment projects through the Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank), saving financing costs.

 

Ms. Mailander stated that the Village maintained its AAA rating for bonds. The Village had a 99.6% tax collection rate. The final design of the PFAS treatment plan for the reactivation of the Ravine well and the new Marr well was completed. The new Ridgewood Water Headquarters was completed next to the Ridgewood Library, with staff being moved into the new building by October 2022. This new location allows for daily collaboration between all divisions of Ridgewood Water, creating workplace efficiency. A structural inspection and assessment of the Kingsbridge Lane Pedestrian Bridge was conducted, and a contract was awarded for engineering services to provide a plan for bidding out the rehabilitation of the bridge. Regulatory approval was obtained from the NJDEP for the desilting and desnagging of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook in Saddle River. A new tree ordinance was implemented for the removal and replacement of trees on private properties. All leaves this fall were picked up by inhouse staff, with a cost savings of approximately $25,000.00, compared to the price charged by an outside contractor.

 

Ms. Mailander stated that two annual joint disaster exercises were conducted with the Ridgewood Manor and Family of Caring nursing homes, through the Office of Emergency Management. Security measures were upgraded for all Village offices and buildings. Two new police officers and two new firefighters were hired. The Police Department established a Drone Unit and began using them at events in the Village, with trained personnel. The Ninth Annual Michael J. Feeney Junior Police Academy was held for local students. The Village successfully transitioned all weekday and Saturday daytime calls for both ambulances from Emergency Medical Services to the Fire Department, which allows for more efficient use of existing personnel, and the elimination of paid daytime Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

 

Covid-19 vaccine and booster clinics were held in Village Hall, serving Village residents close to home. Approximately 98% of those eligible have been vaccinated. A Social Worker was hired through a grant received by the Health Department, which has been helpful in assisting residents in need. The Health Department applied for and received new grants to hire part-time and full-time Vulnerable Population Outreach Coordinators. The Office of Emergency Management collaborated with Age-Friendly Ridgewood to update and publish a revised emergency preparedness guidebook for residents, which had not been updated since 2013.

 

Ms. Mailander stated that as of December 2022, 612 Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests were received and processed by the Village Clerk’s Office. Waste acceptance at the Water Pollution Control Facility continues to generate revenue of approximately $200,000.00 annually for the Village. Emergency Services is the largest staffed public safety agency in the Village, with the lowest public safety budget, due to their strong volunteer workforce, who donated over 15,000 hours of their time to the Village.

 

In 2022, surplus vehicles and equipment were disposed of through GovBids.com, bringing in revenue for the Village. Plantings of many shade trees were performed, including new trees in revitalized tree wells in the CBD. Ash trees were removed and replaced, due to the devastating effects of the emerald ash borer. Many residents enjoyed Graydon Pool during 2022. The Summer Day Camp served 600 campers in 2022, the first full in-person day camp since 2019, due to Covid.

 

Ms. Mailander said that the Styrofoam densifier was implemented at the Recycling Center. The Village worked with restaurants regarding the placement of outdoor dining areas for the outdoor cafés. Bulk pickup was reduced to seven items per household, which saved disposal costs for the Village. The new telephone system was installed at all Village offices. The Village renewed a Shared Services Agreement for a Municipal Court Clerk with Glen Rock and Wyckoff, which continues to function well, with shared personnel. Ridgewood Water began the inhouse replacement of all lead water service lines. Construction of the Passaic Valley Water Commission interconnection and pipeline project was completed, which went live in August 2022.

 

Ms. Mailander stated that the tree wells in the CBD will continue to be refurbished in 2023. Viable ash trees on public lands will continue to be treated, to protect against damage by the emerald ash borer. New trees will be planted in various locations throughout the Village. A contract for $2 million was awarded for paving various Village streets in 2023.

 

For 2023, Ms. Mailander said that the Village will continue working on the Schedler Park development plan with SHPO to obtain approval for the driveway entrance, parking lots, field, walking paths, restrooms, and playground. The restoration of the Zabriskie-Schedler house will be completed. The dining corrals and pedestrian plaza have been reinstituted for 2023 in the CBD, from June through early October. This will include entertainment, culturally themed weekends, and enjoyment for the entire family.

 

A Summer Job Fair was held in 2023 to recruit candidates for summer employment. Ridgewood Water will continue to build PFAS treatment facilities in various locations throughout the utility. Public safety vehicles and equipment will be replaced this year, as well as vehicles and equipment for other Village departments. A facility scheduling software program will be designed and implemented, where one can view all field reservations, practices and games on one Master Calendar. It will also allow for scheduling events in various Village buildings. The Village will enter into Shared Services Agreements with other municipalities for the use of the Village’s Styrofoam densifier.

 

Parking zones in the CBD will be reconfigured in 2023 to make it easier for drivers to pay for parking at kiosks. Ms. Mailander said that the Water Smart portal is being expanded so that customers will have access to many aspects of their account, including water usage, payment of bills, and other important information about Ridgewood Water. The Village is encouraging other public water utilities to join with Ridgewood Water in coordinating efforts to recover PFAS expenses.

 

Mr. Rooney said that the 2023 budget process began in July 2022, when all Department Directors were asked to complete their 2023 budget requests by September 2022. Several rounds of internal reviews were conducted in October 2022 with Department Directors, in an effort to present viable budget requests to the Village Council. Operating efficiencies were emphasized, as well as customer service improvements and investment in people, processes, and technology. The Village Council began reviews of the budget, which were designed to elevate the dialogue to include strategic planning and daily operations. He said that cost containment was critical.

 

Mr. Rooney stated that operating expenses, as well as Capital Budgets, were discussed with the Village, Ridgewood Water, Parking Utility and Library. Various Village Council Special Public Budget Meetings were held, at which times certain Department Directors were in attendance to present and discuss their 2023 Operating and Capital Budget requests to the Village Council.

 

For the 2023 budget, there will be no new hires, although 18 were requested. There will be no title changes or promotions. Resources will be used to cover payouts, such as termination pay. There will be a significant reduction in costs for overtime and vehicle maintenance, as well as a 10% across-the-board reduction in Other Expenses. There will be an increase in fire fees and permits. There will be the initiation of a 3% convenience fee on credit card usage.

 

Mr. Rooney stated that risks that could affect the bottom line included defending tax appeals, police overtime, stabilization of infrastructure, and the use of one-time revenues. He said that the Water Utility could be impacted by weather conditions, infrastructure stabilization, and compliance with new NJDEP water utility regulations, water quality regulations, and PFAS debt. Mr. Rooney stated that the Parking Utility is still trying to recover from the loss of revenues during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Mr. Rooney said that the Budget being introduced this evening contains contractual obligations totaling approximately $25 million in salaries, $6.1 million in pension costs, $8 million in health insurance costs, and approximately $500,000.00 in terminal leave. Total obligations amount to approximately 67.8% of the total Operating Budget. There are unfunded liabilities as of the end of the year, approximately $9.3 million which represents vacation and sick pay for accrued liabilities. The sum of $523,000.00 was paid out in 2022 for retirements, and it is estimated that this sum will be $400,000.00 in 2023. There is approximately $1 million in the Trust Fund to account for future payments.

 

Mr. Rooney stated that the budget summary contains $57.6 million in Operating Funds, $7.6 million in General Capital, and a $244.00 annual municipal tax increase on an average assessed home valued at $707,500.00. The Village’s current debt is $69 million as of the end of the year, as compared to $63.8 million last year. Revenues and Expenses in the current budget are up approximately $2.2 million from the prior year.

 

The 2023 Budget will include the hiring of one new police officer, with two new police officers having already been hired. A Records Clerk will be hired for the Police Department. Engineering costs will be allocated to capital projects. There will be no furloughs or layoffs.

 

Miscellaneous revenues in 2022 exceeded anticipated revenues by $1 million. However, miscellaneous revenues included $2.6 million in funds received under the American Rescue Plan, which will not be available in 2023. The use of revenues in surplus has been optimized. Mr. Rooney stated that revenue targets will hopefully be maintained, such as administrative fees for police security jobs (such as during road excavations or work performed by Public Service Electric and Gas), which have grown significantly over the past year. He said that revenue risks are involved with Graydon Pool due to weather. Several one-time revenues will be developed over the next few years. The Village needs to try to minimize any tax appeals that could potentially affect the bottom line.

 

Mr. Rooney stated that the budget being introduced this evening contains appropriations of $57,658,000.00, supported by $4.5 million of surplus funds, miscellaneous revenues of $11.6 million, receipts from delinquent taxes of $514,000.00, and an amount to be raised by taxation of $41,073,199.00. This will result in a tax on the average assessed home valued at $707,500.00 of $4,917.00, an increase from $4,635.00 last year. The Municipal portion this year is $65.09 and the Library portion is $4.40.

 

Comparing revenue changes from 2022 to 2023, Mr. Rooney stated that Surplus Anticipated has increased approximately $250,000.00, local revenues of $634,000.00 in excess of what was anticipated, and $97,000.00 more in State aid, with total revenues increased by approximately $1 million over last year. The amount to be raised by taxation was $1.1 million, as a result of continued tax collections of over 99%. Mr. Rooney then spoke about key revenue fluctuations this year compared to last year. Municipal Court was up $66,000.00, interest and costs on taxes $44,000.00, interest on investments $271,000.00, ambulance billings of $75,000.00, fees and permits $125,000.00, recreation fees $99,000.00, energy receipts $97,000.00, police outside services $300,000.00, and miscellaneous of $67,000.00. Decreases for this year included Graydon Pool of $18,000.00, sewer discharge revenues of $40,000.00, and a construction code reduction in the Building Department of $39,000.00.

 

Mr. Rooney indicated that there was a surplus balance of approximately $7 million, of which $4.5 million is being used in this year’s budget. Of the $7 million, there is “non-cash” of $1.4 million, which represents the emergencies and deferred charges that were raised in previous years for revenue shortfalls, as well as any other deferred charges that needed to be put into the budget. He stated that there was a little over $5 million available for use in the budget (before using the $4.5 million in this year’s budget).

 

Current Fund appropriations within the caps include $46,450,000; operations $4 million; Capital Improvement Fund $425,000.00; debt service $5 million; deferred charges $387,000.00; and reserves for uncollected taxes $1.2 million. Mr. Rooney then discussed the differences from last year to this year. Salaries and Wages are up approximately $1 million; Other Expenses $600,000.00; Benefits $732,000.00; Library $192,000.00; Interlocal Agreements and Other $60,000.00; Grants and Capital Improvements were flat; Debt Service was down about $472,000.00; and Reserve for Uncollected Taxes was the same, resulting in an overall increase of $2.2 million.

 

The gross debt of the General Capital Fund is $68,954,470.00, made up of serial bonds of $25 million, bond anticipation notes of $20 million, NJIT loans of $300,000.00, and authorized non-issued appropriations of $23 million. In the Capital Budget this year, there are allocations of $2 million for street paving (already approved); $1.4 million for purchase of vehicles; $172,000.00 for buildings; $1 million for infrastructure; $3.1 million for equipment for public safety; and $43,000.00 for MIS (Management Information Systems), Water Pollution Control Facility, and Other.

 

Regarding the Water Utility Operating Budget, Mr. Rooney said that Surplus Anticipated is about $200,000.00 and Water Rents $1.8 million. Facility Charges for PFAS is down about $316,000.00. The total overall budget is up $1.6 million. The Operating Budget is up by $284,000.00; Other Expenses $1 million; Capital Improvement $140,000.00; and Surplus over to General Budget is about $81,000.00 greater than last year.

 

Regarding the Water Utility Capital Budget, Mr. Rooney said that $312,000.00 is included for storage tanks; $8.2 million for distribution system improvements; $338,000.00 for equipment and vehicles; and $156,000.00 for facility improvements. He said that Award of Capital Fund carries $59 million of debt at the end of the year: $26 million in serial bonds; $7.2 million in bond anticipation notes; and $25 million authorized debt, which has not been issued.

 

Regarding the Parking Utility Operating Budget, Mr. Rooney indicated that the Surplus Anticipated is slightly down from last year, with parking meter revenue up about $200,000.00. Interest on investments is slightly up, with the use of Parking Capital Surplus of $35,000.00, to round out the budget at $2.5 million. Operating Appropriations for the Parking Utility consisted of $641,000.00 for Salaries and Wages; $881,000.00 for Other Expenses; $765,000.00 for Debt Service; $142,000.00 for Deferred Charge on Covid emergency; and Statutory Expenditures of approximately $110,000.00, for a total of $2.5 million. Salaries and Wages increased by $28,000.00, primarily for a part-time Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO). Other Expenses increased by $82,000.00, and Debt Service increased by $82,000.00.

 

Regarding the Parking Utility Capital Budget, Mr. Rooney said that it contains the sum of $59,000.00 for equipment. Parking Capital Debt amounts to $14 million: $11 million in serial bonds, $440,000.00 in notes, and 2.8 million of Bonds Authorized, but Not Issued.

 

In conclusion, Mr. Rooney thanked all Department Directors for working very diligently throughout the budget development process, acknowledging that each department gave up many of their requests in order to lower the proposed tax rate. He also thanked the staff in the Finance Department, especially Olivia Andreula, for their efforts.

 

Ms. Mailander stated that this concludes the presentation of the 2023 Budget and she just needs concurrence from the Village Councilmembers that the budget as presented can be introduced.

 

Councilmember Weitz thanked Ms. Mailander and Mr. Rooney and stated that it was the right thing to do, to avoid furloughs. However, he stated that the budget was still unacceptable. While he will support the budget as presented, he stated that he was not happy about it. Debt is being raised by $6 million, and the overall budget is being raised by $2.2 million. He said that the proposed tax rate of 4.5% was not mentioned, which he stated was not acceptable long term. In the future, Councilmember Weitz stated that Village staff and the Village Council need to start thinking more strategically. He said that $2.6 million was cut from the budget this year, due to the loss of Covid funding from the Federal Government. He questioned why the prior Village Council did not do something different with that money, so that there could have remained more of a cushion this year. Councilmember Weitz acknowledged that there was a 22% increase in healthcare costs. While it was unknown what the increase would be, the Village Council “knew it was coming” and should have thought more strategically for what would occur in the future.

 

Councilmember Weitz mentioned that at a prior meeting, Mr. Rooney presented some comparisons of tax rates arrived at by other municipalities to the Village Councilmembers. Ramsey’s tax rate is almost double that of Ridgewood’s tax rate, and he feels that the Village Council should be given credit for keeping the Village tax rate at a lower level than neighboring municipalities. Councilmember Weitz urged the Village Councilmembers to begin thinking strategically now, for next year. He said that he did not want to see any discussions about furloughs and 4% to 5% tax increases next year. The fact that construction of the Glen Avenue sidewalks and some of the “green projects” were cut from the budget this year is testament to the fact that the Village Council needs to start thinking more strategically. He concluded by apologizing to Ridgewood taxpayers for the tax rate increase, but stated that he was thrilled that there will be no furloughs. He thanked all Department Directors and members of the public who made comments regarding the budget.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron thanked Mayor Vagianos for his creativity in pushing everyone to think outside the box so that they could arrive at an acceptable budget.

 

Councilmember Reynolds stated that she was thrilled that there would be no furloughs, which she was opposed to from the beginning of the budget process. She said that she was shocked that she was not involved in the final budget discussions and was unaware whether Councilmembers Weitz or Winograd were involved at all. Councilmember Reynolds said that the public has a right to know what goes on during budget discussions. She said that the discussions between Mayor Vagianos, Deputy Mayor Perron, Ms. Mailander and Mr. Rooney should have been done in a public forum. She is unsure when it was decided that there would be no furloughs and stated that it was unacceptable that these discussions were held in private.

 

Councilmember Reynolds stated that despite there being no furloughs, she feels that the Village Council could do a lot better with the budget. She said that her fellow Councilmembers have their priorities “upside down.” She said that safety needs to come first and that funds for sidewalk construction on West Glen Avenue must be in this year’s budget, along with the hiring of more police officers. Councilmember Reynolds stated that when she questioned Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke about how the non-hiring of new police officers would affect the safety of Village residents, Chief Luthcke unhesitatingly replied that Village residents would absolutely be “put in harm’s way.” Chief Luthcke had requested funds to hire five police officers in July, and only one was approved. The two police recruits who were hired in January were not counted among the additional five police officers Chief Luthcke wanted to hire. Councilmember Reynolds added that residents are also being put in harm’s way by the Village Council not allocating funds for the continuation of sidewalk construction on West Glen Avenue.

 

Councilmember Reynolds added that all of the money for new tree plantings has been removed from this year’s budget, except for $43,000.00 to complete the tree planting in the CBD tree wells and money to remove trees affected by the emerald ash borer, despite the fact that money is left over from last year. The problem lies in the fact that the hiring of personnel for the Parks and Recreation Department was cut out of this year’s budget and, therefore, there is not enough staff to plant or maintain trees.

 

In addition, Councilmember Reynolds felt that Ms. Mailander should remain as Village Manager and that a new Village Manager should not be hired, which will save $84,000.00. She stated that it would cost $30,000.00 to hire a new police officer. She recalled Tony Merlino of the Building Department stating before the Village Council that he really needs to hire a new Electrical Inspector and a new clerical employee. Councilmember Reynolds stated that the Building Department is “running on empty” and that residents are being forced to wait a month for a permit to be issued.

 

Councilmember Reynolds mentioned that the sum of $100,000.00 was set aside last year for the refurbishment of the Kingsbridge Lane Bridge, of which at least $40,000.00 was spent to hire an engineering consultant to look at the footbridge and design new plans for the renovations. If the remaining balance of $60,000.00 is not enough to repair the pedestrian bridge, then Councilmember Reynolds stated that funds should be set aside in the 2023 Budget for this purpose, since the closure of the footbridge creates a big safety issue.

 

Councilmember Reynolds said that regarding stormwater management, money was cut from the budget for all drainage improvement projects, except for $50,000.00 for Hope Street. She wondered why money was allocated for this area and nowhere else, and asked whether only those Hope Street residents deserved not to have flooding affecting their homes.

 

Councilmember Reynolds thinks that the Village Councilmembers need to reorganize their priorities. She stated that all nonessential projects in the Capital Budget should be delayed and the money reallocated to projects, which will result in making Ridgewood residents safer. She said that the Schedler project is not going to make anyone safer. She strongly feels that budget funds should be allocated to things that will result in safety, clean air, and clean water. Therefore, she stated that she cannot support the budget as presented this evening.

 

Regarding transparency, Councilmember Weitz stated that there were countless hours of public meetings during which the budget was discussed and questions were asked by the Village Councilmembers. He said that he was personally happy that Mayor Vagianos and Deputy Mayor Perron showed some leadership by consulting with Ms. Mailander and Mr. Rooney. Therefore, he stated that he respectfully disagreed with Councilmember Reynolds.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked Councilmember Weitz if he knew before this evening that there would be no furloughs, and Councilmember Weitz did not reply. Councilmember Weitz said that he agreed with everything that Councilmember Reynolds said, but stated that the main issue is how much of a tax increase would be acceptable. He said that he did not like Councilmember Reynolds conflating the Capital Budget with the Operating Budget. He stated that taking out the monies allocated for the Schedler property in the Capital Budget or the monies allocated for the purchase of new garbage cans for the CBD would not have saved any money in the Operating Budget.

 

Councilmember Winograd said that she was also thrilled that there will not be any furloughs and expressed gratitude to Mr. Rooney and Ms. Mailander for their efforts. She stated that, for the benefit of the listening audience, Ridgewood received $1.3 million in 2020 and $1.3 million in 2021 from the Federal American Rescue Plan for Covid relief. Both grants totaling $2.6 million were used to lower the tax increase in 2022. Such grants are not available this year. Councilmember Winograd acknowledged that it becomes harder and harder for elderly residents to remain in Ridgewood, due to tax increases. She feels that all Village Councilmembers did the best they could with the budget this year.

 

Councilmember Winograd made some suggestions for developing the 2024 budget. She feels that the budget process is too short and was happy that more Special Public Budget Meetings were added in order to discuss the 2023 budget. Councilmember Winograd spoke about exploring alternate sources of revenue, sharing services, and a longer budget review. She said that she was in favor of passing the budget as presented this evening and was grateful that no employees will be furloughed.

 

Mayor Vagianos said that he appreciated everyone’s respectful dialogue. He acknowledged that taxes are always going to be too high, but stated that he was pleased with the final budget as presented this evening. He said that government was about choosing and making difficult decisions. He said that he was very happy that no employees would be furloughed and stated that there are generations of families who have worked or are currently working for the Village. Mayor Vagianos said that he realizes that many employees have sacrificed a lot for the Village. He himself has lived in Ridgewood for almost 30 years and the employees’ sacrifices are seen all the time, mentioning how he and his family have remained warm in their homes during a snowy evening while viewing snowplows and road crews working to make the streets safe.  He said that he was happy with the final budget presented this evening. He commended all Department Directors and Village staff, and added that he would like to see seniors “age in place” in their homes.

 

Addressing Councilmember Weitz, Councilmember Reynolds stated that she is not conflating the Operating Budget with the Capital Budget and that she knows the difference between the two. She said that the Village Council can reallocate money that is in the Capital Budget to issues that are better prioritized. She stated that monies targeted for the Schedler property can certainly be reallocated to the construction of sidewalks on West Glen Avenue, to the restoration of the Kingsbridge Lane Bridge, or to the planting of more trees.

 

Regarding the Operating Budget, Councilmember Reynolds stated that if Ms. Mailander were allowed to remain as Village Manager just for this year, the sum of $84,000.00 would be saved and that two or three additional staff members could be hired with that money. She said that money allocated in the 2024 Operating Budget for a Village Manager is going to be $225,000.00, plus benefits, which she stated was a huge amount of money. She reiterated that she felt the Village Councilmembers needed to rethink their priorities. She agreed that the tax rate increase needs to be kept as low as possible, but with priorities placed on safety, health, Village residents, stormwater management, and flooding. She did not feel that a field on the Schedler property is more important than safe sidewalks.

 

Councilmember Winograd remarked that capital projects are bonded, with bonded notes having express purposes. For example, a bond ordinance regarding the Schedler property cannot be shifted to another project. Mr. Rooney said that the only way this could be accomplished would be through the passage of another ordinance to reappropriate the money from one project to another. The original Bond Ordinance would first have to be canceled and then a new Bond Ordinance adopted. The 5% downpayment would have to be made regarding the new Bond Ordinance. Councilmember Winograd explained that the Capital Budget is very different from the Operating Budget. When a police officer is hired, the funds come out of the Operating Budget. Vehicles and equipment required by the Police Department, such as radios and tasers, would be funded through the Capital Budget.

 

Regarding the Schedler property, Councilmember Winograd mentioned that an allocation of $7 million had already been made by prior Village Councils, with Bond Ordinances passed for the express purpose of building a park. She stated that $1.9 million remains in the Capital Budget to complete the Schedler project, along with some matching grants. She said that she did not want people to think that these monies could be reallocated for a different purpose.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked Mr. Rooney to elaborate on what would occur if a portion of the $1.9 million allocated for the Schedler property in the Capital Budget were reallocated to high priority safety issues. Mr. Rooney said that the existing Bond Ordinance would need to be cancelled and the money could then be reappropriated to another project, which would require the passage of a new Bond Ordinance and a 5% downpayment. He explained that some Bond Ordinances are funded and some are not, and whether they are funded or not will determine how one would proceed afterwards, such as issuing debt.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked whether a portion of the remaining $1.9 million could be reallocated without having to make the 5% downpayment. Mr. Rooney said that if a project is funded by bonds, and the bonds are cancelled, that money can then go directly to some other use without a 5% downpayment, because it would be completely funded. The 5% downpayment is required to cover the cost of issuance. He said that he was not sure if the Schedler bond is funded or not, but he doubted that it was, and that there was probably some short-term debt issued against it.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked if the additional $500,000.00 for the Schedler property is contained in this year’s Capital Budget, and Mr. Rooney replied that it was. Councilmember Reynolds said that she assumed those monies have not been bonded and those monies could instead be allocated towards other capital projects, if that was what was decided by the Village Council. Mr. Rooney said that if the Councilmembers did not want to allocate that $500,000.00 for the Schedler project, those monies could be reallocated to other projects. Mr. Rooney said that this was the topic of many budget discussions. Councilmember Reynolds remarked that she wished she had been involved in more budget discussions and added that she felt the $500,000.00 should not be applied to the Schedler project, but should instead be applied to projects, which enhance safety. Councilmember Reynolds stated that if employees had not shown up to tonight’s Village Council Meeting to protest the planned furloughs, she doubted whether the furloughs would have been canceled.

 

B.        RESOLUTIONS

 

Councilmember Reynolds stated that the Resolution to Approve a Temporary General Capital Budget must be taken off of the consent agenda this evening, and Ms. Mailander agreed.

 

Ms. Mailander stated that the following resolutions, numbered 23-119 and 23-121, are to be adopted by a consent agenda, with one vote by the Village Council, which will be read by title only:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ms. Mailander stated that the following resolution, numbered 23-120, would be considered separately and read in full:

 

Prior to the vote on Resolution #23-120, Deputy Mayor Perron stated that to the extent that this could be read as appropriating funds for an artificial turf field, she said that she wanted to reserve her right to vote on that at the time that contracts are awarded. However, she said that she approves this measure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ms. Mailander stated that the following resolution, numbered 23-122, would be considered separately and read in full:

 

Prior to the vote on Resolution #22-122, Deputy Mayor Perron expressed the same reservation as previously stated, to the extent that operating funds might be used for installing an artificial turf field, and she reserves her right to vote on that at the appropriate time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ms. Mailander explained that the 2023 Budget has been introduced, which will move forward to the Public Hearing scheduled to be held on April 27, 2023. At that time, there will be an official vote on the budget to adopt it. Once it is adopted, there will be no furloughs of Village employees.

 

Councilmember Winograd asked if the 2023 Budget, as introduced, would be posted on the Village website this week so that the public can review it. Ms. Mailander said that she was not sure that could be accomplished this week, because she was unsure if the budget was in the proper format in order to be able to do so. Mr. Rooney indicated that once he receives the State Budget, which he expects to receive by the end of next week, the budget will be posted on the Village website. Ms. Mailander added that there is also a Budget Summary that appears in the newspaper, which indicates when and where the Public Hearing will be held.

 

Councilmember Winograd asked if an email blast could be sent out once the budget is posted, so that the public is aware that it has been posted, and Ms. Mailander said that this will be done. Deputy Mayor Perron asked whether the presentation by Mr. Rooney this evening could also be posted on the Village website. Ms. Mailander said that she had no objection to doing so, and Mr. Rooney indicated that it was a matter of public record.

 

4.         ORDINANCE – RIDGEWOOD WATER – INTRODUCTION

 

            A.        #3950 – BOND ORDINANCE – WATER UTILITY CAPITAL

 

Mayor Vagianos moved that the Village Clerk read Ordinance #3950 by title on first reading. Councilmember Weitz seconded the motion.

 

Roll Call Vote

AYES:          Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos

NAYS:         None

ABSENT:    None

ABSTAIN:   None

 

The Village Clerk read Ordinance #3950 by title only:

 

WATER UTILITY BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS WATER UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS IN AND BY THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING $8,996,000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $8,546,000 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE VILLAGE TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF

 

Deputy Mayor Perron moved that Ordinance #3950 be adopted on first reading and that April 27, 2023 be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilmember Weitz seconded the motion.

 

Roll Call Vote

AYES:          Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos

NAYS:         None

ABSENT:    None

ABSTAIN:   None

 

5.         ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION

 

            A.        #3951 – BOND ORDINANCE – GENERAL CAPITAL

 

Mayor Vagianos moved that the Village Clerk read Ordinance #3951 by title on first reading. Councilmember Weitz seconded the motion.

 

Roll Call Vote

AYES:          Councilmembers Perron, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos

NAYS:         Councilmember Reynolds

ABSENT:    None

ABSTAIN:   None

 

Before voting, Deputy Mayor Perron said that she was voting yes, but with the same reservation as previously stated, to the extent that use of the capital may be used to install an artificial turf field, and she reserves her right to vote against that.

 

The Village Clerk read Ordinance #3951 by title only:

 

BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN AND BY THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING $5,732,774 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $5,446,135 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE VILLAGE TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF

 

Councilmember Winograd moved that Ordinance #3951 be adopted on first reading and that April 27, 2023 be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilmember Weitz seconded the motion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roll Call Vote

AYES:          Councilmembers Perron, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos

NAYS:         Councilmember Reynolds

ABSENT:    None

ABSTAIN:   None

 

B.        #3952 – BOND ORDINANCE – CREATION OF NEW VILLAGE WEBSITE

 

Mayor Vagianos moved that the Village Clerk read Ordinance #3952 by title on first reading. Councilmember Winograd seconded the motion.

 

Before voting against this ordinance, Councilmember Reynolds stated that there are approximately 169,000 users on the Village website, and last year there were approximately 262,000 sessions with approximately 20 complaints (1/10,000^th of 1%). She said that the Village plans to bond almost $40,000.00 for the creation of a new website that 20 people complained about last year. Councilmember Reynolds said that the Village Council must do better with allocating money, stating that it was ridiculous to allocate these funds for the creation of a new Village website at this time.

 

Councilmember Winograd stated that she has heard repeatedly, especially during Covid, that the Village website’s slow response creates public safety issues. The Ridgewood Police Department website is still down. She feels that the Village needs to invest in its digital infrastructure so that residents have a better understanding of what is occurring in Ridgewood. Councilmember Winograd cited the example of the Village email server going down last week, during which time some emails sent to Village Councilmembers and staff were never received. She stated that funds are necessary in order to create a new Village website, since an antiquated website will result in public safety issues.

 

Roll Call Vote

AYES:          Councilmembers Perron, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos

NAYS:         Councilmember Reynolds

ABSENT:    None

ABSTAIN:   None

 

 

 

 

The Village Clerk read Ordinance #3952 by title only:

 

BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A WEBSITE IN AND BY THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING $39,140 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $37,183 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE VILLAGE TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF

 

Councilmember Weitz moved that Ordinance #3952 be adopted on first reading and that April 27, 2023 be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilmember Winograd seconded the motion.

 

Roll Call Vote

AYES:          Councilmembers Perron, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos

NAYS:         Councilmember Reynolds

ABSENT:    None 

ABSTAIN:   None

 

C.        #3953 – BOND ORDINANCE – PARKING CAPITAL

 

Mayor Vagianos moved that the Village Clerk read Ordinance #3953 by title on first reading. Deputy Mayor Perron seconded the motion.

 

Roll Call Vote

AYES:          Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos

NAYS:         None

ABSENT:    None

ABSTAIN:   None

 

The Village Clerk read Ordinance #3953 by title only:

 

BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PORTABLE RADIOS AND A LICENSE PLATE READER FOR THE PARKING UTILITY IN AND BY THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING $60,770 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $60,770 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE VILLAGE TO FINANCE THE COST THEREOF

 

Councilmember Winograd moved that Ordinance #3953 be adopted on first reading and that April 27, 2023 be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Deputy Mayor Perron seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:          Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos

NAYS:         None

ABSENT:    None

ABSTAIN:   None

 

6.         COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Cynthia O’Keefe, 542 West Saddle River Road, stated that the Village Councilmembers “dug deep” while developing the 2023 Budget, and she would like them to similarly “dig deep” into their moral compass when it comes to the Schedler development and the neighboring families who will be affected by this development. She commented on Deputy Mayor Perron’s remarks that she reserves the right to vote separately regarding the installation of an artificial turf field on the Schedler property. Ms. O’Keefe said that she and others have appeared week after week before the Village Council to tell them that the Schedler neighboring properties use well water and they are afraid that the PFAS component of the artificial turf will leach into the ground water. She stated that the Village Council is going to decimate the land surrounding the Schedler property. She asked that the Village Councilmembers treat the neighbors as human beings who have the right to clean water, the same rights which are afforded to other Village residents.

 

Ms. O’Keefe said that she did not understand why the Village Council was not abiding by the agreed-upon plans developed in 2017, which allowed for a walking path and smaller field rather than a regulation-sized field, which would draw more traffic to West Saddle River Road. She said that if vehicles are parked on both sides of West Saddle River Road, there is only 11 feet through which cars would be able to pass single file. She stated that if the property is developed according to the wishes of the Village Council, it will be a nightmare. She predicted that a time will come where a child runs into the road and is hit by a car. A sports complex with artificial turf will directly affect the neighbors’ well water.

 

Mark McCart, representative for the United Public Service Employees Union, thanked Mr. Rooney, Ms. Mailander, and the Village Councilmembers, on behalf of Village employees, for cancelling the planned furloughs.

 

Niti Mistry, 416 Colwell Court, said that she was speaking this evening about the sidewalk construction on West Glen Avenue. She said that she was disappointed in the Village Council’s decision to remove the funding for the completion of the sidewalk construction from the budget. She explained that West Glen Avenue is a County road where vehicles are driven as if they are on a highway, especially going downhill with low visibility. The most dangerous stretch is the area with no sidewalks or shoulder, requiring pedestrians to walk on the curb or street. She said that this is the only route for residents who want to walk to the CBD, library, Veterans Field or elsewhere. Ms. Mistry stated that she witnesses near misses on a daily basis.

 

Ms. Mistry asked the Village Councilmembers to take a walk themselves down West Glen Avenue, starting from North Monroe Street and going towards Oak Street, and then let her know how safe they felt doing that or how safe they would feel walking with their children, grandchildren or dogs. Ms. Mistry stated that a safe route for pedestrians on West Glen Avenue has never existed, and the Village Councilmembers decided this year that safety was not a big enough priority. She said that prior Village Councilmembers and Mayors supported the construction of sidewalks on West Glen Avenue and made this a priority, understanding how hazardous it was to walk on that road. Ms. Mistry spoke about the sidewalk improvements and connections that have already been performed on Alpine Terrace and West Glen Avenue.

 

Ms. Mistry stated that other Ridgewood residents have told her that there are other roads in Ridgewood where there are no sidewalks.  Ms. Mistry responds to these other Ridgewood residents by asking if the County owns those roads, and whether the residents have already been promised that sidewalks would be constructed. She asked that the funds for the completion of the sidewalks on West Glen Avenue be placed back into the budget for 2023, as a high priority item and remove items that do not pertain to safety. She wondered why a bond could not be issued for the construction of the sidewalks, amortized over 20 years, just as a bond was issued for the creation of a new Village website. In addition, Ms. Mistry said that if the Schedler project will take some time to complete, the allocation of $500,000.00 could instead be used to construct the sidewalks on West Glen Avenue. She suggested that perhaps only a portion of the funds for the sidewalk construction could be approved, just so that this project could move forward.

 

Ms. Mistry concluded by stating that she is happy to hear that no furloughs will occur and appreciates the hard work that was required to make that happen. She expressed the hope that the same energy and creativity can be applied towards making West Glen Avenue safer, repairing the Kingsbridge Lane Bridge, addressing stormwater management issues, and protecting trees.

 

Ms. Mistry said that she really felt bad for the woman who spoke previously about her fear that an artificial turf field will contaminate her well water. Although Ms. Mistry has never even visited the Schedler property and is not part of the “sports machine” that exists in Ridgewood, she feels that most Village residents would not want the Schedler property to be prioritized over safety. She asked the Village Councilmembers to defer to the residents in the Schedler neighborhood, since they are the ones who will have to deal with the consequences in the future.

 

Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, said that she is absolutely thrilled that there will no furloughing of Village employees. She said that Mayor Vagianos starts every meeting reminding everyone about civil discourse, with which Ms. Loving totally agrees. However, Ms. Loving does not feel that this same principle is followed on the dais, citing the condescension shown towards Councilmember Reynolds when she was accused of conflating the Capital and Operating Budgets. Ms. Loving stated that the $500,000.00 reserved for the Schedler property could be allocated towards constructing sidewalks and repairing the Kingsbridge Lane Bridge. She called this a “no-brainer.”

 

Ms. Loving said that Councilmember Weitz spoke about transparency and the multiple hours spent during public meetings discussing the budget. Ms. Loving agreed, stating that there was a lot of transparency as she either attended those meetings in person or viewed them online. However, she said all of this transparency is completed negated when behind-the-scenes meetings take place from which a specific Councilmember is excluded. Ms. Loving stated that Councilmember Reynolds was excluded from those meetings and just found out this evening that there would be no furloughs, while the remaining Village Councilmembers already knew. Ms. Loving said that this is the second time in three months that this has occurred, where a Councilmember was left out of a very critical discussion. The first incident concerned a discussion wherein it was decided to approach Ms. Mailander and ask her to step down as Village Manager.

 

Ms. Loving stated that these occurrences are in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). Regarding the incident involving Ms. Mailander, Ms. Loving stated that she spoke to the NJ Foundation for Open Government (FOG) and they confirmed it. She stated that it appears that all transparency has been negated, due to the private meetings amongst some Village Councilmembers. She said that the public will not stand for such actions.

 

There were no further public comments.

 

Councilmember Reynolds said that there is an item on the April 3, 2023 agenda regarding the awarding of a contract for a historic preservation consultant. She asked if this was regarding Peter Primavera. Ms. Mailander replied in the affirmative, stating that this was listed as a discussion item. Councilmember Reynolds asked if Mr. Primavera would be attending the meeting, and Ms. Mailander said that it was her understanding that he would be present at the meeting. Councilmember Reynolds said that she was shocked that the hiring of Mr. Primavera would move forward, considering the negative information about him, which has been uncovered in the last few weeks. Mayor Vagianos asked Councilmember Reynolds if she could delay this discussion until the April 3, 2023 meeting, and she agreed.

 

Councilmember Winograd said that she did not attend the Budget Meeting on March 15, 2023, since she was out of town for this specially scheduled meeting, during which furloughs were discussed. She stated that she spoke with everyone on the Village Council regarding her personal views on furloughs, and anytime she spoke with a Department Director, she first sought permission from either Ms. Mailander or from Rich Calbi, Director of Ridgewood Water. She expressed the hope that, even though she has not attended a meeting, she is allowed to be in contact with the Village Councilmembers. Councilmember Winograd said that all of the Councilmembers talk amongst themselves at one time or another.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked Councilmember Winograd if she knew before the meeting tonight that there would be no furloughs, and Councilmember Winograd said that she did not know, but that she was aware that there was a “spectrum of thought” regarding furloughs on the part of the Village Councilmembers. Councilmember Winograd stated that when Councilmember Reynolds asked her how she felt about the furloughs, Councilmember Winograd replied that she would rather wait until the discussions were held in a public forum.

 

Councilmember Reynolds then asked Councilmember Weitz if he knew that there would be no furloughs before this evening’s meeting.  Councilmember Weitz replied that while he did not feel comfortable answering questions posed to him by a Councilmember sitting on the dais, he stated that he expressed his opinions to “those folks who take my phone call on this dais” that he would prefer not to have furloughs. He said that he was pleased tonight when Mr. Rooney announced that there would be no furloughs.

 

5.         ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Deputy Mayor Perron, seconded by Councilmember Winograd, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Special Public Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 P.M.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                ____________________________________

                                                                                                Paul Vagianos

                                                                                                        Mayor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

____________________________________

                     Heather A. Mailander

             Village Manager/Village Clerk