A REGULAR PUBLIC WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR. COURT ROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON MARCH 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 said he would open public comments and asked that all speakers address the Village Councilmembers with respect and dignity, just as the Village Councilmembers address members of the public.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Frank “The Bee Man” Mortimer, 426 Van Buren Street, stated that he was speaking this evening in support of “No Mow May.” He stated that this was a great initiative, which received a lot of press in 2022. The initiative started in the United States in Appleton, Wisconsin, having originated in the United Kingdom. Mr. Mortimer remarked how many entities in the Village were involved in this initiative, including the Parks and Recreation Department, Green Ridgewood, Ridgewood High School, and the Ridgewood Library. This will enhance camaraderie among these groups and will help Ridgewood retain its Bee City USA certification. Mr. Mortimer commented that Ridgewood was the first Bee City USA in New Jersey as well as in the northeastern United States.
Mr. Mortimer explained that the purpose of “No Mow May” is to have volunteers let their lawns grow during the month of May, which is good for pollinators. Unmowed lawns provide habitat and food sources for bees and other pollinators, and also provide residents with some relief from noise pollution from lawnmowers and other lawn equipment. He said that this initiative will open up conversations about the environment and ways in which it can be protected. Mr. Mortimer stated that chemicals are applied to lawns to achieve a “green blanket,” but he stated that this serves no one. A more natural environment will benefit everyone. It is his hope that the Village Councilmembers will agree that this initiative is beneficial to residents and to the environment.
Matthew Rossi, 516 West Saddle River Road, said that he was speaking this evening about the proposal by the Village Council to increase the size of the field on the Schedler property. He said that Councilmember Weitz was kind enough to attend a small meeting with residents about this issue, after which time Councilmember Weitz had indicated that he would relay various questions from the residents to the Village Engineer. He thanked Councilmember Weitz for attending the meeting and said that he would like to relate the questions to the Village Council this evening.
The questions posed to the Village Engineer were as follows: 1) Do you feel confident that your team can adequately navigate all health, historic, safety, wildlife and traffic concerns in redesigning the space? 2) If not, what is your suggestion for areas where the Village should source independent experts? 3) What would you estimate the grading depth would be for a larger field? 4) Is the Engineering Department taking into consideration the result of the 2019 archaeological assessment during these redesigns and potential grading? 5) If a turf field is installed, are you considering potential contamination to surrounding private wells? 6) What testing would be needed for a turf field? Percolation tests sometime require 150,000-gallon holding tanks for DEP testing. Would we need this? How would we accommodate this? 7) Leaf collection during fall months, further narrows West Saddle River Road. Do you think added traffic during those times would be problematic? 8) What logic are you using when calculating the ratio of field size to designated parking, and do you feel confident in making these calculations? 9) Can you outline what areas would have a significant cost increase when considering a larger field? 10) Do you think a smaller field or larger field would have an easier path for SHPO approval?
Mr. Rossi concluded by stating that he supports the smaller grass field originally proposed for the Schedler property.
Frettra DeSilva, 521 West Saddle River Road, stated that she also supports a small grass field for the Schedler property. Ms. DeSilva stated that over the past week, approximately 200 interested residents of Ridgewood have signed a petition for the Village Council concerning the Schedler property. She read part of the petition: “We, the undersigned residents of Ridgewood, petition the Village Council not to reopen the Schedler plan approved by Resolution 18-236 without 1) a full assessment of the impact that will result from any changes to the plan, and 2) a fact-based analysis of the comprehensive impact on the Village and the State of New Jersey made by the development of the Schedler property. Any changes without a full assessment will ignore the following concerns: due process, to which Ridgewood residents are entitled; health implications to children and residents; traffic patterns that will impact safety; wildlife and environmental preservation; accurate assessment of flooding impact; preservation of historic district; accurate assessment of field demand; and clear and transparent budget for new plans. These concerns and others must be reviewed and a detailed fact-based plan should be presented to the residents of Ridgewood in a public forum for discussion and debate for the general welfare of the Village.”
Ms. DeSilva then read portions of Resolution 18-236, upon which the petition was based, which is entitled, “Approved Field Design for Schedler Park.” She quoted: “Approve the design of Schedler Park which will include the following: a 75 yard by 50 yard multipurpose field, a children’s playground, a 44-spot parking lot, walking trails, a berm with a tree line across the top, fencing, and trees planted along the street.” Ms. DeSilva emphasized the concern of the residents who signed the petition about changing the elements to this plan. She reiterated that she is in favor of a small grass field for that park.
Kristina Milian, 530 West Saddle River Road, stated that she was also in support of a small grass field. She stated that, over the past week, the east side community of Ridgewood held meetings with three different Councilmembers, for which they were thankful. However, residents are distressed due to the fact that the Village Council refuses to conduct any impact studies before moving forward with the proposed larger field. If such studies are not going to be performed, in order to better understand the impact of a newly proposed field design to the health and safety of residents, then Ms. Milian implored the current Village Council to abide by a 2019 report called the Hunter Research Assessment, which was commissioned by the prior Village Council and which is available online. This report recommended that an archaeological survey of the property be completed if significant ground disturbance is planned, as it likely houses Revolutionary War artifacts.
Ms. Milian indicated that the goal is to preserve the historical value of the Zabriskie-Schedler house and the Schedler property, which is invaluable to the community and the State of New Jersey. Ms. Milian stated that recent plans by the Village Council have put the integrity of the land at risk. She said that the Village Council has indicated they would like to earn revenue from the property, and the 250th anniversary of the United States will take place in three years. The national initiative for this anniversary is called “America 250.” Roger Williams, the State Historian of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Charles Morgan, President of that organization, wrote to the Village Councilmembers this morning. Other department heads, state officials, and members of the press were all sent copies of this letter.
Ms. Milian stated that the letter read, in part, the following: “New Jersey is rich in Revolutionary War heritage. As we look towards the America 250 celebrations, we have a tremendous opportunity to spur heritage tourism, and even New Jersey’s own Governor Phil Murphy recently said, ‘Heritage tourism is an important and growing part of our tourism economy. If we can’t recognize where we came from, we won’t be able to know where we are going.’ There is so much we could do with the approved Schedler Park plan that would align with this larger moment and put our town on a national stage in a very good light. Schedler is a seven-acre triangle, with one acre already taken up by a berm against Route 17 North, and another acre to be used for roadway parking. It is impossible to fit a full-sized rectangular field, a children’s playground, walking paths, and handicapped parking in that remaining space. If you want to optimize for speed, an historic property should be turned into a full-service park, not a large sports field, with recreational and educational elements for a wide range of people.”
Ms. Milian went on to state that less disturbance means less studies are needed, and it also means less money that needs to be spent. Ridgewood has allocated as much as $7 million of taxpayer money on this project already, with the goal of preserving an historical site. Ms. Milian said that the community is perplexed that a new Village Council, that has only been assembled for two months, wants to “suddenly tear up the remains” of a Revolutionary War parcel and waste millions of dollars. Ms. Milian stated that if the Village Councilmembers will not prioritize the health of the east side residents, she asked them to at least consider saving our nation’s history.
Jacqueline Hone, 30 Carriage Lane, stated that Councilmembers Weitz and Winograd, as well as Mayor Vagianos, recently met with residents and friends of the Schedler neighborhood. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the 2017 Zabriskie-Schedler plan, which was approved and adopted by Resolution 18-236 by the Ridgewood Village Council on July 18, 2018. They discussed how that approved plan, which is now in jeopardy, balanced the needs of the impacted neighborhood, sports groups, conservationists, historians, and taxpayers.
Ms. Hone stated that the proposed larger field encroaches upon all historical elements and is a misrepresentation of the recreational needs of the local residents and neighborhood. She stated that the construction of a full-sized field will require the clear-cutting of the seven-acre parcel. Ms. Hone said that the trees filter out light, noise, and visual pollution, as well as airborne particulates, pollutants and air toxins emitted by diesel trucks and cars traveling on Route 17. She stated that residents have pleaded with Village Councilmembers to follow through on recommendations received from professionals, experts, and the Village Council-appointed Ad Hoc Committee, so that independent expert impact studies can be obtained before voting on a new plan. Ms. Hone said that there are many issues affecting the health and safety of the residents, including traffic.
Ms. Hone stated that no one, not even the members of the Village Council, know for sure how the proposed changes to the Schedler property will affect the neighborhood, yet the Village Councilmembers have refused to obtain any impact studies or an archaeological survey of the land, or follow through on the approved plan already in place. The Village Councilmembers stated that their goal was to proceed as fast as possible, with a larger field to accommodate the needs of special interest sports groups. Without impact studies, Ms. Hone stated that the neighbors have been denied due process and are facing the threat of unknown health, safety, noise and traffic risks. She urged the Village Councilmembers to reconsider what they are proposing and to obtain expert impact studies to design the Schedler property as a park, not a field, which will mitigate concerns and ensure the health and safety of the public. She urged the public to visit Schedlerpark.com.
Joe DeMarco, 572 West Saddle River Road, stated that he lives on the corner of Racetrack Road and down the street from the Schedler property. He is the father of a two girls, aged five years and two years, and he is a physician. Dr. DeMarco stated that he supports the development of a multiuse park, including a small grass field, children’s playground, and passive area, including walking paths. He said that such a development would be of great value to the entire Ridgewood community and to the surrounding neighborhood. He stated that the most recently proposed plan appears to be in such early development that it does not adequately address the elements that impact the integrity of the field and the neighborhood.
Dr. DeMarco said that the neighbors are concerned about noise, flooding, traffic and safety, and these issues need to be addressed before development of the Schedler property. He said that the Village Council’s reliance upon traffic, sound or environmental studies from 2015 shows poor planning and execution. Dr. DeMarco stated that prior fields have been developed with improper foresight and inadequate research, leading to poor results, and the construction of a field at the Schedler property will act as a “Band-Aid” for the lack of playing fields in Ridgewood.
Dr. DeMarco stated that a patient would not want a doctor to recommend a course of treatment based on an eight-year-old study, and the Schedler neighbors should not be treated any differently. He said that he has serious concerns regarding the effect of a full-sized playing field on the traffic and safety in the neighborhood, since West Saddle River Road is already a busy street, with cars exiting from Route 17 at 55 miles per hour. The park entrance is located very close to the Route 17 exit ramp, requiring rapid deceleration. Only part of West Saddle River Road has accessible sidewalks for people to walk their dog or children to ride their bikes. Dr. DeMarco said that some of these sidewalks routinely flood even with the smallest rainstorm.
Dr. DeMarco stated that when he first moved to Ridgewood in 2018, he found his fence completely destroyed, with car parts on his lawn, due to a speeding vehicle, which had lost control. Just one month ago, a car sped around the corner from West Saddle River Road onto Racetrack Road, heading towards Route 17, and crashed into a parked car. He asked what plans the Village Council has in place to ensure that their neighborhood remains safe for pedestrian traffic. He added that, based upon the current plans, there does not appear to be sufficient on-site parking to accommodate the dozens of cars that would be present for sporting event participants and observers, playground participants and path walkers. If cars have to park on the street, this will cause further disruptions in traffic patterns and result in traffic congestion on West Saddle River Road. He asked the Village Councilmembers to take each of these concerns into account when it comes time to vote on the final Schedler Park development plan.
Ed Seavers, 168 North Maple Avenue, stated that he lives across the street from Village Hall, Maple Park and Veterans Field. He has lived in Ridgewood for the past 45 years and stated that all four of his children benefited from the sports programs and facilities offered in Ridgewood. Mr. Seavers has been active in youth sports for 35 years, and enjoyed doing so even after his children aged out of the sports programs. He was an original member of the Open Space Committee, with the first successful acquisition being Habernickel Park, an excellent example of open space preservation. Mr. Seavers stated that this was the same plan proposed for the Schedler property, aimed at the conservation of land.
Mr. Seavers stated that he has heard a lot about an “original plan” for the Schedler property. He said that the first plans approved by the Village Council called for a full-sized field with an overlapping 90-foot baseball field. The need for the construction of a 90-foot baseball diamond on the Schedler property became necessary due to the loss of the 90-foot field at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. He said that there was no question at the time the original Open Space plan was adopted that Ridgewood was “woefully short” of the required amount of active field space for both youth and adult sports, based upon the population density of Ridgewood, particularly school-aged children.
Regarding the installation of artificial turf at the Schedler property, Mr. Seavers stated that Village officials have seen how turf fields fare when installed in a flood plain. He said that the Village could use a turf field which is installed at a location where flooding is not an issue, such as the Schedler property.
Nicky Sanfilippo, 706 Hillcrest Road, stated that he is 10 years old and has lived in Ridgewood since the age of two. This is his first year playing Ridgewood baseball, spring rec, travel and fall. He stated that he has loved baseball for as long as he can remember. It is not only the game that he loves, but also being part of a team and making new friends. He said that the sport of baseball has taught him so much, including how to be kind to opponents, how to hold his head high after a loss while knowing he tried his best, and how to support his teammates when they are having a bad day. He said that hard work, not shortcuts, pays off. Nicky stated that these are lessons learned by every child who steps out onto a field to play baseball. They learn how to be a good teammate and good sportsman, and how to push themselves to the next level when they think it is out of reach.
Nicky stated that none of these things can occur if the athletes have no fields on which to play. He recalls many occasions last year when he was unable to practice or play baseball because there were no available fields or the fields were flooded. He said that he has played home games on a field in another town, because there are no fields available in Ridgewood. This shortage affects teams at all levels, and has been a problem every season. Nicky stated that his mother told him that the Village Council has the ability to fix this problem, which would help thousands of children in Ridgewood who play baseball. He would like to see bleachers where his grandmother can sit to watch him play, lights and a scoreboard, similar to fields in Wyckoff and Glen Rock.
Nicky said that he understood that people don’t want a large baseball field built, because they are afraid that it will be noisy and bring many people to the neighborhood. However, he said that he would love to live next door to a ball field, where he could play pickup games with his friends. Nicky praised the coaches and programs in Ridgewood, but stated that fields are needed. He asked the Village Council to please “make this happen.”
Jack Pietragallo, 537 Highland Avenue, stated that he is 12 years old and has been playing baseball and other sports in Ridgewood for as long as he can remember. He has seen firsthand how difficult it can be to get field time, either for practice or to play a game. Jack believes that building a new baseball field at the Schedler property would be of great benefit to the Village of Ridgewood and would provide more opportunities for young athletes to be active and to play the sports they love so much.
Jin Lee, 561 Bennington Terrace, said that she passes the Schedler property every day on her way in and out of the neighborhood, whether driving or walking. She has lived in this area since 1996. She saw a rendition of the plans containing a full-sized field and continues to supports this aspect of the plans. Her three children all participated in sports, as members of rec, travel, freshman, JV and varsity teams. When the Schedler property was purchased in 2009, Ms. Lee stated that she eagerly looked forward to enjoying the park with her children. However, her oldest child is now in her third year of living and working in the city, and her youngest child is a freshman in college. She wondered how long people will have to wait before they are able to actually enjoy a park at Schedler.
Ms. Lee said that she remembers the difficulty in obtaining field time for the older children, citing numerous cancelled practices and dangerous fields crafted out of makeshift plots. She said that the “soccer field” at the Glen School and the “practice field” at Benjamin Franklin Middle School are prime examples of the inadequate and unsafe solutions, which the Village has tried to come up with to alleviate the field shortage. She said that the athletes in Ridgewood need a full-sized field. She supports a turf field, which would maximize usage. Ms. Lee stated that when Hurricane Ida hit in September 2021, Veterans Field was flooded and damaged. She works near Veterans Field and observed that the grass field was still not usable by the Spring of 2022. However, the high school turf field was “back in action” after the storm in that same Fall of 2021. A few days of heavy rain leave playing fields unplayable for too long. Overuse creates the same problem.
Ms. Lee said that she wanted to address a concern raised by someone regarding noise from Route 17 making the proposed Schedler field inhospitable to competitions. She stated that she attended a varsity baseball game at Morristown High School years ago, and later learned that the field sits right along Route 287, a major interstate during rush hour. During the game, she did not notice any traffic noise compromising the players or interfering with her ability to watch the game. She also attended a soccer game on a field in Hoboken, which was surrounded on two sides by major thoroughfares leading to and from the Lincoln Tunnel, and she experienced no issues regarding noise from traffic.
Ms. Lee indicated that there are solutions to the concerns raised by residents. She said that she is tired of people saying, “we can’t” and is happy that the Village Council is embracing “we can.” She asked that the Village Council move forward as quickly as possible, making smart choices while taking into account the needs of the entire Village, including the residents surrounding the Schedler property.
Ellie Gruber, 229 South Irving Street, said that she wanted to correct a statement made last week by a Village Councilmember regarding the historic nature of the Schedler property. In 2020, an engineer named Brian Duddy sent a rendering directly to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), copying only the Engineers, Nancy Bigos (Director of the Parks and Recreation Department), and Janet Fricke. He did not copy the Village Councilmembers or the Village Manager. The plan submitted was not the one approved by the Village Council, the plan with a mid-sized field, parking lot, berm and trees.
Ms. Gruber said she wanted to read Jennifer Leynes’s response to Mr. Duddy in 2020:
“As you are aware, the Zabriskie-Schedler house, including Block 4704, Lot 10, in its entirety is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. Thus, any undertaking by the State, County or Municipality that may affect the property requires authorization from SHPO prior to construction under the New Jersey Register of Historic Places Act. All project reviews are evaluated under the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for rehabilitation. These standards require, among other things, that new uses for historic properties will require minimal changes to the property, that the historic character of the property will be retained and preserved, and that related new construction will not destroy historic features and spatial relationships, that characterize the property. Any new work will be compatible with the historic property to protect its integrity and that of its environment. The historic property includes not only the building itself, but also its surroundings.”
Ms. Gruber said that the proposed park development, as documented on the plans dated January 17, 2020, which never copied any Councilmember or the Village Manager, includes a paved driveway and parking area, concrete sidewalks, picnic area, lighting, as well as pickleball courts, soccer field, playground, concession stand, and gazebos elsewhere on the property. Ms. Gruber stated that these elements surround the building on all sides and will significantly alter the setting of the historic property. SHPO understands that the subject property was purchased to provide recreational facilities to residents in an underserved area of the Village. The residents believe that this goal may be achieved, while minimizing the effects on the historic property, through a redesign and possible scaling back of the proposed recreational facilities.
Suzanne Ruane, 705 Kingsbridge Lane, said that she supports a small grass field at the Schedler property. She wanted to thank Mayor Vagianos and some Councilmembers for meeting with the residents to discuss this matter. At the December 7, 2022 Village Council meeting, the Village Engineer spoke about how he worked with SHPO for a year on developing the plans for the Schedler property. Ms. Ruane stated that the plans were “signed and sealed” and that the Village Attorney stated that the plans qualified as public records. The newly elected Councilmembers received a copy of these plans and made no comments about them. She stated that then Councilmember Vagianos wanted the plan to be delayed and marked as a “working draft,” which the Village Attorney indicated could not be done, since they had already been approved by the Village Council.
Ms. Ruane stated that at the January 25, 2023 meeting, when the revised Schedler plans once again came before the Village Council for approval, a well-orchestrated group of sports representatives spoke about derailing the Schedler plan and insisted upon a bigger field. Everyone disregarded the work done by Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, through his discussions with SHPO, and the Village Councilmembers asked Mr. Rutishauser to prepare new plans with a large all-purpose field, as well as a 90-foot baseball diamond. Ms. Ruane said that a newly elected Councilmember broke her campaign promise to complete the Schedler property quickly, and instead she wanted to revamp the design with turf and lights. This was done despite Mr. Rutishauser explaining to the Village Council that SHPO would not accept a turf field or lights on an historic property. This created additional bureaucracy.
Ms. Ruane stated that she wanted an explanation from this Councilmember as to why she wants to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars to hire an attorney in the hopes of bypassing SHPO regulations. Ms. Ruane stated that the Village Council has not discussed building a large field at Citizens Park as a viable option, which would not require SHPO approval, is not in a FEMA flood zone, and has adjacent parking. In addition, they have not discussed building an all-purpose field at Habernickel Park, which is comprised of ten acres. Another option for building a large field would be at the proposed firing range off of Route 17, near the Park and Ride. This location is comprised of ten acres and would not require SHPO approval, either.
Alyssa Matthews, 941 North Monroe Street, said that she lives around the corner from Habernickel Park. She spent a good part of her youth and adult years growing up on Kenwood Road, which is around the corner from the Schedler property. She strongly opposes constructing a large field at Schedler. She stated that a small grass field would fit and be much more appropriate for the size of the lot. Ms. Matthews recalled an incident, which happened years ago, when her father’s car was hit on Route 17, by West Saddle River Road, by a car involved in a police pursuit. She stated that this is a very busy area of Route 17. Ms. Matthews stated that she greatly enjoys using the walking path at Habernickel Park and feels that the Schedler property should contain an enjoyable walking path as well. She asked the Village Council to reconsider the proposed large field, due to the many concerns regarding safety in the Schedler area.
Joann Loyka, 685 Kingsbridge Lane, stated that it was imperative that as many trees as possible be preserved in Ridgewood. She urged the Village Council not to “overbuild” on the Schedler property and not to remove any more trees. She envisions a small all-purpose field with grass and a playground at the Schedler property. She stated that there were too many reasons why a large field should not be constructed on this small piece of property. A realistic and appropriate plan was developed in 2017 after three years of discussions. Ms. Loyka urged the Village Council to follow through with that original plan.
Ms. Loyka stated that when Councilmember Winograd was running for a seat on the Village Council, she commented on her Facebook page that “I, too, believe that all parks should be interesting and special, as is Habernickel Park.” When Habernickel Park was being developed, Ms. Loyka stated that there was a large group of citizens who wanted a larger field. However, the Village listened to the residents who lived near the park. As a result, a beautiful and serene park was built instead. She asked whether or not the residents who live near the Schedler property deserved the same consideration. She said that perhaps it was time to try to mitigate the flooding on the other fields rather than “overplanning” the Schedler property.
Mike Chepcavage, 241 Fairmount Road, stated that he is a member of the Ridgewood Lacrosse Board and supports a full-sized turf field at Schedler Park, with the installation of lights. He said that many practices and games are cancelled in Ridgewood due to the lack of available fields. His mother grew up in Ridgewood, and his uncle, Dave Connelly, was part of the committee in Wyckoff that helped to develop their open space plan. He stated that the main goal is to have enough fields so the kids can play all sports, not just lacrosse. He said that the Schedler property presents an excellent opportunity to accomplish this goal.
Angela Leemans, 517 East Saddle River Road and 541 East Saddle River Road, stated that she was speaking this evening to protest the proposed changes to the Schedler plans. She said that, at a prior meeting, Mayor Vagianos summarized the four key issues that needed to be considered: flooding, fields, children and the neighborhood. Regarding flooding, she said that the Schedler property is supposed to be the solution to the other fields being flooded so frequently. Ms. Leemans said that this is not true and there is no guarantee that the Schedler field will be flood-proof. She has lived on the east side of town for 60 years and, during Hurricanes Irene, Sandy, David and Floyd, the water level rose up to the levels of the houses next to Route 17. Paving over the land for parking and artificial turf will result in flooding, and Ridgewood will have five flooded fields instead of four.
Ms. Leemans stated that Ridgewood does not need another field that gets used by less than 25% of households. She said that Ridgewood needs another year-round multiuse, inclusive park that can be used by all inhabitants of all ages and abilities, similar to the Ridgewood Duck Pond. Everyone is saying that constructing the large field is for the good of the children. She wondered, however, about the health, welfare, and safety of the children in the local neighborhood, who will be negatively impacted by the increased noise, pollution, and increased traffic on a very narrow “country road.” She said that the Village Council has been warned many times about safety issues surrounding the Schedler property, along with the road width, and has chosen to ignore these issues. Regarding the neighborhood, Ms. Leemans stated that cutting down all the trees and putting in a large field with lights is going to negatively impact the neighborhood. She said that baseball is merely a game or a hobby, and that the quality of life of the people who live in this area is more important. She urged Mayor Vagianos to honor the existing plan that represents “all of Ridgewood” as he swore to do with his oath of office.
There were no further comments from the public. Mayor Vagianos thanked everyone at the meeting this evening for their respectful participation and passion.
3. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Mailander stated that “Council Chat” is held on the first Saturday of every month. The next “Council Chat” is scheduled on March 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.
A Summer Job Fair will be held on March 8, 2023 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. in the Annie Zusy Youth 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.
A household hazardous waste collection event will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., by the Bergen County Utilities Authority at the foot of Empire Boulevard in Moonachie. They accept aerosol cans, antifreeze, batteries, blacktop sealers, and all types of paints and varnishes. The event will be held rain or shine, and no commercial vehicles are permitted.
The Ridgewood Health Department, West Bergen Mental Healthcare, and the Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department are sponsoring an event entitled, “How to Spot School-Based Anxiety: Tools, Tips and Techniques.” This in-person workshop is scheduled for March 8, 2023 from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. in the Senior Lounge at Village Hall. This workshop will include a discussion on signs, symptoms and causes, as well as tangible coping strategies and resources for parents to help support their children. Registration is required through Community Pass.
On March 30, 2023, from 10:30 A.M. to 12:00 noon, there will be an in-person workshop sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association. More details will follow.
Upcoming Village Council meetings are broadcast live from the Village Hall Courtroom, on the Village website, on FIOS Channel 34 and YouTube. Meetings can now be attended either in person or via Zoom or phone. The next Public Meeting is scheduled for March 8, 2023 at 8:00 P.M., with another scheduled on April 12, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. The next Village Council Work Sessions will be held on March 22 and April 3, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. The April 3, 2023 meeting will be held on a Monday, due to Passover falling on Wednesday, April 5th. Ms. Mailander explained that all Public Meetings after March 8, 2023 will begin at 7:30 P.M. instead of at 8:00 P.M. The next Budget Meeting will be held on March 6, 2023 at 5:00 P.M. in the Village Hall courtroom. Ms. Mailander indicated that more budget meetings will be scheduled in the future, because the Village Council is not quite ready to introduce the budget. All Public Meetings and Work Sessions will have hybrid access.
4. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Weitz said that he was not going to give a report tonight, so that there will be more time for ending public comments. He said that he wanted to publicly thank Jackie Hone and Frettra DeSilva for hosting him during discussions on Sunday, regarding the Schedler property. He said that there were three people who had been waiting to make public comments remotely at the beginning of the meeting this evening, and he asked that they be given priority during ending public comments. Mayor Vagianos agreed.
Councilmember Reynolds stated that the website for the Kasschau Shell is now up and running. This year they will be celebrating their 65th anniversary, and a citizens’ donation drive has been launched for the first time. The website can be accessed at www.KasschauMemorialShell.com. She asked Ms. Mailander if this information could be posted on the Village website, so that members of the public can see it. She encouraged residents to donate to this cause and to visit the bandshell in the summer to enjoy the wonderful performances, every Tuesday and Thursday evening, beginning in June and going through mid-August.
Councilmember Winograd said that the meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Board was cancelled last night, due to the snowstorm. She thanked the neighbors for their invitation to discuss the Schedler property.
Deputy Mayor Perron stated that the Green Team submitted its application to Sustainable Jersey to reclaim the Silver Certification for Ridgewood. After receiving the certification, they will pursue grants for environmental projects around the Village.
The Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) is planning a field trip to Westfield, New Jersey on March 24, 2023 to observe how that town, which is similar to Ridgewood, deals with parking, parks, and stores.
The Pedestrian Tunnel Committee also met and there will be a presentation this evening. Green Ridgewood is working on “No Mow May” and this will be discussed later this evening as well. The Steering Committee for Earth Day met today. Deputy Mayor Perron asked everyone to mark their calendars for April 23, 2023 for the Earth Day celebration, which will be held in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square.
5. PRESENTATIONS
A. SCHEDLER PROPERTY UPDATE
Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, gave an update on the Schedler property. He stated that his staff have drawn up another set of plans, showing new design ideas, incorporating some of the latest suggestions made by the Village Councilmembers. These suggestions included situating a full-sized field and a 40 foot x 60 foot softball field on the property, while trying to preserve as many trees as possible.
He stated that Concept #20 is shaded to show areas where trees would remain untouched, bracketing the entrance road and in the upper northwest corner. This drawing shows a playground, a restroom with an overhang for shelter from adverse weather, and a parking lot with 40 spaces.
Councilmember Weitz asked Mr. Rutishauser if he could estimate how many more trees could be preserved with a smaller playing field, in terms of square footage. Mr. Rutishauser said that this was difficult to estimate. He pointed out that Concept 20 shows a different parking lot configuration from the prior plans, as well as a 40 foot x 60 foot softball diamond. He would have to look at the prior drawings and measure the amount of square footage of trees versus this current drawing.
Councilmember Weitz asked Mr. Rutishauser if he had any safety concerns with any elements of this plan. Mr. Rutishauser said that he was confident about the interior of the park. The Police Department performed an extensive speed study in 2015 or 2016. If directed by the Village Council, the Police Department may be able to conduct another speed study. During the last speed study, the police utilized unobtrusive cameras and logged vehicle times and speeds. He said that Police Sergeant Chuck would be the most qualified person to answer Councilmember Weitz’s question.
Councilmember Weitz asked Mr. Rutishauser if he had any other safety concerns besides those regarding traffic. Mr. Rutishauser stated that West Saddle River Road is a narrow street, and the speed study showed that speeds can be elevated in cars exiting from Route 17, and the speeds decrease quite quickly once the cars are off the highway. If leaves in the roadway become an issue, Mr. Rutishauser said that he could direct a leaf vacuum truck to clean up that area. Unscheduled leaf pickups were done last year in various “trouble spots.”
Councilmember Weitz asked Mr. Rutishauser what the difference in pricing would be with a larger field versus a smaller field. Mr. Rutishauser said that the larger field would probably cost more. He asked Councilmember Weitz if he was talking about a grass field or an artificial turf field. Councilmember Weitz said he would like estimated costs regarding both. Mr. Rutishauser said that they have not priced out either a synthetic or grass field, whether large or small. He said that prices are “all over the place” at the current time. Mr. Rutishauser estimated that the difference in cost for a large field versus a small field would be about 20%.
Councilmember Reynolds asked if the smaller field measured 50 yards by 75 yards (150 feet by 225 feet). Mr. Rutishauser said that was one of the smaller fields in some of the earlier designs. They increased the size somewhat, and the drawing shown presently shows a full-sized soccer/lacrosse field. When asked about the approximate size, Mr. Rutishauser replied that he did not bring those drawings with him this evening. Councilmember Reynolds recalled the larger field measured 75 yards by 120 yards (225 feet by 360 feet). Mr. Rutishauser stated that the soccer field shown on the current drawing measures 330 feet in length by 210 feet in width, and the lacrosse field measures 195 feet in width and approximately 350 feet in length.
Councilmember Reynolds asked what SHPO representatives said to Mr. Rutishauser when they visited the Schedler property this week. Mr. Rutishauser said that there was a technical meeting held with SHPO, along with a member of the Bergen County Historic Trust. This meeting was originally supposed to be held two years ago, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They toured the site and SHPO representatives made certain points very clear to Mr. Rutishauser, Nancy Bigos from Parks and Recreation, and Jovan Mehandzic of the Engineering Department. They strongly recommended that the Village Councilmembers avoid encroachments to the historic house and be sensitive to the historic nature of the house.
SHPO representatives emphasized that any design submitted to SHPO should not have any encroachment that they cannot administratively approve. If there is such an element, then the matter would have to be heard before the Historic Sites Council, which is a type of land use board for historic preservation properties, composed of architects, archaeologists and people with a very strong interest in historic preservation. They said that artificial turf would be considered an encroachment. Full-time lighting would also bring the matter before the Historic Sites Council.
When Mr. Rutishauser asked the SHPO representative about the use of small diesel generators, he stated that he did not receive a “solid” yes or no regarding same. They strongly recommended that no trenching be done on the site, unless an historical archaeologist is present onsite while this work is performed. This was the case when they were doing work on the house and trenching was done for the electric conduit and water service. The excavation was overseen by someone from Hunter Associates, in the event that any artifacts or items of historic significance were encountered during the process.
Mr. Rutishauser said that the SHPO representatives made it very clear that the entire property is considered historic to the State Historic Preservation Board, due to the Revolutionary War period archaeological potential. Some preliminary archaeological investigations have been performed, and a Phase 1B investigation would be the next step, which would have to be submitted with any plans for development of the park. A Phase 1B investigation, which follows the Phase 1A investigation, entails metal detector scanning. If something is detected, a post-hole dig will be performed to see if the item is of any significance.
SHPO representatives also indicated that site development should not limit visibility of the historic home. Mr. Rutishauser was aware of this previously, when trees in front of the home on West Saddle River Road were proposed and SHPO indicated that they would like the house to be more visible. SHPO representatives also indicated that they felt a full-sized field would create an encroachment, which would bump the matter over to the Historic Sites Council. Mr. Rutishauser said that the SHPO representatives indicated that they felt that a bigger field would disturb the ambiance of the historic house. They made it very clear that it was “all about the house.”
Mr. Rutishauser discussed the playground with SHPO representatives, and they had no comments, either positive or negative. However, they requested that muted colors be used on the playground (greens and browns), instead of colors like hot pink or orange. Mr. Rutishauser said that playgrounds are made in these muted colors, so that should not present a problem. Regarding the restrooms with shelter protection, Mr. Rutishauser stated that where these are situated on the property will determine whether or not it becomes an issue for SHPO. When questioned by Councilmember Reynolds, Mr. Rutishauser replied that Concept #20 shows the restrooms and weather shelter immediately north of the house. This location would need to be reviewed with SHPO to see if they have any objection to it. He added that any grading done for fields would have to be overseen by an historic archaeologist.
Councilmember Reynolds asked Mr. Rutishauser if he spoke to SHPO representatives about tree removals, and he replied that tree removal was not of much concern to them. He stated that the land had previously been used agriculturally, with open fields, and the trees grew on the property over the last 30 to 50 years because the land was not used to grow crops. Mr. Rutishauser stated that he asked SHPO representatives about making the triangular plot of land to the left of the entrance into a community garden, and they thought that such a purpose would be in keeping with the historic nature of the site, since the previous use had been of an agricultural nature. He said that they gave a “thumbs down” to a pickleball court, and any request for same would trigger a review by the Historic Sites Council.
Councilmember Reynolds stated that it seems as though there would be, pursuant to the drawings submitted this evening, encroachments regarding the larger field size, the turf, and the lighting. She recalled that SHPO previously indicated that they did not want a large parking area situated behind the house. Mr. Rutishauser believed that this was correct, which is why a smaller parking lot had been depicted on some of the earlier plans (with seven spaces, including two for handicapped parking). This parking lot would have provided parking spaces for people attending an event at the house and allowed for ease of deliveries, in case an event were catered at the house. He had proposed using a dark brown paving stone for the parking lot rather than asphalt. When shown the location of the parking lot, SHPO representatives understood more clearly what it was that Mr. Rutishauser was proposing. He indicated that the parking lot shown in Concept #20 would probably be a “tough sell” for them and the plans would have to be modified.
Mr. Rutishauser explained that each of the three concepts shown this evening show different orientations for a softball field, the parking area, and the large field. Councilmember Reynolds said that it appeared that all three concepts showed encroachments, which would bring the matter before the Historic Sites Council, and Mr. Rutishauser agreed. Mr. Rutishauser stated that when a complete package is sent to SHPO for approval, their turnaround time is usually within 30 days. If the matter comes before the Historic Sites Council, they have 120 days to review the submitted proposal. In that event, Mr. Rutishauser stated that he was told the Village would need to retain additional professional help in order to present the case before the Historic Sites Council, such as archaeologists, planners and engineers, or other professionals who are well versed in presenting such projects before the Historic Sites Counsel.
When asked by Councilmember Reynolds if Mr. Rutishauser felt that SHPO would administratively approve the plan he proposed in December of 2022 without having to go before the Historic Sites Council. Mr. Rutishauser replied that he felt that plan would have a good chance of being approved without the need to go before the Historic Sites Council, albeit perhaps with some minor changes.
Councilmember Winograd asked how the relocation of the parking lot to other areas on the site would affect accessibility, particularly since the ADA ramp is located at the back of the house. Mr. Rutishauser explained that Jovan Mehandzic did not have enough time to show the seven-space parking lot at the west side of the house on some of the concepts, and there is no entrance road shown leading to the house. The parking lot shown on Concepts 21b and 22b provides access to the restrooms and storm shelter for disabled persons, but the location of the parking lot shown on these concepts would make access to the ramp at the house problematic.
Councilmember Winograd stated that the entrance to the Schedler property has been changed three times, and she asked Mr. Rutishauser if he was comfortable with the entrance being so close to Route 17. Mr. Rutishauser said that he was comfortable with the current location of the entrance because it is a “true intersection” rather than an “offset intersection.” The entrance will be divided for ingress and egress, with a dividing island, similar to that which was successfully done at Habernickel Park.
Deputy Mayor Perron asked Mr. Rutishauser whether there was a rule or statute defining or setting limits for encroachments, such as any structure needing to be “X” number of feet away from another structure. Mr. Rutishauser said that SHPO did not provide him with any specific footage regarding encroachments, and did not quote any sections from the New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) or New Jersey Statutes Annotated (NJSA).
Mayor Vagianos thanked Mr. Rutishauser and his staff for preparing so many different drawings. He thinks a miscommunication occurred with the size of the baseball/softball diamond. Rather than a 40- or 60-foot field, he said that several Councilmembers were looking for a self-contained diamond on the multipurpose field, similar to that which was built at Immaculate Heart Academy (IHA) in Washington Township. Mr. Rutishauser said that this would be very difficult to do with a full-sized field. In the concepts shown this evening, the full-sized field is shown parallel to Route 17 than with West Saddle River Road. With the field more parallel with West Saddle River Road, Mr. Rutishauser said they would be “very, very tight on room” and the field would be too close to the house and the northern boundary line.
Mayor Vagianos suggested that perhaps he and Mr. Rutishauser could visit the field at IHA. At that field, the baseball home plate is set up in one corner of the field. He said that they utilize a temporary outfield fence during Little League or softball games, which is located well within the short side of the soccer field. Mayor Vagianos said that he would like to see a drawing depicting such a multipurpose field. Mr. Rutishauser said that he would speak to Mr. Mehandzic to see what could be done. He said that a softball diamond does not require an elevated pitcher’s mound, as does a baseball diamond, which is why a smaller softball diamond was shown on this evening’s drawings. Mayor Vagianos stated that for Little League baseball games, a portable fiberglass pitcher’s mound is utilized. For a multipurpose field, the cutouts for the bases and pitching circle are delineated by differently colored turf, but nothing that athletes playing soccer, lacrosse or football would trip over, while playing.
Councilmember Winograd asked if SHPO is bearing the cost of the archaeological oversight when trenches or grading is done on the Schedler property during Phase 1B. Mr. Rutishauser replied that they are not paying for such work. When asked if he knew how much this would cost, Mr. Rutishauser replied that he would reach out to Connolly & Hickey, historical architects, who worked closely with Hunter and Associates during the Phase 1A portion of the project, and will ask them how much it will cost.
Councilmember Weitz asked Mr. Rutishauser why the archaeological study had not been performed for 14 years. Mr. Rutishauser explained that the first study has already been performed, and the next study will be performed as soon as the Village Council decides how they want the property to be developed.
When Councilmember Reynolds asked what the next steps for the Schedler property would be, Mayor Vagianos replied that he would like to see drawings showing the multipurpose field with a softball diamond overlaid on top of it. He said that no vote would take place next week on this project. Councilmember Reynolds reminded him that she would not be able to attend the March 8, 2023 meeting and she wanted a promise from Mayor Vagianos that no vote on the Schedler property would take place at that time. Mayor Vagianos stated that any new drawings would need to first be discussed during a Work Session, and therefore he does not see any way in which a vote would take place at the March 8, 2023 meeting.
Councilmember Weitz said that he was disappointed that no resolution was arrived at during this evening’s meeting and stated that he would like to see this project completed as soon as possible.
Councilmember Reynolds asked Mr. Rutishauser if a lot of overtime is being generated, due to the fact that so many renditions of the plans have been requested by the Village Council. Mr. Rutishauser said that overtime is no longer being incurred, because there is no money in the budget for same, so all of the work is being squeezed into regular working hours.
Councilmember Winograd said that the 2017 plans have been materially changed, particularly the park entrance. She said that the 2017 plans called for a turf field. She also expressed the hope that she and her Council colleagues could receive a copy of the email referenced by a resident this evening during public comments. Councilmember Winograd stated that the Village is seriously encumbered by the State regarding the Schedler property, the largest capital project ($7 million) in the Village. She would like to see this project completed, with due consideration to the rights of the neighbors and the needs of the sports groups, even if a variance needed to be considered before the Historic Sites Council. She expressed wonderment at the fact that the usage of the house has never been discussed, even though $2.3 million has already been spent on renovations.
6. DISCUSSION
A. RIDGEWOOD WATER
1. AWARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT – CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEYS FOR PFAS TREATMENT FACILITIES
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract to Hunter Research, Inc., to provide professional services to the Village of Ridgewood for cultural resource surveys for the PFAS treatment facilities proposed at Ames, Cedar Hill and Wortendyke. The surveys have been requested by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as part of the environmental review for the Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank) project funding program. Ms. Mailander indicated that Hunter Research is the same firm that provided the archaeological survey for the Schedler property. These surveys must be performed before the start of construction, so that a stop order will not be needed if something relevant is identified. It is recommended that this contract be awarded to Hunter Research, Inc., of Trenton, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $20,460.00. Funding is contained in the Ridgewood Water Capital Budget.
2. AWARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT – 2023 WATER MAIN DISTRIBUTION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN GLEN ROCK, RIDGEWOOD, AND WYCKOFF
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract to provide professional services to Ridgewood Water for 2023 distribution improvements, with locations in Glen Rock, Ridgewood and Wyckoff. It is recommended that the professional services contract be awarded to Suburban Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Flanders, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $88,170.00. Funding is contained in the Ridgewood Water Capital Budget. Ms. Mailander stated that these are priority items, since some critical transmission water mains are composed of undesirable materials or have capacity issues, and some distribution water mains have water quality reliability or capacity issues. Some of these water mains have exceeded their useful life.
Deputy Mayor Perron thought that the size of the water mains was being enlarged, but she noted in the memorandum from Mr. Calbi that the same sized (12”) water mains are being used to replace the old water mains. Mr. Calbi explained that there are two separate pipes. He said that, currently, the 12” pipe exists by itself, and will be upsized to a 20” pipe. Since his crew will be working in the right-of-way, it will be convenient for them to install a second pipe, which measures 12” in diameter, to serve one of the satellite wells that will be linked to one of the PFAS treatment plants.
3. AWARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT – PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES – BID AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE – AMES, CEDAR HILL, PROSPECT AND WORTENDYKE FACILITIES
Ms. Mailander explained that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract for professional engineering services to Ridgewood Water for the bid and construction phase for the Ames, Cedar Hill, Prospect and Wortendyke facilities. It is recommended that this professional services contract be awarded to Mott MacDonald of Iselin, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $1,946,000.00. Mott MacDonald has performed successfully for the Village as consultant on several water improvement projects in the past, including the PFAS Master Plan and Treatment Plan Designs. Funding is contained in the Ridgewood Water Capital Budget.
Ms. Mailander explained that, in 2021, Mott MacDonald was contracted for final design of the PFAS treatment facilities at Wortendyke, Prospect, Cedar Hill and Ames. The final design phase did not include the services required for project bidding, construction administration and inspection. Full-time construction inspection is required, since all four projects are being funded through the I-Bank, and this service is included in the Mott MacDonald proposal.
Deputy Mayor Perron said that she was initially shocked at the amount of the contract, but then came to realize the scope of the services, which were included after reading the proposal. Mr. Calbi added that it is a $42 million project which will be overseen by Mott MacDonald, and the entire contract is time and materials, rather than a lump sum. They will only be paid for the hours they actually work. Deputy Mayor Perron asked when the work will begin, and Mr. Calbi responded by stating that he hopes to go out to bid on the first project process by April of this year.
4. AWARD CONTRACT – RAVINE PFAS TREATMENT FACILITY
Ms. Mailander indicated that six bids were received for the PFAS treatment facility at Ravine. Mott MacDonald recommends awarding of the contract to the lowest bidder, Pack Two of Ringoes, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $3,943,000.00. Mott MacDonald is the engineer of record for this project. They prepare the construction documents and review all bids. Funding for this project is contained in the Ridgewood Water Capital Budget.
Mayor Vagianos noted that the proposed PFAS treatment facility construction is a $3.9 million project. He asked if he was correct in thinking that $2.8 million would be reimbursed for this project from the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency (NJEPA). Richard Calbi, Director of Ridgewood Water, stated that Mayor Vagianos was correct. They received a $3.5 million grant from the NJEPA, and there will be a $700,000.00 match by the Village of Ridgewood, leaving a net amount of $2.8 million. Mr. Calbi added that this is the first NJEPA-funded grant in decades.
Councilmember Reynolds said that everyone owes a great debt of thanks to Mr. Calbi and former Mayor Susan Knudsen. Mr. Calbi stated that this will be the third of twelve PFAS treatment facilities, which are to be constructed. Mr. Calbi explained to Councilmember Weitz how the sum of $2.8 million will reduce the debt payment and prevent the Village from having to do a bond ordinance.
Deputy Mayor Perron stated that the proposed resolution and memorandum indicates a contract in the amount of $3,943,000.00, but she said that she usually sees the term “not to exceed” before any dollar figure. Mr. Calbi said that he would check to see if that terminology is used with construction contracts. Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney, stated that if a contract is for time and materials, that wording is usually used. Mr. Calbi stated that this was a lump sum bid. Mayor Vagianos thanked Mr. Calbi and former Mayor Knudsen for their efforts in obtaining this grant.
5. AUTHORIZE CHANGE ORDER – PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR VARIOUS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION IMPROVEMENTS
Ms. Mailander explained that this item pertains to the authorization of a Change Order for professional engineering services for various transmission and distribution improvements for Ridgewood Water, which are necessary to improve existing, aging critical infrastructure. In October 2020, Ridgewood Water accepted proposals for these services. Two professional engineering consulting proposals were received, and Suburban Consulting Engineers, Inc., was awarded the professional engineering services contract for a total price of $194,765.00 in November 2020. At this time, an additional amount of $2,061.00 is required to complete work beyond the original professional engineering services contract scope. The Change Order is needed due to delays caused by PSE&G and NJDEP permitting, as well as the cost of reproduction of bidding plans and specifications due to unforeseen Phase 2. This project was phased when it was planned out.
6. AUTHORIZE CHANGE ORDER – PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR AMES, CEDAR HILL, WORTENDYKE, AND PROSPECT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY DESIGNS
Ms. Mailander stated that this item pertains to an authorization of a Change Order for professional engineering services for Ames, Cedar Hill, Wortendyke and Prospect PFAS Water Treatment Facility Designs. In July of 2021, Ridgewood Water accepted proposals for professional services for this project, and the contract was awarded to Mott MacDonald of Iselin, New Jersey, in the amount of $1,598,000.00. At this time, an additional $194,477.00 is required to complete work beyond the original professional engineering services contract scope. This Change Order is needed due to changes to architectural and site designs for the Ames and Cedar Hill facilities. I-Bank funding requires four separate bid packages, one for each site. It was originally supposed to only be one bid package. There are also additional permit requirements.
7. AWARD SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT – FURNISH CORROSION INHIBITOR
Ms. Mailander explained that this item pertains to the awarding of a Sole Source contract. The Lead and Copper rule from the NJDEP mandates that Ridgewood Water maintain a Corrosion Control Program, a treatment process in which small amounts of phosphate inhibitors are added to the water, prior to entering the distribution system, in order to prevent corrosion. The phosphates create a thin lining on the inside of plumbing materials, which prevents the corrosion of lead and copper into the water. Ridgewood Water uses poly-orthophosphate to control corrosion in the system. This formula is manufactured by ESC Environmental of Glenville, New York. This has been used previously, and the last round of lead sample was “non detect.” It is recommended that this contract be awarded to ESC Environmental in the amount of $185,000.00 for 2023. Funds are contained in the Water Utility Operating Budget.
8. REVISED WATER RATES AND PFAS TREATMENT SURCHARGE
Ms. Mailander explained that this item pertains to revised water rates and a PFAS treatment surcharge for Ridgewood Water. For several years, Mr. Calbi has consulted with Howard Woods, a water rate expert, to review the budget and volume and PFAS charge fee schedule. Regarding the 2023 volume rate increase, each year the Water Utility budget is developed and evaluated against anticipated revenues. Based upon this year’s budget calculation, a 3% rate increase is proposed for 2023. This increase will help sustain the revenue needed for 2023. The new volume rate proposed is $5.69 per 1,000 gallons.
The 2023 PFAS treatment charge is required to meet the funding demand for operations, maintenance and debt service requirements to support the investment to filter PFAS from the drinking water. Ridgewood Water is proposing to continue the PFAS treatment charge for a third year. The PFAS budget for 2023 is $3,562,810.00. This charge is determined by meter size as a fixed fee. The majority of residents have 5/8 x 3/4 inch meters, and the PFAS treatment charge would be $14.12 for this size meter, per quarter. These new charges will begin with the third quarter water bills in 2023. The new rates will result in an annual increase of $42.52 (6.8%) for residential customers using 7,000 gallons of water per month. The sum of $28.24, or 66% of this increase, is attributed to the PFAS surcharge increase.
Mayor Vagianos asked how a 3% water rate increase would result in an overall annual increase of 6.8% for a residential customer. Mr. Calbi said that the 3% increase pertains only to the volume rate increase, and the rest accounts for the increase in the PFAS treatment surcharge.
Councilmember Winograd asked if the surcharge would remain dedicated or if it would revert to the General Account. Mr. Calbi said that he believed Mr. Rooney was tracking that separately, and it is recalculated every year on the basis of what is being spent, anticipation of any grants, and positive recovery from either insurance or legal cases.
B. PARKING
1. INCREASE PARKING RATES IN PARKING LOTS
Ms. Mailander explained that this item deals with revised parking rates in the parking lots in Ridgewood. Parking rates are currently $1.25 per hour on the streets and $1.00 per hour in the parking lots. Sergeant Chuck indicated a few weeks ago that the lower parking lot rate did not prove to be an incentive for people to park in the parking lots. The Village is in the process of reconfiguring the kiosks, so that there are more kiosks and so that people can park in more places in certain areas. In order to do so, the parking rates have to be uniform for both street and parking lot parking. The Police Department is attempting to initiate a pilot program for Chestnut Street and the Chestnut Street lot for a period of 90 days.
Deputy Mayor Perron asked if more kiosks were being added, and Ms. Mailander replied in the affirmative. When asked where these kiosks would be located, Ms. Mailander indicated that she would have to find out. Deputy Mayor Perron wondered if raising the street parking rates would encourage more people to park in the lots. However, she acknowledged that raising the street parking rates was not desirable. Ms. Mailander stated that this would not work because the goal was to make all parking rates uniform so that the kiosks could be reworked. Deputy Mayor Perron asked if a few 15-minute parking meters were going to be installed in the Chestnut Street lot for the pilot program. Ms. Mailander replied that they are considering this option.
Mayor Vagianos recalled that when the rates were increased for street parking, cheaper rates were established for parking in the parking lots, in the hopes that more people would park in the lots. However, this has not worked out well and became confusing. He said that he completely supports raising the parking lot rates. When questioned by Councilmember Weitz, Mayor Vagianos explained that people became confused and used the kiosk intended for the Chestnut Street lot, when they were actually parking on Chestnut Street. Councilmember Winograd said that there is a great need to streamline parking in the Village.
2. CHESTNUT STREET AND CHESTNUT LOT PILOT PROGRAM
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to the parking rates just discussed. This resolution would authorize the institution of a pilot program on Chestnut Street and in the Chestnut Street lot for 90 days to see if it is helpful to residents.
C. BUDGET
1. SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT – MUNICIPAL COURT
Ms. Mailander stated that this item pertains to a Shared Services Agreement for Municipal Court. In 2019, the Village of Ridgewood signed a Shared Services Agreement with Glen Rock and Wyckoff. In this agreement, Glen Rock would share their Municipal Court Administrator with Ridgewood, and Ridgewood would provide Deputy Court Administrators to Glen Rock. The cost at that time was $50,000.00, and the increase is based upon a performance evaluation of the Municipal Court Administrator. The original agreement was for a term of three years and has expired. The new fee will be approximately $53,000.00. Ms. Mailander said that this system has worked very well. She mentioned that both Glen Rock and Wyckoff have their own judges and hold municipal court in their own venues. The Administrative Office of the Courts has encouraged these Shared Services Agreements between municipalities. Ms. Mailander said that this system works out well, because each municipality holds municipal court on different days. There is one clerical person who usually stays in Ridgewood, but who would go to Glen Rock if necessary. She recommends that this agreement be renewed for an additional three-year period with the same criteria.
2. AWARD CONTRACT – AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract for the purchase of additional automated external defibrillators (AEDs), pursuant to a request from Fire Chief John Judge. This purchase is part of a four-year capital funding project to replace all of the AEDs in the Village for use by the Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Departments, as well as for public use in Village buildings. The lowest bid was from Second Chance Cardiac Solutions, of Yorkville, Illinois, in an amount not to exceed $23,984.00. Funding is available in the Capital Account.
Deputy Mayor Perron asked how many AEDs are currently owned by the Village. Ms. Mailander said she didn’t know but would find out the answer to that question. She indicated that the resolution would authorize the purchase of 16 AEDs. Deputy Mayor Perron asked whether the 16 AEDs, which will be replaced by these new AEDs, are currently working and, if so, what is done with the ones that are working. Ms. Mailander said that she believes the AEDs are rotated, but she will confirm this.
3. AWARD CONTRACT – MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES – NEW SIGNAGE DUE TO METER POLE REMOVAL PROJECT IN CBD
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to the awarding of a contract for the purchase of materials and supplies for new signage, due to the meter pole removal project in the CBD. The previously used meter poles without meter heads are being removed from the CBD, since the parking kiosks are now used for payment. These poles have directional signs on them, directing people to the kiosk locations. Therefore, new signs now need to be printed for the kiosks. It is recommended that the contract be awarded to the sole responsible bidder, Garden State Highway Products, Inc., of Millville, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $42,320.00. Garden State Highway Products is the Village’s usual supplier for traffic signs and related items. Funding is in the Parking Authority Operating Budget.
Deputy Mayor Perron asked if the bids were received in 2020, since the proposed resolution has a date of August 19, 2020. Mr. Rutishauser said that he would check on this. When questioned by Councilmember Winograd, Ms. Mailander replied that the signs will be produced inhouse. Deputy Mayor Perron also noted that the materials for this project included breakaway channel post installations, and she asked what those were. Mr. Rutishauser replied that breakaway posts have a shear section at the bottom, which will break off if struck by a vehicle so that it does not pose an impalement hazard.
Councilmember Winograd asked if the signs would be zone specific, considering that the zones in Ridgewood are being changed and consolidated. Mr. Rutishauser said that he is working with the Police Department to see how many zones can be eliminated, to lessen confusion by residents.
Councilmember Winograd asked if some proofs of the sign format could be shown to the Village Councilmembers before they are all printed, so that they can be reviewed by the Village Councilmembers as well as by members of the Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC), to ensure that they are not confusing to people. Ms. Mailander remarked that it is more important that the signs are not confusing to the Municipal Court Judge, based upon the opinion of the Police Department, but the Judge cannot be asked his opinion regarding the signs. Ms. Mailander explained that when people who have received tickets appear before the Judge, the Judge needs to be clear on what parking rule may have been violated, if any. Ms. Mailander said that Sergeant Jay Chuck is probably the best person to review the proposed signs, since he is in Municipal Court every week. Ms. Mailander added that the format of the signs has already been reviewed by the Village Councilmembers.
Councilmember Winograd stated that she just wants to make sure that everyone is on the same page about the number of zones there will eventually be, considering that this is a large investment. Mr. Rutishauser stated that their goal is to only produce a product that the Judge is satisfied meets the standard of the law, so that enforcement may be upheld in the event of a trial or contested ticket. Dylan Hansen, IT Director, showed the Village Councilmembers the format of the proposed signs. Ms. Mailander described each sign and stated that these signs will be more intuitive. Councilmember Winograd suggested that the public be educated on the new signage. Ms. Mailander said that perhaps a video of the new signs and locations could be done and posted on the Village website. She feels that too much input from the public will make this venture too confusing. Mayor Vagianos agreed that they will need to “get the word out” to the public to enhance their understanding of the changes.
4. AUTHORIZE BUDGET RESERVE TRANSFERS
Ms. Mailander stated that this item pertains to the authorization of budget reserve transfers. This is an annual resolution, which transfers money still in the 2022 budget, from departments that have money left over to departments which do not have enough money to pay their outstanding 2022 bills.
D. POLICY
1. DINING CORRALS
2. PEDESTRIAN PLAZA
Ms. Mailander stated that it was her understanding that the dining corrals and pedestrian plaza will take place simultaneously, beginning on May 20, 2023 and ending on September 17, 2023. There will be one resolution for both the dining corrals and pedestrian plaza. These two items will be evaluated in September to determine whether or not they will be extended to perhaps November 1.
3. PAINTING OF MURAL IN TRAIN STATION PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL
Ms. Mailander indicated that this item pertains to the painting of a mural in the train station pedestrian tunnel. Deputy Mayor Perron stated that the presentation slides show some artwork which already exists in Ridgewood, together with pictures of the concrete barriers used for the dining corrals, which were decorated by members of the community. The topic of repainting the pedestrian tunnel came up during a meeting with the Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC), since the tunnel is in need of refurbishment. When the West Village Oktoberfest was held, people traversing back and forth through the tunnel remarked on the poor condition of the tunnel.
Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that she worked with Mr. Rutishauser and Rossi Paints on Chestnut Street on this project. Rossi Paints has graciously offered to donate paint and supplies for this project. The Department of Public Works would prepare the walls for the murals, which would be designed and painted by local artists, including high school Advanced Placement art students. The final design would need to be approved by the Village Council.
In order to pay the muralist who designs the mural, Deputy Mayor Perron said that they are working with the Ridgewood Arts Foundation, which is 501c3 organization. Consent will need to be obtained for the mural from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), since the train station is an historic landmark. They have prepared a draft application for submission to SHPO.
The tunnel was last painted in approximately 2012, replacing a mural that had been up for over 20 years. At the current time, the paint in the tunnel is peeling, bubbling and cracking, and there is rust staining on the walls. The lights will also require some slight refurbishment. A lot of cleaning needs to be done. As part of the fundraising efforts, it is proposed that engraved metal placards in the shape of leaves be sold with people’s names on them. The leaves would be incorporated into the artwork in the tunnel or along the ramps.
Deputy Mayor Perron stated that the theme for the artwork will be “trees,” with all four seasons being depicted. There are five entrances and exits to the tunnel: two ramps and three stairwells. She showed some examples of the proposed nature/tree-themed artwork. Deputy Mayor Perron said that it would be nice to feature Ridgewood’s tree canopy and colorfully depict the changing seasons.
A Request for Proposal (RFP) was sent out for this project at the beginning of February, and they have already received 30 responses from artists. Full mock-ups and proposals will be developed, and the final date for submission has been extended from February 22, 2023 to March 1, 2023. Deputy Mayor Perron showed some proposed designs, which have been received so far. One showed a mural of vines and leaves for one of the ramps. Another design showed three-dimensional papier-mâché trees (a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles) standing upright along one of the ramps, with the ceiling being decorated as well. She showed another design with swirling leaves, as well as one that was very colorful, depicting a gas-lamp lit park path.
Deputy Mayor Perron then explained the benefits of this project. She stated the inclusion of a historically themed and locally relevant mural inside the entrances of the historic pedestrian tunnel will attract visitors to Ridgewood and bring shoppers and diners to the CBD, thereby boosting the economy in the Village. Studies have also shown that public art has been linked to crime reduction. She said that she would like approval from the Village Council to submit this application to SHPO, so that perhaps it could be voted on at the next Regular Public Meeting on March 8, 2023. They are hoping to raise approximately $50,000.00 for this project. She said that it would be best to embark upon this project during the warmer weather.
When asked by Councilmember Reynolds how they plan to fundraise, Deputy Mayor Perron reiterated that they plan to sell the engraved leaf-shaped placards to the public. She showed a map of the pedestrian tunnel showing the ramps and stairwells. Currently, in the central walkway, there are ten ad posters on each side. Since 2017, Intersection Media has sold poster space along the pedestrian tunnel walkway to various advertisers. This company pays the Village approximately $11,000.00 per year. However, the contract with Intersection Media has expired, and during contract renewal negotiations, Ms. Mailander would investigate where the mural could be installed. The blue lines showed the location of advertisements for nonprofits and the green lines showed the most valued advertisement locations. Deputy Mayor Perron said that these latter ones are the ones which they wanted to remove, because they would interfere with the vantage point of people walking into the ramps. The stairwells are steeper than the ramps, so that would necessitate a different kind of treatment.
Deputy Mayor Perron stated that SHPO suggested that the artists should probably not paint directly on the walls, so they are considering using the Hardie Board again, which was used for different art installations around the Village. This is a type of siding or panels, which can be moved around if necessary. They have worked closely with Rossi Paints, and were advised that there is a final coat, which could be applied to enable easy cleaning in the event of vandalism or graffiti.
Councilmember Reynolds asked if the posters depicted by the green lines are installed by Intersection Media. Deputy Mayor Perron replied that all of the advertisement posters are hung by the same company. She explained that Intersection Media pays the Village 60% of the advertising revenues that they receive, so they do not pay per poster. There are between two and four other posters located in the train station area. All posters are the same size in the tunnel and in the train station area. Councilmember Raynolds remarked that it would be very beautiful if there were no posters and only the murals.
Mayor Vagianos asked if the decision for a mural design would rest with the Village Council. Deputy Mayor Perron replied that the “jury” is a mix of artists and residents, and the chosen design would be shown to the Village Council for approval. When questioned by Mayor Vagianos, Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that once the concept is decided upon, then the concept will be submitted to SHPO for approval.
Mayor Vagianos asked if SHPO would be interested in seeing the design as well. Mr. Rutishauser said that he has had some initial conversations with SHPO representatives regarding this project. They mentioned the consideration of a film or Hardie Board for the mural, something that would be easy to paint over or peel off. He agreed with the use of the Hardie Board, and he would need to figure out how to affix them to the walls. This would be presented to SHPO to see if this would be acceptable. He said that the Village has set a precedent with the use of framed posters attached to the walls.
Mayor Vagianos asked if it would be prudent to submit an application to SHPO before deciding on a final design. Mr. Rutishauser said he would like to at least submit something to SHPO delineating how the Hardie Board would be affixed to the walls. If some samples of the type of artwork being considered could be submitted at the same time, that would be better. He could tell SHPO that any proposed artwork would be submitted to them once an artist has been selected. The initial submission to SHPO would be for project authorization. Mayor Vagianos said that he was very excited about this project and expressed thanks to Deputy Mayor Perron, Jeanne Johnson, Matt Rossi and Mr. Rutishauser for “picking up the torch” on this project.
Mayor Vagianos asked if the Hardie Board was necessary and wondered why the mural could not be painted directly on the walls. Mr. Rutishauser said that, during his discussions with SHPO, they want anything painted on the walls to be something that could be easily painted over, so that the current appearance could be restored quickly. Mayor Vagianos asked if this could be accomplished by whitewashing the walls. Mayor Vagianos said that he felt the Hardie Board was an unnecessary and expensive step. Mr. Rutishauser said that it could be, but that the Hardie Board sets the artwork off the wall slightly and is a good surface on which to affix artwork. He said that the tunnel walls have areas of effervescence, causing bubbling of the paint. He said that it would be a shame for beautiful artwork to be ruined after a year due to bubbling from condensation and moisture. Mr. Rutishauser said that the final decision rests with the Village Council.
Deputy Mayor Perron asked Mr. Rutishauser if he could determine how the posters in the tunnel are affixed simply by looking behind them. Mr. Rutishauser said that he would have to go take a look at them. Councilmember Winograd said that she loves this entire mural idea and the idea of public art for all to enjoy. She stated that some artists prefer that their art be removable after installation, so that it can be donated for charitable purposes. She said that she is aware of the bubbling paint, due to the humidity in the tunnel during warmer weather.
4. NO MOW MAY
Deputy Mayor Perron described the initiative called “No Mow May,” a grassroots effort to help pollinators and wildlife, while raising awareness of their importance in our environment, and to cut down on pollution from mowers and other lawn equipment. She showed the proposed sign that they will be using for residents who participate in this initiative. Goals of this project include making lawns safer for children and pets by reducing the amount of chemicals (pesticides and herbicides) used on lawns; promoting sustainable landscapes for healthier neighborhoods; creating a safe environment for learning and observation; and showing solidarity for the environment. This initiative will take place for one month. Portions of ten parks in the Village will be participating in “No Mow May.” This initiative will help retain the Village’s title of “Bee City USA.”
Mayor Vagianos asked if other towns were participating in “No Mow May.” Deputy Mayor Perron replied that this is a national movement. Residents in Ridgewood who are interested in participating in “No Mow May” must register at NoMowMayRidgewood.org. They will receive a lawn sign to display, so that people understand why their lawn is not mowed. Mayor Vagianos asked Deputy Mayor Perron if she had any idea how many communities were engaging in this initiative, and she replied that she did not know.
Councilmember Reynolds stated that May is a month when grass starts growing rapidly and she is worried that lawns will look unattractive and will attract bugs, although she is not against this venture. Mayor Vagianos said that he tended to agree with Councilmember Reynolds, but that he is aware that the bee population has decreased dramatically. Frank Mortimer, the “Bee Man,” has indicated that this initiative will aid the bee population, which is important to the entire ecosystem.
5. COMMUNITY READ
Councilmember Winograd explained that she had attempted to set up a CRAN (Community Relations Advocacy Network) event after being approached by a Village resident, Lynn Benson, to join the Third Annual Community Read. It could not be endorsed this year by the Village, due to a timing issue, but the Ridgewood Library is participating. Glen Rock is having this program this year, and they have chosen the book, “How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America,” by Clint Smith. The goal is to promote community conversation around the issues of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). She would like to see an official Village Council endorsement of this program for next year, which can be in the form of a Proclamation.
Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that she participated in this fun program, on Zoom. When questioned by Ms. Mailander, Councilmember Winograd stated that CRAN will start sending out notices earlier, in October 2023.
6. PROTOCOL FOR WRITTEN COMMENTS AT VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETINGS
Ms. Mailander stated that there have been two recent occasions during Village Council meetings where Councilmembers were asked to read written comments from residents into the record. She stated that there is ample opportunity for citizens to make public comments, either through hybrid access (phone or Zoom), in person, or via email or mail. She asked the Village Councilmembers if they want to allow written comments to be read into the record and, if so, what protocol they wish to follow. She suggested that a similar protocol be used for Village Council meetings as was previously followed for Zoom meetings, during the pandemic. The protocol followed was that the written comments were sent to the Deputy Village Clerk no later than 4:00 P.M. the day before the meeting, with the email subject, “Comments for Village Council Meeting.” Those written comments were then to be read by either the Deputy Village Clerk or Village Clerk at the Village Council meeting. If it was a long statement (longer than three minutes), it would be read at the end of the meeting. Ms. Mailander stated that, at times, these statements were uncomfortable to read, since they criticized specific Village Councilmembers.
Mayor Vagianos stated that the procedure for public comments has changed dramatically in the last few months. People can make comments from anywhere in the world, thanks to hybrid access. He felt that the best way to hear comments would be to hear them directly from residents, instead of through a third party. Letters received from residents are always included in the packets prepared for all Village Councilmembers. The time for public comments has been extended past 40 minutes during meetings. His personal feeling is that public comments should not be read by Councilmembers directly, in order to make meetings more efficient, while still being as open as possible.
Councilmember Weitz remarked that “Council Chats” have also been established to make the Village Councilmembers more available to the public. He assured everyone that all emails and letters sent to the Village Councilmembers are read. He agrees with Mayor Vagianos that Councilmembers should not read public comments themselves. He said that they did not want to “pick and choose” which letters or emails to read, and the sheer volume of correspondence would prove to be too unwieldly and would result in very lengthy meetings. Councilmember Weitz stated that many improvements have been made to enable the public to make comments during Village Council meetings, including hybrid access.
Deputy Mayor Perron added that when a lot of comments were received during the Covid pandemic and meetings were held via Zoom, the Village Clerk was burdened with deciding which comments represented duplicate opinions. In the same light, Deputy Mayor Perron felt that she would not want to give the Village Clerk’s Office more work, since they are very busy fulfilling Open Public Meetings Act (OPRA) requests and developing other necessary paperwork.
Councilmember Winograd agreed with Deputy Mayor Perron that it would place a burden on the Village Clerk to have to sift through multitudinous emails and letters in order to determine whether there were duplicate opinions. She felt that, in order to remain neutral, it would be best that any comments read into the record be done by the Village Clerk at the end of meetings, if that is the decision of the Village Council.
Councilmember Reynolds stated that she does not think the Village Council should consider reading written comments into the record. She stated that she only read the one letter at the last meeting because the resident was in Europe in a different time zone. She felt that if someone could not call in via Zoom or phone, or could not appear in person, they could find a friend to read their comments for them at a meeting. She does not feel that the Village Clerk should be burdened with this task.
Mayor Vagianos said that there was obviously a consensus against Village Councilmembers reading public comments into the record during meetings.
E. OPERATIONS
1. ESTABLISH PRIDE DAY COMMITTEE
Ms. Mailander stated that this item pertains to the establishment of a Pride Day Committee. This committee could be appointed by the Village Councilmembers, if they wanted this to become an official Village committee. She asked the Village Councilmembers how many members they would like to appoint to this committee and the length of their terms.
Councilmember Reynolds recalled that many people spoke last year regarding the fact that they did not want the Pride Day Committee to be an official Village committee, but instead wanted to form this committee on their own. She asked what had changed in this regard.
Mayor Vagianos agreed with Councilmember Reynolds. However, he stated that at a meeting held last year with interested residents, it was pointed out that the costs for police officers to provide security at the Pride Day celebration would be passed on to the committee and would not be paid for by the Village if it was not an official Village committee. Therefore, those residents decided that they wanted the Pride Day Committee to be designated as an official Village Committee.
Councilmember Reynolds asked if any monies had been allocated in the budget for the Pride Day Committee and Pride Day celebration. Ms. Mailander stated that any costs for police would come out of the Police Department budget, but there is currently no specific allocation of monies for Pride Day in this year’s budget. Councilmember Reynolds asked how much it costs for the police presence at the Pride Day event, and Ms. Mailander said that she did not know.
Councilmember Winograd stated that she felt there should be an official Pride Day Committee, with the Village Council determining the number of members and who would be selected as the Village Liaison.
Mayor Vagianos stated that at the last Pride Day celebration, he believed that there were two police officers present, who each worked a four-hour shift. He said that the cost is approximately $500.00 per police officer. He said that the number of police officers needed would depend upon the anticipated number of people attending the event. Mayor Vagianos added that there were probably some other nominal costs for cleanup and the like. Ms. Mailander added that there would be costs incurred for a staff member from the Signal Division to do the wiring, sound checks, and staff to assemble chairs for attendees. She believed the costs would be under $2,000.00 or perhaps under $1,500.00. Councilmember Winograd added that there had been some discussion about the Pride Day Committee members doing some fundraising to offset costs.
Councilmember Reynolds stated that she has no objection to officially forming a Pride Day Committee, as long as the costs for the Pride Day celebration as discussed were accurate.
Ms. Mailander asked how many members would be on the committee, what the length of their term would be, and who would volunteer to be Village Liaison. Deputy Mayor Perron stated that her smallest committee is comprised of six residents, with a three-year term so that they can “cycle” and stagger. Councilmember Winograd suggested an odd number of members for voting purposes. She stated that interested residents had suggested five members for the committee, each with a one-year term. Councilmember Weitz suggested that the members have different terms, so that there would be “overlap.” Mayor Vagianos suggested two members with one-year terms and three with two-year terms.
Councilmember Reynolds asked if five members were enough, and Councilmember Winograd felt that would be a sufficient number of members. She added that there would be other members assisting the committee, such as the Police Chief and some young adults from the high school. Councilmember Winograd also stated that she would be willing to act as Village Council Liaison for the Pride Day Committee.
It was agreed that there would be five members on the Pride Day Committee, with staggered terms.
2. TREE TRUST FUND
Ms. Mailander stated that this item pertains to a Tree Trust Fund. A resolution needs to be passed in order to set up the trust fund. If a resident removes a tree on their property and needs to pay to have a replacement tree planted, those funds would be placed into this account. In addition, if residents want to make a donation towards the planting of trees, those funds would be placed into this account as well.
Councilmember Winograd stated that the Shade Tree Commission members are happy that this fund is being established. She added that the members felt that amendments to the tree ordinance should be made in order to enhance enforcement.
Deputy Mayor Perron remarked that she viewed the spreadsheet showing the number of residents who obtained permits to remove trees on their own property. She said that she did not notice any entries where a resident removed a tree and paid $500.00 to the Village because they were not going to replant a tree themselves. She only noted residents who would be cutting down trees and then planting replacement trees. She asked Ms. Mailander if maps were being received with permits for the replanting of trees, which would make enforcement easier in the event of a violation.
Councilmember Reynolds said she was always worried about the enforcement aspect of the ordinance, since residents do not need to obtain a permit to replant a tree on their own property. She said that someone could remove five trees on their property to make room for an addition, but she wondered who would check to make sure that resident had replanted five more trees on their property.
Councilmember Winograd indicated that fines paid for removal of trees were placed into the General Fund rather than being earmarked strictly for the planting of trees. She said that protocols for enforcement need to be clarified in the ordinance.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Joan Monton, 340 Corona Place, said that she is seeking Village Council approval to obtain and hang veterans’ banners from the poles in the CBD. She got a quote from Gates Flag & Banner. Ms. Monton stated that if she gets a list of the names and pictures to them by March 31, 2023, the banners can be prepared by May 15, 2023, so that the Signal Division can erect them on the poles in time for Memorial Day. She said that other towns keep the flags up through Veterans Day. However, Ms. Monton said that perhaps the banners could be kept up through the Fourth of July and reassessed after that time. To date, she has a list of about 100 people who are interested in purchasing banners. Ms. Monton indicated that Mr. Rutishauser and Rich Tarleton of the Signal Division both felt that the number of flags should be capped at 250.
Ms. Monton said that the Village has some brackets, which would be used to affix the flags to the poles. She will look into how many more brackets would need to be purchased, and she will check with Mr. Tarleton to obtain a cost for the brackets. In this way, that cost could be woven into the cost of the banners. The money would be managed by the Treasurer for the American Legion. Ms. Monton will collect the order forms and bring them to Gates for production. This would all be done at no expense to the Village. She reiterated that she needs the approval of the Village Council in order to proceed.
When questioned by Councilmember Weitz, Ms. Mailander replied that she does not think a resolution is needed for approval, but merely a consensus from the Village Councilmembers. Mr. Rogers agreed that an official resolution would not be needed. Councilmember Reynolds said that she loves the idea, and asked where the banners would be flown. Ms. Monton stated that there are approximately 100 poles in the Central Business District, including West Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street. The flags would not hang into the roadway. Mr. Rutishauser had indicated at a meeting that he would contact PSE&G to seek approval from them to hang the flags from the PSE&G light poles.
Ms. Monton added that, after speaking to the personnel at Gates Flag, the brackets would become the property of the Village after they are purchased. She expressed the hope that perhaps the Village could pay for the brackets. However, she said that she doesn’t want to ask for too much because she wants to get going on this project. There was a consensus among the Village Councilmembers that Ms. Monton should move ahead with this initiative, as long as everything is done legally and Mr. Rutishauser obtains permission from PSE&G. Ms. Monton asked that the order form from Gates be posted on the Village website, and ordering will be determined on a first come, first served basis. Ms. Monton also broached the subject of perhaps having a dedication ceremony before the banners are hung. Ms. Mailander mentioned that there is a Memorial Day Service sponsored by the American Legion and perhaps the dedication ceremony for the banners could be held at that time. Ms. Monton gave her assurance that she will clean up and collect the flags off season. She said that the banners will be made of higher-quality vinyl. The current quote she received from Gates was $80.00 per banner, but the cost of the brackets has to be factored in as well.
Mayor Vagianos stated that this discussion was an exception to the public comment policy, which usually does not allow for a back-and-forth dialog between those on the dais and the public.
Linda Koch, 60 North Hillside Place, stated that she really enjoyed listening to the young children who spoke so eloquently and earnestly during public comments this evening about the value of sports and of being a team player. She views the Schedler project as a wonderful teaching opportunity. Ms. Koch spoke about the Ad Hoc Committee, which was comprised of groups with varied interests and points of view, and how a plan was finally arrived at in 2017 for the Schedler project. She expressed the hope that the Village Council would show wisdom, fairness and foresight.
Laurie Weber, 235 South Irving Street, stated that at the meeting held on February 22, 2023, Mayor Vagianos insisted that the Village Council had a longstanding policy of not allowing members of the public to utter the names of Councilmembers. He stated that the policy promoted respectful dialogue, yet he did not identify this policy. Ms. Weber stated that this policy violates the public’s lawful rights of expression. She said that at that meeting, she was cut off immediately after she mentioned Councilmember Winograd’s name. Ironically, at the February 24, 2023 Budget Meeting, Mayor Vagianos allowed Councilmember Winograd to scold Ms. Mailander. Ms. Mailander had apparently not informed the Village Council of the meeting with the state employees because it was for Village staff only. Councilmember Winograd stated that, as a private citizen, she had hoped to meet one of the state employees who had been at the meeting. Ms. Weber wondered how this could be conceived as appropriate and respectful.
Ms. Weber said that Councilmember Winograd has stated repeatedly that she recuses herself from discussions concerning Ms. Mailander, yet she took time to express disdain for Ms. Mailander during the Budget Meeting. On February 22, 2023, Ms. Weber had indicated that as a result of the actions of Councilmember Winograd and “One Village, One Vote (OVOV),” the Village has an ordinance on its books which conflicts with state law, making it null and void. Ordinance 30-48 usurps the Board of Education’s statutory authority over its own elections, per Title 19 statutes. Ms. Weber stated that the date of the school elections cannot be established by ordinance, because the Board of Education cannot create, amend or rescind an ordinance. The public’s statutory right to petition the Board of Education has also been removed by the ordinance.
Ms. Weber stated that Ordinance 30-48 also conflicts with a prior court order that set the dates of Board of Education Trustee Elections through 2022, specifically in November. She said that the actions of OVOV to move the elections to November, without addressing that court order, resulted in the loss of the annual Board of Education Trustee Elections. Ms. Weber stated that she felt it was disrespectful for the Village Council to ignore such a serious issue.
Ms. Weber stated that at the February 24, 2023 Budget Meeting, Councilmember Weitz suggested that the Village charge for Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. The public’s right to access public information is protected by law, which does not discourage transparency. She felt that Councilmember Weitz thought that by charging a fee, the public would not make so many requests. Ms. Weber stated that the imposition of fees to discourage people’s interests in how the government conducts business is outrageous. She wondered how a person would get information if they couldn’t afford to pay such a fee.
Ms. Weber said that an overly broad OPRA request can be denied; however, more time could be requested in order to gather the information. As far as small businesses requesting tax records so that they can create mailing lists, Ms. Weber stated that these businesses should be sent to the Village “tax lookup.” She stated that these businesses could get this information themselves by going through town, street by street, or by searching on the internet. She said that the Village should not be burdened with such a broad request.
Ms. Weber stated that she is opposed to obliterating the Village Manager portion of Ms. Mailander’s job. She stated that Ms. Mailander does an excellent job and is a “bargain.” She said that she cringes when she sees the Police Department budget being cut, yet the Village Council is pushing forward with the creation of a new salaried position for a Village Manager.
Jacqueline Hone, 30 Carriage Lane, stated that after seeing the new plans this evening for the Schedler property, and after hearing Mayor Vagianos state that he felt Mr. Rutishauser did not prepare the plans pursuant to the Village Council’s requests, she feels even stronger that an expert is needed to design the plan for the Schedler property. The expert would take into account all of the concerns which have been expressed, including the health impacts and traffic. She said that the baseball/softball field would require 60 feet of netting to catch runaway balls, which would go against the recommendation of the State Historic Preservation Office to not plant trees in front of the house because it would obstruct visibility. She said that such netting would also obstruct visibility of the house.
Ms. Hone stated that the 2017 original Schedler plan was approved at the municipal level, with a resolution adopted memorializing same. Mr. Rutishauser stated this evening that he felt the plan he proposed to the Village Council a few months ago would probably be approved by SHPO. She also heard this evening that the state is “putting the brakes” on this entire project, due to the historic designation of the parcel. Ms. Hone stated that this remark was insensitive to citizens who truly believe in American history and the fact that the Schedler property is a Revolutionary War site. She stated that she wouldn’t refer to the state protecting and responsibly being stewards of public lands and American history as something that is impeding the completion of the project.
Ms. Hone stated that the historical elements of this property are unique, and that the house and the land date back to the Revolutionary War period. She stated that Deputy Mayor Perron previously sent her a picture of a sword, dating back to 1747, which was found on the Schedler property. Ms. Hone said she was happy to hear Mr. Rutishauser say that they are now preparing to undergo Phase 1B of the archaeological assessment and survey. She stated that the Village has a robust baseball program, but also has a robust community of Boy Scouts, who have not been heard from regarding the project.
Ms. Hone asked if the Village Council would approve another committee to be formed, comprised of residents, to discuss potential uses for the Zabriskie-Schedler house as well as historic presesrvation of the land itself. She feels that the house would be a great place to store and exhibit the artifacts that have already been found, or tours giving a “walk through history” of what happened on that parcel. There are numerous letters which give a detailed account of what happened during that time period. The house could also serve as a symbol of the “America 250” celebration.
Rurik Halaby, 1 Franklin Avenue, stated that he has four documents related to the Schedler property, which he will give to Ms. Mailander to become part of the record. Connolly & Hickey applied to register the house in May 2019. Mr. Halaby asked who authorized the filing of such an application. Mr. Halaby stated that on October 3, 2018, Ms. Mailander estimated that the cost to renovate the Schedler house would be $785,000.00. He stated that the cost has risen to $2.3 million, and he asked why there was such an increase, stating that it could not be due to inflation.
Mr. Halaby stated that in a letter he wrote to the Ridgewood News in November 2019, he requested that the Schedler property be linked by footbridge to the Old Paramus Church, and for the combined sections to be named as the “Ridgewood Historic Park.” He stated that while he is a big believer in historic preservation and respecting one’s historic heritage, he is very opposed to registering the Schedler house or property as historic for two reasons. Mr. Halaby said that the house “is not worth it” and the historic designation has “handcuffed” the Village to SHPO and wasted a lot of taxpayer money. He stated that he viewed the inside of the house recently and cannot figure out how $2.3 million was spent on the house.
In Mr. Halaby’s letter to the Ridgewood News, he mentioned Havens House on Shelter Island, New York, built in 1743, which he said was the gold standard on how an historic property should be restored. He spoke to the Executive Director of the Havens House project, and she mentioned that the restoration of this historic house cost over $6 million, which was raised entirely through private donations. Mr. Halaby asked the Executive Director why no public funds were used, and she stated that they didn’t want to “lose their freedom.” Mr. Halaby stated that this is what has occurred with SHPO.
Mr. Halaby urged the Village Council to move quickly to install a large turf field on the property and to purchase the adjoining property for the purpose of a parking lot. He said that the fact that the property has some historic significance does not preclude the Village from constructing this full-sized playing field. He said that if George Washington were looking down at the property, he would be happy to know that the land is being used to keep Americans happy and healthy.
Mr. Halaby recalled a statement made by Councilmember Reynolds this evening that she was uncomfortable with “No Mow May,” because it would generate a lot of bugs. However, Mr. Halaby stated that was the whole idea behind “No Mow May,” to preserve a habitat for insects and bees.
Mr. Halaby congratulated the Village Councilmembers for encouraging residents to attend meetings and express their views. He read a quote from former Mayor Knudsen in the September 8, 2022 Patch: “While updates and information on the house and property have been light and almost non-existent, I think we’re avoiding interference. I think, in fairness, that has worked out quite well.” He said that this reflected the “opaqueness” of prior Village Councils, as opposed to the ”openness” seen with the current Village Council.
Robert Koch, 60 North Hillside Place, stated that he and his wife have canceled all of their streaming services, including HBO, Netflix, and Amazon Video, and now “binge” on Village Council meetings. On a serious note, Mr. Koch said that he applauded the Village Council for their noble efforts in arriving at a reasonable budget.
Regarding the Schedler property, Mr. Koch stated that the Village Council has “kicked up a hornet’s nest,” and he couldn’t understand why. He feels that the Village Council should adhere to the approved 2017 plans, which represented a compromise by residents, neighbors and sports organizations. He said that any changes to the plans would cause even further delays, with encroachment accusations from SHPO and injunctions filed by residents.
Mr. Koch recalled someone from a sports organization stating at a Village Council meeting that they would be willing to donate funds in order to offset costs on developing the Schedler property. He said that if the Village Councilmembers make any decision regarding the field on the property based upon this financial contribution, then Mr. Koch would also be willing to make a super substantial gift that is “10X” what the sports organization was offering. Mr. Koch said that no decision should be based upon what an individual is willing to donate.
Mr. Koch stated that the property would be utilized approximately 14 hours per day, 105 hours per week, or 5,468 hours per year. The fields can only be used 33% of the time, so he feels that the Village Councilmembers need to consider what the usage of the parcel would be for the rest (67%) of the time. Mr. Koch feels that this is the reason why the neighbors surrounding the Schedler property are so upset. He concluded with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Cowardice asked a question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asked a question, ‘Is it politic?’ Vanity asked a question, ‘Is it popular?’ but Conscience asked a question, ‘Is it right?’ There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.” Mr. Koch urged the Village Council to do what is right.
Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, stated that Councilmember Winograd constantly states that the Schedler project is one of the most expensive projects the Village has ever had at $7 million. However, Ms. Loving said that there is a $42 million water project, so the Schedler project is not the largest.
Ms. Loving stated that a previous speaker, Jacqueline Hone, had suggested the formation of a committee in order to replan the Schedler development. Ms. Loving also recalled the previous discussion regarding the formation of the Pride Day Committee, with five members and staggered terms. She stated that the Communications Committee has 14 members. Ms. Loving said that someone on Facebook asked if they could join the Communications Committee and was told that they could not. She feels that the manner in which the Village Council forms committees is not at all equitable.
Ms. Loving said that she does not live in the Schedler neighborhood, but she, like many others, have spoken against the larger field and the Astroturf. She does not like the fact that it is being said that it is the neighbors against everyone else, because it is not true. Ms. Loving stated that she fully supports the smaller grass field, which was agreed to in the 2017 plans. She said that at a recent meeting with the Schedler neighbors, Councilmember Winograd was asked if she could say that she personally had no problem or concern with having a sports field right next to Route 17, without any environmental impact studies, pollution studies, or concerns about the wells and the water runoff. According to Ms. Loving, Councilmember Winograd replied, “I don’t have any concerns building this next to Route 17. I don’t.”
Ms. Loving indicated that Dr. Salvatore Infantino, who is currently in Italy, asked her to read something that he had written: “I understand the need for playing fields, having been a soccer coach in the Ridgewood system for 17 years, and that millions of dollars have been spent to develop the Schedler property. Nevertheless, we cannot jeopardize the health and lives of our most precious possession, our children. The particulate pollution created by the nearby high-speed highway and exercising children in an adjacent field is a lethal combination. The different physiology of children puts them at higher risk for many diseases, with some of them leading to death. All you need to do is Google “particulates and children exercising near busy highways” and you will be presented with a plethora of scientific literature warning of the dangers. The only viable solution for the Schedler property is to create a passive and historical park. Let us not forget that a Revolutionary battle was fought there, with George Washington being stationed at the nearby Paramus Church. It is incumbent on the Council to get an opinion from an independent medical expert addressing the medical consequences of this proposed field. Councilmembers cannot in good conscience form an opinion on this vital issue concerning our children without this information. You need to take your time and inform yourself on this critical decision that will affect the lives and health of our children for decades to come. Salvatore Infantino, MD.”
Denise Lima, 319 East Glen Avenue, thanked the Village Councilmembers for their hard work regarding their service to Ridgewood, including the lengthy budget meetings. Ms. Lima said that there is some ordinance, which states that residents can be fined if grass is allowed to grow too high. She wondered how this would be addressed during “No Mow May.” However, she is excited about this initiative, although she mentioned that rats and mice tend to hide in high grass.
Ms. Lima stated that she has been advocating renovations to the train tunnel for years. She would like to see students doing the artwork, in order to create excitement and motivation for the students, who can see their artwork adorning structures in their own town.
Ms. Lima recalled that Councilmember Winograd had indicated that she would get some statistics regarding the number of children who play sports in Ridgewood, broken down by age, sport, and schedules. However, that information has not yet been forthcoming. She said she would like to hear the Village Councilmembers publicly address various issues at the Schedler property, such as parking, traffic congestion, overflow parking on the streets, and safety. She also has not heard any “compromise” from the Village Councilmembers. Ms. Lima doesn’t understand why the Village Council is “back peddling” at this point in time. She feels that the Village Councilmembers should honor the Council’s previous commitment pursuant to the 2017 plans.
Ms. Lima spoke about the many letters written by George Washington while quartered at the Paramus Church, in which he wrote that there were 400 troops encamped around the church, on the Schedler property and perhaps at Valleau Cemetery.
Bill Bond, 335 Kensington Drive, stated that he appreciated the care, effort and due diligence being shown by the Village Councilmembers. He said that the progress on the Schedler property has been a travesty, especially designating the house as historic. As far as designating the property as historic, Mr. Bond stated that there were probably battles fought during the Revolutionary War all over Ridgewood. He spoke about the “stalling mechanisms” shown by others regarding the dangers of turf, but he stated that everyone knows that the Village needs a multi-surface field, especially due to changing weather patterns and the constant flooding of the other full-sized fields in town, rendering them useless.
Mr. Bond stated that he would be interested in finding out how the house and property were even designated as historic in the first place, stating that it appeared to be a “backroom deal.” He said that he was surprised that people are up in arms about the property, yet they say nothing about the fact that $2.3 million has been spent on renovating the house, which he described as a useless building. He stated that the original plans called for a 60 yard by 90-yard baseball field, which can no longer be constructed because the berm was constructed to help alleviate noise and exhaust from Route 17. He said that there were probably a lot of people in Ridgewood who support the larger field on the Schedler property, but they have not spoken before the Village Council, due to work or other factors preventing them from appearing. Mr. Bond spoke about the Village possibly purchasing adjacent properties in the future, which would allow the Village Council to address some of the concerns of people who are against the larger expansion of the property. He thanked the Village Councilmembers for taking the time to revisit the Schedler plans.
Elzbeieta Jastrzebeska, 215 Walton Street, stated that it does not make sense to her why the Schedler plans are being changed, after a compromise plan was already reached. She said that the property is of great historical value and should be preserved. She understands that children need to play, but she believes more that children should be taught history, especially the Holocaust.
Mayor Vagianos closed public comments early due to the strong smell of gas in the room. The Fire Department was called. He stated that the mark of a civilized society is not how people agree, but how they disagree.
8. 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 10:59 P.M.
Paul Vagianos
Mayor
Heather Mailander
Village Manager/Village Clerk
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