A REGULAR 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 JUNE 7, 2017 AT 7:30 P.M.

 

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

Mayor Knudsen called the meeting to order at 7:31 P.M. and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen. Also present were Heather Mailander, Village Manager/Village Clerk; Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney; and Donna M. Jackson, Deputy Clerk.  

Mayor Knudsen led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and held a Moment of Silence for all the men and women serving our nation and all first responders.

Mayor Knudsen thanked IT Director, Dylan Hansen, for all the work he did on improving the sound system in the courtroom.

2. 2. SWEARING IN OF FIRE FIGHTER DANE KNUDSEN

Ridgewood Fire Chief, James Van Goor, introduced Firefighter, Dane Knudsen. Firefighter Knudsen grew up in Ridgewood and graduated from Ridgewood High School. Firefighter Knudsen joined the Volunteer Fire Department in 2011 and graduated from the Fire Academy in 2012. Firefighter Knudsen subsequently passed the Civil Service Test with a high score. Firefighter Knudsen was hired by the Ridgewood Fire Department on January 23, 2017. Chief Van Goor stated that the department was proud to have Firefighter Knudsen as a firefighter.

Dane Knudsen was sworn in as a Firefighter by Mayor Knudsen while his wife, Caroline, and his daughter held the Bible. There was a round of applause and congratulations from everyone in attendance.

3. 3. SWEARING IN OF FIRE FIGHTER SHELBY TAYLOR

Ridgewood Fire Chief, James Van Goor, introduced Firefighter, Shelby Taylor. Firefighter Taylor is the first female firefighter in Ridgewood and the first female firefighter in Bergen County. Firefighter Taylor grew up in Ridgewood and graduated from Ridgewood High School. Right after high school, Firefighter Taylor joined the U.S. Marines and was stationed overseas in Italy and Spain. When she came back to the United States, Firefighter Taylor passed the Civil Service Test with a high score. Chief Van Goor stated that the department was proud to have Firefighter Taylor as a firefighter and for being the first female firefighter in the department.

Shelby Taylor was sworn in as a Firefighter by Mayor Knudsen while her mother, Suzanne, held the Bible. There was a round of applause and congratulations from everyone in attendance.

 

4. 4. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Knudsen asked if there were any comments or questions from the public.

Joseph Ferrante, 610 Hillcrest Road, presented a petition, signed by slightly less than 400 Ridgewood residents, objecting to the closing of the two-way crossing at the railroad tracks by the Ho-Ho-Kus station. Mr. Ferrante stated that making this crossing a one-way crossing is unacceptable, as it will create a significant disruption in the Willard District. Mr. Ferrante asked for the Village Council’s support in keeping the same road pattern that has been in existence for almost 100 years.

Village Manager, Heather Mailander, stated that today, Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser forwarded to her a Memorandum of Record, which detailed the plans the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has for this crossing. This Memorandum of Record includes the NJDOT, the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus and the Village of Ridgewood and will be published. According to this Memorandum of Record, anyone not in accord with the provisions contained within it must file within 30 days. Ms. Mailander recommended that Mr. Ferrante forward the petition to the NJDOT and encourage residents to express the reasons for their oppositions via e-mail, which will also be published. The Village will also make sure this information is published through different media forums.

Mayor Knudsen noted that the Village has been in contact with the Mayor of Ho-Ho-Kus regarding concerns expressed by the residents of Ho-Ho-Kus, as well.

Jane Remis, 118 Madison Place, urged the Village Council to keep Clinton Avenue open during the school day so parents can use Clinton Avenue for parking and as a route to get to Ridge School.

5. 5. PRESENTATION

1. a. Ridgewood Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands - Butterfly/Sensory                                     Garden at the Stable

 

Cynthia Halaby, a resident of 374 Evergreen Place and President of the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands, and Chris Raimondi, Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) were present.

Ms. Halaby referred to a packet she provided to the Village Council members detailing the activities of the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands over the last six years. The conservancy is very proud to have raised approximately $35,000; all of which has been reinvested in the parklands. This figure does not include pro-bono work performed by very generous, local landscapers. The packet also contained a plan for a Sensory Butterfly Garden, prepared by Mr. Raimondi. Ms. Halaby explained that the Conservancy will not only provide the community with a wonderful new garden, but with a great educational opportunity for the Village’s young people. In fact, a Ridgewood Girl Scout working on her gold award will be working with the conservancy. Ms. Halaby noted that the Conservancy recently made a presentation to the Department of Parks and Recreation, requesting their input and approval. The Conservancy is very conscious of the fact that the guidelines of the Ridgewood water restrictions must be followed.

Ms. Halaby thanked Mr. Raimondi for generously donating all of his time to the Conservancy and the Village of Ridgewood. Mr. Raimondi will be in charge of the entire project and will oversee its success.

Mr. Raimondi reviewed the plans for the Sensory Butterfly Garden. The garden has been designed with great cooperation between the Parks and Recreation Department and the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands. The garden will contain a wheelchair-accessible, bluestone walkway. Locally-sourced boulders will be used to create a minor elevation that will permit people in wheelchairs to approach the plants and flowers. The garden is proposed to contain vegetation that will attract butterflies, extensive shrubbery, trees, water features, and a pergola. The garden will also contain a fun “Vegetable Zone” for children to enjoy.   The garden will be located behind The Stable on the brook side. Mr. Raimondi stated that the garden will be completely funded by the donations raised by the Conservancy, with the exception of work that will be performed by Village staff members. Mr. Raimondi will not charge for any of his services.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Raimondi stated that there is no enclosed structure. Plantings will be done in the fall, when water restrictions are lessened. Hardscape materials will be installed in the summer months.

Councilman Sedon thought the Sensory Butterfly Garden was a great idea, and he pointed out that a 21-day waiver is available to allow new plantings to be watered every day.

Mayor Knudsen thanked Ms. Halaby, Mr. Raimondi, and the Conservancy for all the wonderful projects, and their energy and efforts in keeping the Village of Ridgewood beautiful.

Councilwoman Walsh moved to suspend the Work Session and convene a Special Public Meeting. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:             Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen

NAYS:            None

ABSENT:        None

ABSTAIN:      None

6. 6. SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING - SEE SEPARATE MINUTES

Councilman Sedon moved to adjourn the special meeting and reconvene the Work Session. Councilwoman Walsh seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES:             Councilmembers Hache, Sedon, Voigt, Walsh, and Mayor Knudsen

NAYS:            None

ABSENT:        None

ABSTAIN:      None

7. 7. DISCUSSION
8. a. Ridgewood Water
9. 1. Improvements to Booster/Transfer Stations

Ms. Mailander explained that the Village of Ridgewood received bid proposals to make necessary improvements to five booster/transfer stations within Ridgewood Water. Seven bid specifications were picked up, with two being received. The award is recommended to go to the firm of Fred Devens Construction, the lowest bidder, with an amount not to exceed $827,000. All the bid criteria were met. Funding for this contract is budgeted in water account number 7-05-55-511-550.

2. 2. Award of Contract - Design and Construction of GAC Treatment System at         Carr Treatment Facility

Ms. Mailander explained that in 2016, Arcadis, U.S., Inc. was contracted to evaluate alternatives for the removal of perfluorinated chemicals (PFC’s) at Carr Treatment Facility. PFC’s are unregulated contaminants that the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has been evaluating for potential health effects. On May 19, 2016, the USEPA issued a new health advisory for PFC’s; in particular the compounds perfluoroctanioc acid (PFOA) and perfluoroctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). Levels of both contaminants are present at variable levels in the groundwater at the Carr Facility. Director of Operations, Richard Calbi, has recommended that the Village of Ridgewood-Ridgewood Water proceed with the engineering design and construction of a granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment system at the Carr Facility. Mr. Calbi recommended awarding a professional services contract to Arcadis U.S., Inc., in the amount of $303,000. Funding is budgeted for in the 2017 Water Capital Fund.

1. b. Parking          
2. 1. Central Valet Services Proposal

Ms. Mailander explained that this involves the rebid for the Central Business District Valet Parking Concession Pilot Program. There were four plan holders eligible to bid. The Village received one bid. The bid quoted a price of $103,194 for the services in the proposal, which were three nights; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 5:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m., for a six-month trial period. The low bidder, LAZ Parking, of New York City, submitted a complete bid package with all necessary information, as well as a portfolio of comparable work they have performed with valet operations, which impressed both Ms. Mailander and Village Engineer, Christopher Rutishauser.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rutishauser explained that the Village will provide parking lots. Both municipal and private lots will be considered. Mr. Rutishauser noted that there is a private lot near the Van Neste pick-up site that may be utilized. A determination must be made if there are spaces available in the Hudson Street Lot or if there are any private lots willing to service Broad Street/East Ridgewood Avenue. Mr. Rutishauser noted that the $103,194 bid price does not include any fees that the Village will incur for utilizing private lots. More pricing information will be available after the trial period is over.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Ms. Mailander stated that the money for this proposal is not in the budget. It would need to be bonded.

Under questioning by Councilman Sedon, Mr. Rutishauser explained that in conversations with three of the businesses that currently offer private valet services, it was noted that customers want to be picked-up at the entrance of the establishments that have these service. These private valet companies will still be in operation concurrent with the Central Valet, if the Village Council wishes to go forward with this proposal.

Under questioning by Councilman Hache, Mr. Rutishauser stated that for the two pick-up locations, there will be two attendants and one supervisor, for a total of six employees. Councilman Hache suggested using the parking lots east of Van Neste and the Train Station. Councilman Hache felt that 5:00 p.m. was too early to begin valet parking, and he recommended changing the time to 6:00 p.m. Although he understood that the $103,194 sounds a little high, he suggested considering the $50,000 cost incurred by each business offering private valet services. There are over 60 restaurants that will be able to use Central Valet.

Councilwoman Walsh felt it was important to determine how many people would actually use valet services, before beginning a trial program. Mr. Rutishauser explained that it would be difficult to determine this number using the existing valet services, as they are door-to-door. Patrons of Central Valet will still need to walk from the lots to the businesses; however, they will not need to keep circling to find an empty parking space. Councilman Hache noted that the proposal relates only to the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the services provided by the valet company. It does not contemplate the offset fees paid by either the shoppers/diners or the businesses.

Mayor Knudsen understood that the ultimate goal was to have just the Central Valet Service operating, so there is no competition with available parking spaces and so those bigger restaurants, that currently offer private valet services, would be contributing to the valet service fees. Mayor Knudsen felt it was important to determine which businesses want to be involved in the Central Valet Service and the cost that these businesses would be willing to commit to pay.

Councilman Hache stated that at the next Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) meeting, the members will discuss the businesses’ cost for Central Valet; the businesses that would be willing to participate; what the average cost-per-car would be considering the average flow of customers per evening; and whether customers would be willing to pay the cost if the parking is not validated by an individual business.

Ms. Mailander stated that this issue will placed back on the agenda to be discussed further when additional information is received.

2. 2. Steilen Avenue Parking

Ms. Mailander explained that parking is currently prohibited on both sides of Steilen Avenue from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, from Linwood Avenue north to the cul-de-sac. This was most likely enacted when Valley Hospital employees were parking on Steilen Avenue, during a past construction period.

Mayor Knudsen explained that she was contacted by a resident of Steilen Avenue who asked for relief from the all-day parking restriction on Steilen Avenue, since there is no longer a reason for it. Mayor Knudsen suggested mailing letters to residents of Steilen Avenue to get their input before proceeding. Councilman Sedon agreed. These letters would suggest options such as the following: no parking from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. since Benjamin Franklin School is located nearby; or restricting parking on one side of the street only. The letter would also ask residents to respond via e-mail.   Ms. Mailander agreed to do this.

1. c. Budget
2. 1. Refund of Taxes - Disabled Veteran

Ms. Mailander explained that the owner of Block/Lot 3106-28 is eligible for a 100% Disabled Veteran’s Deduction due to a wartime service-connected disability, as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affair, effective November 28, 2015. This homeowner just received this determination, even though it is approximately 1½ years later. The amount of property taxes billed and paid since the effective date is $15,703.27. Historically, the Village Council has adopted resolutions to cancel the taxes as of the effective date established by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

It was the consensus of the Village Council to go forward with a resolution authorizing the tax refund and the cancellation of further real estate taxes for the owner of Block/Lot 3106-28.

2. 2. Resolution Urging Extension of 2% Cap on Police and Fire Arbitration Contract Awards

Ms. Mailander explained that in July, 2010, the Governor and the NJ State Legislature enacted a permanent 2% cap on municipal and school board tax levies with limited exceptions. In December, 2010, the Governor signed a bill for a temporary 2% cap on Police and Fire arbitration awards in order to curtail increasing salary costs and help keep property taxes under control. This temporary 2% cap was extended in 2014 and will expire on December 31, 2017, while the 2% property tax levy remains permanent. The League of Municipalities has encouraged all municipalities to urge the State Legislature to extend the 2% cap on Police and Fire arbitration contract awards for a period of five more years. In this way, the State Legislature will have data to determine whether or not the 2% cap on Police and Fire arbitration contract awards should be made permanent.

It was the consensus of the Village Council to go forward with a resolution extending the 2% cap on Police and Fire arbitration contract awards. Mayor Knudsen recused herself from this pole.

3. 3. Renovation of Graydon Pool Restrooms

Ms. Mailander explained that the Village solicited informal proposals for the renovation of the restrooms at Graydon Pool. The Village received one proposal from Axis Architectural Group in the amount of $30,800. Others were unresponsive. The Engineering Department and Parks and Recreation Department met with Alex Architectural Group. The work needed at the restrooms is more comprehensive then what was initially thought. The recent Village Council Resolution #17-135, which recognized the historical designation of Graydon Pool, may make the work more complex with the additional regulatory review required. If the Village desires to move forward with this project, the design work and subsequent construction work could be completed by the June, 2018 opening of the pool season.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rutishauser stated that he could not determine, at this time, if the cost will go higher than $30,800.   This will depend upon how far along the site is in the historical designation process and when the Village will receive notification on whether or not Graydon Pool will be listed on the historic site registry. The renovation of the restrooms may be able to be completed before this occurs.

Under questioning by Councilman Sedon, Mr. Rutishauser stated that this bid is only for the architectural services. Councilman Sedon objected to spending this amount of money on design work only. Mr. Rutishauser felt the bids for construction would be in the range of $180,000 to $240,000.

Councilman Hache felt the Village Council may have to reconsider the historic designation of Graydon Pool and its potential impact on the cost of doing any work on the site.

Councilwoman Walsh stated that she was in favor of upgrading the Graydon Pool restrooms, as the need is there, as long as the exact cost is determined. Councilwoman Walsh suggested receiving matching funds since Graydon Pool is a park. Mr. Rutishauser pointed out that once matching funds are involved, additional requirements are added. He pointed out that when Housing and Urban Development (HUD) partially funded the sloped entry into Graydon Pool, the concrete needed to be tinted to match the surrounding sand. In terms of cost, the bathrooms are relatively old and the doorways must be made wider to make the structure American with Disabilities (ADA) compliant.

Mayor Knudsen agreed that the restrooms need to be renovated, whether or not the building is designated as historical, and a plan needs to be in place. Mr. Rutishauser stated that the additional cost resulting from a historic listing label is unknown at this time. There may be additional costs associated with construction, the cost of materials, and the State Historic Preservation permit application and review process.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Rutishauser stated that the restrooms were constructed in the 1930’s.

Mayor Knudsen suggested reducing the cost by providing ADA accessible bathrooms on another part of the property. Mr. Rutishauser stated that the site’s proximity to the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook may create the need for stream encroachment permits, since almost the entire site is in a flood hazard area.

The Village Council will continue to discuss this issue at a subsequent meeting.

4. 4. Revenue Expense Report - April 30, 2017

Village C.F.O. Robert Rooney was present.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rooney estimated that “Municipal Court Revenue” will be higher than the budgeted amount, as a result of e-ticketing. Funds in excess over what was anticipated will be moved into next year’s budget.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rooney stated that the revenue line labeled “Recreation - Fees and Permit’s” consisted of pre-sales for Graydon Pools and other recreation programs.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rooney stated that he did not think that the revenue from “Receipts for Delinquent Taxes” will go higher than anticipated.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rooney explained that the cost of the “Public Employees Retirement System” is billed and paid in full annually.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rooney stated that the total “Contributions to Joint Meeting for Consolidated Dispatch” and “E-911” should not go above the budget amount, as this is an agreed-upon, concrete figure.

Under questioning by Councilman Sedon, Mr. Rooney felt that other than the figure for “Parking Revenue” being a bit low and requiring monitoring and catching-up, the Village is in good shape.

Under questioning by Councilwoman Walsh, Mr. Rooney explained that the budgeted $12,790,751 figure under “Rents” in the “Water Utility Funds Revenue Report” consists of what is billed out annually. Last year, that number was roughly $14 Million. Mr. Rooney took the conservative approach by budgeting this year’s amount at $12 Million.

Under questioning by Councilman Hache, Mr. Rooney explained that the actual amount paid as of April 30, 2017 on “Loan Repayment for Principal and Interest” and “Total Debt Service” is low because of the timing of the maturity schedules. Critical payments are not due until June 1, 2017.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Rooney stated that he receives and compares weekly reports on the collections for parking revenue. Mr. Rooney will prepare a monthly report showing revenue over the past two years. A decline in revenue could be attributed to factors such as the use of Park Mobile or meters taken out of service as a result of construction, and these factors will be taken into consideration when the monthly report is prepared.

Mayor Knudsen noted that a decline in CBD foot traffic could also be attributed to a reduction in parking revenue. Mr. Rooney stated that Park Mobile could be used as a basis to compare the amount of daily transactions; however, this is not possible with cash collections.

5. 5. On-Call Traffic Engineering Services Proposal

Ms. Mailander explained that there are two plan holders eligible to bid, and the Village received two proposals. The proposals do not present a fixed cost as the RFP requested hourly rates. Proposals were received from Boswell Engineering and Petry Traffic, LLC. Both proposals were complete. Mr. Rutishauser determined that Boswell Engineering presents significantly greater depths of experience than Petry Traffic, LLC, in both personnel and projects.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rutishauser stated that these services are different from the services performed for the Planning and Zoning Boards. These services would include consultations from a traffic expert on issues such as the Train Station Parking Lot Plan.

Under questioning by Councilman Sedon, Mr. Rutishauser explained that only the hourly rate will be charged; there is no annual retainer. If these services are needed for a specific project, Mr. Rutishauser strongly recommended creating a budget with an upper limit to insure adequate funding for this service.

Mayor Knudsen pointed out that John Jahr of Petry Traffic, LLC has worked with the Planning and Zoning Boards for many years. Even though Boswell Engineering has greater strengths, Petry Traffic, LLC brings a history and an extensive knowledge of the Village. Mr. Rutishauser noted that the former County Engineer, after working for the County of Bergen for 40 years, is now with Boswell Engineering. He is a very knowledgeable traffic engineer familiar with the Village, and Mr. Rutishauser has worked with him frequently.

It was decided that the Village Council wished to award the bid to Petry Traffic, LLC.

6. 6. Parking Kiosk Pilot Study Proposal

Ms. Mailander explained that there were six plan holders eligible to bid and the Village received three proposals for the Parking Kiosk Program Six Month Pilot Study for the Chestnut Street Municipal Parking Lot. The proposals range from a cost of $11,631 to $20,654.20. Mr. Rutishauser briefly reviewed these proposals. Cale America came in with the $20,654.20 quote and was the most straight-forward proposal received; however, a New Jersey Business Registration Certificate (BRC) was not included in the proposal. Cale America proposes a pay-by-plate system. Leasing a unit would cost $918.00 per month and purchasing the multi-space unit would cost $9,590. DEVO and Associates, LLC came in with the $11,631 quote; however, this vendor did not provide a price to lease a multi-space meter unit for the six-month pilot program. The vendor provided a purchase price for their unit. A price to lease a unit for 24 months will cost $11,636.64. DEVO and Associates, LLC did submit a BRC. IPS Group, Inc. offered to lease the Village a meter for $1,775 per month for the six-month pilot program. Purchase of a meter would cost $8,450. The vendor has a $.013 charge per transaction. The vendor submitted a BRC.

Councilman Voigt thanked Mr. Rutishauser for his work on this project, as well as Rei Shinozuka of the Ridgewood Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) for the preliminary work he did on this project.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mr. Rutishauser stated that he will check to see if the existing parking enforcement software will integrate with the software used by Cale America. Councilman Voigt suggested getting input from Sgt. John Chuck of the Ridgewood Police Department.

Councilman Voigt expressed a concern with the maintenance and upkeep of the systems proposed. Mr. Rutishauser stated that this will need to be clarified further. The RFP did include training for Traffic and Signal Division staff. Councilman Voigt felt it was important for the vendor to provide their expertise when required.

Councilman Sedon pointed out that the IPS Group, Inc. proposal stated that 100% of the rental cost goes toward the purchase price if the pilot program is successful. Mr. Rutishauser stated that the other proposals did not include this provision; however, the monthly rent charged by this vendor equaled the cost of a meter.

Councilwoman Walsh felt that it made sense to have the systems integrated; however, she felt the Cale America proposal was vague. She felt that the IPS Group, Inc., proposal would be the most expensive in the end.

Under questioning by Councilwoman Walsh, Mr. Rutishauser explained that any vendor who does business with the Village of Ridgewood needs a BRC. Cale America may hold this certificate; however, it wasn’t included in their proposal.

Under questioning by Councilman Hache, Mr. Rutishauser was aware of a multi-space unit being used by the Ho-Ho-Kus Train Station.

Mr. Rutishauser suggested that since it is difficult to compare these proposals using cost, the Village Council members may wish to express a preference for the features of one unit over another, for further investigation.

Mayor Knudsen asked for more time to review the proposals. Mayor Knudsen asked if these vendors can provide a video showing the units in operation.

This issue will be discussed again at a future Village Council meeting. In the meantime, Ms. Mailander and Mr. Rutishauser will obtain answers to the questions expressed this evening, including the input from Sgt. Chuck, as well as any other questions the Village Councilmembers may have.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Rutishauser explained that the kiosk must be securely fastened to the concrete so it cannot be stolen.

7. 7. Award of State Contract - Furniture for Village Hall

Ms. Mailander explained that the furniture in the lunch room, which consists of 10 chairs, 4 tables, a love seat and a sofa, is in dire need of replacement. This furniture came from the original Village Hall before the renovation and has worn fabric, stains, chairs that are broken, and overall wear and tear. Ms. Mailander and Mr. Rooney have been working with a vendor registered under the State Contract Program, who has recently provided furniture to the Building Department. The Building Department is very satisfied with its quality. The prices are reasonable. The recommendation is to move forward under the Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in an amount not to exceed $15,000.

There were no questions or comments from the Village Councilmembers.           

1. d. Policy 
2. 1. Boards and Committees

Mayor Knudsen asked her fellow Village Councilmembers to consider conducting a periodic review to determine if individual Boards and Committees are still necessary and whether or not they should continue or be revamped. As an example, Mayor Knudsen pointed out that when the FAC was formed, the Village did not have a C.F.O. Mayor Knudsen suggested creating an FAC Ad hoc Committee, which would handle special analysis of areas where the Village Council needs more in-depth information. This would be a better use of the FAC’s talents and energies. Mayor Knudsen also suggested a membership restructuring of the Community Relations Advisory Board (CRAB), which was formed based on a horrific act of bias and hatred that occurred in Ridgewood. Mayor Knudsen suggested making it more of an ad hoc committee, with members that are appointed and specifically trained in handling matters of a personal and sensitive nature. Mayor Knudsen also suggesting forming an ad hoc committee to come up with a plan to use the Zabriskie/Schedler property. Mayor Knudsen explained that her basis for suggesting an ad hoc committee for the Zabriskie/Schedler property was the success of the Graydon Pool Ad hoc Committee. The Graydon Pool Ad hoc Committee was short-term, laser-focused on one issue, and incredibly productive.

Councilman Sedon stated that he was in favor of creating an FAC Ad hoc Committee; restructuring CRAB; and creating a Zabriskie/Schedler property Ad hoc Committee.

Councilwoman Walsh suggested focusing on how each Board and Committee would best serve the Village.

Councilman Hache felt that there is value in creating sub-committees from within. He agreed with assessing each Board and Committee to determine their relevance and their usefulness. In regard to the FAC, Councilman Hache suggested holding a meeting with FAC members and Mr. Rooney to determine how the Village Council can best leverage the collective talents of the FAC members.

Councilman Voigt agreed with Councilman Hache, adding that the FAC members have a real desire to provide a service to the community and to the Village. Councilman Voigt spoke of the importance of understanding what is important for the Village before determining that a Board or Committee is no longer necessary.

Councilman Voigt felt that CRAB is a useful committee for the Village. CRAB has brought ideas to the Village that were very relevant in terms of diversity.

Councilman Hache agreed with forming an ad hoc group for the Zabriski/Schedler property. He pointed out that this will be challenging, as there are a lot of different stakeholders, broadly spread out throughout the Village. For an ad hoc committee that meets once-a-month, Councilman Hache felt it will take years to get all the collected feedback and to have dialogue. He agreed that this ad hoc committee should follow the example of the Graydon Pool Ad hoc Committee, who met more often and were very engaged.

Mayor Knudsen pointed out that Ridgewood will soon be inclusive to CRAB; residents from Glen Rock will no longer be involved.

Mayor Knudsen suggested appointing an on-call, ad hoc committee so that when there is a special project, the ad hoc team will be contacted.

It was decided to move this discussion to the June 28, 2017 Village Council Work Session to allow time for the FAC members to give their input on ways they could best serve the community, and to contact residents who may be interested in being members of the Zabriskie/Schedler Ad hoc Committee.

2. 2. Train Station Parking Lot & Garber Square Bike Lane

Mayor Knudsen stated that a number of residents have requested that the Green Garber Square Bike Lane revert back to being two lanes. Mr. Rutishauser explained that putting two lanes through Garber Square, even in the configuration that existed before resurfacing, is not physically possible, because it would not accommodate the 21’ width required for NJ Transit busses to make the 90-degree turn at the bend in the road. There are no other roads under the Village’s control in Ridgewood, except at the approach to an intersection, where there are two-lanes of traffic going in the same direction. This would require a number of ordinances and revisions to Chapter 265, Vehicles and Traffic.

Under questioning by Councilman Sedon, Mr. Rutishauser stated that the lanes were 23.8’ wide and 31.6’ wide in the preconstruction configuration at the 90-degree bend. Of that, at least 21’ is needed to accommodate the turning busses. Mr. Rutishauser presented a radius diagram illustrating the situation.

Ms. Mailander stated that the Village is in the process of obtaining cameras or other devices to count the vehicles going through the intersection to help the Village Council better determine what action to take. Mr. Rutishauser pointed out that the traffic light at West Ridgewood Avenue and the traffic light at North Broad Street are on timers and do not have actuators that can sense additional traffic volume and adjust the cycle. Mayor Knudsen agreed that actuators are very important in creating a smooth flow of traffic.

This issue will be discussed further when more information is received.

3. 3. Amendment to Power Tool Ordinance

Ms. Mailander explained that commercial use of power tools, landscaping and yard maintenance equipment, and motorized construction equipment is only permitted in the Village for the following hours: Monday to Friday, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.; and prohibited entirely on Sundays. The ordinance does not apply to power machinery used for ice and snow removal.

As a result of residents’ complaints concerning commercial landscaping businesses using machinery early in the morning of a holiday, Mayor Knudsen asked for the Village Council’s input on amending the ordinance to prohibit the commercial use of power tools, landscaping and yard maintenance equipment, and motorized construction equipment on holidays, as well as Sundays. These holidays would be named in the ordinance. Mayor Knudsen also asked the Village Councilmembers if they felt that snow removal, during a non-state of emergency, should be occurring as early as 3:00 a.m. or 4:00 a.m. in residential areas.

Councilman Sedon felt that the holidays would have to be clearly defined. Mayor Knudsen suggested only specific, federal holidays.

Councilman Sedon agreed that non-emergency snow removal could start a little later in the morning.

Village Attorney Matthew Rogers suggested getting input from the Village’s snow removal staff before restricting hours related to snow removal.

Ms. Mailander stated that an ordinance amendment to include certain federal holidays, in the prohibition of the commercial use of power tools, landscaping and yard maintenance equipment, and motorized construction equipment, will be placed on next week’s Village Council meeting agenda.

4. 4. Update on the Estate Card

Ms. Mailander explained that this is a debit card that residents can use at local merchants and restaurants that offers points that can be used to reduce property taxes. Ms. Mailander stated that this program has been reviewed by her, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Rooney, and Treasurer, Steve Sanzari, and they will be meeting with the C.E.O. of Estate Cards tomorrow, as there are some concerns about the agreement. If these concerns can be addressed, this optional-use program will be an opportunity for local and on-line merchants to attract residents and for residents to earn a property tax reduction.

Councilman Hache added that he met with the Ridgewood Guild, the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, and the C.E.O. of the company. Questions were raised which included concerns with offering the service to on-line merchants, who compete with local businesses. Councilman Hache noted that the base reward from on-line merchants is very small; however, the base rate for local retailers can be adjusted by the retailers themselves. Councilman Hache also pointed out that the debit card will be associated with a website that will feature only Ridgewood businesses. This website will drive traffic to the local retailers, as well as giving them an electronic platform to promote their businesses.

Under questioning by Councilman Hache, Ms. Mailander stated that a resolution will allow the Village to sign an agreement that allows Estate Card to provide the service and dedicates the rebate money to the reduction of property taxes. After that, each individual resident and merchant will decide whether or not to participate. Mr. Rogers noted that the cardholders will have a separate agreement with the debit card company. Mr. Rogers stated that he will review the cardholder agreement to make sure that residents are protected.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Councilman Hache explained that Estate Card maintains the website.

This issue will be brought back to Village Council in the future if an agreement is reached.

5. 5. Clinton Avenue Ordinance

Ms. Mailander explained that the Village will be providing full-day kindergarten beginning September, 2017. At the last Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC), residents asked if Clinton Avenue could now be opened during the day. The Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Daniel Fishbein, sent Ms. Mailander an e-mail indicating that he had spoken to the principal of Ridge School, Jean Schoenlank, who recommended closing Clinton Avenue from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Mr. Rutishauser stated that he spoke to Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke and Police Sgt. John Chuck concerning this issue today. A suggestion was made to consider making Clinton Avenue a one-way street from West Ridgewood Avenue down to Godwin Avenue during school days. Vehicles would be travelling south, away from the school. This is currently in effect on Bogert Avenue by Travell School, and on California Street by Willard School. Another option suggested was a marked, pedestrian walk area on one side of the street and allowing vehicle parking on the other side of the street.

Under questioning by Mayor Knudsen, Mr. Rutishauser stated that the closest streets for vehicles traveling northbound are South Murray Avenue and Maltbie Avenue.

Councilman Hache felt it was important to get feedback from the residents of Clinton Avenue and South Murray Avenue. Councilman Voigt agreed. Mayor Knudsen also agreed, but suggested that the residents be given options with which to base their feedback.  

Mr. Rutishauser explained that, currently, service vehicles can come to the homes on Clinton Avenue; however, there is no through-traffic. If the Village Council decides to make Clinton Avenue a one-way street, there will be a steadier flow of traffic.

The Village Councilmembers agreed to amend the Clinton Avenue Ordinance to permit the closure of Clinton Avenue from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., to ensure that the ordinance is in place before schools open in September.

6. 6. Historic Preservation Grant Proposal through Bergen County Open                                                 Space - Zabriskie/Schedler House - Phase II

Ms. Mailander explained that the Bergen County Historic Preservation Trust Fund requires that a public hearing be held to hear public comment prior to the submission of each grant application. The Village Council approved submission of a grant application entitled, Zabriskie/Schedler House Restoration, Phase II, for grant funding of interior operating systems, new windows and doors, and listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The Public Hearing has been scheduled for the June 14, 2017 Village Council Public Meeting.

7. 7. FOP Awareness Initiative

Ms. Mailander explained that Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is a rare genetic condition in which the body makes additional bone in locations where bone should not form, such as within muscles, tendons, and ligaments, creating a second skeleton that immobilizes the joints of the body. It usually starts in a person’s second or third decade of life. There are only 12 diagnosed cases in New Jersey and approximately 200 nationwide. Gary Whyte, an advocate for FOP, is contacting towns in New Jersey requesting recognition of this disease, and to ask the governing bodies to urge the medical community to research treatment and a cure for this rare disease. Mr. Whyte contacted Councilman Sedon, who asked for this issue to be placed on this evening’s agenda.

The Village Council agreed to have a resolution prepared in support of the FOP Awareness Initiative.

 

 

8. 8. PREVENTION OF UNLAWFUL ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN                                     IN RIDGEWOOD SCHOOLS

Ms. Mailander explained that the Board of Education has requested the Village Council’s consideration to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the illegal enrollment of non-resident school-age children. The ordinance would allow the case to be brought before the Municipal Court, where the Board of Education could recover tuition and investigative fees, and the Village could possibly also collect a fine. Mr. Rogers discussed this issue with the attorney for the Board of Education and Ms. Mailander discussed this issue with Maria Doerr, the Municipal Court Administrator.

Mr. Rogers explained that there is already a law that precludes non-residents from being enrolled in the Ridgewood Public Schools. However, in order to enforce it, the case must go through the State Board of Education located in Newark, New Jersey, which, to a certain extent, creates a time and convenience issue. The proposed ordinance will not penalize the student; it is an ordinance that will permit the enforcement of this rule against the person that registers the student at a school.   Although the proposed ordinance will not remove the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education, it will permit local jurisdiction within the municipality. The proposed ordinance will give the municipality not only the opportunity to impose fines, but also to deal with restitution for the cost and administrative fees involved. The fact finding and the effort that is made to identify such cases is the responsibility of the Board of Education; however, it will be prosecuted through the Ridgewood Municipal Court. The proposed ordinance would also give direction in determining the amount of restitution from information provided by the Board of Education. The proposed ordinance does not create a law; it just offers a different method of enforcing it.

Councilwoman Walsh asked if the proposed ordinance would include students of teachers living out-of-town. Mr. Rogers stated that there is a law that allows the children of school employees to attend school in the district in which their parents work.

Mayor Knudsen pointed out that the issue involves parents registering their children in Ridgewood schools using a previous address or mailbox.

Under questioning by Councilman Voigt, Mayor Knudsen explained that this ordinance would not affect homeless families.

The Village Council agreed to move forward with this ordinance. Ms. Mailander will speak with Ms. Doerr, to get clarification concerning the fees.

1. e. Operations    
2. 1. Shared Services Agreement - Dewatered Sludge Disposal - Passaic                                                 Valley Sewerage Commission

Ms. Mailander explained that the Village’s current three-year contract with the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC), under an interlocal agreement, has expired. PVSC and the Village are interested in renewing the contract for another three years. PVSC will likely keep the price the same as it is presently, at $48.00 per 1,000 gallons, trucked to their facility in Newark. Due to the dollar value of the sludge the Village disposes of, in excess of $100,000 per year, a formal shared services agreement between the two parties is required.

There were no questions or comment from the Village Councilmembers. A resolution and shared services agreement will be prepared.

2. 2.         Updating Master Plan

Ms. Mailander explained that New Jersey State Statute 40A:4-53 calls for the adoption of an ordinance authorizing special emergency appropriations for the engagement of special consultants for the updating of the Master Plan. The ordinance allows the Village to finance the project through a five-year period. The Village currently raises $48,000 annually for a special emergency for revaluation, the last appropriation being in 2017. Therefore, the impact of a Master Plan appropriation of approximately $250,000 (the estimate provided by the Village’s former Planner) will have a minimal effect on subsequent tax rates.

Ms. Mailander noted that there are numerous components to the Master Plan and each component will add to its cost. In order to accurately determine the amount of funds to be appropriated, the Village Council and Village Planning Board are being asked to identify those components that need to be addressed by this proposed ordinance.

Mayor Knudsen stated that the $250,000 estimate is for an all-inclusive Master Plan, so she was comfortable that the cost would not exceed $250,000. Mayor Knudsen thanked Mr. Rooney for all his work on the funding for the Master Plan.

It was decided that this issue will be discussed first at the Planning Board level and then brought back before the Village Council at the June 28, 2017 Village Council Work Session.  

3. 3. New Jersey Transit Senior Bus Grant Release

Ms. Mailander explained that under an existing funding agreement with NJ Transit, the Village has operated and maintained a 2009 Chevrolet El Dorado for special transit services for senior citizens. Following the guidelines of NJ Transit’s Community Shuttle Program, the vehicle has depreciated in value to under $5,000, so it will be retired and released to the Village in “as is” condition, without any warranties. The vehicle is showing some normal evidence of “wear and tear”; however, the vehicle is in good shape. The driver, Billy Flynn, is to be commended for following a strict, self-initiated maintenance plan for this vehicle. Ms. Mailander recommended the adoption of a resolution accepting this vehicle from NJ Transit for continued use for senior transportation.

There were no questions or comments from the Village Councilmembers. A resolution will be prepared for a vote at the June 14, 2017 Village Council Public Meeting.

8. 8. REVIEW OF JUNE 14, 2017 REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA

Ms. Mailander stated that next week there will be a Recognition of Ridgewood Art Ambassadors and a Public Hearing on the Historic Preservation Grant Application for the Restoration of the Zabriskie/Schedler House Phase II.

Resolutions for Ridgewood Water include: Award Contract - Improvements to Booster/Transfer Stations; and Award Contract - Design and Construction of GAC Treatment System at Carr Treatment Facility.

The following ordinances are scheduled for introduction: Amend Chapter 265 - Vehicles and Traffic - Establish Stop Sign at Upper Boulevard and Glenwood Road; Amend Chapter 265 - Vehicles and Traffic - Parking Regulations on Clinton Avenue; Amend Chapter 222 - Power Tools, Landscaping, and Yard Maintenance Equipment; Ordinance to Prevent the Unlawful Enrollment of School-Aged Children in Ridgewood Schools; and Bond Ordinance - Update of Master Plan.

The scheduled public hearings include: Amend Chapter 260 - Trees and Shrubs; and Amend Chapter 212 - Parks and Recreation Areas Prohibition of Dogs Off-Lease in Certain Parks.

Resolutions include: Waive Fourth of July Vendor Fees; Grant Permission to Fireworks Company for Fireworks Display; Authorize Snow Plowing Agreement with Bergen County; Title 59 Approval - Reconfiguration of Ridgewood Train Station Parking Lot; Award Contract Under State Contract - E-Ticketing Software; Award Contract Under State Contract - Furniture for Village Hall; Award Contract - Crossing Guard Services; Award Professional Services Contract - On-Call Traffic Engineering Services; Authorize Shared Services Agreement - Disposal of Dewatered Sludge (Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission); Approve Resource Room at Gatehouse at Irene Habernickel Family Park - Women Gardeners of Ridgewood; Authorize Cleaning of Kings Pond Park by Ridgewood Wildscape and Partners; Resolution in Support of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) Awareness Initiative; Approve 2016-2017 Renewal of Ridgewood Lodge No. 1455 BPOE Liquor License; Approve 2017-2018 Renewals of Liquor Licenses; Authorize Refund of Taxes for Disabled Veteran; Appoint Members to Planning Board; Appoint Members to Zoning Board of Adjustment; Appoint Municipal Court Judge; Urging Extension of 2% Cap on Police and Fire Arbitration Contract Awards; Appoint Village Attorney; Appoint Village Labor Attorney; Appoint Village Bond Attorney; Appoint Municipal Prosecutor; Appoint Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender; Appoint Community Development Representative; Appoint Representative to Open Space Trust Regional Committee; Appoint Members to Community Space Advisory Board; Appoint members to Ridgewood Arts Council; and Appoint Village Councilmembers as Liaisons to Various Boards and Committees.

9. 9. MANAGER’S REPORT

Memorial Day Service - Ms. Mailander reported that inclement weather forced the Memorial Day Service to be held inside at Mount Carmel Church. Ms. Mailander thanked American Legion Post #53 for organizing another outstanding tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country.

Ridgewood Memorial Day Run - Ms. Mailander noted that the Ridgewood Memorial Day Run was held, despite the inclement weather. Ms. Mailander thanked the Ridgewood EMS crew who treated one runner who needed medical attention after running her first 10K marathon.

Water Conservation Regulations Post Card - Ms. Mailander reported that yesterday, all residents and businesses received a post card detailing the new, permanent water regulations and conservation rules. This card can be posted for easy reference. The card contained contact information for anyone with questions. The card also contained information on how to report non-compliant watering.

Graydon Pool - Ms. Mailander reported that Graydon Pool opened last Saturday. Badge sales are approximately 300 more than last year at this time. The total number of badges sold to-date is 1,165 resident badges and 76 nonresident badges, for a total of 1,241. The numbers sold at this time last year were 829 resident badges and 101 nonresident badges for a total of 930. Six free passes were printed and were used this past weekend. Seasonal badges are still available for purchase online from Community Pass and can be accessed by clicking on the picture of Graydon Pool on the homepage of the Village website. This year’s theme at Graydon Pool is: “There’s Something for Everyone”. Activities include, swimming and diving instruction, competitive swim team, standup paddleboard, yoga on the beach, kayaking instruction, story time under the pavilion; movies on the beach; live monthly concerts and much more.

Ridgewood Guild - Ms. Mailander announced that the Ridgewood Guild has begun their “Music in the Night” and “Art in the Park” programs, which will be held every Friday night through September 1, 2017.   These programs provide various types of music throughout the Central Business District (CBD) and artwork for sale at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, benefiting the Ridgewood Guild.

Kasschau Memorial Shell - Ms. Mailander announced that Kasschau Memorial Shell began their 59^th Season on June 1^st. Last night’s performance was Sofia Swanson’s Girl Scout Gold Award project entitled, “Ridgewood Artbeat 2017”, which featured Ridgewood High School student musicians. Tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m., there will be a performance of the Harmony Celebration Chorus - The Sweet Adelines; and on Tuesday, June 13^th, the Richard Reiter Swing Band will perform. More information is available on the Village website under Departments - Recreation. These programs will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays through early August, 2017.

The Guild - Movies in the Park - Ms. Mailander announced that The Guild will be starting their Movies in the Park Series on June 14^th with “A Place in the Sun” followed by “Singing in the Rain” on June 28^th. Bring a chair and enjoy the free movie.

10. 10. COUNCIL REPORTS

Planning Board - Councilman Voigt reported that the Planning Board met on June 6, 2017. The Planning Board reviewed a resolution for Chestnut Village and this applicant will likely be up for final approval at the June 20, 2017 meeting. There is an interested developer/applicant who wants to upgrade the Ridgewood Auto Facility located at 260 Franklin Avenue. The developer/applicant requested the Planning Board’s input and feedback on a potential use for a Chipotle Grill and a Pilates Instruction Facility. Issues included parking, traffic congestion, and access to the facility. The developer/applicant is expected to come before the Planning Board again in the near future. The Planning Board also discussed a subdivision of a large property located on the north side of East Glen Avenue, east of Wilkes and west of Sterling Avenue. The main issue discussed was tree removal, as 20+ trees would most likely need to be removed. This applicant will come before the Planning Board again on August 1, 2017. The final summation for the Dayton application is scheduled for June 20, 2017. The final summation for the KS Broad application is scheduled for a Special Planning Board Meeting on June 26, 2017. The final vote for both KS Broad and the Dayton application will likely be held on June 26, 2017. These hearings will be televised.

Green Team - Councilman Sedon stated that the Green Team has filed their application for the 2017 Sustainable Jersey. The application contained a total of 410 points and the members are confident that Ridgewood will earn certification at the next level, which is Silver at 350 points. Councilman Sedon thanked Green Team Chairperson, Jiffy Vermylen, and everyone on the Green Team who was involved in this process.

Graydon Pool - Councilman Sedon thanked Timothy Cronin, Director of Parks and Recreation, and his staff who helped get Graydon Pool ready for opening day. Everything was beautifully clean, which reflected a tremendous effort.

Arts Committee - Councilwoman Walsh stated that the Arts Committee meeting, scheduled for June 6, 2017, was rescheduled for June 13, 2017, as several members could not attend.

Bergen County League of Municipalities - Councilwoman Walsh stated that the final meeting of the Bergen County League of Municipalities, until September, is next week.

Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) - Councilwoman Walsh stated that the next CSAC meeting will be held in two weeks.

RHS Party in the Park - Councilman Hache reported that just over 300 people attended RHS Party in the Park which celebrated the 125^th anniversary of Ridgewood High School. The event was very well planned and coordinated. The food and music were great and many local vendors participated. Celebrity DJ, Nick Cannon, performed.

Graydon Day for Ridgecrest Residents - Councilman Hache reported that Graydon Pool will offer free admission to senior citizen residents from Ridgecrest Apartments and Share Houses on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month during the summer. Councilman Hache thanked the young man whose idea for a community service project made this possible.

Iftar - Councilman Hache stated that he, along with Mayor Knudsen and Councilman Voigt, attended an interfaith, pot-luck-style dinner on June 4^th sponsored by the Muslim Society of Ridgewood and St. Elizabeth’s Church. The celebration included prayer, and reminded everyone of how much more we have in common than divides us. Mayor Knudsen added that she was very moved by a statement made by Mahmoud Hamza, Imam of the Muslim Society of Ridgewood, which described everyone as a field of wild flowers, some different and some moving in different directions, who must work together and get along. Mayor Knudsen was also touched by the hospitality of the members of St. Elizabeth’s Church.

Michael Feeney’s Best Day Ever - Mayor Knudsen noted that Michael Feeney’s Best Day Ever will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Benjamin Franklin School. Michael Feeney died at the age of 10 years old of cancer and the proceeds from this event go to sick children so they can have the opportunity to have a “best day ever”.

July 4^th Committee - Mayor Knudsen invited everyone to visit the Ridgewood July 4^th website to check out the planned festivities. The next meeting of the July 4^th Committee is on Monday, June 12, 2017.

Ms. Mailander announced that the Village will provide senior residents with transportation to some of the Kasschau performances.

 

11. 11. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Rurik Halaby, 374 Evergreen Place, displayed an American Flag and a copy of the US Constitution. Mr. Halaby pointed out that when the Village Councilmembers start each meeting with a Pledge of Allegiance, they are pledging to uphold the US Constitution. When Village Councilmembers cynically engage in practices to intimidate and harass those who disagree with them, they are, in effect, making a mockery of their Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Halaby displayed an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) application from Deputy Mayor Sedon, which requested copies of correspondence between residents and Councilman Voigt. He questioned why his name was on the list.

Mr. Halaby stated that he made an OPRA request for copies of every e-mail during the last year that went in and out of Mayor Knudsen and Deputy Mayor Sedon’s private and public e-mail accounts, that mentioned his name. This will cost him over $1,000. Mr. Halaby asked what the Village charged for OPRA requests made by Village Officials and “followers”.

Mr. Halaby asked for his two questions to be answered by Wednesday of next week, or else he would take legal remedy. He stated that he did not come into the United States to be intimidated or to stand in fear of anyone.

Mr. Halaby spoke of his dislike for the design of the Hudson Street Parking Garage as presented by Pike Development Company. He did not feel the suggested aesthetic changes, such as awnings and ivy, will improve it. Mr. Halaby objected to the Village Council’s rejection of another garage design, which resulted from studies authorized by the previous Village Council at a cost of $600,000, which he described as a beautiful, architectural design that was respectful to the Village. He felt that the $600,000 spent by the previous Village Council was wasted. He felt additional input from the public was needed.

Mayor Knudsen stated that Village Councilmembers are charged the same rate as anyone else for an OPRA request. Mayor Knudsen stated that she is not aware of the identities of anyone else making an OPRA request.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, urged the Village Council to be very cautious during the approval process for the Graydon Pool bathroom renovation, as construction costs are often much higher than original estimates. As a member of the Graydon Pool Ad hoc Committee, he stated that it was the members’ intent to only spruce up the interiors of the bathrooms, which he felt was all that was needed.

Mr. Loving asked if there were plans to open the Lester Stable bathrooms, as they were locked at all times last year.

Mr. Loving urged the Village Council to develop a plan directing Village employees to remove any election signs that have been illegally placed in Village public rights-of-way in violation of Ordinance #3540. He recently observed election signs that appeared to go up overnight.

Dana Glazer, 61 Clinton Avenue, apologized to Mayor Knudsen on behalf of the public for those who disrespectfully mispronounced her name.

Mr. Glazer stated that he wasn’t aware of the different suggestions for Clinton Avenue that were presented this evening. It was his understanding that the recommendation was to close Clinton Avenue from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., which he felt was very reasonable. Mr. Glazer attended a CSAC meeting where the Chairperson spoke of the importance of getting input from residents of Clinton Avenue before any decision was made and he was upset that this had not occurred.

Ms. Anne Loving, 352 South Irving Street, in response to a comment made earlier this evening, pointed out that the Schedler Property is being used as a buffer for the neighborhood and as a home for animals and plant life.

Ms. Loving recalled a statement made by the former Village Manager that if the narrowing of the Belgium Block curb at Garber Square did not work out, it could revert back to two lanes.

Ms. Mailander stated that the Lester Stable bathrooms will be opened. She will find out the hours of operation and notify Mr. Loving.

Ms. Mailander pointed out that the additional suggestions for Clinton Avenue were only made today during conversations Mr. Rutishauser had with Police Sgt. John Chuck and Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke. The Village Council decided to approve the recommended closure times, so they will be in place when the school year begins in September.

Ms. Mailander pointed that a person is charged for an OPRA request only if that request exceeds a certain number of pages or hours to provide the information. Under OPRA law, municipalities are permitted to charge $.05 per copy on standard sized paper and $.07 per copy on legal sized paper.

Mayor Knudsen stated that once the existence of the elections signs was brought to the attention of the Village Manager, the Village staff cleared them away very quickly.

9. 9. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION

Deputy Village Clerk Donna Jackson read Resolution #17-146 to go into Closed Session as follows:

 

 

12. 12. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Sedon, seconded by Councilwoman Walsh, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Work Session was adjourned at 10:44 p.m.

_____________________________

                                                                                                                     Susan Knudsen      

                                                                                                                           Mayor

_____________________________

            Donna M. Jackson

          Deputy Village Clerk

A REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGEOF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014 AT 7:30 P.M.

 

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

Mayor Aronsohn 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 Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and asked for a moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those serving as first responders.

2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.

Patty Infantino, 6 Betty Court, said she was at the meeting as the President of the League of Women Voters. The League members concern themselves about governance and decision-making in government, and they have not yet taken a position about the road work being done at the train station. Instead, they are concerned about the provision of the Open Public Meetings Act which provides that all citizens should have advance notice of all public meetings, as well as the right to attend meetings at which any business affecting the public is discussed or acted upon. The League members do not have an opinion on the roadway, but they do have an opinion on the fact that they would like to see another meeting conducted with notification given before the meeting in the newspapers, as well as on the Village website, to let people know that Councilmembers will be discussing this particular venture, to allow people to respond. Ms. Infantino believes the way to respond to all of the various discussions about the road work would be to have another meeting that is advertised and similar to the one attended by Mayor Aronsohn and Councilwoman Walsh several weeks ago, where people are allowed to state their opinions. Ms. Sonenfeld agreed with Ms. Infantino’s remarks, and noted that this issue is part of the agenda tonight, so there will be a public discussion on this matter tonight.

Mayor Aronsohn explained that the meeting was held in response to requests from several residents who asked to meet with some of the Councilmembers because they were concerned about the proposed work. The Councilmembers made themselves available, and the meeting attendance seemed to grow exponentially. It was merely an effort to be responsive to some residents who wanted to share their concerns with the Councilmembers as soon as possible.

Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, stated that she also wanted to discuss the meeting held on Tuesday, May 27^th about the Garber Square renovation. She heard what Mayor Aronsohn said about the meeting, and Ms. Loving appreciates the fact that the issue was on the agenda tonight. However, she pointed out that the meeting in question was not openly advertised, and it seemed to her that selected individuals were advised in advance of the meeting taking place. This meeting was not posted on the Village website, which is typical procedure for a public meeting of this sort. At least two reporters, as well as a newspaper photographer, were apprised of the meeting, and they attended the meeting. In addition, several Department Supervisors, as well as the Village Manager, attended the meeting. At least three, and possibly four, Councilmembers were also at the meeting, although it seemed that they were very careful to only have two Councilmembers in the room at the same time.

When her husband, Mr. Loving, asked why the meeting was not advertised, Mayor Aronsohn responded that Mr. Loving should have called about it, which Ms. Loving felt was an inappropriate response. Residents should not have to hope that they will hear a rumor about a meeting that might take place, and then resort to obtaining information by telephoning elected officials. Residents have a right to see such public meetings announced on the Village website, and although the Councilmembers may not have violated the Open Public Meetings Act in fact, Ms. Loving feels they violated it in spirit, which she believes is just as bad. Moreover, Ms. Loving was shocked to learn that the two newly-elected Councilmembers were not advised of the meeting, which Ms. Loving believes does not bode well for a smooth transition. Ms. Loving appreciated Mayor Aronsohn’s prompt response to her email indicating that one of the elected officials had not been officially advised of the meeting, but she happened to be in the building at the time and found out about it. Mayor Aronsohn’s email also included basically the same remarks he made earlier, that the meeting was held in response to requests from residents, but he also said in the email that this type of thing is done “all the time”. Ms. Loving said she is very curious to know if the Councilmembers have meetings “all the time” in which a number of Department Supervisors are present, as well as the Village Manager, and three or four of the Councilmembers, even if only two of them are in the room at the same time. Ms. Loving said she would be shocked if that were the case.

Mayor Aronsohn responded that when he said that the Councilmembers “do this all the time,” it means that residents come to the Councilmembers with issues, and they try to be responsive. This particular issue required input from Village personnel, such as the Village Engineer, as well as other experts, and Mayor Aronsohn said the Councilmembers meet with residents all the time on different issues, because they see as part of their job to be as responsive and accessible as possible. That is what they were trying to do on Tuesday, May 27^th, and Mayor Aronsohn stated that he thought it was to be a small meeting, but when he was asked if the meeting could be opened up to others, he did not refuse. It is all part of the effort to move this issue forward.

Rurik Halaby, 374 Evergreen Place, noted that today marks the 74^th anniversary of the Battle of Dunkirk, which was Britain’s worst military defeat since the Battle of Yorktown. It is been referred to as a colossal military disaster. Mr. Halaby stated that the Garber Square renovation project is Ridgewood’s monumental fiasco. He noted that sadly, politicians are responding to it by distracting the public with red herrings and false assurances. Mr. Halaby said he is a big proponent of pedestrian safety in Ridgewood. He walks around the Village whenever possible, and every time he crosses the street, he feels that he is taking his life into his hands. Mr. Halaby suggested a few simple steps that Ridgewood could take to help improve pedestrian safety, which includes having police officers patrol on foot to catch people on cell phones and those who are speeding; prohibiting right turns at red lights; and implementing four-way stop signs at critical intersections, such as that at Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street. Mr. Halaby commented that he has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in civil engineering from MIT, and after graduation, he worked as a civil engineer at Bechtel, which was at that time the largest engineering firm in the world. While there, he had several interesting assignments, including being the Dam Engineer on the third-highest dam in California, as well as a job taking soil samples for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. However, in his worst nightmare, Mr. Halaby said he could not imagine a situation where an engineering project like the Garber Square renovation is undertaken without detailed studies on its impact. For Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, to say that no traffic study was done before the planning was implemented is irresponsible, according to Mr. Halaby. Furthermore, Mr. Halaby considers that this goes beyond negligence to gross negligence, and if someone should die in an ambulance that is stuck in traffic in that area, it could be claimed as criminal negligence. Mr. Halaby believes that the Village Engineer and his staff have failed miserably, although he has no doubt about the sincerity of their motives. He considers that Village personnel are victims of tunnel vision, and are only considering one problem without giving any consideration to the unintended consequences of the project. Mr. Halaby commented that he has seen this twice before: once when an ordinance was adopted to limit the height of snow piles; and the other was when it was decided to provide homeowners with bags to bag the debris on their lawns. In the case of the Garber Square renovation, Mr. Halaby said he is sure that the Village Engineer and his staff are hoping to calm the traffic, but he believes it will only create a stranglehold on the most important traffic artery connecting the east and west sides of Ridgewood. Mr. Halaby finished by saying that it is not too late to stop the project.

Dave Slomin, 36 Heights Road, commented that he is one of the residents who requested the meeting on May 27^th. He explained that the reason for the meeting was due to the fact that several residents were very concerned about the work to be done around Franklin Avenue, and no one seemed to know what was happening. The immediate concerns were bike safety, and traffic congestion and diversion. Residents felt it was imperative to act quickly because the work was already starting. It was planned as a small meeting, but because there was so much concern, more and more people asked to be included. It grew from one email circulated among a few neighbors and residents to a petition with 557 signatures today. One of the issues is finding a way to make people aware of what is going on in Ridgewood, and it should be up to residents to determine what is important, and how to respond to those things. Mr. Slomin suggested it would be nice if there was a way for residents to be kept apprised of what is happening in Ridgewood, such as a way to sign up through the Village website for notifications, or if there was a page on the website devoted to any occurrences around the Village, and where more information could be obtained. He agreed that the Garber Square renovation project is a debacle. Mr. Slomin was also happy to find that the issue was to be discussed tonight, and that a contingency plan has been formulated to allow for the possibility of the traffic lanes to be put back. However, Mr. Slomin felt that the process could have been easier from the beginning if two steps to been taken: giving clear notice to residents about the project, and seeking public input about the project. It also disturbs Mr. Slomin that there was no traffic study done, and the Village Engineer seemed to lack a lot of necessary information about the traffic patterns and volume in that area, while at the same time residents were being asked to “trust” the Village Management and Engineering staff. Mr. Slomin added that many people feel that the bike lanes are a danger to adults and children, and he is one of them. He also believes there are some good parts to the current plan, but the bike lane is not one of those good parts.

In conclusion, Mr. Slomin said he would email a copy of the petition to each Councilmember. Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Slomin for his leadership and partnership over the last several weeks.

Tony Damiano, owner of Mango Jam and President of the Ridgewood Guild, said he understands there is a huge concern among the residents about the proposed work at Garber Square, but there is an even bigger concern among the business owners in that area, because that is the main artery into the CBD. The CBD is the heartbeat of Ridgewood, and it is the number one reason to move to Ridgewood. Mr. Damiano recalled that he was living in Ridgewood during the two-year, $27 million renovation of the train station that occurred several years ago, when single lane access was all that was available in and out of the Village in that area. During the holiday season, Mr. Damiano said it was a nightmare. Accessing that area is the main artery, and the only alternative is to head south on Ackerman Avenue into Glen Rock, then come up South Broad Street, or to head out of the way on Glen Avenue. That main thoroughfare is so important, and Mr. Damiano believes that the Village must start becoming more customer-sensitive. Little to no employee parking is provided around Ridgewood, so employees are forced to park on the streets, where metered parking has a two hour limit. Now, there will be even more restricted access into the CBD. As a business owner, Mr. Damiano said he does not receive a weekly paycheck, and he depends upon customers to come through his door, as many other Village business owners do. Having only single-lane access will not make the Village more customer-friendly. The area in question is not just for residents on the west side of town to have access to the CBD, but for people coming from all of the towns west of Ridgewood. People from Hawthorne, Midland Park, and Wyckoff love to come to Ridgewood, but must continually fight to have a pleasant experience, and Mr. Damiano feels that this will hurt the businesses in the CBD.

Bonnie Chalek, 110 Sheridan Terrace, commented that she walks into the CBD all the time, and uses the Franklin Avenue underpass for access all the time. Ms. Chalek only wanted the underpass area to be paved, and she thinks it would be a nightmare to have a bike lane going through that area. In addition, Ms. Chalek is concerned about the New Jersey Transit 163 bus, because there is a concern among residents in that area that the 163 bus will stop going to upper Ridgewood. Therefore, Ms. Chalek strongly believes that the two lanes are necessary, particularly heading into the CBD. It is a safety issue, especially for ambulances.

Ed Feldsott, 67 Heights Road, thanked Mayor Aronsohn and the other Councilmembers who attended the impromptu meeting which was supposed to be attended by only a few people. However, Mr. Feldsott believes that the fact that the meeting increased in size so rapidly only demonstrates the overwhelming level of concern for the proposed project in that area. Many people believe this project is a tragic mistake, and a disaster waiting to happen. Although no traffic study was done, residents have been told that they should accept the project based upon the opinions of the Village Engineer and his staff. Mr. Feldsott said he is impressed by an engineer who graduated from MIT, but he is not sure what qualifications the members of the Village Engineering department hold. In conclusion, Mr. Feldsott said that many people are upset about this project, and feel that it will bring nothing but disaster and lawsuits.

Jeffery Carlson, 263 Franklin Avenue, said he was a classmate of Roger Wiegand, from the Ridgewood High School class of 1961. Mr. Carlson stated that he understands there has been some talk about some type of commemoration for Mr. Wiegand, and he wants to get involved. Moreover, Mr. Carlson is in contact with many of their former classmates, and offered his support in any planned activities in Mr. Wiegand’s honor. Mayor Aronsohn asked Mr. Carlson to leave his contact information with Ms. Sonenfeld or Ms. Mailander.

Rick Boesch, 64 Park Slope, thanked Mr. Slomin for holding the meeting about the proposed project around Garber Square. Mr. Boesch also agrees that the data-driven objective process needs to be welcomed by the Councilmembers. Mr. Boesch believes decisions are being made based on results from coarse data, and no one knows how old the data may be. He would like to see the process changed, not just because it would make the process more efficient and gets residents more comfortable and involved, but it also helps to enhance the credibility of the leaders in the Village.

Mr. Boesch related a personal experience he recently had to illustrate his points. His wife noticed that when she goes through that area, people in front of her are now taking the left off of West Ridgewood Avenue to go down to the now-single lane by the light in front of the train station. Therefore, because the people in front of her are going slower, she must also go slower, because the turn is tighter, with more obstructions. That problem does not seem to exist when one is traveling under the trestle, because there seems to be a lot more room to make a left when one is traveling west. Mr. Boesch does not necessarily believe that is what is causing the problem, because there are already backups on Ridgewood Avenue; however, anyone who drives would understand that even a small problem can cause a long wait in traffic.

Next, Mr. Boesch asked the Councilmembers why they decided against stopping the project and reassessing the situation, and instead opted to consider the contingency plans that were presented. Mayor Aronsohn responded that his question would be answered when that issue is addressed as part of the agenda tonight.

Karen Abraham, 415 Red Birch Court, stated that she moved back to Ridgewood last year, and that she had been born in Ridgewood, and her mother spent most of her life in Ridgewood. Ms. Abraham noted that the Underpass area has been a problem for a long time, and she would like to go into the CBD more than she currently does, but parking is also a problem. She explained that she usually goes around through Midland Park in order to visit her parents who live on the other side of Ridgewood. Ms. Abraham said she likes the idea of making it easier to go into the CBD without sitting in traffic, because she is sure that she is not the only person with children who feels that way. She agrees that the process was not handled in the best way, and it seems like the project simply popped up at the last minute. Ms. Abraham believes that this is not the right move for Ridgewood to take, and it will end up choking traffic in that part of Ridgewood, which no one wants.

There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.

3. DISCUSSION

a. Budget:

1.) Garber Square Complete Streets Program

 Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she wanted to provide some context and history on the Garber Square Complete Streets project, and how it got to this point. In 2011, the Village adopted the Complete Streets protocol, as did the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee. “Complete Streets” means that the streets are an important part of the livability of a community, and they should be accessible to every mode of transportation. Instituting a Complete Streets policy ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind. Ms. Sonenfeld said that the Complete Streets program has been adopted throughout the United States. The first Complete Streets project was Grove Street, where traffic calming was done. The design for Garber Square was worked on by the Engineering Department for almost two years. That department is a dedicated staff of professionals who have worked here for a long time, and who know the streets, the traffic flows, and the neighborhoods. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that based on the discussions she has had, the biggest concern and driving principle behind this project is safety. Therefore, she takes exception to statements made that this would be creating a dangerous situation. Between 2007 and 2013, there were 86 calls to the police from that area, leading to 61 reportable accidents. That is what everyone hoped to avoid now. Many people seem to think that traffic will be calmed “too much,” but no one is trying to cause congestion. The goal is to slow the traffic down, because there are many people who were traveling at 35 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone, which is not safe for children and other pedestrians, or bicyclists. Another goal of this project is to improve the aesthetics of the area.

As a result of the items mentioned by Ms. Sonenfeld, the key results, from a safety/traffic calming point of view, are to provide a refuge island for pedestrians crossing the street; providing a bump out of Franklin Avenue to shorten the crosswalk; and to provide better visibility to motorists. The median is currently eight feet wide, and the new medium would also be eight feet wide, reducing the possibility of cars jumping over the median into oncoming traffic. The traffic would be channelized; however, there would be a dedicated second lane for right turns. The addition of bicycle lanes will significantly improve the safety of bicyclists who currently travel in that area. Moreover, it will also increase pedestrian safety, because bicyclists who do not want to travel in the street currently use the sidewalks, battling for sidewalk space with the pedestrians. The pedestrian walkway that goes through the Underpass is fine for pedestrians and those who walk their bicycles through there, but there are cyclists who ride their bicycles through there, and it becomes a danger for people with baby strollers, or people who are walking their pets. She also noted that information has shown that synchronizing the traffic lights in that area will allow traffic to move more smoothly, with less congestion in that area.

Regarding the aesthetics, the addition of the eight-foot median will allow for low maintenance landscaping, with trees and a woodchip surface covering the median, as well as lighting that fits with the overall look of the Village, resulting in a much improved appearance for the area.

The project was submitted to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for review, and a grant of $146,500 was received for the project. The Village Council approved the plans via a Title 59 resolution on September 18, 2013, by unanimous vote. Ms. Sonenfeld said she understood that leading up to the Councilmembers’ consideration, there were some discussions with the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, as well as discussions within the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, which Councilwoman Walsh will address.

At the May 7, 2014, Village Council meeting, Ms. Sonenfeld asked Frank Moritz, Director of Operations, to mention that the area would be closed for construction, and she addressed the topic again at the May 14, 2014, Village Council meeting. However, Ms. Sonenfeld does agree with the speakers who said that communications on the subject could have been better in the process.

After construction started, concerns continued to grow, particularly from a group of residents on the west side of Ridgewood, especially around the Heights. There were many emails going back and forth addressing these concerns, coordinated by Mr. Slomin, who spoke earlier this evening. A meeting was suggested to address the concerns with him and other residents who were being kept in the loop. It is not unusual for Councilmembers to grant such requests when citizens ask for discussion on a particular matter, and in the meantime, the number of residents who had concerns increased. The meeting was held on May 27, 2014, in the Community Center. As reported in the newspaper, there were more than 30 people at the meeting. The Councilmembers present and Ms. Sonenfeld presented the project and said they wanted to discuss it in three ways: they wanted to talk about the substance of the project itself; they wanted to discuss the process that the Village Council went through; and they wanted to talk about the construction phase of the project. Based on the emails, phone calls, and information gathered from the May 27^th meeting, and some internal brainstorming, a plan modification was created. It was also suggested that the Councilmembers consider placing a stop sign on Heights Road to slow traffic down, as well as to perform some additional traffic monitoring around the area using traffic plates.

Last Thursday, traffic plates were installed. The plates count the number of cars; distance; and speed. Results will probably be available within one week, and the plates will continue to be used on the streets surrounding Garber Square. In addition, it has been decided that cameras would be installed on both sides of Garber Square, which are now in place.

As far as the plan modification is concerned, Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the modification calls for the narrowing the median to four feet. The benefit to that is that it is a quick and easy fallback if congestion that is not treatable should occur. However, Ms. Sonenfeld and the Councilmembers believe that they will not face that problem. The negative aspect to that approach is that it increases the potential for a vehicle to jump the median into oncoming traffic; loss of some of the aesthetics; and it would eliminate the possibility of landscaping, which would force the Village to do some hardscaping instead. This is because a narrow median results in a hotter environment, and plants are not recommended in such an environment. The ability for groundskeeping crews to work on a four-foot median is different than working on an eight-foot median, and it would require traffic control, including stopping traffic, which is to be avoided. Another negative aspect of the modified plan is the Fourth of July parade. Although the area would be usable for the Fourth of July, it will not be ready for photographs. The last negative is that 800-900 feet of curb has already been laid in the median, and it would cost approximately $45,000 to tear that up.

The proposal has been discussed by several residents, as well as the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, and several of the Councilmembers. The Citizens Safety Advisory Committee is split on this issue. Some of its members have proposed completing the project as is, because they have faith in the project, and they do not want to spend the $45,000 at this time to rip out the curbing. However, if, after the project is completed, it is determined that it does not work, the curbing could be ripped out at that time. Ms. Sonenfeld is confident that the new traffic flows will work and will be controlled by better timing of the traffic lights.

The project will cost a total of $535,000. Ripping out the curb would cost $45,000, and redesigning the project has resulted in some decreases, because having no trees planted in the modified plan would save approximately $5,000, and another $20,000 in the irrigation system. It is not known at this time the difference between what is available in the capital budget and what will be needed for this project, but if more money is needed, it will be recommended that the Village Council approve a change order to add the necessary amount to the capital budget. It has been suggested to Ms. Sonenfeld that money that has already been appropriated from the 2014 capital budget for paving could be used to cover the potential overage, but that is something that Ms. Sonenfeld refuses to recommend.

Some lessons have been learned during this process. Ms. Sonenfeld said she remains fully in support of this project, as do the Councilmembers, the Engineering Department, the Police and Fire Departments, and the NJDOT. As noted above, the members of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee are divided on the issue of whether to switch to a narrower median, or to go with the original design. Ms. Sonenfeld said she has also learned that the process with regard to communication could clearly be improved. When Ms. Sonenfeld first learned of this project several weeks ago, she was very impressed with it, and asked if it had been presented to the public, or to the Councilmembers. Mr. Rutishauser responded that it had not been presented in its entirety, but different parts of it had been. Ms. Sonenfeld thought that if she develops a plan, she would want to showcase it, because it is a progressive plan. However, she has committed herself to improving communications going forward as part of the process.

From a construction point of view, there will be times when traffic is very congested as this project continues. That is to be expected, but the Village hopes to continue to mitigate that problem by constant monitoring, using the cameras that have been installed. Public questioning and input are appreciated and welcomed by Ms. Sonenfeld and the Councilmembers. However, Ms. Sonenfeld cautioned that people should not be quick to blame every traffic accident on what is happening at Garber Square.

In conclusion, Ms. Sonenfeld said she would recommend going with the modified plan. She thanked her staff for all their help in researching the plans and putting all the information together.

Mayor Aronsohn thanked Ms. Sonenfeld for her very detailed report, and added that it helps to put everything in proper context. He also thanked her staff, and the staff of the Engineering Department, for their commitment to getting this right.

Councilman Walsh noted that many people have asked her about the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee over the past couple of weeks. She explained that the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee is an advisory board, and its members are appointed by the Village Council. They are all volunteers. One of the members is an engineer; another is a municipal manager; one of them is a member of the Ridgewood Police Department; one member is an attorney; two members are also members of the Board of Education; another member is in the finance industry; one member is from the Village Engineering Department; and another individual is EMS-certified. Some of the members have donated not just hours, but years to the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee. In fact, some of them have been on the Committee since its inception, which was more than 10 years ago. Every month, the agenda is set by the residents. Any resident who has a question or concern can make a request to the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, and it will be discussed at the meeting. Any issue that is safety-related is likely to be discussed at one of the meetings. Councilwoman Walsh often brings some of the questions and concerns raised at their meetings to the Village Council. The Police Department also addresses some of the questions and concerns. Moreover, Councilwoman Walsh noted that since she has been on the Committee, there have been issues raised that might not have seemed to be safety-related issues. One of those issues was the opening of Habernickel Park, and a decision to place the parking lot at the back of the park, with the soccer field in front of the park. Many parents did not want to park at the back and have to walk all the way up to the front of the park for soccer games. Those parents were trying to park along the road, and residents who live very close to the park came to the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee with their concerns about people parking along the streets, blocking their driveways, and causing safety issues. The Police Department put some traffic plates out to study the issue, and it was found that there were people speeding in that area. A request was made to the Fields Committee to tell all of the parents who were bringing their children there for sports activities that they should respect the properties of the residents in that area, not speed, and they should not be parking in a hazardous or unsafe manner.

Councilwoman Walsh also mentioned the safety concerns that have been raised regarding pedestrians in the CBD, and she learned about the decoy program from Police Chief Ward. The Committee talks about issues in the CBD, and they have discussed issues around Valley Hospital, where congestion reaches its peak during shift changes and school dismissal times. The Complete Streets program was designed to make the Village safer, so that the roads could be shared by pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists. Councilwoman Walsh pointed out that no one should be riding bikes on the sidewalks, but they can walk their bikes along sidewalks.

Mayor Aronsohn noted that in addition to the modified plan, which would make the eight-foot medians four feet wide, it is also proposed that the work be paid for by using a change order, which Ms. Sonenfeld estimates would be approximately $45,000, some of which could be absorbed in some of the costs. Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed that at some point, a change order might be necessary for the modified plan.

Councilwoman Walsh said that she could not speak for the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, because the members are divided on the issue, with some members saying they like the original plan and want to continue with that, while others are supportive of the modified plan. Councilwoman Walsh said she agreed with Ms. Sonenfeld’s recommendation to go with the modified plan.

Councilman Pucciarelli thanked everyone for their comments on this issue. He added that this has been an interesting and challenging subject because of the many different comments that have been received from Ridgewood residents and Village staff. Councilman Pucciarelli recalled that some of the speakers during the public comment portion of this meeting stated that the spirit of the Open Public Meetings Act was violated, and he could understand that it might have looked as though a large public meeting was being held with only some members of the public being chosen to attend. It was also mentioned that three or four of the Councilmembers attended the meeting, and Councilman Pucciarelli wanted to point out that he came to the meeting to hear what people had to say. Mayor Aronsohn reminded Councilman Pucciarelli that Councilwoman Walsh, as the Chairperson of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, was expected to attend the meeting. When she arrived, Councilman Pucciarelli left, because the rule is that there can be no more than two Councilmembers in the room at the same time. However, Councilman Pucciarelli does not believe that wanting to hear what she had to say violates the spirit of democracy, or the spirit of good government. He also noted that Councilwoman Hauck was very conscientious about staying out of the room so that the rule would not be violated.

Next, Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that these types of projects do not just pop up out of nowhere. He recalled that several months ago, some bicycle enthusiasts were at a Village Council meeting, including the President of the New York City chapter of a cycling group. The bicyclists were urging the Councilmembers to do whatever was necessary to encourage the flow of bicycles through Ridgewood streets. Therefore, this project includes a conduit from east to west for bicycle traffic. Councilman Pucciarelli admitted that the intelligent comments made so far in criticism of the project have suggested that a second look should be taken at it. This compromise allows the Councilmembers to do exactly that. By shrinking the median, some of the aesthetics are given up, and an additional financial burden is incurred. There may also be a safety implication in the modified plan. However, it does provide the flexibility of returning to two lanes in each direction. Councilman Pucciarelli also admitted that he is a bit skeptical of the idea of two lanes, because he has never seen cars driving side-by-side through those curves, and he travels through that area on a daily basis. He urged that a monitoring schedule and the expected goal be established before a decision is made to go back to the idea of having two lanes, so that the decision is not premature or arbitrary. There should be some criteria established that must be met in order for the bicycle lanes to be removed.

Councilman Riche stated that he considered this from a different perspective. He spends a lot of time in the CBD, and he will often call Chief Ward to address issues that he observes. Councilman Riche noticed a disregard and disrespect for speed limits and proper driving by drivers traversing through the CBD. As elected officials, the Councilmembers represent 100% of the community. Councilman Riche understands that each individual voice is important, but decisions should be made for the entire community, not based on the loudest voices. A petition signed by 557 people represents less than 2% of the community. Councilman Riche also took umbrage with the comment made to the effect that an engineer from MIT could do a better job than any of the Village engineering staff. He said he supports the plan as originally designed, because Ridgewood needs all the traffic calming that can be provided. Too many pedestrians are being hit, and too many people are driving in an effort to get to their next stop as fast as they can. This project is ideal for slowing people down. Moreover, Councilman Riche said he is not in a position to approve a $45,000 change order on a 0% tax increase budget that has no room for any additional capital projects.

Councilwoman Hauck said she cannot support the change order, although she does understand that it is costly. However, out of deference to the community and all other points of view, everyone’s opinion is heard whenever possible, although it always slows down the proposed project. Councilwoman Hauck said she also agrees with Mr. Halaby’s suggestion that the timing of the lights should be checked, and allowing a right turn on a red light at the intersection of Broad Street and Franklin Avenue should be allowed. Councilwoman Hauck also agrees that one of the biggest errors made was that the project was not unveiled in the right way. It was not intentional error, but the project was unveiled as a paving project, and approval was given along with many other paving projects at a Village Council meeting, but this particular project should have been discussed as a redesign and paving project.

Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the light system at Broad Street and Franklin Avenue will be examined as part of this project. Part of the long-range plan is to evaluate whether smart lights might be a better choice for intersections like that one, although they are more costly. Discussions are also underway with the County to collaborate on the purchase of smart lights, which will give the Village more flexibility.

Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the re-stuccoing of the overpass and the light system for the Underpass are still part of the plan. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that the re-stuccoing of the overpass will be coming up later on in the project, as part of a grant discussed later. The lighting under the overpass is being considered as part of the project, but it could also be done as part of the other grant.

Mayor Aronsohn commented that he also supports the original plan, because it considers pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle safety, as well as the fact that the area is dangerous, with too many accidents occurring there. He also likes the modifications that have been suggested, and believes they are actually improvements to the plan.

Councilwoman Hauck asked if the project will be finished by the Fourth of July, and Ms. Sonenfeld said it would not. The area will be ready for the Fourth of July, but it will still look like a construction area, not suitable for photographs.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

2.) Request Bergen County to Restore Open Space Tax

 Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is a request for Bergen County to restore the Open Space tax. Councilman Riche pointed out that the Open Space Committee wrote a letter to the County Executive and the Freeholders to request their support in the form of a resolution. The letter points out that open space acquisitions in Ridgewood have been predicated upon not only Ridgewood’s own Open Space tax, but also County grants. Between 2000 and 2012, Ridgewood received $4.9 million in Open Space grant monies. However, the county reduced the tax in 2010, which has, in essence, depleted the Open Space fund. Currently, the Ridgewood Open Space fund is in debt for the acquisition of Habernickel Park and the Schedler property, and will be for several years to come. That means that the taxpayers of Ridgewood are carrying the burden of that deficit. Therefore, the Committee asked that the County restore the Open Space tax, which is very minimal. The reduction of the Open Space tax in 2010 also made the county ineligible for the 50% matching New Jersey State Green Acres funds for County Open Space acquisitions.

Councilwoman Walsh said she agreed with Councilman Riche. She said that when residents come to the Councilmembers to ask what will be done about a particular project or issue, as well as how to increase the use and maintenance of the fields, having the Open Space funds available would be a reasonable use of those funds.

Councilman Pucciarelli estimated that the amount of Open Space tax that would be levied on a property with an assessed value of $500,000 would be approximately $50, and the tax would be $100 on a property with an assessed value of $1 million. While Councilman Pucciarelli did not think it was acceptable to ask the County to increase taxes, even by a small amount, while at the same time pushing for a 0% municipal tax increase in Ridgewood, he believes that the preservation of vacant land is a worthy goal, because if it is not preserved, the land will be lost forever. That is why he wants to encourage the County to do this, and history has shown that Ridgewood usually receives its fair share of these funds.

Councilwoman Hauck said she supports the request, because she thinks it is important that, with the current interest rates and the density in Bergen County, as well as with all of the development that occurs around the County, there needs to be a counterbalance to all of that with the preservation of open space.

Mayor Aronsohn asked what these funds could be used for in Ridgewood, if the tax is reinstated. Councilman Riche responded that it would make Ridgewood again eligible to receive New Jersey State Green Acres grants. It may help with maintenance on existing facilities, as well as some projects that might be developed for the Schedler property, or any other Open Space-related project. Janet Fricke, Assistant to the Village Manager, noted that Timothy Cronin, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, has been very successful in the past in getting grants from the County for park improvements, such as when the turf field at Maple Field was damaged, and he was able to get some money from the County Open Space fund for that repair. In addition, a lot of the money that funded the improvements at Habernickel Park came from Mr. Cronin going year after year to request funds for the various projects at that park. Ms. Fricke confirmed that any of the Open Space funds would be available for improvements to municipal parks, as well as to purchase land.

Councilman Riche noted that grants in the amount of $88,000; $25,000; $1.5 million; $26,000; $100,000; $37,000; $356,000; $46,000; $263,000; $50,000; $1 million; and $126,000 have been received over the years for all sorts of improvements to and purchases of municipal parks over the past several years.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

3.) Award Contract – Purchase of 2 SUVs – Police Department

Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is for the purchase of two SUVs for the Police Department, using funds from the 2013 capital budget. The Police Department is moving toward pursuit-rated Tauruses and Explorers as patrol cars. The Police Department currently has 11 Crown Victorias, which is a decrease from the 13 that they formerly had. Two of them had catastrophic engine failures.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

4.)  Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services Contract – Repair Brookside Field Sanitary Sewer

 Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is a contract for an extraordinary unspecifiable service. On May 6^th, several sinkholes were found in Brookside Field. Due to the circumstances of sinkholes, the proximity to the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and the activity at the field, Mr. Rutishauser contacted Conquest Industries, who had a crew available to start the work immediately. Funds to pay for this contract are found in Ordinance #3111. Councilman Pucciarelli asked what the cost is, and Ms. Sonenfeld responded that it is approximately $20,500.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

5.) Appoint Safe Routes to School Coordinator

 Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the Village received approval in 2011 to proceed with the non-infrastructure portion of the Safe Routes to School Grant. At that time, no Coordinator was identified to work with NJDOT and the Village. This resolution authorizes payment to be made to Jeannie Johnson from those grant funds. Activities completed under the auspices of this grant for which Ms. Johnson was responsible, include attending quarterly meetings in New Brunswick and Trenton; meeting bi-monthly with the Village Engineering Department, as well as with the NJDOT Manager bi-annually; coordinating the bi-annual “Ridgewood Walk/Bike to School Month;” coordinating advertising for various print media; sustaining the “Keep Kids Alive – Drive 25” initiative; and coordinating bike rodeos and inspections. This is only necessary to identify Ms. Johnson as the Coordinator and the funding to pay her can be provided out of the grant.

Councilwoman Walsh commented that the need for grant writers has been discussed before, and that is basically what Ms. Johnson does. She has dedicated her time and has been instrumental in obtaining necessary funding for many activities associated with Safe Routes to School. Ms. Johnson is being paid from grant monies, not from Village funds.

Councilwoman Hauck noted that she had not been involved in this, and knows very little about it. She does know about the Safe Routes to School project, but she does not know anything about Ms. Johnson or the grant writing. Councilwoman Walsh pointed out that this started in 2011, and Councilwoman Hauck asked if this is the first year that Ms. Johnson is being paid for her efforts. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the money covers the past three years, since Ms. Johnson started working on this project. At the time, the Village was asked to identify a Coordinator, and that is what is happening now. Councilwoman Hauck asked if the payment was a retroactive one, and Councilwoman Walsh responded that initially, Ms. Johnson had not asked to be paid for her work, but as her working hours increased, it was felt that some type of pay was necessary. Ms. Sonenfeld added that the sponsors of the grant insisted that a Coordinator be named.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

6.)  Grant Authorization – Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) – Beautification of the Approaches to the Historic Village Train Station

 Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is a grant authorization for a Transportation Alternative Program, which is being called the Beautification of the Approaches to the Historic Village Train Station. TAP provides Federal funds for community-based, non-traditional projects assigned to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the nation’s intermodal system. The primary purpose is beautification, and the goal is to replace some sidewalks with brick walkways; decorative lighting; landscaping; and the application of California stucco on the wall. Part of the grant application process requires a resolution of approval by the governing body of the municipality submitting the application. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

 b. Policy:

1.) Honoring Roger Wiegand

Mayor Aronsohn recalled that the last time this was discussed, some ideas were suggested. One of the ideas was to place a plaque on the inside of the podium where the public makes comments at Village Council meetings; another was to put a sign on the street where he lived marking it as “Wiegand Way,” or some other way of indicating that he lived there; and the third was to plant a tree in his memory. Another suggestion was to hold a reception to honor Mr. Wiegand, which Mayor Aronsohn said would probably be done in any case. After speaking to different people, Mayor Aronsohn commented that many people seem to like the idea of the plaque, and is not sure if anyone wants to move forward with just that idea, or perhaps doing all three of the suggestions, along with a reception. Councilman Riche suggested that the plaque could read something like “In Honor of Roger Wiegand, the Sixth Councilmember”. All of the Councilmembers like the idea of the plaque, coupled with a reception, which could be held when the plaque is dedicated.

Jeffery Carlson, 263 Franklin Avenue, addressed the Councilmembers again. Mr. Carlson wanted to contact former classmates of his and Mr. Wiegand’s. He learned recently that Mr. Wiegand is the 63^rd person to die out of a class of 447 students at Ridgewood High School. Mr. Carlson asked if he could ask for input from their classmates about what they would like to do to honor Mr. Wiegand, and Mayor Aronsohn agreed. Mr. Carlson commented that he knew that Mr. Wiegand kept daily records of rainfall and temperatures for quite a few years, and it occurred to Mr. Carlson that some type of digital thermometer placed at Graydon Pool, facing Veterans Field, might be another appropriate way to honor Mr. Wiegand’s memory. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that Mr. Carlson discuss the idea of the plaque with his former classmates, and come back to the Councilmembers with their input and suggestions. Mayor Aronsohn asked that Mr. Carlson do this as soon as possible, because it is hoped that everything could be accomplished during the summer.

4. REVIEW OF JUNE 11, 2014 AGENDA

Ms. Mailander announced that the Public Meeting would include the following Proclamation: Mayor’s Wellness Campaign.

There are no ordinances to be introduced next week.

The Public Hearings on ordinances include: Lease of 1057 Hillcrest Road; Establish Abandoned Property Guidelines; Establishment of a Green Team.

Resolutions include: Waive Fourth of July Vendor Fees; Grant Permission to Fireworks Company for Fireworks Display; Approve Liquor License Renewals; Title 59 Approval – Landscaping Services – Ridgewood Water; Award Contract – Landscaping Services – Ridgewood Water; Award Contract Safe Routes to School Grant Work; Award Contract – Animal Control Services and Waterfowl Management; Award Contract under County Contract – Lightning Detection System; Award Contract under State Contract – Two SUVs for Police Department; Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services Contract – Repair Brookside Field Sanitary Sewer; Authorize Snowplowing Agreement with Bergen County; Grant Authorization – Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) – Garber Square Historic Beautification; Authorize Participation in the Community Development Block Grant Program and Home Investment Partnership Act Program – 2015-2017; Appoint Safe Routes to School Coordinator; Memorialize the Garber Square Beautification Project; Request Restoration of the Bergen County Open Space Tax.

5. MANAGER’S REPORT

Ms. Sonenfeld gave an update on the quarter theft situation. The Judge has been assigned for sentencing, but the sentencing has been rescheduled from Friday, June 6^th, to Thursday, July 10^th, due to Court calendar issues. The Village is still waiting for the engagement letter from the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) for the forensic accounting review.

At her first “Meet the Manager” event on Saturday, May 31^st, Ms. Sonenfeld was pleased that it was well-attended. She met with 11 people. The next “Meet the Manager” date is scheduled for Saturday, June 28^th, from 9:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon. During the sessions, Ms. Sonenfeld said there was negative feedback on the new budget newsletter, which was the first time negative feedback had been received. She provided that input to the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC). In addition, some issues were reported at King’s Pond Park, as well as the grounds around the Ridgewood Water Cedarcroft area. Tomorrow, Ms. Sonenfeld is planning to accompany Mr. Rutishauser, Mr. Cronin, and John Spano to take an investigative look at those areas and come back with recommendations. Three people who came to meet with Ms. Sonenfeld discussed ways in which they could volunteer for the Village. One resident expressed concern about the intersection at Paramus Road and Linwood Avenue, where there was a house that was taken down. At this time, there is a plan to build a two-story day care center on the site, as well as a home for autistic children. The property, located in Paramus, requires 14 variances, and the Ridgewood resident asked that an elected official from Ridgewood act as an advocate for Ridgewood residents at the June 12^th Paramus Planning Board meeting.

As part of her “Response to Residents” report, Ms. Sonenfeld said there has been progress made on the e-ticket program. The Administrative Office of Courts has assigned someone to finalize approved usage of the new system. Once that approval is obtained, the new system will be implemented.

Mr. Rutishauser had a lengthy conversation with the owner of the Town Garage site, and that will be brought back to the Village Council for a possible discussion on the pros and cons of temporary parking in July.

Signs have been installed at Oak Street and East Ridgewood Avenue to highlight the businesses located on the side streets. This was a joint project with the Chamber of Commerce, and it may require some tweaking, because it may be necessary to install another pole to accommodate the signs. The next streets scheduled to get such signs are Broad Street and East Ridgewood Avenue; and Chestnut Street and East Ridgewood Avenue.

Graydon Pool opened last Saturday, and will be open every day throughout the summer. The temporary pool drain line was rolled up to make the parking lot fully accessible to everyone. Ms. Sonenfeld commended all of the Village staff members who worked to ensure that access to the Graydon Pool parking lot was not impeded. The permanent installation of the parking lot part has been completed, and the rest will be installed over the next several days. In addition, a solution has been found regarding how to skim the pool in a more effective manner, which will be implemented in approximately one week.

There are some free outdoor summer concerts scheduled at the Kasschau Band Shell, which start on Thursday, June 5^th, at 8:00 P.M. After that, free concerts are scheduled for every Tuesday and Thursday night, starting at 8:30 P.M. People who wish to attend should bring chairs and/or blankets.

“A Taste of Ridgewood” will be held on Sunday, June 8^th, 1:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. Approximately 20 restaurants are involved in this event, as well as a beer garden.

“Movies in the Park,” a free event sponsored by the Ridgewood Guild, starts on Wednesday, June 11^th, at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. The first movie to be shown will be “The Maltese Falcon”.

The Bergen County Utilities Authority will collect computers and electronics, tires, recycling, and paper to be shredded on Sunday, June 7^th, from 9:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M., at Campgaw.

At the intersection of Walnut Street and Franklin Avenue, buckets have been installed with flags in them. They are for pedestrians to use when crossing the streets. This is another project that Jeannie Johnson helped to make possible.

6. COUNCIL REPORTS

Fourth of July Committee – Councilman Riche stated that the Fourth of July Committee is looking for volunteers, and is preparing for another great Fourth of July celebration in Ridgewood. The theme is to honor the 200^th anniversary of the United States flag.

Community Center Advisory Board – Councilwoman Hauck reported that Liz Kloak, Nancy Bigos, Janet Fricke, and many others went to the Community Center to host the Teen Step Up Party, which is mostly funded by the Municipal Alliance grant. This was the first time that the fifth-graders from all of the elementary schools come together to meet each other in anticipation of attending middle school the following year. On the east side, approximately 200 children attended; and on the west side, approximately 180 children attended the event. Door prizes were awarded, and the children behaved very well. This is part of the success of the Community Center, where teenagers learn to socialize responsibly and enjoy themselves.

Mayor’s Wellness Campaign – Mayor Aronsohn said that there are so many different types of activities scheduled as part of this campaign, and efforts are being made to coordinate all of the various activities in Ridgewood. Councilwoman Hauck initiated a logo contest for the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign, and two winners have been found, although they have not yet been contacted. There is also a dance party at Graydon Pool scheduled for Monday, June 16^th, and Councilwoman Hauck said that approximately 150 people are expected to attend. It is the “weigh out” for the Fair Lawn and Ridgewood weight loss challenge. The winners of the logo contest will be invited to attend the next Village Council meeting, when the Proclamation is read. Councilwoman Hauck commented that all of the institutions and entities in the Village that provide health and wellness facilities for residents are collaborating under the umbrella of the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign. There is a Facebook page devoted to it, and information about it can also be found on the Village website.

Planning Board – Mayor Aronsohn noted that the Planning Board met twice this week. On Monday night, there was a hearing about Valley Hospital, which was also the last night on which public comment was held on the process. Next Monday, June 16^th, the Planning Board will again meet about Valley Hospital, at which time closing arguments will be heard, as well as the Planning Board attorney presenting the charge to the members of the Planning Board. On June 17^th, members of the Planning Board will express their own views and vote on the Valley Hospital application.

Ridgewood Community Access Network – Mayor Aronsohn stated that the Access Committee will show a film in the Public Library Auditorium called “Murder Ball,” a very compelling film that tells the story of a quadriplegic rugby team at the Paralympics. The movie starts at 7:30 P.M. on Thursday, June 5^th.

7. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Aronsohn stated they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward.

Leonard Eisen, 762 Upper Boulevard, commented that he favored the plaque suggestion to honor Mr. Wiegand. In addition, Mr. Eisen hopes that any memorial would include a full-length portrait of Mr. Wiegand.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, noted that Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that the Garber Square project was unanimously approved by the Councilmembers in September 2013. Mr. Loving thinks the lesson to be learned from that is that although it was approved unanimously, it was approved as part of a consent agenda, along with a number of other items. It was not a separate item that was discussed, but was incorporated with other items for approval. Mr. Loving pointed out that the lesson learned there is that it is very important to read everything that is included in a consent agenda.

Next, Mr. Loving noted that it was stated that the proposed changes that would be memorialized next week would not be classified as substantive changes with respect to the NJDOT grant, so the Village would not be in jeopardy with respect to that grant. Mr. Loving wanted reassurance that everyone is comfortable that such is the case, and that someone has verified that with the NJDOT. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that everyone is “very sure” about that. Mr. Loving asked if the assurance was obtained in writing, and Ms. Sonenfeld said that she does not have it in writing. Mr. Rutishauser responded that he has not contacted the NJDOT, and the median width is a minor change. The greater intent of the project remains the same, and that is how the change will be presented to the NJDOT. The NJDOT requires Mr. Rutishauser to sign off on the project in order for them to release the funds. In addition, some post-paving testing will be required to show that the asphalt was properly placed and compacted to the correct thickness and density, which will also be submitted to the NJDOT.

Mr. Loving said with respect to the landscaping on the median, it sounded to him as if there would be on-going maintenance costs with respect to the trees, which has been eliminated in the modified proposal. Ms. Sonenfeld said that would depend on what decision is ultimately made, and that she and the other collaborators are trying to come up with ways to enhance the aesthetics of the area. Most of the maintenance for the trees would have been the application of weed killer over the wood chips. Mr. Loving asked Ms. Sonenfeld for clarification that she was recommending that the extra money to pay for the modifications would come out of the capital budget funds for paving, and Ms. Sonenfeld responded that she said the opposite. She recommended the authorization of the change order to cover any differential in costs, and the paving budget would not be touched.

Regarding the discussion held earlier about ambulances, Mr. Loving noted that last night at approximately 5:15 P.M., there was a serious accident at the intersection of Doremus Avenue and Godwin Avenue, and emergency vehicles had difficulty getting to the scene as a result of the traffic congestion. Ms. Sonenfeld had mentioned the idea of installing smart lights in that area, and Mr. Loving thinks it would be a good idea to investigate that possibility. He has read that it is possible to use the smart lights to control traffic congestion, such as turning all the lights green in order to allow the traffic to flow so that emergency vehicles can pass through.

Finally, Mr. Loving asked a question regarding Brookside Field. He said he understood that Brookside Field is owned and maintained by the Board of Education, and he wondered why the Village Council budgeted $20,000 to repair the sanitary sewer there. Mr. Loving said he knows that the sanitary sewer is something for which the Village is responsible, but he wondered if any work done at Brookside Field by the Board of Education when truckloads of dirt were brought in, could have caused the collapse of the sanitary sewer there. Mr. Rutishauser responded that when he investigated the area where the sinkhole opened, there is no evidence that any heavy loads from trucks or any other vehicle had been involved. The pipe that failed is a DCP pipe, which is commonly used in the Village. Approximately 4-5 years ago, there was a similar failure of a DCP pipe in an area south of where the current incident occurred.

Bill McCandless, 71 Ridge Road, asked a question about the traffic lights that will be installed around Garber Square. Mr. McCandless wondered where in the sequence of the project would the installation of the lights be scheduled, and if that would be when the work is completed, or if the lights that are currently in that area would still be there when the work is done. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that the lights that are currently in use in that area will be there when the project is completed. The manual adjustment of those lights will be done over the next several weeks, working with the Engineering Department, as well as a traffic expert on the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee. Using the information provided from the traffic cameras that have been installed, the lights will be adjusted accordingly. Any installation of the new smart lights would be done on County roads, which include Franklin Avenue and Broad Street. Councilwoman Walsh noted that the County has pledged to provide three of the smart lights to Ridgewood. Mr. Rutishauser commented that the Village Council approved this resolution last year in partnership with Bergen County. Initially, three intersections were suggested as locations for the smart lights, including Franklin Avenue, Maple Avenue, and East Ridgewood Avenue; Oak Street and Franklin Avenue; and the Lincoln Avenue/Ackerman Avenue/South Monroe Street intersection. The County apparently has some money allocated to the Village for the lights, and they are currently waiting for the Village to take care of the necessary design and survey work at the various locations. That will be part of the 2015 capital budget requests. Mr. McCandless wondered about the possibility of having a dedicated left turn arrow installed, and he asked if that could be generated from those types of lights, as well as if the lights could be overridden to allow access by emergency service vehicles. Mr. Rutishauser answered that a signal override system can be considered for emergency service vehicles, but there are benefits and drawbacks to such a system. For example, implementing a system of sequential green lights to facilitate the passage of emergency vehicles would also allow the traffic to lead or follow those emergency vehicles. Those types of issues must be taken into consideration. Different timing sequences can be considered for the traffic lights, such as a leading left turn, or a right turn only lane, as well as prohibiting right turns on red at certain corners. Mr. McCandless pointed out that the inability to make left turns is a source of frustration to drivers from west to east. He is also concerned about the elimination of the long left turn, near the Exxon station, and if that is removed to make an area for two left hand turns, with an island, one going to West Ridgewood Avenue and the other going into the train station parking lot, that the traffic will back up even more in that area. Ms. Sonenfeld said that they may remove the island and paint it instead, which would save $5,000 in project costs.

Mr. McCandless finally discussed the lighting in the median strip. He asked why the historic lights, which have broadcast beams, instead of the downcast lights are being used in the median strip. Mr. McCandless believes that the downcast lights would provide better lighting. Mr. Rutishauser stated that the historic lights are being used because it would maintain the continuity of the design of the lights from the east side to the west side of the Village. Mr. Rutishauser assured all present that when all of the lights in the median strip are on, it will be well lit.

Ms. Sonenfeld, referring to an earlier comment made by a resident, added that it really does not matter what school one attends, but what has been learned and the experience it brings. She pointed out that it is quite obvious that Mr. Rutishauser has experience and credentials, and she respects his judgment. Ms. Sonenfeld attended Hunter College in New York, and she is very proud of her education. She indicated that one does not have to attend an Ivy League School to be educated. She said that she hired people in the private sector for positions of great responsibility who had great work ethics and worked hard at their education.   She thanked Mr. Rutishauser for his input and his expertise.

There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.

8. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION

The following resolution, numbered 14-137, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Village Clerk, as follows:

 9. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Riche, seconded by Councilwoman Walsh, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 P.M.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    _____________________________

                                                                                                  Paul S. Aronsohn

                                                                                                          Mayor

_________________________________

            Heather A. Mailander

                Village Clerk

A REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014, AT 7:30 P.M.

 

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

Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 8:01 P.M., and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney. Councilman Riche was absent.

Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and asked for a moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those who serve as first responders in Ridgewood and throughout the United States.

2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, said he had read an article in the newspaper regarding a meeting that occurred last night which was attended by more than 30 people, and Mr. Loving believes the topic might be of general interest to all Ridgewood taxpayers. Mr. Loving heard a rumor that there might be such a meeting on Tuesday night, and he monitored the Village website to see if there was any announcement about the meeting. However, no such announcement was ever made on the website, so Mr. Loving assumed that it was just a rumor. Therefore, he was surprised to read the article about the meeting, and he was curious to know why the meeting took place, and why there was no information posted on the website about the meeting so that members of the public who might have had an interest in the subject could have gone to the meeting. Mayor Aronsohn responded that some Ridgewood residents had requested a meeting to discuss the construction that is occurring at Garber Square. The meeting on Tuesday night was not a public Village Council meeting. Mayor Aronsohn, Ms. Sonenfeld, and Councilwoman Walsh, as the Chairperson of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, attended the meeting. It was open to anyone, and there can be another meeting to discuss the situation further if people wish to have one. Mr. Loving asked how it came about that two members of the press were invited, yet no taxpayers were invited to attend. Mayor Aronsohn said he could not speak for anyone else, but he assumed it was because some of the residents have members of the press included in their email exchanges. Mr. Loving asked if any member of the Village Council or Village administration invited the press to the meeting, and Ms. Sonenfeld and Councilwoman Walsh responded that they did not invite the press to the meeting. Mayor Aronsohn answered that he spoke to a member of the press, but he did not extend an invitation to the meeting. Ms. Sonenfeld agreed that she believes that some members of the press may have been copied on the emails that were exchanged. Mr. Loving said he was concerned that there was a meeting taking place on a topic of general interest, which was attended by more than 30 people and members of the press, as well as Councilmembers and the Village Manager, yet no one had any idea of this meeting was taking place. Mayor Aronsohn reiterated that no one was intentionally left out of attending the meeting, and certainly Mr. Loving could have attended it if he wanted to do so. Mayor Aronsohn explained that he, Ms. Sonenfeld, and Councilwoman Walsh were simply responding to a request made by some Ridgewood residents. Mr. Loving noted that he did not know the time or location of the meeting, and Mayor Aronsohn responded that a phone call could have taken care of that. He added that Mr. Loving calls or sends emails regarding a lot of Ridgewood issues, and it was surprising that he would not have called about this one. Ms. Sonenfeld said that she would give details about the meeting during her Manager’s Report.

Nancy Greene, Director of the Ridgewood Public Library, commented that everyone at the Public Library is deeply honored that the family of Roger Wiegand selected the Friends of the Ridgewood Public Library, as well as the American Heart Association, as the recipients of donations in his honor. Ms. Greene noted that she had seen Mr. Wiegand at Village Council meetings for many years, and she always admired how he conducted himself. She added that the Ridgewood Public Library appreciates the donations in his name.

Rahul Bhatia, 309 Stevens Avenue, said he is a new resident of Ridgewood, and he loves it here so far. However, he has one reservation about the Village, which has been reinforced while driving on Van Dien Avenue, which is that the roads are not in very good condition. Mr. Bhatia commented that if anything can be done to improve the conditions on the roads, he would be in favor of it, even if it meant increasing taxes to focus on infrastructure. That is something he believes Ridgewood needs. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that during the budget presentation, more information will be forthcoming about paving the roads. She believes that the paving of South Van Dien Avenue is currently underway, and grant money has been obtained for the paving of North Van Dien Avenue. Once the capital funds are allocated, bids can be sought for the work on North Van Dien Avenue.

There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.

Ms. Sonenfeld made some comments regarding the meeting on Tuesday night about the construction being done at Garber Square, in response to Mr. Loving’s earlier comments. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that she first discussed the project at Garber Square several weeks ago at a Village Council meeting, due to the fact that it would cause some traffic issues in that area, as well as to give information about the project design. The construction is based on a Complete Streets plan, and its purpose is to enhance pedestrian, vehicular, and bicycle safety, as well as to provide much-needed aesthetic upgrades. More information is available on the Village website.

Initially, the construction met with some resistance, particularly on the west side of town. Residents in that area were concerned about the lack of communication, and the congestion that the construction might cause. As a result, some residents requested a Town Hall-style meeting, which grew to encompass more than 30 people. A detailed presentation was made at the meeting by Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, who went over the plans in great detail. Police Chief Ward, Captain Luthcke, and Fire Chief Van Goor were also present to answer questions.

After listening to the residents’ concerns, and doing some internal evaluations, Ms. Sonenfeld said that several different courses of action will be pursued. Some of these might involve a working with members of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, so Councilwoman Walsh may be consulted on those aspects of the work. Traffic plates to record vehicle speed will be placed on certain roads. Heights Road might be the first street to get the traffic plates, due to the number of residents who were present at the meeting last night who complained about speeding cars. After that, the next locations will likely be West Ridgewood Avenue, Godwin Avenue, and Franklin Avenue. The point of using the traffic plates is to provide empirical data about the traffic flows in those areas. Another course of action will be to install mobile cameras at Garber Square and Franklin Avenue to film traffic for several weeks, in order to obtain more empirical data about the traffic flow. Another way to address some of the speeding concerns and Heights Road will be to install a stop sign at the corner of Heights Road and Woodland Avenue, which should help to calm the traffic.

More significantly, in looking at the design and listening to concerns about contingency plans in case traffic does get backed up, alternatives were considered to the design that would narrow the median from an eight-foot median to a four-foot median. That would leave approximately 20 feet on each side of the median at its narrowest point. This contingency will be considered if the traffic does not react in the way that is expected under the original plan.

All of these discussions began today, as Ms. Sonenfeld noted. Consideration was given to the amount of work that would have to be undone in order to do all of the work stated. For example, approximately $45,000 worth of curbing that has already been installed will have to be cut, as well as some additional saw-cutting that will be necessary. Some of the beautification component of the design will be lost due to the fact that the eight-foot median provides an opportunity to plant trees. As a result of the progress made toward this recommendation, it was decided today to rearrange the work that is currently going on at Garber Square, and stop working on the curbs and median, so that it will not be necessary to undo more work in the future. This is all based on a determination being made with input from Councilwoman Walsh and the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee to proceed with the project, including the four-foot median. The people who are currently working in that area have been relocated to do other work. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that a decision must be made soon in order to avoid unnecessary delays. She also suggested that it might be necessary to convene a special meeting of the Citizens Safety Advisory Board to discuss the project.

Mayor Aronsohn stated that he thought it was a good idea to have a contingency plan, because if it is decided some years in the future that more changes are necessary, the contingency plan gives more options. Regarding the time sensitivity, Mayor Aronsohn noted that work will continue for the other aspects of this project, but the work currently being done on the curbs and median in that area will be stopped temporarily. He asked Councilwoman Walsh whether it would be possible to present this idea to the members of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee as soon as tomorrow, and come back to the Councilmembers with their input so that action can be taken sooner rather than later. Ms. Sonenfeld said she is confident that the contingency plan can work, and that it will aid the traffic flows in the area. She also noted that everyone feels strongly about all of the safety issues being considered.

Councilwoman Walsh stated that the next meeting of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, which will be her last meeting, is scheduled for the end of June. She thought it would be possible to poll the members via email, and she knows that many of them were in attendance at the meeting last night. Councilman Walsh asked if the grant application allows the Village to change the configuration. She noted that the reason behind the question was because the topic kept coming up at the meeting last night, since many people wanted to know if the plan could be changed back to the original if they do not like the current one. Mr. Rutishauser responded that minor changes are allowed under the grant. He pointed out that Ms. Sonenfeld proposed that the median from West Ridgewood Avenue, around the Garber Square curve, and down to North Broad Street be narrowed from the original proposed design of eight feet to four feet. The eight-foot median allows for landscaping and lights, while the narrower one only permits lights. Mr. Rutishauser does not think that will present an issue with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).

Councilwoman Walsh asked what would happen in the event the bike lane is removed, and if that would be considered a minor change. Mr. Rutishauser answered that if the bike lane is deleted before reimbursement is received from NJDOT, they might take a closer look at the project. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that currently, there is no intention to eliminate the bike lane, and the only change is a narrower median. Councilwoman Walsh said she understood that, but in conversation with residents last night, it was mentioned several times that eventually the bike lane could be eliminated if it did not work. Mr. Rutishauser commented that as Mayor Aronsohn pointed out, it might become necessary to change something as traffic patterns change in the future. That is something that the NJDOT understands, and they usually accept such changes. However, Mr. Rutishauser thought they might have a problem with an application that is presented with bike lanes as part of the project, and those bike lanes are later deleted when the final project is presented. Councilwoman Walsh asked if the bike lanes are removed, what percentage of the grant could be withheld, in Mr. Rutishauser’s opinion. Mr. Rutishauser answered he does not know at this time. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the grant is for $146,000. Councilwoman Walsh stated that she only asked the questions for clarification purposes, because the issue was raised several times at the meeting. Mr. Rutishauser said he believes that several years after the project is completed, if traffic pattern changes should occur that would require elimination of the bike lanes, it should not be a problem at that time.

Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the median is narrowed from eight feet, what width is being proposed. Mr. Rutishauser said that the median would be approximately 4-4.5 feet wide. He pointed out that the median must be wide enough to fit the streetlight pole foundation between the two curbs. Once the foundation is installed, the rest would be filled with an aggregate mix, and then it would be topped with pavers for color distinction, or perhaps concrete. Councilman Pucciarelli commented that obviously, no trees or shrubs would be planted in the narrower median, which Mr. Rutishauser confirmed. Councilman Pucciarelli observed that, as someone who travels in that area several times every day, the two lanes are rarely used. Mr. Rutishauser noted that if they are used, it is most frequently done by aggressive drivers. Councilman Pucciarelli also stated that several months ago, several bicyclists spoke at a Village Council meeting, and the Councilmembers promised to do what they could to enhance their movement through the Village, and to encourage people to use bicycles and other ways to get to the train station. Therefore, he is happy to see that efforts are being made to promote the idea of bicycling, and a way can be found to allow cars and bicycles to move compatibly through the area. That is required by law on State and County roads. Mr. Rutishauser pointed out that bicycles are entitled to the same right-of-way on the roads as motor vehicles, which also means that bicyclists can be issued summonses for motor vehicle violations.

Councilwoman Hauck noted that unfortunately, only two Councilmembers can be present at these types of meetings, so she tried to stand in the hall in order to hear as much as possible. Mr. Rutishauser said that audio was recorded from the meeting, and she was welcome to access it at any time. Councilwoman Hauck stated that the people who attended the meeting are requesting wider roads, and she wondered what will happen to the traffic calming feature, which helps to prevent aggressive driving. Mr. Rutishauser responded that at the beginning of the Garber Square portion, there will still be a pedestrian refuge island for pedestrians crossing Garber Square from the train station to West Ridgewood Avenue. However, the road that any pedestrian must cross in order to get to the refuge island will be a bit wider, so that in the future, if need be, two traffic lanes can be established. The other traffic calming feature in this project is the planned bump out by North Broad Street, which will be constructed. In addition, an island will be constructed in front of the Playhouse at Wilsey Square to help delineate the lanes that are designed for left turns. That island is not an official pedestrian refuge, but it is anticipated that it will be used as such. Striping may also be considered once the project is completed to effect traffic calming, which has worked quite well in the past. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the traffic channelization that is being planned will certainly help in the calming process.

Mayor Aronsohn summarized that the plan is that Councilwoman Walsh will reach out to the members of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee as soon as possible and bring their input back to the Councilmembers. Ms. Sonenfeld added that it is hoped a decision can be reached by the middle of next week at the latest, so that the construction does not interfere with the Fourth of July activities.

3. MOTION TO SUSPEND WORK SESSION AND CONVENE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING

At 8:00 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Hauck, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.

5. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION

At 9:01 P.M., upon a motion by Mayor Aronsohn, seconded by Councilman Pucciarelli, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council reconvened its Work Session. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney. Councilman Riche was absent.

6. DISCUSSION

a. Budget:

1.) Request Bergen County to Restore Open Space Tax

 Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the Open Space Committee prepared a letter to urge the County Executive and Freeholders to fully fund the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that, unless someone has comments to make about this, perhaps this discussion could be tabled until Councilman Riche is present. The other Councilmembers agreed.

Councilwoman Walsh noted that when she prepared her calculations based on a hypothetical 1% tax increase, Mayor Aronsohn’s tax burden would increase by $.25 annually; and the highest tax increase would be for Councilwoman Hauck, whose burden would increase by $1.41 annually.

2.) Award of Contract – Landscaping Services – Ridgewood Water Properties

 Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is to award a contract for landscaping services. Eight bid proposals were picked up, and four bids were received. The lowest bidder is being recommended. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

3.) Award of Contract – Lightning Detection System

Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that this is for the lightning detection system, and it is a shared cost with the Board of Education. This contract will add nine locations in the Village, meaning that every field will have some sort of lightning detection apparatus. The Village’s share of the cost is $25,000, and the Board of Education’s share is $43,875. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

b. Policy:

1.)Requalification for Community Development Block Grant Program

Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is a resolution to re-authorize inclusion in the Community Development Block Grant Program. She added that over the years, this program has enabled curb cuts throughout the CBD in residential neighborhoods; the elevator at Village Hall; automated door openers at several locations; ramp entries at The Stable and Graydon Pool; and the latest project is the installation of a ramp from the Graydon Pool parking lot to the Linwood Avenue sidewalk to provide entry to the Graydon Pool facility. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

2.)Honoring Roger Wiegand

Mayor Aronsohn stated that he and Mr. Loving had a brief discussion, at a previous Village Council meeting, about ways for the Village Council to honor Roger Wiegand’s memory. Three ideas were discussed in particular: a plaque to be placed on the podium facing the member of the public who is speaking at the time; planting a tree somewhere in the Village; and the last was to rename the street near his house in Mr. Wiegand’s memory. In addition to one or more of those possibilities, Mayor Aronsohn thought it might be nice to have a reception in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr., Courtroom.

Councilman Pucciarelli said he thought implementing all three of the suggestions made by Mayor Aronsohn would be a good idea, and it fits within the qualifying criteria for the dedication of Village property, unless Mr. Rogers disagrees.

Councilwoman Walsh believes the idea of placing a plaque on the podium would be the best way to honor Mr. Wiegand’s memory. She also pointed out that at this time of year, Mr. Wiegand would ride his bike around the Village and paint the poles for the Fire Department, and perhaps a “painting day” could be organized in his memory.

Councilwoman Hauck recalled that when she was running for Village Council, Mr. Wiegand was very warm and friendly to her, and encouraged her to feel comfortable at meetings. She does not believe they shared the same views on everything, but she felt very comfortable around him. Mr. Wiegand was a very warm and friendly person to all. In addition, Councilwoman Walsh pointed out that Mr. Wiegand was a gadfly, yet the Councilmembers all have great affection for him, and that is what made him so unique and special, because somehow he managed to be a gadfly without being abrasive or irritating. He was able to, as Socrates said, “sting the people out of complacency, preventing the city from becoming intolerant and careless, without offending anyone”. Mr. Wiegand never showed any disrespect or needled or sabotaged anyone, but he was always polite and good-natured, as well as being committed to listening. Councilwoman Hauck would like to distinguish his service as a prodder, an energizer, and a civic volunteer.

Mayor Aronsohn suggested that they wait for Councilman Riche to be present before they make a final decision about how to honor Mr. Wiegand. He also suggested that perhaps the Shade Tree Commission could consider honoring residents like Mr. Wiegand by planting trees in their memory.

c. Operations:

1.)Snowplowing Agreement with Bergen County

 Ms. Sonenfeld stated this will approve the snowplowing agreement with Bergen County, in which the Village receives payment from the County to plow County roads in Ridgewood. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the June 11, 2014 Public Meeting.

7. MANAGER’S REPORT

Ms. Sonenfeld gave an update on the status of Cottage Place Lot 12, which is the parking lot between The Gap and the Gilsenan Real Estate Office, for which an RFP had been issued. Two proposals were received, one of which looks lucrative. It is in the amount of $75,000 for the ground lease and Mr. Rutishauser will be evaluating them over the next couple of weeks and bring a recommendation to the Councilmembers.

Councilwoman Walsh stated that one of her concerns has been who is determining whether that lease valuation is appropriate, and she asked Ms. Sonenfeld about the process. Ms. Sonenfeld said it was agreed that it would be necessary to find someone with the technical expertise to do that appraisal.

Next, Ms. Sonenfeld commented on the ordinance regarding abandoned property in the Village. Processes and procedures are now being developed, and the committee who will be doing those evaluations has been formed.

Regarding the coin theft, Ms. Sonenfeld reported that the overall revenues for the Parking Utility have increased by approximately 4%. However, she still has not received the engagement letter from the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) about the forensic accounting review. Mr. Rogers has been monitoring the issue very closely, and he spoke with the attorney for the JIF, who said they were still working on the letter, and the situation is being decided by a committee. The contractual arrangements must be made for the forensic accounting review.

Turning to the subject of the Redevelopment Zone, Ms. Sonenfeld met with Blais Brancheau, Village Planner, and discussed the situation with Mr. Rutishauser. They are now working on an RFP that will be discussed with the Councilmembers when it is ready. She estimates that it will probably be another three weeks before the RFP will be ready.

In her responses to residents’ comments, Ms. Sonenfeld brought up an issue first raised by Mr. Loving about the Town Garage site, and whether or not it could be used for surface parking. A letter has been received from the owner indicating his potential interest in surface parking, and she said she will discuss it with Mr. Rutishauser.

Another resident had expressed some anger about the condition of North Road, and Ms. Sonenfeld visited that area with Mr. Rutishauser. There was no traffic, except for two people coming out of their driveways. There were no significant potholes or depressions, and the Village had done some work on the road the day before. Therefore, the current recommendation, which has been shared with the resident by letter, is that the street will be put on the paving schedule for 2015-2016. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out in the letter that there was an opportunity to demonstrate a piece of equipment that possibly could have put a layer of asphalt over the current layer, and the resident has not yet responded to that opportunity.

At one of the “Meet the Mayor” events, another resident was concerned about Twinny Park. Her house backs up on the park, and she is concerned about the appearance of the park. The resident would like the dead trees, stumps, and branches to be removed from the park. Ms. Sonenfeld and several other Village employees visited the park, but because Twinny Park is considered a conservation area, little maintenance is and can be performed there. As a result, when trees fall, they are allowed to decompose, which provides an environment for the wildlife. A protected redheaded woodpecker resides in one of the trees that has fallen, so that tree cannot be moved. In addition, the park is also a glacial cattle pond, and it is viewed as a riparian habitat, which means that areas that are 50 feet from the water’s edge cannot be disturbed. The only maintenance that is performed there is maintenance to alleviate areas that are precarious to individuals who are hiking, such as a tree hanging over a trail, or a large branch impeding the trail. Ms. Sonenfeld spoke to the resident, and sent a letter to her, telling her that normal cleanup activities will be performed in the park, after which time it will be revisited with her.

Mr. Loving had also raised the issue of the Glen Avenue Recycling Center being used for the rabies clinic. After observing the area, Ms. Sonenfeld said there seems to be a confluence of issues. One of those issues is that the rabies clinic that was recently held also offered the micro-chipping service for pets, causing an increase in the volume of people attending the clinic, which led to the traffic volume increasing. There was also a parking issue. The consensus is that because the dogs are sheltered at that location, while there is no shelter available at Graydon Park, it would again be held at the Glen Avenue Recycling Center, but the rabies shots and the micro-chipping would be split to avoid the traffic problems. The cat clinic will be held in Ho-Ho-Kus in January. The next shred day is scheduled for September 27, 2014, and consideration is now being given to moving that to Graydon Park. Mayor Aronsohn said that the possibility of separating the micro-chipping service from the rabies clinic should be discussed, because he believes holding the services together provides a great opportunity to educate people who do not know about the advantages that go along with micro-chipping their pets.

Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that Graydon Pool is scheduled to open this Saturday, May 31, 2014. The good news is that the temporary pipe from Graydon Pool to the sanitary sewer is working, but the bad news is that the temporary pipe is still there. Tomorrow, the laying of the permanent pipe will begin, which will take approximately two weeks. In addition, the sloped entry railing has been installed.

The “Meet the Manager” event will be held on Saturday, May 31^st, from 9:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon. Appointments have already been scheduled. The Junior Police Academy will be held June 26-July 2, 2014, and the application deadline is June 1^st.

8. COUNCIL REPORTS

Citizens Safety Advisory Committee – Councilwoman Walsh said she would be sending an email to the members of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee to poll them about the situation at Garber Square.

Bergen League of Municipalities – Councilwoman Walsh stated that she, along with the rest of the Bergen County League of Municipalities representatives, toured the Bergen County Utilities Authority.

Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) – Councilwoman Walsh pointed out that there is no meeting scheduled for another couple of weeks.

Councilman Pucciarelli commented that Mayor Aronsohn said something about “responsible government,” and Ms. Sonenfeld, in her Village Manager’s Report, also noted that the government is responsive, which makes a difference. Councilman Pucciarelli also commented on the number of Village employees and Department Supervisors who attend the Village Council meetings, and he thanked them on behalf of the citizens of Ridgewood for their attendance at the meetings, which is not required.

Planning Board – Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the entire Planning Board is scheduled to meet tomorrow evening to honor Morgan Hurley, a member of the Board who has served for many years, and has also been Chairman of the Planning Board. Mr. Hurley resigned from the Planning Board, and he will be honored at a local restaurant for his many years of service.

Parks, Recreation, and Conservation (PRC) Board – Councilwoman Hauck said she did not have a lot to add about the issue of abandoned structures and properties, because it is simply a matter of watching that come to fruition. It will also make enforcing good neighborly behavior a lot easier in the future. There are some people in Ridgewood who would like things to move faster, but the ordinance will not be adopted until June 11, 2014, and all of the abandoned properties that are found will be addressed at that time.

Councilwoman Hauck reiterated that Graydon Pool will be opening on Saturday, and she hopes that membership increases this year.

Public Library Board of Trustees – Councilwoman Hauck stated that the Public Library Board of Trustees discussed two new things at the Public Library. She noted that the Homework Help Center is not new, but it has not seen a lot of use. Honor students at Ridgewood High School are selected every year by a committee, and they go to the Public Library and give free tutoring in any subject to anyone who needs the help. They do this from 3:30 P.M.-5:30 P.M., Monday-Thursday from October to May. In addition, Nancy Greene is teaching a course on business etiquette to college graduates, which will start on Tuesday, June 24^th.

Planning Board – Mayor Aronsohn noted that the Planning Board has two meetings scheduled for next week. The meeting on Monday is to continue the public discussion on the Valley Hospital proposal, and there is another meeting scheduled for Tuesday night.

Access Committee (Ridgewood Community Access Network) – Mayor Aronsohn said the Access Committee will be showing a movie at the Public Library on Thursday, June 5^th, called “Murder Ball”. The movie’s plot is about a quadriplegic rugby team that played in the Paralympics, and Mayor Aronsohn invited anyone who is interested to come and watch. The movie is scheduled to begin at 7:30 P.M., in the Public Library Auditorium.

Just before this Village Council meeting, Mayor Aronsohn said there was a program in the Courtroom presented by the Ridgewood High School Teen Leads Program. Ms. Sonenfeld added that it was something that is been worked on for a long time. The Teen Leads Program has been modeled after the Bergen County Leads Program, which is currently in its seventh year. Ms. Sonenfeld highly recommends the program, particularly for people who are activists. It is a leadership program in which the participant spends nine months learning about different facets of Bergen County. There is a seminar day every month, and different experts come in to offer their expertise on various facets of Bergen County, as well as experiential visits by the participants. Participants are also given a project to do over the nine-month program, which is presented in a public forum. The head of the program is Pat Schuber, the former Bergen County Executive, and Lynne Algrant, a Councilwoman from Englewood. Ms. Sonenfeld said the idea for the Ridgewood High School Teen Leads Program came from her daughter, who asked why a program like the Adult Leads Program could not be developed for teenagers. This pilot group was given a challenge called the “Mayor’s Challenge,” which was to determine the current state of civic participation in Ridgewood in voting and other areas, and how that could be improved. The participants made their presentations today, and their efforts are very commendable. The program is funded by the Ridgewood Education Foundation, and the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. It is currently an extracurricular program at Ridgewood High School, and it will also be an extracurricular program next year. It is hoped that in the third year, it will be made part of the curriculum. Mayor Aronsohn added that one of the major conclusions given during the presentations was that people do not appreciate the importance of local government.

9. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Aronsohn stated that they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward. There were no comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.

11. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION

The following resolution, numbered 14-135, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Village Clerk, as follows:

 10. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come to before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilwoman Walsh, seconded by Councilwoman Hauck, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:33 P.M.

                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                PAUL S. ARONSOHN, Mayor

                                                                                   

HEATHER A. MAILANDER, Village Clerk

A REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 AT 7:30 P.M.

 

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

Mayor Aronsohn 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 Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and asked for a moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those serving as first responders.

2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.

Justin Watrel, is an employee of the Bergen County Division of Disability Services, and coordinates the post-stroke support group in Ridgewood on Tuesdays. Mr. Watrel announced that next Tuesday, the group is sponsoring an historical portrayal of Dolley Madison, in coordination with Bergen County and the Ridgewood Post-Stroke and Disabled Adults Support Group. An actress from the American Historical Theater will be portraying Ms. Madison on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, from 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. The performance will cover Ms. Madison’s life through the burning of the White House. Mr. Watrel said it is more interesting in light of the fact that last week he found out that this year marks the 200^th anniversary of the burning of the White House. The actress will also take questions from those in attendance about Dolley Madison’s life. Mr. Watrel noted that the performance is open to the public, not just to residents of Ridgewood or people with disabilities. There will be a reception after the performance that will also be open to everyone. Flyers about the event are available in Village Hall, and notices have also been placed in the newspapers.

In addition, Mr. Watrel stated that the post-stroke support group is opening its program for the fall. On September 16^th, personnel from the Bergen County Division of Emergency Services will come to discuss emergency programs for seniors; on September 23^rd, a display will be provided by the Bergen County Zoo; on September 30^th, a program by 262 Health, a health organization for senior citizens, will be held; and on October 7^th, there will be another demonstration provided by the Bergen County Zoo. Mr. Watrel pointed out that it is not necessary to be disabled to be involved with his group. There are many free programs for senior citizens available throughout Bergen County, and he urged Ridgewood citizens to take advantage of them.

Finally, Mr. Watrel thanked Mayor Aronsohn and the Councilmembers for their support, as well as the support received from the Police and Fire Departments. Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Watrel for his comments, as well as for inviting everyone to the Dolley Madison program.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, commented that Graydon Pool had a great summer, and it is a wonderful resource in Ridgewood. Mr. Loving especially likes the fact that the pool has a sand bottom, and is not made of concrete. He also noted that the water quality was excellent throughout the summer, and the ramp also looks great. Mr. Loving thanked Mayor Aronsohn and the Councilmembers for funding all of the various improvements and maintenance tasks that have been required at Graydon Pool to keep it operating.

Mr. Loving noted that he found several areas that could be improved. First, he noted that drivers do not seem to slow down at all on Linwood Avenue. Some drivers do not even stop at the crosswalk for pedestrians. Mr. Loving suggested that perhaps rumble strips could be installed in that area along Linwood Avenue to slow traffic down. Another safety concern on Linwood Avenue is that many drivers stop to discharge passengers by the crosswalk, which Mr. Loving considers very dangerous. There are plenty of “No Parking” signs in that area, and Mr. Loving asked if the Councilmembers would consider allowing “No Stopping” signs to be put up in that area as well.

Ms. Sonenfeld responded that as far as the 2014 financial report on Graydon Pool for the month of August is concerned, that review is not yet available, but it was ahead of budget at the end of July. She also noted that part of Linwood Avenue is County property, which Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, confirmed.

Reverend Jan Phillips, 234 Union Street, said that when she founded the Ridgewood Ministerial Association, it was her intent to unite various houses of worship in a way that was supportive of each other’s mission and respectful of each other’s journey, and to provide a resource for each other’s mission. As Chairperson of the Community Relations Advisory Board, Reverend Phillips noted that they spent a lot of time at their last meeting discussing diversity, the acceptance of differences, and the civility that underscores respect. The Councilmembers’ consideration of a non-secular, privately-funded holiday display ordinance goes far beyond embracing tolerance, and embraces respect for diversity. On behalf of the Ministerial Association, Reverend Phillips thanked the Councilmembers for their initiative in these efforts.

Amy Bourque, 133 Sheridan Terrace, stated that she thinks it is the right time for the Councilmembers to move forward with a plan of action regarding the parking situation in Ridgewood. Councilman Pucciarelli thanked Ms. Bourque for her support on the parking issue in the previously-held forums, and said he would have more to say about it during his Council Report later in the agenda. Ms. Bourque pointed out that the town of Millburn recently put up a parking garage, and they were able to act rather quickly in getting it erected. Ms. Sonenfeld interjected that they actually started discussing it in 2008 or 2009, and they were finally able to get funding for it more recently. The project cost approximately $7 million, and created approximately 340 parking spots available in Milburn. She added that she and several other Village employees would be visiting Montclair, in which an externally managed parking facility was built in 2010. Ms. Bourque commented that Millburn was able to fund its garage through its Parking Utility, which made it more popular with the taxpayers, who did not have to bear the burden of paying for the garage. She suggested that perhaps that possibility could be explored in Ridgewood. Mayor Aronsohn responded that Ms. Bourque made an excellent point, and that many different options had been considered over the past several years. Most recently, Ms. Sonenfeld has been exploring the possibility of whether Ridgewood could finance and build the parking garage on its own.

Ms. Sonenfeld said she is not sure at this time whether Ridgewood could finance and build its own garage, and she wanted to get more information from Millburn and Montclair before making a final determination. She reminded everyone that the possibility of building a garage by The Gap parking lot was considered, but it was decided that there would not be enough revenue generated to support a garage at that location. Currently, consideration is being given to the Redevelopment Zone and the RFP being drafted for that area, which includes a requirement to provide at least 100 incremental parking spaces. Mayor Aronsohn is also continuing his discussions with the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA), as well as other alternatives that are now being considered, such as valet parking and employee parking in the CBD, which will take many cars off of the streets. There are interim, as well as long-term, solutions being evaluated. Ms. Bourque pointed out that this is an era of convenience, where people often shop at home, or prefer to park where it is convenient for shopping. She stated that this is a great opportunity to try to get something done.

Councilwoman Knudsen asked if the Parking Utility is something that could be kept separate in terms of revenue in order to see if it would be a viable source of funding for a parking garage. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that it is run as a separate business, and she and Stephen Sanzari, Chief Financial Officer, reviewed the revenue and expense reports of the Parking Utility every month. Councilwoman Knudsen clarified that its revenue stays within the Parking Utility, and Ms. Sonenfeld answered that it does, but there are some qualifications to that. For example, the Village covered the shortfall caused by the quarter theft. However, now that the Parking Utility’s revenues have exceeded those of last year by approximately $350,000, that issue no longer exists. Ms. Sonenfeld added that the Village currently borrows at an extremely low interest rate (less than 1%), and Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that the Village does not have to worry about land acquisition costs in order to build a parking garage, as other communities have faced. Councilwoman Hauck commented that she believes the town of Millburn also applied for grants to fund its parking garage. Councilman Sedon noted that he had been saying for many years that if the Parking Utility has surplus, that money should be placed in some type of trust fund or saved toward building one or two parking garages by borrowing against the trust fund. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if it might be feasible to put together a small committee who could visit towns like Millburn and Montclair to look at what they have done concerning their parking garages, which would eliminate some of the legwork for Ms. Sonenfeld. Councilwoman Knudsen suggested that perhaps Ms. Bourque could be a member of that committee. Ms. Sonenfeld said she believes that would be viable, and she noted that parking facilities are not simply erected without a lot of preparation, including consultants, designers, and other studies that would have to be done.

Mayor Aronsohn added that recent information revealed that Ridgewood has the busiest train station in the New Jersey Transit (NJT) system, with more than 1,500 riders per day at that station, and it also includes approximately 840 monthly passes. That makes the need for parking in Ridgewood more compelling.

Paul Vagianos, 280 Rivera Court, is the owner of the “It’s Greek to Me” restaurant in the CBD, and the Chairman of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce. He welcomed Councilwoman Knudsen and Councilman Sedon to the Village Council, and he thanked Councilman Pucciarelli for his incredibly constructive forums on the CBD. As a restaurant owner for more than 20 years, Mr. Vagianos said he has seen this problem for a long time. However, as recently as seven or eight years ago, people in Ridgewood did not support creating more space for parking in Ridgewood. That opinion seems to have shifted, as was evidenced at the forums hosted by Councilman Pucciarelli. The Village seems to be united in its support of solutions to the parking problem in Ridgewood. Mr. Vagianos said he does not know that a solution will be found this time, because it has never been found in the past. Nevertheless, Mayor Aronsohn has given his assurance that something will be done, and Mr. Vagianos says he believes Mayor Aronsohn and the Councilmembers. He promised his support, as well as that of the Chamber of Commerce, every step of the way. Mr. Vagianos noted that it is likely that Ridgewood residents will be required to pay something for parking, but he believes everyone is ready to do that. Councilman Pucciarelli commented that the second forum was especially well-attended, and the theme of the evening seemed to be parking. Mr. Vagianos recalled that Mayor Aronsohn told him that the Village will not wait until the BCIA takes action, but that the Councilmembers are looking at other options to build a parking garage in Ridgewood. Mr. Vagianos noted that one parking deck will not take care of the whole problem, but the other options being explored, including off-site parking for employees and valet parking, will certainly help.

Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, said she heard Mayor Aronsohn say that Ridgewood has the busiest train station on the Bergen line, and she wondered if anyone had contacted NJT to ask if they would be willing to build a parking garage for commuters at the station. Mayor Aronsohn responded that he has had multiple conversations with representatives from NJT, as well as the Bergen County Freeholders and the head of the BCIA. At this time, NJT says they have no money, but they attended the meeting because they hope to be able to help Ridgewood move forward with this plan. NJT would benefit from such a parking plan, because it is the busiest train station on the line, and they have invested a lot into the station.

There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.

3. DISCUSSION

a. Policy:

1.) Holiday Display Ordinance

Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that a resolution was passed in 2013 in which the Councilmembers agreed to adopt an ordinance permitting the continued placement of non-secular holiday displays in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. This is the ordinance that resulted from that resolution.

Mayor Aronsohn noted that several years ago, the Councilmembers were approached by several Village residents about the possibility of displaying a menorah, which had not been done on public property in the Village, although it has been done in other municipalities. The Councilmembers spent a lot of time researching the issue, including the constitutionality of it, working very closely with the interfaith group in Ridgewood to solicit their advice in the process. The resulting resolution, adopted in 2013, allowed anyone to place a holiday display in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, within certain parameters. A resolution was adopted due to the fact that Hanukkah was approaching, but the idea was that an ordinance would be adopted in 2014. The current ordinance is similar to the resolution that was passed last year. Because this is new territory, the Councilmembers recognize that it might be necessary to amend it at some point. In addition, while other towns put out their own displays it holiday times, Ridgewood is allowing outside groups and people who live in the community to express themselves with such displays in the park. Therefore, it is not an expression of the views of the Village of Ridgewood, but an expression of its community.

Mr. Rogers explained that the approach last year was that this would be a learning experience, and it should be considered a work in progress.

Councilwoman Knudsen had a question about item 9, which states that “…preference shall be given to applicants who reside or are located in the Village of Ridgewood at the timing of submittal…” She asked if there is any reason that the display would not be restricted to Ridgewood residents or organizations. Mr. Rogers answered that there are a number of constitutional issues regarding holiday displays, and it is a discretionary type of situation. He does not believe that defining a congregation, community, or house of worship in geographic terms falls within the confines of that discretion, and that is why that provision is included. The door is left open to groups or individuals from outside Ridgewood, but it makes clear that preference is given to those that are in Ridgewood.

Councilman Pucciarelli commended Mr. Rogers for capturing the essence of the discussions from 2013, and enhancing the intent in some ways. He also wanted to make it clear that the ordinance promotes non-secular displays, but it does not use the word “religious” displays. It is hoped that this will invite other beliefs and other non-secular expression, and people will be open to those other beliefs and learn from them. Councilman Pucciarelli said his only comment is about item 2. It was agreed last year that each display would essentially be a 12-foot cube, to limit the entire available space to the number of 12-foot cubes that can be accommodated in the area allotted. Therefore, if a display fits within a six-foot cube, it should still be given the 12-foot space. There should be a limit on the number of 12-foot cubes that can be accommodated to limit the number of displays that can be erected every year. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that those issues could be dealt with in the administration of the ordinance.

Councilman Sedon also had a question about item 9, wondering if the provision allows for only one display to be considered. He asked if multiple applications are received, if only one would be considered, with preference given to residents or organizations located in Ridgewood. However, if multiple Ridgewood residents or organizations wanted to occupy the same space, he wondered if preference would be given to the earliest application received. Mr. Rogers responded that, from a constitutional standpoint, the Village has time/place/manner authority, as any government entity does. It is not desirable to have, for example, eight crèches and five menorahs on display; the idea is for different beliefs to be represented, and to promote diversity.

2.) Valet Parking Loading Zone Ordinance

 Ms. Sonenfeld recalled that as the issue of valet parking was being discussed, the Councilmembers stated that certain things will be revisited as the discussion moved forward. The current discussion is about a minor change, not to the ordinance itself, but to Chapter 265 of The Code of the Village of Ridgewood, which defines valet loading and unloading zones. The proposed change is to the starting time for using the loading zones for valet parking, which is currently at 6:00 P.M., and will change to 5:00 P.M.

4. MOTION TO SUSPEND WORK SESSION AND CONVENE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING

At 8:09 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Hauck, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.

5. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION

At 8:11 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Hauck, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council reconvened its Work Session. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

 6. DISCUSSION

a. Budget:

1.) Award Contract – Sodium Bisulfite Solution and Sodium Hypochlorite Solution

 Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is a recommendation to award a contract for solutions used in the treatment of Village wastewater. There were three plan holders, and two bids were received. The low bidder agreed to extend its pricing for an additional year, and their service to the Village has been satisfactory. Therefore, it is recommended that the bid be awarded to Miracle Chemical Company. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

2.) Award Contract – Purchase of Three Vehicles – Water & Streets Departments

 Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this award, as well as the next few items on the agenda, are for vehicles that were agreed upon in earlier capital budgets, and in every case, it is for replacement of older vehicles. The old vehicles are, whenever possible, being replaced with multi-purpose vehicles.

The first item is to purchase three diesel engine Ford F-250 pickup trucks. One is for the Streets Department, and the other two are for Ridgewood Water.

Councilman Pucciarelli asked if maintenance is included, and Ms. Sonenfeld explained that it is not. However, the Village has made an inquiry with Ford about maintenance.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

3.) Award Contract – Multi-Purpose Truck – Signal Department

Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this award is under the State contract for a Ford F-350 truck with a dump body, and it is for the Traffic and Signal Division. The truck will also be equipped for snowplowing. The Village Council agreed to place this resolution on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

4.) Award Contract – Multi-Purpose Truck – Engineering Department

 Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is for a Ford F-250 pickup truck with a utility body, another multi-purpose vehicle. It will be used by the Engineering Department, as well as for snowplowing operations. The Village Council agreed, and this resolution will be put on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

5.) Award Contract – Two Dump Trucks – Public Works

 This resolution will be put on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

6.) Award Contract – Two Interceptor Explorers – Police

 Ms. Sonenfeld explained that these two SUVs will replace current vehicles which have aged out of use. The Village Council agreed to place this resolution on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

7.) Award Contract – Disposal of Grass Clippings

Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is a change order. She reminded everyone that a significant amount of money was allotted in the budget to handle grass clippings, due to the number of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regulations regarding grass clippings. Apparently, 2014 was an exceptional year for growing grass. It is expected that there will be an additional 2,000 cubic yards of grass clippings to be disposed of this year. Therefore, it will require an extra $30,000 to remove the clippings. Ms. Sonenfeld assured everyone that this overage will be covered from another line item during budget transfers.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

8.) Award Contract – Laboratory Analysis Services

 Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this award is for laboratory analysis services for the Water Pollution Control Facility and Graydon Pool. This is required by NJDEP, as well as by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Three plan holders responded, and two bids were received. The bid that is being recommended is an extension of the bid from last year, and the price is being held at the same level. These funds are currently in the operating budget.

The Village Council was in agreement to put this resolution on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

9.)  Award Contract – Water Meter Test Bench

 Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this recommendation is to award a bid for a water meter test bench, which is used to test meters. Three bid proposals were picked up, and one bid was received. That bidder is being recommended. The funds are available in the Water Utility capital budget.

Councilwoman Hauck asked if it would be possible to build the bench, rather than spending nearly $71,000 to purchase one. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that it is a piece of equipment that is needed to test the water meters, and is not like a bench for sitting. Councilwoman Hauck responded that she has seen the room where it is housed, and she cannot believe the prices are so high. Frank Moritz, Director of Ridgewood Water, explained that the Board of Public Utilities requires that every water meter that is taken out must be tested, so that thousands of meters are tested in the Village. He estimated that within the next nine months, approximately 6,000 meters will be tested under the new water meter installation program. In addition, he estimated that the bench that is currently being used is over 80 years old. Councilwoman Hauck asked how much money the Village receives for each repurposed water meter that is removed. Mr. Moritz responded that the amount is approximately $3 per meter. Councilwoman Hauck asked if there is any cost-benefit to purchasing the bench, or if there is anyone else who could test the meters, so that the Village would not have to invest in a new bench. Mr. Moritz explained that is not a question of cost benefits, but of doing what is required by law. It is expected that a new bench will last as long as the current one has lasted. He added that currently, the Village pays for outsourced testing of the large water meters, and the new bench will be able to test those meters, as well. In addition, every time a billing dispute occurs, the meter has to be brought to the facility and tested for accuracy.

Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that this is not a taxpayer issue, because the Ridgewood Water utility pays for itself. Therefore, it has no impact on Ridgewood taxes. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that the Village Council also functions as the Board of Directors for Ridgewood Water, which services most Ridgewood residents, as well as residents of three other communities.

That Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

10.)  Rejection of Bid – Co-Location of Wireless Communication Networks

11.)  Award Contract – Co-Location of Wireless Communication Networks

 Ms. Sonenfeld noted that several months ago, a bid was accepted for wireless communication networks on the Glen Avenue water tank. The Village was challenged on its bidding process, with the result that the current bid is now being rejected. The new bid will generate $220,000 in revenue for Ridgewood Water.

Councilwoman Hauck asked what the purpose of the wireless communications support facilities are, and Mr. Moritz explained that they help to support financial networks.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

12.) Award Contract – Ridgewood Water Power Auxiliary Study

 Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this extends a contract that started in 2004. It adds money to the contract for an external engineering study to evaluate the backup power generation across the water utility. These funds are available in the Ridgewood Water budget.

Councilwoman Knudsen asked if Ridgewood Water has some type of system inventory, and Mr. Moritz responded that there is an inventory of everything owned by Ridgewood Water. However, with respect to auxiliary power, Mr. Moritz explained that it is known that during recent storm events, Ridgewood Water has had to rely on emergency services personnel, Bergen County, and other outside entities to supply what was needed. If those outside sources are not available, it creates a risk of not being able to supply water during major power outages. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if there was any particular reason why the Village did not supply the requested information to Hatch, Mott, MacDonald, the contractors for this project. Mr. Moritz answered that the project had been put on hold by the Engineering Department because some additions were still being made to the system, and it was felt that the project should wait until those were completed. The additions that were made took a long time to complete, and the project lay dormant for a while. In 2013, it was realized that the project needed to get back on schedule, and when the EPA did their sanitary survey, one of the things they noted in their findings was that there was not enough standby power to run the system during a major power outage.

Councilman Sedon asked if there was any reason why, after Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy, the work was not continued. Mr. Moritz explained that it just seemed to be a slow process in getting it back on schedule.

Councilwoman Hauck asked if any consideration had been given to how much it would cost to have the necessary power available, and whether the Village could afford it. Mr. Moritz responded that over the past several years, money has been put aside in the Ridgewood Water budget for the study, as well as to address the standby power needs. Currently, there is approximately $400,000 available in the Ridgewood Water capital budget for this. Councilwoman Hauck asked how the generators will be primed, since the NJDEP has asked about that specifically. She asked if they will be tested on a regular basis to ensure that they will work when they are needed. Mr. Moritz explained that ideally, the generators will exercise themselves at different intervals, and it is his responsibility to keep them serviced and tested. In the future, there will be service contracts so that personnel can come in and test them to make sure they are working.

The Village Council agreed to put this resolution onto the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

13.)  Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services – Pipe for Failing Storm Sewers

Ms. Sonenfeld noted that in August, a contractor from PSE&G came to install replacements gas mains, and in the course of that work, discovered that the pipe material was crumbling. Mr. Rutishauser negotiated a deal with the contractor whereby the Village would purchase the pipes, and they would be installed by the Engineering Department. The work had to be done right away, and the cost of the pipes was approximately $1,300.

Mr. Rutishauser explained that the pipes that were crumbling were made of aluminum corrugated metal pipe (CMP). It is a fairly common pipe that the Village installed for drainage projects approximately 35-45 years ago, but it has now deteriorated. Mr. Rutishauser commented that these pipes are all over the Village. At one time, there was a stockpile of the pipe, but it has been recycled. The pipe will be purchased from The Progressive Brick Company on an as-needed basis. Mayor Aronsohn asked if there is any reason for concern due to the fact that the pipe is found throughout the Village. Mr. Rutishauser said there is a reason for concern because it is part of the storm water collection system, and it does periodically have failures. If it was decided to replace all of the pipe at once, it would require a multi-million dollar capital outlay.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

b. Operations:

1.) Secondary Market Disclosure

Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this request authorizes Mr. Sanzari to engage external services to do a disclosure audit to ensure that the Village is in compliance with the covenants of the bonds that have been issued, as well as to join the “Municipal Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Initiative”.

The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

c. Policy:

1.)  Direct Deposit

Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this requires all employees to switch to direct deposit of their paychecks. This came as a result of recent legislation which states that if municipalities do not adopt this policy, any new employee that is hired must be paid by check because direct deposit will not be allowed. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that direct deposit is a good thing. Currently, there are 85 Village employees who do not participate in direct deposit. This gives the Village the ability to eventually go paperless, but that will also require updated software. The only employees exempt from direct deposit are temporary and seasonal employees.

This resolution will be put on the agenda for the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

2.)  Amendment to Residency Ordinance

Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is a clarification to the language currently in the residency ordinance, which states that resident preference does not apply to promotions within the Police and Fire Departments.

The Village Council agreed to put this ordinance on the agenda for introduction at the September 10, 2014 Public Meeting.

7. REVIEW OF SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 AGENDA

Ms. Mailander announced that the Public Meeting would include the following Proclamations: Constitution Week; Fire Prevention Week; Declare October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; and Declare September 28, 2014, Gold Star Mother’s Day.

Ordinances to be introduced include: Amend Ordinance 3429 – Residency Requirements.

There are no Public Hearings scheduled.

Resolutions include: Title 59 Approval and Award of Contract – Furnishing and Delivering Sodium Bisulfite and Sodium Hypochlorite Solution; Award Contract under State Contract – Purchase of Three Ford F-250 Pickup Trucks – Water and Street Departments; Award Contract under State Contract – Multi-Purpose Truck – Signal Department; Award Contract under State Contract – Multi-Purpose Truck – Engineering Department; Title 59 Approval and Award of Contract – Two Multi-Purpose Trucks – Street Department; Award Contract Under State Contract – Two Interceptor Explorers – Police Department; Approve Change Order – Disposal of Grass Clippings; Title 59 Approval and Award of Contract – Laboratory Analysis Services; Title 59 Approval and Award of Contract – Water Meter Test Bench; Reject Bids – Co-Location of Wireless Communication Networks; Title 59 Approval and Award of Contract – Co-Location of Wireless Communication Networks; Approve Change Order – Ridgewood Water Power Auxiliary Study; Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Contract – Pipe for Failing Storm Sewers; Authorize Disclosure Audit and Participation in the SEC’s Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Initiative; Authorize Mandatory Direct Deposit of Paychecks for Village Employees.

8. MANAGER’S REPORT

Ms. Sonenfeld started with a report on the construction at Garber Square. Work there has been restarted, but it is progressing very slowly. It was hoped that it would be much further along by the time school started, as traffic will be increasing in that area. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the Village’s options are limited. The first is to wait and allow the work to proceed as it is now, because the contractor has contractually committed to being finished by October 20, 2014. The second option is to get a bonding company involved, which could potentially involve a change of contractor. Mayor Aronsohn stated that he believes the Village needs to explore its options, because the work has been on-going for far too long. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that total estimate for the work there is approximately $535,000, but the contractor has only been paid approximately $72,000 to date, some of which was for materials, not labor.

Ms. Sonenfeld recalled that several months ago, there was a lot of discussion about the work being done at Garber Square, and it was said at the time that cameras would be installed at both ends of the square for the purposes of traffic analysis. She shared some preliminary results of that traffic analysis. The cameras were operating from May 30, 2014, through July 2014, although the data she provided was not from July. Police Chief John Ward stated that he logged in each day to check the cameras from May 30-June 23, 2014, and he did not see any signs of traffic delays or congestion as a result of the new lane configurations during that time. Periodic monitoring was also conducted at other times. In addition, the number of cars backed up waiting for red lights was reviewed, as well as the number of cars that were able to pass through when the light turned green. All of the data available suggests that the traffic was moving well through that area. The cameras will be re-installed shortly, so that monitoring of Garber Square can continue.

Next, Ms. Sonenfeld turned to the issue of valet parking. She said that procedures have now been established, and the first formal request for a valet parking permit has been received from Roots restaurant. A valet parking loading and unloading sign has been erected there, although it shows the incorrect time of 6:00 P.M.-3:00 A.M., which will be changed to 5:00 P.M.-3:00 A.M. As noted earlier, there will be tweaks to the procedure as necessary.

Ms. Sonenfeld reported that the Maple Park turf field cleanup began today. It is scheduled to be finished by early next week.

The North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone RFP was issued on August 27, 2014. Opening of bids is scheduled for December 1, 2014. A pre-submission conference is scheduled for anyone who wishes to ask questions about the proposal on October 8, 2014, at 10:00 A.M. As of today, five bids have been picked up, although one of them was picked up by the Ridgewood News.

There was a FOG spill at the Water Pollution Control Facility on August 26, 2014, where approximately 200 gallons of fats, oils, and grease were released and quickly cleaned up.

Hiring for the Building Department Director is now in its final stages. In addition, Ms. Sonenfeld announced that Jane Wondergem, who was the Secretary to the Planning Board and has a lot of experience, including certification on land-use boards, will be working as administrative support for the Zoning Board of Adjustment, starting next Monday.

In her Response to Residents section, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that she had one of her “Meet the Manager” Sessions on August 26, 2014. One of the issues discussed was King’s Pond Park. Some of the residents along Lakeview Drive came with pictures and other data to support their requests to restore the shoreline to the way it was some years ago, including adding a trail and fixing the dam. Ms. Sonenfeld asked Councilwoman Hauck and Councilman Sedon, in their capacities as liaisons to the Green Team and the Parks, Recreation, and Conservancy Board, to discuss those issues with the residents.

As another Response to Residents, Ms. Sonenfeld recalled that sometime ago, a Ridgewood resident came to a meeting with pictures of sidewalk cafés in Ridgewood, citing encroachment issues with all of the sidewalk cafés along the sidewalks. After much discussion with Mr. Rutishauser, he and Ms. Sonenfeld will take a walk with members of the Ridgewood Guild and Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce through the affected areas to find better ways of handling the layout of the cafés in the area.

The final Response to Residents item was for the resident who complained that the Jewish holidays were not correct on the Village calendar. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the first day for Rosh Hashanah was shown on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, because it actually begins at sunset of the previous day.

Ms. Sonenfeld next addressed the issue of Grove Street. She mentioned that there has been major dredging of the Saddle River, which is a County project. Mr. Rutishauser has some concerns about this, and has been discussing it with the County on behalf of Ridgewood. He is particularly concerned about how the dredged materials are removed, whether the permits are correct, and other concerns of that nature.

Ms. Sonenfeld attended a meeting of the Landscape Committee, at which representatives from all of the volunteer groups were present. A lot of ideas and information were exchanged.

Regarding the rodent situation, a total of 37 complaints of been received, with 50 properties being inspected. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that the Village is still advising on factors contributing to the presence of rodents, and dealing with surrounding properties. She plans to follow up to determine if residents are complying, and if they are not, abatement notices will be sent out. In talking with representatives from other municipalities, Ms. Sonenfeld has discovered this problem is not unique to Ridgewood.

The water meter installations are now beginning, and clients are being contacted to schedule those installations later this month.

Ms. Sonenfeld received an update from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office about the emails sent to Councilman Sedon’s former employer. The case has been transferred to the New Jersey State Board of Elections. Ms. Sonenfeld is attempting to get the name of someone at the State Board of Elections for follow-up.

Finally, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that she had a “leaf forum” today. Approximately 25 Village employees attended, representing different stages in the leaf process. The entire process has now been mapped out, and a more formal presentation will be made to the Councilmembers in several weeks. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that the rakers and blockers will be used this fall. Approximately 80% of the complaints received are due to the fact that leaves are left along the roads and sidewalks, which will be resolved by using the rakers and blockers. A bid has been put out to outsource leaf removal in area B in Ridgewood, which is the area with the most leaves. Further discussion on that bid will be held when responses are received. Ms. Sonenfeld believes that outsourcing area B will allow Village personnel to spend more time in areas A, C, and D, and to do a more efficient job in those areas. Mayor Aronsohn commended Ms. Sonenfeld on her refreshing approach to this issue, and looking at different ways of taking care of it. He noted that leaf removal is a key issue in Ridgewood, and getting it right is very important to residents and Village personnel.

Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that tomorrow is the first day of school in Ridgewood. The Chamber of Commerce car show is scheduled for September 5^th. On Saturday, September 6^th, the “Coffee with the Council” event will be held from 10:00 A.M.-12:00 noon. In addition, the “Meet the Mayor” event will be that same day from 8:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M. The Bergen County Household Hazardous Waste Disposal event will also be held on Saturday, September 6^th, at Campgaw.

9. COUNCIL REPORTS

Planning Board – Councilwoman Knudsen said that the Planning Board has held two meetings in the past month, one dealing with historic preservation, and the other with the Ordinance 3066 subcommittee.

During the August 19^th Planning Board meeting, questioning resumed with the traffic consultant, John Jar. Board members who were absent at the original meeting had an opportunity to ask their questions. In addition, Ralph Curry, a volunteer from the Open Space Committee, was questioned by attorneys who did not have the opportunity to do so during his first round of testimony. Mrs. Currie wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper taking exception to the way her husband was treated during the questioning, which Councilwoman Knudsen said was very unfortunate, and she expressed her appreciation for Mr. Curry and the members of the Open Space Committee, who are dedicated volunteers and prudent and thoughtful stewards of the open space in Ridgewood. Their hard work and tremendous efforts are appreciated.

There was also a presentation for the Lester Stable during the Planning Board meeting. The Stable is to be renovated and given added space, which is a gift from the Bolger Foundation. The Planning Board had the opportunity to review the architecture, which Councilwoman Knudsen said was magnificent. However, some members expressed concern because they had just wrapped up part of the questioning for an application pending before the Planning Board, which included part of a property that Mr. Bolger co-owns or has an interest in. Some of the Planning Board members expressed concern as to whether there was a conflict. Councilwoman Knudsen said it was her observation that the Planning Board was not necessarily approving the application, but was simply offering suggestions or thoughts relative to the appropriateness of the aesthetics and the architecture. Councilwoman Knudsen said she promised to examine a copy of the gift ordinance, which she thinks would be helpful to allay any concerns.

The agenda for last night’s Planning Board meeting included a resolution for the H-zone application, but it was postponed until September 16^th. However, the Planning Board had an opportunity to review municipal land-use law, as well as policies and procedures, which was a benefit to the newer members of the Planning Board, as well as to the more seasoned members.

Historic Preservation Committee – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that the Historic Preservation Committee continues with their dedication to ensuring the integrity of the CBD.

Ordinance 3066 Subcommittee – Councilwoman Knudsen said the members of the subcommittee only had one opportunity to meet so far due to summer vacations. However, they have had an opportunity to thoroughly review the ordinance, and the discussion was very spirited, which has resulted in two new drafts of the ordinance. Another meeting is scheduled for this month

Mr. Rogers commented with respect to the gift ordinance and the Bolger Foundation. The gift was accepted approximately a year ago, by the previous Village Council. Councilwoman Knudsen emphasized that she wanted to review the gift ordinance because the issue was raised, and there was an expression of concern by two members of the Planning Board. However, she also pointed out that no one at the Planning Board was approving or acting affirmatively on that matter, they were only reviewing the proposal for aesthetic appropriateness.

Central Business District Open Forum – Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the issue of parking garages was the theme of the August 20^th Central Business District Open Forum, which was the second such forum held. Councilman Pucciarelli thanked Councilwoman Hauck for procuring the invitation from the residents of the senior housing at Ridgecrest, which was filled with people attending the forum. The next forum is scheduled for Monday, September 22^nd, at 7:30 P.M., and the theme will be to hear from local business owners. It will be held at Roots restaurant, and the panel will consist of business owners who will engage in a discussion about what it is like doing business in the CBD, including opportunities, obstacles, and other such matters. There will also be an open microphone for the public to ask any questions or engage in dialogue.

Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the Ridgewood Arts Council met last week, and has formed the Ridgewood Arts Foundation, a not-for-profit entity with three trustees. The Ridgewood Arts Foundation will work alongside the Ridgewood Arts Council, but the Foundation can engage in fundraising. They will try to raise funds for artistic endeavors in Ridgewood. Councilman Pucciarelli will invite members of the Ridgewood Arts Council to a future Village Council meeting to let them speak about their plans, as well as their accomplishments.

Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the dedication of the podium to the memory of Roger Wiegand is set for 5:30 P.M. on Friday, September 5^th, in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr., Courtroom at Village Hall.

Community Center – Councilwoman Hauck thanked everyone who helped paint the Community Center on August 22^nd, 23^rd, and 24^th. It was truly a community effort in the sense that not only did the Community Center get painted, but it was done by members of the community. Members of the Boy Scouts prepped the room on Friday, which took several hours. On Saturday and Sunday, approximately 6-8 people worked for 10 hours on both days to get the painting completed. People of all ages were working together. Councilwoman Hauck said she hopes to find more opportunities for such events.

Landscaping Committee – Councilman Sedon stated that the Landscaping Committee looked at all of the volunteer groups who take care of the various gardens and other public areas in Ridgewood, and they now know who is responsible for maintaining the different sections. Private landscapers take care of the more visible gardens near Graydon Pool and the clock in the CBD. The only unresolved issues from that meeting include deciding who will take care of the tree wells in the CBD, and forming a subcommittee to come up with some ideas for Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. One of the ideas mentioned regarding the tree wells is the possibility of hiring a part-time worker through Project Pride or a private landscaper or seasonal workers. Those issues will be discussed at the next meeting, to be held on Monday, September 15^th, at 10:00 A.M. They also plan to discuss some possibilities for fall and winter, as well as any special projects they might want to attempt for Halloween or Thanksgiving.

Councilman Sedon thanked Monica Buesser of the Shade Tree Commission for taking the initiative in getting the tree well cleaning started in the CBD, as well as the volunteers who came throughout the summer to help with those efforts. A plan is being developed to maintain the tree wells going forward.

Planning Board – Mayor Aronsohn stated that the Planning Board meeting referred to by Councilwoman Knudsen was one of the most engaging, useful meetings he has attended, although they only completed about half of the things on their agenda.

Mayor Aronsohn commended Councilwoman Hauck on the appearance of the Community Center, saying that it looks great. He also commended Councilman Pucciarelli on the forums regarding the CBD, because he believes they are very useful and important as a way to get feedback on the multitude of issues.

Access Committee – Mayor Aronsohn stated that the Access Committee’s annual Disability Awareness Program will be held October 17^th-19^th. He will give more information about this at the next Village Council meeting.

10. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Mayor Aronsohn stated they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward.

Lou Lembo, 721 Albert Place, said that the Grove Street cleanup was long overdue, and whatever happens can only make it better.

Mr. Lembo asked if residents were charged for the driveway aprons when the roads were paved. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that she did not believe they were, because the Village does not charge for driveway aprons or curbs.

Mr. Lembo pointed out that the Village owns a rather large plot of land at the end of his street, and he wondered if the curbs and sidewalks in that area are being rebuilt. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that she and Mr. Rutishauser were planning to visit that area very soon, and they will evaluate what needs to be done at that time.

Regarding assessments, Mr. Lembo noted that he lived in a different house in Ridgewood some years ago, and there was an assessment made and the sidewalks were being replaced by the Village. The assessment was put on his tax bill for the next 10 years. Mr. Lembo commented that having sidewalks done is quite an expense, and he wondered if it is possible to have the sidewalk assessment program done again. Ms. Sonenfeld said she would have to look into it and get back to Mr. Lembo with that information.

Jim Griffith, 159 South Irving Street, commended Mayor Aronsohn for the article on the editorial page of the Bergen Record with respect to the positive effects of unions. Mr. Griffith said he is living proof of the positive things that unions do for workers.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked for clarification about the comments made about the Parking Utility operating as a separate entity. At face value, that would indicate that all of the revenue generated by the Parking Utility goes back into that utility, when Mr. Loving believes that the purpose of setting up a utility, as opposed to an authority, is that the funds can be used for any purpose whatsoever in the municipality. Mr. Sanzari clarified that revenues generated by the Parking Utility go to the Parking Utility, and they are used for that utility. Ms. Sonenfeld added that any excess revenues generated by the Parking Utility are put into a trust fund for the utility. Mr. Loving asked for clarification that none of the money raised by the Parking Utility is used for the Police or Fire Department, or for any other Village Department. Mr. Sanzari responded that it is used only for expenses that are indirectly related to the Parking Utility. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that there are allocations, but excess revenue goes into the trust fund.

Next, Mr. Loving noted that a comment was made that Water Utility expenses are not borne by Ridgewood taxpayers, but are borne by the ratepayers. Mr. Loving stated that Ridgewood taxpayers are also ratepayers, so they are, in effect, bearing those expenses. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that not every Ridgewood resident is a ratepayer, and there is a distinction to be made between ratepayers and taxpayers.

Mr. Loving commented that he is a bit concerned that there seems to be an impression that the only solution to parking in Ridgewood is a parking garage. Mr. Loving acknowledges that there is a parking problem, but he is not confident that the solution to the problem is a parking garage.

Mr. Loving missed the August Village Council meetings, and he noted that some comments were made about coin collection at those meetings. He asked if there was any update, because he was very disturbed to hear that Bergen County took a percentage of the first payment made. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that the scheduled payment from Mr. Rica is $2,000 per month, and it is paid through the Bergen County probationary system. The first check showed a deduction of $200, which is a one-time service charge. That service charge is not credited to Mr. Rica as far as his restitution payments are concerned, and he still must pay that $200 to the Village.

Mr. Loving noted that when he was out walking with his grandson, they passed three people who are currently collecting the coins. It still disturbs him that the coins are being collected in buckets. He referred to Ms. Sonenfeld’s report in which she mentioned that she went out with the coin collectors one day, and spoke of the problems associated with collecting the coins, including the weight of the coins, which could lead to back injuries. Mr. Loving noticed that one of the coin collectors he observed had a cart, while the other two collectors had buckets. He asked why all three of them do not have carts, so that none of them have to carry the coins. Mr. Loving did some research on the Internet and discovered that the carts cost approximately $1,500 each, and he thought it would be a small price to pay to avoid the possibility of larger payouts due to injuries sustained. Ms. Sonenfeld asked for input from Mr. Rutishauser, because when she went out on the collection rounds, the young man who was collecting the coins only used a cart if he knew he was collecting coins from a lot of meters. If he was only collecting from a couple of meters, he used a bucket or can to catch the coins. Moreover, according to Ms. Sonenfeld’s interpretation of the process as explained by the young man, that is what the other collectors do as well. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the overall issue is that something needs to be done about the parking meters, and it was originally thought that something would be done in conjunction with the parking study by the BCIA.

Leonard Eisen, 762 Upper Boulevard, seconded Mayor Aronsohn’s comments about the wonderful reporting done by the Village Manager.

Regarding Councilwoman Knudsen’s report on the Lester Stable, Mr. Eisen stated that Mr. Bolger is a wonderful person who has helped Ridgewood so many times, as well as other communities.

Councilman Pucciarelli also commended Ms. Sonenfeld on the RFP that was issued for the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, which is very comprehensive and superior to any he has seen in a long time. Ms. Sonenfeld thanked Mr. Rutishauser; Blais Brancheau, Village Planner; and Mr. Rogers for their efforts in preparing the RFP for the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone.

There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.

11. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION

The following resolution, numbered 14-217, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Village Clerk, as follows:

 

12. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Hauck, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:32 P.M.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    _____________________________

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Paul S. Aronsohn

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mayor

_________________________________

            Heather A. Mailander

                Village Clerk