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, FEBRUARY 5, 2014 AT 7:30 P.M.

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

Councilman Pucciarelli called the meeting to order at 7:32 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, and Walsh. Also present were Heather Mailander, Acting Village Manager/Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

Councilman Pucciarelli 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. Prior to the moment of silence, Councilman Pucciarelli asked Councilwoman Hauck to say a few words about a Village employee who passed away this past week. Last Saturday, José da Silva, a crossing guard in Ridgewood for the last 10 years, passed away. His service to the community was recognized, and all of the Councilmembers conveyed their condolences to his family, who are also members of the Ridgewood community. Mr. da Silva is survived by his wife, Elizabeth da Silva; his daughter, Janet Balboa, who is also a crossing guard in the Village; and his grandson, Anthony. Mr. da Silva worked at the corner of Pleasant Avenue and Spring Avenue. A moment of silence followed.

2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Councilman Pucciarelli asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.

Frank Delvecchio, 65 Walthery Avenue, stated that he was upset at the last Village Council meeting, due to the inaction of the Councilmembers. However, after giving the issue more thought and doing some research into the matter, Mr. Delvecchio said he found some interesting facts that should be acknowledged and answered by the Councilmembers, as well as by Police Chief John Ward and the Acting Village Manager.

Mr. Delvecchio found it interesting that in March 2013, the Village hired two candidates for the Police Department. One of those candidates is the same person who was given a promise of employment on January 17, 2014. The reason he did not complete the course at the Police Academy is irrelevant, but the fact remains that he was hired by the Village in March 2013, along with another candidate who recently completed the Police Academy. Both of those candidates are related to other officers in the Police Department. Furthermore, the candidate who was selected and hired in March 2013 was chosen from the Civil Service list, and Mr. Delvecchio questions why the issue of nepotism was not brought up at that time, due to the fact that this candidate is related to a police officer. Mr. Delvecchio also discovered that with the hirings in March 2013, the Village exceeded the number of patrol officers allowed under the existing ordinance, the same ordinance that was discussed at the previous Village Council meeting, but not amended. Mr. Delvecchio asked why this was not an issue in March 2013, but became an issue only recently, just before these two young men were due to start at the Police Academy. In addition, he asked why comments were made at the previous meeting challenging the integrity of Police Chief John Ward and the Acting Village Manager, implying that they somehow manipulated the Civil Service list that has now, according to several media sources, led to a possible investigation at the request of Chief Ward by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

Mr. Delvecchio understands the position stated by Chief Ward, and his desire to follow the Attorney General’s guidelines when an accusation is made. In some way, Chief Ward felt that he had no choice, and he wanted transparency to show that proper procedure was followed in the directions he was given by the Councilmembers and the Acting Village Manager. Mr. Delvecchio does not understand how Chief Ward could be culpable when he did not vote to pass, or even have a say in, the ill-advised ordinance in question, but only follows directions given to him by the Councilmembers. It seems to Mr. Delvecchio that the Councilmembers have more culpability than Chief Ward in this situation.

Mr. Delvecchio discovered that the two candidates in question did not start their courses at the Police Academy, but instead were given letters rescinding the offers of employment, and they may have to start the process again under a new Village Manager. One of the candidates had given notice to his employer and left his previous job in order to take the position with the Ridgewood Police Department, and is currently unemployed. Mr. Delvecchio considers that to be extremely unfair. He pointed out that the two young men in question have lived in Ridgewood all their lives; attended Ridgewood public schools; got high scores on the Civil Service test; underwent complete background checks, physicals, and psychological evaluations; had their heads shaved; and got fitted for uniforms and equipment necessary for the Police Academy, but they are now being denied the positions offered to them. As Mr. Delvecchio sees it, this is all due to the fact that the Councilmembers refused to amend an ordinance to right a wrong. The candidates are the victims in this process.

In closing, Mr. Delvecchio said he hoped the Councilmembers would make the right decision at this meeting, which would be to amend the ordinance to make it open-ended as far as the number of patrol officers is concerned, and extend the job offers to the two candidates who have completed all requirements expected of them. Mistakes are sometimes made, but Mr. Delvecchio said the right thing to do is to admit them and move on. No one expects perfection.

James Bombace, 686 Midwood Road, added some comments with respect to the proposal to hire officers for the Police Department. Mr. Bombace said he could speak with some authority, having gone through this process a number of times when he served as Chief of the Ridgewood Fire Department. Unfortunately, the victims in this scenario are the two candidates who were given a promise of employment, and Mr. Bombace believes the Village should follow through on that promise. Any mistakes made were not made by the two candidates. Mr. Bombace is very familiar with the ordinance regarding the Police Department, because while he was Fire Chief, he attempted to have the ordinance about the Fire Department mirror the Police Department ordinance. He feels that the two individuals are being punished for an error that occurred somewhere else, and it is important for the Councilmembers to take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that these candidates receive that employment, and correct the problem, whether retroactively or in the future. It is not necessary to place blame on anyone, but the problem needs to be addressed and corrected.

Tom Landers, 413 Meadowbrook Avenue, said after the previous Village Council meeting, residents could draw their own conclusions as to why two Police Department candidates were given offers of employment in violation of Ordinance 3142. However, this does not change the fact the two young men have been disappointed, and that public safety in the Village would be enhanced if they were hired. If the Councilmembers are inclined to amend the ordinance, Mr. Landers believes it should be amended for the benefit of the community. An example of such a benefit was laid out by Mr. Landers. For the past 15 years or more, the Police Department has staffed a position called School Resource Officer (SRO). The officer acts as a liaison between the Police Department and the Village public school system. The SRO’s mission is to enhance school security; facilitate the handling of juvenile complaints; enhance the working relationship between educators and law enforcement officials; and most importantly, interact with children in a positive, constructive way. With all the news regarding school violence, bullying, and drug use among our youth, there is a critical need to have more trained SROs in our schools. If the Councilmembers, the Police Chief, and the Superintendent of Schools are willing to discuss this idea and to commit additional staffing to the SRO program, Mr. Landers believes it would be a justified and well-received reason to amend Ordinance 3142 and welcome the immediate hiring of two police candidates. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that this item is on the agenda for this evening, and the suggestions made could be factored into the discussion at that time.

Bill Bartlett, Queens Court, said he was appalled when he read in the newspaper last week about decisions that were not made by the Councilmembers, which he believes are matters requiring common sense. It seems obvious to Mr. Bartlett that if seven officers are retiring within the next year, something must be done to plan ahead, instead of waiting until they actually retire to take action. Chief Ward planned to provide for that coverage, and Mr. Bartlett does not believe he should have been overruled in his planning. Mr. Bartlett believes the Village has an obligation to the two candidates to follow through on the commitment that was made to them. In addition, Mr. Bartlett thinks there is an obligation to Chief Ward to support him, as well as the Acting Village Manager. He believes the decisions made by Chief Ward and Ms. Mailander were properly made, although he states that there could have been some technicalities that were overlooked, but that could have been remedied by the Councilmembers by simply making any action taken retroactive. That is what Mr. Bartlett believes should be done now, although it is possible that damages have already been incurred by the two candidates in question.

Regarding nepotism, Mr. Bartlett believes it was foolish to raise that issue. One of the candidates is the son of a former Chief in the Village, which Mr. Bartlett thinks could be a huge benefit. The candidate was raised in Ridgewood, and his family has ties to the community, which makes them an ideal candidate based on his thorough knowledge of the Village, as well as many of the residents.

Mr. Bartlett reminded the Councilmembers that they were elected to do what is right and sensible for the Village as a whole. He asked them to stop bickering and move forward with this issue to get the two candidates hired while they are available, and move on to more important issues facing Ridgewood.

Christine Provenzano, 319 Willow Court, said this topic is personal to her, because her daughter has been a police officer in another municipality for more than five years. Her daughter went through this same process to become a police officer, so Ms. Provenzano is aware of how rigorous the process is. She noted that Ms. Mailander stated in the previous meeting that the daily savings in overtime, which has been an issue for Ridgewood, would be $1,000-$1,200. That is quite a bit of money, and Ms. Mailander extrapolated that savings to show what the savings would be for one year. That also reflects a savings based on hiring only two police officers, not four, as had been previously discussed. Chief Ward stated that he is currently using his detectives and sergeants, instead of patrolmen, for certain duties, which is part of the reason for the high overtime costs. Moreover, after watching the previous Village Council meeting, Ms. Provenzano found it extremely disturbing to watch Mayor Aronsohn and Councilman Pucciarelli make accusations of nepotism within the hiring process, when it was never brought up in previous situations. She agreed with Mr. Bartlett that the Councilmembers need to stop bickering. As Chief Ward explained to the Councilmembers, the Ridgewood Police Department uses the Civil Service exam for its hiring process, which requires someone to get a very high score in order to be on the eligibility list. After that, a series of interviews is conducted. Once an offer is made to someone on the list, a conditional employment letter is sent to the candidate, which the two candidates in question received from the Village. Only after the conditional employment offer is made can the candidates go through the necessary medical and psychological evaluations, which two candidates in question also passed. They were due to start at the Police Academy on January 30, 2014. One of the candidates gave his previous employer notice after receiving the conditional offer of employment from the Village. He now has no medical coverage, no employment, no income, and Ms. Provenzano believes the Village is now at risk of a labor lawsuit due to this situation. These candidates have no way of knowing if they will be on the next eligibility list. Furthermore, it will cost the Village approximately $1,500 per candidate to send each of them to the Essex County Police Academy, an addition to the costs associated with changing their uniforms and whatever other equipment change might be necessary. Those costs are borne by Ridgewood residents.

In closing, Ms. Provenzano noted that Councilwoman Hauck stated that this is an administrative and Village Council problem, not the candidates’ problem. She urged the Councilmembers to make it right.

Ron Verdicchio, 391 Colonial Road, said he was appalled after watching the tape of the previous Village Council meeting at the way in which public officials conducted themselves, questioning the Police Chief as if they were conducting a Congressional investigation in Ridgewood. Mr. Verdicchio supports Chief Ward, and believes Chief Ward did the right thing from a taxpayer’s and layman’s point of view by anticipating retirements. That is what a good Human Resources planner would do. Chief Ward assessed where people were on the Civil Service list; he made offers of employment within the framework of the procedure set out by the Village; and he did the right thing by doing all of that. Mr. Verdicchio does not believe that Chief Ward should have been questioned the way he was last week. Mr. Verdicchio also believes the Councilmembers should support Chief Ward.

Second, Mr. Verdicchio believes that a promise of employment is a promise. At the risk of sounding redundant, Mr. Verdicchio echoed what previous speakers said about when promises of employment are made, the Village must follow through with such promises.

Next, Mr. Verdicchio pointed out that the Councilmembers need a “human relations” check. This was the third or fourth time that Mr. Verdicchio came to the podium with questions about how the Councilmembers seem to be “going after” people, and he said that must end. Attention must be paid to crumbled sidewalks, curbs, empty stores, unpaved roads, potholes, and other such problems, but first, Mr. Verdicchio said this “human relations” flaw, in which the Councilmembers seem to “go after” people who disagree with them, must be addressed. Mr. Verdicchio stated that it was very unfortunate that Mayor Aronsohn was not present during these comments, because in his view, Mayor Aronsohn was the one who “went after” Chief Ward inappropriately.

Janet Golfo, 247 Walthery Avenue, said she has lived in Ridgewood for 26 years, and has never felt the need to make public comments before this time. However, she was also appalled at the events of the previous Village Council meeting, and Ms. Golfo agrees with everything previous speakers said. Ms. Golfo explained that she comes from a military family and one with many civil servants, many of whom are New York City police officers and detectives. Her father is a retired New York City fireman. Ms. Golfo said it is a special environment in which to grow up, and she thinks that is why these candidates wanted to join the Ridgewood Police Department. Ms. Golfo believes they would be a great asset to the Police Department. In addition, Ms. Golfo said she is also disappointed because the Councilmembers would continue to discuss this in Closed Session.

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

3. PRESENTATIONS

a. Girl Scout Gold Award – “Crosswalk Safety Is a Two Way Street; Walk Safely, Drive Safely”

Councilman Pucciarelli said this was a remarkable suggestion from a Girl Scout, who is the recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award for this project. Her name is Amelia Maas, at 132 Clairmont Road. Ms. Maas is 17 years old, and she is with Girl Scout Troop 1380. She explained that girls who remain with Girl Scouts for as long as she has are given unique opportunities to complete projects with the sole purpose of bettering their communities. The Girl Scouts are allowed to select their own projects based on what they believe are the most important ways to better their communities, and Ms. Maas said her choice was very clear, because she believes that pedestrian safety in the Village is imperative.

Ms. Maas continued by saying that pedestrian visibility, or the lack thereof, contributes to more than 60% of accidents in crosswalks. When drivers are unable to see the obstacles in their way, collisions are unavoidable. The idea that Ms. Maas found would have the most impact is the use of crossing flags. They are lightweight, florescent, eye-catching flags that were first implemented in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they have been responsible for a nearly 30% drop in pedestrian accidents. The flags are placed in canisters at both sides of selected crosswalks, and are picked up and dropped off when people cross streets. They are intended to be held above a pedestrian’s head in order to gain the most visibility possible. It makes it easier for drivers to spot people crossing in the crosswalks, and they can drive around the pedestrians accordingly. Ms. Maas and her troop leader believe that the crosswalks that would most benefit from the installation of these flags are at Franklin Avenue and Walnut Avenue; Franklin Avenue and Chestnut Avenue; and Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street. The canisters would be mounted onto poles in those areas, and the installment of one channel post would be required at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Walnut Avenue. The flags themselves are inexpensive, costing approximately $2 each, and Ms. Maas plans to meet with both the A.M. and P.M. Rotary Clubs to ask for their financial support in order to purchase and subsequently assemble each flag.

Ms. Maas pointed out that there have been numerous crashes in the streets of Ridgewood, some of which have affected her personally, while others have injured many others around her. She strongly believes that these crosswalk flags have the ability to save lives, and hopes that the Councilmembers will approve the project.

Councilman Pucciarelli commended Ms. Maas for her wonderful suggestion.

Councilwoman Hauck asked if Ms. Maas had considered the intersection at Franklin Avenue and Broad Street. Ms. Maas responded that she did, but that would require the installation of three channel posts, which might be too many poles in that area. Councilwoman Hauck pointed out that it is a long crosswalk.

Councilman Riche noted that this idea had been raised before, but no action had been taken, so he thanked Ms. Maas for bringing it back to the forefront. He also suggested that she might consider the intersection of Oak Street and Ridgewood Avenue, which is another difficult intersection. Councilman Riche also thought there could be a possibility that the Village Council could find some funds to contribute to the effort if that intersection were added at a later date. He thanked Ms. Maas again for her idea and her efforts, and congratulated her for her Gold Award.

Councilwoman Walsh stated that Ms. Maas had attended several meetings of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, and Councilwoman Walsh had been speaking indirectly about Ms. Maas at a previous Village Council meeting. Everyone in the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee is happy that Ms. Maas is starting this project, and they have noted that they are relying on a Girl Scout to help with citizens’ safety. Councilman Walsh wished Ms. Maas the best of luck, and she thinks it will be wonderful for Ridgewood.

Police Chief John Ward said he is very proud of Ms. Maas, because sometimes people choose projects that are beautification projects, but her project can actually save lives. That shows leadership, which is important. Chief Ward said there may have been an issue with liability on the part of the Village, and asked Mr. Rogers to check with Salt Lake City and the town of New Paltz, New York, to see how they handled such issues.

4. 4. DISCUSSIONa. Budget:

1.)        Graydon Pool Membership Fees & Tennis Badge Fees – Parks & Recreation

Ms. Mailander reminded the Councilmembers that they had approved two-year fees last year for 2013 and 2014, and this particular fee is a new membership fee for a resident disabled patron in the amount of $30, which matches the amount charged for senior citizen memberships. This would allow Village residents who have disabilities to come to Graydon Pool at a reduced rate. Councilman Riche asked how a “resident disabled patron” is defined. Ms. Mailander responded that a definition will have to be added to the ordinance, as well as a requirement that some proof of disability be provided, which Mr. Rogers can suggest. Councilman Riche said he was trying to understand the intent of the ordinance, because the word “disabled” can be far-reaching, and what would the Village be trying to achieve by charging a reduced fee for certain people. He suspects that it has to do with people who have mobility issues, but that needs to be clarified. Ms. Mailander said it would be clarified in the ordinance. Councilwoman Hauck stated that this was discussed at a meeting of the Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Board, and the members of the Board spent a lot of time pondering those issues, which raised many questions. However, they were addressed, and Ms. Mailander would get that information. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that while no one wants to discriminate against people with disabilities, it is also necessary to make sure that such an ordinance does not favor them to any extent not allowed by law. Mr. Rogers said he would like to hear from Timothy Cronin, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and Nancy Bigos, Deputy Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, regarding their criteria and what their intent is with this type of ordinance, so that information could be explained in the preamble to the ordinance, and the ordinance could be directed toward the goal they seek. Councilwoman Hauck said that there must be some type of discussion, because the issue was raised as to whether these patrons would be coming with aides, and whether the aides would have to pay the full daily rates, or could be admitted for free because they would be required for assistance. Ms. Mailander said that the ordinance would be brought back to Mr. Cronin and Ms. Bigos to get further information.

2.)        Day Camp Fees – Parks & Recreation

Ms. Mailander explained that in the past, non-residents have been allowed to attend the day camp. However, the day camp has become so popular that it is now over-subscribed, and it has a waiting list. This ordinance will eliminate the non-resident fee, and non-residents will no longer be allowed to attend the day camp. There will be no change in the resident fee for day camp for 2014. The fee is currently $525 for Village residents. Councilman Pucciarelli asked what is meant by the portion that reads “from $700 to…” Ms. Mailander responded that there will no longer be a non-resident fee, so there will be no choice available, and there will be no range in prices. That information will be removed from the ordinance. Councilwoman Walsh asked if the day camp is not full, would the registrations be closed in that case. Ms. Mailander confirmed that there would be no opportunity for non-residents to send their children to the day camp. Councilman Riche asked if there is any conflict in prohibiting a non-resident from sending his/her children to the Village day camp, and allowing non-residents to come to Graydon Pool during the month of August. Ms. Mailander said she does not believe so, because that pertains specifically to Graydon Pool, and this is specifically targeted to the day camp. This will be put on the agenda for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

3.)        Bid Approval for Maple Park Turf Cleaning – Parks & Recreation

Ms. Mailander stated that this was a rebid. A low bid was received, but upon review and discussion with the company, it was determined that the company did not own the equipment needed for the cleaning, which they would purchase if they were awarded the bid; they had little experience doing this type of cleaning, with only one prior comparable job; and no employees were certified, as required in the bid specifications. The second-lowest bid was received from The LandTek Group, Inc., which was the outfit that originally installed the synthetic turf at Maple Park East. They also own the required equipment, and have 20 years’ experience. In addition, their staff is certified. Therefore, Mr. Cronin recommends that the bid be awarded to the second-lowest bidder, because they meet all the criteria in the bid specifications. As a reminder, Ms. Mailander said this is a 50/50 grant through the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund, which means that the Village’s portion will be $20,790, with a matching amount funded through the grant. Councilman Riche said he asked that this be sent out for rebid, and he asked what the amount of the previous bid from LandTek was. Ms. Mailander said she would have to get that information, because she did not have it with her. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if this is an annual cleaning, and Ms. Mailander responded that this work relates to Hurricane Sandy, which caused damage to the field. Councilwoman Walsh recalled that this was mentioned during the budget process last year, and it was suggested that this should perhaps be an operating expense instead of a capital expense, because of the amount of work involved that indicates this could be a recurring maintenance item. Councilwoman Hauck pointed out that it would most likely not be an annually recurring event. This will be put on the agenda for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

4.)        Shared Services Agreement – Municipal Court Administrator & Deputy Municipal Court Administrator – Glen Rock

Ms. Mailander explained that the Borough of Glen Rock approached the Village to have a Shared Services Agreement for the Ridgewood Municipal Court Administrator to also serve as the Municipal Court Administrator for Glen Rock. In return, Ridgewood would get the services of the Glen Rock Deputy Court Administrator, to serve when the Municipal Court Administrator goes on vacation or is absent for an extended period of time. The agreement allows the Village to be paid $10,000 for the services of the Municipal Court Administrator, and the services of the Deputy Court Administrator. Ridgewood currently does not have a Deputy Court Administrator. Ms. Mailander noted that the Village is always looking for Shared Services whenever possible in order to save money and bring revenue to the Village. Councilman Riche asked if this is currently being done. Ms. Mailander responded that the Municipal Court Administrator currently does do work for Glen Rock, but there is no Shared Services Agreement, so there is no payment for her services. Ridgewood will still maintain its own courts and judges, and a lot of the work can be done in Ridgewood. Councilman Riche said he assumes this has been researched to ensure that it is financially beneficial to the Village, which Ms. Mailander confirmed. This will be put on the agenda for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

5.)        Award of Contract – Printing for Municipal Election

Ms. Mailander stated that this year, there is a Municipal Election in May, which means that the Village must pay for all of the election printing expenses. Two quotes have been obtained. One is from Printing Craftsmen, Inc., of Fairview, in the approximate amount of $16,000. The other was from Royal Printing of West New York, New Jersey, in the amount of $17,640. Ms. Mailander recommends that the bid be awarded to Printing Craftsmen, Inc. They have done work for the Village in the past, and they know what is required. The fee also includes all of the necessary translations, as well as all of the other required printing elements. This will be put on the agenda for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

1. b. Operations:

1.)        Removed from Agenda

Although this has been postponed until February 26, 2014, Mr. Rogers has been in touch with Tom Wells, the attorney representing the Bolger Foundation, the proposed contractor who intends to donate its services for the proposed renovation. Realizing that there is a need to get all this done before the day camp begins, Mr. Rogers said he intends to have all the necessary work done, and the contracts signed, so that all of the information can be given to the Councilmembers prior to the February 26^th Work Session Meeting. Councilman Pucciarelli added that the Historic Preservation Commission held a hearing on the subject, but he has not yet seen their report.

Councilman Pucciarelli also thanked all of the Village employees who have been getting up and out early in the morning to do the necessary snow removal work.

1. c. Policy:

1.)        Removed from Agenda

2.)        Amend Section 3-43(D) of the Ridgewood Village Code – Administration of Government – Police Department

Councilman Pucciarelli said he had the opportunity to ask some questions of Chief Ward, and he thanked Chief Ward for his complete responses to those questions. However, he wanted to resolve one remaining ambiguity: Chief Ward stated that it requires nine months for a new hire to actually “count” as a police officer. There was another reference to nine months later on in Chief Ward’s response, and it was not clear to Councilman Pucciarelli he was referring to the same nine-month period, or if it was referring to an additional nine months. Chief Ward responded that from the time a candidate goes into the Police Academy, the Academy process takes approximately six months. In addition, the Village has a three-month field training program, which allows the officers to become acclimated to application of the theories learned in the Academy. That allows them to be considered able to go on patrol alone. There is more acclimation taking place after the three-month time period, but a minimum standard has already been met by that time. The other part of his response was to try to explain why it is necessary to hire police officers ahead of time, due to the anticipated loss of senior officers who are handling many non-emergency but critical functions within the Police Department. Chief Ward pointed out that he needs to be able to put someone in the training cycle, because it is not something that can be learned overnight. The functions being performed a very tedious, yet detail-oriented, such as Internal Affairs issues and the evidence and subpoena processes, which take time to master. Another one of those areas is alcohol and beverage control. Efforts are being made in cross-training people, but due to the current staff limitations, that is not always possible due to the fact that many detectives and the traffic officer are being used to cover patrol in order to keep overtime costs down. Chief Ward also hoped to offset the costs of these hires in 2014 and early 2015. One of the reasons he outlined a gradual implementation of hiring new personnel was to allow for the possibility that one or two of the potential retirees could decide to stay on, in which case plans could be adjusted. Chief Ward said he had heard comments about appointing an SRO, and he said he would love to have 43 police officers so he could reassign another SRO. Councilman Pucciarelli said that suggestion could be revisited. Chief Ward added that new police officers are not given critical assignments; a minimum of three years’ experience is required for any specialized assignments before officers are even considered for such placements. Being able to hire new police officers in the manner suggested by Chief Ward would allow him to consider more senior officers and start putting them into the slots to replace more experienced officers. Ms. Mailander explained that this would allow for junior officers to move into senior officers’ slots, including two in the Detective Bureau; the officer who handles Internal Affairs (IA), and possibly officers in the Traffic Bureau.

Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the Essex County Police Academy begins in March. The first anticipated retirement is in May 2015. Chief Ward confirmed this, and added that it is possible that there will be four retirements from May-July 2015. Councilman Pucciarelli recalled the discussion to the effect that the Bergen County Police Academy is perceived to be better than the Essex County Police Academy, and he asked Chief Ward for his perspective if the officers were to be trained through the Bergen County Police Academy in July 2014. Chief Ward responded that valuable time would be lost, because nine months from July 2014 would place those officers on the road sometime in April 2015, right before the retirements are due to begin. He had hoped to get at least a three-month gap to allow training for more senior officers to become detectives, or to work in IA, or other higher-level jobs in the Police Department, and to take over the positions of the officers who will be retiring. The officers who are planning to retire are from the Detective Bureau. Regarding the different Academies, Chief Ward pointed out that recently, a couple of recruits were sent through the Essex County Police Academy. There have been no complaints so far about that Academy, although the Bergen County Police Academy does have a reputation for having a higher standard than most of the other Academies. However, the Essex County Police Academy does an excellent job. It must be noted that there is no charge for Ridgewood Police Department personnel to go through the Bergen County Police Academy, but the $3,000 cost for the two recruits would be offset by the overtime costs savings.

Councilman Riche clarified that police officers earn overtime pay when they work outside their normal shifts, which Chief Ward confirmed. Councilman Riche also clarified that police sergeants earn overtime pay when they work outside their normal shifts, which Chief Ward confirmed. The same applies to police lieutenants, which Chief Ward confirmed. Overtime pay is applicable to all police officers, except Chief Ward and Captain Luthcke, which Chief Ward confirmed. Councilman Riche noted that in the past, Chief Ward indicated that he had to use sergeants and sometimes lieutenants in overtime situations because of lack of manpower. Chief Ward confirmed this, adding that supervisory staff has been substantially cut in the Police Department. Higher level officers are pulled away from administrative tasks to cover patrol duties when there is a lack of manpower, or when training is being conducted. That is why Chief Ward has strongly urged the Councilmembers to reinstate one of his supervisory positions, specifically by adding another Captain, because it would be cheaper due to the fact that no overtime pay would be necessary for that position. Councilman Riche reiterated that it has sometimes been necessary for Chief Ward to use sergeants in overtime positions that might have been filled by patrolmen, had a patrolman been available. Councilman Riche pointed out that using sergeants in such cases leads to a higher rate of overtime being paid, due to the higher salaries paid to sergeants, exacerbating the overtime situation.

Next, Councilman Riche mentioned an email from Chief Ward to the Councilmembers, indicating that based upon his analysis, the last time two police officers were hired the number of police officers exceeded the limit allowed by the ordinance. This type of discussion was not held the last time this occurred. Councilman Riche said he could not understand why there is an arbitrary number limiting the amount of personnel who can serve in a public safety department. The number of personnel can be limited through funding mechanisms, and Councilman Riche does not believe it is necessary to have ordinances limiting the number of personnel, thus putting the Village in this situation. He added that he believes it is fair to say that hiring the two candidates immediately will decrease the budget, and is fiscally for the long-term. Chief Ward agreed, and added that it would also help with the issue of increased school safety, which the Police Department has been considering for some time. It will also help to reduce the overtime situation that Chief Ward currently faces.

Councilwoman Hauck said she has no doubt that there was some type of administrative error, and there is certainly a need for new hires on the police force. Therefore, it does make sense that these two candidates should be allowed to attend the Essex County Police Academy. While she wants to reconsider amending the ordinance, Councilwoman Hauck said she is a little cautious going forward with future hires due to many uncertainties. There will be future contract negotiations that could affect how people consider retirement going forward, and if those people will still want to retire in the future. In addition, the question of overtime affects the budget, and there is a question of whether it makes sense to add more police officers. Councilwoman Hauck also asked where the arbitrary number of possible staff members of the Police Department came from. She does not believe it was actually arbitrary, but someone must have decided that it would make sense to operate with that number of police officers. She also thinks it might be worthwhile to consider the size of the village and historically, how many people the Police Department has required. That number has fluctuated over the years. Councilwoman Hauck asked if the Police Department is drastically understaffed now, and Chief Ward answered that it is. He added that the number of police officers was up to 52 in the mid-1990s, and it was down to 48 by the year 2000. It remained at that number until approximately 2004, when it dropped to 47. Chief Ward said he has always maintained that he thought the Police Department would operate most efficiently with 46-48 officers. He would like to create a Services Unit, which would be a floater unit that could have a significant impact on the amount of overtime, as well as the costs associated with overtime, and provide additional services, including school and traffic safety services, to the community. The two new police officers who were hired will cost considerably less than the officers who are retiring.

Chief Ward referred to the matrix study done in 2007, which provided three structural options for the Police Department, which included 43-44 personnel, as well as providing recommendations for a command staff structure. The company to perform that study is a national company who performs such studies on a regular basis. They were brought in by the Village to do the study, which was based on best practices. Chief Ward said he is trying to move forward with the recommendations made in the study, and he hopes that the Councilmembers will move forward with him in trying to implement the recommendations. He understands the economic situation, but Chief Ward truly believes that the overtime situation can be significantly altered while still providing the services that Chief Ward wants to provide to Ridgewood.

Councilman Hauck thanked Chief Ward for answering her question, because she believes that the Councilmembers, especially the newer Councilmembers, need to understand all of the things pointed out by Chief Ward. However, she pointed out that every Village Department is shorthanded, and every Department is operating on an overtime basis, yet they cannot charge overtime costs to the Village in the same way that the Police Department can. Chief Ward explained that any employee who is a member of the union is entitled to overtime pay, and he referred that issue to the Village Manager. He added that if the number of police officers is limited, the Police Department loses its depth. If extra people are available to cover emergency situations, overtime costs are not incurred. Because he does not have staff available for such situations, overtime costs are currently very high. Such overtime costs can be incurred due to even the most minor events. For example, a domestic violence situation can take approximately 3-8 hours for response time and proper evaluation, with 2-3 officers involved. If there are not enough people on the shift to answer other calls, officers must be held over their normal scheduled working time in order to take other calls. Chief Ward commended the police officers’ union, which has been very cooperative with training issues, as well as being helpful in notifying him of expected retirements so the Police Department could be prepared and the community would not suffer due to a lack of personnel.

Councilwoman Walsh commented that she received many telephone calls about this issue, with people asking many questions, and she did not always have the answers to those questions. The majority of people asking questions wanted to know if Councilwoman Walsh was on the Village Council when the ordinance was changed, and she stated that she was. She recalled the conversations held about changing the ordinance, but she recalls that the number of police officers was supposed to be 43. Councilman Walsh realizes that she was mistaken. She also discovered that there were no less than four meetings in which this issue was discussed, and it was unanimously agreed by the Councilmembers to fund and hire these police officers. Councilwoman Walsh apologized to the public about the mistake she made, but said she feels strongly that these police officers are needed in Ridgewood. She pointed out that there was a Girl Scout at this meeting who has a plan to try to help keep the Village safer, which is a huge responsibility for her. In addition, Councilwoman Walsh said that incidents do occur on her street, especially in the spring, and it is sometimes necessary for her to call the police to respond to such incidents. Usually, two cars respond, which means there are fewer officers available to respond to other calls. She noted that overtime costs are skyrocketing, which was discussed during the budget process. The Councilmembers would like that number to decrease, and hiring these two police officers would help in solving that problem, although it will not completely eliminate the problem. Therefore, Councilwoman Walsh said she would like to move forward with introducing an amendment to the ordinance at the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting. This would benefit the Village by allowing it to honor the commitments made to the two candidates in question, as well as allowing the Councilmembers to hold discussions regarding future funding, because although the ordinance may specify a maximum number of police officers, that does not necessarily mean that the Police Department would get funding for that particular number of police officers.

Regarding the nepotism issue, Councilwoman Walsh said she has family members who work in law enforcement, including the Police Department, Fire Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Department of Public Works, New Jersey Transit, and it does seem to be a profession that runs in families. She is proud to have so many families in the Village who continually serve the Village.

Chief Ward responded that nepotism was never a consideration in the hiring of these two candidates. The Civil Service rules were followed. He also recommended that the number of police officers should remain open-ended in any amendment to the ordinance, and that the Village Council is the final authority on the number of police officers that will be hired.

Councilman Pucciarelli repeated what he said the previous week, which was that he was very sorry that two young men got caught up in this process. It was never the intention of anyone to cause this to happen to the two candidates, and Councilman Pucciarelli would like to see the situation corrected if at all possible.

However, Councilman Pucciarelli also stated that he could not nor would not apologize for pointing out that the Councilmembers were in danger of violating a Village ordinance if the two additional police officers were hired. He agreed with the statement made by Councilwoman Hauck when she said that she does not understand why the number is set at 41, and how anyone arrived at that number. Councilman Pucciarelli believes that the number of personnel in the Police Department should be a the result of a dynamic process that is worked out every year between the Chief of Police and the Village Manager, based on recent experience; the number of personnel already employed by the Police Department; and other criteria as may be set by the Chief of Police and Village Manager. The only input that should be sought from the Village Council would be during the budgetary process. For example, if it were possible to have 50 police officers while keeping within a set budget, that would be wonderful, and Councilman Pucciarelli believes that should drive the process. He does not feel he is in any position to say that the Police Department should have any particular number of police officers, because he does not have that expertise and is not willing to substitute his own judgment for those who do have that expertise. Therefore, going forward, after amending the current ordinance, perhaps the Chief of Police and the new Village Manager could meet and agree to a process in which the structure of the Police Department could be revisited in order to determine how many personnel could serve that structure.

Councilman Pucciarelli commented that with respect to the nepotism policy, whether anyone likes it or not, it is a policy, and the Councilmembers are required to vote on such matters. It cannot be disregarded unless the policy is revoked.

Finally, Councilman Pucciarelli recalled that there was a proposal to have an SRO made during public comments, and Chief Ward had a positive reaction to that proposal. Councilman Pucciarelli asked about the history of the SRO, and how would that process work in the current framework of the Police Department. Chief Ward responded that there at one time was an extensive Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in the Village schools, and then an SRO program was started. The SRO position was lost sometime around 2010, when the number of personnel in the Police Department was cut. Due to current staffing constraints, Chief Ward said he is unable to commit an officer and/or officers to the schools in that position, although he receives regular requests to increase police presence in the schools. Chief Ward said he has tried to develop a third alternative in which police officers visit the schools during lunch time, and he visits the schools to talk to students, and holds school safety checks. However, having a dedicated SRO (or two) would have a wonderful impact on the schools, and give a greater police presence in the schools. Currently, two detectives serve as contacts for the schools. Chief Ward said he would require at least 43 officers in order to be able to commit to having an SRO. Councilman Riche pointed out that the Village lost some of its funding for the SRO, due to the expiration of a five-year grant, and the Board of Education was either unwilling or unable to pay the difference. Councilman Pucciarelli reiterated that he believes that should be a management decision, and the Village Council should not dictate whether an SRO should be appointed or not, although it does sound like a good idea.

Councilwoman Walsh recalled that last year, there was some sort of grant proposed to the Board of Education, which they turned down. Chief Ward remembered that it was a matching grant, and the Police Department was unable to move forward with that opportunity. In fact, the Police Department has missed some grant opportunities due to the fact that there is no active SRO program in the Village. Councilman Pucciarelli asked Chief Ward to explain how the SRO program works, and if it could be accommodated if the ordinance were amended.

Councilman Riche recommended that the amendment to the ordinance be put on the agenda for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting for introduction and adoption. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that it has been a practice of the Village Council that, if one of the members who is not present asked that a matter be tabled until that member is present, that request is honored. In this instance, Mayor Aronsohn asked that he be present before the first reading of this proposed amendment, and he referred to specific questions that he would like Chief Ward to answer prior to February 19^th. Ms. Mailander pointed out that the ordinance must be introduced at the meeting on February 19^th so that it can be effective in time for the Essex County Police Academy. The consensus of the Councilmembers was that this matter would be discussed at the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting, possibly for introduction. Ms. Mailander said that guidance is needed regarding what the amendment should say, such as if the number of police officers should be kept open-ended, rather than specific; and if the language should state, as was previously mentioned, that the Village Manager and Chief of Police would assess the structure of the Police Department and make recommendations to the Village Council for the Councilmembers to approve funding. Councilman Pucciarelli stated that, speaking for himself, he thought it should contain language to the effect that the future number and structure of the Police Department be decided based upon an annual recommendation by the Village Manager and the Chief of Police. Councilwoman Walsh asked if the agenda for the February 19^th meeting would also provide for the reinstatement or hiring of the two candidates under discussion. Ms. Mailander responded that it would not, but the amendment to the ordinance would allow that. Mr. Rogers explained that the ordinance basically states the law and the way that operations should go forward, and does not deal with a specific instance. Councilman Pucciarelli’s suggestion would allow for discussion on that ordinance, which would also allow the hiring of the two officers in question, without mentioning anyone specifically, while including as part of the amendment the ability of the Village Manager to meet with the Chief of Police to discuss personnel numbers every year, as well as the structure of the Police Department. Ms. Mailander pointed out that it is her understanding that all of the Councilmembers present want to move forward with the amendment to the ordinance. Mr. Rogers said he believes it might be safer to separate the issues, and move forward with the amended ordinance first, and deal with the numbers pertaining to the Police Department after that. Councilman Riche stated that he believes the issue is that a mistake was made, which will be corrected by introducing the amendment to the ordinance, and that will allow the Chief of Police to extend conditional offers of employment again to the two candidates, and they can enter the Essex County Police Academy in March. Beyond that, Councilman Riche stated that the number of personnel in the Police Department is a separate discussion, and one he is willing to have. Council Pucciarelli added that he would like to have a continued discussion on the implementation of an SRO program, but not as a condition of the amendment to the ordinance. Mr. Rogers clarified that Councilman Pucciarelli was asking for two separate ordinances: one dealing with the immediate issue, and another one to be introduced, and the Councilmembers could decide and vote on both of those ordinances, or was Councilman Pucciarelli asking for one ordinance covering both situations. Councilman Pucciarelli and Councilman Riche both answered that there should be two separate ordinances. Ms. Mailander asked if the Councilmembers wanted the number of police officers to be increased to allow for the hiring of the two candidates in question, or should the number be left non-specific. Councilwoman Walsh responded that, as she understood the situation, there should be an ordinance allowing for the hiring of the two candidates in question, with another ordinance that addresses the number of police officers in the Police Department in a more general way to be discussed further. She added that the availability of grant monies could also be part of the conversation regarding the second ordinance. Councilman Pucciarelli commented that if the Police Department is to be expanded by two officers for the reasons stated, there is another very good reason that was advanced tonight, which is that it would allow for the possibility of an SRO. He believes that the Councilmembers should encourage the implementation of an SRO program.

Councilwoman Hauck asked for clarification that there will be two ordinances, one of which will allow for the hiring of two additional police officers, and the other one will allow the number of police officers hired by the Police Department to be left up to the discretion of the Village Manager and Chief of Police. Mr. Rogers agreed, saying that was what was suggested by Councilman Pucciarelli. Neither of the ordinances will contain any language about the SRO program. The Councilmembers agreed to have the two ordinances put on the agenda for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the nepotism issue must still be decided, and Ms. Mailander pointed out that it had already been discussed in Closed Session, and it was already approved, so no further action is necessary. There would be more discussion about that during Closed Session.

3.)  Parking Charges for Special Events in the Central Business District – Draft Ordinance

 Ms. Mailander noted that a sample ordinance was prepared explaining the reasons for allowing the Village Manager to waive fees, which was based on recommendations made by Captain Luthcke and Janet Fricke, Assistant to the Village Manager. It allows the Village Manager to waive fees for up to 15 parking spots. In addition, it would allow the Village Manager to waive fees for areas next to the park or public spaces, such as the train station, especially on Sundays, when parking fees are not required. For the most part, Ms. Mailander explained that events to be considered for such fee waivers would be ones that are free and open to the public. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that no one has to pay parking meters on Sundays, and he asked if event sponsors are charge for bagging meters on Sundays. Ms. Mailander responded that the organization would be charged if the event was held for profit, because the spots would be reserved for that event. She cited as an example the Jazz Feast that was held last year, when one side of Oak Street was used as a staging area, and they were not charged for that. It is possible that the upcoming Daffodil Festival will need similar types of staging areas, and they would not be charged for bagging those meters. Events that are held for a profit would be charged for any meters that are bagged, even on Sundays.

Councilman Riche asked who initiated this ordinance. Ms. Mailander answered that Councilwoman Walsh asked for this to be put forward. Councilman Riche added that he would like to see some language inserted in the ordinance that the fee waivers should not be granted in a repetitive fashion. Mr. Rogers noted that the current wording of the ordinance deals with non-profit organizations, and events that are open to the public, especially on Sundays. It also provides that it is within the discretion of the Village Manager to allow or prohibit the waivers. Therefore, the Village Manager would have the ability to prevent such fee waivers if it were a repetitive thing. Mr. Rogers used the example of the Farmers’ Market, which is held on consecutive Sundays. The Village Manager might want to allow the fees to be waived for the Farmers’ Market, because it is open to the public. Councilman Riche noted that meters do not have to be paid on Sundays, and Mr. Rogers answered that the current ordinance provides for fees to be charged for bagging of the meters, because the parking spaces are being reserved for that group. However, the new ordinance would allow such fees to be waived, at the discretion of the Village Manager. Councilman Riche pointed out that it would be necessary to weigh the needs of the Farmers’ Market against the parking needs of the commuters who might be traveling to or from work on Sundays. This will be put on the agenda for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

5. REVIEW OF FEBRUARY 19, 2014 AGENDA

Ms. Mailander announced that the Public Meeting would include the following Proclamation: Jamboree Days.

There are two ordinances to be introduced: Amend Chapter 145 Fees – Significant Sewer Discharge Fees; Amend Chapter 249 – Streets and Sidewalks – Parking Charges for Bagging Meters in the Central Business District; Amend Chapter 145 Fees – Day Camp Fees; Amend Chapter 3-43(D) – Police Department Personnel.

The Public Hearings include: Amend Chapter 244 – Smoking – Establish No Smoking Zones Around Schools; Amend Chapter 165 – Garbage, Rubbish, Refuse, Recycling – Hazardous Collection Conditions.

Resolutions include: Award of Contract – Cameras in Police Cars; Award of Contract – Operating System for Cameras in Police Cars; Cancel Property Taxes on General Energy Property; Award Contract under State Contract – Police Ammunition; Award Professional Services Contract – Child Health Conference; Award Professional Services Contract – 2014 Land Surveying Services Retainer for Preparation of Tax Assessment Map; Award of Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service Contract – Alarm Systems at Graydon Pool and the Stable; Title 59 Approval and Award of Contract for Two Sanitation Trucks; Authorize Sale of 1991 Fire Ladder Truck to Bergen County Fire Academy; Authorize Shared Services Agreement with Ho-Ho-Kus – Adult Health Clinic; Authorize Shared Services Agreement with Paramus – Wastewater Collection System Operator; Authorize Shared Services Agreement with Glen Rock – Municipal Court Services; Authorize Cellular Communications Upgrade for Cell Tower Water Pollution Control Facility; Title 59 Approval and Award of Contract – Maple Park Turf Cleaning; Award Contract – Printing for Municipal Election; Approve Girl Scout Gold Award Project – Pedestrian Safety Flags at Crosswalks in Central Business District.

6. MANAGER’S REPORT

Ms. Mailander thanked all of the crews who have been out working during the past two storms. Workers have reported to work as early as 2:00 A.M. to begin salting and plowing the roads, continuing throughout the day. In addition, workers have been scraping due to the fact that there is a salt shortage, which will help prevent slipping and sliding on the ice. Some crew members have gone home, but will return to work at 11:00 P.M. tonight to clear out the CBD. They plan to work until 7:00 A.M. tomorrow, with new crews coming in at approximately 6:00 A.M. to continue with some of the remaining salt. It is hoped that there will be a delivery tomorrow or Friday from the County, as well as from Atlantic Salt, of approximately 1,000 tons of salt. Many municipalities in New York and New Jersey are expecting salt deliveries. Another storm is anticipated next week, but it is not known exactly how much snow we will get. Ms. Mailander said that the crews are doing a great job keeping the streets and sidewalks clear.

In addition, Ms. Mailander urged everyone to sign up for e-notices. Registration is available through the Village website at www.ridgewoodnj.net. People can choose to receive the notices as text messages or as emails. This will allow residents to be notified if there any changes in sanitation schedules; and emergency or unusual weather conditions; as well as any other important messages that need to be disseminated throughout the Village.

Regarding sanitation collection for Thursday and Friday, Ms. Mailander reminded everyone that items should be placed at the ends of the driveways. Crews will no longer go into backyards because it is dangerous for them due to slippery conditions. Several crew members have already been injured.

Councilman Riche asked Ms. Mailander to repeat the policy regarding blowing or shoveling snow in the Village. Ms. Mailander stated that anyone who uses a snowblower or shovels snow should put the snow back on his/her property, as opposed to putting it into the street, which is illegal.

7. COUNCIL REPORTS

Parks, Recreation, and Conservation (PRC) Board – Councilwoman Hauck said that the “Fire and Ice” outdoor winter festival at Graydon Park was very successful. Approximately 1,550 people attended, which equals one out of 16 residents in the Village. It was a very relaxing afternoon. Councilwoman Hauck thanked all the employees who made it possible, including the Ridgewood Fire Department; FMBA 47; Signal Department; Water Department; and the Department of Parks and Recreation. Everyone worked day and night for a very long time to make the festival a success.

Fourth of July Committee – Councilman Riche stated that the Fourth of July Committee is always looking for volunteers.

Open Space Committee – Councilman Riche said that there is no Open Space Committee at this time, because none of its members were reinstated at the beginning of the year, and all of their terms have expired. Councilman Riche indicated to them that they will be asked to interview for their positions to be reinstated on the Committee. All of the current members are original members of the Committee, and have been responsible for all of the open space that has been acquired in the Village. Councilman Riche did not get positive feedback when he mentioned the interview process, so he asked Ms. Mailander to reach out to the Committee members to see if they were willing to be interviewed.

Financial Advisory Committee – Councilman Pucciarelli said that the Financial Advisory Committee will hold its next public meeting on Monday, February 10, 2014, at 7:30 P.M., in the Fourth Floor Caucus Room of Village Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend. One of the pending projects of this Committee is to look at Village Garage outsourcing alternatives before going any further with the current garage project on the Glen Rock site.

Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the Ridgewood Arts Council would have a proposal for the Councilmembers by the end of this month, and will be presenting it to the Village Council.

8. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

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

Keith Killion, 315 Willow Court, stated that he has experience in the Ridgewood Police Department. When he first joined the Police Department, there were 54 police officers. After 16 weeks at the Police Academy, Mr. Killion was handed a badge and put out on patrol immediately. He has seen the number of police officers increase and decrease over the years. As a Captain in charge of training, Mr. Killion said he was given unfunded mandates from the Federal and State governments. Some of those mandates included right-to-know training; blood-borne pathogens training; and extensive firearms qualifications twice a year, all of which take police officers off the streets. The government has mandated that police officers undergo a lot of training in order to decrease incidence of malfeasance, as well as the possibility of lawsuits from police officers doing the wrong thing. Most of these mandatory trainings occur over multiple days. Some of them were specific to the Police Department, and others were mandatory for many different Village personnel. According to Mr. Killion, it is reached the point where manpower has decreased due to budgetary constraints, while training has increased, to the point where the Police Department cannot break even.

Regarding the School Resource Officer program, Mr. Killion said he started that program in the Village. He was the first SRO. Mr. Killion recalled that there was a time when police officers were only called to the schools when there were problems. One principal told him that he should not park his police car in front of the school, because people would get the idea that there was a problem at the school if they saw it. That was the mentality Mr. Killion encountered at that time. The SRO program was funded by a grant, and Mr. Killion was sent to two different training programs. The SRO program is valuable because it helps to stop problems before they reach the Police Department. It helped to educate teachers, parents, and students on how to deal with various problems associated with young people. It also helped to build a rapport with young people, so that the SRO becomes another person they can talk to if necessary. Mr. Killion offered the Councilmembers his services if any of them have questions about the SRO program and how it worked.

Frank Delvecchio, 65 Walthery Avenue, said that he first thought he misunderstood what was being said about the ordinance, but it has been explained to his satisfaction. Mr. Delvecchio offered some professional advice to the Councilmembers as a Police Chief: he thought that, rather than introducing two ordinances, it might be easier if the Councilmembers consider one ordinance, because according to Civil Service rules, the number of patrol officers can be kept open-ended, based on the needs of the department. That might help solve both of the issues raised. Councilman Riche responded that it does not matter to him, as long as the outcome is that the Chief of Police in Village Manager can use their discretion to decide how many officers are needed, and can then come to the Village Council to request funding for those officers.

Mr. Delvecchio also commended Ms. Mailander for the outstanding job she has done as the Acting Village Manager, and he said he hopes she is one of the candidates to be the new Village Manager.

Mayor Aronsohn arrived at the meeting at 9:26 P.M.

Ron Verdicchio, 391 Colonial Road, said the tone of the Village Council was very different than that of the Village Council last week. Mr. Verdicchio thought that Councilman Pucciarelli questioned Chief Ward in a very professional manner, using a non-accusatory tone, which is the way that Mr. Verdicchio believes public officials should conduct themselves while doing business with law enforcement personnel. The tone of the previous week’s meeting was very inappropriate, according to Mr. Verdicchio. He suggested that all of the Councilmembers should look at the tape of the previous meeting, because it is good human relations training.

Next, Mr. Verdicchio said he was not pleased with the implied background conversation regarding nepotism. He thinks that if there is an issue with nepotism in the Village, it should be put on the table. Such conversations should not be held in Closed Sessions, and that although the people involved should be protected, the discussions should be as open as possible.

Finally, Mr. Verdicchio stated that he was the Board of Education representative who worked with the SRO for three years. The program was funded during the Clinton Administration under the Safe Streets Funding grant, and it was a 50/50 grant. The program encompassed the pre- and post-Columbine era. Mr. Verdicchio’s job was to work with the SRO, the principals, and community organizations to ensure that there was an interface with the SRO and professional staff, as well as the community. It was disappointing when the program ended, and Mr. Verdicchio believes that any money spent by the Village on such a program would be money well spent. Resources should certainly be devoted to that area to do what is right for the children of Ridgewood, as well as for parents and the school community. Mr. Verdicchio also offered his services as a volunteer to help with any suggestions needed to get the program moving forward.

Mayor Aronsohn said he was very pleased that the issue of the SRO program had arisen. He has spoken with Chief Ward about that, as well as having many conversations with the Superintendent of Schools. Mayor Aronsohn thinks it is a fantastic idea, and he would love to reinstate it. He does not want it reinstated only for security reasons, but because it creates and strengthens the relationship between students and police officers.

Leonard Eisen, 762 Upper Boulevard, said he noticed several references during this meeting to saving money. He also reminded everyone of the request to place garbage cans and other refuse at the ends of driveways to avoid any injuries to Village employees, and Mr. Eisen said he could not see why that could not always be done. It is a very easy way to save money.

Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, noted the item on the agenda regarding the expenses for the municipal election. Mr. Loving said it reminded him that ordinarily, by this time, there would be an announcement posted on the Village website indicating the availability of petition packets for those who are seeking office. That announcement has not yet been posted on the website, nor has Mr. Loving heard the Village Clerk make any mention of the packets being available during any public meetings. In addition, a press release is usually sent to the newspapers regarding the availability of the packets, along with other information about them.

Ms. Mailander thanked him for the reminder, and said that the notification would be put on the website. The packets are currently available, and Ms. Mailander said that she is in the process of putting the press release together. Packets are available for pickup by any resident age 21 or over who is a registered voter. Each packet requires 168 valid signatures, which means that many more signatures must be obtained for verification purposes. There are two seats up for election: the one currently held by Councilwoman Walsh, and the one currently held by Councilman Riche. The deadline to return the completed packets is March 10, 2014, at 4:00 P.M. The packets can be obtained from the Village Clerk’s office.

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

9. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION

The following resolution, numbered 14-30, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Village Clerk, as follows:

10. ADJOURNMENT

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

                                                                                                PAUL S. ARONSOHN, Mayor

DONNA M. JACKSON, Deputy Village Clerk

A SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING 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, JANUARY 29, 2014, AT 7:30 P.M.

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

Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 9:06 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 Heather Mailander, Acting Village Manager/Village Clerk; Donna Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

2. Removed from Agenda

3. RESOLUTIONS

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 14-24 THROUGH 14-27, WERE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL, AND WERE READ BY TITLE ONLY:

Ms. Mailander noted that Councilman Riche had left the dais during this time.

 4. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Walsh, and carried by voice vote with one absence, the Special Public Meeting was adjourned at 9:09 P.M.

                                                                                                PAUL S. ARONSOHN, Mayor

DONNA M. JACKSON, Deputy 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, JANUARY 29, 2014, AT 7:30 P.M.

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

Councilman Pucciarelli 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 Heather Mailander, Acting Village Manager/Village Clerk; Donna Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

Councilman Pucciarelli 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.

Jane Shinozuka, 825 Norgate Drive, said she wanted to keep the Schedler property in the public consciousness. It has been a hotly-debated subject, but Ms. Shinozuka pointed out that there are people throughout Ridgewood who believe that whatever happens, the Councilmembers will bear in mind that any plan that calls for a parking lot to be put on the property poses a serious crime risk due to its proximity to the highway. Ms. Shinozuka commented that she could see a lot of drug activity going on at that location, if a parking lot were there. She believes that should be the most important question to be considered in any development plans for that property, and Ms. Shinozuka wondered if the Councilmembers had already given any thought to that idea. It poses a very serious threat to the entire east side of Ridgewood.

Frank Delvecchio, 65 Walthery Avenue, commented about the amendment to section 343 of the Ridgewood Code regarding the Police Department, which adds two additional spots for patrol officers. Mr. Delvecchio understands that two officers are supposed to enter the Police Academy tomorrow at 7:00 A.M., and as a Police Chief, he wanted to commend the Councilmembers for taking a proactive approach with respect to the Police Department and public safety. Mr. Delvecchio pointed out that many police departments throughout Bergen County are losing many officers, and his own department is facing the retirement of five people, with four officer candidates starting at the Police Academy as part of an inter-governmental transfer. Mr. Delvecchio also noted that police department budgets are rapidly increasing, with the costs of overtime spiraling, and being proactive and forward-thinking means that the Councilmembers are doing the community a great service.

William Corcoran, 371 William Street, is a former Chief of Police of the Ridgewood Police Department. He commended the Ridgewood Police Department, saying that as a veteran of 33 years of Police Department experience, he believes the Ridgewood Police Department is one of the finest in the state of New Jersey, if not in the United States. Mr. Corcoran noted that when he was the Police Chief in Ridgewood, a study was done to evaluate the response time to emergency calls and how many officers are needed to respond to an emergency call, as well as other issues. A recommendation was made regarding the minimum number of officers who should serve in the Police Department, based on the results of the study. Mr. Corcoran is concerned that when the current contract expires, the Village will lose up to five police officers, and he does not believe that the Village can continue to be safe if that many officers are lost. He mentioned the recent spate of school shootings that have occurred throughout the United States, and he implored the Councilmembers to keep the number of police officers high enough to ensure the safety of all Ridgewood residents.

Tom Landers, 413 Meadowbrook Avenue, said he agrees that having more police officers can make the Police Department more proactive, and he understood that Police Chief John Ward made offers of employment to two candidates for police officer. Ms. Mailander interjected that if Mr. Landers wished to discuss personnel matters, they cannot be discussed during public Work Session meetings. Mr. Rogers added that he, Ms. Mailander, and the Councilmembers would not be able to respond to any comments made regarding personnel matters. Mr. Landers stated that he was not asking for any response to his comments. He continued by saying that the offers were made in violation of Village Ordinance 3142 and its amendments, which stipulate staffing levels for the Ridgewood Police Department. Mr. Landers said to the best of his knowledge, the Chief of the Ridgewood Police Department has never hired an officer unless the position to be filled was vacant, and never in violation of Village Code, because to do so would not pass judicial review, and would open the Village to potential litigation. He pointed out that there are no confirmed pending retirements from the Police Department for 2014, and only rumored retirements for the end of 2015. At any given time in the Police Department, there are always a handful of officers who are eligible to retire. Chief Ward and Ms. Mailander enjoy long-standing professional relationships with the fathers of both of the candidates. Mr. Landers pointed out that somehow, the candidate who was number six on the certified list of candidates rose to the position of number three, enabling him to be considered for hiring under the Civil Service provision known as the “Rule of Three”. Three other viable candidates were eliminated from consideration, and Mr. Landers does not believe that the Village Council has been adequately informed about the reason for each candidate’s elimination. Recently, the Village has been a party to two Civil Service appeals and one lawsuit regarding the Village’s hiring, promotion, and personnel practices. The Village lost two of these lawsuits, and prevailed in the third. These matters were litigated at taxpayers’ expense, and one loss resulted in a multi-million-dollar judgment against the Village. The opportunity to hire these candidates is closing quickly; because the eligibility lists are due to expire in a number of weeks. Amending ordinance 3142 and hiring two additional police officers in their early to mid-20s will cost the taxpayers of Ridgewood in excess of $10 million for their salaries, pensions, and benefits over their combined lifetimes, according to Mr. Landers’s estimates. For these reasons, Mr. Landers asked the Councilmembers not to amend ordinance 3142 at this time. The offers of employment have the appearance of favoritism and nepotism, and in fact, may be a lot worse. The Chief of Police and the Village Manager are charged with enforcing and upholding the ordinances of the Village, and in this instance, they acted outside the scope of their authority. Mr. Landers believes that by amending the ordinance tonight, it only condones such actions, and he asked the Councilmembers to take a thoughtful, measured approach going forward.

Reverend Jan Phillips, 234 Union Street, thanked the Councilmembers for being proactive in moving forward with the amendment to Ordinance 3142. Reverend Phillips said she comes from a long line of community activists, and she serves on two senior citizens’ boards in the Village, which have received tremendous support from the Village Council and the Police Department. She has told many stories about the people who volunteer to help with the various senior citizens’ activities, and the police officers who are first responders as well as visitors for the senior citizens. Reverend Phillips recalled a particular incident, in which some young children had been removed from their homes for protective reasons, and Captain Luthcke, who was Lieutenant Luthcke at that time, came to the dinner served to the children at SHARE, and a five-year-old girl unhesitatingly ran to embrace Lieutenant Luthcke. It was very heartwarming, and something that Reverend Phillips said she has come to expect in Ridgewood. Reverend Phillips noted that she appreciates the level of safety that accompanies having police officers on the streets.

Reverend Johnson of the Mount Bethel Baptist Church at 399 South Broad Street said he supports the Ridgewood Police Department. He pointed out that he does not know all the details associated with not replacing the officers who are due to retire this year, or what the schedule is for replacing those officers, but Reverend Johnson believes it is vital for the community that he serves to know that the Police Department does a fabulous job responding to the needs of the community. Reverend Johnson stated that he would be very nervous if there was not adequate police coverage to protect the citizens of Ridgewood. However, he understands that there are problems in this area, and if a certain element were to find out that there would be less police scrutiny, Reverend Johnson believes that element would take advantage of the situation. He asked that the Councilmembers do not consider cutting back the number of police officers. Reverend Johnson believes it is important to the community to have first responders available, because it makes the community feel safer to know that the residents can count on the Police Department to be wherever they are needed. He believes it is essential to give the Police Chief and his staff adequate personnel to feel comfortable about keeping everyone protected.

Nancy Johansen, 115 Lincoln Avenue, is the Chairperson of the Financial Advisory Committee, who noted that the previous comments included questions about procedure in the Police Department. Ms. Johansen believes everyone in the community supports the Police Department, but it is necessary to focus in a thoughtful way on the procedure and the long-term financial impact of the decisions to be made.

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.)        Amend Section 3-43(D) of the Ridgewood Village Code – Administration of Government – Police Department

 Mayor Aronsohn explained that this section is basically the organizational makeup of the Police Department. He believes it was last amended in 2011 by the previous Village Council, which included three current Councilmembers. The issue today is that a current Village ordinance sets a maximum on the number and types of police officers that can serve on the police force. After many conversations between Mayor Aronsohn and the Police Chief, as well as the former Village Manager, Mayor Aronsohn questions whether that makes sense, and whether it would not be better to hire additional police officers. It would give the Village additional police officers on the ground, and could also help to reduce overtime costs.

The issue tonight is that two conditional offers of employment were made to officer candidates, which might be in excess of the numbers permitted by Village ordinance. If that is true, and the Village were to be in excess, Mayor Aronsohn said the discussion would center around what steps must be taken. One possible solution is to amend the law retroactively to allow the officers to be hired. The situation arose on Friday, January 17^th, when Police Chief John Ward made these conditional offers of employment. After some conversations with Ms. Mailander, it was brought to the Councilmembers’ attention almost immediately after the offers were made that hiring the additional officers might violate the Ridgewood Code. After two Closed Session meetings, during which this issue was discussed among the Councilmembers, Ms. Mailander, Mr. Rogers, and the Village’s labor attorney, the Councilmembers have been trying to determine how to proceed. Chief Ward was invited to attend the second Closed Session meeting, but he was unable to at that time.

Mayor Aronsohn said the Councilmembers now find themselves in a very difficult situation, which should not have arisen in the first place. There is also a sensitive personnel element to this situation, which involves the Village’s nepotism policy. A second question has arisen regarding whether the process was handled in consistency with the nepotism policy. The Councilmembers would like to figure out how to proceed and to move forward with this situation. Depending on the outcome of this discussion, the Village Council might convene a Special Public Meeting to introduce the ordinance which would amend the law to allow these hires.

Ms. Mailander added that the discussion is about amending the ordinance which establishes the makeup of the Police Department, delineating specific numbers for each rank of the Department. The amendment to be considered would allow for two additional officers to be hired at this time proactively, in anticipation of seven potential retirements between May and December 2015. The reasons for hiring the two new police officers at this time are as follows: seven anticipated retirements are anticipated, as mentioned before; it takes approximately 9 months before a police officer is allowed to go on patrol by him/herself, which includes six months at the Police Academy and three months of field training; there is a potential for a reduction in overtime in 2014, and going into 2015, due to extra personnel; it will allow for internal training of junior officers to take the place of the senior officers in the Detective Bureau and Traffic Bureau; and the Police Department cannot do field training for more than two or three new recruits coming out of the Police Academy at any one time, leading to the request of Chief Ward to phase in the hiring of new officers in 2014 and 2015. In addition, best practices calls for succession planning, and hiring officers in 2014 alliance with best practices. Funding was previously approved by the Village Council. Ms. Mailander said it should also be noted that in the past, before this ordinance detailed specific numbers within the ranks, hiring was done proactively. Police officers were hired in anticipation of having retirements in the future, so those candidates could complete their course work in the Police Academy and field training, while the potential retiree was still serving in the Police Department, and when the senior officer retired some months later, a fully-trained officer was ready to step in.

Ms. Mailander said the results of hiring new police officers in 2014 would include a reduction of overtime in the latter part of 2014 and going into 2015 due to the availability of two new, fully-trained police officers; elimination of a tremendous amount of overtime costs, which may average approximately $1,200 per 12-hour shift, according to Steven Sanzari, Chief Financial Officer; the ability to maintain police services while there are many retirements occurring, due to succession planning and proactive hiring. The Village does not want to be in a position in which the new hires have just completed field training, but it is preferred that the new police officers have been on patrol for a period of time before the first retirements occur in 2015. This will give the new officers at least six months serving as police officers on their own, which will give them additional experience prior to the senior officers leaving.

The overall goal is to maintain public safety at the same level or better than it is now as these large numbers of retirements occur, in the most cost-effective manner possible. In other words, while reducing overtime costs. By phasing in the hiring of these new police officers in anticipation of the retirements, this goal can be achieved. Ms. Mailander said this is a win-win for the public and the Village: the public will have police services maintained during the transition period, and overtime costs are reduced. It also allows the Police Department to train junior officers to take the place of senior key officers in the Detective Bureau and Traffic Bureau, due to increased personnel.

Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that the most important question to be answered is whether the Village is now in violation of what is permitted by the ordinance as far as police hires are concerned. Police Chief Ward responded that at this point in time, if the two candidates being discussed are hired, it would put the Village in excess of the numbers allowed in the amended policy for patrol officers. There are some positions in the command staff ranking that are still vacant, but the wording in the ordinance was changed to limit the number of patrol officers to 30, and if the fifth Sergeant’s position is not filled, the number of patrol officers will be 31. Mayor Aronsohn asked how many patrol officers are currently in the Police Department, and Chief Ward answered that right now, with the officer recruit currently in the Academy, the number of patrol officers will be 31. If the two additional hires are approved, the number of patrol officers will increase to 33.

Mayor Aronsohn said the next question is why Chief Ward and the Village Manager extended conditional offers of employment in excess of what is permitted by ordinance. Chief Ward responded that going back to early 2013, the Police Department was already receiving information from Police Department personnel that they would be retiring in 2015, due to the fact that a number of the senior officers had contracts due to expire in 2015. Chief Ward approached the former Village Manager and explained that if the Police Department were to lose seven officers without replacing them in advance of their retirements, the Department would be crippled as far as its ability to respond to non-emergency calls, and overtime costs would increase dramatically. Chief Ward thought it would be better to try to be proactive and present an alternative, and the former Village Manager asked for a plan. Chief Ward developed a plan as requested, and he asked the officers to let him know to the best of their ability the tentative dates of their retirements. After exchanging emails and direct conversations, it was determined that three officers would be retiring sometime between the late spring and summer of 2015, and other officers said they would definitely be retiring between October and December 2015. Chief Ward prepared a plan, which he presented to the former Village Manager. In addition, Chief Ward mentioned in his July 2013 report, he outlined his plan and the potential problems that he anticipated. When Ms. Mailander took over as the Acting Village Manager, she was briefed on the situation, and Chief Ward confirmed with her what his plan was. Although he was not a part of the discussion in October regarding funding, Chief Ward said he was informed that the funding had been approved for his plan, and that certification of the civil service list could move forward. Mayor Aronsohn asked if Chief Ward was aware of the limits that were established regarding Police Department personnel. Chief Ward said there had been some confusion regarding the limits, and that he never received a copy of the amended ordinance. In fact, he stated that the entire Police Department was under the impression that the number of officers could be as high as 43, based on the matrix study performed. This was also based on negotiations between the former Village Manager and the police unions regarding replacing the four officers lost in 2010, as well as some supervisory staff, which did not occur. Chief Ward mentioned that the only other time he heard about any additional changes was sometime in early 2011, when the former Village Manager was discussing one of Chief Ward’s monthly reports, and told Chief Ward that the Detective Captain could no longer be listed as an open position due to the fact that the position have been removed because the wording was changed regarding Captains and Sergeants. Mayor Aronsohn asked if Chief Ward was now aware of the change, and Chief Ward confirmed this.

Mayor Aronsohn agreed that being proactive is a very good idea, and he acknowledged receiving a copy of the proposed plan from Ms. Mailander. He noted that one of the first proposals made by Chief Ward in the plan was to hire 3-4 officers in July 2014, not in January. Chief Ward said he included options in his proposal, and January was one of the options given. He noted that hiring officers in January is a good idea because it allows the officers to be out on patrol by September, which would help to reduce some of the increased overtime that has been occurring. In addition, Chief Ward said he had factored into his proposal the costs of hiring two officers in January and two in July at approximately $107,000 in salaries over the course of 2014. He noted that in an effort to keep overtime costs down, he had been moving officers from the Detective Bureau and Traffic Bureau to cover vacant patrol shifts to save $200,000+ every year. Hiring the new police officers would eliminate the necessity of moving other officers around, as well as reducing overtime. For 2015, Chief Ward recommended either hiring three officers in January, or two in January and one in July, which allows for some flexibility in the plan. However, Chief Ward stated that his main concern has always been that something should be done before 2015, because waiting until 2014 or 2015 to take action would leave the Police Department without seven officers for more than nine months. That would make it necessary to strip the Detective Bureau of its officers to cover patrol, as well as making it necessary to have at least one overtime shift every day.

Mayor Aronsohn commented that the concerns are twofold: one is that the Village would not be in compliance with its own law, leading to the question of how to remedy that situation; and the other concern is that if the ordinance is amended right now to accommodate these two hires, does it expose the Village to people who might have wanted to be police officers over the past couple of years but were told that there is a limit to the number of officers in the Police Department, so they could not be hired. Chief Ward responded that he is not a labor counsel, but forward movement is based upon civil service needs, so as soon as Ms. Mailander informed Chief Ward that she was requesting a certification of the civil service list, action was taken. Mayor Aronsohn responded that he understood all of that, but the fact remains that the law does specify limits. He asked Ms. Mailander if she was aware of the limits set by the ordinance, and she answered that she was not familiar with the ordinance. At the time it was adopted, she was not the Village Manager; she did not have hiring authority; and it did not pertain to her.

Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that the other area to be considered is the financial impact of these hires. While he does support being proactive, Mayor Aronsohn said one of the concerns is the specter of multiple potential retirements in 2015, but they may not happen next year, which would lead to having additional people in the Police Department, with all of the attendant salaries and benefits, for an indefinite period of time. Chief Ward responded that he understands that concern, and he pointed out that there is a timeframe for Police Officers to submit their retirement papers. At this time, it is far too early for anyone who is planning to retire in 2015 to submit the necessary paperwork. Chief Ward believes commitments from these potential retirees is not set in stone, based on the emails and other written communications he has received from them. Mayor Aronsohn said he appreciates all of that, but the fact remains that these hires are taking place so far in advance without any assurance that the positions will need to be filled. In addition, he noted that the proposed ordinance specifies raising the number of police officers to 32 from 30 in the current ordinance. If Chief Ward is considering hiring two more officers in July, that would require increasing the number of officers again. Chief Ward said that if he had been consulted when the ordinance was first proposed, he would have recommended that there be no specified limit on the number of police officers, because he does not believe there should be a limit on the number of officers in the Department. Limiting the number of Chiefs and other command staff is fine, but Chief Ward pointed out that the needs of the community change, which is why he does not recommend limiting the number of police officers that can be hired. To answer the question, Chief Ward said that hiring two more officers in July would require another increase, which would also require that Chief Ward appear before the Village Council to ask for that increase. Mayor Aronsohn answered that he appreciated Chief Ward’s comments, and he agrees that there should not be a specified limit to the number of police officers, because such limits seem very arbitrary.

Mayor Aronsohn noted for the benefit of Ms. Mailander and Mr. Rogers that, as noted by Chief Ward, the number of officer should be increased by four instead of by two. Ms. Mailander responded that the change could be made, and that the ordinance was only set to be introduced tonight.

The last point Mayor Aronsohn wanted to make was regarding the nepotism policy, because it is a relevant issue. Chief Ward responded that the Police Department follows all Civil Service rules. The top three candidates were offered positions, and the nepotism rule applies to all of those candidates. The list of potential candidates has been around for several years, and the candidates in the top three positions were not always in those positions. Chief Ward noted that the Police Department follows the letter of the law, and he reminded the Councilmembers that when his own sons were involved in this process, Chief Ward recused himself from the process. He reiterated that no one was chosen based on anything other than his/her standing in the list of candidates. Moreover, Chief Ward said he re-instituted the panel method of doing interviews. The top candidates were brought in based on their Civil Service scores, and they appeared before a panel of officers from the supervisory staff in the Police Department. After that, the Village Manager conducts her interviews to make the ultimate decision on those candidates. Chief Ward commented that it is been mentioned by many people that he has personal relationships with some of the candidates, and he pointed out that he has personal relationships with everyone in the community, because he regards the community as his family. He said that he would never jeopardize the Ridgewood Police Department just to hire someone for his own personal reasons.

Mayor Aronsohn stated for the benefit of the public that the discussion about the nepotism policy is due to the fact that many of the top candidates are “legacy” candidates who are related to people already serving in Village government. He added that many people appreciate the fact that there are families who have such a commitment to public service, but the Village does have a nepotism policy, which puts additional constraints on the authority of the Village Manager to hire and fire employees, and requires additional approval of the Village Council when hiring anyone who is related to someone already working in Village government.

Chief Ward added that he must call for a certified list of candidates, which changes each time the request is made. There was a delay of 1½ months the last time the request was made. The previous list was received on November 25, 2013, and the individual notices were sent on December 3, 2013. Candidates are given five business days to respond, which means that their letters of intent had to be received by the Village Manager’s office within that time, and those respondents are put on a final list so that the Police Department can begin its background investigations on each candidate.

Councilman Riche said he wanted to put things in perspective. He noted that there is one officer currently in the Police Academy who will soon graduate. Chief Ward confirmed this, adding that the officer is a replacement hire. Councilman Riche recalled that there were two officers at the Police Academy, but one of them was injured and was forced to withdraw. He commented that if both of those officers had finished their training, Chief Ward would have two police officers completing their training at this time. Chief Ward said that, in fact, he would have two officers ready for patrol, including completion of their field training, but that is not the case. He pointed out that the Police Department had to go through another round of candidates, because the officer was injured after the Police Academy training had begun, so the list had to be re-certified, and the whole process had to be restarted. Councilman Riche also recalled that Chief Ward has always lobbied for more police officers in his Department, and that years ago, the Police Department had many more officers than the number currently serving. Chief Ward corrected Councilman Riche’s statement, saying that currently, the Police Department is much larger than it has been in the past. In the mid-1990s, there were approximately 52 officers. However, by 2000, the number had decreased to 48, and it has dropped continuously since that time. Moreover, former Chief Corcoran had said that he believed the minimum number of officer should be 48, in order to keep control over overtime and provide adequate public safety. Chief Ward agrees with that assessment, although he pointed out that the professional matrix study that was done said the minimum effective number was 43 or 44 officers, based on the current Police Department structure. Councilman Riche said he appreciates that, and pointed out that everyone is doing more with less.

Councilman Riche said he does not remember the particular ordinance that was passed limiting the number of police officers, due to the fact that the Councilmembers deal with so many ordinances. He recalled that the former Village Manager used the number of police personnel as a negotiating tool, and now the Councilmembers are being asked to make these changes because of that. Chief Ward responded that there are several different reasons for increasing the number of police officers, and they are not limited to controlling overtime pay and ensuring public safety, but he believes that if the Village does not act proactively, it will be faced with the elimination of Chief Ward’s ability to reduce the amount of overtime pay that has been expended in the past due to the fact that he will have to deplete the Detective Bureau and Traffic Bureau to cover patrol on overtime, as well as affecting how coverage can be provided for special events. Moreover, it will reverse the progress made by the Police Department in getting back into the schools; enhancing initiatives; and it will have an impact on traffic enforcement and other services. Chief Ward said he modeled his recommendation on what other departments are facing or have faced, which is approximately a 40% decrease over a span of years.

Councilman Riche asked Chief Ward to go through the process of hiring and firing again. Councilman Riche pointed out that the Councilmembers really have no say regarding the hiring and firing of individuals in the Village, but that is taken care of by the Village Manager. The Civil Service list is published according to test scores and place of residence, with candidates being ranked on the list. The candidates remain on the list until a municipality is ready to hire them. The municipality, through its Village Clerk, calls for the list to be certified. At that point, it is possible that the list is several years old, and candidates may have moved on by that time. The Village operates on the “rule of three,” which means that one or two of the top three candidates can be chosen by the Village for consideration for employment. As Chief Ward has pointed out, that process is done by a review board consisting of senior officers in the Police Department, after which time a recommendation is made to the Village Manager, who conducts interviews and makes a recommendation based upon those interviews. The Councilmembers have no say in who is hired, but they do vote on the funding for those hires. Chief Ward agreed with Councilman Riche’s explanation of the hiring process, and pointed out that as far as the particular list in question is concerned, several of the candidates were hired by the Fire Department. The list includes candidates for both the Police and Fire Departments. Chief Ward commented that many times, candidates will take jobs in other locations.

Councilman Riche said he thinks it is a tremendous benefit to the community when members of a family go into public service, such as being police officers, like Chief Ward’s sons have done. Chief Ward said his belief is that it should be based solely on the test scores and qualifications. If the candidate happens to be related to someone already in Civil Service, the Village has established a process to avoid any appearance of impropriety. The Civil Service test was created with the intent to take local politics and nepotism out of the mix by having a State-run examination, and having the “rule of three” allows for some leeway in considering candidates.

Councilwoman Hauck said she does not dispute the importance of public safety and the Police Department, and how much they are valued and needed. She is also not disputing the nepotism policy. However, Councilwoman Hauck sees the current problem as an administrative problem and how it would appear if the ordinance were changed to facilitate an administrative error. She suggested that it might be better to wait until the next round of Police Academy candidates graduate, and hire new police officers in July. That would avoid being in violation of Village Code. Councilwoman Hauck said she feels uneasy about amending the current ordinance in order to bring people in prematurely. She pointed out that no one knows for sure when the next batch of police officers will retire. Therefore, if each candidate has nine months to go through the Police Academy and field training, Councilwoman Hauck believes that gives the Village time to wait for the next group of candidates. She understands that the Village has now been put in an awkward position in which offers of employment have to be rescinded, but that was an administrative mistake, and the Village must suffer those consequences. Chief Ward said he appreciates her point of view, and all he can do is to make recommendations based on the needs of his Department. He added that no action was taken until he was told to move forward. Furthermore, Chief Ward said it is not known when the next Civil Service list will be published, although it has been said that it could possibly be in March or June. He noted that if hiring is postponed until the next list comes out, there is no guarantee that the list will be published on time, and the delays in getting lists certified or re-certified can be considerable. In addition, Chief Ward said he would have to find out from labor counsel if the offers of employment could be delayed until March, but he noted that money has already been spent on uniforms for these candidates. Chief Ward stated that this is how the Police Department was told to proceed, and added that he could not say with absolute certainty that the current officers will retire when they said they would, but he is concerned about what will happen to the Police Department, especially since the current contract is expiring. The potential retirees are worried about what may happen regarding legislation affecting their retirement benefits, and what they might have to pay for those benefits, as well as their medical benefits. That is why they have indicated their intent to retire. Chief Ward asked them to put their intentions in writing so that he could take action proactively and avoid jeopardizing public safety while also avoiding exorbitant overtime payments. He appreciates the difficult position in which the Councilmembers find themselves, and he thought it would have been better if he had been included in the discussions about the ordinance from the beginning.

Councilman Riche pointed out that the Village has a process by which ordinances can be changed. The Councilmembers have been advised by labor counsel that once a conditional offer of employment is made, if the candidates are not allowed to enter the Police Academy tomorrow, the Village would be in violation of Federal employment law. Councilman Riche said the Village Council will not violate such laws. Therefore, in order to remedy the situation and give the residents of Ridgewood the assurance of protection to which they are entitled, Councilman Riche supports moving forward with amending the ordinance.

Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that labor counsel said that the Village could be in violation of Federal employment law, but he did not recall that it was established definitely that any violation would exist. The only established fact is that the Village is currently in violation of its own ordinance.

Councilman Pucciarelli stated that, as an attorney, he is surprised to hear another Councilmember declare that if the offers are not rescinded, the Village would be violating Federal law.

Councilwoman Walsh thanked everyone for coming to this meeting, and added that when issues of this magnitude come before the Village Council, it is important for the Councilmembers to act as a cohesive group. Although there have been moments in the past months when these Councilmembers have not acted cohesively, Councilwoman Walsh said when this topic first arose, all five of them acted as one body. They met no less than four times on this matter, and they unanimously agreed on the action that was taken. Councilwoman Walsh believes the action taken was a very wise decision.

Councilwoman Walsh reminded everyone that she has been the chairperson of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) since 2012. The meetings are often heated because the citizens of Ridgewood believe there are not enough police officers on the streets. Every month, Councilwoman Walsh says citizens come to the CSAC meetings with complaints about traffic in Ridgewood; crosswalks; and individuals getting hit and killed by vehicles. In addition, there are always at least two police officers at the meetings, sometimes including the Captain, while other times including other police officers. The police officers are very gracious under fire, although the meetings are not pleasant. A Girl Scout who was working on her Gold Award project was surprised at the vehemence shown at one meeting. Her project involves working on one of the most dangerous intersections in the Village, because she feels very strongly that more police officers are needed on the streets.

Councilwoman Walsh said she has always asked Chief Ward about a “floater,” which is her terminology, not a word used by the Police Department. She has consistently pointed out that if $200,000 per year is spent on overtime, and the estimated salary of a starting police officer is approximately $45,000, it would be better to hire four additional police officers, rather than continually paying overtime that just seems to increase every year. This would also appease those residents who continually ask for more police officers on the streets. Moreover, Councilwoman Walsh noted that over time is just that, and is not intended to be factored into the salary of a police officer. That is something that has also been pointed out by the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC). Chief Ward pointed out that for 2013, the overtime expenditure was $266,000, which he noted is a fraction of what is spent in many other towns. He added that Ridgewood has been very successful in managing overtime. Chief Ward also stated that the cost of adding four officers has been estimated at $107,000, and phasing in three more officers in 2015, after factoring in the savings realized from the retirements, would lead to a cost savings of approximately $106,000, based only on salaries. For 2016, the cost savings is estimated at $748,000. In 2017, the savings is estimated to be $666,000; and in 2018, the estimate is $319,000. Those figures only reflect the costs associated with the seven anticipated retirements, and the hiring of officers to replace those who retire. Chief Ward pointed out that the savings are also due to the contract negotiations between the Village and the police officers’ union.

In response to the comments made by Councilwoman Hauck, Councilwoman Walsh stated that she does not believe it is unreasonable for the Councilmembers to examine the ordinance and move forward with the necessary changes to enable progress on the plan as agreed upon in the last several months by the Councilmembers. The fact that there is discussion about it is a positive thing, because it demonstrates better communication. Councilwoman Walsh does not think it is unreasonable for the Councilmembers to continue along the path which the Councilmembers started as a unanimous group. Whether new definitions are given for overtime, or any other new definitions are added to the Village Code, Councilwoman Walsh believes it is the most reasonable thing for the Councilmembers to do.

Councilman Pucciarelli said he is also grateful for all of the police protection and security that has been provided to him and his family, and the Police Department does a wonderful job, but that is not the issue being discussed by the Councilmembers. For him, the issue is law enforcement, and the Village must obey its own laws. Councilman Pucciarelli received a telephone call on Friday, January 17, 2014, from the Acting Village Manager, to tell him that the Village was hiring two of the three candidates, all three of whom are relatives of current Village employees. Councilman Pucciarelli previously expressed his aversion to nepotism, because he believes that objective criteria should be the criteria applied to everyone. He told Ms. Mailander very plainly that he wanted to make sure that the nepotism policy was not being violated, and Ms. Mailander assured him that it was not. Councilman Pucciarelli subsequently found out that the nepotism policy can only be considered by the Village Council in a meeting.

Councilman Pucciarelli also stated in that telephone conversation that he supports hiring the new candidates, provided it would not be creating new positions, expanding the organizational chart, or in any way exceeding the authorized number of police personnel. He was told that none of those conditions applied. On that basis, he told Ms. Mailander that it would be her decision whether to hire the new candidates. Emails were sent among the Councilmembers and the Acting Village Manager that included copies of the ordinance. On Wednesday, January 22, 2014, the Councilmembers had a special meeting with the Acting Village Manager, Mr. Rogers, and labor counsel, at which time it became obvious that everyone needed to hear the opinions of the Chief of Police. Councilman Pucciarelli suggested inviting Chief Ward another meeting to discuss the nepotism issue and resolve it, as well as all the other issues encompassing overtime and hiring, and particularly the issue of timing. The next day, Councilman Pucciarelli received an email informing him that Chief Ward could not attend the meeting because he was teaching a class at Fairleigh Dickinson University, yet the Councilmembers did meet that night with Mr. Rogers and labor counsel, as well as Ms. Mailander. Councilman Pucciarelli absented himself from the meeting, because he felt strongly that input was needed from Chief Ward. The nepotism issue cannot be discussed at this meeting, because it is a personnel matter. Therefore, it seems to Councilman Pucciarelli that tonight is not the time to make a decision.

Typically, the new list of candidates comes out in March. It may or may not be delayed. Councilman Pucciarelli reminded everyone that they were just told that the first retirements are expected in June 2015. If nine months is required in order to get a police officer completely trained and ready for patrol, then no hiring is required before October 2014. For those officers leaving in December 2015, no hiring is required before March 2015. Councilman Pucciarelli asked why is it necessary to hire two new police officers in January 2014, in violation of Village ordinance, and while requesting that the Village Council correct the mistake. Nothing that was discussed this evening has given Councilman Pucciarelli any greater understanding of the situation than he had before. He believes this is premature, anticipatory hiring of speculative retirements, and Councilman Pucciarelli does not want to violate the law. Councilman Riche pointed out that rescinding the offers would violate Federal law, and Councilman Pucciarelli believes that keeping them active violates State law. Councilman Pucciarelli said he would vote against hiring two new police officers, for the following reasons: the Village Council has not had an opportunity to discuss the matter with Chief Ward before this evening; the requirements of the anti-nepotism policy were not satisfied before the offers were made, because there was no Village Council meeting, nor was any approval given by the Councilmembers; the Village Code section in question was not taken into consideration before the offers were made; anticipatory hiring so far in advance of possible retirements is unprecedented; the retirement expectation is based upon the assumption of retirements that may never happen; hiring additional personnel prior to the time that they become absolutely necessary, when other Departments are operating below staff levels, is unfair; Chief Ward indicated in his own memo that hiring new officers could wait until July 2014; a new Village Manager will be hired in Ridgewood within the next 4-6 weeks, and the expectation is that the new Village Manager will take a long, hard look at staffing levels; hiring two new police officers at this time would be pre-empting the process involved in hiring a new Village Manager; a preliminary look at the required salary increases in the 2014 budget indicates substantial increases in the Police Department alone, without these hires, which will have to be offset by cutting elsewhere, due to the fact that they are mandated contractual increases; and making new law because a mistake was made is not how law should be made, and Councilman Pucciarelli does not believe it will solve the problem by making a new law because of the possibility of a lawsuit, because he believes there is an equal chance of a lawsuit if the Village were to move forward. Councilman Pucciarelli would like to revisit this issue in the fullness of time, when there has been an opportunity to speak privately to Chief Ward, which Councilman Pucciarelli thought would have happened last week.

Mayor Aronsohn asked Ms. Mailander and Mr. Rogers if the two candidates who were given conditional offers of employment had been sworn in, and Ms. Mailander confirmed that they had not. Mayor Aronsohn asked what the plan is at this time. Ms. Mailander responded that it was planned that the ordinance would be introduced this evening, and the Councilmembers would have to tell her what to do about the pending appointments. Mayor Aronsohn asked when the Police Academy course starts and Ms. Mailander responded that it begins tomorrow. Mayor Aronsohn then asked if the Councilmembers order to move forward with the introduction of the amendment, it is Ms. Mailander’s plan that the candidates would be sworn in, after which time they would attend the Police Academy, and the Village would still be in violation of its own ordinance, because the amendment would not take effect until it is adopted. Ms. Mailander confirmed all of that. Chief Ward interjected that the Essex County Police Academy course starts in March, and there is another Police Academy in July. He added that he does not know what the status would be if the conditional offers of employment held open while the situation is resolved to the satisfaction of the Councilmembers. Ms. Mailander answered that the ordinance could be amended by February, in time for the March session of the Police Academy.

Mayor Aronsohn stated that he does believe the number of police officer stated in the ordinance seems arbitrary, and there must be a number that would ensure the safety of the community, as well as saving money for the Village. However, he does not believe this is the correct way to make law, and there is no good solution to the problem. Mayor Aronsohn also noted that Chief Ward had provided information to the Councilmembers regarding overtime costs and savings, and Mr. Sanzari was also asked to provide figures relating to Police Department salaries and benefits. Ms. Mailander said she received that information just prior to this meeting. Mayor Aronsohn said the numbers should include any cost savings, if any, in terms of overtime if two or four additional police officers were hired in 2014, as well as the overall cost of hiring additional police personnel. Ms. Mailander said the cost, including salaries and benefits, is $96,590 to hire the two candidates under it for 11 months. Adding two more would not necessarily double that number, because they would not be hired until July, so their salaries and benefits would be estimated for approximately 5 months. Therefore, Mayor Aronsohn said a rough estimate of the cost for salaries and benefits for all four hires would be approximately $150,000. Chief Ward said it would be possible to reduce those numbers by having the next two officers to be hired attend the Essex County Police Academy, which will have a session starting in September 2014. Mayor Aronsohn answered that the possibility of waiting until July might have to be considered, in order to analyze what makes sense in terms of the Police Department, its structure, and positions. After that, the issue could be revisited in July, as was mentioned in one of Chief Ward’s emails.

Councilman Pucciarelli interjected that, as he mentioned before, there will be a new Village Manager in place by that time, and these are the types of decisions that Chief Ward and the Village Manager, in close consultation, should make together. He also reiterated that if the retirements are not to occur until June 2015, it would not be necessary to have new police officers in place before October 2014. For the remaining retirees who are not scheduled to retire until December 2015, new police officers must be in place by March 2015. Ms. Mailander pointed out that the hiring of new personnel must also synchronize with the courses at the Police Academy, while Chief Ward noted that time must also be included to allow for the selection process and background checks. Councilman Pucciarelli said he finds it ironic that, as the current collective bargaining agreement is nearing its expiration, there are so many potential retirees who want to take advantage of the healthcare payments, and he considers that the agreement is evidence of bad planning. Chief Ward agreed with Councilman Pucciarelli, and also pointed out that another reason for so many retirements is due to the fact that no one knows what action the State might take regarding benefits for public employees.

Councilwoman Walsh had questions about the candidates. She asked if there was another test given since the time that these particular candidates took the test. Chief Ward answered that there was another examination since that time, but he does not know if they took that test, also. Councilwoman Walsh said that means that they will not appear on the next list of candidates if they did not take the test.

Councilman Riche asked Mr. Rogers to explain the Village’s legal position in this situation, without revealing more than was necessary. Mr. Rogers said he could only convey information that was given to him by the Village’s labor counsel. There are issues that are presented by the conditional offers of employment, and that once those offers of employment have been given, the municipality is bound to a certain extent to a particular action that must be taken, the first of which is the scheduling and attendance of the candidate at a psychological and physical evaluation. Those are two of the three conditions of employment, and the last one is attendance at the Police Academy, including the ability to pass the courses there in a satisfactory manner. According to the labor counsel, the Village has certain legal obligations after making those conditional offers of employment, so that if the offers are withdrawn, there are ramifications for the Village to consider. Those ramifications were spelled out to the Councilmembers by the labor counsel at the Closed Session meetings. The Councilmembers were urged to take those issues into consideration before making those offers.

Mayor Aronsohn stated that because this law has been in place, which sets a ceiling to the number of police officers who can serve in the Police Department, he assumes there were other candidates over the past several years who might have wanted to join the Ridgewood Police Department but were unable to be considered due to the limits set. Now that the Councilmembers are contemplating amending the ordinance retroactively to allow for these two hires, Mayor Aronsohn wonders if the Village will be exposed to a requirement to consider any of those previous candidates. Mr. Rogers responded that because that particular issue was not discussed with labor counsel in his presence, he could only give his understanding of the laws pertaining to that issue. He stated that a municipality or government entity cannot be bound to a future act. With any type of contractor agreement, there must be an offer, acceptance, and consideration. If there were no offers made at that time, Mr. Rogers explained that as he understands the law, he does not believe someone could say that s/he would have been hired by the Village had an offer been tendered.

Councilman Pucciarelli interjected to say that he is very uncomfortable discussing in a public forum and on the record the legal exposure of the Village if the Councilmembers do not do what is being requested tonight. It is not a good idea to be discussing legal exposure in front of potential plaintiffs. Mr. Rogers said he would normally agree with Councilman Pucciarelli, but unfortunately, sometimes it must be considered when a decision must be made. Councilman Pucciarelli believes that this entire issue should have been dealt with in Closed Session, particularly as it relates to the legal exposure of the Village, as well as the nepotism question.

Councilwoman Hauck recalled that there was some mention of extending the offers of employment to March 2014, so that this issue could be discussed further, and she wondered if that would be possible. Ms. Mailander responded that she would have to ask labor counsel if the offers could be extended, but since there is a Police Academy course beginning in March, if the amended ordinance is adopted, the offers could be made at that time. Councilwoman Hauck said she asked the question because she believes that the discussion should be very thorough and deliberate, and a decision should not be made quickly. Chief Ward noted that if the applicants enter the Police Academy in March, they would graduate in September, and the additional three months of field training that is required would make them full-fledged officers by December 2014 or January 2015. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that the needs of the Police Department could still be met by proceeding in that manner, and Chief Ward agreed.

Mayor Aronsohn suggested that the Councilmembers need time to review the ordinance in order to have a fully-informed discussion about this matter, and that it should be done before any vote is taken to amend the ordinance, rather than amending the ordinance retroactively. Councilman Pucciarelli said he learned a lot from listening to the comments made by Chief Ward, and he believes the Councilmembers could make a more reasoned decision with more discussion, because the nepotism issue will also have to be decided as a separate issue. Chief Ward said his question would then become what is he to tell the two candidates in question who are awaiting action by the Village Council. Ms. Mailander pointed out that if the Councilmembers want to have the ordinance in place by March, it must be introduced in February. It could be discussed again next week, whether publicly or in Closed Session, after which time it could be introduced, with adoption in March. Mayor Aronsohn responded that Ms. Mailander’s explanation of the scenario is a good one, and would allow for both public discussion of the Police Department personnel needs, as well as allowing the Councilmembers to discuss the nepotism and other personnel issues in Closed Session. Ms. Mailander also pointed out that she informed all of the Councilmembers in Closed Session who the three candidates are, and what their relationships are to current Village personnel.

Regarding the nepotism policy, Mayor Aronsohn acknowledged that Ms. Mailander had spoken to the Councilmembers in a general way about the policy. However, there was a caveat to the Councilmembers’ agreement, which was that if any candidate was to be passed over, Ms. Mailander would go back to the Councilmembers with that information, due to the fact that the former Village Manager was believed to have passed over some candidates inappropriately. Ms. Mailander stated that she had a discussion with the Councilmembers in an advisory capacity, and because she and Councilman Pucciarelli had a long conversation about legacies and nepotism. Ms. Mailander said her belief, which is apparently incorrect, is that if she were to pass over someone who has no connection to anyone in Ridgewood, she would explain to the Councilmembers why she was passing over that person. However, because all three of the current candidates have legacies, and the Councilmembers knew who the candidates were and their familial relationships, she did not feel it necessary to go back to the Councilmembers again for more discussion. Mayor Aronsohn noted that the different interpretations of those discussions are illustrative of all the “gray areas” in the current nepotism policy.

Councilman Riche said he is very disturbed by this current situation. It is clear to him that an offer of employment was made, which was discussed by the Councilmembers in Closed Session. None of the Councilmembers ever indicated that the medical or psychological examinations, or any of the other necessary steps in the process, should not be taken. However, now the discussion is that the candidates should be asked to wait to enter the Police Academy. Councilman Riche said he is disgusted by the situation, as are many members of the community.

Councilwoman Walsh stated that she believes it would be wise to put this on the agenda for a future Work Session. Ms. Mailander said the next Work Session meeting will be on Wednesday, February 5^th. Councilwoman Walsh also noted that the Councilmembers have already been informed about the scheduling of budget meetings. In the meantime, the Councilmembers could gather whatever data is available on the subject. Councilman Walsh is concerned that putting this off any longer will bring the discussion into March, and decisions must be made by then so the Essex County Police Academy deadline is not missed. Therefore, Councilwoman Walsh proposes giving Ms. Mailander the direction to put this matter on the agenda for the next Work Session meeting.

Councilman Pucciarelli said he wanted to go on record as saying that this is not a game for him, and he finds this very serious. He feels very sorry that the two young men got caught up in this process. Furthermore, Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the Village’s own ordinance was violated, and there is some question about the nepotism policy. He wondered if that is the type of governance the people of Ridgewood want.

Mayor Aronsohn stated that this item would be put on the agenda for the Work Session meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2014. He said any additional discussion on personnel issues could be done in a Closed Session meeting. More information is needed from Mr. Sanzari, particularly regarding overtime costs. Ms. Mailander pointed out that Mr. Sanzari had provided that information already in his report. Mayor Aronsohn responded that some clarification is needed. Chief Ward asked for guidance regarding what he should tell the two candidates. Ms. Mailander answered that he should tell them that the situation is currently on hold, and she will be contacting them. Chief Ward added that there might be a problem with the gear that has been issued to the candidates, because it is labeled for Bergen County, and might require some changes to conform to the requirements in Essex County. He also asked that the Councilmembers move forward as quickly as possible, so he can make arrangements with the Essex County Police Academy for the two officers. There is a possibility that Ridgewood might be billed by the Bergen County Police Academy, because spaces were held for the two candidates. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that any outstanding questions the Councilmembers may have should be addressed to Ms. Mailander before the Village Council meeting next week.

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

At 9:05 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Walsh, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.

5. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION

At 9:10 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Walsh, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council reconvened its Work Session. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Heather Mailander, Acting Village Manager/Village Clerk; Donna Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

6. PRESENTATIONS

a.)        Annual Report from Financial Advisory Committee

Councilman Pucciarelli commented that the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC), which was established last year, has undertaken a lot of work in that time. Councilman Pucciarelli has attended their meetings as the liaison between the FAC and the Village Council. The FAC is obligated by the resolution that formed the Committee to make an annual report in January of each year to the Village Council, and they presented their report at this meeting. Nancy Johansen, Chairperson of the FAC, and Roberta Sonenfeld, Vice-Chairperson of the FAC made the presentation.

Ms. Johansen commented that all of the Councilmembers received a copy of the annual report in their reading packets for this meeting, so the intention of this discussion would be to highlight some of the points made in that report, and then take any questions the Councilmembers might have. She reminded everyone that the creation of the FAC was the main recommendation of the report prepared by the “Tiger Team,” so the logical beginning for the FAC was to start by reviewing the recommendations made by the Tiger Team. As a newly-formed Committee, Ms. Johansen said that all of the members of the FAC agreed with the conclusions in the Tiger Team’s report that the status quo in Ridgewood is unsustainable from a financial perspective, and it is extremely important that the Village takes a look at the long-term financial situation. In prioritizing their efforts, the first area of focus was budget on financial reporting. The reason for that is because the members of the FAC believe it is the foundation to help provide better information for decision-making.

The next major effort under way is a review of the collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), in order to assist the Councilmembers and Village Manager to be better prepared for the upcoming negotiations. Mr. Hansen said the FAC also worked on the Village Garage. Those have been the main issues upon which the FAC has concentrated. Over the next six months, Ms. Johansen said they plan to continue in those efforts, as well as other priorities that come up and are considered to be important for the FAC to evaluate. One of the upcoming issues that Ms. Johansen believes might be very important will be starting to work with the newly-hired Village Manager and the Councilmembers to help put together the strategic plan, which does not yet exist.

Ms. Sonenfeld said a meeting was held this afternoon regarding the Village Garage, which the members of the FAC call the “repair facility”. She explained some of the history behind the current efforts regarding the repair facility, which started last year when Councilman Pucciarelli asked the FAC to review the efforts that have been undertaken regarding the potential joint venture with Glen Rock to build a new repair facility on Village-owned land. The members of the FAC toured the current Village Garage site, as well as taking a look at the proposed new site. Ms. Sonenfeld said the members of the FAC concur that the current facility is in decrepit condition, and that something must be done. However, they also recommended that additional monies should not be spent, other than the monies spent on the feasibility study, to determine whether or not the proposal with Glen Rock could work. The members of the FAC felt it would be more important to have a broader analysis or study that would look at a full range of options, covering a continuum ranging from performing everything in-house to completely outsourcing all repair work. Today, the members of the FAC discussed the situation, including how they would like to move forward with this issue. Ms. Sonenfeld said they all concluded that it would be good to go with the recommendations discussed earlier, including the broader analysis, which would include external benchmarking of other municipalities to flush out any prospective partners now that Glen Rock is no longer in partnership with Ridgewood; as well as alternative servicing ideas, such as trying to get best practices. In addition, the members of the FAC want to evaluate County and State resources to get their perspective and capabilities, because there has been a big push at the County level on regionalization and sharing of services, with some money available for that purpose. It is not known what the County is doing with its own fleet, nor the State. It was also agreed that the FAC would reach out to see what large companies like FedEx, UPS, and the United States Postal Service do about their fleets, with the purpose of identifying potential new servicing alternatives, as well as gaining knowledge. However, Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that before any decision can be made, there must be a detailed understanding of the costs involved, as well as a detailed understanding of the Village’s operational and productivity metrics. That information is not yet available. There should also be a detailed understanding of the current needs and future needs, because some of that information is still undecided. In approximately 2009, a study was done by the commercial vehicle consultants, who noted that the current facility is operational and could be repaired. This study is referenced because Ms. Sonenfeld believes there are other possible alternatives.

In conclusion, Ms. Sonenfeld said that a person within Village Hall was identified who could start working on gathering some of the data, while Ms. Sonenfeld and Mr. Highet would work with that person to put this project together. A recommendation would be made to the Councilmembers that it might be necessary to hire a consultant to help with this issue, and hopefully it would be someone with a good understanding of this type of service facility. An RFP will be drafted, and Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, has agreed to give some assistance. Ms. Sonenfeld believes that a project of this type could be accomplished in a relatively short period of time, depending upon the resources available. Councilman Pucciarelli thanked Ms. Sonenfeld for her report, and said it was illustrative of what the FAC can do, although they can only do what they do with the cooperation of staff.

Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned the other members of the Financial Advisory Committee: in addition to Ms. Johansen and Ms. Sonenfeld, the FAC is comprised of Janice Willet; Rich Cundiff; Mac Highet; and Kevin Shea. There is still one vacancy that is expected to be filled within the next couple of weeks.

Mayor Aronsohn thanked Ms. Johansen and Ms. Sonenfeld for their reports, and he thanked the FAC for their efforts. He noted that although the FAC is the newest Village committee, it is playing an increasingly important and valuable role in the Village. Mayor Aronsohn added that he has not yet had a chance to read the entire report, and he invited Ms. Johansen and Ms. Sonenfeld to come back to another meeting, after he and the other Councilmembers have had a chance to read and digest the report. Ms. Johansen thanked Mr. Sanzari for all of his help and participation as an active member of the FAC. Ms. Sonenfeld added that the members of the FAC work well together and it has been a very good experience. Ms. Mailander agreed with their assessments, and said that the meetings she has had with the members of the FAC have been very beneficial. Discussions have been very open and frank.

Councilwoman Walsh thanked Ms. Johansen, Ms. Sonenfeld, and the FAC for their efforts. She thought that the Councilmembers might want to discuss the report in a Closed Session meeting prior to any public discussion of the report. Ms. Johansen commented that the committee has only been in existence for approximately six months, and that while the report is due to the Councilmembers in January, it should include a re-evaluation of their priorities, which would have to be a joint discussion between the FAC and the Councilmembers.

7. DISCUSSION

a. Budget:

1.)        Award Contract under State Contract – Cameras for Police Cars

2.)        Award Contract under State Contract – Operating System for Cameras for Police Cars

Ms. Mailander explained that the cameras are newer cameras, which will record in high definition (HD). The current cameras are outdated, and difficult to repair.

Sergeant Brian Pullman of the Ridgewood Police Department confirmed Ms. Mailander’s statements about the old camera system. The current system was originally purchased in 2005-2006, and is no longer supported by Panasonic. The infrastructure of the system and the components in the vehicles need to be updated. What is proposed is to purchase a new system that is available under State contract. The proposed new system is much better than the old one, with many enhancements, and when compared to the current Panasonic system, is a much better value. There are two resolutions for the two separate elements that comprise the camera recording system: one is for the actual cameras, and the other is for the operating system, which is installed at Police Headquarters. Once the operating system is installed, there is no limit to the number of cameras that can be added to it, and vehicles purchased in the future can also be equipped with cameras that are compatible with the system. As the current equipment breaks down, they must be sent to third-party vendors for repair. Many of them cannot be repaired, and they have not been replaced. That means that there are some patrol cars with cameras that do not work.

Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the cameras and operating system are being purchased through the capital budget, or are they considered operating expenses. Sergeant Pullman responded that there are two different capital accounts from which the funding was approved. This will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

3.)        Award Contract under State Contract – Purchase of Ammunition

Ms. Mailander commented that this ammunition is obviously what is necessary for Police Department weapons, and is also used for semi-annual qualifications of police officers. This will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

4.)        Cancel Taxes – Block 4704, Lot 12 – General Energy Property

Ms. Mailander stated that this resolution is for the General Energy property that was purchased by the Village this past summer, and it allows the taxes for the second half of the year to be waived, in the amount of $590.24. Going forward, this property would not be taxable, because it is now owned by the Village. This will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

5.)        Mobile Concession – User Fees, Application Requirements

Ms. Mailander stated that currently there is no charge for the mobile concession unit, which was donated by the John Vandevander Foundation. However, there are expenses associated with the mobile concession unit, which includes cleaning the four filters, at a cost of approximately $30; refilling the two propane tanks at a cost of $85 per tank; and some professional cleaning that might be needed, which costs about $100 each time go to page 24. To date, the users include Ridgewood Junior Football; Ridgewood Soccer; Maroon Soccer; and the Ridgewood Baseball/Softball Association. A usage fee has been proposed in the amount of $250 per event, or $500 per season. The additional fees mentioned will be included in the event charge, and this proposal has been approved by the Fields Committee. So far, the charges associated with the unit have come out of the operating budget of the Department of Parks and Recreation. The unit is used several times during the various sports seasons. Councilman Pucciarelli asked who staffs the mobile concession stand when it is used by a sports group. Ms. Mailander responded that the group using the stand is responsible for providing staff. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the Board of Education also uses the unit, and Ms. Mailander answered that she does not believe they do.

Timothy Cronin, Director of the Parks and Recreation Department, said that he wants to have some way to formalize any user fees for the unit, and to be able to pass along expenses that are incurred with its usage. Currently, Ridgewood Junior Football uses the unit for the entire season, but the other groups only use it when they hold events. At first, only Ridgewood Junior Football was using the unit, but other groups have started using it, as well. It was a minor expense before, but now that budgets are much tighter, Mr. Cronin said they approached the Fields Committee with this proposal, which they supported. In addition, the Fields Committee helped to draft the agreement formalizing the proposal. This will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

6.)        Award Contract – Physician for Child Health Conference

Ms. Mailander said this is an annual resolution. Seven quotes were solicited, and Doctors Kim and Narucki, who have done this in the past, would like to do it again. The fee they are requesting is $140 per hour, which is five dollars more per hour than the fee from last year. The cost is shared with the Borough of Glen Rock, because there is a Shared Services Agreement with them. The maximum amount for each municipality will be $1,750. The services are provided for less than two hours per month, and the conferences are held 11 times a year. Dr. Kim and Dr. Narucki have been performing this service for the Village for the past five years. This item will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

7.)        Award Professional Services Contract – Retainer for Preparation of 2014 Tax Assessment Map

Ms. Mailander said this is another annual resolution, as well as an annual retainer, which is $1,700. The retainer amount has been the same since 2007, and it provides the Village with a New Jersey Professional Land Surveyor, who endorses all of the tax maps and provides the license coverage for the survey work prepared by the staff of the Engineering Department for various construction projects. This item will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

8.)        Award Contract – Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services – The Stable and Graydon Pool – Repair/Replace Alarm Systems

Ms. Mailander explained that when the Village suffered a major power outage on December 31, 2013, the alarm systems at The Stable and Graydon Pool were damaged. This resolution is to award a contract for replacement and/or repair of those systems. This item will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

9.)        Award of Bid – Two 25-Cubic Yard Sanitation Trucks

Ms. Mailander stated that this resolution is to award of bid for two new sanitation trucks, which will replace two trucks from the year 2000. The trucks to be replaced are both in need of having their engines rebuilt, at a cost of $20,000 just for the engines. Moreover, the cabs, particularly underneath where the drivers sit, are completely rotted, and there are no replacement parts available. Parts for these trucks have been discontinued, and the staff of Fleet Services has been making replacement parts up to this point. If the trucks are ordered now, they can be on the road in six months. The current trucks will not pass State diesel emission tests, so they would have to be retrofitted with after-treatment devices, putting additional pressure on the engines, which could cause them to fail. In addition, the transmission on one of the trucks has been replaced within the last seven years, and the other one has not been replaced at all. However, the concern is that if the transmissions go, it would cost $10,000-$14,000 to repair. That would mean that the Village is putting more money into the two trucks than they are worth. The recommendation is to award the bid for two of the trucks. Earlier this year, RFPs had been issued for the purchase of Sanitation vehicles, and the funds have already been approved from the capital budget. Mayor Aronsohn noted that the supporting documents indicate that the existing trucks will be classified as surplus and sold, and he wondered how much revenue the Village could expect to get from the sale of the trucks. Ms. Mailander said she would find out that information. Councilman Pucciarelli commented that the vehicles cost approximately $250,000 each, and one of the discussions pertaining to the new repair facility pointed out that these vehicles should be stored, if possible, which would save a lot of the wear and tear. Second, there is no truck wash, so it is not possible to effectively wash the salt off the vehicles. Ms. Mailander said that the trucks are sent to a truck wash, but it is in Lodi, but the staff at Fleet Services also use hoses on the trucks.

Councilwoman Hauck asked when these trucks were projected in the capital budget. Ms. Mailander answered that if the resolution is approved, that would occur on February 19, 2014, and the process takes six months from that point. Councilwoman Hauck noted that many of the big trucks are purchased out of the sinking fund, monies set aside for this particular purpose, but Ms. Mailander said this purchase was actually already in the 2012 capital budget.

Councilwoman Walsh pointed out that the members of the FAC had just made a presentation, and one of the items under discussion was the possibility of outsourcing Sanitation services, so Councilwoman Walsh wondered why the Councilmembers should approve the combined amount of approximately $500,000 to purchase two new trucks. Ms. Mailander explained that the reason is because of all of the issues that have arisen with the current trucks, such as rotting; the inability to obtain parts; putting more money into the trucks than they are worth; and the fact that even if outsourcing were to be done immediately, there is still the question of lag time. Outsourcing would require putting together proposals and in evaluating the best way to proceed, which means studies would have to be done. Purchasing two new trucks would serve the Village until that point is reached, and if outsourcing does become a reality, the vehicles could be sold at that time. Councilwoman Walsh then asked why there is only one sheet of information pertaining to $500,000 worth of vehicles, with no other backup information. Ms. Mailander explained that this bid went out in 2013, and Foley Inc., agreed to honor the bid. Councilman Walsh asked if the supporting information from that time was still available, including the specs on the trucks. Ms. Mailander said she would get that information.

This item will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

1. b. Operations:

1.)        Sale of 1991 Pierce Aerial Ladder Truck

Ms. Mailander said the Fire Department no longer needs the 1991 Pierce aerial ladder fire truck, and Bergen County is interested in purchasing it for use at the Academy for training purposes, in the amount of $35,000. The Board of Freeholders is expected to adopt the resolution authorizing the payment of $35,000 to the Village. Another good point to this transaction is that the Village can still borrow the truck, if need be. Fire Chief James Van Goor told Ms. Mailander that he had investigated how much other fire trucks of this age were selling for, and this is a very good deal. This item will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

2.)        Shared Services – Agreement with Ho-Ho-Kus – Adult Health Clinic

Ms. Mailander explained that this is another annual resolution in which Ho-Ho-Kus joins the Village for the adult health clinic. Blood pressure screenings; doctor referrals; and information on diabetes, as well as flu shots are available through the clinic. This resolution allows the Village to join Ho-Ho-Kus in that process. This item will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

3.)        Shared Services – Agreement with the Borough of Paramus – Wastewater Collection System Operator

Ms. Mailander said this is a renewal of a Shared Services Agreement with the Borough of Paramus. Robert Gillow, Superintendent of the Water Pollution Control Facility, is a licensed wastewater collection system operator. Paramus pays the Village $500 per month, which allows them to have a licensed operator available for their Borough. This agreement has been in effect over the past two years, and the new agreement would be for another two years, 2014-2015. This item will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

4.)        Cellular Communications Tower Service Upgrade – Water Pollution Control Facility

Ms. Mailander reminded the Councilmembers that there is a cell tower at the Water Pollution Control Facility, which is owned with the Borough of Glen Rock. Periodically, a carrier needs to service or upgrade the equipment, and require approval from the Village to enter the property to gain access to the tower. This item will be put on a resolution for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

c. Policy:

1.)  Proposed Encroachment Agreement – 470 Fairway Road

Ms. Mailander explained that currently there is a basketball hoop in the Village’s right-of-way at 470 Fairway Road, which has been there for approximately 10 years. There has been no accident or incident in that area. Letters of support have been received from people who live in that neighborhood stating that a generation of children has enjoyed gathering there and playing, and another generation is coming up. Mr. Rutishauser has indicated that if the Village Council grants the encroachment agreement, he would request that the property owners submit a certificate of insurance to meet Village requirements. Ms. Mailander asked Chief Ward to give his comments on the safety issues involved.

Chief Ward said that from the perspective of law enforcement and safety, any time people are in the roadway, it presents a danger to those people and motorists. For that reason alone, Chief Ward said he could not recommend allowing the encroachment. While he understands the sentiment behind it, and agrees that there have been no incidents reported in the area, he has not actually seen any children playing basketball in the street. However, he noticed that someone installed a temporary basket across the street, which means that full-court games are purportedly occurring there. The street is neither a dead-end street, nor is it a highly traveled one. Nevertheless, it is a through street between Overbrook Place and Linwood Avenue, so there is a potential for traffic to go through there. The basketball hoop that is under discussion sits in the grassy area adjacent to the curb. Chief Ward said his primary concern is for safety. As a public safety professional, he cannot endorse this encroachment agreement.

Mr. Rogers commented that he understands safety is the primary concern, but from the standpoint of the law, liability is another concern. Once it is legally recognized that there is an encroachment agreement, the next step is to publish notice of the encroachment agreement, and if it is deemed to be an unsafe condition, it would present liability issues. In addition to an encroachment agreement, Mr. Rogers said there should be a deed restriction with regard to the property owners of the properties adjacent to the area in question, so there is an understanding by everybody, whether a particular house is sold within the next few years or after a number of years have passed, that they will hold harmless, indemnify, and defend the Village against any claim that might arise as a result of someone getting hit or hurt by whatever means. Therefore, Mr. Rogers cautioned the Councilmembers that if they are interested in taking this step, other steps are also necessary to ensure that the Village is covered from a liability standpoint.

Ms. Mailander said it has to be the decision of the Councilmembers whether to proceed with this matter, or they could choose to reconsider it and discuss it again at a future meeting. Mayor Aronsohn asked if Ms. Mailander has any recommendation. She responded that, based on the safety and liability issues presented, she is not sure that the Village should condone this. Mr. Rogers added that he could explore the liability issues with the people involved in that area to see if they might be willing to agree to the terms he stated to protect the Village. Ms. Mailander pointed out that there are other basketball hoops throughout the Village like the one in question, and if this encroachment agreement is allowed to proceed, it could set a precedent for others that might follow. On the other hand, if it is decided not to pursue the encroachment agreement, Ms. Mailander believes that more vigilance will be exercised to try to ensure that the other hoops are not in Village rights-of-way. Councilwoman Hauck noted that the situation was precipitated by a summons that was written about the hoop on Fairway Road, which Ms. Mailander confirmed.

Councilwoman Walsh said she would abide by the recommendations made by Ms. Mailander and Mr. Rogers. Councilman Pucciarelli agreed, although he feels that the applicants have made a very compelling case for allowing the hoop to remain. Councilwoman Hauck also agreed. Ms. Mailander said that the homeowners would be notified.

2.) Sewer Fees for Significant Dischargers – Wastewater Collection System

Ms. Mailander noted that several meetings have been held with Central Business District owners, as well as the Chamber of Commerce, about the significant sewer discharge fees. She reminded everyone that anything in excess of 109,500 gallons discharged for commercial purposes is billed at $4.03 per 1,000 gallons over that amount. That rate has been in effect since 2010, and after reviewing it, the Village decided to leave the rate as is for 2014. This ordinance would allow it to remain the same. There will be further discussions between the Village, owners in the CBD, and the Chamber of Commerce about this matter. Mayor Aronsohn added that one of the issues discussed in the meetings was the idea of billing the businesses earlier. Ms. Mailander responded that if the ordinance is adopted, the billing could be accomplished by June or July, and the businesses would be allowed to spread their payments out over a period of months from that time through December, when the bills are due. Councilman Pucciarelli clarified that there is no charge to the businesses for the first 109,500 gallons of water, which Ms. Mailander confirmed. She noted that the reason for the excess billing is due to the wear and tear on the Water Pollution Control Facility, and because in the CBD, extra degreasers are introduced into the system because of all the food products that go into the system. This item will be put on the agenda for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

3.) Lease for 1057 Hillcrest Road Property

Ms. Mailander reminded the Councilmembers that there is still a house at 1057 Hillcrest Road, which is in the Habernickel Family Park. The house is rented, and the lease will expire on June 14, 2014. Rental of the property does bring revenue to the Village, and provides a caretaker-type presence on the property. It is allowable at this time under the Green Acres purchase, as has been discussed previously. The lease is a one-year lease, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. The short-term lease keeps the Village’s options open if it should ever be determined that something else could be done with the property, other than renting it to tenants. This lead time is necessary so that the lease can be put out for bid. It is recommended that the rent stay at the current rate of $3,969 per month at a minimum. This item will be put on the agenda for the February 19, 2014, Public Meeting.

4.) Parking Charges for Special Events in the Central Business District

Ms. Mailander stated that Janet Fricke, Assistant to the Village Manager, and Captain Luthcke of the Police Department have worked on this together. This issue arose because there were some special events in the CBD where free parking was given on Sundays, along with the general idea of bagging the meters. Meters are bagged for different reasons, and sometimes the bagged meters are next to a store because of a special event, or parking is being reserved for certain people during a special event. The charge is $10 per day for each bagged meter Monday through Saturday, 10:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. at street meters, and from 6:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. in the metered parking lots. Ms. Fricke and Captain Luthcke have recommended that the Village continue to charge for bagging meters, with the Village Manager given authority to waive the fees for up to 15 parking spaces for events sponsored by non-profit groups that benefit the Village, such as the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce and the Ridgewood Guild. On Sundays, bagging meters would still be required, as well as charging for bagging the meters. However, Ms. Fricke and Captain Luthcke believe that the fee could be waived because there is no charge for parking meters on Sundays, particularly at those meters adjacent to parks or the train station. Ms. Mailander mentioned such events as Jazz Feast; Sale Stock; and the upcoming Daffodil Festival near the train station as instances in which there would be no charges for bagging the meters. Although there might be a small loss of revenue on Sundays from the bagging fees (because there would be no revenue from the meters on Sundays), the longer-term benefit is the attraction of public activities in the CBD. Ms. Mailander said she agrees with the recommendations made by Ms. Fricke and Captain Luthcke that bagging of meters should continue during the week, but when the meters are adjacent to a park or the train station, or on Sundays, the fees could be waived. In addition, Ms. Mailander believes the Village Manager should be given the authority to waive the fees for non-profit groups, for up to 10-15 parking spaces, even on weekdays.

Councilwoman Hauck asked why there are charges for bagging meters on Sundays if parking is free on Sundays. Ms. Mailander responded that it is for reserving the particular spaces, because many times, event sponsors request specific spaces be reserved for patrons of the particular event. Mayor Aronsohn agreed that waving the fees could encourage community events in the CBD, and he supported the suggestions made by Ms. Fricke and Captain Luthcke. Ms. Mailander suggested that Mr. Rogers could draft an ordinance for the Councilmembers to consider at the next Work Session meeting.

8. MANAGER’S REPORT

Ms. Mailander said sanitation continues to be a challenge with the ice and snow conditions. She reminded all residents to make sure to provide a safe, clear, and direct path to their garbage cans. If there is a need to collect garbage cans at the end of the driveways, an e-notice will be sent to those who have registered. Ms. Mailander urged everyone to sign up for e-notices, which can be done through the Village website at www.ridgewoodnj.net.

The Streets Department continues to fill potholes caused by recent extreme weather. Christmas trees will continue to be picked up at the curb. Anyone who has questions should call the Parks Department at 201-670-5565.

Ms. Mailander distributed information to the Councilmembers about the third-quarter median home sales. The market is starting to pick up.

There are many activities scheduled in connection with the Super Bowl. On Friday, January 31^st, there will be family sport arcade games; a kids’ corner with arts and crafts; and a big vault treasure hunt, in which the old safety deposit boxes will be filled with fun prizes at 54 East Ridgewood Avenue from 4:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. there will also be a band from 8:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. On Saturday, February 1^st, at 54 East Ridgewood Avenue, from 11:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M., there will be a chili cook-off with Carlos Bakery; sports arcade games; and kids’ corner arts and crafts. At around 12:00 noon, there will be a halftime show, with the Ridgewood High School women’s and men’s chorus, marching band, and cheerleaders. On Saturday, February 1^st, at Graydon Park, there will be a “Fire and Ice” festival, with winter sports, snowshoeing, ice skating, hiking, ice sculptures, and great food. Admission is $5 per person, including donuts and hot chocolate. Pre-registration is necessary, and can be done through The Stable. For more information, call 201-670-5560. Ms. Mailander reminded everyone to dress for the weather, although it is supposed to be a bit warmer on Saturday. In addition, many of the Chamber of Commerce members are having special sales related to the Super Bowl. All of this information is also available on the Village website.

9. COUNCIL REPORTS

Parks, Recreation, and Conservation (PRC) Board – Councilwoman Hauck said that the “Fire and Ice” festival is combined with all of the other activities associated with the Super Bowl. This is all part of the pre-game events, which has brought about a feeling of community in Ridgewood, and that is the most important thing as far as Councilwoman Hauck is concerned. She believes that Ridgewood has now achieved status as a “complete” community that is connected and engaged. It is infectious, and it starts when enthusiastic people work together. Councilwoman Hauck believes Ridgewood is an example to many other towns, and she is very proud of the way the community has come together.

So far, 400 people have registered for the festival at Graydon Park, and Councilwoman Hauck estimates that means there will be at least 500-600 people there.

At the PRC Board meeting, Councilwoman Hauck said The Stable renovation project was discussed. It looks like work will begin sometime in 2014. In addition, they discussed the Shade Tree Policy development, and how the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) is finalizing the policy itself. They also discussed departmental visibility, as well as the Community Center development.

Community Center Advisory Board – Councilwoman Hauck commented that the Community Center Advisory Board is working hard to re-establish and revitalize the Community Center facility uses. A new desk has been purchased, and they are trying to partner with groups to utilize the space in Village Hall.

Village Garage/Repair Facility – Councilman Pucciarelli stated that, as the FAC noted earlier, they are now considering alternatives, particularly outsourcing some of the functions, and Councilman Pucciarelli asked them to move quickly so this project can keep moving forward and will not get put on the back burner. In addition, the existing facility must be evaluated to see what the alternatives are for that location, such as selling it; demolishing it and then selling it; cleaning it up and then selling it; or any other alternatives. The FAC has agreed to help with that endeavor.

Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli said the Ridgewood Arts Council has completed its first year of activities. Dotti Fucito, President of the Ridgewood Arts Council, has some interesting plans for the coming year. She would like to change the format of the Arts Council, and she will be appearing at a Village Council meeting to discuss some of her ideas.

Super Bowl – Mayor Aronsohn stated that the first activity in connection with the Super Bowl has already been held. It was at the YMCA this past Sunday, and it was hoped that 100-200 people would attend, but the actual attendance was estimated to be well over 500. There are events scheduled at the Public Library tonight, tomorrow, and Friday; and, as Ms. Mailander noted, there are events scheduled at the former Bank of America building. The proceeds from those events will be going to Family Promise of Bergen County, as well as the Social Services Association in Ridgewood. Mayor Aronsohn thanked everyone who has been involved in the planning of these events, as well as in all of the Super Bowl activities in Ridgewood. He acknowledged the Chamber of Commerce for really driving this process, and its Executive Director, Joan Groom, and President, Tom Hillmann, who have been instrumental in moving things forward.

10. 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.

Frank Delvecchio, 65 Walthery Avenue, said he came into the meeting commending the Village Council, but now he is absolutely disgusted with the actions of the Councilmembers. He believes there are several things that were not taken into consideration when the decisions were made tonight. He accused Councilman Pucciarelli of being condescending to the speakers this evening, and of questioning their integrity. Moreover, Mr. Delvecchio commented that the costs associated with the actions taken this evening were not considered. When a new police officer is hired, s/he must undergo an employment protocol at Hackensack University Medical Center, which costs $1,200; a psychological examination, which costs $700; as well as other examinations and fees that are charged whenever a new police officer is added to the roster. After that, uniforms must be ordered and paid for, and different Police Academies have different uniform standards. Uniforms for the Bergen County Police Academy are free, while the ones for the Essex County Police Academy will incur a cost. Mr. Delvecchio considers that the Councilmembers, after professing their concern for the taxpayers of Ridgewood, threw the taxpayers under the bus. It is obvious that mistakes were made, but Mr. Delvecchio asked how the Councilmembers could act as if they knew nothing about them. The Councilmembers approved the budget, as well as the hiring of the two officers, yet the very last minute, it seemed as if the Councilmembers were blaming the Chief of Police and the Village Manager, without taking responsibility for their own actions.

In addition, Mr. Delvecchio believes there will be legal ramifications to the actions taken by the Councilmembers tonight. For example, he wondered if the two candidates quit their former jobs in order to take the jobs offer to them what the Ridgewood Police Department. In addition, it could be construed that the Village made promises of employment to the two candidates, which will also have legal ramifications. Mr. Delvecchio stated that the ordinance should be open-ended when it comes to patrol officers, with words to the effect that the number of officer should meet the needs and demands of the Department. It is not possible to set a finite number of officers who can serve, because an allowance must be made in order to plan for retirements and the replacement of those officers before their retirement.

Mr. Delvecchio asked Ms. Mailander when the certified list was called for with these candidates’ names on it. Ms. Mailander responded that it was requested in October 2013, after the funding was approved, and the Village received it November 25, 2013. Mr. Delvecchio explained that the certification is valid for six months. The Village Council can choose to take no action and allow the list to expire, if they wish.

Regarding nepotism, Mr. Delvecchio finds the issue preposterous. The two young men in question took Civil Service examinations, which they passed, and which most likely cost them money to do. They have also undergone background checks and psychological and physical examinations, which they have also passed. However, based on what the Councilmembers have been saying, it seems that they still cannot have the jobs, although they have done everything necessary to get the jobs. Mr. Delvecchio also noted that the Academy dates will dictate when the officers can be hired.

Finally, Mr. Delvecchio reiterated that he was discussed, and he believes that what the Councilmembers did to the two candidates is deplorable. He agrees that the rule of law must be followed, and mistakes were made, and the Councilmembers need to accept responsibility for their own actions.

Mayor Aronsohn noted as a point of clarification that it was his understanding that it is one of the candidates gave notice at his former job before he was actually offered the job in Ridgewood. Ms. Mailander said that the candidate did not give notice, but had informed his previous employer that he was going through the process of becoming a police officer.

William Corcoran, 371 William Street, pointed out that the Village of Ridgewood, in the past, has sent its police officers to the New Jersey State Police Academy. However, the State Police stopped allowing municipal officers to attend its Academy. The Bergen County Police Academy is second only to the State Police Academy, and far ahead of all of the other Police Academies. The Village started sending its police officers to the Bergen County Police Academy, and the Bergen County Academy has, since that time, far surpassed all other Police Academies. Former Chief Corcoran believes that the Essex County Police Academy is far below the Bergen County Police Academy as far as standards are concerned. Moreover, he noted that if the classes not filled at the Essex County Academy, there is no course for that term.

Former Chief Corcoran noted that Councilman Pucciarelli had mentioned legal ramifications, and he suggested that Chief Ward should contact a lawyer as soon as possible, because too much of the process has been completed to be able to turn back now.

The question of whether the officers who are due to retire will actually retire also arose. Former Chief Corcoran pointed out that he retired due to the Governor’s attack on public pensions, and many other former members of the Police Department did so for the same reason. He also mentioned the issue of nepotism, noting that one of the candidates in question scored a 98.3 on the Civil Service test.

Finally, Former Chief Corcoran said he believed the ordinance was ridiculous from the beginning. People’s lives are put at risk by setting such limits on public safety personnel.

Mayor Aronsohn asked Ms. Mailander when the next Bergen County Police Academy course begins. She responded that it begins in July. Mayor Aronsohn said that if cost is a concern, it might be possible to wait until that time. Ms. Mailander pointed out that there could be a new Civil Service list published by then, and it is not known where the two candidates would place on the new list.

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 14-29, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Deputy Village Clerk, as follows:

 12. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come to before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilwoman Hauck, seconded by Councilman Pucciarelli, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 10:11 P.M.

                                                                                                PAUL S. ARONSOHN, Mayor

DONNA M. JACKSON, Deputy Village Clerk

A REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING 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, JANUARY 15, 2014, AT 8:00 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, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Heather Mailander, Acting Village Manager/Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Mayor Aronsohn then asked for a moment of silence to honor the men and women in the United States Armed Forces who protect and defend our freedom every day, as well as those serving as first responders.

2. ACCEPTANCE OF FINANCIAL REPORTS

Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Bills, Claims, and Vouchers, and Statement of Funds on hand as of December 31, 2013, be accepted as submitted. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Village Council minutes of November 6, November 13, December 4, and December 11, 2013, having been reviewed by the Village Council and now available in the Village Clerk’s Office, be approved as submitted. Councilman Riche seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

4. PROCLAMATIONS

Jamboree Days

Mayor Aronsohn read the following proclamation:

5. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

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

Ellie Gruber, 229 South Irving Street, commented on the lack of care given to the roof of the Schedler house. More than two years ago, when the Open Space Committee began formulating their report, they were given one year to try to find a reason to keep the house. A reason was found, and it has been determined that the house can be used and that private money could fund it, but now the tarpaulin on the roof has come loose. Twice, promises were made that the tarp would be reattached. There is a hole in the side of the house. Ms. Gruber said she is aware that the weather has not cooperated recently, but she pointed out that these promises were made a long time ago, and the situation should be investigated. Ms. Gruber is concerned that the house will collapse if any more bad weather affects the roof and comes through the hole in the side of the house. At this time, the only requirement is to attach the tarp again in order to stabilize the roof, which Ms. Gruber believes all of the Councilmembers can agree is necessary. It is not possible at this time for the people who are hoping to take over the house to put on a new roof, because the necessary permissions have not been obtained, and all of the regulations have not yet been met. Ms. Gruber asked if it would be possible to at least replace the tarp this week.

Mayor Aronsohn gave some background on the situation. He explained that, at the urging of Peggy Norris, Village Historian, a meeting was held a few weeks ago on this topic. Although the Councilmembers have not yet made a decision about what to do with the Schedler house, they do recognize something needs to be done in the interim while the situation is evaluated. Ms. Mailander noted that the Traffic and Signal Division received the tarps today, but they could not get to the Schedler house today due to the icy conditions. In addition, they cannot use their bucket truck, and they must use a ladder truck borrowed from the Fire Department. The Fire Chief said that as long as the weather holds, personnel from the Fire Department could help the Traffic and Signal Division to do the work, either this week or early next week.

Jim Griffith, 159 South Irving Street, said he is aware that the Councilmembers are in the process of considering some legislation regarding smoking, and Mr. Griffith was recently subjected to an embarrassing situation, and wants to spare the Councilmembers the same embarrassment. In the editorial page today of the Bergen Record, there were some comments made about the unknown factors associated with e-smoking. Mr. Griffith pointed out that the Councilmembers are discussing restrictions on smoking in the Village. Every Sunday morning, Mr. Griffith says he attends a meeting in a facility where there is no smoking allowed inside or outside, and the attendees are very careful to ensure that no one violates that rule. Sometimes, when they go outside the building, they see people smoking, and they warn them about the rules. Recently, Mr. Griffith said he saw someone in the room take out an e-cigarette and start smoking it. Therefore, Mr. Griffith wanted to pass along the information about e-cigarettes, because it is something that everyone is still learning about. Councilman Pucciarelli said it is an interesting concept, because the ordinance does establish a "smoke-free zone," and he assumes that e-cigarettes, because they are smoke-free, would not be prohibited. Mr. Griffith said that was why he was passing along his experience. He added that it is such a new science, and that the people who are using the e-cigarettes do not believe they are breaking the law, because they do not consider it to be smoking.

Isabelle Altano, 656 Kingsbridge Lane, seconded the comments made by Ms. Gruber. Ms. Altano said she is happy to hear that the tarp has been received and will be put on the Schedler house. She reiterated how important it is to maintain the structure and protect it until the Councilmembers make a decision about what to do with the house. Ms. Altano said it is a very important structure in the Village, and it is very disappointing to see the damage that has been done to the house already. It is clear that water has already gotten into the house, and Ms. Altano said many people are very worried that if repairs are not made very soon, the house will be lost.

Diane Haderthauer, 470 Albin Court, asked for information about the cell tower that was put on the Ferguson property on Franklin Turnpike. The cell tower has been in that spot for approximately three months, and Ms. Haderthauer said she is not been able to get any information on the tower, which sits next to the 120-foot cell tower that is already there. Ms. Mailander said she spoke to Anthony Merlino, Zoning Officer, who said that the cell tower is being tested to see if it is viable for a company to put a cell tower in that location, but he is not aware of who the carrier is, and is currently in the process of finding out that information. After that time, a determination will be made about how much longer the tower will remain. If it is expected to be there for only a short time, nothing will be done, but if it is to remain for an extended period of time, Mr. Merlino said that the carrier will have to appear before one of the Village Boards. Mr. Merlino and Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, as well as Blais Brancheau, Village Planner, will be meeting to determine what type of exemption may be needed in order for the cell tower to remain there, but the carrier might be required to appear before one of the Village Boards if the tower is expected to remain there for more than 1-2 weeks.

Ms. Haderthauer stated that she attended a recent Board of Adjustment meeting, and none of the Board members had any knowledge of the cell tower at that location. Ms. Haderthauer noted that the tower has been there for approximately 3 months, and no permits have been filed, nor have any notifications been made. Mayor Aronsohn responded that Ms. Haderthauer brought this temporary cell tower to the attention of the Councilmembers by email, and Ms. Mailander is looking into the situation with the help of Mr. Merlino and Mr. Rutishauser. Ms. Haderthauer said she has heard for the past two months that someone would get back to her, but no one has. She also pointed out that in that area, there is a 120-foot cell tower sitting in the lot that does not have a fall down zone for that tower. Now, another unknown carrier has placed a second temporary cell tower in the same area, and may want to replace it with a permanent cell tower. Ms. Haderthauer noted that there is an ordinance in place, ordinance number 2780, which is section 190-123, of the Village Code which states that no freestanding antenna over 75 feet in height shall be located closer, to any other freestanding antenna over 75 feet in height, than 15 times the height of the higher antenna. Ms. Haderthauer wonders why such a situation would even be considered, and why the carrier is allowed to put a cell tower in that location. She believes the carrier should be told that there is an ordinance in place prohibiting another cell tower in that area. Ms. Mailander answered that she knew nothing about the situation until she received a copy of Ms. Haderthauer’s email to Mayor Aronsohn, and the situation must be investigated. That is one of the considerations that will have to be addressed.

Alan Kantz, 80 River Road, Summit, New Jersey, came to the meeting as a representative of Global Advisors on a Smoke-Free Policy (GASP). He said he was excited to see that the Village is considering making the areas around the Board of Education properties smoke-free zones, and he wanted to reiterate some points from the previous Village Council meeting, as well as to bring up one new point. Mr. Kantz is excited to see Ridgewood create the smoke-free areas, because protecting children from secondhand smoke and discouraging them from smoking are two of the best things anyone can do for children. Approximately 90% of smokers started smoking before the age of 18, so if children can reach adulthood without smoking, there is a good chance they will not start doing so as adults, and avoid the number one cause of preventable death and disease in the world. Other municipalities have taken similar steps, particularly in Livingston, where they have established a smoke-free radius around some Board of Education properties, but Mr. Kantz commended the Councilmembers for the way they have handled the Village’s restrictions, especially using the public rights-of-way as the designated areas. That will make it very clear to members of the public so they can understand exactly where the smoke-free zones are. On his previous visit, Mr. Kantz spoke about self-enforcement, saying that as long as there are signs clearly stating that smoking is prohibited in a specific area, people understand the idea that there are some places where smoking is permitted, and other places where it is not permitted, and they do seem to abide by those restrictions. However, Mr. Kantz realized that he had not mentioned that the free smoke-free zone signs from the New Jersey State Department of Health are still available. There will be no refills after the current supply is exhausted, so they will be available for a limited time only on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a space at the bottom of each sign where the ordinance number can be inserted.

Mr. Kantz reiterated the point made by Mr. Griffith that electronic cigarettes are considered smoking in indoor public places and workplaces in New Jersey, and they are covered by the Smoke-Free Air Act. Mr. Kantz commented that after reading the Village ordinance, it does not seem to cover electronic cigarettes. It is an amendment to the existing smoking-related section of the Ridgewood Code, so it would be necessary to change the definition of smoking to include electronic cigarettes, if that is what the Councilmembers desire.

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

6. MANAGER’S REPORT

Ms. Mailander stated that the 32^{nd annual Ridgewood-Glen Rock observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be held on Monday, January 20, 2014, at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton Street. The event is free and open to the public. The theme for this year is "Justice Too Long Delayed Is Justice Denied". The celebration begins at 10:00 A.M. with an interfaith service by Reverend Kathleen Green of the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood. There will be readings by students from Ridgewood and Glen Rock, and musical performances by the Indian Hills Chamber Choir and Men of Umoja Chorus, followed by an outdoor rally in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, and a community lunch at 12:00 noon. Civil rights activist and humanitarian Lawrence Hamm will speak about the erosion of civil rights and what racism is in America today. As a reminder, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, Village Hall and the Stable will be closed for business on Monday, January 20th. In addition, there will be no garbage or recycling pickups on that day.}

Super Bowl celebration plans continue. In celebration of this New Jersey event, hometown community activities are being planned. On Saturday, February 1st, the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation is planning "Fire and Ice," a winter festival at Graydon Park, with bonfires, winter sports, snowshoeing, ice skating, hiking, ice sculptures, good food, music, and more. The event is from 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M., and admission is $5 per person. Pre-registration is required, which can be done through Community Pass, or by visiting The Stable. Everyone is reminded to dress for the weather. Additional information is available at 201-670-5560.

The Streets Department has been busy filling potholes in the roads caused by the recent extreme weather. If anyone finds some potholes, please call either the Reception Desk or the Municipal Clerk’s Office, and the information will be passed along to the Streets Division.

Christmas trees will continue to be picked up at the curb during the month of January. Bid notices will be distributed for the professional architectural engineering services for the Horse Barn at Habernickel Park, as well as the concession at the train station coffee bar. The notices will be in the January 17th issue of the Ridgewood News, as well as on the Village website.

Ms. Mailander pointed out that there are currently three employment opportunities available in the Village, which are posted on the Village website. There is one full-time position, and the others are part-time positions. The website is ^{www.ridgewoodnj.net. The application deadline for the employment opportunities is January 21st.}

7. COUNCIL REPORTS

Village Garage – Councilman Pucciarelli reported that the Village Garage committee met last Thursday, and the report concerning the feasibility of the land available on the Village property in Glen Rock, prepared by Conklin Associates, was reviewed. That report contained a very complex analysis because of the wetlands and other riparian issues surrounding the property, which led to the conclusion that there is ample space for any facility that Ridgewood would envision going forward. However, it is a bit more complicated to accommodate facilities for both Ridgewood and Glen Rock on the three parcels identified in the report. Councilman Pucciarelli added that the report cost $4,000, not the original estimate of $5,500, which was expected. Half of the $4,000 cost will be paid by Ridgewood and the other half will be paid by Glen Rock. The report proved to be very useful, and both municipalities are seriously considering what is available. The good news for Ridgewood is that there is clearly adequate space on Ridgewood’s property for a facility.

Financial Advisory Committee – Councilman Pucciarelli said the Financial Advisory Committee met this past Monday, and they have decided to take a closer look at the proposal to develop a new garage. They would like to consider other alternatives, such as outsourcing. The committee members believe that the Councilmembers should consider a facility that would be "nimble to react to changes in the future," rather than simply reproducing what currently exists on the assumption that there will always be the same vehicles to maintain and repair.

The committee also did some analysis of the collective bargaining agreements and some of the other employment agreements currently in place that have significant financial impact on the Village.

Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli said the Ridgewood Arts Council would be meeting tomorrow at 7:00 P.M. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church to continue planning the artistic presentations and opportunities for the coming year. The meeting is open to the public, and Councilman Pucciarelli invited everyone to attend.

Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) – Councilwoman Walsh said that the members of the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) will be hosting activities related to Earth Day, which will be held on April 26, 2014, at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. They are trying to coordinate activities with the Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Land, because the Conservancy is holding a Daffodil Festival the following day. In addition, the members of REAC are working with the Board of Education and Students for Environmental Action (SEA) to complete some grant applications for some coordinated efforts with the Board of Education.

Bergen County League of Municipalities – Councilwoman Walsh said that the Bergen County League of Municipalities met this week, and the topic of conversation was "Community Energy Aggregation for Residential Customers". She noted that most residents have probably gotten phone calls asking them to consider changing their current energy suppliers, because while most residents use PSE&G, they have the option to buy their energy from third-party sources. The State has allowed municipalities to consider opting into this new program and giving residents the choice of opting out, which means that the municipality would have to buy the energy, and the residents could opt out of purchasing it. She asked Ms. Mailander to put the discussion of this matter on a future Work Session agenda.

8. ORDINANCES

a. Introduction – # 3403 – Amend Chapter 244 – Smoking

Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3403. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3403 by title:

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 244 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD ENTITLED, "SMOKING"

Councilman Riche asked if it would be possible to have representatives from the Police Department come to the Village Council Public meeting in February to answer some of his questions regarding enforcement of this ordinance. Ms. Mailander said that she would ask Police Department representatives to be present at this meeting.

Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3403 be adopted on first reading and that February 19, 2014, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

b. Introduction – # 3404 – Amend Chapter 165 – Garbage, Rubbish, Refuse, Recycling – Hazardous Collection Conditions

Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3404. Councilwoman Walsh seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3404 by title:

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 165 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, GARBAGE, RUBBISH, REFUSE, AND RECYCLING, AT SECTION 165-18, "DEFINITIONS," AND AT SECTION 165-22, "COLLECTION SCHEDULE"

Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3404 be adopted on first reading and that February 19, 2014, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilwoman Walsh seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

c. Public Hearing – # 3401 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Placement of Stop Signs in Various Locations

Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3401. Councilman Riche seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3401 by title:

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 265 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, AT SECTION 265-59, SCHEDULE IX "STOP INTERSECTIONS"

Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open. There were no comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Riche seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

Councilwoman Walsh moved that Ordinance 3401 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilman Riche seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

d. Public Hearing – # 3402 – Amend Chapter 3 – Administration of Government – Department of Water Supply – Division of Water Utility

Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3402. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3402 by title:

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 3 OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE CODE, ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT, AT ARTICLE V, "DEPARTMENTS," AND SECTION 3-41(B), DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY, IN ORDER TO CLARIFY RESPONSIBILITY AND CHAIN OF COMMAND WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT

Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open. There were no comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

Councilman Riche moved that Ordinance 3402 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote

AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Riche, Walsh, and Mayor Aronsohn

NAYS: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

9. RESOLUTIONS

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 14-2 THROUGH 14-20, WERE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL, AND WERE READ BY TITLE ONLY:

10. 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, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.

11. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION

The following resolution, numbered 14-21, 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 Riche, seconded by Councilman Pucciarelli, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 8:34 P.M.

_____________________________

Paul S. Aronsohn

Mayor

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Heather A. Mailander

Village Clerk