A REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 AT 7:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE – MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 7:34 P.M., and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and asked for a moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those serving as first responders.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.
Gary Cirillo, 260 South Pleasant Avenue, reminded everyone that the yearly Project Pride day is coming up on Saturday, May 16, 2015, and he invited Mayor Aronsohn and all of the Councilmembers to join the festivities. Participants will be meeting at the clock at 9:00 A.M., and they usually continue their activities for approximately 1-2 hours. It is hoped that there will be some type of assistance from the real estate companies in the CBD. This year, the new hanging baskets will be put up on the poles, and it is hoped that the results will be the same as last year. Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Cirillo for his invitation, as well as his leadership in this initiative.
Janice Fuhrman, 49 Clinton Avenue, stated that her husband has been in regular attendance at Village Council meetings for the past eight months or so, although she tried to tell him that the ordinance regarding Clinton Avenue was passed in early February. Ms. Fuhrman said she was under the impression that when an ordinance has been passed, that decision stands. She believes it makes a mockery of the system when the policies and procedures in place are not adhered to and agreed upon.
Jane Remis, 118 Madison Place, stated that although she does not live near Clinton Avenue for the past five years she has been the Safety Chairperson at Ridge School, and she is there every day after school. When someone observes something dangerous, that person usually knows that Ms. Remis is there, and is the person that would be informed. Despite the fact that Ms. Remis likes the people on Clinton Avenue, she believes it is unsafe, and she wants the children to be safe, which is currently not true. Ms. Remis pointed out that the main concern of the Councilmembers should be the safety of the children, not the number of people who are for or against this issue. Likewise, the primary consideration should not be the wishes of the residents in that area, but should always be the safety of the children. In this situation, Ms. Remis thinks it might be better to ask the residents of that area if they would prefer having sidewalks on one or both sides of the street, rather than making the choice whether to have sidewalks or no sidewalks. Ms. Remis noted that Ridgewood is a Complete Streets community, and there seems to have been no implementation of the Complete Streets program anywhere around Ridge School. In fact, there are many streets without sidewalks in that area, and Ms. Remis mentioned that one of the streets connecting Godwin Avenue to West Ridgewood Avenue should have sidewalks to enable people to walk from Hillside Avenue to Highland Avenue safely.
In addition, Ms. Remis asked the Councilmembers to consider that children under 10 years old are not developmentally ready to walk on their own in traffic or to cross street by themselves. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among young children, 20% of whom are child pedestrians ages 5-9. Students attending Ridge School who live across Godwin Avenue must walk up Godwin Avenue, even with cars driving up and down that street every day while children are walking to school. Ms. Remis said she would have assumed that the Councilmembers would have discovered this when they were considering the issue. The children also follow the example set by the residents of Clinton Avenue, and they walk down the middle of the street, because residents of Clinton Avenue have stated openly that they believe it is safer to walk in the middle of the street, rather than on a sidewalk. There should be sidewalks to make it safer at all times, whether for children walking to school or adults walking through the neighborhood. If a pedestrian should be injured in a motor vehicle accident, Ms. Remis believes that the Village could have some liability in that case. A walkable community requires sidewalks.
Deborah Glazer, 61 Clinton Avenue, addressed the comments made by Ms. Remis. She pointed out that Ms. Remis is a volunteer with the Home and School Association, and does not actually represent Ridge School. Ms. Glazer has an email from Jean Schoenlank, Principal at Ridge Elementary School, stating that the school remains neutral on the issue.
Ms. Glazer pointed out that she lives on Clinton Avenue, and she has two children who attend Ridge School, and one who is currently in pre-K and will be attending Ridge School. They walk to school every day. Ms. Glazer believes that the only way to ensure that children are safe walking to and from school is to make sure there is no traffic while they are walking. Ms. Glazer commented that Ms. Remis has no idea what happens on Clinton Avenue during school hours, because she is stationed in the red zone at Ridge School to make sure children get in and out of cars safely. Ms. Glazer stated that her concern with the petition presented to the Councilmembers is that it is not about safety, but about parking, which is why there is a second part to the petition stating that the petitioners want to open Clinton Avenue immediately to traffic and parking. Every year, Ms. Remis speaks at the Back to School Night clearly and succinctly on the most dangerous thing she sees, which is cars parked in the red zone, while other cars double park next to them so that children can run between the parked cars to get to school faster. If Ms. Remis was not there to stop the children from doing that, there would definitely be accidents. However, Ms. Remis is suggesting that the Councilmembers open Clinton Avenue, which will create the same situation. Ms. Glazer assumes that cars will park on one side of the street, due to the width of the street, with more cars double parking for children to run across the sidewalk and cross between parked cars. This could lead to someone getting hit by a car, because there will not be a counterpart to Ms. Remis present to stop them from doing so. That is Ms. Glazer fear.
Greg McAllister, 75 Clinton Avenue, echoed the sentiments expressed by Ms. Glazer about the issue never being closed. He asked how many times a vote must be taken on this issue. In addition, Mr. McAllister said he wanted to understand what safety issues have occurred during the 60 years that the street has been closed. So far, everything he has learned has been hearsay. His two children walk to Ridge School every day, and he sees a daily parade of children walking up and down the street with their parents to get to and from school. Mr. McAllister does not believe that a sidewalk will do anything to make the children safer. With respect to the assertion that there is traffic going up and down the street every day, Mr. McAllister said that is not true.
Alicia Simone, 295 Bellair Road, commented that her children attend Ridge School, and they use Clinton Avenue for access to the school. Ms. Simone said she knows that there is traffic on the street, because when walking up and down the street on many different occasions, she has seen landscapers, delivery vehicles, and people who live on the street coming and going. In fact, Ms. Simone said she has been forced to quickly get out of the way of a vehicle that was traversing the street. Ms. Simone said she does not know what the solution is, but she believes that her children deserve a safe corridor to get to school, whether it is via Clinton Avenue, or one of the other streets that are used to access the school. Ms. Simone stated that she has witnessed more than one incident in which children dart out into the street, while vehicles are moving along the street, and it seems to be just a matter of time before an accident occurs.
Anastasia Bamberg, 142 Melrose Place, stated that she goes up and down Clinton Avenue every day, and while she has not gone as far as to take pictures, there is traffic going up and down the street. Ms. Bamberg believes that the street should be closed, and she also believes that more streets in Ridgewood should be closed to allow children safe access to and from school. While Ms. Bamberg understands the Clinton Avenue residents’ objections to sidewalks, she believes their concern is really that the street will be opened to traffic. Ms. Bamberg believes in the Complete Streets program, but she has seen many near-misses. She said if there is an opportunity to install sidewalks, it should be done to keep the children safe. Moreover, the issue of whether the street is open or closed should not be given consideration, because the streets that are used as access for children walking to school should be kept closed. Ms. Bamberg also believes that allowing any more parking on Clinton Avenue will only encourage more driving, which is not desired in Ridgewood.
Enid Joseph, 17 North Murray Avenue, noted that her street does not have sidewalks. Over the past six years, during which Clinton Avenue has been closed, there have been many changes. While Ms. Joseph does not object to closing Clinton Avenue, due to changes in parking on West Ridgewood Avenue, more people now park on North Murray Avenue, which is narrower than Clinton Avenue. Therefore, Ms. Joseph said she would be very happy to pay for sidewalks on North Murray Avenue, so that she could send her children out to walk the dog knowing that they will be safe. Ms. Joseph commented that she only uses Clinton Avenue to go to the A & P, and there are times when she misses South Murray Avenue and breaks the law by going down Clinton Avenue. She estimated that, on average, there are always at least two cars parked there during the day, and sometimes as many as five cars. There is a massive landscaping job that is on-going at one of the houses, with four or five trucks being used for the job, making it unsafe for children to be walking in that area without sidewalks. Ms. Joseph said that she supports installing sidewalks everywhere, including Clinton Avenue, North Murray Avenue, and South Murray Avenue. She urged the Councilmembers to consider putting sidewalks on those streets.
Elena Conn, 67 North Hillside Place, stated that she had not planned to speak this evening, but felt compelled to mention that many of these parking and safety issues are due to the fact that there is not enough parking at Ridge School. There is a lot of space around the school, but there are not many parking spaces. Ms. Conn noted the points made by Ms. Glazer about how unsafe it is to have cars parked in front of homes and people cutting through streets, because that situation exists on her street, which is nearly three blocks from the school. Parents from Ridge School and George Washington School park on North Hillside Place because of the parking issues at those two schools. It is a very unsafe situation, because parents and babysitters block driveways; they park too close to the stop sign; and children run between cars to get to their parents on the opposite side of the road. North Hillside Place becomes very narrow when cars are parked on both sides of the street, and although no left turn is allowed coming from Ridge School, people do not always obey that sign, creating traffic problems. Ms. Conn believes that many of the issues at Ridge School are related to parents who get in their cars and pick up their children for many different reasons, and they are unable to park at Ridge School. Ms. Conn believes that more students would be walking to school if there were safer routes to get there. Furthermore, when those safe routes are devised, they must match the routes that the children use to walk to school. For example, children need a safe way to cross Godwin Avenue to get to school.
Peter von Halle, 48 Clinton Avenue, said he has lived on that street for nearly 30 years. Three of his sons attended Ridge School, and he never witnessed or heard of any parking or safety issues during that time. However, Mr. von Halle he could envision that if the street were open, it would create more congestion for cars turning at the top of the street into what is already a congested traffic situation. Mr. von Halle said he does not know if putting sidewalks on the street is the real issue in terms of making it a safe environment.
Ann Agnello, 31 Clinton Avenue, said she has lived there for more than 30 years, and she also had three children walking to Ridge School and George Washington School. In all that time, Ms. Agnello stated that no one has ever been hit by a car. Her kitchen window faces Clinton Avenue, and Ms. Agnello can see the families, children, and pets walking to and from school. Ms. Agnello believes that Clinton Avenue is safe because there are no sidewalks. She asked everyone to imagine the congestion if Clinton Avenue is opened up because it would be the most dangerous road for children to traverse, with cars going up and down the street. The plan is to put the sidewalk on one side of the street, which would require children to cross over Clinton Avenue to get to the other crossing guard, which would be a disaster. Clinton Avenue will become another shortcut street for people to cut through to other streets. Ms. Agnello commented that Clinton Avenue is not set up to become a parking lot for another school.
Ms. Agnello said Ridgewood is a very congested suburb. She noted that her job takes her to schools in parts of different counties, and in towns like Ridgewood, one would expect to wait. Ms. Agnello believes that too many people are in a rush, but that is how life is in a populated area. She also mentioned how many times this has been discussed and acted upon by the Village Council, and she is very frustrated at the lack of respect for the legal process. Moreover, Ms. Agnello is angry that the burden of putting in sidewalks, which destroys the property by removing part of the front yard, as well as destroying thousands of dollars of landscaping efforts, is a very high burden to meet.
Elizabeth Nixon, 284 Cantrell Road, stated that she has four children who attend Ridge School, and they walk along Clinton Avenue every day to get to and from school. Ms. Nixon believes that Clinton Avenue should remain closed to traffic, but it would be nice to have a sidewalk on each side because she finds it hard to explain to her two sons that they are allowed to run in the street when they are on Clinton Avenue. When Ms. Nixon walks to pick up her children from school, cars turn from Godwin Avenue, go up Clinton Avenue, and turn on West Ridgewood Avenue to avoid the traffic on Godwin Avenue. Although Ms. Nixon understands the concerns expressed by the residents of Clinton Avenue, she believes that just because an accident has not yet occurred on Clinton Avenue does not mean one will not occur.
Michelle Katzman, 35 Clinton Avenue, has two grown children who attended Ridge School with no problem, even though they walked to school. Ms. Katzman believes that if there was a safety issue, all of the residents on Clinton Avenue would support the installation of sidewalks. However, she agreed with previous statements that it is very frustrating to keep discussing this same issue so many times. If the Councilmembers want to install a sidewalk, they should make the decision and do it, rather than continuing to discuss it ad nauseum. In addition, Ms. Katzman was discussing this issue with a new neighbor on her street, who asked why sidewalks are needed, because Clinton Avenue already is a sidewalk. Residents along Clinton Avenue are very careful to go slowly, especially when there are children on the street, as do the landscaping trucks and other commercial vehicles that sometimes enter the street.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
3. DISCUSSION
a. Parking:
1.) Update on Parkmobile
Ms. Sonenfeld updated the status of Parkmobile. During this week, the Village is doing a soft implementation of Parkmobile. The preparatory work is getting done, with stickers and signage expected on Friday morning. All of the Councilmembers have a package that includes directions on how to sign up with Parkmobile, including a card to be put in their wallets, giving instructions on three easy ways to sign up for Parkmobile. There is also a new parking guide for Ridgewood. Starting tomorrow morning, Ms. Sonenfeld and several other Village employees will be at the commuter parking lots, as well as on Friday morning, to hand out the informational materials on Parkmobile and answer any questions. Ms. Sonenfeld encouraged everyone to install the Parkmobile app on their smart phones, as she has done.
Mayor Aronsohn suggested that Ms. Sonenfeld give a quick primer on the program. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this was a decision made by the Village Council several months ago, to introduce a new way to pay for parking. Users can pay for parking with their smart phones, or they can pay by telephone, if they prefer.
Councilman Pucciarelli added that there is no hardware involved, and payment can be done remotely via cell phone. Parkmobile would work without parking meters, which is probably what will eventually happen. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the reason this came about was because the Village Council was looking at different ways of parking, and making parking more user-friendly to residents, as well as to visitors and commuters. When looking at parking meters, the other possibility was to replace approximately 1,200 parking meters to allow access by credit card, or payment by credit card. From a taxpayer perspective, that would have meant approximately $500,000-$700,000 in capital budget investment to replace the meters, which was part of the reason it was decided to go with Parkmobile. It was believed that, as the years progress, people continue to feel more and more comfortable using their cell phones, so rather than make a huge capital investment into more parking meters, Parkmobile is being implemented, which requires zero investment from the residents.
Mayor Aronsohn commented that at this time, Parkmobile will be implemented at the parking lots, and by the end of the month, street meters will also have that option available. Users can also pay with quarters, if they choose. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that effective today, the Village website includes a “Click and Park” icon for Ridgewood residents in response to concerns that have been expressed about people who are intermittent or infrequent commuters who do not wish to buy an annual Ridgewood Parking Pass (RPP). Those people can go on-line to purchase a daily pass for $7. Ms. Sonenfeld tried it, and it worked. A parking pass can be printed out that must be put in the windshield of the car. She reiterated that this is only available to Ridgewood residents.
Mayor Aronsohn stated that all of the Councilmembers are excited about this, because they feel that this is a step forward with respect to the changes in parking, and trying to make it easier to park in the CBD. It should provide a lot of relief to a lot of people, including commuters and shoppers. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that it alleviates the need to feed the meter, because if one is shopping or eating in a restaurant or some other activity, it is only necessary to use a cell phone to extend the parking time. The service can also be accessed from train by using a cell phone. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that e-notices will be sent out later this week about this implementation, and those that do not currently receive e-notices should sign up for them as soon as possible. The parking primer, giving facts about Parkmobile, will also be sent out by e-notice.
b. Budget:
1.) Award Contract – Road Resurfacing and Repairs – Various Village Streets
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is to award a contract for road resurfacing and repairs. The lowest bidder is being recommended, which is Rockborn Trucking and Excavation. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that this is exciting because the Village will be doing approximately $3 million worth of paving this year, as long as the weather cooperates.
Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that many people have told her that Ridgewood is far behind in paving, which is why she is very happy to see that this is happening, although it is costing a lot of money. She asked if this was money that was budgeted in the operating budget. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that part of the money for this year’s paving comes from the 2014 capital budget, and part of it is from cleaning up capital budget accounts with money that has not been spent. The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
2.) Award Contract Under State Contract – Purchase of Road Materials – Ridgewood Water
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is to purchase raw materials for asphalt pavement repairs (potholes) needed by the Village and Ridgewood Water. Because the statutory limit of $17,500 will be exceeded, it is necessary to adopt a resolution to allow the purchase. This is covered in the operating budget.
Councilwoman Hauck asked if there is any idea of how much this will cost. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that the exact cost is not known, but that it is within the budget.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
3.) Award Contract Under State Contract – Purchase of Chlorine Analyzers – Ridgewood Water
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is a resolution to award a contract under State contract for the purchase of chlorine analyzers from The Hach Company. These analyzers are necessary to monitor and report the levels of chlorine being fed into the system. Funding for this is in the Ridgewood Water capital budget. The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
4.) Award Contract to Sole Provider – Lab Chemicals – Ridgewood Water
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is a request to award a contract for a sole provider for chemicals that can only be provided by IDEXX Distribution, Inc., for the Village’s water testing laboratory. The testing will cost approximately $25,000, and is in the 2015 operating budget. The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
5.) Award Emergency Purchase – Sodium Hypochlorite Pumps – Ridgewood Water
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is for the purchase of sodium hypochlorite pumps, which are larger chemical pumps that are required to provide the system with chlorine. The current pumps being used are too small, and in order to avoid burning them out, these pumps are being purchased to replace them.
Councilwoman Hauck noted that the resolution states that it is pursuant to mandates and regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), which led her to wonder if the mandates and regulations are becoming more burdensome, or is it simply a need for stronger pumps. Mr. Rogers answered that the regulations have not changed, but it could be a different approach by the EPA, or a perception by the Village that is changing, and this is the response to that.
The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
6.) Award Contract and Authorize Execution of Contract – E-Ticketing
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is a recommendation to award a two-year contract to Mobizent, LLC, for the e-ticket system. The cost is $49.99 per month for 24 months, and implementation is approximately one month away. The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
c. Policy:
1.) Update on Corella Court
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that there was a safety issue on Corella Court, near Hawes School, due to teachers parking their cars all the way around Corella Court. Emergency vehicles could not get through, nor could sanitation trucks and leaf vacuums, which caused problems with leaf pickup. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that Corella Court is a cul-de-sac off Stevens Avenue, very close to Hawes School. Several residents came to Village Council meetings to speak about an ordinance that was introduced based on action taken by the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) several weeks ago. The ordinance allowed two-hour parking all the way around the cul-de-sac. It seems that the cause of the problem on Corella Court is directly attributed to the lack of parking at Hawes School. An addition was built onto Hawes School, causing the loss of parking spots and dumping those cars onto the streets for parking. After the ordinance was introduced, the situation was re-examined and Ms. Sonenfeld, Mr. Rutishauser, Village Engineer, and Councilman Sedon went to Hawes School and measured the available space. According to their calculations, there could be as many as 16 extra parking spots available. Ms. Sonenfeld presented their findings to Dr. Daniel Fishbein, Superintendent of Schools. Two weeks ago, Ms. Sonenfeld, Dr. Fishbein, Mr. Rutishauser, Councilman Sedon, and the school principal walked through the Hawes School parking lot, and they reached an agreement that they would work on adding parking spots to that area. There could be as few as six more spots made available, or as many as 16. The Village Engineering Department will come up with a design, as well as work on the cost. That will help to alleviate many of the problems on Corella Court. After listening to residents and the school principal, it was also decided to change the proposed ordinance from two-hour parking to only allowing parking on one side of Corella Court. This will allow emergency and other necessary public vehicles to enter and exit that area.
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that this was a very good example of working with the Board of Education to come up with a solution that addresses the root cause of the problem. Ms. Sonenfeld said that her greatest concern was that if parking was simply prohibited on Corella Court, as many people had requested, all of that parking would have moved to Stevens Avenue, or other nearby streets, and would not address the real issue, which is the lack of parking available at Hawes School. Ms. Sonenfeld now welcomes the opportunity to try to address the root cause of many of the problems around Hawes School, and she thinks Councilman Sedon’s suggestion is a very good one.
Councilman Sedon recalled that meeting, and said it was a very good meeting for a few reasons. There were some thoughts expressed about having an extra parking space, or maybe two, in front of Hawes School, but the principal pointed out that the location is where the snow is plowed during snow removal. It is very important to have that kind of input from someone who is at the school, because someone from outside of the school might have a very good idea, but it simply might not be practical. Ms. Sonenfeld added that she is starting to decide how to fund this work, because the Village is currently working with the Board of Education on issues on Benjamin Franklin School. The quotes that are currently being received for the work at Benjamin Franklin School are a bit less than what was budgeted by the Board of Education for that particular area, so there may be some funds available for the new parking spaces at Hawes School.
Mayor Aronsohn commended Ms. Sonenfeld and Councilman Sedon for their efforts on this project, noting that it is a good example of the partnership between Village government and the Board of Education.
2.) Ridge School Safety/Clinton Avenue Sidewalks
Mayor Aronsohn began by thanking everyone on behalf of the Village Council for coming to give their input on the issue of Ridge School safety/Clinton Avenue sidewalks. Regardless of the position taken, the Councilmembers appreciate hearing from residents on issues that affect them. They also appreciate all of the emails that were sent by those who could not attend the meeting.
Councilwoman Knudsen reiterated the appreciation expressed by Mayor Aronsohn, and the sentiments expressed by some of the Clinton Avenue residents about rehashing the issue over and over, and she is confident that everyone wants to ensure that any work to be done is accomplished in the right way. In addition, Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that the Councilmembers often revisit issues, whether it affects ordinances or resolutions, to change, modify, or rethink their position on the issue.
Councilwoman Knudsen continued by saying that part of the reason for this being put back on the agenda is due to the fact that some residents came to an understanding about the Clinton Avenue paving and sidewalk issue after it was a fait accompli. They knew nothing about the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) meetings, nor did they know that it was on the agenda for a CSAC meeting when it first occurred, and apparently not when it occurred after that. Councilwoman Knudsen did some research to find out where the agenda for the CSAC meeting was posted, and when the issue was to be included on the agenda for those meetings, in an effort to discover why residents would have such a difficult time in getting that information. Councilwoman Knudsen discovered that there is nothing posted about CSAC meetings, so many of the residents who have asked to be heard on this issue were unaware of the discussions being held. It happens that one of the members of the CSAC lives on Clinton Avenue, who was able to facilitate and generate interest from residents of that street. Unfortunately, residents of that area who do not live on Clinton Avenue were unaware that all of this was occurring. Therefore, tonight has been an opportunity to give voice to other residents of the Clinton Avenue area, who are also taxpayers and are entitled to be heard. They do have some safety concerns. Councilwoman Knudsen, in her past comments, had mentioned similar concerns after visiting Clinton Avenue on several occasions, and made the same observations about the ample traffic during the time that the road was closed, and the fact that children were navigating the street with that traffic present. Furthermore, a bigger concern of Councilwoman Knudsen is that when the street is closed, although there is traffic, there is a certain comfort level derived from the fact that the street is closed. However, when the street is open, there is quite a bit more traffic, yet people are still forced to walk in the street. Councilwoman Knudsen finds something very dangerous about that and she observed that it seemed to be very uncomfortable for some people while cars were trying to navigate past them, because they were looking for a safe place to walk. That is why Councilwoman Knudsen thought it would be fair to give the residents who had no knowledge of the CSAC meetings the chance to give their input about Clinton Avenue. These residents became aware of the matter due to some email exchanges from other residents who knew about the CSAC meetings and facilitated the discussion.
Councilwoman Knudsen noted the comments made by Ms. Bamberg, who stated that she supported the installation of sidewalks, and also supports keeping the street closed, which is something that other Clinton Avenue residents have also supported. Many of the residents feel it is a good idea to keep the street closed because there is a lot of traffic potentially entering the street from Godwin Avenue and West Ridgewood Avenue. Councilwoman Knudsen hopes it will cause the other Councilmembers to rethink their position and realize that it might be prudent to install sidewalks on one side of Clinton Avenue, and keep the street closed. Councilwoman Knudsen believes that would be a win/win for everyone. It would create a safe corridor for people to walk at all times due to the safety net created by the installation of sidewalks, and the street would be kept closed, alleviating the concerns of Clinton Avenue residents that they would be overwhelmed with increased parking and traffic. This was also mentioned in an email from another resident, as well as by Ms. Bamberg.
Councilman Sedon agreed that everyone should have a voice in what happens with this issue. At the CSAC meetings, Clinton Avenue has been a specific agenda item 3-4 times. In addition to that, every agenda has included some type of safety issue with respect to Ridge School, going back to September 2014. Issues include people making left turns where they are prohibited, or issues with queuing to pick up their children. That indicates that there are many safety concerns with Ridge School, not limited to those on Clinton Avenue. Councilman Sedon stated that he would like everyone to be heard, and he would like to invite residents from surrounding streets, as well as school staff, administrators, and a Board of Education member to take a comprehensive look at the whole area to determine what needs to be done to address these safety issues. The school must be included in any discussion, because it is a big part of the equation. Councilman Sedon thinks that it would be a wonderful idea if everyone could meet and develop a plan that may involve engineering, sidewalks, painting, signage, education, or anything else that might be necessary. The meeting could be publicized so that anyone who is interested could come, and the issue could be discussed and worked on in the following weeks or months, so that by the time budget season comes around again, any capital investment that might need to be made could be determined and proposed to try to solve the whole situation, instead of looking at different parts of the situation. Councilman Sedon said he would be happy to facilitate and host such a meeting.
Councilwoman Knudsen commented that she would be happy to work with Councilman Sedon to facilitate such a meeting in the plan, because it would be a great opportunity for them to join together and try to figure this out.
Councilman Pucciarelli supported Councilman Sedon’s approach. He noted that some of the emails from Clinton Avenue residents who support the installation of sidewalks also had other suggestions, but they related more to parking issues and whether the street should be closed or open. Although Councilman Pucciarelli does not think that safety issues should never be revisited, after hearing many discussions about sidewalks, he does not believe that issue needs to be revisited at this time. In fact, Councilman Pucciarelli explained that he traverses Clinton Avenue nearly every day, and he believes that the bigger issue has to do with vehicles idling while students are moving along the street. He suggested that while children are walking to and from school on Clinton Avenue, perhaps vehicles should not be allowed to continue idling while children are on the street. However, Councilman Pucciarelli said he is not sure that the answer to the problem on Clinton Avenue is sidewalks. He agreed with Councilman Sedon that a comprehensive plan should be formulated with respect to traffic and the attendant safety issues at Ridge School, because what is occurring there every morning and afternoon certainly needs to be improved.
Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the CSAC started looking at this issue approximately one year ago, in the spring of 2014. The Councilmembers started receiving emails about it on September 7, 2014. Regarding the re-visitation of this issue several times over the past year, Councilwoman Hauck stated that her primary concern is certainly the welfare of residents. She has driven through that street many times, as well as knocked on doors, and she knows what has been going on with additional parking on Maltbie Avenue, which is partially in Ridgewood and partially in Midland Park. Councilwoman Hauck is also aware that the Borough of Midland Park is angry about the situation at Ridge School, and how it infringes on their community. That is an indication that the issue is much larger than simply making a decision about sidewalks. Councilwoman Hauck pointed out that having no sidewalks was already voted on, and she can see the merits of the arguments for both sides. At least nine new emails have been received on the issue since it was decided, and Councilwoman Hauck noted that there is no such thing as too much input, because that is how the Councilmembers are informed. Although she is happy to hear the opinions of the residents, Councilwoman Hauck does not think it will change her mind, because as Councilman Pucciarelli noted, they have not heard any new arguments for either side.
Councilwoman Hauck pointed out that the Complete Streets protocol gives the municipality the latitude to decide whether a sidewalk is better for community. In fact, the policy guide mentions that there are streets that are designed with only cars in mind. Moreover, Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that in 2013, there was a meeting that included the Councilmembers; Dr. Fishbein, Superintendent of Schools; the members of the CSAC; Police Chief John Ward; and other persons concerned with safety in the Village, and there was a lot of paperwork concerning the bad behavior on the part of drivers in and around school zones.
Mayor Aronsohn reiterated that all of the Councilmembers are concerned about safety, as is everyone in the Village. Everyone is particularly concerned with the safety of children. When this issue came up in September 2014, Mayor Aronsohn discussed it with Councilman Sedon, and they decided to see how the discussion went and then move forward. Mayor Aronsohn noted that he has learned a couple of things during this latest discussion. One of them is that there seems to be a serious parking issue, and that seems to be the primary issue at Ridge School, which has only worsened over time. The second thing Mayor Aronsohn learned from driving around that area is that there are other streets without sidewalks, including the streets on both sides of Clinton Avenue. The argument could be made that at this time, Clinton Avenue is the safest street, because it is closed off. There are also streets near Ridgewood High School that do not have sidewalks. Mayor Aronsohn commented that is a larger issue, and he does not understand why the focus is on Clinton Avenue. That is why he suggested that, because it seems clear that the decision has been made to move forward with paving and curbs with no sidewalks, it should be done as soon as possible. He also agreed with Councilman Sedon’s idea about looking at the larger safety issues surrounding Ridge School. The comprehensive approach seems to be the best way to go at this time.
Councilman Sedon added that at the CSAC meeting, it was explained by Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, that if a decision was made later to install sidewalks, it could still be done. Mayor Aronsohn reiterated that there are many streets in Ridgewood that do not have sidewalks, which might or might not be a good thing, but that is something that the Councilmembers should consider more broadly.
Councilwoman Knudsen commented that this was an opportunity for everyone to be heard on this issue, due to the number of emails that were received over the past several weeks.
Mayor Aronsohn asked if there is a schedule for work to be done on Clinton Avenue. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that currently, it looks like the paving and curb work will be done in September 2015 (early fall).
3.) Ordinance 3066
Councilwoman Knudsen reminded everyone that the Planning Board has been working on Ordinance 3066 for the past couple of months. Ordinance 3066 is an ordinance that gives access to the Village Master Plan to private parties who have an interest in making applications to amend the Master Plan. This particular ordinance was implemented in 2007. The ordinance needed to be reviewed, because it was realized that there were some concerns, and it was problematic in certain areas. A committee was set up in September 2014 to begin working on review of this ordinance. The committee members include Councilwoman Knudsen; Mayor Aronsohn; Charles Nalbantian, Chairman of the Planning Board; Richard Joel, Vice-Chairman of the Planning Board; Gail Price, Planning Board Attorney; and Blais Brancheau, Village Planner. Part of the basis for revisiting Ordinance 3066 was to first establish that the Village owns the Master Plan, and retains the exclusive right to amend it.
Mayor Aronsohn noted that there was a lot of concern expressed by many people about Ordinance 3066, because they felt it was undermining the entire planning process. They believed that this ordinance would allow a developer to petition to revise the Master Plan by paying for that process, which meant that the developer would thereby control that process. That would remove some of the control and authority out of the hands of the Planning Board members. That feeling drove the re-examination of Ordinance 3066, and these discussions are trying to find out if that is true, and if so, what can be done to fix it. There was a lot of discussion about whether this type of ordinance exists in other communities. The result of this discussion will be taken to the Planning Board for their consideration and recommendation, after which time it will come back to the Village Council.
Councilwoman Knudsen added that the premise behind the original ordinance is that it became a funding mechanism, actually placing the fees in escrow, which would permit an applicant to request a change in the Master Plan, so that the funding burden was not shouldered by the taxpayers. That was a major piece of the puzzle.
Mayor Aronsohn asked Mr. Brancheau to explain the original purpose of Ordinance 3066; how Mr. Brancheau has seen it in practice; and what the document actually is. Mr. Brancheau commented that when the ordinance was first written, the Planning Board was beginning the process of hearing the Valley Hospital request for a Master Plan amendment. It was foreseen that there would be an extensive review and the need for outside consultants, the cost of which would be significant. Ordinance 3066 was adopted not with the intent to give someone the right to request a change, but to give the Planning Board the right to require applicants to pay for the time and trouble of the Planning Board members in reviewing the requests. That was adopted in 2007, whereas Valley Hospital initially appeared before the Village Council in late 2006, and started appearing before the Planning Board in 2007. Mayor Aronsohn asked if the strategy worked. Mr. Brancheau believes one of the reasons for the change is that there is a perception that when a development application is made, it is similar to a site plan application, or a subdivision or variance application. When those applications are made, State law forces the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment to take action, and that action must occur within a certain time period. In addition, it must go immediately to a hearing process. However, in the case of a Master Plan amendment, as was stated earlier, the municipality has far more control, and the municipality is not mandated to take any action at all, nor is any timeframe specified. A Public Hearing is not required. The purpose behind Ordinance 3066 was to reinforce that idea, and eliminate the confusion between a typical development application and a request for an amendment. It strengthens the language so that the Planning Board, the Village Council, and applicants would be aware that the Village is not forced to take any action, nor is it required to go through the hearing process, unless the Village chooses to do so.
The process as described in the amendment that was discussed was a two-step process, with an initial quick review at minimal cost to the applicant (administrative fee only), and no hearings required. Basically, it only required review at a Planning Board Work Session Meeting to determine if the application had merit to proceed, or that it did not have merit and would not proceed. If the Planning Board or the Village Council (in the case of an ordinance request) should decide that the application has merit, the second step of the process would begin. In that process, the Planning Board or Village Council could continue to work on an informal basis, without hearings and a lot of expert testimony in a nearly-adversarial proceeding. The process described in the ordinance is more informal. At the same time, the proposed amended ordinance provides that if the Planning Board or Village Council deems it necessary, they can require that the applicant place money in an escrow account to reimburse the Village for its costs in hiring experts to review everything. Mr. Brancheau emphasized the fact that all of that would only occur after the initial review is made, it is determined that there is some merit to the application, and it is worth studying. The current amendment is broader, and basically stipulates that an applicant must pay a more substantial application fee, and the funds must immediately be deposited in escrow to reimburse the Village. The perception was that the existing ordinance, although it does not require a formal hearing process, implies that a process will begin. Mr. Brancheau stated that was never the intent of the ordinance.
Councilman Pucciarelli noted that his tenure on the Planning Board both pre-dated and post-dated this ordinance. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if, before this ordinance passed, a private applicant had the right to petition the Planning Board to change the Master Plan. Mr. Brancheau believes that was the case. Councilman Pucciarelli said he assumed that was so, because there were applicants who felt that their properties were not properly zoned, and they could not possibly get the number of variances required, so they chose to make an application to amend the Master Plan. When this ordinance passed, it did not create the right for a private applicant to petition to amend the Master Plan. Councilman Pucciarelli believes there is a popular misconception within the community that the applications from private applicants who came before the Planning Board to amend the Master Plan were not due to the fact that the Master Plan was out of date, but because the door was opened to them by passing Ordinance 3066. On the contrary, he believes that Ordinance 3066 states that anyone who wants to present an application to the Planning Board to amend the Master Plan must pay his/her share. Councilman Pucciarelli does not see any repeal of this ordinance, and no one is saying that. In fact, he cannot see any reason to repeal it, because it seems to serve the exact purpose for which it was intended, which is that if someone does come forward with an application to amend the Master Plan, the old language even states that the nature, timing, and extent of any application shall be at the discretion of the Village Council or the Planning Board. Although the actual wording could have been better, and Ordinance 3066 certainly helps to clarify that, the decision as to whether to hear the application is still left entirely to the Planning Board. Therefore, Councilman Pucciarelli said he wanted to make it clear if there is any talk about repealing Ordinance 3066, he does not want to be any part of that. He thinks that repealing the ordinance would revert to the situation in which the applicants have the same rights and fewer responsibilities, and the Planning Board’s discretion is not explicitly stated. Councilman Pucciarelli commended Mr. Brancheau for recognizing that this ordinance should not be repealed, but should be preserved. He believes that Ordinance 3066 enhances the current ordinance, as well as preserving it, and is a far cry from repealing it. It also regulates the process in favor of Village government, and that is why Councilman Pucciarelli supports preserving it.
Mr. Brancheau noted that the opportunity for the public to make comments is available at the beginning and end of all Village Council meetings, while at the Planning Board, public comments are available at the beginning of meetings. Whether it is a resident, a member of the business community, or someone else, that right is always available during open sessions of the Planning Board to request a review of any issue. Whether the Planning Board or Village Council believes it is a good idea or not, the public does have a right to request that the government change its policies. Neither the Planning Board nor the Village Council is obligated to act upon the request, nor is either entity obligated to do what was requested, but they are only obligated to hear the request presented. Ordinance 3066 reinforces that process, and strengthens the discretionary role of the reviewing body.
Mayor Aronsohn also came to realize that there was no need to repeal the ordinance after sitting through the meetings and going through this process. On the contrary, it gives the governing body an option that does not exist in other municipalities. One of the points discussed with respect to clarifying language was that, at some point after the preliminary review by the Planning Board, if the Planning Board should decide to move forward with a hearing, there is a choice to be made about how to proceed with that hearing. The choice is whether to have the applicant pay for the process, or let the Planning Board fund it themselves. The amended language provides that the Planning Board should take a step back to make a very conscious, deliberate, and public decision, and get input from the community. He agreed with Mr. Brancheau that the language has been clarified, while at the same time preserving what Mayor Aronsohn considers to be an important option for the Planning Board. Mr. Brancheau agreed, saying that it gives the Planning Board or Village Council the flexibility about whether to require a deposit from the applicant, or to do the work on its own; whether to open the hearing process; and whether to require notices. Mr. Brancheau pointed out that State law provides that amendments to ordinances and Master Plans require that, prior to adoption of any amendment, Public Hearings must be held, and the same applies to ordinances. State law cannot be changed, but Mr. Brancheau commented that, until any issue reaches the point of a Public Hearing, the Village has as much discretion as it requires with respect to how to handle the issue.
Councilman Sedon commented that, in fairness to everyone, it is important to notify any applicant from the beginning that the possibility exists that no action will be taken. He believes that the implication was that, since money was required to be placed in escrow in starting the process, it would be formal from the beginning. This ordinance gives the applicant, as well as the Planning Board and Village Council, the ability to decide from the start whether to move forward, and how to proceed, instead of immediately embarking upon the hearing process. Mr. Brancheau pointed out that it was the reason for reducing the application fee to a minimal amount, as well as removing the requirement of a deposit in escrow. He agreed with Councilman Sedon that the requirement of placing funds in escrow created the impression in the minds of some people that the issue would move immediately to a formalized process. Councilman Sedon added that he thinks it is important for the taxpayers to know that if an application has merit, and the Planning Board wants to explore it further, the financial burden could be placed on the applicant, not on the taxpayers.
Councilwoman Hauck stated that, based on Mr. Brancheau’s summation of the changes, it sounds perfect to her. She agreed that Ordinance 3066 was already very clear, but she is confused by something that was in the draft given to the Councilmembers. There is an explanation of how various parts of the ordinance will be changed, and they are underlined. However, a new section after that strikes a lot of the existing language. Councilwoman Hauck asked if the new ordinance would have fewer paragraphs and sections, and thereby be shorter than the existing ordinance. She noted that 190-143 is completely stricken, and 190-144 is also completely stricken. Mr. Brancheau explained that, instead of rewording complete paragraphs, it would be better to start fresh with the wording. He pointed out that Section 190-143 in the existing Code has six subsections. The proposed amendment only has four subsections. With respect to Section 190-144 in the existing Code, there were also six subsections, which have been increased to eight subsections. Councilwoman Hauck thinks this was a great idea to reassure people, because there were many who had the misconception that testimony provided by experts would be affected by a perceived bias, based on monies placed in escrow. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that it had been addressed in the proposed amendment, where it was spelled out very clearly that neither the Planning Board nor the Village Council is obligated to conduct any hearing or to take any formal action concerning the request, except to inform the requester that a determination has been made. Mr. Brancheau noted that the language is repeated throughout the amendments, especially at the end of the process once the review has been completed, the Planning Board is not obligated to take any action with respect to the application. Even when time frames are suggested, the Planning Board is not obligated to take action.
Councilman Pucciarelli also noted that the proposed amendment illustrates the need to review the Master Plan regularly, because situations constantly change in the Village. He asked if this ordinance would be presented to the Planning Board for review before adoption by the Village Council. Mr. Brancheau responded that the Councilmembers have a choice. They could choose to introduce the ordinance as written, and then refer it to the Planning Board, or it could be sent to the Planning Board for final recommendations before introduction. It has not yet been reviewed by the full Planning Board, but only by a subcommittee.
Councilwoman Knudsen noted that there are many examples throughout the Village that demonstrate the success of the ordinance. She also commended Mr. Brancheau for cleaning up the language, and she thanked him, as well as Mr. Nalbantian, Mr. Joel, Ms. Price, and Mayor Aronsohn for their efforts throughout this process.
4.) Endorse Community Development Block Grant Application – Family Promise
Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that the endorsement of a Community Development Block Grant for Family Promise was done last year. The requirement of the grant is that the applicant notifies the municipality of the grant, but no Village funds are obligated by this endorsement. The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
d. Operations:
1.) Adoption of Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is adoption of a resolution formalizing the Village’s participation in the County-wide natural hazard mitigation plan. This is required in order for Ridgewood to be eligible for FEMA grant funding. The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
2.) Authorize Mailing of 2015 Third-Quarter Estimated Tax Bills
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this will authorize the mailing of the third-quarter estimated tax bills. The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
3.) Declare Property Surplus – Fiber Optic Cable Reels
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is self-explanatory, and is a resolution to declare extra cable reels as surplus, and that they can be disposed of by the Village Manager. The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
4.) Pease Library Lease Assessment
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that this will authorize Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Mailander to execute the second renewal of the Pease Library lease with Ridgewood Medical Media. This was considered by the Ridgewood Public Library Board of Trustees, and was reviewed by them, as well as by Ms. Sonenfeld and Mr. Rogers. The Village Council agreed to put this resolution on the agenda for the May 13, 2015 Public Meeting.
5.) Rental of 1057 Hillcrest Road
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the rental of 1057 Hillcrest Road, which is located in Habernickel Family Park, is being put out to bid. The property has always been rented under a one-year lease with an option to renew, because the situation with house has been tentative while there is on-going construction at the park. The current tenant has not committed to renewing the lease at the current price, and Ms. Sonenfeld noted that she is awaiting a report from the real estate professional regarding the market rate. This is for informational purposes only.
6.) Authorize Execution of Contract with Northwest Financial Services – Review of Financials from Kensington Senior Development
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out this should probably have been included under the discussion about parking, because it has to do with the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, and one of the prime reasons for undertaking this project was to provide more parking within the CBD. This will authorize Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Mailander to execute the agreement with Northwest Financial Services, which has been discussed in previous Village Council meetings. This is the next step in reviewing the Kensington Senior Housing proposal for North Walnut Street. Kensington Senior Housing is paying for this financial review, so no Village funds are being expended. Kensington will transfer the funds to the Village for payment to Northwest Financial Services. Mayor Aronsohn asked what the timeframe is for this part of the project. Mr. Rogers explained that as soon as the agreement is approved by the Village Council, it goes into effect, and the work can begin, as well as the financial review. It has been left open through the end of 2015 because it will be a need for an exchange between Northwest Financial and Kensington with respect to documents and other essential materials, and Northwest Financial stated that they could have it completed within a month if they receive all of the necessary documents.
Councilwoman Hauck stated that she was on the Redevelopment Committee, and there is still another proposal under consideration. Anyone reading this contract might believe that the other company did not have the option to obtain the same financial review, but that is not the case. The other company chose not to pay for a financial review. There has not yet been any determination made with respect to choosing Kensington Senior Development for this project. Mr. Rogers noted that there are only references to a “proposed developer” or “potential developer,” without identifying who that developer might be.
7. REVIEW OF MAY 13, 2015 AGENDA
Ms. Mailander announced that the Public Meeting would include the following Proclamations: Proclaim “National Cancer Survivors Day”; Proclaim “Emergency Medical Services Week”; Proclaim the month of May as “Mental Health Month”.
The Temporary Chief Financial Officer will be appointed and sworn in. Two Firefighters will also be sworn in.
There are no ordinances scheduled to be introduced.
The scheduled Public Hearings include: Amend Chapter 25 – Vehicles and Traffic – Definition of Loading Zones; Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Corella Court – Stop Sign and Two-Hour Parking Limit; Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Delineation and Clarification of Yellow Zones on Curbs in Central Business District and Establish Vehicle Height Restrictions; Establish a CAP Bank; General Capital Ordinance; Water Capital Ordinance; and the Parking Utility Capital Ordinance.
Resolutions include: Title 59 Approval – Road Resurfacing and Repair; Award Contract – Road Resurfacing and Repairs; Title 59 Approval – Horticultural Supplies; Award Contract – Horticultural Supplies; Award Contract and Authorize Execution of Contract – E-Ticketing; Award Contract under State Contract – Purchase of Chlorine Analyzers; Award Contract under State Contract – Purchase of Computer Equipment; Award Contract to Sole Provider – Lab Chemicals – Ridgewood Water; Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services Contract – Distribution Leak Survey – Ridgewood Water; Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services Contract – Emergency Chemical Purchase – Corrosion Inhibitor; Authorize Execution of Contract – Northwest Financial Services; Award Emergency Purchase – Sodium Hypochlorite Pumps – Ridgewood Water; Authorize Property Tax Payment Refund Due to Reduced Assessment – Block 4205, Lot 7.01; Authorize Mailing of 2015 Third-Quarter Estimated Tax Bills; Adopt Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan; Declare Property Surplus – Fiber Optic Cable Reels; Endorse Community Development Block Grant Application – Family Promise.
8. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld started her report by welcoming Robert G. Rooney as the Temporary Chief Financial Officer, who will be sworn in next week. He joined the Village staff as of Monday, May 4, 2015, as the temporary CFO and Director of the Parking Utility. Mr. Rooney brings 35 years of experience serving the public sector working for one of the Big Four accounting firms, so he understands the finances associated with counties, municipalities, school districts, and other civil authorities. In addition, he has significant experience in understanding operations of municipalities, as well as systems implementation experience.
Bob Gillow, Superintendent of the Ridgewood Wastewater Treatment Plant, is retiring. Mr. Gillow joined the Village in 1978, and worked his way up through the plant, becoming the Superintendent of the plant in 2005. His entire working life has been spent in Ridgewood, and working with Mr. Rutishauser, they led the Water Pollution Control Facility through the liquid waste acceptance program and the sustainable energy programs. Ms. Sonenfeld said that Mr. Gillow will be missed, and she is currently interviewing candidates for his position.
Regarding Graydon Pool, Ms. Sonenfeld wanted to provide some updates on what actions have occurred over the past couple of weeks, what has been learned, and what her recommendations are. She unequivocally stated that during the last week in August, there is no staffing available for the pool. Other pools that are similar to Graydon Pool have different situations, because their communities do not start school until September 8th, allowing the pools to stay open. Some municipalities have not yet reached a decision about what they will do at that time.
As far as the pre-season is concerned, and whether the hours should be extended during that time, Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that at this point, it appears that funding is available to keep the pool open two extra hours in the mornings, although it will be restricted to the kiddie pool area. However there are some concerns with that. First, although some of the college students are home and said that they could work at those times, there is always a risk that the pool will not be properly staffed. Therefore, whether the pool is open or closed could be a decision that has to be made on a day-to-day basis, and it might be necessary to close the pool at times due to inadequate staffing. Second, there will be limited staffing, as opposed to staffing throughout the property, which also causes safety concerns, such as people going to the other side of the pool; medical emergencies that might occur; and the fact that lifeguards would be required to work longer shifts, which might lead to insufficient down time for them. Another issue is a historical one, which was in 2012, when the pool was open for extended hours, but there was a low turnout. Many people believe the low turnout was due to weather issues, but after checking weather records for that time, the majority of days were warm or warmer than the average for June. The majority of days also had no rain. The final issue is the business/financial one. It is known that it will cost approximately $3,000 to keep the pool open the additional hours, and Ms. Sonenfeld discovered in her research that during the pre-season, Graydon Pool does better on the pre-season weekdays than many other municipalities’ pools, and the Graydon Pool regular season starts earlier than those other municipalities’ pools.
Moving on to parking, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that there is a “parking team” that meets regularly, and tries to examine all the different facets of parking. However, there is a desire to place an emphasis on breaking ground for a new parking garage as soon as possible, perhaps early in 2016. As a result, a Parking Steering Committee is being developed, including Mayor Aronsohn and Councilman Sedon; Mr. Rooney; Mr. Rutishauser; and Ms. Sonenfeld. Other people can be added if necessary. The goal of the committee is to stay on top of this issue to ensure that adequate resources are devoted to it, and it is prioritized as high as necessary with any potential roadblocks being removed as quickly as possible. Weekly meetings will begin soon.
A quote was received from a vendor regarding automated versus traditional parking garages. Ms. Sonenfeld thinks that will be the first topic of discussion for the new Parking Steering Committee, with a decision to be made about whether it should be put out for an RFP.
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that she thinks there is a bottleneck in the Engineering Department. Projects are getting delayed, with Ms. Sonenfeld noting that the three employees are working on approximately 40 projects at the moment. Those projects include a paving project, and paving projects traditionally require a lot of resources; the Hawes School parking lot, which must be designed and implemented; the Benjamin Franklin School driveway drop off situation, which needs to be redesigned; an RFP must be put together to review or privatize the Lakeview Recycling Facility, which may or may not need some other kind of work; the Hudson Street parking structure; the additional parking for the park-and-ride on Route 17, which has engendered some additional political issues; reviewing the valet parking issue in the CBD, which needs to be studied to consider the possibility of regionalizing it; looking at ADA-compliant ramps on all Bergen County roads so that those roads can be paved; continuing the process regarding the North Walnut Street will Redevelopment Zone; Engine 31, which is now working in a subdivision; the diversion issue that was discussed months ago and still exists; the Lester Stable ADA ramps that need to be coordinated; the Graydon Pool ADA ramp from the parking lot; the Saddle River stream bank project closeout of FEMA funds; the grant stream cleaning project from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP); work that needs to be done on the Graydon Pool pumping station; the bathrooms at Habernickel Family Park; wall repairs that are needed at the salt shed; snowplowing that must be sent out for bid again this year; drainage improvements to be done on Monte Vista Avenue; wayfinding signs in the CBD; flood map updates for Ridgewood residents; and the list goes on.
Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that Ms. Sonenfeld did not get into the jobs for Fleet Services. All of these jobs are in addition to the fact that anyone who passes the Engineering Department at any given time will usually find a resident there asking for assistance or advice. Mr. Rutishauser also attends some of the Planning Board meetings, which takes up a lot of his time, as well as many of the other Village committees. Ms. Sonenfeld emphasized that she is not requesting action being taken at this time, but she will send the list of jobs awaiting the Engineering Department to all of the Councilmembers for their input regarding where the priorities should be. They should also consider the possibility of adding resources to the Engineering Department, whether permanent, temporary, or contracted.
Ms. Sonenfeld moved on to discussing the user-friendly budget. It is now a State requirement that municipalities submit user-friendly budgets, and it has been in the news due to the fact that it is regarded as an unfunded mandate. There are some municipalities who have either elected or are trying not to provide such budgets. Ms. Mailander distributed a potential resolution for the Village Council to adopt expressing the concern of the Councilmembers about this issue. Ms. Sonenfeld reported that the new CFO has completed approximately 75% of the new, user-friendly budget. She explained that the reason for this being so “easy” in Ridgewood is because approximately a year ago, she and the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) started examining fully loaded costs, while at the same time examining how pensions and benefits fit in, and other issues that were discussed with the FAC. All of that has paid off, because it has made Mr. Rooney’s job that much easier. The Village does not need a resolution of opposition to the user-friendly budget, and when the budget is adopted, it will be put in a user-friendly format.
In her “Response to Residents” section, Ms. Sonenfeld added that yesterday, she received two emails telling her how wonderful Garber Square looks. Both of the senders also mentioned that the bike lane is terrific, and they love the green paint. Ms. Sonenfeld commended the Engineering Department for all of their efforts.
At the “Meet the Manager” session in April, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that many the people who came wanted to discuss Corella Court, which gave her the opportunity to receive more input and feedback on how this could possibly be done a bit differently.
Upcoming events include a plant sale on May 9, 2015, to benefit beautification projects for the Ridgewood Land Conservancy. May 10, 2015, is Mother’s Day, and the last day to register to vote for the primary is May 12, 2015. On May 14, 2015, there will be the annual “Touch-a-Truck,” when children are allowed to climb on and investigate Village vehicles. The second quarter property tax grace period ends on May 11, 2015. Finally, on May 20, 2015, there will be the Building Safety Conference hosted by Tom Yotka, Director of the Building Department, in honor of Building Safety Month. Everyone is welcome to speak to him, as well as other Building Department employees.
9. COUNCIL REPORTS
Planning Board – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that the Planning Board continued its review of the land-use plan element of the Master Plan, including the AH2, B3R, CR, and C-zone districts. Mr. Brancheau came forward with a newly revised amendment, and gave testimony, as well as fielding questions from the public and Planning Board members. The newly-revised amendment reflects a reduction in allowable units per acre from approximately 45-52 to approximately 30-35. Some residents and Planning Board members continued to express concern that the numbers were still too high, and there should perhaps be a reduction in the floor area ratio, Mr. Brancheau quickly pointed out that it does not yet include the newly-defined social areas. Councilwoman Knudsen stated that it was a very long night, and everyone stayed until the end. The Public Hearing on the newly-revised amendment will continue on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, at Village Hall.
In addition, with approximately nine months left to complete the Master Plan re-examination, the Planning Board continues to work on that issue. Councilwoman Knudsen noted that the Planning Board has a full plate this year, and they are trying to get their agendas posted more promptly, and she asked everyone to have patience during this extremely busy time.
Federrici Sculpture Update – Councilwoman Knudsen said that for those following closely, the Federrici sculpture was moved from its longtime resting place in the woods behind the Traffic and Signal Division, to a secure location. It was moved by Village staff, and Councilwoman Knudsen praised them for being careful to ensure that it moved smoothly. It is now in the care of a fine art restorer, and the decision was made to bring it to a pristine condition, as that is most appropriate to proper restoration. Early discussions in the fall of 2014 included permanent installation in front of the flagpole at Village Hall. However, upon reflection, it was determined that it would not be the best place, because the sculpture is not very tall, and bringing it up to an appropriate level would be difficult. Since then, it was determined that the sculpture will be restored to its most proper and prominent location, which is above the main entrance to Village Hall. This will require more funding, and some private donors have already expressed their willingness to help with that.
Fourth of July Committee – Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned that the Fourth of July Committee will meet on Monday, May 11th, at 7:30 P.M., at the Ridgewood Firehouse. Everyone is welcome to come and help. The committee is still seeking volunteers to work along the parade route and elsewhere. Councilwoman Knudsen commented that they are great group of people, who are very enthusiastic and welcoming. She hopes that other people will come and join in the efforts to continue this Ridgewood tradition. For more information, visit www.ridgewoodjuly4.net.
Historic Preservation Commission– Councilwoman Knudsen noted that this committee will meet next Thursday, May 14th, at 8:00 P.M., in the Garden Room. They are planning to review the historic component for the Master Plan re-examination, as well as any other applications that are pending.
Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli again mentioned the Ridgewood Arts Council’s website at www.rac.ridgewoodnj.net. He noted that on the website, people can find, among other things, the master calendar for all of their scheduled artistic endeavors in Ridgewood. Last Friday night, Councilman Pucciarelli attended the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra’s performance at West Side Presbyterian Church.
Central Business District Forum – Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that the sixth forum in the CBD series, which was to take place on May 20th, conflicts with the scheduled Building Safety Seminar, which Councilman Pucciarelli urges everyone to attend. The CBD forum has been rescheduled for Wednesday, June 17th, and more information will follow.
Ridgewood Public Library Board of Trustees– Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the Friends of the Library gave the report stating that the reading marathon fundraiser from February-March grossed $20,400. The author’s luncheon netted $28,500. These are great initiatives for the Village, and represent great collaborations between the Friends of the Library and the Public Library. A Library Foundation fundraiser will be held on October 17th in the Public Library. It was noted that computer class enrollments have increased by 20%. There was also a discussion about the Village’s participation in the Public Library budget, and how the 2015 budget is $20,000 more than the 2014 budget. They also acknowledged that once the budget is adopted, the Village has agreed to increase their capital budget by approximately $50,000 in 2015. The total Village contribution to the Public Library budget was $2.35 million.
The Public Library has a new program called Hoopla, from the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), which is something that Councilwoman Hauck feels could be quite addictive. It is similar to Zinio, which offers magazine subscriptions using a library card, in that Hoopla offers free movies, music, audiobooks, and television shows streaming online to computers and tablets simply by using a library card.
Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) – Councilwoman Hauck stated that the Financial Advisory Committee met this past Monday, and the meeting was brief, but productive. The members have decided to reduce their meetings to quarterly meetings, and they are currently reviewing the bylaws to see how that can be implemented. They do not believe it is necessary to meet monthly, because they can schedule work sessions as they are needed. Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the FAC was instrumental in putting together the budget newsletter which will be coming out shortly. They reviewed the text, changed the pie charts and graphs, and edited the layout, and without the assistance of the FAC, that would place a greater burden on Village staff. The FAC is also compiling their annual report, which they plan to present to the Village Council in approximately two weeks.
Fields Committee – Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the Fields Committee met this morning, and they had a visit from some of the members of the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC). The purpose of REAC’s visit was to ask for help from the members of the Fields Committee to encourage more people to use refillable water bottles, in the hope that through awareness, advocacy, action, and alignment, people will stop using plastic bottles and leaving them all over the fields. Everyone agreed that it was a wonderful idea because there are approximately 4,500 children participating in Ridgewood sports programs, and if only 10% of them used refillable bottles, it would be a huge step in the right direction. The fall field schedule was also completed and distributed.
Today, Councilwoman Hauck attended the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders Public Hearing regarding the needs of senior citizens in Bergen County. James Tedesco, County Executive, gave everyone the opportunity to come to the hearing to see if any new ideas could be generated for assisting senior citizens. One of the ideas that was discussed was from a woman who took it upon herself to start distributing absorbent briefs to senior citizens through Meals On Wheels. This was subsidized through donations and contributions, and is changing the lives of many who cannot afford to pay for those things themselves. There are 952,000 residents and Bergen County, and approximately 120,000 of them are senior citizens. Approximately 100,000 more are caregivers. The most vulnerable senior citizens are those 60 years and older. Councilwoman Hauck pointed out that the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act was also discussed, which was passed in 1965 in response to concerns about senior citizens. There was a lack of community and social services for older persons. The most common requests at the hearing were for more transportation for seniors, and for more housing. Currently, there is a five-year waiting list for Federally subsidized housing, and people who qualify for that are the ones who fall below 50% of the median family income. Councilwoman Hauck welcomed anyone who has questions about services for senior citizens to call her or email her.
Ridgewood Green Team – Councilman Sedon mentioned that he met with the Green Team yesterday, and Mr. Rutishauser is helping everyone to get the information they need. The team must compile documentation and a narrative of the green initiatives and actions that are being planned and have been completed by the Village. He noted that Ridgewood has already accomplished many of these initiatives, all of which are known to Mr. Rutishauser, so he has been an invaluable help in that way. The Green Team has some longtime volunteers, as well as some new recruits from the community, who are getting acquainted with Village Hall employees. It seems very likely that Ridgewood will be certified through the Sustainable Jersey program by the June 7th deadline. That will open up many grant opportunities and further certification, because some of the documentation currently being assembled has been very easy to obtain, but Councilman Sedon said there are some other things that are only half-done, which might require a few more initiatives on the part of Ridgewood. He emphasized that the Village can easily meet the requirements for initial certification for the bronze level by June 7th, which will open up grant opportunities.
Mayor Aronsohn mentioned that on Saturday, April 25th, Ridgewood hosted the Bergen County Access for All Forum, the fourth such event held in Bergen County. The purpose is to promote disability awareness and try to get municipalities to work together on disability issues. It was the largest turnout ever, and Mayor Aronsohn said that it also represented a real cross-section of people working throughout the disability spectrum. Mr. Tedesco attended, as well as several Bergen County Freeholders, and other Bergen County officials.
Mayor Aronsohn mentioned the struggles of Ridgewood resident Anthony Daniels, who has endured a long battle with an aggressive form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A bone marrow drive was held for him in Village Hall more than a year ago, and the turnout was incredible. Now, North Jersey Masters, sponsors of the Memorial Day run, have agreed to set up a tent for Anthony this year.
The Ridgewood Art Institute hosts its annual sponsor show this Friday, May 8th. Each guest pays approximately $275, and all of the guests’ names go into a hat. When a particular name is called, that person can choose any painting hanging on the wall.
Finally, with respect to Graydon Pool, Mayor Aronsohn thanked Ms. Sonenfeld and Tim Cronin, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, for all of their efforts with respect to the on-going issues with the pool. Mayor Aronsohn believes that every effort should be made so that the pool can stay open for the extra two hours in the early part of the season.
Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she agrees with Ms. Sonenfeld’s comments about Graydon Pool, but she wanted to know if there was any cost savings in keeping the pool closed at the end of the season to offset the additional $3,000 it will cost to keep it open for the extra two hours in the early season. Ms. Sonenfeld said that is possible. Councilman Pucciarelli commented that he thought it was a good objective to keep Graydon Pool open early for two weeks, but he would leave it to Ms. Sonenfeld and Mr. Cronin to make decision.
Councilman Sedon also supports keeping the pool open the extra two hours, although he is rather disappointed that at the end of the season, at the hottest time of year, the pool cannot be opened. He also thanked Ms. Sonenfeld, Mr. Cronin, and everyone else who worked on this initiative.
Councilwoman Hauck stated that she had three concerns, and the primary one is safety. The one thing she learned from this research is that other pools have 15-minute shifts so that a lifeguard never sits in a chair for longer than 15 minutes. The pool has eight lifeguards, and one extra lifeguard is scheduled as a “floater” in case someone is absent. Extending the opening time by two hours over nine days means that the lifeguards will be sitting in the chairs for 10 hours with no relief, which is not safe. That is why Councilwoman Hauck is glad that it is being restricted to the kiddie pool area. She also pointed out that this only occurs every 5-6 years, due to school openings vis-à-vis Labor Day
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this will be viewed as a pilot program; it will be monitored, so the Village is prepared for next year, when Labor Day will be late again.
10. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn stated they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward.
Jane Remis, 118 Madison Place, stated that she would be happy to work with the Councilmembers on the situation at Ridge School. She also pointed out that the Village Engineer recommended sidewalks on Clinton Avenue for safety, and the reason it was discussed tonight was because many people believe it would help to alleviate some of the traffic problems.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, thanked the Councilmembers for their decision with respect to the additional hours at Graydon Pool. It is especially welcoming to those who are grandparents or parents of toddlers, who need to take a nap after lunch.
With respect to Corella Court, Mr. Loving believes there is a lesson to be learned, especially by those who are currently on the Planning Board or are contemplating joining the Planning Board, and with no disrespect to any members of the Board of Education. Mr. Loving thinks that what happens with additions and changes to school buildings is that the Planning Board does a courtesy review of those plans, without taking everything into consideration. In this case, an addition was built onto Hawes School, and there was no consideration for the amount of parking that was being lost, or how many new staff members would be joining the school, as a result of the addition. Mr. Loving hopes that there is some kind of courtesy review of the plans at Benjamin Franklin School, and that any review will take into consideration the ramifications on parking at the school.
Mr. Loving said he is a bit concerned about the proposed start date mentioned by Ms. Sonenfeld for the paving on Clinton Avenue. The start date is in September, and school starts on September 1st. Mr. Loving said he is rather disappointed to find that the Village is willing to cause chaos on that street at the same time the school is starting. That will bring in construction workers, additional traffic, street closings, and situations that might make it unsafe for children to walk on the streets. Mr. Loving asked if it would be possible to have the work completed by the time school starts, instead of starting a project at that time.
Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that most recently, the Planning Board did a courtesy review for the Board of Education for the solar panel project, and one of the first questions asked by Councilwoman Knudsen was whether the stanchions or uprights would interfere with any parking spaces, to ensure that there was no loss of parking there. The Board of Education assured the Planning Board that there was no issue with parking, and no parking would be lost.
Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked a question about the purchase of road materials for pavement repair and trench restoration, on the agenda this evening. Ms. Loving wanted to know if the funds for the purchase would be coming from the Ridgewood Water budget. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that the monies are coming from both budgets, and only monies that are budgeted will be spent in either of those budgets.
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 15-128, 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 Councilwoman Knudsen, seconded by Councilman Pucciarelli, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 P.M.
_____________________________
Paul S. Aronsohn
Mayor
_________________________________
Heather A. Mailander
Village Clerk
