Village Council Public Work Session Meeting Minutes 20150401
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, APRIL 1, 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, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney. Councilman Sedon was absent.
Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and asked for a moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those 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. There were no comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
3. DISCUSSION ITEMS – BUDGET
A. Approve Grant Application to Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) Prepared by the Land Conservancy of New Jersey
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this grant request came late last week, with a deadline that is approaching. Approval of this grant application includes implementing and analyzing a survey which would become the basis for updating the Village’s Open Space and Recreation Plan, at no cost to the Village. The grant is in the amount of $1,500, and the people preparing the grant application will also prepare and analyze the survey, for the amount of the grant. Ms. Sonenfeld discussed this with Councilman Sedon, who discussed it with the Open Space Committee. They thought it was a good price, as well as a good approach to obtaining objective results.
Mayor Aronsohn mentioned that he also discussed this with Councilman Sedon, and they agreed that it is a great idea. Mayor Aronsohn stated that his only concern, which has been somewhat mitigated by the fact that the Village will not be paying for this (since it will be funded through the grant), is that there had been a discussion about doing a Village-wide survey at some point, and Mayor Aronsohn wondered if this could be included as part of that survey. However, because time is of the essence, Mayor Aronsohn believes that the Village should move forward with this grant application. Ms. Sonenfeld agreed, and pointed out that the Open Space Committee will be working on this at some point, so it does make sense to have the survey done.
B. Approve Agreement – Armored Car Service
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is a request to authorize Ms. Sonenfeld to sign a contract with Eastern Armored Service, Inc., to provide coin services, as well as picking up cash and checks. Eastern will replace Garda, the present service provider. The added benefit of having Eastern perform this service is that the Village will no longer have to count coins. The coins would be picked up in locked canisters from the coin room, and brought to Eastern’s headquarters, where, under dual control, the coins would be counted and deposited the next day at Valley National Bank. Despite the fact that the cost of this service is higher than what was paid by Valley National Bank to Garda, Valley National Bank has agreed to pay the greater amount to Eastern Armored Service. This service will be implemented concurrently with the installation of locked canisters in the single-head parking meters, and new canister padlocks. It is estimated that all of this will occur on or about May 1, 2015.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked how often the money would be picked up. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that Eastern will come once a week, on Wednesday. Councilwoman Knudsen asked how often the previous pickups were made. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the frequency fluctuated. She added that previously, the coins were picked up once every two weeks, and the cash and checks were picked up several times a week.
4. MOTION TO SUSPEND WORK SESSION AND CONVENE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
At 7:40 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Knudsen, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.
5. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION
At 7:43 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Knudsen, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council reconvened its Work Session. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney. Councilman Sedon was absent.
6. DISCUSSION
a. Parking:
1.) Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Corella Court – Stop Sign and 2-Hour Parking Limit
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she experienced one of the issues occurring at Corella Court. She and Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, visited the neighborhood at the request of one of the residents who made them aware of the parking issues in that area. The current parking situation causes a lot of concern among residents, because some people cannot easily back out of their driveways. There are also problems when emergency vehicles need to access that street, especially when cars are parked on both sides of the street. After reviewing the situation and surveying the residents in and around Corella Court, Ms. Sonenfeld and Mr. Rutishauser are recommending a time-limited parking zone for Corella Court, plus the installation of a stop sign for traffic exiting Corella Court. It is hoped that this will dissuade school employees from parking there, but will give opportunities for parents visiting the school to use the street for temporary parking. The Citizens Safety Advisory Committee also supports this plan. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
2.) Delineation and Clarification of Yellow Zones on Curbs in Central Business District (CBD) and Establish Vehicle Height Restrictions throughout the Village and Establish Fines for Violations
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is the second ordinance amendment that has come from Officer Joseph Youngberg, who was reviewing the language in some of the ordinances, especially those having to do with the yellow-painted curb zones in the CBD, and how they are regulated. These are generally fire zones. Officer Youngberg also noted that nothing in the Village Code allows for citing the driver in such cases, as well as dealing with over-height vehicles, particularly with respect to the Franklin Avenue trestle bridge. This ordinance amendment will amend the yellow curb zones, and create vehicle height restrictions in the Village. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
b. Budget:
1.) Award Professional Services Contract – Design of Replacement Water Mains at Stream Crossings
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is an award of a contract to Hatch Mott MacDonald to design, get permits, prepare, and obtain bids for construction for the replacement of pipes at four locations in the Village to provide an adequate water supply for fire protection. The mains are either exposed due to corrosion, or they are broken due to physical damage. Funding for this is in the capital budget. This situation has existed since 2005, and Ms. Sonenfeld spoke to Frank Moritz, Director of Ridgewood Water, who commented that the conditions have deteriorated. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
2.) Award Professional Services Contract – Update of Distribution Planning Study and Update of 20-Year Capital Program Forecast
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is to award a professional services contract to update the Distribution Planning Study, as well as updating the 20-year Capital Program Forecast for Ridgewood Water. This is done in concert with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). There is a not-to-exceed amount of $15,500. Funding is in the Water Utility capital budget. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that when considering capital planning, which was mentioned as a strategic issue in the Village budget reviews, the way it is handled within Ridgewood Water is that a consultant is brought in to work with the Village to come up with a capital plan, and this particular plan will take the Village to 2035. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
3.) Award Contract Under State Contract – Purchase of Hardware and Related Items for Ridgewood Water
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is to approve the purchase of various supplies and equipment under the State of New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing System. It is anticipated that, as happens every year, this purchase will exceed the statutory limit of $17,500, which requires a resolution from the Village Council in order to continue purchasing these materials for Ridgewood Water and the Village. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
4.) Award Contract – Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service – Distribution Leak Survey for Ridgewood Water
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is an extraordinary unspecifiable expense. Because there are a very limited number of service providers, and due to the complicated nature of the project, it is an extremely limited service. This will allow leak surveys to be done to determine where there are leaks throughout the Ridgewood Water network. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if a value was ever established for that unaccounted-for water. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that she had a conversation with Mr. Moritz about this, and it was not known. In fact, Mr. Moritz did not think it was important information. The report will give data regarding how much water leaks out of the system, and how much revenue is therefore lost as a result. Dave Scheibner, Business Manager of Ridgewood Water, stated that he did not have the statistics with him, but he pointed out that the water is sold for a bit more than $4.50 per 1,000 gallons. Meanwhile, Ridgewood Water pumps a minimum of 5 million gallons per day, which means that any leaks in the system would translate to a significant amount of lost revenue. Councilwoman Knudsen noted that the supplemental information indicates that historically, Ridgewood Water has a high volume of unaccounted-for water, and she asked if there is a way to put a value on that water. Mr. Scheibner said that could be done. He explained that the basic way to discover how much unaccounted-for water is being lost is to figure out the difference between how much is pumped from the source, and how much water is measured at the end of the line (homes and businesses). Councilwoman Knudsen asked if that would be an important number to know. Mr. Scheibner answered that it is an important number for any water utility, and it is also important to keep that number as low as possible. “Unaccounted-for water” does not necessarily mean “unmetered water,” because some uses are known, but they are not metered. Ridgewood Water has an approximate idea of how much water is used for such purposes. Water that is truly unaccounted for is most likely attributable to leaks. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if it would be possible to get that information for the Councilmembers. Mr. Scheibner said he could do that, because on a yearly basis, he comes up with a percentage that he believes is unaccounted for, and he could calculate how much the value of that water would be.
Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that it is kind of a tricky question, because it is not necessarily a case of lost revenue, which Ms. Sonenfeld confirmed. The water only has value if it is sold, but the water does not come at a cost to the Village. Mr. Scheibner confirmed this. He added that the more interesting number would probably be the cost to produce that water. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if Mr. Scheibner could email the relevant information to the Councilmembers, which he agreed to do.
Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the volume of unaccounted-for water has decreased since water meters have nearly all been converted. Mr. Scheibner said it is too early to tell, but it was discovered that the meters that have been removed were extremely accurate. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that if that is the case, then the unaccounted-for water is probably water that is leaking. Mr. Scheibner agreed, adding that it has been approximately 5-6 years since the previous leak survey was done, and it is surprising to see that the leaks continuously occur throughout the system. Individually, they are very small, but they accumulate, which creates a bigger problem.
The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
5.) Award Contract – Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service – Emergency Repairs to Veterans Field Lighting System
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is for another extraordinary unspecifiable service for Ridgewood Water. She reminded everyone that in 2014, there was a problem with the lights at Veterans Field. The lighting system at Veterans Field was rendered inoperable, resulting in significantly reduced lighting for the various recreation programs which take place on the field. All the repairs were done quickly, but no invoice was received for the temporary lights that were being used. However, a collection notice has been received, which must be paid. Ms. Sonenfeld emphasized that this bill is for the temporary lights that were installed until the regular lighting system could be repaired. Councilwoman Hauck noted that it was interesting to her that the cost to repair the lights was nearly the same as the cost for the temporary lighting. Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that when the lights were repaired, a lot of the repair work was done by Village employees, including employees from the Signal Department. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
6.) Contract – Bio-Organic Catalyst for Graydon Pool
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is a recommendation to award a sole-source purchase for Graydon Pool utilizing an AQ-C28 water clarifier. This product has been successful for the past several years in increasing the water quality and clarity at Graydon Pool, which has also been noticed by patrons. The Engineering Department recommended this purchase. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
c. Operations:
1.) Authorize Charge for Mailing of Tax Sale Notices
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this will authorize the mailing of two notices of tax sale to the property owners, in lieu of publishing two legal notices. The cost is $25. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the April 8, 2015 Public Meeting.
7. REVIEW OF APRIL 8, 2015 AGENDA
Ms. Mailander announced that the Public Meeting would include the following Proclamations: Proclaim the month of April as “Tree Planting Month,” and Proclaim April 24, 2015, as Arbor Day in Ridgewood; Proclaim April 25, 2015, as “LAX Day” in Ridgewood; Proclaim the month of May as “Building Safety Month” in Ridgewood; and Proclaim the week of May 4th-May 10th, 2015, as “Drinking Water Week”.
The ordinances to be introduced are: Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Definition of Loading Zones; Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Corella Court – Stop Sign and 2-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.
The scheduled Public Hearings include: Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Construction Code Fees; Amend Chapter 249 – Streets and Sidewalks – Required Deposit and Maintenance Period; Amend Chapter 3, Article VIII, Residency Requirements.
Resolutions include: Award Contract – Dewatered Sludge Hauling Services; Award Contract – Bio-Organic Catalyst for Graydon Pool; Award Contract – License Plate Readers; Award Professional Services Contract – Design of Replacement Water Mains at Stream Crossings – Ridgewood Water; Award Professional Services Contract – Update of Distribution Planning Study and Update of 20-Year Capital Program Forecast – Ridgewood Water; Award Contract Under State Contract – Purchase of Hardware and Related Items – Ridgewood Water; Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services Contract – Emergency Repairs to Veterans Field Lighting System; Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services Contract – Distribution Leak Survey – Ridgewood Water; Approve Shared Services Agreement – Registered Environmental Health Services (Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission); Authorize Signing of Settlement Agreement – Park v. Village of Ridgewood; Approve Acceptance of Municipal Alliance Grant Funds; Approve Change Order – Installation of Drainage System Improvements – Marshall Street; Approve Building Department Amnesty Program; Approve Girl Scout Junior Troop 94192 Bronze Award Project – Planting of Trees at Playground on Veterans Field; Approve Eagle Scout Project – Learning on the Trails of Habernickel; Approve Adopt-A-Tree Program; Accept Corrective Action Plan for 2013 Annual Audit; Authorize Charge for Mailing of Tax Sale Notices.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked to have the discussion and public hearing on Ordinance #3470, with respect to the issue of residency requirements, tabled. She explained her reasons for the request. Regarding a request she made at the March 4, 2015, Work Session, pertaining to the policy regarding amendments to the residency requirements ordinance, specifically and only involving civilian employment opportunities, Councilwoman Knudsen’s request for information regarding all civilians hired from July 1, 2015, to date, remains open and unanswered. Additionally, on March 18, 2015, Councilwoman Knudsen requested clarification on which ordinance would be in full force and effect when the August 2015 change was determined to violate State Civil Service rules. Since then, Councilwoman Knudsen has been advised that the New Jersey Civil Service Commission has not responded to the numerous requests made by the Village for clarification. Fortunately, Councilwoman Knudsen was able to get an immediate response from someone at the Civil Service Commission. That person advised Councilwoman Knudsen in writing that the only ordinance currently on the books in Ridgewood, and recorded at the State level, is a residency “preference” for these civilian employment opportunities. Furthermore, the person at the Civil Service Commission was very generous with his/her time and gave Councilwoman Knudsen more information regarding residency preference, and what the term “residency requirement” refers to. The three-tier preference system simply indicates that if all applicants are equal, a preference must be shown in the order of the tier. Nothing in that language precludes the Village from hiring the most qualified candidates, but, in fact, simply allows a default preference if all applicants are equal. When using the three-tier system, the residency requirement simply outlines what requirements must be met to establish residency, whether it be at the Village level, or the County or State level. These are crucial differences in how Civil Service roles are understood and interpreted, or misunderstood and misinterpreted, as the case may be. Councilwoman Knudsen believes that there is a fundamental misinterpretation of these two items, and it would be prudent for the Councilmembers to table any votes until further discussion is held at a Public Work Session and/or a meeting is organized with representatives from Civil Service to clarify those very distinct differences.
Finally, Councilwoman Knudsen noted that in her email communications with Civil Service, it was revealed that a request was made by the Village appointing authority to hold open civilian employment opportunities until a change in the ordinance had been effected. Councilwoman Knudsen was dismayed that this request was made on February 24, 2015, the day before the scheduled Village Council Closed Session Meeting on February 25, 2015, without mentioning or advising the Councilmembers that such a request was made, especially since it pertains specifically to this ordinance change. Furthermore, the request denies employment opportunities to those legally eligible under the existing ordinance’s three-tier system, and further delays filling vacancies within the Village. Councilwoman Knudsen repeated her request to table this vote scheduled for next week, as the wording will continue to be incorrect and misused, due to the inappropriate application of the word “requirement” where the word “preference” would suffice.
Mayor Aronsohn asked Councilwoman Knudsen if she had shared her emails and other information with any other Village administration, such as Ms. Sonenfeld, Ms. Mailander, or Mr. Rogers, who take care of the Civil Service aspect of employment in the Village. Councilwoman Knudsen said she was pressed for time, and only put everything together before this meeting. It also took her some time to assimilate the information and prepare her statements. She noted that her requests for clarification were made in writing on February 17, 2015, and she stated that she received a flurry of emails listing all the reasons why the information was not being provided. Therefore, Councilwoman Knudsen said she felt more comfortable raising the issue at a public meeting. She also pointed out that the important parts of this is that there is a fundamental misunderstanding between Ridgewood preference and Ridgewood residency requirement, because there is nothing that requires Ridgewood to hire anything less than the most qualified candidates. It simply states that when all candidates are equal, the Village must default to a preference for a Village resident. However, there is nothing to preclude or prevent the Village from hiring the most qualified individual, and there is no Ridgewood residency requirement that compels the Village to hire a particular person. There are requirements which the candidate must meet in order to qualify as a resident, and that is only a portion of the Statute that establishes the residency. The law actually states that it is a “preference” in a three-tier system. Moreover, Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she would hope that the Village Council will not move forward with an ordinance change without fully comprehending the materials that are available to them. She also believes that, through the fault of no one, there has been an interchange of two very different words: residency “requirement” and residency “preference”. The preference is part of the ordinance in the three-tier system, and the requirement is only part of the Statute that identifies the criteria that qualifies someone as a resident. Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that this could be an opportunity for the Councilmembers to better understand Civil Service, and how that process works.
Ms. Mailander commented that, although Councilwoman Knudsen is correct that the law states there is a residency “preference,” there are many times when there are so many residents applying for a particular job that it would be impossible to hire anyone from outside Ridgewood, especially when one also considers the “rule of three” that exists in hiring. In fact, Ms. Mailander stated it was found that many times, Ridgewood residents score lower than those in Bergen County, or other contiguous counties. Therefore, it is not necessarily true that the best qualified candidate would be hired, especially if the employer is forced to start with the Ridgewood resident preference. It also depends on where the candidate is found on the list, because the “rule of three” must always be considered. The “rule of three” requires the Village to appoint from the top three responding candidates on a certification list.
Councilwoman Knudsen responded that the importance of that bit of information is in the use of the word “preference” versus using the word “requirement,” which is the word used in the ordinance. They are two distinctly different words, and Councilwoman Knudsen believes that due diligence requires all of them to be prudent moving forward, and understand the nuances of the law to ensure that the process is being followed the right way. There is nothing that she has found that would preclude hiring the most qualified applicant, and Councilwoman Knudsen is willing to go back to Civil Service to get more information and clarification. There is an obvious distinction between the two words, and Councilwoman Knudsen understands that they can be easily confused, but there is a significant difference between them. That is why she thinks it is prudent to table this discussion and vote until more information can be obtained.
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the key point is that it is always desirable to hire the best qualified person, and as she and Ms. Mailander have previously stated, Civil Service is a complex process. Having gone through many Civil Service issues in the previous month, Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that many times, different Civil Service employees give different answers to the same questions. Sometimes, one person might give two different answers to the same question. As Ms. Mailander stated, the “rule of three” does preclude the Village from hiring someone who might be the most qualified candidate if many Ridgewood residents apply for the same job. That is an inequality, because Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that it prevents them from considering the fourth or fifth candidate, who might be from another town.
Councilwoman Knudsen commented that the information Ms. Sonenfeld just gave was not included in the packet of information about the ordinance, and is very important that the Councilmembers have as much information as possible to make the best decision in the interests of Ridgewood residents. She again noted that one of the key aspects of Ms. Sonenfeld’s comments was the interchanging of the words “preference” and “requirement”. Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that any open civilian employment opportunities were held back until the change in the ordinance was implemented. She was surprised that the Councilmembers were not given that information, which is key to this discussion. Councilwoman Knudsen cannot imagine why, if the vacancies were critical, anyone in Village administration would consider keeping those jobs open. She also stated that if there were 100 Ridgewood residents who applied for a particular job, none of whom were qualified, the “rule of three” would not matter. That is why Councilwoman Knudsen thinks it is essential to have all of the information available before any changes to the ordinance can be contemplated.
Ms. Sonenfeld asked Ms. Mailander to comment on holding Civil Service positions open. Ms. Mailander explained that she was told by the Civil Service Commission that Ridgewood at that time had a resident “preference” with the three-tier system in effect. Ms. Mailander was asked whether that would be changed, and she responded that the Village was in the process of considering an amendment to the ordinance to open all certification lists to the State of New Jersey with no tiered preferences. The Civil Service Commission responded that the Village could opt to hold the list until the change in the ordinance was implemented, or continue under the existing ordinance, which included the three-tier system. The decision was made to hold the jobs, because the amendment to the ordinance was already in progress. Ms. Sonenfeld added that there was not much impact at that time, and Ms. Mailander agreed that there were not a lot of lists that were being held.
Councilwoman Knudsen noted that the date on the correspondence from Susan Cardone is February 24, 2015, which was the day before the Closed Session agenda included a discussion about residency requirements. The correspondence in question relates to holding open those jobs. Ms. Mailander was in possession of the letter dated December 29, 2014, which allowed the exclusion of public safety jobs, but none of the Councilmembers had been provided with the letter from February 24, 2015. That is something Councilwoman Knudsen feels should be scrutinized and discussed in a public forum to ensure that the integrity of the process is preserved.
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she is the appointing authority, and she did not send any memo or email to Civil Service. As Village Manager, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she and Ms. Mailander continually make decisions on people and human resource issues, which is in their purview. They make their decisions for specific reasons, after discussing the matter. Ms. Sonenfeld accepts that responsibility as the Village Manager, and she relies on Ms. Mailander’s expertise in Civil Service matters.
Mayor Aronsohn interjected that, as she has done the past, Councilwoman Knudsen raises some questions about past practice and whether that matches the ordinances that currently exist. As he understands it, Mayor Aronsohn commented that the residency ordinance amendments last summer, and the more recent residency ordinance amendments, were all done with the purpose of clarifying the ordinance. For some of the Councilmembers, that clarity is to ensure that the Village hires the best candidate for the job, whether they live in Ridgewood or not. That is why Mayor Aronsohn does not understand why it is necessary to clarify the situation, and he does not see a reason why they should not move forward with this. He wants the Village to be in a position to hire the best people for the jobs, whether they live in Ridgewood, Fair Lawn, or anywhere else.
Mr. Rogers pointed out that no vote can be taken tonight, because the matter is on the agenda for discussion next week. That would be the time to discuss it, and possibly vote to carry over the Public Hearing.
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she would like to see the documents that Councilwoman Knudsen was referencing, which Councilwoman Knudsen agreed to provide. Councilwoman Knudsen also noted that moving forward with the amendment to the ordinance would simply allow the erroneous language to be included in the amendment. Mayor Aronsohn asked if the person from Civil Service said it was wrong, which Councilwoman Knudsen confirmed. Mayor Aronsohn then asked if Ms. Mailander and Ms. Sonenfeld could check to see if the language in the ordinance is correct, and if it is, he recommends moving forward with this next week. If there is a problem, the discussion should be tabled.
Councilman Pucciarelli commented that a lot of information was presented, and he asked for copies of the information from Councilwoman Knudsen. She did a lot of homework on this, and Councilman Pucciarelli thinks it is important to share as much information as possible. Councilwoman Knudsen agreed, and said she would disseminate the documents tomorrow morning.
Councilwoman Hauck stated that she thinks this is the second time that the Councilmembers were unprepared to respond to a challenge to expert authorities, and she feels hobbled when she is blindsided at a Village Council meeting with new information on items that have already been discussed. She suggested that the information given by Councilwoman Knudsen could have been circulated to the Councilmembers before the meeting to give them time to review it and refute it, if necessary. In general, Councilwoman Hauck said she has always trusted the advice of the experts, and she thinks that Councilwoman Knudsen’s questions seem to question not only the expertise of the Village Clerk, but also the Village Attorney, especially with respect to the wording of the ordinance. While Councilwoman Hauck believes it is the role of the Councilmembers to delve deeply to be well-informed, she thinks that more sensitivity should have been shown to Councilwoman Knudsen’s colleagues to allow them to flesh out the issue in a meaningful way. Councilwoman Hauck also does not believe it is a good idea to embarrass Village staff.
Councilwoman Knudsen responded that she does not believe it is necessary for anyone on the Village Council to refute anything that she said. Councilwoman Knudsen thought it was very important to have a greater level of information when they are being asked to make these changes. She also noted that everyone got a copy of the email sent by Beth Hinsdale, the Labor Attorney for Ridgewood, in March. On March 17, 2015, Ms. Hinsdale stated that the information about the civilian new hires from July 1, 2014 to the present would not be provided to Councilwoman Knudsen, nor were she and Ms. Mailander able to reach Civil Service to get clarification on which ordinance would be in effect. Councilwoman Knudsen believes that the statements made by Councilwoman Hauck were misdirected, since Councilwoman Knudsen repeatedly requested information that was withheld. Councilwoman Knudsen reiterated that she was not asking any Councilmember to refute her statements, but to support her in saying that they should get as much information as possible to make good decisions on behalf of Ridgewood residents. Councilwoman Hauck asked if Councilwoman Knudsen was alleging that the Labor Attorney also withheld information. Councilwoman Knudsen responded that the Labor Attorney instructed Ms. Mailander to withhold the information, and she sent a letter to that effect on behalf of Ms. Mailander. In fact, Councilwoman Knudsen believes that all of the Councilmembers should be upset that the information was withheld.
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she sent copies of the documents to everyone, and Councilwoman Knudsen noted that Ms. Hinsdale copied everyone on her own email. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she was aware that Ms. Hinsdale subsequently copied everyone, but she was not sure if Councilwoman Knudsen had sent copies of her original request to everyone. Councilwoman Knudsen confirmed that she made the request during a Closed Session meeting last week. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the last part of the email from Councilwoman Knudsen to Ms. Mailander was a request that this matter should not be discussed with anyone, nor should she distribute any information without first contacting Councilwoman Knudsen. Councilwoman Knudsen explained that the reason for that request was because on March 3, 2015, she asked Ms. Mailander for information during a Village Council meeting. Councilwoman Knudsen anticipated receiving that information within the next two weeks. However, at the next Closed Session meeting which Councilwoman Knudsen attended, she had not received the information, and that was the first time she learned that Ms. Hinsdale had instructed Ms. Mailander to withhold the requested information. Therefore, Councilwoman Knudsen requested that Ms. Mailander not distribute or discuss any of her requests to Ms. Mailander without showing a modicum of courtesy in letting Councilwoman Knudsen know that the information would be shared, and the status of the information. Councilwoman Knudsen does not believe that was an unreasonable request, given the fact that Councilwoman Knudsen walked into a Closed Session meeting and was surprised to learn that Ms. Mailander was told that she should not comply with Councilwoman Knudsen’s request for information that is readily available via the public record.
Mayor Aronsohn again suggested that the Councilmembers receive clarification regarding the language of the ordinance. If there is no problem with the language, the process can move forward next week toward adopting the ordinance. It will not necessarily answer all of the other questions that have arisen, but it is an action that can be taken.
8. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld started her report by talking about the 2015 budget. The third budget meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 6, 2015, and approximately 80% of the budget has been put together. The next meeting will cover issues that were not covered very closely in the past weeks, one of which is a full report on revenues. In addition, Ms. Sonenfeld said that the final capital budget proposal will be presented, which has decreased somewhat. Three scenarios will be discussed for the final budget. There will be a recommended scenario; a scenario that is a bit “premier”; and a scenario that does not include some of the investment spending. There will also be one more opportunity to get public feedback on the Parking Utility, which is a separate budget; and Ridgewood Water, which is also a separate budget. There will also be a discussion about the Ridgewood Public Library recommendations. The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:00 P.M., and will continue until it is finished. The official introduction of the budget is planned for April 22, 2015, with final public hearing and adoption on May 27, 2015. All of these meetings will be televised live.
Next, Ms. Sonenfeld discussed renovations at The Stable, which are proceeding very well. It encompasses a new, two-story addition; barrier-free access to six new bathrooms on the first floor; new meeting space on the second floor; and an updated kitchen on the second floor. The project is on schedule to meet with the opening of the Recreation Department summer camp and other summer programs. Ms. Sonenfeld thanked the Bolger Foundation for their generous gift, which made this possible.
Moving on to pothole repairs, Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that there is an app on the Village website that residents can use to report potholes. They can also call Village Hall with their reports. To date, approximately 900 potholes have been fixed.
Regarding the Police and Fire Departments, Ms. Sonenfeld commented that they are beginning to interview candidates for positions. Each Department is looking to fill three slots. The Police Department is going to make one hire from the Civil Service list, and fill the other slots through an Intergovernmental Transfer process. The Fire Department will hire three candidates from the Civil Service list.
Ms. Sonenfeld presented some information about outdoor cafés. She noted that the Village is being more proactive this year, sending packets to many restaurants, including those that do not yet have alfresco dining available, about renewing their licenses. The packet included an application, as well as a reminder that they must allow an unobstructed, 52-inch pedestrian passage to be maintained at all times. The business owners have also been told that the Village is in the process of re-drafting the ordinance, based on reviewing best practices in other municipalities. The Ridgewood Guild and Chamber of Commerce have also been notified that enforcement will be much stricter this season. Ms. Sonenfeld recalled that she and Mr. Rutishauser walked through the various outdoor cafés last year to discover the issues and problems that exist.
The new Village website is currently getting its finishing touches. Ms. Sonenfeld believes it will be rolled out shortly.
The e-ticket project is now scheduled to be implemented in approximately four weeks.
Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that Thomas Yotka, Director of the Building Department, presented his proposal last week for the Building Department Amnesty Program for residential work that was previously completed without the required permits. This is to ensure that there are no safety hazards that exist in those properties, and homeowners will be given the opportunity to apply for permits before they are subject to administrative action. A letter and news release will be distributed that will discuss this more fully.
Moving on to the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, Ms. Sonenfeld stated last week that they are currently in the process of selecting a firm to do a financial analysis on two of the proposals. Ms. Sonenfeld, Mr. Rogers, and Blais Brancheau, Village Planner, met with a financial firm with whom they were satisfied. Mr. Rogers stated that the financial firm would be sending the Village a proposal. One of the developers, Kensington, who already agreed to have the financial aspects of their proposal evaluated, also agreed to reimburse the Village for that evaluation. Ms. Sonenfeld spoke to representatives from Langan Developers, and they will be getting back to her early next week.
Regarding paving, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that if all goes well, two separate contracts will soon be getting underway to do spring, summer, and fall paving. Residents on the streets that are to be paved receive hand-delivered notices providing contact information for the Village Engineering Department staff who are overseeing the paving. The list of streets that are to be paved is available on the Village website. Ms. Sonenfeld made a couple of points about paving. First, she noted that paving is dependent upon who owns the street. If the Village owns the street, Village staff takes care of the paving. If Bergen County owns the street, Engineering Department staff contacts the county to notify them of problems and request resurfacing. Primary and secondary roads get higher priority for paving than tertiary roads. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that Village staff go out and do a pavement management rating every year to rate the condition of the paving on Village streets. Streets are assessed at the end of each winter for deterioration. The Village also keeps track of complaints that are received from residents, which are taken into account when making up a paving schedule. Observations made by Village staff, as well as by members of the Streets Division, are also given consideration. The Village also works with the various utility companies to coordinate paving projects with utility projects. The Village maintains a paving history for the last 20 years. Most streets are simply resurfaced with asphalt, and the curbs are also refurbished. If there are drainage or grading issues, and if funds allow, a more extensive reconstruction is done. ADA ramps are also given consideration when resurfacing is done, to ensure that they are compliant. Pavement markings are also redone after a street is paved. All of this work requires a lot of focus and engineering, especially with the amount of paving that is being done in Ridgewood. Approximately $3 million worth of paving will be done in 2015.
Ms. Sonenfeld sent three group emails to Village staff pointing out the front page article in the Bergen Record regarding the Water Pollution Control Facility, and its conversion of sewage gas into a valuable energy source. In addition, there was an editorial in the Bergen Record yesterday, concluding with the statement that “More municipalities and public institutions around the State should follow the example provided by the Ridgewood Sewage Treatment Plant, and should seek out ways to harness methane, and to use it effectively to meet everyday energy needs”. Finally, the Water Pollution Control Facility got television coverage from three news stations. It is a wonderful example of a private/public partnership, where the Village did not put up any capital to get the work done, and tangible benefits are being reaped.
The next “Meet the Manager” session will be on Thursday, April 2, 2015, from 4:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. The College Club Annual Book Sale will be held at Somerville School on March 31st, April 1st, April 2nd and April 4th. Village offices will be closed in observance of Good Friday on April 3, 2015, and there will be no sanitation or recycling collection that day. “Easter in the Park,” sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, will be on Saturday, April 4th, from 11:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M. Yard waste pickup will begin on April 6, 2015. There will be a Free Shred Day at the Recycling Center on April 11th. The annual Holocaust Memorial Service will be held at the West Side Presbyterian Church on April 12th at 7:30 P.M.
9. COUNCIL REPORTS
Planning Board – Councilwoman Knudsen reminded everyone that she had mentioned the Planning Board deliberations regarding the land-use element to the Master Plan AH2, B3R, CR, and C-zone districts. Board deliberations that were previously scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th, have been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 21st, in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr., Courtroom at Village Hall. Any updates will be posted on the Village website.
Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned the recent delay in information from the League of Municipalities pertaining to the recent court decision on affordable housing, which will hopefully be available by April 20th, in time for the meeting on April 21st. Councilwoman Knudsen added that these are complicated issues, with the potential to permanently change the historic Central Business District, and she urged everyone to attend.
The Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, April 7th, at 7:30 P.M., with a modified agenda to include a work session and discussion of the Master Plan re-examination efforts.
Councilwoman Knudsen also reported on the Paramus Board of Adjustment meeting, which was held this past Thursday night. The subject discussed was the adult day care facility at the corner of Paramus Road and Linwood Avenue. A number of Village residents attended the meeting, because the proposal is on a site that is currently zoned residential, and is located in a squarely residential area, although it will be close to a more commercial corridor. The application brings serious concerns regarding traffic impact on an already busy and congested corner, along with a very large structure seemingly out of place relative to the more modest surrounding homes. This bifurcated application seeks a deed or use variance, requiring a five of seven vote for approval. Councilwoman Knudsen thinks it is important for the Village to monitor this application closely because this already-congested intersection is a main artery in and out of the Village, and has an impact on residents in that area. It especially has an impact on the corridor where emergency vehicles travel to residents on the east side of Route 17. Ridgewood residents were always appreciative when Mayor Aronsohn, Councilwoman Knudsen, and Mr. Rogers attended these meetings with the residents.
Ridgewood Public Library – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she attended a meeting with Councilman Pucciarelli; Janet Fricke, Assistant to the Village Manager; Timothy Cronin, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation; Nancy Greene, Director of the Ridgewood Public Library; Robin Ritter; and Janice Fuhrman. They are working on addressing some of the parking issues that have an impact on the Public Library and the Village Hall parking lot when out-of-town sports teams come for their events. Progress was made, and thanks to Ms. Fricke and Michael Barker, a formal GPS address was added to the Graydon South parking lot to make it easier for visiting team players to locate the appropriate parking lot. This should help to reduce the congestion at the Village Hall/Public Library parking lot. They also discussed renaming the Graydon South parking area to include Veterans Field parking on the signage, and the group will also be reviewing the better signage options to ensure appropriate lighting in all the parking areas and launching a parking education/communication plan. During the discussion, it came to their attention that that the Village Municipal Complex parking spaces are being used by area businesses to supplement their own parking deficiencies. Staff members from those businesses are parking all day in the parking lot for free, tying up a number of parking spaces while they are at work. Mr. Rogers recommended that the Police Department be brought in to coordinate with the Engineering Department to rectify the situation.
On another subject, Councilwoman Knudsen stated that last week, several residents discussed safety concerns around the Ridge School area, focusing on crossing guards, traffic patterns, walkability of the neighborhood, and the addition of sidewalks on Clinton Avenue. During the past week, Councilwoman Knudsen received a number of emails, including one from eight residents, requesting the installation of sidewalks on Clinton Avenue when it is repaved; a full re-opening of Clinton Avenue for traffic and parking; and a halt on the repaving of Clinton Avenue until the other requests have been resolved. Mayor Aronsohn forwarded these emails to the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee. Councilwoman Knudsen thinks it must be given serious consideration and discussed, since bids are due on April 9th.
Councilwoman Knudsen was invited to speak to the League of Women Voters, and she thanked them for the wonderful opportunity to open up a dialogue about the mission of League founder, Carrie Chapman Catt, and how that mission, born of the women’s suffrage movement, can be applied to Village government. It was a chance to talk about better communication with residents, and how best to engage Village citizens on all matters before the Village Council. They discussed effective methods used in the past to disseminate information about agenda items, ordinances, planning issues, etc. Councilwoman Knudsen believes that communicating with residents and engaging the community, as well as listening, will result in greater transparency, with a far more productive outcome. She looks forward to working with the League of Women Voters to further explore these opportunities.
Finally, with respect to the moving and restoration of the Federrici sculpture, Councilwoman Knudsen noted that the efforts were seriously delayed due to the never-ending adverse weather conditions. As the warmer and drier weather comes in, efforts will begin again within the next few weeks.
Ridgewood Public Library Board of Trustees – Councilman Pucciarelli stated that the Ridgewood Public Library Board of Trustees met, and the meeting proceeded as smoothly as ever. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that they seem to have the budget under control, and the Library itself functions very smoothly. However, they have a strategic plan underway to improve the facility over the next few years, with mainly interior improvements planned. They are also very well-supported by the public. The Friends of the Library presented their report at this meeting, as well as the Ridgewood Public Library Foundation. Both of those organizations supplement the programs in the Library in a very targeted way.
Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that the Ridgewood Arts Council met at the same time as the Public Library Board of Trustees, and he was given a report to deliver. It was prepared by Linda Bradley, Chairperson of the Ridgewood Arts Council. The Council request that everyone visit and please use their interactive arts calendar, whether to post events or check out happenings in Ridgewood, which is available at www.rac.ridgewoodnj.net. Next, the Arts Council encouraged everyone to please donate a piece of art that any Ridgewood artist, past or present, has created to their new project entitled “Ridgewood Art at Village Hall”. The purpose of the project is to celebrate the wealth of artistic talent in Ridgewood. Art can be any medium, whether mobile, sculpture, textiles, fine art, or photography. Details can be found on their website. The Arts Council also encouraged everyone to join them on April 21st at 8:00 P.M. in the Senior Lounge for an introduction to the Ridgewood Arts Council. Members of the Arts Council will be there to tell you about the Arts Council. Finally, Councilman Pucciarelli stated that everyone should consider becoming a trustee of the Ridgewood Arts Foundation, which is structured to support the Ridgewood Arts Council. However, they are in need of an active and engaged, independent Board to assist in fundraising for the arts.
Fields Committee– Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the Fields Committee meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday was postponed due to the spring recess at the Ridgewood schools. Councilwoman Hauck invited anyone who would like to attend to come to the meeting next Wednesday, April 8th, at 7:00 A.M. at the Board of Education building, on the top floor. The topic of discussion will be parking in the municipal parking lot, and how the sports groups affect parking in that lot.
Councilwoman Hauck stated that, as a Councilmember, she wanted to acknowledge the difference in the Village since Ms. Sonenfeld’s arrival as the Village Manager. This was in recognition of the one-year anniversary of Ms. Sonenfeld’s hiring. She thanked Ms. Sonenfeld for everything she has done for the Village. Mayor Aronsohn echoed those sentiments, and remarked upon the level of service, which has improved dramatically since Ms. Sonenfeld came to Ridgewood, as well as the level of detail, and her obvious passion and energy that she brings to the job. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this job was the most fun job she had ever had, although there is serious work to be done. She wants to ensure that the focus continues on that serious work. As someone who came from the private sector to work in the public sector, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that there is a lot that both sides can learn from each other. One of the things she would like to focus on with her management team is prioritizing, and concentrating on the most important things that need to be done, and learning to recognize which things do not have to be done right away.
Mayor Aronsohn noted that Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned paving earlier, as well as potholes, and he thanked her and her team for making that a priority. There are few issues outside of street repairs and paving that affect both the quality of life and public safety, and he is glad that she has made it a top priority.
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.
Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked a question about Ridgewood Water. She mentioned the description that there are leaks throughout the water system, and Ms. Loving stated that she does not understand how that must look, although she envisions it as something similar to the human circulatory system. Ms. Loving asked if there is a hole in a pipe, is there always positive pressure so that water is going out of the pipe and into the surrounding environment, or is it possible that microbes and other organisms can get into the water if there is no such pressure. If so, the water could become contaminated when it is leaking. Mr. Scheibner answered that there is always pressure going out, so that contaminants cannot get into the water.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, noted that there was a question about the value of the unaccounted for water, and whether there is any value because it is water that is not being sold. Mr. Loving stated that his concern is that there are some years in which Ridgewood has been forced to buy water, because not enough water can be produced in Ridgewood. Therefore, if there are leaks at the same time that water is being purchased, the value of the water that is leaking must be equal to the water that is purchased. That means that Ridgewood Water would be losing money in such a situation.
Regarding the armored car service, Mr. Loving commented that the report that came back from the forensic auditors about the coin theft mentioned a 48-hour deposit, and Ms. Sonenfeld made comment that there was some discussion as to whether that applied as far as the coins were concerned. Mr. Loving wanted to know what the Village’s position is regarding whether there is a requirement by the State that such funds be deposited within 48 hours, or if, because the situation deals with coins that go into meters, the requirement does not apply. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that the requirement in the audit report was that when the coins are picked up, they should be in a bank within 48 hours. The new coin pickup schedule means that the coins will be collected on Monday, picked up on Tuesday, and delivered to the bank on Wednesday. That is the goal, but Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that if the coins are wet, time must be allowed for the coins to dry, which will delay the deposit. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that it is her understanding that this is not a problem, because that is not something that anyone can control. The coins cannot be counted unless they are dry.
Mr. Loving noted that nearly a year had passed since the death of Roger Wiegand. He recalled that he and Mr. Wiegand would sit on the front porch and discuss the Village Council. Mr. Wiegand also accompanied Mr. Loving to Village Council meetings. Sometimes, Mr. Wiegand would comment that he never thought he would see or hear something that had transpired during the meeting. Mr. Loving noted that tonight, he heard things that he never thought he would hear. When he enters the voting booth, Mr. Loving mentioned that he does not see Ms. Sonenfeld’s name, nor does he see Mr. Rogers’, Ms. Mailander’s, or Ms. Hinsdale’s names. He only sees the names of people running for office who Mr. Loving would like to have represent him. It is important to Mr. Loving that all of those representatives have all of the information that is necessary for them to do their jobs. He views the Village Council as the Board of Directors of a corporation. If the Village were a private corporation, and it was discovered that someone deliberately withheld information from any one of the Councilmembers, Mr. Loving believes at a minimum, that requires some discussion with that person. It might even require more than that. If it turns out that information was deliberately withheld, Mr. Loving believes a conversation should be held with the person responsible.
Mayor Aronsohn stated that in his 6 ½ years on the Village Council, he has worked with Ms. Mailander, Mr. Rogers, Ms. Hinsdale, and Ms. Sonenfeld, as well as other Village Managers, and the current staff are some of the best professionals he has ever worked with. They have integrity, and Mayor Aronsohn thinks it is inappropriate to constantly question that.
Councilwoman Knudsen added that she would confer with counsel to determine whether the emails should be released.
Bernadette Walsh, 444 Red Birch Court, wondered if Councilman Pucciarelli had a chance to discuss the busing issue with the Board of Education she raised several weeks ago at a Village Council meeting. Councilman Pucciarelli answered that he saw a response that was directed to Ms. Walsh, and he asked Ms. Sonenfeld if that was the response. Ms. Walsh said she had not yet received any response. She explained again that the Board of Education denied busing to private school students, although the law was changed because of a hazardous condition for public school students. Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that he saw correspondence between Ms. Sonenfeld and Daniel Fishbein, Superintendent of Schools, and he thought it was about this matter. Ms. Sonenfeld recalled that Dr. Fishbein shared the response at one of the monthly Board of Education meetings. Ms. Walsh wondered if she was referring to the response from September 2014, and Ms. Sonenfeld was not sure. She stated that Dr. Fishbein mentioned a response from the Board of Education to someone, who she presumed was Ms. Walsh. Ms. Walsh confirmed this, saying that the Board of Education sent a response in September 2014 saying that safety was being afforded only to public school students. Ms. Walsh added that she and the other families involved were looking to the Councilmembers for support in the next steps to ensure that everything is safe for all children to get to and from school. Councilman Pucciarelli stated that he would raise the issue again.
Regarding the Building Department amnesty program, Ms. Walsh noted that her job is to find housing for transferring employees, and one of the items in the property disclosure forms that they must complete specifically asks if any work done in the home has the necessary permits, and has been done to Code specifications. Ms. Walsh guesses that the amnesty program will be void once that property disclosure form has been completed, or the property owners will face a challenge. Mr. Rogers responded that he is not sure if that will definitely be the case in all instances, but it is possible that in certain cases, that will happen. He reminded her that when such disclosure forms are completed, and the response is “Yes,” there may still be some open permits left that have not been closed out. It has become incumbent upon buyers to find out if there are any open permits. Ms. Walsh asked for clarification that amnesty does not give them a pass on the permit, which Mr. Rogers confirmed. He added that it gives property owners the opportunity to get the proper permits and inspections without being issued summonses or being fined. It should also eliminate many of those legal challenges. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that there have been several cases already in which homeowners have come to say that they neglected to get the proper permits. It was discovered that more than 600 permits had been applied for but never picked up, and the feeling was that there must have been more work done without the required permits.
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 15-97, 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 Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Knudsen, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 P.M.
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Paul S. Aronsohn
Mayor
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Heather A. Mailander
Village Clerk
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