Village Council Public Meeting Minutes 20150211
A REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR. COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015, AT 8:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE – MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 8:00 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.
Cub Scout Pack 55, Den 10, from Somerville School, led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Mayor Aronsohn then asked for a moment of silence to honor the men and women in the United States Armed Forces who protect and defend our freedom every day, as well as those serving as first responders.
2. ACCEPTANCE OF FINANCIAL REPORTS
Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Bills, Claims, and Vouchers, and Statement of Funds on hand as of January 31, 2015, be accepted as submitted. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Village Council minutes of December 22, 2014, and January 7 and January 14, 2015, having been reviewed by the Village Council and now available in the Village Clerk’s Office, be approved as submitted. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
4. PROCLAMATIONS
A. Dad’s Night – Hawes School and Somerville School
Councilwoman Knudsen read the following proclamation:
After the proclamation was read, Scott Orr and Chris McGrath, Chairpersons of the Dads’ Night, came forward to accept the proclamations. Mr. Orr stated that it is a wonderful organization, and this is his eighth year participating. He said it is a privilege and honor to be a part of the organization, and they appreciate what the Village does to recognize them, and what they do to help the schools. Mr. McGrath echoed the sentiments of Mr. Orr, and he thanked Mayor Aronsohn and the Village Council for the proclamation. Mr. McGrath said he believes the organization is part of the fabric of the Village, and he and Mr. Orr were accepting the proclamation on behalf of the 250+ fathers who are part of the organization, and the countless thousands who came before them.
B. Read Across America Day
Councilman Sedon read the following proclamation:
- C.Super Science Saturday
Councilman Pucciarelli read the following proclamation:
- D.Honor Dr. Robert “Bob” Jones for Serving as President and CEO of Children’s Aid and Family Services
Mayor Aronsohn read the following proclamation: designating Saturday, February 7, 2015, as “Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Jones” Day in Ridgewood to honor Dr. Jones for serving as President and CEO of Children’s Aid and Family Services.
After the proclamation was read, Mayor Aronsohn indicated that he presented this proclamation to Dr. Jones at his retirement dinner this past weekend.
5. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.
Diane Palacios, 342 North Van Dien Avenue, recalled a comment made by Councilwoman Hauck several weeks ago that senior citizens might have trouble using the park-and-ride lot on Route 17, and Ms. Palacios said that was true. Ms. Palacios pointed out that she is very cautious with her credit card, and she is very uncomfortable using it in the Parkmobile machines. She noted that park-and-ride lots represent public parking at its most democratic. Ms. Palacios stated that many times, the question is asked about what is the best kept secret in Ridgewood, and she believes the answer is the park-and-ride lot on any Saturday because it is usually empty. After putting in a few quarters, one can hop on a bus and go to the city. Ms. Palacios does this quite often, when she attends the New York City Ballet performances. She suggested that at the park-and-ride lot, the Village Council should consider keeping the meters, or using kiosks that accept credit cards and coins.
John Lauritano, 20 Brady Street, West Milford, said his wife works in Ridgewood, and he had some comments about the parking issues. Mr. Lauritano commended Mayor Aronsohn and the Village Council for addressing the issue. It is a huge undertaking. However, it seems to Mr. Lauritano that every time a solution is found for a problem, another problem arises. His concern is the parking fee charged to people employed in Ridgewood, especially part-time employees. There has been discussion about a special fee for those employees, which seems a bit exorbitant to Mr. Lauritano. He believes that the theory of employees being required to constantly feed the three-hour meters does not work. As an example, his wife is a hairdresser, and it is possible that she could be in the middle of a client when it is time to go and feed her meter. That means that she would have to take advantage of the $7 daily pass, which is more expensive than paying the meter. Therefore, the benefit of not being forced to constantly run out to the parking meter actually costs more money, which Mr. Lauritano understands. He pointed out that in the past, many of the parking lots had 12-hour meters, which seemed to work well. Mr. Lauritano suggested that perhaps the part-time employees could purchase the special stickers, and there could still be special extended-time meters in designated parking lots, with appropriate signage restricting their use to part-time employees in the Village. Only cars with the appropriate stickers would be allowed to park at these meters, and enforcement would be easier due to the fact that the stickers would have to be displayed in the windows.
Next, Mr. Lauritano mentioned an issue that was discussed at the most recent Chamber of Commerce meeting, which was the fact that there are no statistics for any of those who park and the length of time that they park. When the question was raised, the answer given was that there has been no time or manpower available to gather that information. Mr. Lauritano is involved with politics in his town, and he said that he needs to have figures available before he can try to develop any solutions to problems. Mr. Lauritano is unsure who is leading the charge in Ridgewood, nor is he certain of whether the Councilmembers are basing their decisions on their own opinions, or if there is any reliable information to them to use as a basis for their decisions. Mr. Lauritano believes it would be more helpful to have such information available, including numbers of employees; commuters; and customers, which he thinks could be gathered very quickly and easily, and needs to be done so that the proper decisions can be made. The bottom line for Mr. Lauritano is his belief that the best solution to the parking problem will be the parking garages, and he understands that the Village is moving toward that goal. Mr. Lauritano believes the Village needs to press harder, because it is the only real solution to the parking problem in Ridgewood. It will certainly help to solve the current parking meter problems.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
6. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld started the report with her “Ripped from the Headlines” discussion. Recently, the Bergen Record had a front page story about the quarter theft in Ridgewood, and representatives from Nisivoccia Associates, the forensic accountants, will be presenting their report later in this meeting.
Regarding parking, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that it was repeatedly stated that many changes are being implemented, but that the Village is always listening so that the policy can be tweaked as needed. On Monday, Ms. Sonenfeld met with CBD employees and business owners to get their feedback on parking issues, particularly with respect to part-time employees, and longer-term parking for Ridgewood visitors. Discussions continue regarding the best and most efficient way to handle parking for part-time CBD employees, as well as the infrequent Ridgewood commuter into the city. This was addressed more in-depth at last week’s Village Council meeting, and an ordinance was prepared with very specific suggestions for that. The ordinance has been pared back, and will be presented tonight. In addition, the Councilmembers will be introducing an ordinance dealing with the use of cellular phones to pay for parking. More discussion will be held on items relating to part-time CBD employees, as well as the infrequent commuters, at a future Village Council meeting. Therefore, the ordinances for CBD employees as well as the infrequent Ridgewood commuters would not be introduced this evening.
In addition, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that soon the Village will be ordering secured coin containers for the parking meters, which means that from the moment the coins are taken from the meters until they are placed in their Coin Room housing, they will not be able to be handled. Those secured coin containers will be used with the single-head meters in Ridgewood, which comprise approximately 80% of all of the parking meters.
Last week, there was also a discussion about expanding the number of parking spots in the Village. Sixteen possible locations have been selected, which have been vetted by the Engineering Department, and Ms. Sonenfeld wanted to assure everyone that they comply with New Jersey State Act 39:4-138.6, because an issue was raised relating to that statute. There are also 44 new parking spots that will be available at the park-and-ride lot on Route 17 in the near future.
Moving on to the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, Ms. Sonenfeld said that she and the rest of the team members spent some time talking to the four finalists about their proposals for that area. Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that one of the predominant reasons for starting this project was to get more parking in Ridgewood. Everyone who submitted a proposal was required to incorporate at least 100 additional parking spots for the CBD in that proposal. The team members still need time to evaluate the various proposals that were received. Each of the four proposals received has its own characteristics, and Ms. Sonenfeld hoped that within the next two weeks, she can present a recommendation to the Village Council.
Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that they are required to bring their garbage cans to the curb for pickup. E-notices were sent, and reverse 911 calls were made via SwiftReach to disseminate that information. The situation will be re-evaluated at the end of this week. Ms. Sonenfeld apologized because she just learned that the e-notice was sent out for the second time in error.
In her “Response to Residents” section, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that the next Meet the Manager event will be held on Tuesday, February 24th, from 5:00 P.M.-7:30 P.M. The reason for doing so is due to the fact that many of the Saturdays are already scheduled.
In response to questions about the early closing of the concession stand at Graydon Pool, Ms. Sonenfeld discovered that the contract specifies that the stand is to remain open from 12:00 noon-7:00 P.M. If the vendor needs to close early, s/he must contact the Pool Manager, and consult with the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Upcoming events and holidays include Thursday, February 12th, when Village Hall will be closed in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Village Hall will also be closed on Monday, February 16th, for Presidents’ Day. A public budget meeting will be held on Saturday, February 28th, from 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.
7. COUNCIL REPORTS
Fourth of July Committee – Councilwoman Knudsen commented that the Fourth of July Committee met this past Monday evening, when they reviewed some administrative items and continued discussion about the theme for this year’s event, which is “American Innovation”. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9th.
Historic Preservation Commission – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that the Historic Preservation Commission meeting scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled, and the next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 12th.
Planning Board– Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned that the Planning Board will be meeting on Thursday, February 19th, which is a departure from its usual schedule, because they normally meet on Tuesday evenings. The meeting will be held at Ridgewood High School. The issue to be discussed will be the housing applications for the CBD. The public comment portion of the hearings has ended, and the attorney summations will begin on February 19th. There has been a lot of public input given, because many people seem to be interested in this.
Councilwoman Knudsen congratulated the Jamboree Scholarship Foundation for raising more than $142,000 in three days for the need-based scholarship program in Ridgewood.
Ridgewood Arts Council– Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that the Bergen County seminar on the topic of revitalizing local economy and enhancing the community through the arts has been rescheduled due to snow. As liaison to the Ridgewood Arts Council, Councilman Pucciarelli and the other members of the Arts Council are very interested in attending the seminar to learn how to continue to incorporate art and encourage it throughout the community.
In addition, the Ridgewood Arts Council now has a website at www.rac.ridgewoodnj.net. They are hoping to be able to use the name “Ridgewood Arts Council,” which is currently owned by another entity, and it is hoped that the rights will be transferred to the Ridgewood Arts Council. The website contains information about the Ridgewood Arts Council and all of the artistic endeavors in Ridgewood.
CBD Forum– Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the next CBD forum will be held on Wednesday, March 18th, from 7:30 P.M.-9:00 P.M., and it will be the fifth of these forums. It is to be held at Christ Church in Ridgewood, and the subjects to be discussed are parking and blue laws.
Parks, Recreation, and Conservation (PRC) Board– Councilwoman Hauck said the PRC Board meeting was rescheduled from January 24th to February 10th, and only five people showed up due to the snow. Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that Robert Shandwick gave his Eagle Scout presentation to the PRC Board, and will be presenting it to the Village Council in the near future.
Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC)– Councilman Sedon mentioned that the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) met Tuesday. They are planning to meet with some members of the Recycling Department in Ridgewood to see what can be done promote recycling in the Village, and things that can be done to increase the quality of the stream produced through the Recycling Center. They will also be hosting a green film festival on Wednesday, April 29th, at 7:00 P.M. at the Ridgewood Public Library. The film to be shown is entitled “Blue Gold Water Wars”.
Councilman Sedon said that work on Earth Day progresses. REAC is sending out letters to potential sponsors and exhibitors, with more information to come.
Shade Tree Commission– Councilman Sedon stated that the Shade Tree Commission also met on Tuesday, and Guy Voigt with PSE&G made a presentation about how PSE&G will come to the Village and prune trees around power lines this year. They do this in a four-year cycle. They will be starting the work in 2-3 weeks, and branches around mainlines will be trimmed. The work should begin by the end of February or beginning of March, and should be completed by the spring or summer.
Chamber of Commerce – Mayor Aronsohn noted that the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met this morning, and they spent a lot of time discussing parking, including the issue of CBD employee parking. They support the idea of stepping back a bit and not taking any action regarding an ordinance at this time in order to try to get it right. Mayor Aronsohn encouraged them to keep coming up with ideas and bringing them to him to present to Ms. Sonenfeld and the rest of the Village Council.
As Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned, there was a meeting with the four finalists for the North Walnut Redevelopment Zone. Most of the discussion centered around parking, because one of the requirements in any proposal was to include at least 100 parking spaces. It is hoped that by March, the winning proposal can be brought to the Village Council.
Access Committee – Mayor Aronsohn commented that the Access Committee will meet this week. The Bergen County Office of Disability Services is planning its next Access Summit, in which they try to bring municipal leaders from different communities in Bergen County together. They hope to hold the next summit in Ridgewood in the spring, and the Director of the Office of Disability Services, Jim Thebery, will be visiting Ridgewood on Friday to meet with Mayor Aronson and anyone who is interested in volunteering to help with this event.
On February 24th, as part of the civility initiative, Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Village will be hosting a panel discussion on civility at the Ridgewood Public Library. It will be facilitated by Rabbi David Fein of Temple Israel in Ridgewood. The panel will include Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco; Steven Borg, President of North Jersey Media; Captain Jacqueline Luthcke of the Ridgewood Police Department; Councilwoman Lynn Algrant of the Englewood Borough Council; and Ridgewood resident Robert Sommer, who is a public affairs executive, as well as a Jersey City official.
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that Nisivoccia Associates has done a forensic audit of the coin theft. They were engaged by Ridgewood’s insurer to validate the amount of money that was lost as a result of the quarter theft. As previously mentioned, the amount of money taken was originally estimated at $460,000, but the actual amount was found to be $850,000. Bud Jones, one of the partners at Nisivoccia Associates, and John Mooney, one of the principals there, gave the report. Mayor Aronsohn interjected that yesterday, the Village Manager and Village Council issued a statement on the Village website, as well as a copy of the full report.
Mr. Mooney started the discussion by explaining that the firm was engaged by the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) to assess the situation regarding the approximately $460,000 that the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office had identified as the total amount taken by Mr. Rica, an employee of the Village of Ridgewood. Nisivoccia Associates was also asked to determine whether or not that number was the total loss, or if Mr. Mooney and his associates could come up with an estimate of the total loss in association with that theft. As a by-product of that report, an internal control review was also done. The total structure and how it operates for the Parking Utility was evaluated, and they were able to formulate some management suggestions to improve upon the operations of the Parking Utility.
When Nisivoccia Associates was engaged in July 2014, the first thing they did was to schedule time for staff interviews, including everyone from the Village Manager, down through the Signal Department, and into the Finance Department. Anyone who had any involvement with the Parking Utility in any way was interviewed. When staff members were interviewed, they were asked for specific information. The CFO was asked for revenue detail going back to 2008 up to July 2014. Mr. Mooney’s associates asked for the number of UP3 permits sold, as well as ordinances that affected parking during that time. Mr. Mooney noted that they were very well accommodated, and received everything they requested. He thanked everyone in the Village for that, because it expedited the process of the report. The one item that seemed to take a while, due to the process involved, was a report from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. When that report was received, it was put together with the other reports, and things started to fall into place so that it could be put into a usable form.
Mr. Mooney explained that estimates were taken out of those numbers, and he noted that everything was based on estimates of lost revenues which could have been collected from the period covering 2010-2012. That is the time during which the bulk of the thefts occurred, according to the Prosecutor’s report. During those years, it was estimated that by 2012, the Village lost approximately $375,000. Of that loss, $277,000 was associated with the theft itself, and it is estimated that an additional $98,000 was potentially lost. In 2011, the estimated difference was $297,000, and the difference shown in the Prosecutor’s report was $159,000, while Mr. Mooney’s firm estimated that a potential additional $137,000 was lost that year. In 2010, the difference shown is approximately $166,000 (estimated), and the Prosecutor’s report shows a loss of $24,000. The Nisivoccia estimate of the remainder was approximately $141,000. In total, the Prosecutor’s report reflects $471,000 worth of theft, while the Nisivoccia report indicates a difference of $377,000 as a possible estimated loss of additional revenue. The total estimated loss is just under $850,000. The report gives details about how the estimates were formulated, but Mr. Mooney did not go into that at this time. He stated that what has been presented to the Village reflects the most accurate information that can be provided.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Mooney for his report, and asked if he could also discuss the addendum to the report, which covers the controls to be implemented, as well as other issues. Mr. Mooney responded that many of the control issues that his firm recommended for the Parking Utility were as a result of the interviews conducted and viewing the Village’s internal control process. Mr. Mooney did a ride-along to see all of the parking lots, kiosks, train station, a physical view of the Village, and a departmental view of the Village. Several management suggestions were generated, and the main ones involved moving the cash in a timely manner to avoid leaving large sums of cash lying around for long periods of time. The State mandates 48 hours, and Nisivoccia suggested that the Village follow that mandate. There are many such suggestions within the report, and the document is public. Mr. Mooney pointed out that his firm belief that the controls that were in place at that time were weaker than they are today. After creating the report with its suggestions, and in speaking to various Village staff members in the course of the investigation, Mr. Mooney commented that he knows that the Parking Utility has implemented new procedures that could prevent further thefts. He commended the Village for taking the initiative to make changes before the report was started. That is definitely movement in the right direction. Mr. Mooney added that if Village management makes some of the changes recommended in the report, it will further strengthen the Parking Utility.
Councilman Pucciarelli noted that Mr. Mooney had earlier clarified for him a point made on the recapitulation page, and he explained it for the benefit of the public. The 2014 numbers include three columns, and 2014 is after the period in question, when the thefts took place. The first column indicates $853,000; the second column indicates that actual collection was $642,000; and the difference is $210,000. When Councilman Pucciarelli first looked at that, he thought it meant that $210,000 was missing from the 2014 revenues. Mr. Mooney responded that his firm had to estimate the revenue for all of 2014. Until the recapitulation was done, there was actual revenue from January-September. The revenue for the final three months of the year had to be estimated, and that difference is the estimate, which has nothing to do with the lost revenue. Mr. Mooney noted that in 2013, there is a difference of $10,413 shown, which was the theft that was reported in the Prosecutor’s report that could not be added to the actual collections, because they were not collected.
Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that in the Manager’s Report, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that control measures are being implemented so that the coins will no longer be accessible from the time they are taken from the meters until they are brought to the secure location. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if that was a control that Mr. Mooney would recommend or endorse. Mr. Mooney answered that any time the physical handling of cash is taken out of the equation, or the amount of time that cash is lying around is reduced, it decreases the Village’s susceptibility to fraudulent acts. Therefore, using the coin boxes that are removed from the meters and go into the canisters without anyone handling the coins themselves is an excellent internal control.
Councilman Sedon pointed out that he was a reporter for the Ridgewood News for four years, and he took an interest in Parking Utility revenues. He started looking at the revenues sometime around 2008 or 2009, and as 2010 unfolded, Councilman Sedon started taking a closer look at those revenues. Several things jumped out at him, which were included in the story. As a reporter, Councilman Sedon looked at a period of time between October 2008 and September 2009, when the parking rate was $.25 per hour on the streets and in the parking lots throughout the Village. He compared that with the period from October 2009 through September 2010, after which the parking rates were increased to $.50 per hour in the parking lots and on the streets. From 2008-2009, Councilman Sedon calculated an annual Parking Utility revenue of $632,557. He compared that revenue with the revenue from 2009-2010, when the rate was higher, and the annual revenue was $668,943. The difference was not that much, although the parking rates were doubled. Councilman Sedon was given several different excuses for that. Because he was frustrated, Councilman Sedon decided to look specifically at the train station parking lot, because that lot is always filled with commuters, although that lot did undergo some construction when New Jersey Transit upgraded the train station. In such a controlled environment, Councilman Sedon thought that the rates should have doubled. Moreover, there were no annual parking passes at that time. The revenue at the train station parking lot for 2009-2010 was $78,036. The revenue at the same location for 2009-2010 was $79,303, a difference of $1,267, or 1.62%, when the rates were doubled. This information appeared in the Ridgewood News dated November 26, 2010. Councilman Sedon pointed out that he is not necessarily a “numbers person,” but perhaps this should have been caught, especially since it appeared in print in a local newspaper.
Mr. Mooney responded that a good system of internal controls would have prevented that from happening. At a minimum, questions should have been asked. Deficits should have been noted in the audit report, which would have been required during budget discussions, and questions should have been asked at that time by Village management. At that point, a system of internal controls would have caught the theft, because the deficits would have been obvious. Councilman Sedon added that he is very proud of the work that Ms. Sonenfeld has done to implement these controls to ensure that something like this does not happen again, because those deficits were funded from taxpayer revenue.
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that in 2013, after Mr. Rica was arrested, the Parking Utility had its best year ever as far as revenue is concerned. Income from quarters alone was increased by over $360,000. The Parking Utility was able to pay back the Village for two of the three deficit years in 2013. For 2014, it looks as if the Parking Utility has in excess of $248,000, and it is likely that the third year of deficit will be paid back. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that in 2012, the revenue from the street parking meters was $270,000 in quarters. In 2013, that same revenue was $537,000. Gross revenue in 2012 was $669,000, which grew to $1,062,000 in 2013, and $1,169,000 in 2014. Ms. Sonenfeld commended Nisivoccia Associates for the work they did, which has helped to ensure that this type of activity cannot happen again.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Mooney, Mr. Jones, and their firm for doing such a thorough job, which has helped enormously. He stated that the Village is committed to moving forward with some type of investigation, because answers and accountability are needed. Mayor Aronsohn also commented that he had an opportunity to speak with New Jersey State Senator Kevin O’Toole, who has already reached out to the Attorney General for the State of New Jersey to ask for the cooperation of his office when the Village decides to move forward. Another thing that Mayor Aronsohn noted is that the Village is committed to working with the JIF to recoup the losses sustained.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if it would be possible for the footnote contained in Mr. Mooney’s copy of the report regarding the recapitulation data could be inserted in the public report that is on the Village website for clarification. Mr. Mooney said that could be done. Councilman Pucciarelli suggested that perhaps the new controls that have been implemented could also be included in the report, such as the secure containers that are now being used and other measures that are being put in place.
Councilwoman Hauck said that, on behalf of the employees of Village Hall, they want to work hard to restore the public’s confidence and faith in them, and they are dedicating everything they can to get justice for the taxpayers of Ridgewood, as well as to move forward with better internal controls.
8. ORDINANCES
a. Introduction – #3459 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Prohibited on Section of Franklin Avenue
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3459. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3459 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 265 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, AT SECTION 265-65, “PARKING PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES”
Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3459 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
b. Introduction – #3460 – General Capital Ordinance – Paving, Technology, and New Ambulance
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3460. Councilwoman Hauck seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3460 by title:
BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN AND BY THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, IN THE COUNTY OF BERGEN, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING $715,000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $679,000 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE VILLAGE TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF
Councilman Sedon moved that Ordinance 3460 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilwoman Hauck seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
c. Introduction – #3461 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Authorize Emergency “No Parking” Areas and Establish Penalties for Violations
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3461. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3461 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 265 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, AT SECTION 265-3, “DESIGNATION OF SNOW EMERGENCY NO-PARKING AREAS,” AND SECTION 265-75, “SNOW EMERGENCY NO-PARKING AREAS”
Councilman Pucciarelli moved that Ordinance 3463 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
d. Introduction – #3462 – Amend Chapter 249 – Streets and Sidewalks – Establish Procedures for Replacement of Sidewalk Slabs
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3462. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3462 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 249 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, AT ARTICLE III, SECTION 249-31, “PERMIT REQUIRED,” AND ARTICLE III, SECTION 265-37, “WORK TO BE PERFORMED EXPEDITIOUSLY,” AND ARTICLE III, SECTION 249-38, “APPLICATION FOR PERMIT”
Councilwoman Knudsen moved that Ordinance 3462 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
e. Introduction – #3463 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Valet Loading and Unloading Zones – Oak Street
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3463. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3463 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 265 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, AT SECTION 265-29, “PARKING METER ZONE DESIGNATED,” AND AT SECTION 265-69, SCHEDULE XIX “TIME LIMIT PARKING,” AND AT SECTION 265-72, SCHEDULE XXII “LOADING ZONES”
Councilwoman Knudsen moved that Ordinance 3463 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
f. Introduction – #3464 – Establish Parking Regulations for Paying Parking Meters Through Wireless Cellular Communication Devices
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3464. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3464 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 265 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, AT SECTION 265-29, “PARKING METER ZONE DESIGNATED,” AND SECTION 265-30, “INSTALLATION OF PARKING METERS; INDICATION OF TIME LIMITATIONS AND FEE,” AND SECTION 265-32, “DEPOSIT OF COINS REQUIRED; LIMITATIONS NOT APPLICABLE ON CERTAIN HOLIDAYS,” AND SECTION 265-34, “UNLAWFUL ACTS,” AND SECTION 265-35, “PARKING WITHIN SPACES,” AND SECTION 265-39, “INCREASING PARKING TIME PROHIBITED,” AND SECTION 265-46, “EFFECTIVENESS OF ARTICLE”
Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3464 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
g. Introduction – #3465 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Paying Parking Meters Through Wireless Cellular Communication Devices
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3465. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3465 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 145 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, FEES, AT SECTION 145-6, “ENUMERATION OF FEES RELATING TO CODE CHAPTERS”
Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3465 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
h. Public Hearing – #3456 – Salary Ordinance – Fire Department
Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3456 and that the Public Hearing be opened. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3456 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO FIX SALARIES, WAGES, AND OTHER COMPENSATION OF AND FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRE SUPERIOR OFFICERS OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, COUNTY OF BERGEN, AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open. There were no comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3456 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: Councilwoman Knudsen
Councilwoman Knudsen indicated that she recused herself due to the fact that her son is a volunteer Firefighter in Ridgewood.
i. Public Hearing – #3457 – Amend Chapter 258 – Towing – Investigative Towing, Removal, Storage, and Fees
Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3457 and that the Public Hearing be opened. Councilwoman Hauck seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3457 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 258 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, TOWING, AT SECTION 258-3, “DEFINITIONS,” AND AT SECTION 258-6, “PERFORMANCE STANDARDS; REQUIREMENTS,” AND AT SECTION 258-7, “REMOVAL AND STORAGE OF VEHICLES; FEES”
Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, noted that the Bergen Record has published several articles recently about towing ordinances, particularly in Paramus and Mahwah. In Paramus, the ordinance was revised because it was not compliant with State guidelines. There was a situation in which two towing companies were in rotation, and two other towing companies wanted to share some of that business, but the ordinance as written did not allow the other two companies to participate, so the ordinance had to be revised by Paramus in order to avoid being sued. There was also an issue because one or more of the towing companies were not located in an adjacent town, and it was determined that that did not comply with State guidelines. Mr. Loving asked when was the last time that the Village towing ordinance was subjected to a complete review to ensure that it is completely compliant with State guidelines, so that the Village is not sued. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that she read the same articles, and shared them with Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, and the author of this ordinance. Ridgewood has a different situation from that in Paramus, and it was felt that this change to the Village ordinance will not affect anything.
There were no other comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilman Pucciarelli moved that Ordinance 3457 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilwoman Hauck seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
j. Public Hearing – #3458 – Amendments to Valet Parking Ordinance – Modification of Terms of Permit Application and Violations and Penalties
Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3458 and that the Public Hearing be opened. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3458 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 263 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, VALET PARKING SERVICES, AT SECTION 263-2, “DEFINITIONS,” AND SECTION 263-5, “VIOLATIONS”
Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open. There were no comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilman Sedon moved that Ordinance 3458 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
9. RESOLUTIONS
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 15-28 THROUGH 15-67, WERE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL, AND WERE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
The following resolution, numbered 15-68, was considered separately and read in full:
15-68 Accept Clinton Avenue Improvements
10. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn stated that they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked if anyone other than Mr. Rica was terminated as a result of the quarter theft issue, or the auditing process. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that no one else was terminated. She added that an RFP has been issued to determine who the Village should hire as its Auditor. Mr. Loving asked if any disciplinary action was taken against anyone, and if any legal action is being considered against the auditing firm that was engaged at that time.
Mr. Rogers responded that there was discussion about the fact that there may be a further investigation going forward, which will involve issues regarding the money. The issue of professional negligence is a legal issue which may involve further discussion, and will be addressed at another time.
Mr. Loving asked how much of the loss is being covered by insurance. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that at this time, the entire $850,000 will be covered, minus a $25,000 deductible, and whatever Mr. Rica has paid to date. Mr. Rogers explained that a certain amount of money has been paid by Mr. Rica to the Village up to this time, and the amount of loss to be covered is the full extent of what was identified by Nisivoccia Associates in their report. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that to date, Mr. Rica has paid more than $72,000 in restitution. Mr. Loving asked if in the future, Mr. Rica will be paying the insurance company. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that his checks go to the Probation Department, who send their checks to the Village. After the insurance company pays the claim, the Probation Department will send checks to the insurance company. Mr. Rogers explained that there will be an assignment of interest agreement between the JIF and the Village in which the Village will assign all rights and obligations and interest with respect to this matter to the JIF.
Mr. Loving stated that he read the auditor’s report, and the fact that there is a State mandate that cash must be deposited within 48 hours, and prior to and since the quarter theft, the Village has been holding money collected from the parking meters for two weeks. Mr. Loving asked why that is happening and why has no one been disciplined over the fact that the Village has not been in compliance with State guidelines. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that many municipalities have the same issues regarding the 48-hour period, and as noted in the auditor’s report, one of the findings was that every area was not depositing its cash within 48 hours. She also noted that staffing issues precluded depositing the quarters within 48 hours, and staffing is now being evaluated. The other issue that is being considered with respect to the quarters is the ability to deposit them directly from the meters into the bank. That is something that will be discussed within the next week, and Ms. Sonenfeld stated that they are very close to an agreement on that issue. Mr. Loving pointed out that the auditors recommended employing a staff of part-time employees, as opposed to paying highly skilled electricians and carpenters to collect coins. He asked for the Village Manager’s view with respect to bringing in part-time staff, as opposed to paying people who make $35 an hour, to collect coins. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that it is being considered.
With respect to the secure canisters, Mr. Loving reminded everyone that he investigated such a system after seeing it in Paterson, New Jersey, and it involves more hardware, besides the canisters. Once the money is in the canisters, it has to be removed securely. Mr. Loving noted that the canisters are being purchased, and he wondered if the rest of the hardware is to be purchased, as well. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that canisters for the meters will be purchased, as well as adjustment to the canisters that the Village currently has. There is an adjustment apparatus that can be put on top of the rolling carts that will work with the canisters. Mr. Loving asked about what will happen once the canisters are in the building, because there is equipment required to get the coins out. Ms. Sonenfeld reminded him that the idea is that the canisters will not enter the building.
Regarding cash controls elsewhere in the Village, Mr. Loving asked if that is also something that is being evaluated. Cash is accepted in many spots throughout the Village, including the Public Library; the Tax Assessor’s office; and the Building Department, just to name a few. Mr. Loving wondered if there is any way to go cashless in Ridgewood. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that, as a result of the parking initiative, more credit card transactions are now occurring throughout Village departments. In addition, she has reviewed some other practices, particularly in areas that bring more money into the building than other areas, such as the Building Department. Money that comes into the Building Department for permits and other fees goes to the Finance Department, where there are two people at the desk. As part of the RFP process, the new audit firm will also work with the Village to do a cash/processing review in the next couple of months.
Finally, Mr. Loving said he is very pleased with this Village Council, because he believes that previous Councils would not have released the auditor’s report until after this meeting. Mr. Loving is also pleased to know that the Village will recoup all of the losses due to the quarter theft. However, he is very disappointed in the fact that over $800,000 in cash could be stolen from the taxpayers of Ridgewood and no disciplinary action was taken, nor was anyone else terminated as a result. Mr. Loving finds that totally unacceptable. In the private sector, many jobs would have been lost in a similar situation. Mr. Loving believes that the Village management should take a closer look and find out who was responsible for managing the operation and take the appropriate disciplinary action against those people. Mayor Aronsohn stated that the Village Council and Ms. Sonenfeld agree with that, and that is why they have reaffirmed their determination to move forward with an investigation. However, it was necessary to wait until the auditing firm finished its report to get a better idea of the losses and the Village is now ready to move forward. At this time, options are being explored and evaluated. It is necessary to look at the potential for other criminality, as well as determining who should have been accountable for this. Ms. Sonenfeld recalled that, when she came in last April as the Village Manager, she issued a report at that time, and she stands by that report, in which she stated that the biggest problem was that there was no one in charge of the Parking Utility. No one was overseeing the Parking Utility, and comparing the revenues against the expenses, and trying to determine if there was a problem with the numbers. No one was assigned to that job. The decision of who is to blame for that is an issue, and Ms. Sonenfeld believes it is a process structural issue that has now been addressed.
There were no more comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Sedon, seconded by Councilman Pucciarelli, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:27 P.M.
_____________________________
Paul S. Aronsohn
Mayor
_________________________________
Heather A. Mailander
Village Clerk
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