Village Council Special Work Session Minutes 20141008

A SPECIAL PUBLIC WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE CAUCUS ROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014 AT 7:00 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 7:00 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.

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.

3.         DISCUSSION

            Policy - Change Two-hour Parking Meters to Three-hour Parking Meters

Mayor Aronsohn said that this discussion is about changing all of the existing 2-hour parking meters in the Central Business District to three-hour meters. Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager, explained that she is hesitant to push this matter to the October 22, 2014 Regular Public Work Session meeting because she wants to have the 3-hour parking meters in effect in time for the holiday season. Therefore, she is requesting that the Village Council introduce the ordinance to change the parking meters from 2 hours to 3 hours this evening so that the Public Hearing and adoption of the ordinance may be considered at a Special Public Meeting during the October 22, 2014 Regular Work Session.

Ms. Sonenfeld explained that she went to several business owners (Tom Hillman of Hillman Electric; Paul Vagianos of It’s Greek to Me; Bill Gilsenan of Gilsenan Realty; and Tony Damiano of Mango Jam) who requested that the meters be increased to 3 hours rather than 4 hours. If the meters are changed to 4 hours, someone could park at the meter from 2:00 p.m. until midnight, since the meters expire at 6:00 p.m. These business owners felt that would tie up a parking spot for too long a period of time. Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that could happen if the parking meters are 3 hours, since someone could park from 3:00 p.m. to midnight. Ms. Sonenfeld reiterated that the business owners felt strongly that they wanted 3-hour meters. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that this is a work in progress.

Councilwoman Knudsen asked what the cost is to change the 2-hour meters to 3-hour meters. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that it will take two weeks for the Signal Division to change the meters and will incur overtime costs. She explained that they have located a vendor to outsource the changing over of the meters from 2 hours to 3 hours who can do the job in two days for $500. She said that they are waiting to get this in writing before outsourcing this job.

Ms. Knudsen said that that the elimination of repeat parking will need to be enforced. Ms. Sonenfeld said that beginning November 1, 2014 the elimination of repeat parking will be strictly enforced. The Chamber of Commerce is also putting out a strong message to its members to inform them of the enforcement of no repeat parking.

Councilwoman Knudsen indicated that she still prefers the 4-hour meters instead of the 3-hour meters. Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney, said that the 3-hour meters can be tried to see how they work, and the time can always be changed by the Village Council in the future through an ordinance amendment. Mayor Aronsohn said that he defers to the desire of the business owners for 3-hour meters. Councilwoman Knudsen agreed to the 3-hour meters. Councilman Sedon also agreed to try the 3-hour meters to see how they work. Mayor Aronsohn stated that there will be a change in the parking meter technology in the near future.

11.       ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come to before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilwoman Knudsen, seconded by Councilman Sedon, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 7:17 P.M.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     _____________________________

                                                                                                    Paul S. Aronsohn

                                                                                                            Mayor

_________________________________

            Heather A. Mailander

                Village Clerk