A REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGEOF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 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 7:30 P.M., and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney. Councilman Pucciarelli arrived at 7:40 P.M.
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.
Jim Griffith, 159 South Irving Street, commended the Village for using the brine solution on the roads. He also had some comments relating to parking. Mr. Griffith wondered if the new County Executive, James Tedesco, has been given information about the Village’s discussion with the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA). Ms. Sonenfeld responded that Mayor Aronsohn would be the one to answer this, because he has met with the BCIA, and he has provided status reports at Village Council meetings. Mayor Aronsohn and Councilman Sedon met with representatives from the BCIA. Ms. Sonenfeld emphasized that the Village and the BCIA are taking parallel paths, so that even if things do not work out with the BCIA, the Village will still move forward with its own course of action. Mayor Aronsohn noted that Mr. Griffith is the one who pointed out several months ago that there should be a discussion about parking at every Village Council meeting, and that is now the practice at every meeting.
Janice Berman, a Trustee of the Ridgewood Public Library, stated that the Trustees want to improve the parking situation for the Public Library in the upcoming sports seasons. Parking has been problematic for many years, especially during baseball season, and Ms. Berman said that the Trustees would like to work with the sports associations and anyone else who shares that concern to designate better parking in that area, as well as improving the signage. The signs notifying people that they can park in the Graydon parking lots are very small, and cannot be seen until drivers are well into the Public Library parking lot. Better signage might also help to divert some of the big buses and other spectators from outside of Ridgewood to the Graydon parking lot.
Nancy Greene, Director of the Ridgewood Public Library, commented that she discussed the situation with nearly all of the Councilmembers, with the exception of Councilman Sedon. Ms. Greene asked if the Councilmembers would like to have a group created, consisting of people representing the Public Library, Village Hall, and the sports associations to try to come up with a better system. Mayor Aronsohn responded that he would like to hear input from Councilman Pucciarelli, who is the Village Council liaison to the Public Library, and from Ms. Sonenfeld. Ms. Greene noted that Ms. Sonenfeld was not aware that the problem existed, but she pointed out that anyone who visits the Public Library knows that after school, especially during sports seasons, people visiting the Public Library cannot park in the parking lot, nor are they able to attend some of the Sunday concerts, as well as encountering parking problems on Saturdays. Ms. Greene said she has often walked over to the Graydon parking lot, where there are many spaces available. She mentioned that they are not looking for a solution, but are simply asking for any ideas on how to encourage people to use the Graydon parking lots for sporting events, and leave the Village Hall/Public Library parking lot available to Public Library patrons.
Councilwoman Knudsen commented that she welcomed and encouraged this conversation, because she can see the problem encountered by patrons of the Public Library and other visitors to Village Hall, as well as people who want to attend sporting events. There is also an element of danger in the situation due to the fact that so many children are walking through the parking lot. Councilwoman Knudsen said she is happy to help in any way that she can.
Mayor Aronsohn said that he would discuss this with Councilman Pucciarelli, and try to figure out how to move forward with this discussion.
Finally, Ms. Greene thanked the Friends of the Ridgewood Library for their help in printing and distributing the Public Library newsletter, which is mailed to every house in Ridgewood. She stated that she and her staff are always receptive to ideas of better ways to reach the entire community.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
3. MOTION TO SUSPEND WORK SESSION AND CONVENE SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
At 8:05 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilwoman Hauck, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.
4. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION
At 8:08 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, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
5. PRESENTATION BY THE VILLAGE MANAGER – RECENT BURGLARIES
Ms. Sonenfeld introduced Police Chief John Ward and Lieutenant Forest Lyons, who would be speaking about recent burglaries in the area.
Chief Ward noted that some concerns were expressed to Ms. Sonenfeld about some of the burglaries that occurred since December 2014. There were seven burglaries reported, five of which were residential, two of which were attempts only, and three were confirmed burglaries since January 2015. The remaining two were commercial burglaries. Chief Ward said that the ultimate objective is always to work toward a 0% crime rate, although that is not the reality. In 2012, the Ridgewood Police Department received 46 burglary calls. Of those 46 calls; nine were attempted burglaries; and 37 were actual burglaries. Six of those were vehicle burglaries; 37 were residential burglaries; and three were commercial burglaries. In 2013, a total of 53 calls were received; 48 of which were burglaries; and five were attempts. Ten of them were vehicle burglaries; 32 were residential burglaries; and 11 were commercial burglaries. In 2014, there were 44 burglary calls. Thirty-eight of them were actual burglaries; and six were attempted burglaries. There were 26 residential burglaries; three vehicle burglaries; and 15 commercial burglaries. So far in 2015, there have been seven burglary calls received. Five of them were for residential burglaries, two of which were attempts, and the other two were commercial burglaries. Traditionally, during the Christmas season, there is an increase in burglaries and unlawful entries into residences. There are increases during the solstice and equinox seasons, because people forget to change the timing of their exterior lights when they change their clocks for Daylight Saving Time. Chief Ward said that additional measures are also taken by the Police Department, including working with other agencies on joint burglary task forces. Patrols are also increased. Chief Ward did not give details about additional measures that are taken, because it would only help the perpetrators.
Recently, there were some burglaries on the west side of Ridgewood, as well as in Hawthorne, Glen Rock, and a few other communities. Chief Ward stated that the burglaries were not the work of one person, but were attributed to different groups. Some of the investigations into these burglaries have resulted in some very positive leads, but Chief Ward reminded everyone that there is a big difference between having strong leads and developing probable cause to make an arrest. For burglaries, the solve rate is approximately 3%-5% nationally, and Lieutenant Lyons stated that the national clearance rate for burglaries is approximately 13%, but that is for crimes that cannot be charged. The actual arrest rate is between 3%-4% nationwide. In Ridgewood, the rate is closer to 10%. Chief Ward stated that in providing these numbers, his intention is to inform everyone of the effectiveness of the Ridgewood Police Department. Unfortunately, due to many factors, including the fact that many burglaries are not reported until several days or weeks after the burglary has occurred, there is an impact on whether the evidence can be obtained. Another factor is that test results are not always immediately available, especially if the crime is not a high priority, such as murder. The Ridgewood Police Department will be scheduling times for community outreach, and Chief Ward hopes to have one evening scheduled by the end of this month, with yet another date for an afternoon session to be held later. One of the discussions will be about crime prevention tips and how neighborhoods can be better secured, such as by forming neighborhood watch groups. Several years ago, when there was a rash of burglaries on the east side of Ridgewood, several neighborhood watch groups formed.
Chief Ward stressed the fact that residents and neighbors are the best defense against crime. However, it also means that people must give up some of their personal space and information to their neighbors so they will be aware of who will be coming and going, and when houses will be vacant for a period of time. The best way to protect the house is to make it look lived-in. For example, when going on vacation, allow the neighbors to park their cars in your driveway. Other similar tips include putting radios, televisions, lamps, and other lighting on timers, and ensuring that the timers are adjusted to Daylight Saving Time, when applicable. Make sure the neighbors pick up the mail, or have the mail stopped. The same applies to newspapers. These are very easy techniques that can limit the likelihood of becoming a target of criminals. Criminals are looking for targets of opportunity.
Chief Ward responded to several other questions posed by members of the community. One of them was how long does it take for the Police Department to respond to a call. Chief Ward said he could not give the exact time frame in which officers would respond, an average response to a burglar alarm is from less than 30 seconds-approximately 5 minutes. There were instances when the response took 15-20 minutes, such as during storms, or when it was impossible to get assistance from other towns. Chief Ward suggested that home and business owners should check with the alarm companies to find out what their procedures are, because sometimes there is a significant delay between when the alarm company calls the owner and when the secondary verification is done. In addition, Chief Ward recommends that homeowners install cameras on the outside of their houses with motion sensors. Very often, these cameras can be programmed through a home network to notify the homeowner if anyone is detected outside the house. Chief Ward also stressed the importance of having an audible alarm system, because although they can be annoying to neighbors, the noise is a deterrent to criminals.
Bonita Shimpfky, a Ridgewood resident who was speaking on behalf of other Ridgewood residents concerning the burglaries that have recently occurred. Ms. Shimpfky commented that there is a security camera video of a suspect breaking into a home, and there is a picture of a suspect who has been “roaming around” Ridgewood, and Ms. Shimpfky wondered if the Police Department was close to making an arrest. Lieutenant Lyons responded that the Police Department could not comment on the situation at this time, but the picture was distributed to multiple agencies, including federal law enforcement agencies, to get as much information as possible. The Police Department is looking at suspects in some of the other burglaries, as well as recovered property that could be tied to some of those other burglaries. However, Lieutenant Lyons said he could not get into any of the specifics about those cases. Chief Ward added that some of this information comes about when an arrest is made in another community, and the suspect may be carrying property stolen during other burglaries. Once the recovered property is released to the Ridgewood Police Department, Chief Ward said they must then contact the owners of that property to get confirmation that the property belongs to them, which will then give the Police Department probable cause to join the criminal complaint against that suspect. These perpetrators usually work in a cycle in which they commit crimes and continue committing them, and the Police Department looks at their modus operandi to discover their patterns and create suspect profiles. Referring to the recent shootings that occurred at the Old Paramus Church in Ridgewood, Chief Ward noted that suspects were identified within two days of the event, although the public could not be informed. Ms. Shimpfky asked if it is known whether the perpetrators of the burglaries were armed, and Chief Ward answered that there have been no reports in this area of any armed intruders. Statistically, Chief Ward pointed out that most burglars do not use weapons, because they are afraid of being shot, and because being armed adds to the seriousness of their crimes. The Police Department recommends that if a homeowner suspects that someone is in the house, s/he should exit the house and use his/her cell phone to call 911.
Ms. Shimpfky pointed out that many residents teach older children that they should not answer the door when the parents are not home, and she wondered if that should be changed, given the fact that many of the potential criminals are trying to determine if someone is home. Chief Ward responded that older children should never open the door to strangers if their parents are not home, and they should be taught to simply state that their parents are busy at that time, and ask if the person at the door could return later. If the children feel uncomfortable, they can call the Police Department, who will come and check out the person at the door. Chief Ward added that police officers must have a reasonable suspicion of a person in order to stop him/her, whether for a motor vehicle violation or for some other reason. This is why communications from citizens are so important. If a resident sees any kind of suspicious activity, it should be reported to the Police Department. That gives the Police Department the authorization to stop and question the person engaging in that activity. Chief Ward encouraged residents to notify the Police Department any time they see someone engaged in activity they consider to be suspicious, although it might be a police officer working undercover.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if an e-notice could be sent to residents covering the safety points outlined today, as well as the points to be outlined in the community outreach programs. She suggested that they could also be posted to the social media sites. Chief Ward said they are already on the Ridgewood Police Department’s Facebook page and website. It was also suggested that information could be posted on the Ridgewood Moms and Dads Facebook page.
Ms. Shimpfky also noted that there was an issue that had arisen as a result of obtaining solicitation permits, because many residents are still getting solicitors at their doors after dark. Ms. Shimpfky asked if the guidelines could be reviewed in terms of how such permits are approved to ensure that the solicitors are only allowed to circulate during certain times. Chief Ward said the time period would be based on the ordinance in effect. Limited background checks are done on commercial solicitors, but non-profit organizations have an exemption to such background checks. Such organizations are only required to provide a list of people who will be circulating throughout the community, and they are not required to have a permit to do so. The information about non-profit solicitors goes through the Village Clerk’s office, and Ms. Mailander passes that information along to the Police Department. The ordinance currently states that no solicitation is permitted after 9:00 P.M., but that is something that would have to be changed by the Village Council, if desired. Ms. Mailander noted that the time was set by the court system. Chief Ward added that any solicitors who are being rude or obnoxious, whether representing a commercial enterprise or a non-profit organization, should be reported to the Police Department so that such behavior can be addressed.
6. PRESENTATION – PROPOSALS FOR NORTH WALNUT STREET REDEVELOPMENT ZONE
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that, as has been discussed over the past several months, a team consisting of Mayor Aronsohn; Councilwoman Hauck; Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney; Blais Brancheau, Village Planner; Charles DiMarco of the Financial Advisory Committee; and Ms. Sonenfeld met to review and evaluate six proposals received from four developers in response to an RFP for the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone. One of the primary goals was to make the area look better, as well as to make it more productive and functional. Another goal was to provide more parking in Ridgewood. Many meetings were held with the four developers, and various components of their proposals were clarified. The team is now ready to bring the discussion back to the Village Council and the public. Before any further action is taken with respect to discussions or negotiations, input from the public and the Councilmembers is needed.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if comprehensive minutes were taken when the team members met, which could be made available to the other Councilmembers to review the approaches taken in arriving at these two finalists. Ms. Sonenfeld said that such minutes were not taken, and Councilwoman Knudsen asked how the Councilmembers would be able to understand the process that was used to arrive at the two finalists. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that some of the methodologies were discussed in Village Council Closed Session meetings, such as the fact that developers who proposed high-density housing were not considered. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that if there were any questions about the discussions, any member of the team could answer them.
A. Kensington Senior Development
Harley Cooke of Kensington Senior Development commented that it is important to start with the mission, which is to surround seniors with family, care, and activities in a pleasant environment. He provided photographs to illustrate that mission. Most senior citizens are happy to be surrounded by their families, especially children, as well as being surrounded by a pleasant environment. Caregivers at Kensington Senior Development express the mission as one that is to give love and care to senior citizens as they would to their own family members. Providing assistance to senior citizens requires much more than certification by a test. It takes special people to be able to surround senior citizens with care, and caregivers with Kensington Senior Development feel that they are “paying back” their own grandparents for the care their grandparents gave to them when they were children, especially during difficult childhood times. The purpose of Kensington Senior Development is to bring care for seniors to Ridgewood, which does not have an assisted living facility for seniors at this time. Seniors must leave Ridgewood to find such assistance, and Ridgewood residents with parents who need assistance are forced to go to surrounding communities, taking with them the money that would be spent in Ridgewood for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Mr. Cooke pointed out that the Kensington in White Plains had approximately 18,000 visitors in 2014 in downtown White Plains.
To implement their objectives and the Village’s objectives, Mr. Cooke said that Kensington proposes to build and donate to the Village a garage in exchange for the right to build an assisted living residence, and the right to pay taxes in Ridgewood. The first floor of the building will have 5,000 square feet of retail and other commercial space. The second floor will contain assisted living units, and a landscaped outdoor garden, similar to that shown in the photograph of the facility in White Plains. The third and fourth floors will be for light and advanced memory care, and for higher acuity. The top floor will contain more assisted living units.
Mr. Cooke pointed out that approximately 90% of the Kensington residents are able to live out their lives in the Kensington facilities, without being forced to move as they age. Moving can be an emotional issue for elderly people. Kensington Development Group considers its facilities to be the highest quality available in the United States, although they are not inexpensive. Assisted living is expensive, and requires the same amount of care today as it did 100 years ago. Hands-on care cannot be automated. Although it is expensive, Mr. Cooke pointed out that approximately 10% of Kensington residents are subsidized through Medicaid. Mr. Cooke read a letter addressed to the Executive Director of Kensington Development Group from a family member of a senior citizen who lived in one of its facilities. It was a glowing tribute to the facility and its staff. Mr. Cooke commented that allowing the facility to be built would make it possible for senior citizens to stay in Ridgewood when they need assistance. It would also make it possible for Ridgewood residents to be able to care for their parents in Ridgewood, rather than having to go to surrounding communities.
Next, Mr. Cooke covered some of the highlights of the buildings. The proposal was changed from one building to two buildings, making it possible to have a parking garage separate from the assisted living facility. The Village will own the garage free and clear, and the Village will operate the garage. Kensington will own the assisted living facility free and clear, and will operate the facility. The garage will add 130 parking spaces to the CBD, not including the spaces that will be needed for the assisted living facility and its retail space. Mr. Cooke stated that his firm will work with the Village to design the garage to meet its operational needs. The proposed garage entrance was originally located on Franklin Avenue, but it was moved to North Walnut Street to preserve Franklin Avenue as a retail street and to create a continuous retail frontage, uninterrupted by a garage entrance. That will also allow a continuous pedestrian sidewalk along Franklin Avenue, rather than having a sidewalk interrupted by a garage driveway. The lower traffic volume on North Walnut Street will provide easy and safe access to the garage, compared to the heavier traffic on Franklin Avenue.
The architecture of both buildings was inspired by Ridgewood’s historic buildings. The architectural themes from the historic buildings in the CBD were used to inspire the vertical façades of the buildings. The façades will appear as a row of independent structures reflecting Ridgewood architecture during the late 1800s and the early 1900s. The garage will also have that type of façade. Extensive green elements will be used in the design and construction of the buildings. Nine underground tanks will be removed from the property, and the Town Garage will be removed, at Kensington’s expense.
In addition to the estimated 18,000 visitors annually who will be spending money in the CBD, Mr. Cooke pointed out that Kensington has an annual proposed payroll of $4.8 million, money that will be partially spent in the CBD. They will also be purchasing approximately $2.5 million in supplies and services. Out of the $1 million interior design budget, approximately $150,000 will be spent for art, and works by local artists will be sought.
As a company, Mr. Cooke stated that Kensington’s four partners have worked together for 20 years in the assisted living industry. They took Sunrise Assisted Living from 10 homes to 410 homes during the 12 years that they worked for Sunrise. The former President of Sunrise took the company public and raised twice as much money as expected. Dan Gorham raised depth for the expansion. Tiffany Tomasso managed 410 homes with 40,000 employees. Mr. Cooke developed 165 assisted living facilities for Sunrise in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. One of those was a 320-unit senior development in Bethesda, Maryland, with a 240-car garage. They formed Kensington Development Group in 2003, and they own, develop, and manage their own properties. Kensington specializes in high-quality downtown assisted living communities, such as the communities in White Plains, New York; Falls Church, Virginia; Sierra Madre, California; and Redwood City, California. Mr. Cooke noted the central locations are convenient for families to visit, and they bring families downtown to visit, dine, shop, and for entertainment. Mr. Cooke pointed out that accepting Kensington’s proposal would make it possible for Ridgewood residents to stay in Ridgewood when they need assistance, rather than having to go elsewhere. It would make it possible for Ridgewood residents to have their parents stay in Ridgewood, where it is convenient for them to visit frequently.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Cooke for his presentation, and asked if he would take questions from the Councilmembers. He pointed out that this is a first step in this process, and there will be many opportunities to question representatives from Kensington, as well as representatives from Langan Development.
Councilman Pucciarelli stated that he assumed that the public space would include an entrance lobby, and possibly a lounge or coffee shop open to the public. He asked if Mr. Cooke anticipated any of that on the ground floor, and if so, where would it be. Mr. Cooke answered that it would be much like a hotel, with a lobby, concierge, a kitchen, and various other facilities. The 5,000 square feet of retail space would be along Franklin Avenue, with storefronts facing Franklin Avenue. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if that meant that the public space would be along North Walnut Street, which Mr. Cooke confirmed.
Councilman Pucciarelli noted that Mr. Cooke mentioned many visitors would be coming to the facility, and he asked if there was any type of visitation schedule, or were people allowed to come at any time to visit their family members. Mr. Cooke responded that visitors were allowed to come at any time, and all visitors must sign in. Visitors typically come during the day, and in the early evening. He pointed out that senior citizens typically go to sleep early. Councilman Pucciarelli asked what criteria would be used to determine when residency would terminate, or when a senior must leave the facility because s/he is no longer capable of assisted living, but requires more care. Mr. Cooke answered that there are two specific elements that determine such decisions. The first would be a medical condition that the staff at Kensington is unable to handle, which would typically require a doctor’s constant attention. Kensington does have visiting doctors, as well as 24-hour nurses, so they can handle a wide variety of medical problems typically found in senior citizens. However, sometimes senior citizens must be hospitalized, and they often do return to Kensington facilities after they are discharged. Finally, Councilman Pucciarelli asked if residents would be permitted to have their own cars. Mr. Cooke answered that they can, but they typically do not, because seniors living in Kensington facilities usually do not drive. Mr. Cooke noted that there are certain circumstances in which seniors are permitted to have cars, such as when an elderly couple, one of whom is still rather active and can drive, resides in one of the facilities. Usually, the active partner cannot care for his/her spouse, and wants to live in a facility like Kensington so that the spouse can receive the care that is needed. He added that in the White Plains facility, there is probably only one car that is owned by one of the residents. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that Mr. Cooke mentioned several times that the Kensington facility would provide residency for seniors in Ridgewood, and asked if preference would be given to Ridgewood residents to move into the facility. Mr. Cooke answered that he did not think they would be allowed to discriminate, but statistically, his company found that people who come to Kensington usually come for reasons of convenience, and typically, when reviewing the occupancy demographics, residents typically come from within a three-mile radius. Finally, Councilman Pucciarelli commented that Mr. Cooke mentioned 130 parking spaces for use by the Village in the parking garage, and he asked how many more spaces the Village would be getting for public use in addition to what is already available in the existing parking lots. Mr. Cooke answered that the total was 135. Although the garage will be much larger than that, 89 spaces already exist there, and the spaces that will be used for the facility’s needs and for the retail needs cannot be included. The Village would own and operate the entire garage, and Kensington guests and retail users would park in the garage and pay the rates set by the Village. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the 135 spaces would be exempt from use by Kensington guests and retail users. Mr. Cooke noted that it would be more efficient to keep the spaces undesignated to avoid vacant spaces that are reserved, but this scenario can be negotiated.
Councilman Sedon asked what the density of units per acre would be for this project. Mr. Cooke explained that the redevelopment area is approximately 1.25 acres, and Kensington proposes 98 units in its facility. Under current regulations, assisted living facilities are not limited on a per-acre basis. Councilman Sedon asked if Mr. Cooke had any idea of the average number of ambulance trips that would be needed by the facility, whether on a daily or weekly basis. Mr. Cooke said he could provide information about that, but he pointed out that if those residents were scattered throughout the community, the ambulances might have to travel much farther to reach seniors in need. In addition, Kensington staff act as first responders, and they are able to decrease the number of ambulance calls that are required. Regarding the architecture, Councilman Sedon asked if there are any specific buildings in the CBD that were considered as models for the facility. Mr. Cooke answered that there are, and they are listed in the proposal. Councilman Sedon asked what the height of the building would be, and Mr. Cooke answered that it would be 50-60 feet high. Councilman Sedon asked if Kensington currently owns the Town Garage property, and Mr. Cooke responded that they currently have it under contract. Finally, Councilman Sedon noted that Mr. Cooke referred to green space, and he asked how many square feet would be given per resident. Mr. Cooke answered that the second floor would have a garden, which would be approximately 3,000 square feet.
Councilwoman Knudsen noted that Mr. Cooke referred to 18,000 visitors per year, and she asked which facility received that many visitors. Mr. Cooke stated that it was at the White Plains facility. Councilwoman Knudsen commented that she would think that Kensington tracks such statistics as peak hours of visitation, and the times when visitors were fewest, and she asked what the peak visitation hours are. Mr. Cooke answered that it is usually during the middle of the day, approximately 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. Councilwoman Knudsen asked about the weekends, and Mr. Cooke responded that they seem to be more spread out as far as visitation is concerned. He added that they do not research the statistics, because it has no impact on parking, and there are approximately 10 fewer staff members in the building on weekends. Visiting seems to be spread out over a longer period of time on the weekends than during the week.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if the garage space that was being discussed would be accommodating Kensington staff as well as visitors to the facility, which Mr. Cooke confirmed. He also pointed out that some of the parking for the facility will be contained in that building, but that Kensington staff and visitors would also be using the parking garage spaces. Councilwoman Knudsen stated that it would seem that the Village would not see a net gain of 135 spaces, if Kensington would be utilizing the spaces for its staff and visitors. Mr. Cooke corrected her by saying that the needs of the Kensington facility were calculated and factored into the projections, based upon national standards for assisted-living as well as Kensington’s experience in the field. The nationwide standard seems to be allowing one half of a parking space per unit for staff and for visitors. Councilwoman Knudsen asked what the total capacity of the proposed parking garage would be, and Mr. Cooke answered that the total projected capacity is approximately 300 spaces. Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that approximately 224 spaces would be dedicated to use by Ridgewood, and she asked if that was correct. Mr. Cooke responded that an analysis was done in which the total number of garage spaces was taken, and the number of spaces needed for the facility’s use as well as the number of spaces required for retail needs were subtracted, which led to the final number. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the net gain to the Village is 135 spaces, because 89 parking spaces currently exist there, and they would still be available once the garage is built. Councilwoman Knudsen asked how many staff members would be working in the facility, and how many visitors are anticipated to come to the facility each day, all of whom would be using the parking spaces. Mr. Cooke explained the full analysis as follows: there will be 307 parking spaces in the garage, 29 of which will be set aside for Linwall, because that is what they currently have, which leaves 278 public parking spaces available. Approximately 15 spaces would be set aside (undesignated) for retail use, and Kensington would require 15 spaces in the garage (in addition to the five spaces that will be available within the Kensington facility), for a total of 30 spaces. Visitors to the Kensington facility would have 39 non-designated spaces for their use in the garage. Mr. Cooke stated that there are 10 spaces within the Kensington building, for a total of 49 spaces for Kensington use. That leaves 224 full-time non-allocated public parking spaces available, and after subtracting the 89 spaces currently available, that leaves a net gain of 135 spaces for the Village. Finally, Councilwoman Knudsen noted that Mr. Cooke mentioned an elderly couple living in one of the units, and she wondered if some of the units would be one- or two-bedroom apartments, or studio apartments, or some other arrangement. Mr. Cooke answered that they are referred to as sleeping units, because the residents sleep there. Kensington facilities have a high ratio of public spaces, and the goal is to encourage residents to come out of their units into the public spaces for socialization. However, there are units that have two bedrooms, and the maximum capacity within any unit would be two individuals.
Councilwoman Hauck pointed out that, as a member of the team, she did not have any questions. However, she pointed out that one thing that would have been helpful in the presentation was to have a demonstration of the ground floor retail space and what it would look like, because she thought it was one of the nicer things that Kensington was offering to the Village. Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that there will be four different public spaces that everyone could visit: the café; the art gallery; the hair salon; and the physical therapy area. She asked if anyone would be allowed to sign up for physical therapy classes, which Mr. Cooke confirmed. He added that the physical therapy area will not front on Franklin Avenue, but it will be open to the public. Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the lobby area seems to be a very welcoming space, and looks very comfortable. She added that the goals of this redevelopment zone were to increase parking for the Village, as well as to reinforce retail and pedestrian activity in town and improve the appearance of the Village. Councilwoman Hauck believes Mr. Cooke’s proposal addresses all of those components. She noted that only certain issues could be addressed at this meeting, but as the discussions move forward, the discussions would delve deeper into other issues that need to be addressed, such as the cost to the Village; remediation; property acquisition; as well as financial and other issues that will need to be discussed.
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the team asked both presenters to refrain from discussing the financial aspects of their proposals, although the team does have some idea of the financial requirements. Part of the negotiations for the redevelopment zone is that the financial negotiations will be independent.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Mr. Cooke for his presentation, noting that it was the second one he made to the Village Council. He likes the comparison to White Plains, because that is a community that is comparable to Ridgewood. Mayor Aronsohn asked how many units are in the White Plains facility, and Mr. Cooke responded that there are 87. Mayor Aronsohn asked if it is similar to the one proposed for Ridgewood, with retail space on the first floor, a parking garage, and any of the other amenities proposed for Ridgewood. He wondered if it would be useful for any of the Ridgewood residents or Councilmembers to visit that facility to get an idea of what Mr. Cooke is talking about. Mr. Cooke said it is very similar, and it could be very helpful for anyone who wants to get an idea of the proposed facility to visit the one in White Plains. He added that he is most eager for people from Ridgewood to meet the staff there. The White Plains facility has underground parking, but there are no outside retail facilities there, because the location does not lend itself to that. Mr. Cooke noted that the project in Falls Church, Virginia, will include a café and an art gallery that will be run by a local art association. The facility in Sierra Madre includes a physical therapy facility that is open to the public. All of the four projects mentioned by Mr. Cooke are in downtown areas, and are located on major thoroughfares.
Councilman Pucciarelli asked a question about the 3,000 square-foot green space mentioned by Mr. Cooke. He noted that Mr. Cooke said it would be on the second floor, and he asked if it would be outdoors, which Mr. Cooke confirmed. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if it would be on the roof of the garage, or some similar location. Mr. Cooke responded that it would be on the roof of the first floor, and he provided a picture of a similar garden in another facility.
B. Langan Development
Joseph Langan, of Langan Development, said he is a builder and developer based in Bergen County. Tom Tarvin, an associate at Mr. Langan’s firm, was responsible for the redevelopment of the site at Franklin Avenue and Chestnut Street approximately seven years ago. Mr. Langan also introduced his architects, Ken Schier and Keith Lesser, who would be walking the Councilmembers through the proposal.
Mr. Schier is a Ridgewood resident who is also an architect and professional planner. He works with Mr. Lesser at S & L Architectural Studio in Hackensack. As a Ridgewood resident for many years, Mr. Schier said he was familiar with the proposal to redevelop the property for some time. He and Mr. Lesser have come up with a parking garage project, which included an L-shaped surround in front of the garage to emulate the retail development that currently exists in Ridgewood. Mr. Schier noted that the buildings in Ridgewood were built over a period of time, as the landowners chose, so they tried to have the design of their building follow the lines of existing development in the CBD to give the appearance of multiple separate properties. The entrance to the parking facility is located on North Walnut Street, due to traffic conditions on Franklin Avenue. North Walnut Street is a much less-traversed road when compared to Franklin Avenue, and consequently would be a better location for the entrance. The proposed parking garage uses a semi-automatic system, in which machines take the car to a parking location. However, there are also some self-park spaces available in their proposal. The semi-automatic parking system would allow a maximum of 627 cars, while the self-parking system with no machinery would allow a maximum of 342 cars. This is in addition to the existing 89 parking spaces at that location. As stated in the RFP, it would provide at least 100 additional spaces to the Village, with an additional 41 spaces above that to allow for any spaces that might be lost to Linwall, the owner of the storefront properties on Oak Street. This proposal also does not affect any of Linwall’s property. There is adequate access at the back of the property for Linwall’s needs. Mr. Schier noted that the team members would know that there was a slight alteration to the design to provide for a helix-type ramp, as opposed to a pitched parking surface. It was decided that having level parking decks would be more cost-effective, and would better facilitate the semi-automatic lifts.
Mr. Schier pointed out that on the first floor of the building, there is a proposed 22,800 square feet of new retail or tenant space, in addition to building services, which include the lobby, fitness center, and trash removal/delivery facilities. It is based on having a large anchor tenant, facing the corner of Franklin Avenue and North Walnut Street. The other 9,000 square feet is broken up into three units with 3,000 square feet each, which can be changed, if desired.
Above the ground floor level, there are two levels of duplex units proposed. The maximum density allowed is 12 units per acre, and the entire project is 1.1 acres. The total number of units included is 13 luxury, high-end condominiums. They will have three bedrooms and 2.5-3 bathrooms. The majority of the site is the parking garage, but the L-shaped strip at the perimeters facing North Walnut Street and Franklin Avenue are the housing units. The first floor of each unit will include the living room, dining room, kitchen, and other common areas, and the bedrooms and bathrooms would be located on the second floor of each unit. The first floor of each unit would have 1,375 square feet, and the upper floor would have 1,650 square feet.
Mr. Schier stated that they tried to develop their proposal in a way that was responsive to the CBD’s need for additional retail space, as well as a building design that fits in with the existing architecture, while also complementing it. Residents who purchase condominiums will be making an investment in the building, and they will be spending money in the CBD. It also provides the required parking mentioned in the RFP, as well as that provided by ordinance, which is 2.1 cars per three-bedroom unit.
Councilman Pucciarelli thanked Mr. Schier for his presentation. He noted that, based on the description of the residential units given by Mr. Schier, they will only be able to have windows on the front of the building, except for the four corner units. Mr. Schier confirmed this. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if there would be a separate lobby to enter the residences, which Mr. Schier also confirmed. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the lobby would have any amenities, or would it be simply an elevator bank. Mr. Schier responded that the plan allows nearly 3,000 square feet for the first floor lobby/building services area. In addition to that, the top floor provides nearly 3,000 square feet for additional amenity space, such as a pub room, billiard room, and perhaps a rooftop alfresco dining area. Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the number of incremental parking spaces is 100. Mr. Schier pointed out that the 89 spaces that presently exist on-site will be retained, and in addition, there will be 100 more spaces available to the Village, plus an additional 41 spaces, for a total of 230 spaces. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the 41 spaces would be adequate for the residential and retail units. Mr. Schier answered that 118 spaces are included for residential and retail use, in addition to the 230 spaces previously mentioned. Mr. Schier also pointed out that these estimates are based on non-automated parking systems, although his plan calls for the use of a semi-automated parking system. If the semi-automated parking system is used, it would allow for a maximum of 627 cars. Finally, Councilman Pucciarelli asked how many curb cuts would be necessary on North Walnut Street for all of the parking. Mr. Schier pointed out that one curb cut would be necessary on Franklin Avenue to allow Linwall access to their property, and two curb cuts would be made on North Walnut Street, one being for the garage, and the other for the service driveway behind Hillmann Electric.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked for clarification that the 41 spaces specifically mentioned by Mr. Schier are for use by Linwall, which he confirmed. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if the semi-automated parking system were implemented, would all of those extra parking spaces be allocated to Ridgewood. Mr. Schier explained that all of those spaces would be available to the general public, and would not necessarily be allocated to Ridgewood, but anyone patronizing the businesses in the CBD could use the spaces.
Councilman Sedon asked how reliable a semi-automated parking system would be. He is concerned that if the system were to malfunction, people would not be able to get their cars. Mr. Schier explained that there would be a maintenance contract on the parking system, similar to those carried by office buildings to maintain their elevators. Mr. Allaberti of Langan Development pointed out that one of the advantages of semi-automated parking systems is that they are relatively independent systems. A fully-automated parking system means that if one car is locked in, all of the cars are locked in. With a semi-automated system, each space is independent of the others, allowing multiple cars to be retrieved at once. Another advantage is that semi-automated systems are not fixed to the real estate, so that if the density becomes too great and creates issues with traffic flow, the units can be deconstructed and reconstructed on another Village-owned parking lot. They can also be galvanized for outdoor use. It gives greater flexibility in how they are operated.
Councilwoman Hauck said she had already seen the presentation, and she thinks that everyone would probably want one of these condominium units. She asked about the retail space, and what the ceiling height would be on the ground floor. Mr. Schier responded that the ceilings would be 12 feet high. It is hoped that it would draw a national “anchor” store to that space.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked what the height of the proposed building would be, specifically the habitable space. Mr. Schier responded that the proposed building would be 60 feet high. Councilwoman Knudsen asked what the height of the habitable spaces would be. Mr. Schier answered that it would be 10 feet floor to floor, and the two-story spaces would be approximately 19 feet tall.
Mayor Aronsohn asked what ideas, if any, Langan Development has with respect to the Town Garage. Mr. Langan answered that they had not yet progressed that far, and he has not yet had any conversations with the owner of that property. Mayor Aronsohn asked if Langan Development had constructed any similar structures in another location. Mr. Langan responded that this particular project was unique, although he recently finished a 50-unit structure with over 19,000 square feet of retail space in Elmwood Park, but it is not comparable to what is being proposed for Ridgewood. Mayor Aronsohn asked if it is a residential building, and Mr. Langan answered that it is comprised of rental apartments, and is the second phase of a mixed-use project. The first phase consisted of 108 units, and this is the second phase. He added that he has never taken on any project like the one in Ridgewood, and he has never participated in any project that included automated parking of any kind. Mr. Langan believes this is the right solution to maximize the parking for Ridgewood.
Mr. Schier compared this project to a similar one in Long Branch, New Jersey, where there is retail space with residential units above, and a parking garage concealed in the back. However, Ridgewood’s project is more of a parking garage project than a residential project.
Councilwoman Hauck asked how it would feel to live so close to a parking garage, and what kind of sound attenuation or vibration would be attributable to that. Mr. Tarvin responded that he imagines it would be similar to living near an office building with an attached parking deck, and he mentioned workers at Continental Plaza, which has a multi-story parking deck attached to it, who do not hear any noises from the parking garage. Mr. Schier pointed out that the Building Code addresses sound transmission coefficients, which regulates sounds from unit to unit, as well as from the garage. He also mentioned that another required element is a minimum two-hour fire separation wall between the garage and the residential units, which requires the use of concrete blocks to achieve that separation. Those concrete blocks will also help with sound attenuation and vibration. Mr. Schier added that residents will hear more noise from the street through the windows than they will from the parking garage. Mr. Schier noted that the automated parking system is extremely quiet. He recalled that one of the team meetings when his group was making a presentation, it was mentioned that the decibel level of the automated parking system is nearly the same as having a normal conversation.
Councilman Pucciarelli commented that there was no rendering provided of the elevation of the back of the building, which would be all parking garage, and which might be relevant due to the fact that there will be a substantial space between the proposed building and any buildings on Chestnut Street. He asked Mr. Schier if such renderings could be provided at some point, which Mr. Schier agreed to do.
7. DISCUSSION
a. Budget:
1.) Award Contract – School Bus Transportation Services
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is an award of a contract to Durham School Services in Hawthorne for the 2015 summer day camp. Two bids were received, and the lowest bidder is being recommended. The Village has a positive history with this vendor, and she reminded everyone that the daily transportation costs are recouped through the fees charged. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
2.) Budget Reserve Transfers
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is the last budget reserve transfer, all of which have been done to even out the budgets among the various departments. This one is for approximately $17,000 to be transferred among several line items. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
3.) Revised Construction Code Fee Changes
Thomas Yotka, Director of the Building Department, explained the changes that were made since he addressed the Councilmembers at the previous meeting. Mr. Yotka explained that an important part of the proposed fee schedule was inadvertently left out, under the electrical sub-code fees. This will now include fees for solar panel systems.
Councilman Pucciarelli commented that there are a lot of fees contained in the Construction Code, and he thanked Mr. Yotka for his efforts in bringing the fees in line with market trends. He asked if the fees could be reviewed on a regular basis so they do not get “stale” again. Mr. Yotka pointed out that the Village is mandated to review these fees every two years to keep them in line and to fix deficiencies as soon as they are identified.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked what other communities’ fees had been reviewed for comparison. Mr. Yotka answered that he researched the fees in Parsippany, Madison, Westfield, Summit, and the State construction fee documents for comparison purposes. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if any communities closer to Ridgewood had been researched for this, and Mr. Yotka answered that he researched the fees in Glen Rock.
The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
4.) Wayfinding Signs in the Central Business District
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this resolution will memorialize the decisions made regarding the wayfinding signs, based on the joint efforts of the Engineering Department staff and the Chamber of Commerce. It should be noted that four signs will be put on PSE&G poles, while eight signs will be installed on non-PSE&G poles. The Village will install any poles that are necessary, and the Chamber of Commerce will purchase the poles. A $25 fee will be paid to the Village per plaque that is ordered, and if it is necessary to remove or change any plaques, another $25 fee will have to be paid for each one. This also authorizes the Village Manager to designate subsequent locations. Four poles will be installed to start, although six poles have been requested.
Councilwoman Knudsen offered some clarification on some of the prices quoted by Mr. Vagianos in the previous discussion. Each business will pay $187 per sign, and the bracket will cost an additional $57. One or two brackets are required for each sign. The maintenance fee will be $75 annually for members of the Chamber of Commerce, and businesses that are not members of the Chamber of Commerce will pay $95 annually.
The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
5.) Approve 2015 Emergency Temporary Budget Appropriations
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is an annual temporary budget appropriation to allow the Village government to work through the time that the 2015 budget is approved. The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
b. Policy:
1.) Amendment to Residency Requirement Ordinance
Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is in response to feedback received from a prior discussion regarding residency requirements for civil servants in the Village. All competitive and non-competitive classified titles, with the exception of the Police and Fire Departments, will be open to anyone who lives in the State of New Jersey, without a Ridgewood residency preference. For Police and Fire Department jobs, the requirement that they be Ridgewood residents will continue.
Ms. Mailander explained that when the new ordinance was originally adopted in August 2014, it was stated that the first tier of hiring would be open to Bergen County residents, instead of Ridgewood residents. The next tier was open to residents of contiguous Counties, and the final tier was State residents. Ms. Mailander sent the adopted ordinance to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission to have the changes reflected in their documents, and she was told that the Village must have a Ridgewood resident preference in order to adopt a tiered hiring system. After discussing it with Ms. Sonenfeld and Sharyn Matthews of Human Resources, it was noted that there are times when Ridgewood residents score below non-residents on tests or educational experience, yet they ranked higher in the hiring preferences simply because they were Ridgewood residents. Therefore, in order to get the best-qualified applicants based on testing or educational experience, have a more diverse workforce, and align hiring of non-competitive titles, such as entry-level titles that do not require testing, this amendment will allow the Village to hire the best-qualified candidate, regardless of residency. It will also help bring the Village’s actions in the past 25 years into compliance with what is written in the ordinance. Mayor Aronsohn asked Ms. Mailander to clarify what is meant by residency. Ms. Mailander explained that “residency” is from the time of application to the time of hire. After being hired, a new Village employee could ostensibly move out of Ridgewood the next day. Ms. Mailander knew of several instances in which that actually happened.
Councilman Sedon apologized to Ridgewood residents because he said that he voted in favor of doing away with the residency requirement originally, but after further review, he thought that was a mistake. He stated that hiring people from within the Village puts them ahead on the learning curve as far as knowing the town in which they work is concerned, which cannot be measured on a test. Second, Councilman Sedon believes that opening up jobs to anyone living in New Jersey invites less inspection of some of the hiring practices in the Village, and might lead to more questionable hiring practices, such as hiring too many friends and family members of certain Village employees, which is something that should be avoided. It also seems that the Village was breaking its own law for the past 25 years, and in order to rectify the situation, the law is being changed, not the practice.
Mayor Aronsohn asked for clarification on the second point made by Councilman Sedon, with respect to hiring friends and family members of Village employees. Councilman Sedon pointed out that if no one is really evaluating or reviewing hiring practices, it would be feasible that someone could just hire a friend or family member from another town or somewhere else in New Jersey for any position in the Village. Councilman Sedon also noted that the top-tier was originally reserved for Ridgewood veterans, and Ridgewood residents were in the second-tier. Preference is given to Ridgewood residents for such things as parking, and Councilman Sedon does not understand why preference would not be given to Ridgewood residents in hiring, as well. Ms. Mailander pointed out that with any competitive title, a list is generated. It is still possible that Ridgewood residents could be at the top of that list, whether by testing or through educational experience, based on the scoring method used by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, even if there is no resident preference. Regarding preference shown to Ridgewood veterans, Ms. Mailander assured Councilman Sedon that such preference will still be shown, and would also include all veterans from the State of New Jersey. She also noted that according to New Jersey Civil Service Commission regulations, a veteran cannot be bypassed, unless s/he allows it.
Councilwoman Hauck said she likes the idea of showing preference to Ridgewood residents for jobs in the Village, but she does not believe that non-competitive positions should be limited to Ridgewood residents. Making the job available to all State residents still allows for the possibility of a Ridgewood resident getting the job, while also giving a deeper, more qualified, and more diverse pool of applicants. Councilwoman Hauck does not like the insinuation that any Village employee would hire friends and/or family and make such bad decisions, and she estimated that probably as much as 75% of all Village employees do not live in Ridgewood. She also likes having the ability to look from within Ridgewood, as well as from other communities.
Councilman Pucciarelli noted that Ms. Matthews was recently hired as the Human Resources person, who comes from West Milford, New Jersey. Ms. Matthews brings a different perspective, and is eminently qualified, and Councilman Pucciarelli does not understand how someone living in Ridgewood would be more adept at the job simply because s/he lives in Ridgewood. Second, Councilman Pucciarelli is not sure about the relevance of the issue of hiring friends and family, because such activities could just as easily be done by someone who lives in Ridgewood. In fact, it could be argued that someone who lives in Ridgewood is more likely to engage in those types of activities. Finally, regarding the statement that the Village has ostensibly been breaking the law for the past 25 years, Councilman Pucciarelli said that is not the majority view of the Village Council, because the Village Council has not been breaking the law for 25 years. He is also not sure how that has any relevance to the residency requirement. For him, serving the interests of the people of Ridgewood means getting good government, which is not a hiring program for people who live in Ridgewood. Good government means hiring the most qualified people for the job, not giving an advantage to someone due to his/her relationship to another employee, or not giving an advantage to someone because s/he happens to live in Ridgewood. In fact, Councilman Pucciarelli is not sure what the boundaries of Ridgewood have to do with anyone’s ability to do his/her job.
Councilman Sedon noted that the original ordinance stated that the residents must be qualified. Next, in the original memo, it stated that the ordinance was being changed to make it consistent with the way hiring is done. Councilman Sedon asked if hiring practices were not consistent with any ordinance, has the Village been, in fact, breaking the law. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that if there were five candidates for particular job, all of whom were equally qualified, the resident of Ridgewood should not automatically get a preference for that job.
Ms. Mailander explained that with respect to non-competitive titles, the best candidates are hired. It was not realized that the non-competitive titles were considered classified titles, for which preference was supposed to be shown to Ridgewood residents/Bergen County residents/contiguous County residents. Therefore, non-competitive jobs were filled based on who the best candidate was for the position. Sometimes it was a Ridgewood resident, and sometimes it was not. The New Jersey Civil Service Commission made Ms. Mailander aware that both competitive and non-competitive titles are classified, and that the Village must therefore follow the regulations governing such titles. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that Civil Service regulations are very confusing, and are very hard to understand. Mr. Rogers added that at times, certain hires may have been inconsistent with the ordinance, which does not necessarily make those hires illegal.
Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned that there was an item on the Closed Session agenda last week, and she was strongly advised to recuse herself due to the fact that her sons are on a Police Department non-certified list. The item was last on the agenda, so that Councilwoman Knudsen could go home and not have to be involved in the discussion, which is what she did. The following day, due to the diligence of Councilman Sedon, Councilwoman Knudsen was made aware that there was no discussion pertaining to anything regarding the Police or Fire Department, and it was in fact inappropriate to strongly advise her to recuse herself. Councilman Sedon thought it was important to Councilwoman Knudsen because she had fought diligently on behalf of Ridgewood residents to include a residency requirement wherever possible. When reading the minutes of the Closed Session meeting, Councilwoman Knudsen thought they might be a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act because nothing was discussed that was a personnel matter specific to any person. It was a policy discussion, and as such was an Open Public Meetings Act issue. Councilwoman Knudsen emailed the other Councilmembers to ask them to put the matter on the Work Session agenda, because it does not fall within any legal exceptions to the Open Public Meetings Act. Several days later, Councilwoman Knudsen received a response quoting the exception that allowed the matter to be heard in Closed Session. After some research, Councilwoman Knudsen discovered an operative word that had been omitted from the New Jersey Statute, which was the word “specific”. The matter had to be specific to certain personnel to be discussed in Closed Session. At that time, Councilwoman Knudsen requested all the information available from the State on the matter from Ms. Mailander. Ms. Mailander was notified by the State on December 29, 2014, that this was in violation of the newly-adopted ordinance from August 2014.
Prior to that time, Councilwoman Knudsen had asked for a list of all the job titles and their classifications, as well as information as to whether they were competitive or non-competitive so that she could better understand the situation and Civil Service regulations. Councilwoman Knudsen believes that Ridgewood residents pay taxes in Ridgewood, funding Village jobs, as well as the Village Council. She pointed out that Ms. Mailander’s position as Village Clerk is a Statutory title, which is not covered by this ordinance. However, a person holding the title of Keyboarding Clerk 2 could be a Ridgewood resident, which Ms. Mailander confirmed as a competitive title, and the residency requirement would cover that position. Ms. Mailander pointed out that it would depend on whether a person was being hired at that title, or if it was a promotion from within. When promoting, residency does not apply. Councilwoman Knudsen said she did not want to talk about promotions, but only concentrate on new hires. Ms. Mailander noted that usually, new hires are done at the non-competitive level, such as Keyboarding Clerk 1. Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out some other positions that are non-competitive that could go to Ridgewood residents. She believes that bona fide Ridgewood residents deserve the first shot at any jobs that are available. Councilwoman Knudsen believes Ridgewood residents deserve better from the Councilmembers because they elected the Councilmembers, the Councilmembers represent them, and they deserve the first opportunity at these types of jobs. Finally, Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that many municipalities have residency requirements, and when Ridgewood removes such requirements, it puts Ridgewood residents at a significant disadvantage, because they are not only not being given first consideration in Ridgewood, but they are also not being given first consideration in other towns. If Ridgewood has jobs available, and Ridgewood residents need jobs, Councilwoman Knudsen believes Ridgewood residents should be given first consideration for those jobs.
Mr. Rogers said it is unfortunate that he has to comment on this, because many facts were left out of the situation. At the meeting last Wednesday, Mr. Rogers was advised that there was a matter scheduled for Closed Session, and there was concern about whether Councilwoman Knudsen should recuse herself. The matter had to do with residency requirements. Mr. Rogers stated that it was his understanding that the discussion would be about terms and conditions of hiring, and the contracts that were involved with respect to Village employees across the board. After the Work Session meeting, Mr. Rogers approached Councilwoman Knudsen to tell her that there was a concern, and that she might have to recuse herself from the matter because the discussion was going to be about residency requirements as a condition of hiring employees. Councilwoman Knudsen questioned it, and Mr. Rogers said they could discuss it before a decision was made. Before the agenda item discussion began, Mr. Rogers asked about the concern regarding Councilwoman Knudsen’s involvement in the discussion. Mr. Rogers was led to believe that the discussion could lead to conversations about contractual negotiations, as well as discussion about the residency requirements for everyone. Based on that information, Mr. Rogers suggested that Councilwoman Knudsen should recuse herself from that part of the agenda. When the discussion at Closed Session was over, Mr. Rogers immediately told Ms. Mailander and Ms. Sonenfeld that Councilwoman Knudsen should not have been asked to leave. As a result, Mr. Rogers made a suggestion to Mayor Aronsohn that whenever there is a concern about a Councilmember being involved in a discussion that may warrant his/her recusal or some type of conflict of interest, some lead time is necessary. Mr. Rogers believed it was unfair to approach Councilwoman Knudsen between sessions to inform her that she might need to recuse herself. The second idea Mr. Rogers had was to prepare a memo for everyone with respect to conflicts of interest, and to establish a protocol for Councilmembers to recuse themselves.
Councilwoman Knudsen responded that none of this would have happened if the Village Council had not been in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act in the first place, because the item never fell within the nine exemptions listed in the Civil Service regulations. Mayor Aronsohn asked what the basis for recusal is. Councilwoman Knudsen responded that she did not want to discuss the basis for recusal, because she is keenly aware of the reasons for which she would have to recuse herself. Her point is that the discussion should have been discussed during the Work Session meeting, and the Closed Session discussion was a clear, although unwitting, violation of the Open Public Meetings Act.
Ms. Mailander stated that her understanding is that such discussions can be held during Public meetings or during Closed Sessions, and the Councilmembers chose to discuss it during Closed Session. Mr. Rogers stated that he was not aware of the nature of the discussion, but he understood that it had to do with residency requirements, and he also understood that there were on-going contract negotiations, and the discussion could potentially lead to aspects of those contract negotiations, which would fall under the exceptions alluded to by Councilwoman Knudsen. Mr. Rogers pointed out that anything discussed by the Village Council can be discussed in open sessions, but the law allows exceptions for the Councilmembers to decide whether such discussions should be held during Closed Sessions. As far as Mr. Rogers is concerned, the discussion could have gone that way, and he chose to err on the side of caution. Had he known more specifically what the discussion would be ahead of time, Mr. Rogers would not have suggested that Councilwoman Knudsen recuse herself. Ms. Sonenfeld added that she thought that part of the idea behind the residency requirement was keeping it intact for Police and Fire Department personnel. No one had any idea where the conversation would lead, and because Councilwoman Knudsen has sons in the Police and Fire Departments, it could have affected her ability to participate in the discussion. Ms. Sonenfeld believes it was an honest oversight.
Mayor Aronsohn asked Mr. Rogers if he agreed with Ms. Mailander’s statement that the Councilmembers have the right to decide whether to discuss an issue during a Public meeting or in Closed Session, which Mr. Rogers confirmed. However, the way the determination is made is very fact-specific and goes to the nature of the discussions, and what they are about. If, as Mr. Rogers heard at the time, the discussion would touch on contract negotiations, and specific terms and conditions of hiring, then discussing it during Closed Session was the correct decision. However, the discussion that actually occurred in Closed Session did not deal with any of that, and could have been held during the Public portion of the meeting.
Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that anyone who read the letter dated December 29, 2014, which included background information for Ms. Mailander, could see that it clearly states “… other than Police and Fire”. The letter is very clear, and there was no confusion about it. Anyone who read the letter would have understood that it was not necessary for Councilwoman Knudsen to recuse herself. She is very grateful to Councilman Sedon for calling her attention to this.
Councilman Sedon thanked Councilwoman Knudsen, because he said it was her astuteness that brought the matter into the Work Session. Councilman Sedon had suggested putting it back into Closed Session, but as a result of Councilwoman Knudsen’s thorough investigation, it was not necessary to have it during Closed Session. In addition, the last time the ordinance was changed, Councilman Sedon recalled there was agreement across the board that nobody would change the residency requirements for Police and Fire.
Councilman Pucciarelli recalled that at the beginning of the meeting there was discussion about whether Councilwoman Knudsen should recuse herself, but he did not pay that much attention to it. Councilman Pucciarelli said he would repeat his opinion that a residency requirement should not be required for hiring civilian positions.
Councilwoman Knudsen reiterated her belief that the Village should be supporting its residents, and when they need jobs, the Village should make every effort to hire them.
Mayor Aronsohn noted that, similar to the discussion held last summer, the Village always tries to put residents first, although the first responsibility should always be to hire the best people for the job. He agrees with the exception for public safety positions. However, Mayor Aronsohn believes that “residency requirement” is something of a misnomer, because the law only requires residency at the time of application through the time of hire, after which time the “resident” can move out of Ridgewood. Mayor Aronsohn does not consider that to be a residency requirement, especially when compared to someone who grew up in Ridgewood, or lived in the Village for a long time. Mayor Aronsohn said he questioned the State defining residency that way, and Ms. Mailander noted that the definition came from the Village, because the State does not define residency at all. Councilman Pucciarelli said he does not see any logic behind residency requirements, and how it can be linked to employment. Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that having Ridgewood residents in emergency personnel positions could be helpful, because if there was an emergency, they know the community, and they can respond more quickly. Councilman Pucciarelli does not see the sense in hiring people based on residency, and Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that with all other things being equal, why would the Village not want to give a Ridgewood resident the opportunity to have a job. Councilman Pucciarelli was adamant that hiring the best candidate is the most important thing, no matter where the candidate happens to live.
Councilwoman Hauck stated that what may or may not have transpired at the previous meeting was only done in the interest of doing the right thing, and she does not believe there should be any accusations about government or ill will. In the current situation, in which a Councilmember has a potential conflict of interest due to her children who were on the wait list for the Police Department, that protocol must be examined very closely in terms of how recusals should be handled. Councilwoman Hauck suggested that Councilwoman Knudsen could have understood the parameters within which the Councilmembers were working. It is also important for the councilmembers to know when it would be necessary for Councilwoman Knudsen to recuse herself, all of which should be handled with decency, respect, and fairness. Councilwoman Hauck does not believe anything was done intentionally, and she has a sense that Councilwoman Knudsen believes she was intentionally left out of the discussion in order to change a vote.
Councilwoman Knudsen said she never indicated that she was angry, nor did she blame anyone for anything. She simply made the point that she was strongly advised to do something that in fact turned out to be unnecessary, and would not have happened if anyone had read the letter. Councilwoman Knudsen was not making any accusations, she was simply stating facts. It does not change the way she would have voted, because her feelings have not changed since July.
Councilman Pucciarelli said he was now confused about what the question was, whether it was about residency requirements, or something to do with the Open Public Meetings Act. Mayor Aronsohn responded that the question is about the residency requirement, but it relates to something that happened last week, which is why Councilwoman Knudsen raised the issue.
Ms. Sonenfeld agreed with the view that Ridgewood residents deserve the best people in the jobs, and forcing a residency requirement where none previously existed would tie her hands in hiring. That is why, as Village Manager, she strongly recommended that a residency requirement should not exist for anything except Police or Fire Department personnel.
Mayor Aronsohn asked if there were any more comments, and Councilman Pucciarelli added that it was about the residency requirement. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if everyone was satisfied that the issue has been adequately discussed in public. Councilwoman Knudsen took issue with Councilman Pucciarelli’s question, saying that she felt like she was being mocked, and she feels very strongly about the issue. Councilman Pucciarelli stated that it was not intended in any way other than to say that everyone has had his/her say on the subject.
Ms. Mailander said her understanding is that three of the Councilmembers agree to move forward with going to the State for all employment other than Police and Fire, and to put this ordinance on the agenda for next week. Councilwoman Knudsen asked for an inventory of personnel who could have been affected by the residency requirement.
The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
c. Operations:
1.) Removed from Agenda
2.) Information on Recusal by Council Members on Various Topics, Discussions, and Votes
Mr. Rogers stated that he was not sure if the Councilmembers still want to discuss this. He pointed out that when recusals are discussed, it is also necessary to talk about conflict of interest. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that Mr. Rogers could provide legal background and some information with regard to conflicts of interest, as well as the process that is accepted by other administrations, including the State, with respect to recusal. Mr. Rogers said he has been working on a memo which will be ready for the Councilmembers in a few days. Conflicts of interest always deal with fact-specific issues and requests for recusal or consideration of recusal, and Mr. Rogers stated that it might be better to provide that information first. Mayor Aronsohn said that he thought it would be helpful for everyone to understand what a recusal is; why public officials recuse themselves; how to deal with them; and exactly how they are handled. Councilwoman Knudsen asked Mr. Rogers to include the Statute with the full citations covering recusals. Mr. Rogers noted that the New Jersey State Ethics Commission deals with recusals, and he could provide information from that office as an attachment to the memo he is currently drafting. Mayor Aronsohn said that would be very helpful.
The Village Council agreed to put this on the agenda for the March 11, 2015 Public Meeting.
8. REVIEW OF MARCH 11, 2015 AGENDA
Ms. Mailander announced that the Public Meeting would include the following Proclamations: Proclaim the month of March “Red Cross Month;” Proclaim the month of March “Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month;” and Proclaim the month of March “DeMolay Month”.
Two new Police Sergeants, one Police Lieutenant, and one Police Captain will be sworn in.
The ordinances to be introduced are: Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Construction Code Fee; Amend Chapter 249 – Streets and Sidewalks – Required Deposit Maintenance.; Amend Chapter 3, Article VIII, Residency Requirements
The scheduled Public Hearings include: Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Prohibited on Section of Franklin Avenue; General Capital Ordinance – Paving, Technology, and New Ambulance; Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Authorize Emergency “No Parking” Areas and Establish Penalties for Violations; Amend Chapter 249 – Streets and Sidewalks – Establish Procedures for Replacement of Sidewalk Slabs; Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Valet Loading and Unloading Zones – Oak Street; Establish Parking Regulations for Paying Parking Meters through Wireless Cellular Communication Devices; Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Paying Parking Meters through Wireless Cellular Communication Devices.
Resolutions include: Endorse Submission of Recycling Tonnage Grant; Approve Budget Reserve Transfers; Title 59 Approval – Pipe, Appurtenances, and Service Materials; Award Contract – Pipe, Appurtenances, and Service Materials; Title 59 Approval – Purchase Chevrolet Tahoe – Fire Department; Award Contract – Purchase of Chevrolet Tahoe – Fire Department; Title 59 Approval – School Bus Transportation Services; Award Contract – School Bus Transportation Services; Title 59 Approval – Polymer for Water Pollution Control Facility; Award Contract – Polymer for Water Pollution Control Facility; Authorize Change Order – SCADA System; Award Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service – Leaking Sanitary Force Main – Andover Pump Station; Approve Shared Services Agreement – Fleet Mechanical Maintenance and Repairs (Paramus); Approve Settlement Agreement – Sewer Backup – 525 Stevens Avenue; Award Contract – Purchase of New Ambulance; Award Contract under State Contract – Software for Various Departments.
9. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that work on the 2015 budget continues. A budget session was held on Saturday, February 28th, beginning at approximately 9:00 A.M. and continuing until after 4:00 P.M. The format was different from the budget sessions held in the past, because all of the various Department Directors attended the session and remained throughout. Another difference was in the budget packages submitted to the Councilmembers, which reflected 2014 accomplishments, as well as 2015 strategies and directions. This helped lead to specific discussions about budget line items, as well as other strategic discussions about general budget concerns. Ms. Sonenfeld said it was a very productive day. Councilman Pucciarelli said it was very organized, and the budget presentations were consistent in format. All of the staff members were very well-prepared. Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that the Village has had 0% tax increases for the past two years to provide deserved relief to Ridgewood residents. That is still the goal, although there is a realization of the need to invest in technology and other areas. Two more budget work sessions are scheduled. One is for Sunday, March 22nd, from 1:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. The last one is scheduled for Saturday, March 28th. There are two potential outcomes. One is that the budget can be introduced and approved on Wednesday, April 8th, with an adoption on Wednesday, May 6th; or if another session is needed, the budget will be introduced and approved on Wednesday, April 22nd, and adopted on Wednesday, May 27th, which would be similar to the schedule followed last year.
Regarding the coin theft, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she, Mayor Aronsohn, Mr. Rogers, the Bergen County Prosecutor, and Councilwoman Knudsen participated in a telephone call with the Director of the Criminal Division, and the Assistant Director of the Criminal Division of the New Jersey State Attorney General’s Office. As mentioned earlier, everyone seems to have the desire to open the case up to a wider investigation due to the increased numbers uncovered by the forensic audit. The representatives from the Attorney General’s Office recommended that the Ridgewood Police Department open up the investigation, with their support. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office were comfortable with allowing the Ridgewood Police Department to conduct the investigation, and agreed to assist in that investigation when needed.
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) met today and approved the entire amount according to the forensic audit to be paid to the Village. The actual amount is $849,341.58. That total will be decreased by the deductible, as well as by the amount already paid by Mr. Rica, leaving a balance of approximately $746,000. The check should be arriving in 14-21 days.
Regarding parking, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the Village is nearing approval of the Parkmobile contract. Once it is approved, implementation of the software will begin. The Village will continue to monitor results of these changes, listen to suggestions from constituents, and see if more tweaking is required.
On March 1st, a story appeared in The Bergen Record about coyotes in the suburbs. Apparently, the number of coyotes is growing, and they are thriving in Bergen County. Although fearful and wary of humans, they have been documented in 400 towns across 21 counties in New Jersey. A Ridgewood resident notified Ms. Sonenfeld of a coyote sighting in the area, and suggested that the Village should do more in the way of communication when there is such a sighting. Therefore, Ms. Sonenfeld asked that if someone sees a coyote, call the Health Department, who will give him/her advice as to what to do. If more than one coyote is sighted, an e-notice or reverse 911 call can be implemented. Moving on to the rat problem that was encountered last year, the coyotes can be viewed as “free rodent control”.
Ms. Sonenfeld reminded everyone that curbside garbage collection is in effect until further notice, due to the ice and snow conditions.
In her “Response to Residents” section, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that she had been receiving a lot of questions about the burglaries, which is why Chief Ward came to the meeting tonight. In addition, the incident involving the child who drowned at Graydon Pool went to mediation and was settled today for $2.1 million.
Upcoming events include Mayor Aronsohn’s office hours from 9:00 A.M.-12:00 noon on Saturday, March 7th. On the same day, BC Utilities will be doing household hazardous waste disposal at BCIA, Empire Boulevard, Moonachie, New Jersey. On Monday, March 9th, a Disability Roundtable discussion will be held from 7:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. in the Senior Lounge. The Ridgewood Public Library is hosting an author luncheon on Wednesday, March 11th. CBD forum number five will be held on Wednesday, March 18th, at Christ Church on Cottage Place to discuss parking. The next “Meet the Manager” event will be on Tuesday, March 24th, from 4:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
10. COUNCIL REPORTS
Ridgewood Public Library Board of Trustees – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she attended a meeting of the Board of Trustees in Councilman Pucciarelli’s place, although she was surprised when he showed up after she arrived at the meeting. The Library Trustees and the staff of the Public Library wrapped up another February reading month on February 26th, and they were very excited about it. The author luncheon sold out in record time, and has been on waiting list only status. Ms. Greene addressed the parking issue, and the Public Library would like the Councilmembers to review and modify the current parking situation. It is hoped that a better system can be created to benefit Public Library patrons, sports groups, and visitors to Village Hall. Councilwoman Knudsen believes that is a worthwhile study to be undertaken to more efficiently and effectively utilize the parking surrounding Village Hall and accommodate everyone in a more efficient manner.
Planning Board – Councilwoman Knudsen said that two applications were heard at the Planning Board meeting last night. One of them was the Church of God application, which will be continued to April 21st. In addition, Councilwoman Knudsen reminded everyone that on March 17th, the continuation of the Master Plan element in the downtown housing will occur, and the Planning Board members will begin their deliberations.
Ridgewood Public Library Board of Trustees – Councilman Pucciarelli stated that he appeared briefly at the meeting to greet the new Trustee, Jean Cleary, before going on to the Ridgewood Arts Council meeting.
Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli noted that this meeting took place at the same time as the Public Library Board of Trustees meeting. Among the items discussed, in addition to what was discussed in the Ridgewood News, was the need to energize the Ridgewood Arts Foundation, which is a separate entity. It is a not-for-profit corporation following the model of the Ridgewood Public Library Foundation and the Ridgewood Educational Foundation. Trustees are being sought for the Ridgewood Arts Foundation, and anyone who is interested in serving as a trustee for the fundraising arm of the Ridgewood Arts Council should inform Councilman Pucciarelli or Linda Bradley, Chairperson of the Ridgewood Arts Council.
Councilman Pucciarelli noted that he was late getting to this Village Council meeting due to his attendance at a presentation by the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation. They met on the stage of the theater at Bergen Community College where they saw some very good presentations about the role of art in revitalizing the downtown. The Mayor of Englewood discussed the revitalization of the John Harms Theater, which has now reopened as the Bergen PAC. The Mayor of Hackensack also spoke, as did Cynthia Foster, the Director of the Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. The meeting was very informative, and Councilman Pucciarelli thanked them for the ideas he and Margie Downs, a member of the Ridgewood Arts Council who also attended the meeting, could bring back to the other members.
CBD Forum – Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned again that the next CBD forum will be held on Wednesday, March 18th. The discussion regarding the Blue Laws will be placed on a separate agenda, and the meeting on March 18th will be devoted exclusively to parking. At this time, the scheduled panel members include Janet Fricke, Assistant to the Village Manager, and Mayor Aronsohn. Other speakers have been invited to attend. It will be held from 7:30 P.M.-9:30 P.M. at Christ Church.
Senior Citizens – Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that the Senior Citizens “Let’s Stay Acquainted” lunch was held on Thursday, February 26th. Councilwoman Hauck thanked Chestnut Catering for providing the food for the 80 people in attendance. Flowers were done by Nancy Bigos of the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Program Director, Deanna Schablik, to set everything up in the two rooms. The meal was held in the Annie Zusy room, and the workshop was in the Patrick Mancuso room. Councilman Hauck also complemented the women who ran the workshop, Jocelyn Sokol and Sally O’Neil. They are certified life coaches, and they helped participants find new ways to live their lives to the fullest and achieve happiness by trying to achieve their goals.
Councilwoman Hauck mentioned that she will be traveling to Atlantic City, New Jersey, next week with some colleagues from the Department of Recreation to accept an award from the New Jersey Parks and Recreation Association, which hosts its annual conference from March 8th-March 11th at Bally’s hotel in Atlantic City. The purpose of the conference is to gather information and network, but on Tuesday, they will honor and identify leaders, employees, and volunteers in the field of Parks and Recreation, and recognize the State’s outstanding agencies for excellence in programming. This year, Nancy Bigos and Tim Cronin of the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation won this award specifically for their success with the 2014 Fire and Ice Program. This was another example to Councilwoman Hauck of colleagues trusting their friends and working together, and how that pays off. She stated that Nancy Bigos is fearless, innovative, and creative. Tim Cronin works tirelessly and directs a dedicated crew, who will do anything he asks. Greg Hillerman from the Ridgewood Fire Department, Fire Chief James Van Goor, and Stephen Missel were visionary, dedicated, and inspired leaders. In addition, Jacobson’s Landscaping and Design brought the “Come Alive Outside” partnership to Ridgewood, and they also contributed a lot of the external financing. It was a fine example of private/public partnership. The program could not have happened without their help. The “Come Alive Outside” partnership fosters the idea of investing in families and children by simply encouraging them to play outside.
Ridgewood Green Team– Councilman Sedon stated that the Ridgewood Green Team had its first meeting last Thursday. It is scheduled to meet on the fourth Thursday of every month. Angela Knowles with Natural Systems Utilities gave a presentation. She is also a volunteer with Sustainable Jersey. Natural Systems Utilities has partnered with Ridgewood at the Water Pollution Control Facility, and they have invested $4 million in the equipment there to capture burnt off methane gas. Prior to this, the gas would be burnt off from the stack above the facility. Now, with the new generator that was installed, the gas is captured and turned into electricity. The Water Pollution Control Facility went from being the biggest electricity draw in the Village to actually producing electricity, and the system has had a great impact on the Village’s electricity bill, which also leads to taxpayer relief. Once a community is registered with Sustainable Jersey, various grant opportunities open up, and every green initiative or sustainable action taken by the Village is worth 5-20 points toward grants. So far, 150-350 points worth of actions have been identified in the Village that have already been taken. Councilman Sedon said that currently, the Green Team is in the process of identifying and organizing how many points the Village has; collecting what points the Village does not have; and putting the information on the website. The deadline for certification is in June, and the Green Team is very confident that the deadline can be met. Once the Village is officially certified, the grant opportunities will open up.
Mayor Aronsohn thanked Ms. Sonenfeld for the way the budget meeting was handled on February 28th. The discussion was strategic and collaborative, and Mayor Aronsohn believes it is a great new model for future budget planning.
Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) – Mayor Aronsohn reminded everyone about the award for the full amount of the coin theft. He thanked Mr. Rogers in particular, because Mr. Rogers worked very hard over the past several months on behalf of Ridgewood to ensure that the full amount could be collected.
Earlier this week, Mayor Aronsohn met with representatives from the County Executive’s office. There is a new Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor, who wanted to know what joint activities Ridgewood and Bergen County had engaged in. Mayor Aronsohn impressed upon them the fact that the Village is moving forward with the parking initiative, although the Village would love to partner with the County in that effort.
Regarding the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, Mayor Aronsohn mentioned the two presentations earlier tonight. Although the direction to be taken is not yet known, there will be a lot more discussion about it, and Mayor Aronsohn believes it is a very exciting opportunity for the Village to gain more parking, as well as to revitalize that area.
11. 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.
Bernadette Walsh, 444 Red Birch Court, stated that she was appearing on behalf of her family and approximately 20 other Ridgewood taxpaying families. She explained that the Ridgewood Board of Education transports children to and from school if they live more than a specified distance from the school. The rules are set by the State, and each municipality must follow those rules. The only time the rules can be changed is if the municipality feels there is a good reason to change the policy, which involves certain mileage requirements. In Ridgewood, the minimum number of miles is different depending on the grade levels of the children involved.
After setting the policy, Ridgewood determined that there were some challenges with the routes to the different schools, and it was determined that there is a hazardous route to school for some Ridgewood residents. Those primarily apply to students who live in certain sections of the Village, but most of them live on the east side of Route 17. All of the students in that part of Ridgewood are eligible for busing, because the Board of Education has determined that it is dangerous for a child to walk over Route 17. The families represented by Ms. Walsh are families who send their children to a private school on the other side of the highway. The Board of Education has told these families that the determination has been made that it is hazardous for children to walk over Route 17, but riding the school bus is a privilege that is being afforded to public school students only. The other part of this situation is that Ridgewood changed the law so that the mileage requirement does not apply. This situation was presented to the Board of Education, who dismissed the matter without commenting on it. In fact, Ms. Walsh received a letter from Dr. Daniel Fishbein, Superintendent of Schools, stating that riding to school in a school bus is a privilege afforded to public school students only. Ms. Walsh stated that these families with private school students are looking for support from the Village Council in this situation. This also falls within the Village’s “Safe Routes to School” program, which is also within the Village Council’s purview. Ms. Walsh wanted to bring this to the attention of the Councilmembers, because children are a protected class, and treating one population of children differently than another population of children can be construed as discriminatory. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the determination that the route is unsafe applies to high school students as well, and Ms. Walsh answered that it applies to all grades. Councilman Pucciarelli is the liaison to the Board of Education, and Mayor Aronsohn suggested that he would take it up with them.
Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, commented with respect to the coyotes that there was a coyote sighted twice by Roger Wiegand at 216 South Irving Street approximately a year and a half ago.
Next, Ms. Loving stated that Councilwoman Knudsen did not need to apologize for her extremely informative comments earlier at this meeting, and Ms. Loving appreciated them. In fact, Ms. Loving noted that there seems to be some inconsistency regarding whether being a Ridgewood resident is a desirable or undesirable quality. Three of the current Councilmembers hired a Village Manager with no municipal government experience, although some of the other finalists for the job had extensive municipal government experience. At that time, the three sitting Councilmembers touted the fact that the incoming Village Manager is a Ridgewood resident, which was thought to be a huge asset that could override the lack of experience in municipal government. Coupled with that was the issue of the non-residency of the outgoing Village Manager, which was cited as a negative quality. Ms. Loving believes that to be a conflict. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that he thought the fact that Ms. Sonenfeld is a Ridgewood resident was something in her favor, especially considering that she has lived here for nearly 20 years, and knows the Village so well.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, prefaced his comments by saying that when he and his wife chose to live in Ridgewood in 1979, one of the primary reasons for that choice was because Mr. Loving have grown up in Bergen County and was familiar with the school system in Ridgewood, and at that time, Ridgewood had an excellent reputation for its public schools. Another reason for moving to Ridgewood was the beautiful downtown area. Mr. Loving and his wife shop in the CBD quite often. However, Mr. Loving cannot understand how the Councilmembers can approve expenditure of taxpayer dollars for what Mr. Loving considers a commercial purpose, which is the installation of the wayfinding signs. The signs are essentially advertisements for the businesses. Mr. Loving does not understand how local tax dollars can be spent to install the signs, and he is particularly concerned because, based on the minutes of a Village Council meeting that occurred last year, it appears that the Chamber of Commerce is collecting an annual fee for the signs. Mr. Vagianos indicated at a previous meeting that the Chamber of Commerce sold 36 signs. Multiplying the 36 signs sold by the $75 fee charged for each signs equals approximately $2,700 per year. Mr. Loving does not understand why he, as a residential taxpayer, is being asked to subsidize this endeavor. He is not sure that it is even legal. The signs are commercial signs, and every business in Ridgewood is not being represented, but only the ones that pay for the signs. Mayor Aronsohn responded that he considers it to be a service to the residents and the people who shop and dine in the CBD, and is a great addition to the CBD. Mr. Loving stated that he is not arguing that point, but he does not see why local tax dollars are being used for it, particularly when the organization sponsoring the project is collecting an annual fee for the signs. Mayor Aronsohn said he has a different perspective, and he sees it as a service to residents and others who come to the CBD. He thinks it is good for the CBD. Mr. Loving reiterated that he questions the legality of it, as well as the legality of using taxpayer dollars to support a commercial endeavor.
Mr. Rogers said he understood how Mr. Loving viewed this as a commercial endeavor, but it also provides directional information, and as such, can be construed as a service to the public. Therefore, Mr. Rogers does not believe it is illegal for the Village to partially subsidize the signs, but it is certainly a discretionary matter for the Councilmembers to decide. Mr. Loving stated that whether it is legal or not, he questions the ethics behind it. Ms. Sonenfeld reminded Mr. Loving that the Chamber of Commerce is purchasing the poles at a cost of $1,500-$2,000 per pole. Mr. Loving stated that the cost is $1,550 per pole.
Councilwoman Knudsen noted Mr. Loving’s point about the signs being construed as directional information, although they are not representative of all the businesses the CBD, but only those that opt to purchase the signs. She wondered if there was some legal issue associated with that. Mr. Rogers said he could do some research and get that information, although he does not see what the problem is from a legal standpoint.
Councilwoman Hauck stated that all of the Councilmembers voted for the signs, and she thought it was a wonderful idea. She also believes it will be good for business, which can only be good for Ridgewood. Mr. Loving asked Councilwoman Hauck if she asked how the signs she saw in other communities were funded, because he had information about the wayfinding signs in Montclair, which were not funded by taxpayer dollars. In addition, all of the businesses in Montclair are represented by the signs, not just the businesses that paid for the signs. Another concern that Mr. Loving has is that Engineering Department staff are being used for the project. In Montclair, a commercial engineering firm was used for the project. He also has some concerns about encroachment agreements. Mr. Loving said it is his understanding that the signs will be owned by the Chamber of Commerce, yet no encroachment agreement is being required for the signs. In the past, whenever something encroached on a Village right-of-way, the Village Council always had a resolution for an encroachment agreement, and Mr. Loving asked why there is no such agreement regarding the signs. Mr. Rogers also covered the liability issue when he indicated that the Village has no liability should a sign fall and hit someone on the head, but no one has checked with the Chamber of Commerce to see if they have sufficient liability insurance in the event such an accident should occur. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that the information Mr. Loving requested could be obtained. She also pointed out that some of the poles to be used belong to PSE&G, and do not belong to the Chamber of Commerce. The poles to be purchased on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce belong to the Village. Mr. Loving pointed out that the signs will hang off the poles, and they will be the property of the business owner who purchased them. If a sign should fall and hit someone in the head, someone should have the property liability insurance to cover that situation.
Another thing that Mr. Loving finds interesting is that generally, when any kind of sign is put up in the Village, especially in the CBD, input is usually solicited from the Historic Preservation Commission and/or the Planning Board. He asked if either of those groups made any recommendations with respect to the signs. Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she believes the discussions about the signs predate her tenure with the Historic Preservation Commission, but she would get that information. Mr. Loving said he is very concerned about his tax dollars being used to support a commercial endeavor, although he agreed with Councilwoman Hauck that the signs look nice and would be helpful. He emphasized that using public tax dollars for advertising purposes for a select number of stores, with another organization collecting fees, which would not be turned over to the organization directly maintaining the signs, seems to lead to a lot of confusion and unanswered questions.
Finally, Mr. Loving noted that as of 10:50 A.M. today, the parking lot on Walnut Street had not been plowed, nor have the parking lots on Hope Street and Evergreen Place. Mr. Loving asked if the Village does not have enough personnel to do that, or did something happen that prevented the snow cleanup. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that the workers were running late last night for a variety of reasons.
Leonard Eisen, 762 Upper Boulevard, commented with respect to the curbside garbage pickup that the practice should be maintained throughout the year to save the Village some money.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.
12. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION
The following resolution, numbered 15-71, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Village Clerk, as follows:
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilwoman Hauck, seconded by Councilman Sedon, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 P.M.
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Paul S. Aronsohn
Mayor
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Heather A. Mailander
Village Clerk
