A REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR., COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2014, 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 7:31 P.M., and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Donna Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and asked for a moment of silence in honor of the American men and women serving in our Armed Forces, as well as those who serve as first responders in Ridgewood and throughout the United States.
2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.
Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked a question about resolution number 1387, which was passed on April 24, 2013, entitled “Village Council Meetings and Communications Protocol”. It was unanimously passed by the Village Council, which at that time included Mayor Aronsohn, Councilman Pucciarelli, and Councilwoman Hauck. The initiative for creating the document came from Councilman Pucciarelli, and it had the unanimous support of the other Councilmembers. It was co-authored by Councilman Pucciarelli and former Councilwoman Walsh, with input from the other Councilmembers. Ms. Loving said she appreciated that document, and she is questioning one particular item. That is Item Number Four, which Ms. Loving read: “Telephonic or electronic communication between or among Councilmembers, or between a Councilmember and a member of the public, during public meetings is prohibited”. Ms. Loving asked the Councilmembers to note the word “prohibited”. She asked Mayor Aronsohn if this self-imposed prohibition is being followed at all public meetings by the five elected Councilmembers. Mayor Aronsohn asked if she meant that it is being followed during Village Council meetings, which Ms. Loving confirmed. She added that she is aware that it applies only to the five elected Councilmembers, but not to the Village Clerk, Village Attorney, or the Village Manager. Mayor Aronsohn asked what the reason for the question was. Ms. Loving said she was wondering about that, because it is an issue that was initially raised by Roger Wiegand, and because the public cannot see what goes on behind the dais. Mayor Aronsohn said he believes that everyone is following the agreement, and Councilman Pucciarelli confessed to two communications with the public. One was when his son texted him to ask if they could meet at the train station, and Councilman Pucciarelli responded that he was at a Village Council meeting; and when his daughter texted him to ask where he was, and he responded that he was at a Village Council meeting. Councilwoman Knudsen pointed out that she shuts off her cell phone during Village Council meetings, and she always has done so. She believes that the protocol is a correct one to follow for every public entity, including the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and any other public meeting that is held. Ms. Loving agreed with that assessment, and she noted that the public cannot discern whether that particular rule is being followed.
Councilwoman Hauck commented that when the resolution passed, it was clear to her that the public expected the resolution to be adopted. She noted that there has never been a minute when she did not adhere to the new expectation. In addition, Councilwoman Hauck does not believe that the Councilmembers should be asked to defend themselves, in accordance with the other protocol stating that members of the public should not address individual Councilmembers at public meetings. She believes the public should know that if the Councilmembers agree to something, they are adhering to that agreement, and if they are asked whether they are doing so, that is akin to accusing them of doing something they should not be doing. Mayor Aronsohn thought that was an excellent point, and he reminded Ms. Loving the members of the public are not supposed to direct comments to specific Councilmembers. Ms. Loving stated that she did not direct anything to a specific Councilmember, and she did not make any accusations, although there seemed to be some dispute about that. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that she directed her initial comment to him.
Councilman Sedon added that he does not get many calls, except from his wife, and she knows that he is at Village Council meetings on Wednesday nights.
Jim Griffith, 159 South Irving Street, commented with respect to parking that he read the 2002 report, and he was surprised and disappointed to discover that construction would last 12 months. He wanted to remind the Councilmembers that the alternatives they are considering might relieve the parking problem much sooner. In addition, Mr. Griffith said he thought about the comments made regarding working with the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA), and it was hoped that they would give approval to start another study. Mr. Griffith pointed out that the parking problem has existed for so many years, and the studies seem to be never-ending. It seems to him that allowing another study of the parking problem to proceed is an indication that the Village Council really does not wish to solve the problem, because there have been so many studies performed already. However, Mr. Griffith understands that such studies are sometimes required as part of the process. Mayor Aronsohn responded that the parking situation will be discussed later in this agenda, and he noted that he was asked a similar question by a reporter today regarding parking studies. His response to the reporter was that anyone who lives in, works in, or visits Ridgewood knows that there is a parking problem, and one of the primary solutions that has been suggested is a parking garage. However, empirical evidence is needed in order to accomplish the task. That evidence would be needed no matter who ends up funding the parking garage. It would address not only the parking deficit in Ridgewood, but would also address how much should be charged in the garage; how many spaces should be available; where the parking garage should be located; how much should be charged at parking meters outside of the garage; as well as other questions that are part of the issue. Mr. Griffith commented that those questions could be researched after the ground has been broken for the parking garage, because it will take at least 12 months to complete the garage. Mayor Aronsohn responded that he appreciated that, but the first step is to obtain financing for the project. Without a study, no one will allocate any funds. Mr. Rogers explained that in order to obtain the necessary construction loan and bonding, a full parking study must accompany any application. Furthermore, any current study will have to be much more extensive than the studies completed in 2002 and before. The study must show how the fees charged for parking around the Village and in the parking garage will go toward recouping the cost of building the garage. Mayor Aronsohn also noted that tonight, the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders are considering adopting a resolution from the BCIA so that the BCIA can transfer funds to be used for a parking study. While Mayor Aronsohn does not know how the actual vote will go, it was indicated to him at a pre-meeting earlier tonight that the proposal has the support of all of the Board members. It seems that the process is moving forward, and the next step would be for the BCIA to commit to doing a full parking study in Ridgewood, which should happen sometime around November 6th. Ms. Sonenfeld added that she hopes that, prior to preparing an RFP in Ridgewood, the agenda for the next Work Session meeting will include a discussion about getting environmental studies done, as well as performing title searches, so that all of the necessary preparations can be in place for an RFP if the BCIA shows a positive result. Mr. Griffith offered his assistance in any way to help move the process forward.
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 7:45 P.M., upon a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilman Sedon, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Village Council suspended the Work Session.
4. MOTION TO RECONVENE WORK SESSION
At 7:57 P.M., upon a motion by Mayor Aronsohn, seconded by Councilwoman Hauck, 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; Donna M. Jackson, Deputy Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
5. DISCUSSION
a. Budget:
1.) Resolution to Establish 2014 PILOT Fees and Guarantee Bond for Ridgewood Senior Citizens Housing Corporation
Ms. Sonenfeld explained that this is to authorize the Village Manager to execute agreements with Ridgewood Senior Citizens Housing Corporation in two different ways. One is to reflect the Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) at the same percentage as before, or 6.28% of the Ridgewood Senior Citizens Housing Corporation’s annual gross revenues, plus charges for sanitary sewage disposal and collection; as well as solid waste disposal and collection, which total approximately $142,000. There is also an annual reimbursement of approximately $25,000 that has been received by Ridgewood for guaranteeing the principal and interest of issued bonds by the Ridgewood Senior Citizens Housing Corporation. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the November 12, 2014 Public Meeting.
2.) Award Contract – Mobile Video Recording Devices in Police Cars
Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this is for the purchase of six additional mobile video recording units for the police cars, totaling approximately $37,000. The money is coming from capital funds, and was approved in 2014. The additional units will be purchased in conjunction with the new vehicles, and as mentioned in Ms. Sonenfeld’s last Manager’s Report, the system that will be installed in the cars work well and integrate well with the lapel cameras, which are currently under consideration. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the November 12, 2014 Public Meeting.
3.) Award Contract Under County Contract – Ambulance Stretchers
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that this is to award the purchase of three Ferno Powerflexx ambulance stretchers. The funds are in the 2014 capital budget. These stretchers are mobility assist devices that help prevent injuries to OEM personnel caused by lifting the stretchers. Councilwoman Hauck asked what the stretchers look like. Brian Pullman, Chief of the Office of Emergency Management, responded that they look like regular stretchers, except that they have a device powered by a rechargeable battery that allows a stretcher to be lifted by pushing a button, instead of making the emergency services personnel physically lift the stretchers themselves. Most of the neighboring municipalities have started using the stretchers. This company makes the stretchers currently in use in Ridgewood. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the November 12, 2014 Public Meeting.
4.) Declare Property Surplus – Automatic External Defibrillators
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that this is to declare some of the old defibrillators as surplus, and they will be returned to the manufacturer. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the November 12, 2014 Public Meeting.
5.) Accept Funding for CDBG – Ramp at Linwood Avenue at Graydon pool
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that this is to authorize Ms. Sonenfeld to accept a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to build a ramp from the Graydon Pool parking lot to the Linwood Avenue sidewalk. The cost is approximately $35,000. The ramp will go from the parking lot to Linwood Avenue, and people will have access to Graydon Pool from the Linwood Avenue entrance. Mayor Aronsohn noted that the current ramp into Graydon Pool is not ADA-compliant, because it is too steep. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if there is a drawing of the proposed ramp. Ms. Sonenfeld said she did not believe a drawing was available at this time. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if she could have a copy of any drawings, so that the Councilmembers could get some idea of exactly where the ramp would be, and how it will appear. Councilman Pucciarelli asked if the Councilmembers were being asked to approve the grant, or getting the work done. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that the Councilmembers were only being asked to approve accepting the grant. Councilwoman Knudsen noted that the grant is contingent on the plan, and the Councilmembers should have a copy of the plan. Ms. Sonenfeld commented that the plan has been approved by the Engineering Department, including an approval from Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer.
Councilwoman Hauck commented that she has heard many senior citizens talk about access to Graydon Pool, which so far has not been very desirable. She believes that having more access points that are less steep and clearer to senior citizens would be preferable to what currently exists. Janet Fricke, Assistant to the Village Manager, pointed out that the proposed ramp does have a slight incline, and she thought that the Councilmembers had seen the drawings when the grant was submitted. However, she will give them copies of the drawings that are available.
Mayor Aronsohn added that there have been quite a few discussions over the past several years about making the Village more accessible, with particular emphasis on Graydon Pool. An ADA-compliant ramp has been installed to allow access from the land to the water and back, and, as noted by Councilman Pucciarelli, that was just one piece of the puzzle, and it is now necessary to make all of the Graydon Pool area accessible, and this is part of that effort. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the November 12, 2014 Public Meeting.
6.) Discussion of Proposals for Horse Barn at Irene Habernickel Family Park
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that in March 2013, several firms came to provide some architectural engineering proposals relative to the Barn at Habernickel Park. The proposals include costs for engineering architectural studies, as opposed to costs for the actual work to be done. The discussion has languished somewhat in the ensuing months, and making a decision on this has not been easy. Ms. Sonenfeld is recommending that all of the bids received so far be rejected, because she does not believe the Village is prepared at this time to do that kind of work based on the large capital expenditure that would be required on the Barn. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that another facet of this is that the Village has a $60,000 grant to build ADA-compliant ramps and some other ADA-compliant items related to restrooms at the Barn. That grant will soon expire, and Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that, preparatory to keeping that grant, other efforts are being made to determine if another structure that only deals with restrooms could be installed on the site. Nothing would be done with the Barn at this time. However, Ms. Sonenfeld commented that she does not have firm prices on erecting standalone restrooms at this time. She believes the cost for that would be somewhere in the range of $60,000-$90,000. There is a lightning detection system at the park, but there is no place for people to find shelter if the alarm should sound. Restrooms on that site, with an overhang, would provide some shelter.
Mayor Aronsohn recalled that the discussion was focused on whether to renovate the Barn, or whether a cheaper structure should be built. There was also a conversation about building something similar on the Schedler property. It was ultimately decided that the whole situation would have to be re-assessed. He asked if it would be possible for the Village to keep the grant money if standalone restrooms are built, instead of using it toward renovating the Barn. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that within the next several days, Ms. Fricke would put together a plan that she would discuss with the funding source, with the hope that the grant could be extended. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that they move forward with those efforts, and the Councilmembers will re-assess the situation and look at all of the options available. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that building restrooms would require a capital request for the 2015 budget.
Councilman Sedon asked when the grant will expire. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that it would expire in approximately one week.
Councilwoman Hauck noted that the porta potties are costing approximately $200 per month, and inexpensive bathrooms would be preferable to the porta potties, especially if the bathrooms could eventually be integrated with the rest of the building. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the November 12, 2014 Public Meeting.
b. Policy:
1.) Parking Improvements in Central Business District
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is a continuation of the previous discussions on parking. Some business input has been received. Starting this week, the employee CBD permits are now being sold, and so far, 14 have been sold. One particular business owner purchased five of the permits, which proves the point made by Ms. Sonenfeld about business owners purchasing the permits for their employees. This particular business owner mentioned that he wants to keep the spots in the lot (the Kings supermarket lot) for customers. A new credit card system has been implemented.
Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that she and several other Village employees visited Montclair, New Jersey this week, for a variety of reasons. One of the reasons was to look at their parking facilities, and they provide a lot of parking facilities in their town. The number of spaces available in their town is in the thousands, but, as Ms. Sonenfeld noted, they also have five train stations in Montclair. They have two garages, as well as many public parking lots. They also have on-street parking available. The town of Montclair issued a bond through the parking authority that was in place at the time, which has since been disbanded. They now have a Parking Utility, similar to that in Ridgewood. The bond was for their premier lot, which has more than four levels, containing approximately 450 parking spaces, and was in the amount of $9 million. When it was built, management of the garage was outsourced to a firm called ParkPro. ParkPro is paid a management fee. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the management fee for ParkPro, plus the debt service for the bond, plus any maintenance on the garage, is more than offset by revenues generated by the parking garage. She is going to contact representatives from Montclair to find out if a study was required for the parking garage.
Mayor Aronsohn noted that there are three issues to be decided. One of them is long-term parking; another is free holiday parking; and the third is the standardized time cost issue. Before continuing, Mayor Aronsohn said he wanted to emphasize the actions being taken by the County Freeholders, who were dealing with more than 50 resolutions at their meeting tonight. In addition, all of the Freeholders offered to co-sponsor the resolution regarding the Ridgewood parking study. Mayor Aronsohn reiterated that to show how much support there is at the County level for parking remediation in Ridgewood.
Councilman Sedon noted that, according to the proposal, all parking meters will go to three hours, including the ones at the parking lots. He asked how that would affect employees who work full-time. Mayor Aronsohn responded that the initial idea was that the employees would have a choice of either parking at three-hour meters, or they or their employers to purchase the monthly passes. Councilman Sedon pointed out that there are approximately 120 spaces that will be available at the Ken Smith site, and there are definitely more than 120 people employed full-time at the various businesses in the Village. That means that all of the permits at the Ken Smith site could be sold, but there would still be people working in the CBD who need parking spaces, and would be forced to move their cars every three hours. In an eight-hour shift, and employee would have to move his/her car twice. Mayor Aronsohn reminded Councilman Sedon that Ms. Sonenfeld had asked representatives from the Chamber of Commerce for an estimate of how many full-time employees are in the CBD, and where they are parking, and it has been discovered that many of the full-time employees do not drive in the CBD, particularly those employed by the restaurants. The reason for that is unknown. Mayor Aronsohn mentioned that he and Ms. Sonenfeld had discussed the possibility of considering Cottage Place as a secondary site for employee parking. However, they are not sure if the rest of the Councilmembers will support that idea. In addition, that is something they wish to consider after the parking situation at the Ken Smith site can be assessed. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the Cottage Place parking lot is one of the least-utilized parking lots in the Village. Councilman Sedon recalled that he worked in the CBD for approximately 4 years, and he had to drive there every day, which was very difficult. When he first started working in Ridgewood, Councilman Sedon said there was an annual parking pass that was available for $15, and it consisted of a sticker that could be placed on the car indicating that the driver was a CBD employee, and it allowed the employee to park during his/her shift. He suggested that could be a solution to the problem that would not be alleviated by changing all of the meters to three hours. Ms. Sonenfeld said she got information about that when she was looking in the files, and it seems that the practice was stopped in 2010 or 2011, possibly due to the fact that only approximately 100-120 of them were sold in 2010, and there had been a steady decrease in sales of the passes during the previous several years. The pass was $15 per year, and the drivers could park in designated spots throughout the Village for eight hours. When the UP3 passes started selling, even fewer of the parking passes were sold, and the Village stopped selling them at that point. Councilman Sedon thinks that might be a better idea, and it would not take many spaces away from shoppers and people who want to visit Ridgewood. However, he said that his concern is for the full-time and part-time employees in the Village.
Councilwoman Hauck said the plan looks good to her, and it seems like it will relieve a lot of the pressure with respect to parking in the Village. She suggested that perhaps there could be one addition to the list, which is to make some of the side streets one-way streets. That was something that has been mentioned in many of the parking studies. Councilwoman Hauck reiterated that it is all viewed as a work in progress, and if it does not work, it can be tweaked. She thinks that the employee parking is a bit expensive, and the on-street parking fees could be increased. Other municipalities charge as much as a dollar for parking, but she noted that until smart meters are in place in the Village, it would be impossible to require people to use anything other than quarters. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that the $80 fee for employee parking permits is based on full-time employees who work every day in the Village, so it averages out to approximately 4 dollars per day for parking.
Regarding the idea of making the side streets one-way streets, as suggested by Councilwoman Hauck, Mayor Aronsohn commented that the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee has considered making several streets in Ridgewood one-way, including Ridgewood Avenue, as well as other streets. He suggested that perhaps the Councilmembers could discuss that idea further. Councilman Sedon pointed out that making major streets like Ridgewood Avenue or Franklin Avenue one-way streets would be difficult, but Councilman Hauck’s suggestion to make the side streets one-way streets might be relatively easy. That might also increase the number of parking spaces available on those streets.
Mayor Aronsohn noted that the Councilmembers will have to take a position on long-term parking. There were several scenarios presented, one of which was to make passes available to Ridgewood residents only. Another alternative that was suggested was to double the cost of the passes for non-Ridgewood residents. Councilman Sedon is not sure how many people from other towns would be willing to pay double for the passes, but that might be the best way to save spots for Ridgewood residents, while at the same time bringing some revenue to the Village, although it might not be very much. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that there were approximately 120 people who are interested in buying UP3 passes for next year, so a decision must be made as soon as possible so that those people can be contacted once a decision is made. Councilwoman Hauck stated that she supports making the passes available to Ridgewood residents only, which she said was a very hard decision for her to make. However, she thinks it is worth trying to see how it goes.
Councilman Pucciarelli emphasized that, although he thinks it is a great plan, it is an interim plan. It is dependent upon the availability of private property (the Ken Smith site) for employee parking, and the Brogan site for valet parking. The private properties may not always be available, so this works well as an interim solution. When it comes to long-term parking, Councilman Pucciarelli recalled that at the previous Village Council meeting, he said he was very uncomfortable with making Ridgewood parking lots inaccessible to non-residents. The train station serves multiple municipalities, so it does not seem proper that the parking lots should only be available to Ridgewood residents. However, after hearing Mr. Hillmann speak, Councilman Pucciarelli said he has come around to the opposite view. One of the points made by Mr. Hillmann was that New Jersey transit has a wonderful train station available in Ridgewood, but they do not provide parking at the train station; the parking is provided by the Village to service the commuter line. Councilman Pucciarelli hoped that New Jersey Transit would help the Village in its efforts to provide more parking. In addition, Mr. Hillman pointed out that for every spot that is taken in the long-term lots, the merchants lose the opportunity for 4-5 parking spaces, or possibly more, during the course of the day. That is why, at least for the short term, Councilman Pucciarelli supports the idea of making the parking passes available only to Ridgewood residents, although he is not thrilled with the idea. The idea could be revisited if it turns out that the lots are being under-utilized, which Councilman Pucciarelli does not think will prove to be the case. He asked if it is planned that the rates will remain at $3 per day for long-term parking. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that the long-term parking rates have not yet been decided. The proposal that has been discussed covers a price range of $650-$700 per year.
Councilwoman Knudsen stated that she originally supported the idea of limiting the parking passes to Ridgewood residents. She now likes the option of making the passes available to non-residents at an increased rate. However, she agrees with Councilman Pucciarelli that this is really a New Jersey Transit issue. What caught Councilwoman Knudsen’s attention is the exception for overnight parking from 2:00 A.M.-6:00 A.M., and she wondered if it would be prudent to also exclude Saturdays from the parking permits, because the parking permits could be used to park all day Saturday in the CBD. This is, in essence, a commuter issue, which means that it would be necessary Monday-Friday, and Councilwoman Knudsen wonders why the Village parking spaces should be tied up all day on the busiest shopping day for the CBD. That is why she suggested that Saturdays be excluded from the parking permits. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that some of the residents who would be buying the parking passes work in Ridgewood, and many of them do work on Saturdays, so the passes could be used whenever they have to work. Councilwoman Knudsen answered that perhaps this is something that could be explored when the final decisions are made. She does like the idea of selling the passes to non-residents at an increased rate.
Regarding the free holiday parking, Councilwoman Knudsen said that is something that seems great on paper, and is a great publicity item. However, she is concerned that people will park their cars in the CBD on Saturdays and leave them all day, so that there is no rotation of cars in the spots, and the Village will not see the turnover and shoppers that it usually has. Councilwoman Knudsen believes that will not help the parking problem, but make it worse. She suggested that perhaps the free holiday parking can be limited to three hours, but she does not know how that can be enforced. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that if people are leaving their cars for longer periods of time during the free holiday parking (which is limited to a six-week span), they are most likely shopping and patronizing the businesses in the CBD while their cars are parked on the streets. Councilwoman Knudsen responded that, as pointed out by Mr. Vaggianos and Mr. Hillmann, people complained that the lots are tied up with cars that are left there all day, and the free holiday parking proposal would allow people to leave their cars all day, and not generate the turnover in parking that the business owners count on during the holiday period. Mayor Aronsohn noted that this practice has been used in the past, and the Chamber of Commerce has always supported it. Their concern has always been the commuter, rather than repeat parking. Mayor Aronsohn said he would share that concern with the Chamber of Commerce. Council Pucciarelli recalled that he brought up the same point in a discussion about this last year, asking why it was necessary to have meters at all, if they were not going to be used during the busiest shopping season. The Chamber of Commerce responded that allowing free parking during the holiday shopping season has proven to be very beneficial, and the practice continued in deference to them. Councilwoman Knudsen agreed that it does not make sense to her, either. She believes people want to come to Ridgewood to shop, and she understands that the free parking might be somewhat of an incentive, but most people do not anticipate or expect that, and she believes that it only exacerbates the problem that they are trying to solve.
Mayor Aronsohn noted that one of the biggest complaints from people who come to Ridgewood is getting parking tickets, and allowing free parking during the holiday season eliminates parking tickets. Councilman Knudsen suggested that perhaps the parking meters could be used during the holiday season, but enforcement could be dropped during that time. That would eliminate the annoyance to the shoppers, and still generate the rotation and parking that the business owners rely upon during the holiday season. Mayor Aronsohn said he would suggest that to the Chamber of Commerce at the next meeting.
Councilman Sedon said he was not really thinking about the free holiday parking, but it did occur to him during this discussion that people might decide to drive to the train station, park their cars, and take the train to New York City for the day.
Mayor Aronsohn said that he and Ms. Sonenfeld would take all the suggestions made by the Councilmembers to the Chamber of Commerce, and they would do additional research on the situation, after which time they would present a draft ordinance for the Councilmembers to consider. He asked Mr. Rogers if all of these points would have to be included in any ordinance, and Mr. Rogers confirmed that any changes should be made by ordinance, particularly with the hours of enforcement of the parking restrictions and meters. Any resolution or ordinance regarding holiday parking can be dealt with at the time the decision is made. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if she could be included in any discussions or meetings about the parking situation.
2.) Review of Best Practices Worksheet
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is something that is required to be discussed publicly every year. The worksheet is an inventory that allows the Village to qualify for a percentage of State aid, based on the score achieved. It is meant to emphasize financial accountability, sound management, and transparency. The Village will get the 5% in State aid.
Ms. Sonenfeld highlighted some of the items in the worksheet. She pointed out item number four, where the answer was “no” to the question regarding whether the Village does RFPs each year for most professional services, including bond counsel, general counsel, the labor attorney, auditors, and other services of that nature. Those are usually done every couple of years. The State seems to feel that that is something that should be done every year. The Village Council discusses whether these contracts should be renewed every year, but no RFPs are issued.
Next, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned item number six, which asks if the municipality requires elected officials to attend at least one instructional course every year. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that every year, she, Ms. Mailander, and other Village staff take some type of instructional course, which gives the Village a $250 credit for the JIF for each person who attends such a course. Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned this item for anyone who attends the League of Municipalities, where the class can be taken. It can also be taken on-line, but the class must be taken.
Item number 14 asks about the existence of some type of Financial Advisory Committee (FAC), which the Village now has. The FAC meets once a month, on the second Monday of each month.
Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that the Village Leadership Team, which consists of approximately 14 people, went over this worksheet question by question, which gave them an opportunity to discuss different issues, and helps to ensure that everyone has the same understanding.
Moving on to item number 25, Ms. Sonenfeld commented that this question discusses whether the municipality should use debit cards to make purchases. Stephen Sanzari, Chief Financial Officer, explained that the regular purchase guidelines and check writing practices used in the Village allowed for better control than giving several Village employees debit cards that could be used for purchases.
The answer to question number 28 was “no”. The question dealt with the preparation of the annual budget, and whether the municipality has a written policy regarding surplus, which the Village does not currently have. Ms. Sonenfeld suggested that perhaps this is something that could be developed with the assistance of the FAC.
Item number 32 also received a “no” answer. The question was whether the municipality dedicates sufficient revenues in its multi-year capital plan to fund maintenance, repair, and replacement of infrastructure, such as roads, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, and water systems. That funding is based on budgetary constraints, not necessarily on what is dictated by reality.
Item number 33 is a requirement that Municipalities approve their budgets no later than February 10. Ms. Sonenfeld and Mr. Sanzari met with a subcommittee of the FAC on budget process, and they are now working on how to streamline the budget process even more, and they are also discussing what process should be used with the Village Council. Their first goal is to shorten the process by one month. Last year, the budget was approved in May, and their goal is to have it approved in March. However, Ms. Sonenfeld said she could not commit to that, because there are too many things going on at this time, including the RFPs about the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone, which must be analyzed. That is just one of many projects that are currently being planned. Therefore, the FAC is now looking at April, at the latest, for adoption of the budget.
Following up on the point made by Councilman Pucciarelli regarding longevity, item number 49 asks if the municipality has eliminated any longevity awards, bonuses, or payments to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement who were hired after a specific date. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that this is currently in process. It has already been done with the supervisory employees, and will be implemented with the Police and Fire Departments.
Mayor Aronsohn asked when Ms. Sonenfeld foresees the budget process beginning with the Councilmembers. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that budget packets will be put together starting next week or the week after, after the quarterly reviews have been completed. Budget information should be available to the Councilmembers by the end of November or early December. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that there should be some discussion on the process and how detailed it gets. She thinks that the discussions with the Councilmembers should be more general, including such things as 2014 accomplishments; 2015 goals; any issues that need to be addressed; strategic options that are available; has the quality of service improved; and other general budget items. That would be much less time-consuming than a line by line budget review, as has been done in the past. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that it might be a good idea to continue to give those details to the Councilmembers, but they do not necessarily have to be discussed during the public budget process. The information would be available in the event that someone has questions.
3.) Urge Transportation Trust Fund Reauthorization and Increased Funding for Local Transportation
Ms. Sonenfeld noted that this is a request from the League of Municipalities for the Village to adopt a resolution supporting them in their efforts to ensure the viability of the New Jersey Department Of Transportation (NJDOT) local aid program, which the Village uses every year, and to revitalize the transportation fund. This resolution will be put on the agenda for the November 12, 2014 Public Meeting.
4.) Shade Tree Ordinance Discussion
Mayor Aronsohn recalled that there was a wonderful presentation at the last Village Council meeting from George Wolfson, Chairman of the Shade Tree Commission, and Councilman Sedon. He noted that there are many issues to be covered, including substantive, administrative, and legal issues.
Councilman Sedon noted that there are many locations around Ridgewood where trees are planted on private property; there are areas where trees are planted in the median; and there are areas where the sidewalks go around the trees. He distributed pictures of these types of locations to give an idea of what the Shade Tree Commission is dealing with regarding trees in the Village. Councilman Sedon has done a lot of research on shade tree ordinances in other municipalities. For example, he found that Glen Rock has a general shade tree policy, which only encompasses approximately 3-4 pages, and most of the onus is put on the Director of Public Works, or his designee, to determine where trees should be planted, as well as other issues. Councilman Sedon introduced Mr. Wolfson, who would address some of the Councilmembers’ concerns.
Mayor Aronsohn asked if the first issue to be addressed could be the substantive one of whether the Village wants to plant trees, and how it could be accomplished. Mr. Wolfson stated that a program has been set up that is designed to address two important questions. The first question had to do with an apparent clash between citizens’ safety and a canopy of trees; and the second question was regarding where the trees should be planted, and Mr. Wolfson said it would also address maintenance issues and some other topics. Mayor Aronsohn suggested that when discussing where to plant and what to plant, it would be helpful if the Shade Tree Commission could give recommendations about focusing on the trees that already exist, and which are in need of attention. Mr. Wolfson responded that the mission of the Shade Tree Commission is to plant trees; or to lead the re-forestation of Ridgewood. The policy of whether the Councilmembers want to continue doing that, and whether they want to be in the tree business for the long term or the short term, is something that the Councilmembers must decide.
Mr. Wolfson introduced Crystal Matsibekker, who is one of the Shade Tree Commissioners, and is the “resident scientist”. Ms. Matsibekker handled some of the research for the Shade Tree Commission relative to trees, the growth of trees, and other such items.
Mr. Wolfson noted an article that appeared in The Ridgewood Patch talking about letters sent to residents from the Tree Commission regarding the sidewalk replacement program. Mr. Wolfson stated that the letters did not come from the Shade Tree Commission, because they have nothing to do with that program, nor are they involved with this design, implementation, or any other aspect of it.
The first topic discussed by the Shade Tree Commission was the issue regarding the clash between citizens’ safety and the canopy of trees. Mr. Wolfson asked if the Councilmembers wanted to discuss that issue now, and Mayor Aronsohn and Councilman Sedon responded that, if possible, the discussion should focus on whether trees should be planted as a fundamental question. Councilman Sedon noted that the Village could plant on a limited basis. He referred to the yearly summary formulated by the Glen Rock Shade Tree Advisory Committee, indicating that they planted eight shade trees through donations to the Glen Rock Tree Trust; they received a $7,000 grant from PSE&G to plant under-the-wire trees along Harristown Road, where 30 damaged trees were removed; they received a $1,000 grant from an anonymous donor for the planting of trees; and the town itself planted some trees. Mayor Aronsohn asked if the trees planted by the town were placed in the rights-of-way, and if that is their policy. Councilman Sedon responded that in their policy there is a specification for trees on public rights-of-way, stating that where it is deemed advisable by the Shade Tree Advisory Committee, trees can be planted on public rights-of-way, but they must be of a certain size and spaced under guidelines established by the New Jersey Shade Tree Commissioners. Councilman Sedon also pointed out that in New York City, their policy allows only planting in rights-of-way. There is a comprehensive list of trees of various sizes which the City allows to be planted. Councilman Sedon commented that there are budgetary constraints, and he asked Mr. Wolfson how much money the Shade Tree Commission gets from the Village every year. Mr. Wolfson said that they do not receive any money directly from the Village, but they do get a portion of the money from the Shade Tree Department budget that can be applied toward planting, and that is what they were using for the trees in the CBD. Other than that, Mr. Wolfson said that they would have to find money for all plantings, whether that is from donations, grants, or other sources. Ms. Sonenfeld interjected that during the budget process last year, money was set aside for the planting of approximately 20 trees. The money was put in the Shade Tree budget. Mayor Aronsohn commented that the real question is whether to plant or not to plant, and it might be helpful to hear about any administrative concerns that the Shade Tree Commission has that the Councilmembers should consider. He also asked Mr. Rogers to speak about any legal considerations that might be noteworthy.
Mr. Rogers recalled that the last time Mr. Wolfson appeared before the Village Council, the liability issues that are facing the Village were discussed. One of those concerns is that the Shade Tree Commission exists by resolution, but not by ordinance. Mr. Rogers focused on two key points. One of them was that the Councilmembers should focus on what the Shade Tree Commission is expected to do and formalize that in an ordinance to allow the Commission to be given budgetary considerations, as well as other considerations. The other point was to outline what is expected of the Shade Tree Commissioners, who are volunteering their time in discussing issues, yet according to the resolution, they are limited to working on projects or providing recommendations on topics that are requested by the Village Council. Mayor Aronsohn asked Mr. Rogers to focus on the legal implications surrounding the issue of whether to plant or not. If the Village plays an active role in planting, Mayor Aronsohn wants to know what the legal considerations are. Mr. Rogers recalled that it was discussed before, and he pointed out that the more the Village is involved in the planting and maintenance process, the more liability the Village takes on for any damage caused by a planted tree. In a nutshell, the more responsibility the Village accepts, the more liability it also accrues. Mr. Rogers believes that the efforts should be concentrated on trying to propose a policy, and one of the other items discussed was whether the program should be a volunteer program, or a program in which the planting was done by consent on residential properties, including discussions with the property owners about what they want, and use that information to make a determination about how that might be accomplished. Certain streets in the Village are heavily wooded, while others do not have a lot of trees at all. That raises the question of where the planting should start and how to go about it. Mr. Rogers pointed out that if the property owners are more involved in the process, the Village could expect them to maintain the trees, giving the Village less liability. As a general rule, the less the Village is involved in the planting and maintenance of trees, the less liability it accrues. Mayor Aronsohn noted that the decision whether to plant on a right-of-way or private property also bring some liability, and Mr. Rogers responded that any tree planted on private property would require consent of the owner of the property before planting can be done. There was discussion regarding planting in a right-of-way, and it was suggested that, rather than having Village personnel just start planting in any of the rights-of-way, it would be better to get the consent of the property owner to plant a tree in the median area between the sidewalk and the curve, which would give an expectation of maintenance on the property owner’s part with that consent.
From a Village staffing perspective, Ms. Sonenfeld raised her concerns about the sidewalk replacement project, and the fact that the Village is backed up at this time, and letters are no longer sent due to the backlog. The Parks Department is now booked through November for tree removal. The Parks Department is now focusing on the investigation of trees that may or may not be impeding the sidewalks, and the removal of those trees, if necessary. Mayor Aronsohn said one of his concerns was that if a Village-owned tree is causing sidewalk damage, the resident should not necessarily have to pay to fix the damage. It is something that he would like to include as part of any Shade Tree Policy, because it seems unfair to the property owners. However, he does understand that there is a fiscal imperative behind that policy, but perhaps it could be reconsidered as part of a new Shade Tree Policy. Ms. Sonenfeld believes the traditional view was that any tree in the right-of-way was simply a tree that was placed in the right-of-way, and not necessarily a Village tree, which Mr. Rogers confirmed.
Councilwoman Knudsen commented that there are trees that are more suitable to hardscape situations, and they are very common in New York City, which has a list of trees that are appropriate to hardscape settings. Those trees do not root out in the same way that other trees do, and they do not cause as much damage to the sidewalks as other trees. Therefore, Councilwoman Knudsen believes that if a Shade Tree Policy contained language that protected the sidewalks and other hardscape areas from the detriments of larger trees, it might be helpful. That might include a list of appropriate trees that could be planted in the rights-of-way and other areas close to sidewalks. Regarding the question of liability, Councilwoman Knudsen noted that during Hurricane Sandy, a tree that was in the narrow right-of-way in front of her house fell, flattening four vehicles and hitting her house. That claim was made to her auto and homeowners insurance companies, and she never thought that any liability accrued to the Village in that situation.
Mr. Wolfson addressed the issue of sidewalks, because it seems to be a very important issue. He noted that sidewalks buckle whether trees are around them or not. The reason they buckle is because of the way they are constructed; the techniques used so many years ago; and that the sidewalks in Ridgewood are very old and poorly maintained. Therefore, it is now necessary for new techniques to be used in laying sidewalks, as well as new management policies regarding the sidewalks. Moisture gets into a sidewalk, where it expands and attracts the tree roots, often causing the tree roots to lift the slab. In this study done by the Shade Tree Commission, they found many sidewalk slabs were lifted due to other issues, and not because of tree roots. Mayor Aronsohn asked if planting the right tree could have an effect on that, as Councilwoman Knudsen noted. Mr. Wolfson responded that that is just one part of the answer, and the Shade Tree Commissioners have lists of trees that are “right” not according to the definition of the “right” tree as stated by PSE&G, but “right” tree in terms of the root aggressiveness. There are many trees that fit the Commissioners’ definition of the “right” tree, but Mr. Wolfson reiterated that the problem is not just the trees. The problem is the way the sidewalk was constructed in the first place, which is outside of the Village’s control. It also has to do with the methodology, compaction, density, moisture, and construction materials, which are the property owner’s responsibility. Mayor Aronsohn asked if it is possible to get a tree that fits the definition of the right tree for a hardscape that has a canopy, or is the canopy sacrificed when trees with less aggressive roots are planted. Ms. Matsibekker answered that she sent the list of trees maintained by New York City as being appropriate for use in hardscape areas to Councilman Sedon, and she would send it to the rest of the Councilmembers. There are hundreds of trees on the list, and Ms. Matsibekker noted that any spot in which someone was to plant a tree could have an appropriate tree planted there. The canopy does not have to be sacrificed in order to preserve the sidewalk. Regarding the safety issue, she pointed out that in windy situations, if trees are grouped together, they protect each other from windy situations, which means that the trees are less likely to fall when they are grouped.
Councilman Sedon raised another issue pertinent to liability. He commented that the New Jersey State Tree Commissioners recognized that there are liability issues, they developed a Forestry Management Plan that many towns have adopted. The plan does not eliminate all liability on the part of the municipality, but it does deal with a good portion of it. Mr. Rogers said that Forestry Management Plans are plans for people who want to raise trees and get into that type of business. Mr. Wolfson disagreed, and Mr. Rogers pointed out that the statute is specifically about that. Mr. Wolfson stated that he has a document from the State that addresses the issue of liability for Shade Tree Commissions, including protection for the Commissioners and protection for the municipality. When discussing liability, the Shade Tree Federation discussions have always found that between Title 59 and the Shade Tree Community Assistance Act, which covers liability, liability is not an issue for any municipality. All of the literature that Mr. Wolfson has seen indicates that the municipality is protected against liability for the trees. Mr. Rogers reminded Mr. Wolfson that, as Mr. Rogers said before, all of the liability situations are fact-sensitive; therefore, when there is a situation in which a tree root raises a sidewalk slab, causing someone to trip and fall, there is a liability issue. There is nothing other than Title 59 that provides immunity. The Forestry Management Plan does not take away any liability in that situation. Mr. Wolfson commented that the Forestry Management Plan requires that all Commissioners take classes in related fields under the community stewardship program. In most communities, Shade Tree Commissioners are more than just advisors, but are quasi-officials of the municipalities, and usually perform inspections. In Ridgewood, the manpower that is now expended by the Shade Tree Department could be turned over to the Shade Tree Commissioners, or Tree Wardens, who can perform inspection tasks. Some towns also allow the Shade Tree Commissioners to issue subpoenas or summonses. Mr. Rogers responded that the Commissioners’ role still does not address the liability issues that ensue when a tree root raises a sidewalk slab, and the Village is aware of the situation. Mr. Wolfson pointed out that there is no way to prevent people from suing the Village for any reason. However, he has been informed that Title 59 and its liability protections help the Village when the case comes to court. Mr. Wolfson stated that the bottom line is that there is no way to avoid that type of liability, which Mr. Rogers says is what he has been saying all along. Liability cannot be avoided, even if the Village adopts a Forestry Management Plan or gives the Commissioners more official duties, or any other scenario.
Councilman Sedon noted that there are thousands of trees that already exist in Ridgewood, and if a Shade Tree Policy or Ordinance is adopted, he asked how that changes the Village’s liability, and if the Village currently has no liability where the trees are concerned. Mayor Aronsohn responded that the question is whether the liability of the Village is increased by adopting a Shade Tree Policy. Councilman Sedon pointed out that, with the number of trees that currently exist in Ridgewood, the Village currently has liability regarding those trees, even if another tree is never planted in Ridgewood by the Village. Mr. Rogers commented that currently, the Village’s liability is on each tree individually, and is related to the facts surrounding that particular tree. That does not change or disappear based on the adoption of any type of Shade Tree Policy.
Councilwoman Hauck stated that she does not want to abdicate the Village’s stewardship as purveyors of the future due to liability issues. She does not want to put the responsibility for the trees on Ridgewood residents. Mr. Rogers said that is not what is being discussed. He and Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that they are simply trying to figure out what liability the Village has with respect to any trees planted under a Shade Tree Policy. Councilwoman Hauck said it sounds to her like Mayor Aronsohn and Mr. Rogers do not want the Village to plant any more trees in order to avoid incurring any more liability.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked if the Councilmembers were to move forward with a comprehensive program that establishes guidelines for particular types of trees that are more suitable and appropriate to hardscape situations, would that mitigate some of the liability inherent in such a program. Mr. Rogers responded that it would depend upon what is included in the comprehensive plan. He added that the Councilmembers must be very aware that liability issues abound in these types of situations, and when the plan is crafted, that must be taken into consideration. Councilwoman Knudsen asked if the Councilmembers were to move forward with a voucher program, in which a property owner pays a sum of money which is matched by the Village for the planting of a tree, and the trees planted in front of the property owner’s house, whether that is on a right-of-way or not, does the property owner assume some of the liability as the purchaser of the tree. Mr. Rogers confirmed this, and suggested that there are different ways to approach that, one of which is to get the homeowner’s consent before any tree is planted. Councilwoman Knudsen recalled that in the previous discussions, she asked if some type of hold harmless agreement could be executed before any tree is planted in front of private property. Mr. Wolfson interjected that the right-of-way usually falls under the responsibility of the Village, and they are usually Village property. Mr. Rogers pointed out that some of the rights-of-way are actually County-owned. Mr. Wolfson noted that, if the right-of-way is Village property, the issue then becomes whether the Village can allow a property owner to plant in the right-of-way. Mr. Rogers responded that normally, the Village cannot allow a property owner to plant in the right-of-way. However, it is possible for the Village to get the consent of the property owner. Mr. Wolfson asked if getting consent from the property owner makes a difference, and Mr. Rogers replied that it does. Councilman Sedon noted that in Glen Rock and New York City, the program allows two different scenarios. One is where the property owner requests a tree to be planted, which requires the property owner to sign a voucher to obtain a free permit (in New York City) which indicates that the property owner also owns that tree. Municipalities also plant trees in other areas.
Mayor Aronsohn asked if the Councilmembers could write down their concerns and other considerations to be included in an ordinance for Mr. Rogers and Ms. Sonenfeld to review to help in making a decision about the Shade Tree Policy. Those concerns and considerations could then be drafted into an ordinance for the Councilmembers to consider.
Councilman Pucciarelli emphasized the need to deal with maintenance of the trees, because there is a very large inventory of Village trees already in existence, which have to be maintained. He also thinks that the Councilmembers should consider the implications for Ridgewood residents when taking on the obligation to plant, maintain, and absorb the potential liability for any new trees. Councilman Pucciarelli also asked for clarification about the problem being addressed, and whether it is the apparent de-forestation of Ridgewood, requiring the Village to get back in the business of planting trees; or is it that Hurricane Sandy damaged so many trees that have not yet been replaced; or is it the fact that homeowners seem to be clearcutting their properties, which should be stopped. Councilman Pucciarelli is not sure what the concern is regarding trees. Mr. Wolfson answered that it started with the original Shade Tree Commission, which laid out the plans for the medians and the trees planted on them. They operated under a different set of standards than those in place now, and Mr. Wolfson and the rest of the Shade Tree Commissioners believe that the Village should get back to those standards. They had to deal with citizens’ safety, including such considerations as having trees serve as wind barriers, so that in Hurricane Sandy-type situations, the trees would be the first things to break the wind, protecting houses and citizens; trees serving as noise protection, because Ridgewood without trees would be very noisy; finding ways to produce water; protecting against carbon emissions; and other issues of citizens’ safety beyond sidewalks, which were just being installed at that time. Councilman Pucciarelli said his question is more pointed than that, dealing with whether the concern is that the trees in the medians have disappeared and are not be replaced, which Mr. Wolfson confirmed. Councilman Pucciarelli pointed out that the Village Council discussed the fact that they would avoid putting trees in the medians because of the problems that arose as a result of that. He asked if Mr. Wolfson wanted the Councilmembers to consider reversing that opinion. Mr. Wolfson pointed out that there is nothing to reverse, because there is only a policy in place, not an ordinance. He added that there has been almost no planting in Ridgewood for four years (except for some trees planted in the parks, and in the CBD). The Shade Tree Commission believes that the medians are still viable locations if the size of the median in which planting occurs is limited, as is done in other municipalities. For example, in Glen Rock, the minimum size of the median must be three feet in order for planting to be considered. If the median is less than three feet, the property owner is given the opportunity to receive a tree from the town, which will be donated to the resident and placed on the resident’s property. Once the tree is planted on a residential property, the town has no further involvement. However, their program does not attract a lot of people; only 25% of the people who have been offered trees under that program have accepted. The Shade Tree Commissioners also addressed the question of where that type of tree should be planted. Their research indicates that simply moving the tree back five feet will not solve the problem as far as the sidewalks are concerned. Trees should be planted where there is authority to plant them, as well as liability coverage to do that.
Councilman Sedon noted that some of the pictures he distributed to the other Councilmembers show areas in which trees probably should not be planted, such as on a two-foot median. Another picture showed a large tree planted on the median, which caused damage due to the expansion of its roots. That is also not desirable. A good management plan would help to mitigate some of the situations. Councilman Pucciarelli said the question seems to be whether Ridgewood wants to adopt a policy of planting trees in the median, which would belong to the Village, with all of the attendant liability and obligation to maintain those trees.
Mayor Aronsohn commented that Councilman Sedon made reference several times to the tree policy in Glen Rock and asked if that plan is something worth emulating in Ridgewood. Councilman Sedon responded that it seems to be pretty reasonable, and it has two components. One allows residents to request trees to be planted on their properties, and the other allows the town to plant trees, although that is done on a limited basis. It also notes several funding sources available to cover the cost of planting trees, including private donations; PSE&G; and grants that are available.
Finally, Mr. Wolfson pointed out that, of the 70 municipalities in Bergen County, none of them allow planting on residents’ lawns. Virtually all of the municipalities plant trees in the medians. He also pointed out that the New Jersey Shade Tree Assistance Act covers municipal properties, and Mr. Wolfson is not sure that any of that grant money would be available for municipalities who want to plant trees on private property.
6. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld started with an update on the work being done at Garber Square. The milling has been completed, but due to the rain, the paving has not yet been done. It will be completed next Monday night. After that, the striping will be done, and any necessary cleanup activities.
Regarding her visit to Montclair, Ms. Sonenfeld stated that while she was there, she benchmarked some other ideas. One of those was to complete a best practices worksheet regarding leaf removal. The first question she asked was how many complaints the town receives regarding leaf removal. The manager responded that they had received no complaints for the past five years, because they stopped picking up leaves five years ago. An ordinance was passed in Montclair five years ago requiring residents to bag their leaves and leave the bags in front of their houses. If the property owner uses landscapers, the landscaper must remove the leaves. Landscapers are not allowed to bag leaves. As a result, the amount of leaves in Montclair has been reduced from approximately 30,000 cubic yards, which is close to the amount of leaves in Ridgewood, to approximately 10,000 cubic yards. Ms. Sonenfeld also asked about rear yard pickup for sanitation, which Montclair stopped several years ago. They offer that as a service, charging $300 per year for people who want rear yard pickup. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that she is not offering this information as suggestions for how the Village should proceed, but merely for information purposes. She pointed out that the demographics of Montclair are very different from those in Ridgewood. For example, approximately half of the people in Montclair are renters, not homeowners.
On the subject of leaves, Ms. Sonenfeld commented that the new leaf program has begun, and they started in Section A. Efforts are being made to advertise where the leaf removal will be occurring, including the use of signs. Next week, leaf pickup will begin in Section B. Leaves should be put out no more than seven days prior to the leaf pickup dates. Some issues have arisen due to people parking on the streets, and Ms. Sonenfeld asked people to move their cars on their leaf pickup days. Recycling barrels should be put on the curbs, not in the streets, because they also impede leaf collection.
Next, Ms. Sonenfeld discussed parking meters. The project team met with three different vendors with very interesting products, ranging from upgrading what currently exists in the Village to machines that will accept credit and debit cards, to single-pay stations, to software products that require no infrastructure at all. In addition, Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned that the parking meters in Montclair do not have closed canisters, which she found surprising.
This morning, the Village had the second year of Team LEADS. Mayor Aronsohn attended, and gave the attendees the Mayors Challenge for their projects for the next year. Team LEADS is an offshoot of the Bergen LEADS program, a specific leadership program that is run by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. This is an adaptation for teenagers. Ms. Sonenfeld commented that it is interesting because the teacher who is running the program at Ridgewood High School is also a Ridgewood resident, and told Ms. Sonenfeld that he was amazed when he heard about the services available when each Department head stood up and talked about his/her specific area, particularly in relation to the project.
Ms. Sonenfeld recalled that some months ago, when Police Chief John Ward discussed the hiring of two new police officers, he asked the Bergen County Prosecutor to investigate the allegations of inappropriateness of hiring the two police officers as a favor to friends. She reported publicly that the Prosecutor found no criminal activities, and requested that the case be closed. Ms. Sonenfeld, as the appropriate authority, deemed the findings unfounded.
The accelerated water meter program is going extremely well. Ms. Sonenfeld reported that 1,151 water meters have been implemented since the program started several weeks ago. This is much faster than the work done previously. The accelerated program was passed last summer, and the main intent behind it was customer service, as well as to accelerate the program. The reason for doing so was due to the fact that it was taking so long to get it done that the people who had been receiving estimated bills were getting them for longer periods of time, and when the actual bills were received, approximately half of the recipients received very large bills, because the estimated bills were too low. In those cases, the Village prorated the payments to give the customer’s time to pay off the bills. The other half of the recipients received a refund, which was sent immediately. Neither of those situations is a good one, and Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the Councilmembers agreed that it was better to accelerate the water meter program. At least 48 meters are being installed per day, which are the radio meters. There are 452 meters in the CBD, and 410 have been switched over to the new radio meters. There are 42 left to install, and they are trying to accelerate the process, partly due to the sewage discharger fees, in addition to all of the other reasons. That is a separate yearly billing based on water consumption from the previous six months of winter. So far, of the 127 bills that were sent this year, 13 of those bills were estimated in the CBD for the sewage discharge. As an extra item, the net billing for the sewage discharge in the CBD for 2014 was approximately $240,000.
In her “Ripped from the Headlines” section, Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that there was a meeting at the County level of approximately 75 first responders. The meeting had to do with the transporting of volatile crude oil through 11 Bergen County municipalities, which started in North Dakota. The train does not go through Ridgewood, but there have been some accidents on other trains of this type, which have not been serious with respect to fatalities, although there was an accident in Québec that killed 47 people. The point of the meeting at the County level was to talk about how prepared municipalities are to deal with this. The impact on Ridgewood is due to the fact that if it happens somewhere else, emergency responders in Ridgewood could be affected. Fire Chief James Van Goor attended the meeting, and more information will be coming from it. The consensus among the firefighters and chiefs who attended the meeting seems to be that the County should do more to provide training and equipment to handle such disasters.
The sixth annual Ridgewood Access Weekend occurred recently, and Ms. Sonenfeld said that it was, as always, a great event. She attended the fashion show, and it was all about celebrating people who are challenged and their capabilities, which was very uplifting.
Ms. Sonenfeld thanked the members of the Ridgewood Conservancy for planting daffodil bulbs around the Village.
On Saturday, October 25th, the Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Halloween Haunted Harvest. That is also the day when the “Meet the Manager” event will occur, from 9:00 A.M.-12:00 noon. In addition, on Saturday, October 25th, there will be computer, electronics, and paper shredding at the Campgaw Mountain Reservation. On Wednesday, October 29th, a forum will be held regarding “The Role of Art in Historic Preservation in the CBD” in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr., Courtroom, in Village Hall.
Mayor Aronsohn clarified that the revenue from the significant sewage discharge fees in the CBD is not solely from businesses in the CBD, but also comes from non-profit organizations that also must pay that fee.
Councilwoman Knudsen asked a follow-up question to an issue that was presented by a Walthery Avenue resident, who asked about the sidewalk slabs that were piled up with the yellow “Caution” tape surrounding them. Councilwoman Knudsen wondered if there was any plan for the slabs, or to expedite the removal of the slabs, because Halloween is coming, and the area is messy and dangerous. Some of the slabs are stacked at the corner of Walthery Avenue and Linwood Avenue, forcing people to walk out into the corner. She also asked what liability the Village might have as a result of the slabs being stacked there. Ms. Sonenfeld said she would check into that and get back to Councilwoman Knudsen. Councilwoman Knudsen said it was her understanding that the sidewalk slabs were stacked while trees were checked, and that the workers are waiting for authorization to put the slabs back where they belong. However, the slabs remain stacked, and there are gaping holes along the sidewalks, with yellow tape everywhere. She asked if the plan could be formulated and implemented to do something about the situation. Ms. Sonenfeld reiterated that Timothy Cronin, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, is fully booked through the end of November. However, she mentioned that there is a permit provided to people who repair the sidewalks, which is an open yearly permit. It seems that they have been opening up the sidewalks to force the issue with the trees, both of which issues must be handled.
7. COUNCIL REPORTS
Fourth of July Committee– Councilwoman Knudsen commented that the Fourth of July Committee is headed by Lee Gilsenan and Tara Masterson, who are remarkable young women, and Councilwoman Knudsen is impressed by them. They are currently working on theme ideas for the 2015 Fourth of July parade, and this is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to participate on this committee to have a say in what the potential themes will be, which is the statement made by the parade as it moves forward. They have discussed possible Grand Marshals, and other special guests. In addition, they continue to look for volunteers to help with booking of food trucks and vendors, so anyone with knowledge in that particular area would be helpful. They are also looking for people with experience in website design. The next meeting is to be held on November 10th, which is to be a special meeting to honor longtime supporters and sponsors with a wine and cheese event hosted by one of the committee chairpersons. Awards will be given to individuals and businesses who are longtime supporters and sponsors of the Fourth of July Committee. The next meeting will be held on Monday, December 8th, at 7:30 P.M., at the Firehouse. Any volunteers who would like to come in December are welcome.
Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned that a Ridgewood resident, Rurik Halaby, made some public comments at a previous Village Council meeting, including suggestions for the Fourth of July parade. Councilwoman Knudsen invited Mr. Halaby to come to one of the Fourth of July Committee meetings to share his suggestions, and she was delighted to see that he did come to the last meeting, and was very helpful and offered many wonderful suggestions. He is now a member of the committee.
Historic Preservation Commission– Councilwoman Knudsen stated that the Historic Preservation Commission applications involve private homes and the Moxie Salon, which is on two sides of Ridgewood Avenue, causing some confusion. Therefore, there will be some slight name changes to avoid further confusion.
Planning Board – Councilwoman Knudsen said at the last Planning Board meeting, the members had an opportunity to have a review of legal matters regarding the Open Public Meetings Act, and Board obligations per the Municipal Land-Use Law. The meeting was very informative, and this was the second meeting involved in going over the material. It was very beneficial to the newer members a refresher to the more seasoned members.
Regarding the public hearing for the land-use plan element for the Master Plan AH2(b)3, which affect CR and C-zone districts, that is now a continuation at the November 3rd meeting, which is unusual, because it is going to be held on a Monday night due to the election on Tuesday, November 4th. The meeting will be held at 7:30 P.M., at the Ridgewood High School campus center. The meeting is important, because Blais Brancheau, Village Planner, will be offering his professional report, and applicants will have the opportunity to question him. The next meeting after that will be on Monday, November 17th, also at the Ridgewood High School campus center, which will continue the cross-examination of Mr. Brancheau. As that winds down, there will be closing statements and remarks by applicants, as well as public comments. This application, which has tremendous implications for the CBD, will be ending on or about November 17th.
As an extra item, Councilwoman Knudsen noted that some residents have been interested in the proposal by I & L Enterprises, regarding the property at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Paramus Road, which is actually in Paramus, although there are a number of Ridgewood residents who have expressed concerns about the activities there. The Paramus Board of Adjustment will be meeting tomorrow in Paramus, and Councilwoman Knudsen, Mayor Aronsohn, and Mr. Rogers have been involved in this process. They have been putting together some meetings for the purpose of hearing residents’ concerns.
Ridgewood Arts Council– Councilman Pucciarelli commented that the Ridgewood Arts Council met last week, and they will be coming before the Village Council in the near future to present some of their plans. Linda Bradley is the Chairperson of the committee.
Public Library Board of Trustees– Councilman Pucciarelli mentioned that the Public Library Board of Trustees is chaired by John Johansen, and they will meet tomorrow evening at the Ridgewood Public Library.
Central Business District Forum– As previously announced, Councilman Pucciarelli noted that the next forum will be held on Wednesday, October 29th, in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr., Courtroom. The first half-hour is an open microphone for anyone to come forward and speak on issues affecting the CBD. Items as diverse as blue laws, the retail mix, landscaping, and parking have been discussed in the past. After the first 30 minutes, a panel of five people will discuss the role of arts and historic preservation in revitalizing a business district. Speakers include Michael Parloff, Chairperson and organizer of the Parlance Concerts; Tony Damiano, head of the Ridgewood Guild; Chris Yurgelonis, who puts together the programs offered at the Ridgewood Public Library; Art Wrubel, past Chairperson of the Historic Preservation Commission; and Justine Kaufman, who is the Vice-Chairperson of the Ridgewood Arts Council. Councilman Pucciarelli invited everyone to attend the next forum, which will start at 7:30 P.M.
Community Center Advisory Board – Councilwoman Hauck announced that the next “Let’s Stay Acquainted” lunch will be held next Thursday, October 30th, in the Pat Mancuso Room for anyone who is interested in attending, although it is geared toward those who are 55 and older. The guest speaker is coming to talk about “Mysteries of Old Ridgewood: Six True Stories from the 1800s to Today,” which Councilwoman Hauck says are unbelievable. The stories range from gypsy bands and where they lived in Ridgewood to unsolved murders and hoarders who lived in Ridgewood and died because they could not get out of their apartments, as well as other incredible stories. The last story is about a person living in Ridgewood who purchased a headstone at Valleau Cemetery, and visits it every day in order to appreciate life while he is living. Bizarre foods will also be served, and attendees are welcome to wear masks and/or costumes for Halloween.
Financial Advisory Committee – Councilwoman Hauck noted that the next meeting of the Financial Advisory Committee will be on Monday, November 3rd.
Shade Tree Commission – Councilman Sedon stated that the Shade Tree Commission met, and the results were discussed earlier this evening. They are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, October 28th.
Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) – Councilman Sedon commented that the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) also met last week. They discussed some issues regarding trying to get a recycling program to be implemented at Ridgewood High School. In addition, Earth Day is tentatively scheduled for May 2, 2015, which has yet to be confirmed.
Citizens Safety Advisory Committee – Councilman Sedon stated that the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee also met last week. A discussion was held with Lenore Skenazy, author of the book “Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry”. Approximately 55 people attended the discussion, and the opinion seems to be split about whether people feel safe walking the streets of Ridgewood. Some of the things discussed or issues regarding rude drivers; the streets being too dark; bad intersections; or too much traffic, causing pedestrians to nearly get hit. One of the interesting statistics mentioned was from a study done by the FBI from 1979-2005 stating that 3% of the children murdered during that time were killed by strangers; the rest were killed by family members or other people known to them.
Councilman Sedon also mentioned that the Chairperson of the Citizens Safety Advisory Committee, Sherwin Suss, will be leaving Ridgewood, and has now left the committee. He has dedicated many years to the committee, as a member since its inception, and Councilman Sedon thanked Mr. Suss for his hard work and input over the years. He also wished Mr. Suss good luck going forward in his new career.
Access Ridgewood – Mayor Aronsohn said that the sixth annual Access Ridgewood Weekend was extraordinary. He thanked many people for making it happen, paying particular attention to Janet Fricke, who helps Mayor Aronsohn to lead the process. The program started on Friday with Sheila Brogan explaining to the senior citizens why de-cluttering has both health and safety implications; a family party was held on Friday night for young children and their parents at the Ridgewood Public Library; a teen dance was held at Village Hall, with a better turnout than that of 2013. On Saturday, performances were held throughout the Village; the fashion show that was mentioned by Ms. Sonenfeld; and other various activities and food all around Ridgewood. On Sunday, the interfaith service was held, including many of the clergy from the different houses of worship around Ridgewood.
8. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn stated that they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward.
Renée Geller, 130 Prospect Street, stated that her home is one of the SHARE (Senior Housing Association of Ridgewood and Environs), Inc., houses. SHARE, Inc., is a non-profit organization that tries to provide affordable housing for senior citizens in Ridgewood.
Ms. Geller had some comments about the free holiday parking. She commented that at one time, she lived in Teaneck, and their business district is primarily located along Cedar Lane, where there are no parking meters. The traffic moves along, and there are signs on the streets notifying drivers that parking is limited to two hours, although there are no meters. The times during which parking is allowed are posted. Ms. Geller pointed out that Ridgewood is surrounded by municipalities and large shopping centers that do not charge for parking, where people can buy anything they want without having to pay for parking. She suggested that Ridgewood must do something to draw people to its businesses. Ms. Geller also suggested that perhaps Ms. Sonenfeld could speak to representatives from Teaneck to find out what their experiences have been regarding limiting parking to two hours in the business district without using parking meters for enforcement.
Next, Ms. Geller pointed out that senior citizens comprise the largest segment of the population in Ridgewood, and the fastest-growing group within that population is people aged 85 and over. Now, the baby boomers have also joined that population. Therefore, Ms. Geller believes it is very important to focus on senior citizens and their needs for that reason. Senior citizens do have something to offer. Many senior citizens are still registered voters, and Ms. Geller asked that their needs and desires be taken into consideration.
Regarding senior housing, Ms. Geller said she understands that there are currently two senior citizen housing units under construction or planned. Mayor Aronsohn said there are none. Ms. Geller pointed out that more senior housing is needed in Ridgewood. She spoke with the Past President of SHARE, who is interested in helping to plan a third senior citizen house. Ms. Geller said she is interested in the fact that in all of Bergen County, with the exception of Westwood, there are no assisted living facilities for senior citizens. Westwood is currently opening a facility that is similar to an assisted living facility, but it is sponsored for low-income and moderate-income senior citizens. It will help senior citizens to avoid having to go into nursing homes, as well as keeping them from becoming indigent. There was an article about it in The Record newspaper last Tuesday, October 14th. Some new programs are being implemented by several non-profit organizations in Westwood to assist senior citizens. Ms. Geller noted that only four of these programs exist in New Jersey, and it is a shame, because most senior citizens cannot afford assisted living facilities once they have a need for them. Prices for assisted living facilities start at approximately $4,500 per month, and consistently rise, leading to poverty among the senior citizens. The alternative is for senior citizens to give all of their money to their children so that they can receive public assistance. Their dignity is taken away from them. Ms. Geller believes that a sponsored assisted living facility would give senior citizens what they need, and allow them to retain their belongings and dignity, while allowing them to pay a subsidized rent and maintain their independence. Ms. Geller said she would like for the Councilmembers to consider this our future agenda when housing is discussed, and she reiterated that the Past President of SHARE is interested in discussing the possibility of future senior housing with the Councilmembers.
Councilwoman Hauck thanked Ms. Geller for her comments, and said that they would also discuss this at the next Community Center Advisory Board meeting.
Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, thanked Ms. Sonenfeld for publicly announcing the situation regarding Chief Ward. Ms. Loving stated that she had been wondering about that since the meeting on January 29, 2014, and she was happy to hear that he was cleared of any suggestion of impropriety, although she could have guessed that, because one of the police officers was sworn in several weeks ago.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, asked Ms. Sonenfeld if, due to the fact that her “Meet the Manager” event is to be held on the same day as the Halloween event, residents come in costume to meet her, would she be giving out any costume prizes. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that she would be giving out candy.
Regarding the restrooms at Habernickel Park, Mr. Loving recalled that prior to Ms. Sonenfeld’s tenure as Village Manager, the restrooms that were built at Graydon Park were built in an existing building, and the price at that time was $375,000-$400,000. When Ms. Sonenfeld mentioned a price of $60,000-$90,000 in a freestanding building, Mr. Loving did not believe that would be possible. At the same time that those restrooms were being built, Mr. Loving remembered that Bergen County was building new bathrooms at the Duck Pond in Ridgewood, and they also installed a prefabricated bathroom at the Duck Pond in Glen Rock. Mr. Loving believes that both of those buildings cost Ridgewood more than the estimated $400,000 for the bathrooms at Graydon Park. He is concerned that the Village is contemplating installing restrooms quickly in order to obtain $60,000 in grant funds. Ms. Sonenfeld said she thought she had made it clear that this was all very preliminary, although she did obtain quotes for prefabricated bathrooms, which were somewhere around $80,000. However, she reiterated that all of this discussion is very preliminary at this time. She also commented that the work would not be done just to obtain the $60,000, but it would be nice to be able to get the grant while at the same time putting much-needed bathrooms in at Habernickel Park, and also provide shelter from lightning. Ms. Sonenfeld also stated that the Village would ask for an extension of the deadline with a draft plan, and if that is approved, it would give her time to come back to the Village Council with a proposition in much more detail.
Finally, Mr. Loving noted that Councilman Sedon mentioned something about parking a car for three hours, then going out and moving the car to park for another three hours. Mr. Loving asked the Councilmembers to define what “repeat parking” is. He asked if it means parking in the same place and feeding the meter, and if that is not allowed; or if moving one’s car is legal. Mr. Loving believes that when someone moves a car, that car is still occupying a parking space, so he wondered why people would be allowed to move their cars to other spaces. If employees do that, they are still occupying spaces that cannot be used by diners or shoppers. He noted that in Hoboken, “repeat parking” has a completely different meaning. A person can park his/her car for four hours in a space, and that is all they are allowed to do. That person is not allowed to park anywhere else in Hoboken after that four-hour time period has lapsed. That tends to open up parking spaces, because other drivers watch for people who are moving their cars. Mr. loving asked if, as the discussions on repeat parking and other parking issues move forward, the Councilmembers could please make a decision about whether to allow people to move their cars from one parking space to another. Mr. Loving’s position is that it still prevents turnover in the Village.
Leonard Eisen, 762 Upper Boulevard, noted the discussion regarding resolution to urge increased funding for local transportation, and he wondered if it could be expanded to help people who cannot park in the CBD. He suggested that there is a lot of unmetered parking available throughout Ridgewood where people could park their cars all day, and perhaps a shuttle bus could pick people up at designated points, for which they could pay perhaps $.25, which is still cheaper than the parking meters, and bring them to the CBD. That could be implemented on a temporary basis until a long-term solution is found. Mayor Aronsohn said it is a good idea, and the Councilmembers have been exploring it with the Chamber of Commerce. There is a possibility of providing off-site parking for employees in the CBD, but it is an expensive proposition. Ms. Sonenfeld agreed with Mr. Eisen, adding that the possibility of using the Graydon Pool lot in the winter, and the Benjamin Franklin Middle School lot in the summer, had been considered. However, the general feeling was that, for commuters, it is not a very good option, because they are rushing to get to the train, and adding another 20-25 minutes to their commute is not always feasible. On the other hand, it might be feasible for CBD employees to do that as a longer-term solution. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that the bus would have to make the rounds continuously, because there are many different shifts for workers in the CBD.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comments.
9. RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION
The following resolution, numbered 14-267, to go into Closed Session, was read in full by the Deputy Village Clerk, as follows:
10. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come to before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilwoman Knudsen, seconded by Councilman Sedon, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 10:26 P.M.
PAUL S. ARONSOHN, Mayor
DONNA M. JACKSON, Deputy Village Clerk
