A REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR. COURTROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015, AT 8:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE – MOMENT OF SILENCE
Mayor Aronsohn called the meeting to order at 8:00 P.M., and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call, the following were present: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn. Also present were Roberta Sonenfeld, Village Manager; Heather Mailander, Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.
Mayor Aronsohn led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Mayor Aronsohn then asked for a moment of silence to honor the men and women in the United States Armed Forces who protect and defend our freedom every day, as well as those serving as first responders.
2. ACCEPTANCE OF FINANCIAL REPORTS
Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Bills, Claims, and Vouchers, and Statement of Funds on hand as of December 31, 2014, be accepted as submitted. Councilwoman Hauck seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Village Council minutes of October 8, December 3, and December 10, 2014, having been reviewed by the Village Council and now available in the Village Clerk’s Office, be approved as submitted. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
4. PROCLAMATIONS
A. Jamboree Days
Councilwoman Knudsen read the following proclamation:
B. Recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Mayor Aronsohn read the following proclamation:
5. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn asked if anyone from the public wished to speak regarding any of the agenda items.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, said he had comments relating to the introduction of ordinance #3458, which is on the agenda this evening. Mr. Loving mentioned that he was at the meeting last week, where he made some comments and expressed concerns about some irregularities he discovered with the valet parking operator. Ms. Sonenfeld stated that some people had received summonses, but the summonses were being paid. Nevertheless, Mr. Loving said he still has concerns, which he discussed with Police Chief John Ward, who investigated the matter further.
Mr. Loving said his first concern is that there is an assumption being made that the summonses are being paid, although they may not be paid. It is possible that some of the summonses were discarded, and it is also possible that some of the summonses blew away in the wind. If a vehicle owner receives a parking summons and ignores it, the vehicle owner is issued a “Failure to Appear” notice by the Municipal Court. If the vehicle owner is unaware that a summons was placed on his/her car and was either discarded or it blew away, the vehicle owner could find him/herself driving along the road, getting pulled over by a police officer, and being informed that the vehicle owner has a “Failure to Appear” warrant outstanding in Ridgewood, which may have a penalty associated with it. Chief Ward assured Mr. Loving that no car would be impounded or towed away under such circumstances, although Mr. Loving is not sure how true that is.
The next concern that Mr. Loving has is that, once a summons is issued to a vehicle owner, a notation is placed on an abstract associated with that license plate number. There is now a record that a summons was issued to that vehicle, through no fault of the vehicle owner. Mr. Loving asked what could be done about that, and could such a notation be expunged from the abstract on that license plate number if it is not the fault of the vehicle owner. After reading the ordinance to be introduced tonight, Mr. Loving said he does not believe the proposed monetary penalties are high enough, based on some of the potential problems that could be caused to the vehicle owner without his/her knowledge, and any traffic or parking summonses are not paid. He urged the Councilmembers to take another look at the ordinance. Mr. Loving also mentioned that Chief Ward will be contacting the Court Administrator regarding “Failure to Appear” notices to ensure that they are researched before any actions are taken against the vehicle owners. Mr. Loving believes this is a serious matter, and it requires some more investigation to determine what penalties might apply in these situations.
There were no other comments from the public at this time, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
6. MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Sonenfeld started her report with an update on the church investigation. As many residents know, two arrests were made on January 12, 2015, for the two shooting incidents that occurred at the Old Paramus Reformed Church. Joseph Galli, a Marine stationed in North Carolina, allegedly did the shootings. Alex Norrell of Ridgewood, who was earlier charged with possession of marijuana paraphernalia, high-capacity magazines, and had a bail set at $30,000 with no 10% payment, received additional bail of $75,000 with no 10% payment. Ms. Sonenfeld praised the Ridgewood Police Department for their excellent work, as well as the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Sheriff, Bergen County SWAT Team, NCIS, ATF, and the Somerville Police Department. It was a multi-faceted investigation resulting in two arrests only 16 days after discovery. That speaks volumes to the capabilities, dedication, and around-the-clock hard work by the Police Departments. As stated throughout the investigation, Ms. Sonenfeld understood it was frustrating for many people who knew what was going on, because although everyone felt very secure with the direction the investigation was taking, she was very frustrated that she could not reassure the public and ease their fears. Now, Ms. Sonenfeld was able to say that plans were in place as of December 30, 2014, when the suspects were identified, and their movements were being monitored throughout that time up until their arrest. There is still a lot of administrative work to be done.
On another note, Ms. Sonenfeld said she understands that there is still an outstanding issue with the recent robberies in Ridgewood. The Police Department has some strong leads that they are aggressively pursuing with multiple agencies, and they are also looking into persons of interest in the case.
Regarding the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone RFP and the responses to it, Ms. Sonenfeld set up a team that includes Mayor Aronsohn and Councilwoman Hauck to deal with the proposals received. She reminded everyone that one of the most significant goals in this redevelopment zone is to provide excess parking of at least 100 extra parking spots. Six proposals were received from four developers, and three of them are being given serious consideration. The other three are not being considered at this time, but more information will be provided on one of the three that are not being considered. The proposals that are not being considered were given that status due to the lack of conformance with the RFP, and with significant aspects of the zoning regulations, particularly as they relate to multi-family housing. The team dealing with the proposals was unanimous in their opposition to using the redevelopment zone for high-density multi-family housing. That is why two of the three remaining proposals are not being considered. The rest of the Councilmembers were made aware of the findings of the team, and agreed with the team’s decision.
The three proposals that are being considered are from Kensington Senior Development, which is a mixed-use proposal, consisting of retail space and an assisted living facility; M & M Realty Partners, which includes retail space only; and Langan Development, which is a mixed-use proposal, consisting of medical, retail, and residential space. The remaining three developers have been notified of the team’s decision, and they were sent questions as well as requests for clarification. Responses are expected by Wednesday, January 21st. The team will meet again on Friday, January 23rd, to review the responses and to determine the next steps.
Changing the subject, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the Village Bond Counsel made a presentation at a Village Council meeting about a month ago to discuss refinancing some of the older bonds from 2007. At that point, it was estimated that the savings to the Village would be approximately $450,000-$460,000. However, the Village Council could not act on the bond issuance until audited financial reports had been received for 2013. Ms. Sonenfeld has been in contact with the Bond Counsel within the past week, and the new savings estimate is now approximately $675,000 for the Village and Ridgewood Water. In the first year, the savings on interest is estimated to be approximately $50,000-$60,000.
Regarding the parking situation, Ms. Sonenfeld reported that 266 Ridgewood Parking Permits (RPPs) will have been sold to date, 15 of which were sold to non-residents. In addition, 68 CBD employee passes were sold, 52 of which were for the Ken Smith site, and the other 16 for Cottage Place. Two areas that could be improved have been identified. One of those areas is regarding the infrequent commuter into New York City, and Ms. Sonenfeld said they are working on a potential application in which the Village might be able to issue one-day passes to those commuters. The CBD parking team is also working on developing concepts for CBD employees. Ms. Sonenfeld said it is hoped that both of those issues can be presented to the Village Council at the January 28th Village Council meeting. She would also like to have something ready for the CBD forum to be held on Monday, January 26th (which was rescheduled from January 9th, due to snow), at Roots Steakhouse.
Christmas tree pickup continues over the next two weeks, until January 30th or residents can bring their Christmas trees to the Graydon Pool parking lot. Wreaths can be discarded with regular sanitation. Ms. Sonenfeld asked residents to avoid putting their trees at the curb while it is snowing, because Village personnel will not dig them out. Details about this are on the Village website.
In her “Response to Residents” segment, Ms. Sonenfeld noted that the next “Meet the Manager” event will be on Saturday, January 24th, from 9:00 A.M.-12:00 noon. Ms. Sonenfeld has been responding to emails received in response to e-notices that were sent to residents on various issues. In addition, residents on West Glen Avenue have contacted Ms. Sonenfeld again about the curbs in that area, and preventing the water runoff problem that has occurred before. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that that issue will be included as part of the proposed capital budget for 2015, which will be presented in February 2015.
The annual Martin Luther King, Jr., celebration will be held on Monday, January 19th. The annual Ridgewood Restaurant Week will be from January 18-22and January 25-29, 2015. Three-course, prix fixe meals will be available for $25.15 at participating restaurants in Ridgewood.
7. COUNCIL REPORTS
Fourth of July Committee – Councilwoman Knudsen commented that the Fourth of July Committee met this past Monday evening. The topics discussed included the July 4, 2015, theme, which is “American Innovation”. There were also discussions about finances and the continued challenges of funding-required security to ensure a safe and successful event in light of the Boston Marathon bombing. The cost of properly securing these events has escalated, presenting more difficulties for the committee. The committee will meet again on Monday, February 9th, at the Ridgewood Firehouse at 7:30 P.M.
Historic Preservation Commission – Councilwoman Knudsen stated that the Historic Preservation Commission met last Thursday. The meeting started with their annual reorganization, and it was decided that Vince Perillo will continue as the Chairman, and Joseph Suplicki as the Vice-Chairman of the Commission. A couple of applications were heard from two new businesses seeking comment on signage, including Italia De Gusto, which will be opening soon at 44 East Ridgewood Avenue; and Fish Restaurant, opening at the Bank of America building in late spring.
Planning Board– Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned that the Planning Board met last night at Ridgewood High School. It was a continuation of the Master Plan amendment pertaining to downtown housing. Developers Scott Leventhal, J. T. Bolger, and John Saraceno each made statements, with Mr. Leventhal’s statement being the most extensive. They were also questioned by members of the public as well as Planning Board members.
Councilwoman Knudsen mentioned four upcoming Planning Board meeting dates: January 20th at Village Hall, regarding the Church of God application; January 29th will be the continuation of the Master Plan amendment, and that meeting will open up to public comments; and February 3rd, which will be a continuation of the January 29th meeting. The January 29th and February 3rd meetings will be at the Ridgewood High School Campus Center, which Councilwoman Knudsen warned is very cold inside. She reminded everyone to confirm the meeting dates, times, and venues on the Village website.
Councilman Pucciarelli commented on Ms. Sonenfeld’s helpful role in the parking situation in Ridgewood. As the revised parking ordinance was passed, Councilman Pucciarelli realized that it is very possible that it is not a “one-size-fits-all” situation. Councilman Pucciarelli was contacted by a business owner who stated that the new parking policy does not work for his business (a hair salon), because his customers need 3-4 hours in his shop. The business owner asked Councilman Pucciarelli if the Councilmembers could reconsider the new parking policy. Ms. Sonenfeld and Councilman Pucciarelli met with the business owner, and Ms. Sonenfeld made the point that the ordinance that was adopted can be changed as the parking issue moves forward. It was always planned that adjustments could be made as necessary. Councilman Pucciarelli considers that a far better option than simply tabling the issue for further consideration.
CBD Forum– Councilman Pucciarelli commented that at the previous Village Council meeting, he stated that the next CBD forum would be held on Wednesday, February 18th, but he has since learned that the League of Women Voters will be hosting a discussion on the Open Public Meetings Act, to which they have invited everyone, and Councilman Pucciarelli does not want the CBD forum to conflict with that. Therefore, the next CBD forum will be held on Wednesday, March 18th, due in part to the lack of available people and rooms. The forum will be held at Christ Church on Cottage Place and Franklin Avenue.
Public Library Board of Trustees/Ridgewood Arts Council – Councilman Pucciarelli stated that these two committees will meet between now and the next Village Council meeting, and he will report on their activities at that time.
Financial Advisory Committee (FAC)– Councilwoman Hauck reported that the Financial Advisory Committee met on Monday, January 12th, when they discussed their 2015 priorities, which include the 2015 budget; financial reporting and controls; labor contracts; parking issues; strategic planning; technology platforms; Ridgewood Water; and grant writing opportunities. After discussing the general priorities, they focused on expediting and assisting with this year’s capital and operating budgets. They also discussed Village Council communication procedures. The FAC annual report usually comes out in February, but because the focus will be on the budget in February, the annual report will probably be delayed until March.
Councilwoman Hauck noted that the FAC is also discussing the best way to prioritize projects. The FAC members would like to ensure that they have the support of the Village Council in the projects they choose, so they think it might be better to communicate with the Village Council more frequently to know that the Village Council is asking that the FAC perform certain tasks. Going forward, they will be discussing ways in which they could have a better dialogue with the Councilmembers to ensure that they are working together on projects.
The FAC also briefly discussed internal financial control steps, particularly relating to incoming and outgoing cash. The committee members believe that more could be done in that area. They also explored possible revenue sources for Ridgewood Water, and they explored more potential short-term parking solutions.
Open Space Committee – Councilman Sedon mentioned that the Open Space Committee met last Thursday. They are currently working on putting together a survey, and trying to decide how to disseminate it to as many Ridgewood residents as possible. The subject of the survey is to ask Ridgewood residents how they are using the fields in the Village, whether they are using them for passive recreation, and other questions of that nature.
Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC)– Councilman Sedon stated that the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee (REAC) met last night. There was a presentation from a group called Stop Pilgrim Pipeline. The Pilgrim Pipeline has been proposed to run from Albany, New York, to Linden, New Jersey, and back. The 24-inch pipe will carry shale oil from North Dakota, and it will pass through the Passaic Watershed. Stop Pilgrim Pipeline is concerned that if some sort of accident occurs, it could contaminate drinking water. Members of the group are going to various towns, and although the pipeline is not supposed to pass through Ridgewood, because Ridgewood has a connection with United Water and United Water property will be affected by the pipeline, the group members wanted to make Ridgewood and members of REAC aware of what is happening. The members of REAC will decide what steps need to be taken from this point.
After the presentation, the members of REAC discussed Earth Day, which will be on April 19, 2015. The celebration of Earth Day will be held in conjunction with the Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Lands, who will be holding their annual Daffodil Festival in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. The two groups are working on finding and organizing vendors for the festivities, as well as inviting people to attend, and coming up with a plan for the day.
Shade Tree Commission– Councilman Sedon stated that the Shade Tree Commission also met last night, and their discussion was about a webpage for the Shade Tree Commission to give different facts about trees, including information about getting trees planted, requesting trees, and other details of the recently passed Shade Tree Policy. The Commission is also working on the Adopt-A-Tree program, and they are currently working on a draft of that policy which they hope to finalize by the end of January or February. It is hoped that the Shade Tree Commission website, once it is ready to go live, can be linked to the Village website.
Mayor Aronsohn commented on the investigation into the shootings at the Old Paramus Reformed Church, saying that he seconded everything Ms. Sonenfeld stated about the Ridgewood Police Department, and the wonderful cooperation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the other law enforcement agencies who participated in the investigation. Mayor Aronsohn pointed out that it was not only great police work, but all of the personnel involved went above and beyond the call of duty in their efforts to bring this to a close. The communication level among the Ridgewood Police Department, the Church officials, personnel of the Ivy School, and concerned parents was well above what would normally be required of anyone in such a situation. However, as Mayor Aronsohn noted, such communication is so important in these types of situations to allay fears. Ms. Sonenfeld added that she is planning to do some type of recognition or commendation at a Village Council meeting for the officers involved.
As far as the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Zone is concerned, Mayor Aronsohn underscored the point made by Ms. Sonenfeld that the team and the Councilmembers were emphatic that they did not want to circumvent the Planning Board process regarding multi-unit housing, because they did not think it is appropriate to do so.
With respect to parking, Mayor Aronsohn commented that the Chamber of Commerce will be holding a forum for CBD business owners and employees on Monday, January 26, at Roots Steakhouse at 6:00 P.M. It will be a great opportunity to share ideas. Mayor Aronsohn noted that Councilman Sedon had a proposal to reinstate the CBD permit to allow repeat parking for CBD employees in one or more of the municipal parking lots. Another idea that came from the Chamber of Commerce was the possibility of issuing a CBD employee pass to allow those employees to park only on the days when they are scheduled to work.
Mayor Aronsohn also mentioned that just before Christmas, he met with then-incoming Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco to discuss some issues, including the parking proposal before the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA). Mr. Tedesco was very supportive of the proposal, just as he had been supportive when he was a Bergen County Freeholder. Next week, Mayor Aronsohn will be meeting with the Deputy Director of the BCIA to keep them abreast of the current situation with respect to parking.
Regarding the Pilgrim Pipeline, Mayor Aronsohn said he became aware of this issue this past week when Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that Ellie Gruber, a Ridgewood resident, had written a letter to the Editor of the Bergen Record about the pipeline. The New Jersey State Assembly adopted a bipartisan resolution against the pipeline, and many other municipal councils are adopting similar resolutions against the pipeline.
Chamber of Commerce – Mayor Aronsohn stated that the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met this morning, and discussed many issues. Mayor Aronsohn mentioned the wayfinding signs, and the Board of Directors of the Chamber indicated that they would get back to the Village Council with a more comprehensive proposal.
8. ORDINANCES
a. Introduction – #3456 – Salary Ordinance – Fire Department
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3456. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3456 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO FIX SALARIES, WAGES, AND OTHER COMPENSATION OF AND FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRE SUPERIOR OFFICERS OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, COUNTY OF BERGEN, AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3456 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: Councilwoman Knudsen
b. Introduction – #3457 – Amend Chapter 258 – Towing – Investigative Towing, Removal, Storage, and Fees
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3457. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3457 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 258 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, TOWING, AT SECTION 258-3, “DEFINITIONS,” AND AT SECTION 258-6, “PERFORMANCE STANDARDS; REQUIREMENTS,” AND AT SECTION 258-7, “REMOVAL AND STORAGE OF VEHICLES; FEES”
Councilman Sedon moved that Ordinance 3457 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
c. Introduction – #3458 – Amendments to Valet Parking Ordinance – Modification of Terms of Permit Application and Violations and Penalties
Mayor Aronsohn moved the first reading of Ordinance 3458. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3458 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 263 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, VALET PARKING SERVICES, AT SECTION 263-2, “DEFINITIONS,” AND SECTION 263-5, “VIOLATIONS”
Councilwoman Knudsen moved that Ordinance 3458 be adopted on first reading and that February 11, 2015, be fixed as the date for the hearing thereon. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
d. Public Hearing – #3451 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Significant Sewer Discharge Fees
Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3451 and that the Public Hearing be opened. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3451 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 145 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, FEES, AT SECTION 145-6, “ENUMERATION OF FEES RELATING TO CODE CHAPTERS”
Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open. There were no comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilwoman Hauck moved that Ordinance 3451 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilman Sedon seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
e. Public Hearing – #3452 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Filming – Police Officer Fees
Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3452 and that the Public Hearing be opened. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3452 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 147 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, FILMING, AT SECTION 147-3, “PERMIT REQUIRED,” AND SECTION 147-6, “TRAFFIC CONTROL FEE”
Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open. There were no comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilman Pucciarelli moved that Ordinance 3452 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
f. Public Hearing – #3453 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Meters, Time Limit Parking, and Additional Miscellaneous Amendments
Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3453 and that the Public Hearing be opened. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3453 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 265 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC, AT SECTION 265-23, “TIME LIMIT PARKING,” AND SECTION 265-29, “PARKING METER ZONE DESIGNATED,” AND SECTION 265-69, SCHEDULE XIX: “TIME LIMIT PARKING”
Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open. There were no comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilman Sedon moved that Ordinance 3453 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilwoman Knudsen seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
g. Public Hearing – #3454 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees Pertaining to Towing Services
Mayor Aronsohn moved the second reading of Ordinance 3454 and that the Public Hearing be opened. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and
Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Village Clerk read Ordinance 3454 by title:
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 145 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD, FEES, AT SECTION 145-6, “ENUMERATION OF FEES RELATING TO CODE CHAPTERS”
Mayor Aronsohn announced that the Public Hearing was open. There were no comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn moved that the Public Hearing be closed. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Councilwoman Knudsen moved that Ordinance 3454 be adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law. Councilman Pucciarelli seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote
AYES: Councilmembers Hauck, Knudsen, Pucciarelli, Sedon, and Mayor Aronsohn
NAYS:None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
9. RESOLUTIONS
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED 15-2 THROUGH 15-24, WERE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL, AND WERE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
10. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mayor Aronsohn stated that they would again have comments from the public and asked anyone wishing to address the Village Council to come forward.
Boyd Loving, 342 South Irving Street, said he is not clear as to why there is a Temporary Chief Financial Officer, and a Temporary Deputy Chief Financial Officer, and he asked Mayor Aronsohn to explain the different roles of each position. Ms. Sonenfeld corrected Mr. Loving, saying that it was decided that Stephen Sanzari would be the Temporary CFO, and Ms. Sonenfeld will be the Acting CFO. Ms. Mailander reminded Ms. Sonenfeld that statute says “Temporary”. Ms. Sonenfeld explained that Mr. Sanzari has the role of Deputy CFO, which was his role several years ago under the previous Village Manager who was also the CFO. This will allow Mr. Sanzari to continue to do any reporting that needs to go to the State, which Ms. Sonenfeld will review and sign. Ms. Sonenfeld noted that Mr. Sanzari was the CFO for the past four years, and Mr. Loving asked what his compensation as the CFO was in 2014. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that Mr. Sanzari received $5,000 more as CFO than he received as Treasurer, and she thinks his salary was approximately $115,000 annually as CFO. His salary will now revert to what he previously received as Treasurer, which was approximately $110,000 annually. Until such time as a new CFO is hired, Mr. Sanzari will receive an additional $1,000 per month as a stipend to cover his additional duties as Deputy CFO. Ms. Sonenfeld pointed out that this will cost the Village much less than if an agency were hired to provide a temporary CFO. This decision was made to keep expenses down. In addition, Ms. Sonenfeld has waived any salary as the Temporary CFO.
Mr. Loving asked if it is true that one of the roles of the CFO is serving as the Director of the Parking Utility. Ms. Sonenfeld answered that one of the roles of the new CFO to be hired will be to serve as Director of the Parking Utility. At this time, she is serving in that capacity. Mr. Loving asked for clarification that Ms. Sonenfeld is serving as Director of the Parking Utility until such time as a permanent CFO is hired. Ms. Sonenfeld responded that some months ago, she stated that she would take over managing the Parking Utility because it was so bifurcated and no one was overseeing it at that time, so she was willing to take on that role until someone was found to do that. At that time, it was not known whether it would be an independent position, or if it would be the responsibility of the new CFO. Mayor Aronsohn agreed that it makes sense to have the CFO also serve as Director of the Parking Utility, particularly because of the revenue component, but also because of the plans to switch to new technology; adding parking garages; etc.
Regarding the 2013 audit report, Mr. Loving asked if the Councilmembers would consider allowing that to be posted on the Village website for the public to access, which Mayor Aronsohn and Ms. Sonenfeld agreed to do.
Chris Dobson, 408 Eton Court, said it seems that every year, there is no exact leaf collection schedule. Deadlines are missed based on what is stated in the schedule provided by the Village. This is especially true right before Thanksgiving, when many family members travel to Ridgewood for the holidays, and there is no place for them to park due to the piles of leaves in the streets. It also does not look very attractive. Mr. Dobson hopes that in 2015, the Village will be very strict in maintaining the leaf collection schedule.
Ms. Sonenfeld responded that at the last Village Council meeting, she summarized the leaf collection plan for 2014, and she will be meeting with members of the leaf collection team to evaluate the process that was used in 2014. The feedback from residents has been very positive, with very few negative comments received. Ms. Sonenfeld did say that communications will be improving, and she noted that the new Village Calendar does not include any leaf collection schedule because it is not practical to do so in December for the following year’s leaf season. As leaf season approaches, a schedule will be published. Another change that was made this year was the division of Section B, in which a part of Section B was added to Section D. As a result, some of the schedules changed. Although every effort was made to update the schedules on-line, it was not always possible to do so. She recommended that Mr. Dobson sign up for e-notices, because weekly updates were sent out regarding leaf collection. Another area that will be addressed more rigorously in 2015 will be enforcement, because another issue that has arisen is that after the leaves are all cleaned up on a particular street, someone puts leaves out.
Regarding security, Mr. Dobson suggested that perhaps Chief Ward could attend Village Council meetings at least quarterly to address any safety concerns of Ridgewood residents. Mayor Aronsohn said that was a very good suggestion.
There were no more comments from the public, and Mayor Aronsohn closed the time for public comment.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Councilman Pucciarelli, seconded by Councilman Sedon, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 P.M.
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Paul S. Aronsohn
Mayor
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Heather A. Mailander
Village Clerk
