[Music] They're about as tall as you, too, right? Yeah. >> Good evening. This is the Ridgewood Village Council public workshop. The time is 7:32. The date is October 22nd,
2025. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, the record, and by submission to all persons entitled the same as provided by law of a schedule, including the date and time of this
meeting. Roll call. >> Council member Mortimer >> here. >> Deputy Mayor Pin >> here. Council member Whites >> here. >> Council member Winterrad >> here. And Mayor Vajanos >> here. Will you all please join us in salute to our flag?
I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Let's go right to public comment.
>> Is this on? Yeah. >> Yes. >> Kathy, no. President. Um, I'm here concerning the South Pleasant bike path. Um, and I'm just wondering where did this idea come from and why has that
area been watched as to dismissal time and uh, drop off time in the morning for the school kids. Um, and I'm assuming the change you're talking about is no parking. So my concern is did you
contact notify all of the neighbors that live along South Pleasant? Was the principal and the home and school at Haw notified? Because I don't live on South Pleasant, but that area is just full of
cars picking up their children after school. um at least 10 cars or more parked there uh for pickup because there's the sidewalk. Um I'm not sure I know kids ride their bicycles to school, but I see them
riding on the sidewalks and if they were my children, I would ask them to ride on the sidewalk because it's crazy time. We have four poor school buses that come through there and one BF bus. Um, it's
just not safe if there's parking. If you reduce the parking on the bike path side, where are all those cars going to park? I live on Ellington. We've had cars park in front of our house for years. Fine. Drop off, no problem. Only
twice in 43 years did I have somebody park across my driveway. Most of the time, the parents are pleasant. There's no problems. But where are all these other cars going to go? They're already Excuse me. I'm not a public speaker. Um they already park along South Pleasant,
Dorchester, Ellington, Birkshshire, which is fine. It's off. Um but you have parents who come to drop off their kids or pick them up who not only have that child, but they have children in strollers. Now, for me, as a parent, I
would want to be on a sidewalk where I could park my stroller child if I had to. On the other side of Pleasant, there's no sidewalk. Um, that's where people are going to be parking. There's no, as I said, there's no sidewalk. So, where are the strollers going to go?
It's a busy, busy street at dismissal time. So, I'm just wondering what is the purpose of this bike path? I mean, I've lived there. Yes, there are some bicyclists, but not like you get along Grove Street. Um, so I'm not sure who thought of this and why. and was, like I
said, the the dismissal times and the traffic that's down at that area. It's crazy time. It I mean, they're just all over the place and speeding sometimes, too. And there's too many children. There's too many children in the area. They need to be on sidewalks getting
into cars safely. Um, when there's an event at Halls at night or a special event or something, the cars park all the way down South Pleasant, both sides of the street. So, where are all these people going to park? There's not enough parking at
Halls. And that's that's my question. Why why is this happening? >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Kathy. >> Good evening, Annoving Ridgewood taxpayer. I'd like to say again how much better the acoustics are. It's unbelievable. Thank you. On Friday, uh
my husband and I had the opportunity, I guess the privilege to help with Nancy Brennan Hill and Adam Brown's initiative to plant the saplings. Uh I know that several of you also participated either Friday or Saturday. According to Nancy,
uh something like 79 were planted and there's about a dozen left. These were significant height. They were six to eight feet tall. And she said if any she wanted me to announce that if anybody wants a tree still they should call Dina
Cat at 2011-670-5565. You will have somebody come out to your house and do the markouts for gas and water and then a white markout will be put where the tree is going to go. There's different species depending on whether it's an underwire side of the
street or a no wire side of the street. And by the way, um I think it's kind of strange that when a tree that belongs to the village comes down, either due to an accident or death of the tree or whatever, that it's not automatically
replanted that the homeowner has to call. It would seem to me that it ought to go right onto a list right away because I don't think people know um that the tree that you have to call. So maybe when a street tree comes down, as I believe a couple are coming down in my
neighborhood soon, it should just go on a list and that should happen. So one last thing I wanted to ask is or something I wanted to ask is it's my understanding there's now two lawsuits against the village regarding either the Shedler house and or the property and
I'm wondering whether that is going to hold up or stop uh construction plans. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ann. And by the way, um please let us know um how the acoustics continue because I know I always lean
into the mic. So since they're better, I'm going to try sitting a little further back. So if as long as you can still hear, that'd be great. So but but please raise your hand if you can't hear anybody. >> There's a drastic improvement in the acoustics. So Michael know Ridgewood
resident, I wanted to talk about uh the last meeting that I was at. there was sort of a uh I'll call it a lively discussion about the u bond ordinance. It had to do with the Warner theater and I think it was over a million dollars plus and I know in the past uh someone
always gave like a little very short summary of you know where the money is being spent. So, if we're spending money on PAS and they're getting one of those big tanks, I think people pretty much understand that. But I think it probably could have been summarized in maybe 20
seconds by saying, uh, we're trying to buy the Wonder Theater uh, for a performance center and we're trying to get 80% to pay for the renovations and we have to approve this um, to show that we have the funds available. And that's
all that someone would need to say and I think that would have summarized it. That's it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Michael. Anybody else? >> Uh good evening, mayor and council boy loving Ridgewood taxpayer. The acoustics are much much much better. So, thank you
very much for taking the initiative to straighten that all out. Uh this Monday, this past Monday, early afternoon, a Rididgewood High School student who lives two doors from me, um escaped injury when a large tree branch from a
village tree fell on a car in her driveway that she was getting ready to back out of her driveway. Just missed her. Car was significantly damaged, but fortunately she did was not injured at all. Response by police and
fire was immediate. As always, thank the police department and the fire department for responding and asking her if she was okay and doing everything that they needed to do to make sure that the scene was safe. And shortly thereafter, a representative from the shade tree department came out and took
a look at the trees. Uh I understand that the arborist is on vacation this week and the arborist himself could not take a look at the trees, but an assessment was made by the supervisor. I won't go into what he told me because I'm not sure that that's official. But what I am asking is this
is not the first time that a branch has fallen from a tree in front of this particular house. A few months ago, a branch fell into the driveway of the next door neighbor. There was no there were no vehicles parked in the driveway at the time and no one was injured. However, it did did take a while to
clean that up as well. So I am asking that when the arborist does return that there's some immediate action can be taken to take a look and see what needs to be done with respect to the trees in that particular area. There are one or two houses that seem to have trees that need some attention. Uh we certainly
don't want uh anybody injured. This young lady was very very fortunate. She had just gotten into the car and as soon as she shut the car door the tree branch came down on the car. There was some significant damage to the car, but she escaped without a scratch. Again, thanks to the police and fire department for
responding immediately, and I do hope that there is no delay in taking care of this problem, whatever it turns out to be. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Boyd. Anybody else? Seeing no one, we'll go to hybrid
access. Ann, you're up. You're on mute and Oh, there you go. Good. Ann Malone, 134 Foster Terrace, Ridgewood. >> Ann, just so you know, going forward, you just need to state whether you're a Rididgewood resident or not. We we've we
refrain now from giving our addresses. >> Thank you. The League of Women Voters of Ridgewood supports a yes vote on the Ridgewood ballot question. In keeping with the League of Women Voter New Jerseyy's
position in favor of conservation of open space, the LWV of Rididgewood supports the proposed tax increase, which would result in an increase of $3564
per household per year on average to a total of $7128 per household. per year on average paid into the village's open space fund. This fund provides a means for the
village to acquire, preserve, and enhance tracks of land within the village for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The LWV of Rididgewood understands that
the villages proposed open space tax of 1 cent per $100 of assessed property value to be number one well within the range of open space tax rates in other
towns in Bergen County. Number two, important for enhancing existing parks and preserved areas by clearing invasive species and litter. And number three,
important for the replenishment of a fund that is instrumental in obtaining grants to acquire additional land. Regarding number three, it is the league's understanding that a dedicated
open space fund demonstrates to potential granters that Ridgewood prioritizes open space, thus increasing the likelihood of obtaining grant money for the acquisition of new properties.
While there is not currently a restriction on the use of open space funds for artificial turf, the LWV of Ridgewood understands the issue of whether to purchase and install
artificial turf to be a separate issue that will be publicly debated before any such expenditure is approved. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ann. Anyone else?
Seeing no one, I'm going to close public comment. Excuse me. Oh, someone just came up. Cynthia, you're on. >> Hi. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> Excellent. Um, and I must say the
acoustics, at least from Zoom, seem much better. It's um can't wait to see it in person. Um, so you know, I just listened to um, >> please state your name. >> Oh, Cynthia O'Keefe, Rididgewood
resident. Uh, so I just listened to Ms. Malone's comments about the open space fund. Um, and you know, I think that there's quite a bit of confusion in the village. Um, you know, some of the information is not being disclosed. So,
you know, you're asking for a tax increase essentially, but um you know, the public doesn't really know all the details like what's in the fund, how much is in the fund. Um and do you have properties that are
earmarked for um potential future acquisition? Um to just ask for money and send out a flyer without any real um information to back it up. I I find concerning. Um and you know, Miss Malone
also just mentioned that um artificial turf will be debated in public. Um I don't think over the last two and a half years. We've actually debated about it because this council has decided that it's a fail to complete in whatever
project you deem it to be um you know fit for in your minds. um no matter what the public has to say, you know, about the environment um or the health of residents when you know, Mount Sinai doctors and other people have written to
you. So, I I don't know where she's getting this uh that this will be up for public debate. I find it um confusing. Uh that's all I really wanted to say. Thank you. >> Thank you, Cynthia. Anyone else? Seeing no one, I will now close public
comment. And um before I turn over to the council there, um I think I can answer some of the questions that have been raised. Kathy, for the bike path, we have our police department here. We're going to be discussing it in great detail um later, so we're not going to address it right now. Um and um
something that you and I both worked on, which was great, the u u the adopted sampling program. I think that that's an excellent suggestion. Um we will recommend it to our parks department about um setting up a list of those trees that have been removed and
earmarking them for future plantings. Um as for the lawsuits pending for Shedler, well, you never know for sure. Um we don't um we don't believe we've spoken to legal counsel. We don't believe that um the situation um meets the legal
criteria for injunctive relief to stop what's going on. But we'll have to see. So that's the current state of affairs. Um, with that, I open it up to the rest of the council. >> Sure. So I have a couple things. So Mrs. No, the idea for the bike path came from a group of AP students at the high
school, three young women um in 2024 when Khloe was a senior worked with Pam, with me, engineering, and the police. And the genesis of the idea was with Valley being closed, there'd be less traffic. and they came up with a plan that would connect multiple schools for
biking. And one of their primary reasons they wanted to do this besides like the health and the wellness is to reduce the traffic generation that occurs around our schools. So it it's not while it's close to the Bergen County bike path, it was really a local application to
encourage biking within them. They gave a presentation and you know there's minutes you can watch it. They were excellent. So that's the idea where the generation of the idea came from. So, and if you want to email me tomorrow, we we can send you the presentation um to Paul. So, with when a tree comes down,
one of the things that Shade Tree has been trying to work with the homeowners is when we plant a new tree, we need buyin from the homeowner. So, sometimes, believe it or not, Shade Tree hates when I say this, not everybody wants a tree in front of their house. Um last year when we sent a letter saying you're
going to be the recipient, we on certain areas received rejections up to 50%. um for us to take an asset, an expensive asset, anywhere between between$500 and $800 and put it in front where a homeowner is not going to manage it, love it, water it, or care for it, or
work with it. We've opted to places where they're wanted more. So, when a tree comes down, we don't immediately replace it because we really like um the homeowner buyer buy in. It's also important to note that we have multiple vacant sites. So, where we fund trees
each year, we if you don't want it, we still are at a deficit across the board and we'd much rather find it a viable home. Um, I too also want to just loosely say thank you to Dylan. I don't know if he's here and everybody in it. And lastly, um, one of the things that I've been wanting to say about open
space is that the open space tax is not unique to Rididgewood. Um, it's a dedicated tax that is occurring across the whole entire state. Some people opt in, some people are more. So, you know, this is not a rigid thing. It's not a this council thing, although we're the
ones who are prompting the question this year. Equally important to know for Richard residents is the same open space tax with the same state restrictions is at the Bergen County level. So, I always say this to the kids when we do the economic like section at the high school. Look at your tax bill. While
this is a public question and it's having a lot of great healthy public debate, it's not a this council in open space. It's a it's a standard application of a state statute that multiple municipalities use. I have a list of who has it and who has more than us less than us and we can circulate
that. But um this question is not unique to Rididgewood and in fact the same dedicated tax just like the library tax. It's an earmark tax occurs at the Bergen County level for Rididgewood residents as well. So that's just something I wanted to clear up. So, if there's any
confusion, you can come to us, but you can also go to the state and you can also go to Bergen County because the answers are going to be the same because it's a state application. Um, so hopefully that clarifies that. >> And I'd like to respond to Cynthia O'Keefe. Oh, okay. You hear me better
now? Okay. I'd like to respond to Cynthia O'Keefe. Um generally each year up till now uh the open space fund gets uh $300,000 a year and that has been used mostly to pay off debt service. Uh
it has also been used to pay for artificial turf at one point in 2018. Um and uh do we have properties that are earmarked for acquisition? I wouldn't
say earmarked but the open space committee keeps a list of properties that if they come up for sale they would be interested or they would you know make a recommendation to the village. Um, and so for instance, over by GW in
Citizens Park, there was a house and uh it was on the open spaces list of of properties to acquire and they did just that with the open space funds. That was the Bazo property. Um and yes, if artificial turf comes up in
terms of building a field, um that would be something expensive enough that we would probably be going to bond and every bond ordinance has to be discussed here in this room and introduced and
open for public hearing. So it would be um discussed publicly. That's all I have. And I just want to say is that as uh the open space liaison that if anyone has confusion about the goals of that committee, it's open committee stop on by. We meet I want to say the second
Thursday of the month. Um and I think the word that the deputy mayor was looking for is they have a wish list of properties they'd like to do. So it's not they're not going to earmark them because you never know if it's going to be for sale, but you know it's like a kids Christmas list that we have properties that we'd like to identify.
Um, and I think what um, Councilwoman Winter said is also important to note that this is a statewide thing. This is not a Ridgewood specific. And it's it's shocking to see how many other communities have significantly higher
than even a one penny per $100. Milbour Township has increased it three times. In this past November, they it's now four pennies per $100. So four cents and we're just trying to get to one cent. And so I would I would really encourage
anyone that's confused or getting misinformation from social media to one come to open space, ask them directly, and two, just and I'm not I'm saying this in a very bland way, Google and look around the state and you'll see what other municipalities are doing. And
we're constrained by the same state statutes as them. So it's nothing more than that. We just want to keep Bridgewood green and make it as green as possible. Thank you. I just want to add two things too. So one of the hesitencies to earmark property is that if we go out and say I
want to buy it now, it can inflate the price which isn't advantageous to the taxpayer. So that's that's one. Two, the whole entire community um very early on in and Evan and I we saw the exercise of open space for the adjacent land. I think it was 530 West Saddle River Road.
We applied for an open space grant for that property because it was adjacent to the Shedler property and we ultimately didn't get the grant so we didn't buy it. And lastly with respect to turf because this is the prior administration in I think believe 18 or 19 spent a half
a million dollars of open space money re um restoring Maple Field. So, um, it has been used and the prior council, the same council that approved turf on the original Shedler plan, which was, you know, the 2018, they exercised it and replaced that dangerous turf for I think
it was f just slightly over a half a million dollars. So, yes, it has been done, but I believe they had a majority consensus for that and it was in 18 or 19. So, it has been so there should be no ambiguity that that council after very limited debate at that point used
it for that purpose. Anybody else? >> Mayor, if I may, um, with regard to the bike path, I just want to reiterate the mayor's comments. While we do have two other presentations from both engineering and the police department, I am going to ask both of them to remain
for discussion about the proposed no parking ordinance where the bike path is on South Pleasant. So, we will have that discussion uh to Mrs. Loving. With regard to Shedler, um our focus right now, almost our exclusively our focus right now is the remediation. Um we are
in the process of finalizing the remediation plan with Matrix, New World Engineering to submit to the D for their review and approval. And at that point, we will be putting bid specs together uh to go out to bid to have the uh soil
that needs to be removed from the site removed. So that is our primary um objective right now. Um that's not to say that the park development piece won't follow that. Um but obviously we're being guided by legal counsel with regard to both of the referenced uh
litigation matters. With regard to the open space trust fund, I just want to say a few things. I know Miss O'Keeffe uh used the term not enough information is being put out. Um, I just want to reiterate that there is no bonding
associated with this public question. I know I had some inquiries into the office. There was some discussion online about that. This is not like a school referendum. A school referendum authorizes the board of education to go out and bond for the money that they
need for capital improvement projects. This is not akin to that. This is a set amount. It is based on each $100 of assessed value. It is not inflational. So, it is not going to be affected by an increase to the municipal budget. Uh the
only thing it would be altered by is an increase to the assessment. So, if you put a half a million dollar renovation on your home, your assessment is going to change. Thereby, what we collect from you and open space tax will change, but it is not inflational as it's not tied
back to the municipal budget. Um, and the other thing that I I want to make clear is we do not use the open space tax for general maintenance and operation of our parks or our open space. That is something that is funded
in the parks division budget. Um, staffing, health benefits for staff, uh, maintenance. We're not buying top soil. We're not buying grass seed. Um, now that's not to say that from time to time if we need benches or something that could be considered a capital
improvement in a park that we wouldn't uh put the open space money towards something like that. But our day-to-day operation is not funded and will not be funded by the open space trust fund. >> Thanks, Keith. Um, I do want to
recognize I thought Frank that that's a very good point just just to show the illustration that we are at a half a penny per $100 of assessment and Milbour is at 4 cents and we are proposing to bring it to 1 cent. So I think that that
tells a story there. Um, anybody else? No. Good. Let's move on. Keith, your manager's report. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, first for all those who celebrated Diwali, I hope you had a blessed and uh, celebratory holiday. Um, I also want to thank the staff here at Village Hall. Last Friday
we recognized breast cancer awareness month. Um, it is something that is uh, very near and dear to my heart and I want to thank the staff uh, for getting together. Everyone wore pink on Friday. Uh but more importantly than what we wore, uh there were donations made uh to
the breast cancer um fund through the American Cancer Society. So to all those staff members who participated in breast cancer awareness day, wear pink Friday, I just want to thank them. Um our budget meetings for our 2026 budget have started. Uh we're through about five or
six departments and those will continue through next week. This is our first round of budget uh discussions with our chief financial officer. Um and these conversations will go right through into our budget hearings in February of next year. Uh tonight on the agenda, you will
see the best practices checklist. This is something that is administered by the Department of Community Affairs, the state of New Jersey, uh that makes sure through a questionnaire that's issued each year uh that municipalities are staying within best practices and following state guidelines on a variety
of different issues. So, we'll talk about that as we progress on tonight's agenda. I also want to mention uh that through the efforts of Heather's office and also through our labor attorney, Dominic Brady, we are in the process of updating our human resources manual. uh we'll be putting that forward for a
council resolution for adoption. Uh there are some recommendations that are made by the joint insurance fund, some internal recommendations um based on some issues that we've had here um and matters that have been addressed with personnel, but that will come before the council before the end of the year. Also
happy to report that the Kingsbridge Lane pedestrian bridge is now in place. Um the company that did the work on that bridge is still in the process of securing the bridge. So it's not open to the public as of yet. Uh but the bridge is in place and it looks great and we're
looking forward to having that up and running for folks to use in the next few weeks. Uh the construction has started on the habern um ADA playground. I want to thank Nancy Beos and her staff at the parks and recreation department for overseeing that project. We're hopeful
that we will have that um new playground equipment open in the next few weeks. I also want to thank the signal division. Uh they have been laying the concrete pad for the bus stop in front of Ridgewood High School. Um finally, the New Jersey um the New Jersey Transit
Office who oversees bus stops throughout Northern New Jersey has indicated that they have a signed contract with a vendor. uh they have 60 days from probably about three weeks ago uh to install the bus stop. So Signal is prepping the site and by year end we should have a functional bus stop in
front of Rididgewood High School. Uh the Hawfield project, this is the upper baseball diamond. Uh that work will commence during teachers convention. Uh we've met with the administration of the Ridgewood public schools including the
principal at Haw. Uh the plan is to mobilize and get prepared for the job on the weekend of November 1st and 2nd. The work will commence on the 7th which I believe I'm sorry on the 6th which is
Thursday and Friday. And if they need to work that weekend um after teachers convention in order to get the job done before school starts on Monday um we will do that as well. Um as Mrs. loving indicated uh we had a great weekend planting saplings uh throughout the
village. I don't want to steal council member Winterrad's thunder on that, but I do want to thank all those who came out and volunteered uh for that important endeavor. Last Thursday, we broke ground on the main PAS treatment facility in the burrow of Glenrock. Um
it was a great day. We had Assemblywoman Lisa Swain and Assemblyman Chris Tully who represent Glenrock in the legislature present. they presented a $1 million check to offset the cost of that treatment facility. So, I want to thank
Lisa and Chris for their efforts. Um, I also want to thank um Mayor Christine Mayoro from Glenrock who was a strong advocate in trying to help Rididgewood Water secure those funds to offset the cost of that project. Last Wednesday, Council Member Winterrad and I and the
residential flood advisory committee tooured the Hocus Brook, the Saddle River, and some of the areas that are susceptible to storm water flooding. Um, I think it was a productive tour. That committee is structured with representatives from each of those areas. So, I think it was good for the
folks on the Sadd River to see what was going on on the Ho Hocus Brook and vice versa. Um it led to a lot of good discussion and some ideas for how that committee is going to move forward. And finally uh we had a successful meeting with Bergen County. Council member
Mortimer might discuss this in his report as well. Uh but we had a Zoom meeting with the county county engineering department uh to discuss continued improvements at the Glen West Glenn Avenue um and Oak Street intersection um and the East Glenn
Avenue and Maple intersection. So, we're working um on both of those intersections simultaneously. And tonight, when the police department and engineering make their presentation on the Bride and Way proposal, uh we'll talk more about that. Uh just a few announcements. The Chamber of Commerce
will be presenting their Halloween haunted harvest in Vaness Square on Saturday, October 25th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. is the children's parade and 1:00 p.m. is the pet parade. There will be free parking in the garage from 10:00 a.m. to 2 pm
for that event. Uh, leaf season has started um back on October 13th. Schedules have been mailed out. They'll also be posted on the village website. I do want to stress that the dates on the back side of the leaf collection flyer are dates that we're asking you to place
your leaves curbside. They are not dates that the leaves will actually be collected. Um, we are holding our second annual trick-or-treating event here at Village Hall on Friday, October 31st from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. We're inviting families to stop by each of the Village
Hall offices and then head over to the library, Ridgewood Water, the stable, and the fire department for more Halloween fun. The Ridgewood Elder Dinner will take place on Sunday, November 9th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Doors open at 2:30 at the Old Paramis
Reformed Church. Registration is required through community pass and space is limited to 90 guests. Transportation is available for seniors that day by calling the manager's office and setting that up with Beth Spanado. The general election will be held on
Tuesday, November 4th. Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on that day. Early voting starts this Saturday, October 25th, and runs through Sunday, November 2nd. The closest polling sites for early voting to Rididgewood are the
Whiteoff Public Library and Bergen County Community College in Pramis. Village Hall and all village offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th, in observ observance of Veterans Day, there will be no garbage or recycling pickup on that day. Also on
November 11th, in recognition of Veterans Day at 11:00 a.m., American Legion Post 53 will be hosting a Veterans Day service at Vaness Square. All are invited to attend to honor those who have served in the armed forces to protect our freedom. And finally, Village Council upcoming meetings.
November 5th is a work session. November 12th is a public meeting. December 3rd is a work session. December 10th is a public meeting. will start at 7:30m and in light of the holidays, we will only have two council meetings in each of the months of November and December. And
that concludes my report. Mayor, >> thank you, Keith. Let's go to council reports. Frank, >> thanks, Mayor. Um, so it was pretty cool. We had our uh first annual CESACIS and safety advisory committee, joint meeting with CBDAC, Central Business
District Advisory Committee. And um so what's interesting is like when I was on the parks and recck board, they always had a joint meeting once a year with open space and I saw how productive that was. So then I started one with Green Ridgewood and parks and wreck which also
uh led to some productive things. And so because it's interesting there's there's a core group of people that do the volunteer work here in town and all these committees and I think when you get them together there's a lot of synergy and um being together they can get to even a greater place. So this
first annual was um also went went really well and I think that we came up with some great stuff. the um we had identified some things that were key to each of the groups and then we wanted to see what um issues affected both. And so like for SEESAC, you know, sight
triangle um obstructions has always been a big deal. And um in the past month, four more compliances happened and one more summon was issued. And since engineering has been tracking compliances, we're now at 118, which I think is fantastic. Um, one of the big
CBDAC ones was parking and so they were thrilled to hear that we're hiring Walker to to revisit that and that they will be meeting with the public to hear from everybody about how we can improve our parking downtown. And as will come as no surprise to anyone that one of the
central uh concerns of both groups was ebikes and you know ebikes are becoming more and more of a threat. And um I want to thank uh our engineering department and especially our police department for participating this joint meeting. And I
think that hearing from um both Chief and uh Captain Elder that we um learned a lot of information about this and specifically that I think that is really worth noting for the public is that the
um the the currently the state um um AG guidelines uh which is attorney general guidelines for dealing with juvenile uh the juvie justice. So for for underage people that the police aren't able to
approach them as they once were. And so that really makes difficult to enforce it. And so one of the the the takeaways from this group is that once the new administration comes in that how maybe can we we petition to to give the police
back their power to just do community policing within in our um in our community. And I think that for anyone that is around policing knows that community policing means that you become part of your community, hence the name,
and you're seen as a as a friend, not a foe. And I really hope that we're able to help empower the police to again communicate with uh juveniles in appropriate way. So then that way that can um improve the safety specifically
with ebikes. Um, and it was interesting. It was like a foreshadowing for tonight because we talked about crosswalks and bumpouts. So, we'll be hearing about that later today. Also had parks and wreck uh last night. And um the
interesting thing there is that we uh heard about both um grade and pool and summer camp enrollments, both of which were down. And as we dug into that um that um our board of ed leaison said how
at the elementary schools that they're reducing the number of kindergarteners grades like like from three to two across. So it seems that it might be because there's a lull in younger kids and that might be the cause of it. But at a future parks and recck meeting we
are going to dig into why less people are going to grad and going to our summer camp. And that is a long-winded uh my council approaches. >> Thank you, Frank Siobhan. >> Sure. So, sorry, Evan. I'm not going to be so brief because it's been a busy
week. I've been waiting to make that joke, too. So, um after we met last week, last time I had the pleasure of tend attending the fire prevention lunchon with all our elementary schools, middle schools, our fire department, and high school. And I just want to congratulate the defire department and
our schools for an awesome job and give a particular shout out to um my alma mater orchard who won most improved. So it was a great day. If you've never taken part of this, it's a unique opportunity to understand more about fire and how important it is um to
educate people. So thank you to them. Um I'm going to try to go quickly, but we've had a ton of events within my subcommittee. So, I want to say um a huge thank you to everybody who participated in every element in access. I also want to take um a moment and
thank my entire council um who covered me for both access and shade tree. It was my son's senior weekend and I was unable to be at every event and I feel very grateful to work with a council who steps in, covers you and attends and that includes the professional staff as
well, Heather, Keith, Matt. Matt was digging trees. Um so access was a wonderful success and we had just a couple things worth mentioning. Pullover properly while lightly attended we drew from out of district. We had a kid with a permit from Hocus which is excellent.
Our police um handed out operation blue envelope which is an uh an an effort to engage in neurode divergent drivers. So if you're neurode divergent or you have autism and you are pulled over because you're more stimulated by sensory issues, you may have a reaction that can
be interpreted differently by the police. I am so proud of the police who put this on. I'm so proud to live in Rididgewood on these days. And the biggest compliment was we had um we had done a lot of outreach because you know clearly we need drivers. Um, the owner of Fairlon Driving School came with his
family and they took copies of Rididgewood's literature, which is an excellent compliment. I also want to take a brief moment and thank Noel, who's the founder of this, and Suzanne Ruain, who tirelessly shows up and support this effort. Um, additionally, we had a wonderful event at Steel Wheel
Tavern. I want to thank Jamie Davis, Jesse Schwarzman, Evan and I got to have dinner. Paul came and ate all our food later. Um, and thank you to Glenn and all the businesses. We kicked it off there because that's the first business that said yes to us. Um, so it's been unbelievably successful. These dinners
again are a wonderful place not just for the kids who have a disability, but for their siblings and their families. We also had the American Sign Language at the high school. High school kids came and it was at the library. If you're unaware of this, the um American Sign
Language is offered as an actual language course at our high school. So, I'm very grateful to the library, the high school, and I'm going to let Paul report on the weekends events um for access. But thank you to everybody. We're already ramping up with some new ideas in partnership with the police,
which we're very excited about for 2026. Stay tuned on that. Um, in addition to adopt a sapling, and I just want to say a huge thank you to my shade tree commission who came up with this very novel idea that has increased the trees in the ground significantly under this council's watch. I want to say what an
absolutely awesome job in picking these saplings. And you know, I'm not going to talk too much tree here, but I really doubt they were saplings. They were so much larger and beautiful. And again, thank you to everybody who planted them. if you happen to see them. You know, these young trees need extra water,
extra attention, and we're so grateful to everybody who adopted one. At the same time, we had a meeting within Shade Tree during the week of the plant, and Shade Tree is um discussing a couple ideas that I wanted to mention. One with the America 250, they're looking for
trees that are over 250 years old to be liberty trees so we can nominate them and register them. Um, a liberty, you know, that's a really old tree, by the way. episode, there is going to be a Liberty tree hunt conducted this spring and we're working with the forestry division of NJT. We're also going to be
issuing um a newsletter on ivy and how ivy can damage the tree. So, we're on an ivy hunt. If anybody has a tree being choked by ivy, please send us a photo and we'd like to talk about it. And we're thrilled to announce that Ridge School has been um selected for adopt a
sapling 2026. So, we're very ahead of the curve with that and thank you to everybody on that. Um, as Keith mentioned, we had the residential flood advisory committee meeting. I'm the lazy on to this. So, we have two members from Saddle River, two members from Hocusbrook, and two members from Storm
Waters, plus Joan from Green Ridgewood. Uh, this was great because, believe it or not, not everybody from Hocus had ever been over to Saddle River, and several of them didn't know what storm water flooding was. I want to thank everybody including Bespanado who set up the field trip and made this all happen.
And I promised I would mention this. There were a lot of ideas about what to do when storm waters become overgrown. And there is a very real idea. I'm going to say it, Keith. Um, a lot of these invasive species are now being dealt with flooding with goats. And this was discussed that municipalities including
New York City is actually um renting or investing in goats to go in and clear out Japanese knotweed um for storm water drainage that are hard to achieve areas or poison ivy because goats love this. So um we talked about that the million oyster launch while we're not next to
it. So it was a very interesting discussion with the novel idea that I was dared to mention from the dis. Um, I also want to close out with two other committees met. Richard Beautifification has met and we've gathered additional outside private donation funds which
will come on our next agenda, but the extra pots that were achieved in the bus station grant and through the donation by partnering with the guild have been ordered. And we're thrilled to announce that the pots that, you know, the brand new pots of the beautiful um summer plantings will be winterized with balsom
fur and branches. And we have selected 24 lamposts that will have kind of the courier knive charming garland with soft winter lights. An area on the west side and an area on the east side. So we are thrilled that um Signal is helping us with that. Thank thank you so much to
Rich Charlton. And lastly, yesterday we had a stigmafree um meeting. Thank you to everybody who attended and stigmafree is partnered with Richard Public Library. Last year the movie was Angst um and that was paid for by the board of ed but the library has a program that
allows us free movies and we're debating on what our next movie will be and it will be coming out in January. And just a final reminder that on October 28th there'll be Narcan training here. Um it's on social. If you've never seen this, it's worth attending. Obviously
it's an incredibly important tool in combating drug overdoses. It should be disarmed. Everybody should be aware of this. If you would like to take any Narcan home, that event's sponsored by Bergen County, so you have to be 18 years or older. But if you need something for a college age kid, you can attend our um go to our board of health
and anybody will help you. So I encourage everybody to come break the stigma and be a part of that. And that's it. >> You're sure? >> I am. >> Okay. >> She's very busy all the time. Evan, >> thank you. I will uh I guess try to be
brief as well. Um but yes, a lot going on uh in the swing of things. But first, I do want to echo Keith's comments. Every all my Hindu friends, happy the Wall-E. Anybody else celebrating? Um Keith, I'm incredibly excited that budget season has kicked off. This is like my Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, all
put into one. Best time of the year. So, that's great to hear. Um I do though, Keith, want to um seriously commend Ridgewood Water. Um there was a great article I know that you sent around that I'm hoping we'll put up discussing Rididgewood Waters effort to um offset the PAS remediation um work by um
applying for interest free loans as well as loan forgiveness from uh the state. This dubtales nicely with the announcement of that $1 million grant that we recently received. Um what's particularly special about all that work is that way we are able to save money that we can not have to pass off to the
rateayers. Um PAS is really expensive. Um, but you know, by by by getting these interest free and loan forgiveness uh programs as well as some of these grants, we're going to be able to save our taxpayers and our rateayers quite a bit of money as we make uh their water uh that much safer. Um, I do also want
to echo um Siobhan's comments. I went to the access dinner last Thursday. Um, one thing that Siobhan did not want to say or did not say that um I would like to say was thank her and her leadership for this. Um there are some great um uh some great um folks working on that committee that um that Siobhan leads. Um but it's
truly special when you get a room full of people who um have their own challenges. They can get together and share those challenges together. Um also want to thank Steel Wheel for giving us the space. It was a really special night and um I was really proud to be able to share dinner with them. Um even more
importantly on Friday night I attended the Blue Star dinner. Um for any of you those of you who don't know what blue star is, those are um families that currently have immediate family members serving abroad on behalf of the US military. Um the Legionnaire sponsored it at uh at at the church. Um really
again a wonderful community of folks who get together and talk about their own shared burdens and sacrifice. Um as was discussed at the meeting um Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving um hind you know uh you know Diwali, they're not really quite the same when you have a loved one serving abroad. Um I was really
privileged to be able to share that evening with them. I was even more privileged to be able to thank them for their sacrifice uh on behalf of Rididgewood and the entire community and also um was really happy the Legionnaires put that meeting on or put that dinner on. And again um something I was really proud of to play even just a
small role in um July 4th has already kicked off um planning for next year's um next year's uh parade and festivities. Um more to come on that but just shows you how much work and effort goes into that. We're still, you know, nine, 10 months out and we're already starting to build our plan um for next
year. Uh HPC met last week as well. We had close to a 4-hour uh meeting largely due to the diligence of the volunteers who really wanted to make sure that we were um you know careful about what we approve and don't approve. And I want to thank again all the volunteers in HPC um for their work as well. Finally, Keith,
I know you didn't mention it, but there's a blood drive tomorrow um here at Village Hall. I know this because I signed up. I will be in the chair hopefully getting my little cookie at one o'clock um when I get led myself. Hopefully I'll see some of my colleagues there. Not seeing any. Oh, all right. I see Paul. All right. So, that's great.
Um but again, busy uh busy couple of weeks as we get back into things. >> Thanks, Seb. Pam, >> this past weekend was homecoming weekend for Rididgewood High School and various uh classes. The alumni association was
very active this weekend. I got to go to the reunion for a class of 1965. Not my class, my husband's. Um, and these these reunions are just so meaningful and and uh they evolve over time. Each one is so
personal and um I I can hardly articulate why it's so meaningful. But anyway, on Saturday morning, the alumni association had their ceremony for the distinguished alumni and there were three people who were being honored.
Peter Ror, who is uh an orthopedic surgeon for who was an orthopedic surgeon for the US ski team. When he retired, he set up a company called Dog is my pilot. He flies dogs from uh
various states to shel to places that can adopt the dogs. He has um he has gotten 43,000 dogs and cats adopted across the country.
>> His motto is adopt don't shop. Uh so that was interesting. and also Kim Smith who was class of 1985 and she started a company called Learner Studio for underserved children and really stresses
um um encouraging kids to recognize their own agency that their thoughts have meaning and and are worth developing. um it's all about human potential and she really spoke very well about how to inspire kids in the age of
AI. And then the last speaker was Willie Gist, class of 1993. And um he said he got his start with a journalism class in RHS >> and you may know him from Little League Confidential or from Mornings with
Caralt. Uh he also spoke very warmly about the coaches and teachers at Rididgewood High School. This this is this event is every year now. It's in the morning uh Saturday morning on homecoming weekend and anybody can go
and their breakfasts are great. Uh okay. Also, planning board met last night and uh we were considering a minor subdivision on East Saddle River Road. We didn't actually vote on it because the applicant has to go before the
county and then come back to us. Uh because East Saddle River Road is a county road. Um I also did want to remind people that the New York New Jersey Trail Conference is holding a training for um trail maintenance uh
this Saturday on uh or is it Sunday? >> Sunday. Sunday uh 10 to 2 at Kings Pond meeting uh at the parking lot on Lake View Road Avenue. Um and you should if you're going to go, you do need to
pre-register. You can call the parks department and let them know that you want to be there. It's there's no charge, but uh you do have to pre-register. also bring work gloves, uh, water, uh, a lunch, and wear long
pants and sturdy shoes. No open toed shoes. Um, the Ridgewood Arts Foundation met to discuss fundraising for the Warner Theater this this past week. Uh they also put on an exhibit at the
stable called Arttober and really very sophisticated pieces of work and it's open for the month and you should go see it. There's sculpture, there's painting, there's photography. Uh let's see.
Shade tree, thank you. It's always good to be outside and you provided a real good excuse. Uh, I enjoyed delivering the trees and it's easy. It's so well organized. You don't have to think about anything. You just follow what they tell you to do. So, if you want to help next
year, uh, sign up. Let's see. Uh, Frank already covered the joint meeting between CBDAC and SEESAC, and that was very productive and fast because some of the things we discussed are on tonight's packet. Um the Ridgewood Business
Association is meeting and uh we formed various committees and one of the committees that's being formed is a search committee for an executive director. And let's see um Green Ridgewood also met and we discussed a
bill that's pending in the legislature uh to skip the stuff. This is a a movement uh across the state to uh encourage restaurants to not give out uh plastic silverware,
straws um and that sort of thing unless the customer asks for it. Uh as you know plastics in our waterways and in our bodies even are are uh a real concern. So also we discussed leave the leaves.
Here we are in leaf season. Uh if you leave the leaves on your lawn, it's very good for the insect population. Gives them shelter over the winter and you may consider it. It also helps enrich the
soil. Um if you take a look at the headquarters, uh Ridwood Water headquarters, you'll see there's some new green grass there under the flag pole. That's Pearl's premium grass, which um the high school students
through their experiment uh demonstrated has have longer roots and therefore need less water. So, we're looking forward to seeing how this survives and uh that's all I have.
>> Thanks, Pam. You know, the interesting thing about going last is that everybody gets to talk about everything and I'm left to just review, but but a couple of high points. The adopt the sampling program so much fun. You should definitely jump jump in next year. Um
and uh I I have to thank Siobhan because um she and this is our running joke is she gets into the weeds on everything. This adopted satin program wouldn't be there without her. Um she I give her full credit for the beautiful weather we
had that day. Um also access week again this is this is all Siobhan all the time. Um and um I go every year uh because it's let me tell you you should all go. It will make you smile. um the fashion show on Saturday at the library
auditorium. There were 36 models um who showed off their fashion and their style and it was absolutely magical. I mean absolutely magical. Um you you can't walk out of there without
a smile and a tear. It's just wonderful. And again um thank you so much Siobhan. uh Sunday there was a roundt discussion of a bunch of people on where we are and where we need to be in terms of providing access to our disabled
community. Um the blood drive is Evan said, come on, we're we're going to be there tomorrow. Um uh come give some blood. Again, another thing that makes you happy when you're done. Um the bridge um you know, this has been
sitting around for a long time. I'm so excited that it's in place and I want to thank um our our senior staff for making sure this got done. The ADA playground at Habernickle, same thing. By the way, I love the term ADA playground. Um I I
hope that one day all of our playgrounds are um ADA certified. um the dedication of the Cedar Hill Water Treatment Facility, just a just another terrific thing. You know, in in just about a year from now, um we will be complete with
all of our water treatment facilities. We're going to have one that's going to be in the beginning of uh 2027, at which point all of our water will be um PAS free defined as below any
measurable detection levels. Um that will be we will be done before 46 other states have begun because up until recently 46 other states did not regulate this. So we're going to we're
way ahead of the curve. Um the blue star dinner Evan um I have been there. I couldn't be there this year. It is just a fabulous thing. There are so many great things going on in town. Um, I want to take a moment to mention there is a new property tax relief program for
seniors for those of you who are unaware and the deadline is coming up on October 31st. It was um signed into law by uh Governor Murphy last year and it is called Stay New Jersey. It is designed for um to have seniors stay because we
know that we're a high property tax state and uh the long and the short of it is that without and I'm pretty clear on this. I may be off just a little bit, but I'm I'm pretty clear that there are no income um limits. And so um your
first $13,000 in property taxes, you will get a rebate of $6,500. >> Wow. >> So it's it's a it's a pretty big deal and it's something that you should definitely check with your accountant on just to doublech checkck me on this. And last but not least, I want to take a
moment to um as has been done, wish our Hindu and Sik communities, which are a wonderful part of our community um to uh a happy Dvali today. And I'm just going to go over something that I I really love about Dvali. I I've learned so much
about it. Um light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance. Um I have personally benefited so much from learning about foundational principles of Dvali. I carry them with me and I
practice them every day in everything I do. Um, as we look around us, it is clear that the world needs more Dvali. Um, the Middle East needs more Dvali. Washington DC needs more Dvali and
certainly Ridgewood, New Jersey could always use a little more Dvali. So, um, I share that with all of you. And that is the end of our uh council reports and let's go to our regular agenda. Keith, you're on.
>> So, mayor, tonight we have a a shortened list of discussion items before the special public meeting. Um we did need to pull the Cedar Hill bid award for the next PAS treatment facility off the agenda. I'll defer to Matt um to speak to that quickly and then we'll move on
to discussion about the health benefits plan. Yeah, the uh the low bidder on this had previously withdrawn. This is the second time this project has been bid out. The low bidder had previously withdrawn a bid on the first time it went out and um under state statute,
you're not allowed to award a bid to somebody who has withdrawn on an earlier bid on the same proposal. So, we had to reject that bid and uh determination is being made at this point in time whether to go with the next lowest bidder or reid it again. there are time
constraints that the Ridgewood Water needs to deal with. So, they'll be making the decision shortly. >> So, mayor, moving on to um budget item discussions. Um, the New Jersey Division of Pension and Benefits announced on
September 24th a 36.5% increase in state health benefit premiums for municipalities enrolled in the state plan effective January 2026. This is a significant increase that will impact both employees in their Chapter
78 contributions to their health benefits and the villages overall health care costs. In response, the village of Rididgewood has thoroughly explored multiple avenues to minimize the financial impact on our employees and on
the village in next year's budget. After evaluating all feasible options with our risk manager Brown and Brown, the most effective path forward is to offer a high deductible plan through the state health benefits program paired with a
difference card that will cover out-ofpocket expenses for employees. This strategy is designed to significantly reduce our health care contributions while maintaining access to quality coverage for our employees. We've shared a slide deck with our union
officials. Um, all union leadership in the village has been briefed on this opportunity. We met last Thursday over at Ridgewood Water. Um, and we are holding four employee information sessions tomorrow and Friday for our
employees to come and ask questions both of our risk manager representatives from Brown and Brown and a representative from the difference card. in order to enroll in this program and it will be optional for employees. Although talking to the unions um almost every day since
last Thursday uh because of the substantial increase there seems to be a lot of interest amongst our employees on moving to the high deductible plan which the premium is about 50% of direct 10 which is the plan that most employees here in the village use um to save them
cut on their chapter 78 costs and also cut our premiums going into next year's budget. So tonight, what I'm requesting is that the council consider um this resolution. Uh this will allow us to go into a professional services agreement
with EB employee solutions um out of Armach New York. Um the amount in the resolution is not to exceed $118,000, but it's not going to be $118,000 if each of our employees move to the high deductible plan with a reduced
premium. and we prepopulated the difference card for them and picked up those out-of- pocket costs. If everyone across the board did did it, it would be $118,000 to the difference card. Um, we don't expect every employee to do it. I I'm hopeful that we'll
see over 75% of our employees at least consider this, if not sign up for it. Um, but the open enrollment period for our employees ends next Friday, October 31st. So between the state health benefits plan approving these changes on
the 24th of September and our employees needing to make a life decision about their health care by next week. U we had a very short runway to put this all together and that's why we're asking for approval of this resolution tonight as part of your special public meeting. So Keith, just to dumb it down, as I
understand it, we're going to offer an option for a high deductible plan, which will bring the cost down over the 36% that we're now having to eat, right? And that the difference that folks would have to pay out of pocket essentially, the village would pay for and that would not be more than 118,000. Is that your
am I getting that right? >> Correct. So each each let me say this. The increase that's proposed on direct 10 for next year for municipal employees throughout the state of New Jersey is 36.5%. >> Right? >> If our employees opt to move from direct
10 to the high deductible plan. >> That's about half of it's about 50% savings on the premium. >> What their current contributions are will be reduced by 50% and what we're paying for their premium on the villages side will be will be reduced by 50%. And
it's a sliding scale depending on what your salary is. If you're >> say if you're making over $100,000, you're you're at 35% of the premium is the employee contribution. So, we are going to prepopulate the difference card for all of the out of pocket up until
that deductible. And then once if the employee meets that deductible under the high deductible plan, then the balance will be picked up by the state. >> So, this sounds very creative. So, it sounds like we're going to be saving a bunch of money and instead of passing all that expense on to the employees,
we're going to give them back 118 up to $118,000. >> So, $118,000 is the V villages cost. >> That's what I'm saying. Right. To administer to administer the plan. That that number I don't have the exact deductible number, but it's significantly less for than that for each employee. >> Okay. So, I'm sorry. So, it's $118,000
just to sign up. It's it's it's our administrative cost for them to administer our plan. And they will we will our employees will have access to the difference card for any type of payment issues, billing issues from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. So, they will actually be
providing a service to the employees who sign up for this. >> So, they'll be paying out of our employees then will be paying out of pocket for the higher deductible. It sounds like >> No, no, no. Sorry. So, you're losing me then. >> The 18 Go ahead, Mayor. >> It's open enrollment. So, it's open enrollment.
>> So, what happens is under if if they sign up for this new plan, >> they still get to go to all the same doctors, >> it saves them 50% on their premium. >> And whatever higher deductible they
have, we're paying for. So, they're not paying anything higher on the deductible. There's they and the village are going to save 50% on their premium with no limitation on the doctors and services
that they want to use. It's all the same. It just saves 50% on premium and at the end of the day that higher deductible the village is picking up which at $118,000 is well worth it. And and you called
this a creative solution. It is a very creative solution because this was The 36% increase for the village and for staff >> was not a good option. >> It's a train wreck. >> Mayor train wreck. >> Mayor, just to put this in perspective,
the direct 10 plan, which is the Cadillac of state health care >> that our employees, the majority, great majority of our employees are enrolled in for a family plan will be $68,000 a year next year. >> That's a 36% jump from this year to next
year. And I mean what's crazy about that is we hire a laborer on the parks division for $55,000. So if we were to hire somebody new at the parks division, we're paying them a salary of 55,000. Their health care cost if they're on a family plan is 68. And
that's and that's and and I I just say that for comparative purposes because of that $55,000 a year salary, they're paying a certain percentage of that salary into offset the cost of the 68,000. So there's a there's a benefit
to the employee and there's a benefit to the village. So there's three costs that you have to take into account. There's the new premium on the high deductible plan for those employees who elect to do this. There's the cost of populating the out-of pocket um debit card that
employees will have, right? And we pay as we go with that. We're not putting a certain amount on there. We're paying up until the deductible as much as is needed for that employee based on their visits that year. And then we have the administrative cost to um to operate uh
the difference card. So those are the three out-of- pocket costs for us. Go back >> significantly less than what we would be paying if we stayed in direct 10. >> Okay. So the second cost, right, is we're going to we're going to the the taxpayers are going to pay for the difference in what our employees now are going to have to eat via the higher
deductible. So we're auth are you saying that we're going to save enough money on the plan overall that that will equal out or are we going to be paying more significant >> significantly and I can share those numbers with you. >> So I'd like to see those numbers but if that's the case and I don't doubt they are that's a really good win and a
really good response to again a real train wreck of a situation that we were handed out of Trenton. >> Yeah. And listen I can I can sit here all night and talk about the deficiencies with the state health benefits plan. I will bore the heck out of all of you. But, you know, there's we're at a crossroads with state health
benefits. Um, between the time that these rates were approved in September and even before that, we sort of had an inclination of what these numbers were going to look like. We shopped around. We went to group insurance funds. We explored uh going back to being
self-insured, which I think there was a stint here. Heather can fill the in the blanks there, but there was a point where we were self-insured. That's a that can be risky for municipalities of this size. Um, but we explored multi multiple options
>> because we knew that a 36% increase was just unsustainable going into next year's budget. >> This is what was really the only option but also the best option as far as savings goes because even the group insurance funds like the BMED, they're going up, you
know, 22 26% whatever that number is for those municipalities who are enrolled in a group insurance fund. Um, the other thing I'll point out is that we really followed the template that Ramsay took, and I've been talking to the business administrator up there, Bruce, for for a
few months about this. Um, they went to the high deductible plan. They enrolled with the difference card. Um, and they did it last year when that when the increase went into effect last year, and it's been overall very successful. What
they're seeing now is with a 36% increase on Direct 10, which is what most of our employees are enrolled in, they're seeing a lot more employees during this open enrollment period, move to the high deductible plan and take advantage of the difference card there. So, it's it's different, right? Because
there's a different way of paying, although we're covering all their out-of pocket right now. They have a $10 co-ay if they go to the doctor or the the medic center or what have you. Um, we'll be picking all of that up. So, there's incentive on the employee for savings. Um, there's a little bit of paperwork that needs to be done comparing bills to
EOBS and things of that nature, but based on what the employee is going to save and what the village is going to save, I I do think that we will have a significant amount of employees sign up for this program. >> And and and correct me if I'm wrong. You referred to Direct 10 as the Cadillac
plan. >> This is going to be the same plan, >> right? >> So, it is still the Cadillac plan. It's just going to cost >> there's a higher deductible >> and but but >> but they're not going to know about that. Correct. They're just paying less.
We're also paying less. >> But they're still they maintain the Cadillac plan because look, at the end of the day, we all need good health insurance and we want our staff to have health insurance. So, they're not giving up anything for those who sign up for it. >> So, just one point. And by the way, again, very supportive. This sounds
great. Um, when you say it's not going to cost us any more money, is that compared to our cost now or compared to what we're expected%? >> We It depend I I'm reluctant to put out specific numbers on savings, >> right? >> Because we don't know how many employees are going to enroll by next Friday.
>> I'll have a much better handle on that the week after next. Um, but we we are going to we're going to see a substantial um reduction in what the potential increase would have been for next year. >> I'm sorry. But so potential increase, but how much more, in other words, how
much what is the impact going to be on next year's budget? Do we know that yet? I >> I don't know until we know how many. >> Again, it's it's the lesser of two evils regardless because we're obviously not going to swallow a 36% increase. >> The the impact of the 36% increase can only go down for every employee that that that signs up for the difference
card. >> So, I'm absolutely a yes vote on this. I thank you for the creativity. I w I will have some more questions though, Keith. Sure. About what the overall cost is going to It sounds like this is going to be a net increase over what we budgeted for this year. >> Understand like we're going to have to pay more regardless next year and this
is going to, you know, this is going to mitigate that. So, I'm very supportive, but I'm going to have some more questions on it. But certainly for tonight, I'm a yes. >> Once we know through open enrollment how many employees participate, it's my intention to have Brown and Brown in here to make that presentation so we're
all eyes wide open going into next year. >> I'd appreciate that. Thank you. >> Well, and also it it seems better than Cadillac because the copay goes away. Correct. Right. >> And so that should incentivize our staff to be healthier, weller, and attend more frequent lockd. So that's like it seems
to me like from a staff perspective that's a better plan. The only question I have is is a change of life like if you have a baby during the year, can you >> same rules apply? >> Okay. Thank you. I thought there was an interesting article in the League of M New Jersey
League of Municipalities about why health care costs have gone up so much and I can remember three of the factors. One, the pandemic because people didn't want to go to their doctors and by the time they got there they were sicker and
also um people going out of state for health care and New Jersey paying for it. Um, and then the last one which really surprised me is specialty drugs that cost more like Ompic. >> I I I mean speaking frankly about it and
I'll just lay it out there. You know, we have one provider in New Jersey, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. There's not there's no competition >> and that that is a main driver of why we are where we are with state health benefits. Another factor is that when
there was a significant increase, I want to say in 23, there were a lot of municipalities who then opted to shop around for different options. The ones with better claims data were accepted into group insurance funds like the BMED that they have in
Bergen County. Um, they shopped around, they went other places, and left a pool of, you know, moderate claims data to bad data. So now you're dealing with a sicker pool of people that are left in the state health benefits because the
folks with better claims data left the fund. So there's a there's a compounding factor. And the third as as uh the deputy mayor alluded to um but the the the weight loss drugs um have really had a tremendous impact um on health
insurance in this area. And it's it's definitely one of the the main factors. Um it's astonishing because overseas the cost is not the same. It's a debate for another day. Um but these are all compounding factors that we're dealing with. Um and quite frankly, I think, you
know, honestly, whoever wins the election on November 5th, this is going to be first order of business because I can't tell you with certainty that two years from now, the state health benefits fund is going to look like it does here tonight. Well, I'm pretty sure it'll probably look worse the way it's
been going. So, I would encourage you certainly to keep looking at alternatives and some of those other collectives because I don't have any faith in Treton getting this one right. Um, that was my first year on the council when we had to eat that 20% increase. At the same time, COVID funding was cut. It was a disaster and to come back two years later and then
hit us up for 36%. It's epic mismanagement and I understand all the concerns and all the problems, but it's not like no one saw this coming. So, I again appreciate the the resolution we have for this year. Definitely. Again, we have some more questions or bunch season, but Keith would certainly encourage you to keep looking at some of those other collectives to get us out of
the state system. >> Anybody else? >> Let's go. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you. >> You need to do a motion to suspend the work session >> and a special second.
>> Who Who moved it? Me. >> And I second it. >> Okay. Mortimer. >> Yes. >> Par. Yes. Whites. Yes. >> Yes. Sos. >> Yes. >> This is the Are we going in? We're good. >> This is the village council special
public meeting. The date is October 22nd, 2025. The time is 8:52 p.m. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Richwood News, the record, and by submission to all persons entitled to
same as provided by law of a schedule, including the date and time of this meeting. Roll call. >> Council member Mortimer, >> yes. >> Deputy Mayor Perin, yes. >> Council member Whites, >> yes. >> Council member Winterrad, >> yes. >> Mayor Rajanos, >> yes. Uh, we'll go to public comment.
No, >> no, >> just >> I think this is limited to just the issue that we were just discussing. >> It's it's not a hearing. It's it's regular public comment. >> Yeah, they can they can talk about anything. >> Oh, because I know what they're probably
here to talk about. So, if they did want to talk about, I guess they could, but obviously it wouldn't be gerine to the insurance piece. >> But they can. >> But they can. >> Okay. Uh then seeing no one, we're going to close public comment. >> Okay. The following resolutions number 25-417
through 25-418 will be adopted by a consent agenda with one vote by the village council. They will be read by title only. Award professional services agreement health reimbursement arrangement services. Award professional services contract parking planning and
operations consultant for parking utility. May I have a motion? So moved. >> Second. Mortimer, >> yes. >> Parin, >> yes. Whites, >> yes. >> Wiggrad, yes. Vaganis, >> yes. And with that, we will entertain a motion to adjourn
>> and reconvene the work session. >> And reconvene the mo work session. >> So moved. >> Second. Let's go. >> Okay. So, >> all in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Thank you. So through you, mayor, tonight we have uh two presentations um for the Oak Street and Glenn Avenue
intersection and the Brighten Place one-way proposal. And then the second presentation is for the concept of bumpouts in the central business district primarily along East Ridgewood Avenue. So at this time, I'd like to invite up our village engineer, Christopher Rutishhouser, representatives from our police
department, Chief Lines, Captain Ender Torino, um to discuss both items. And while they're walking up, just one point for the record. Um I personally live near one of these intersections. I've discussed the issue with Matt. Um off the record, he advises me I do not have
a uh because I I have no special interest in it other than I live in the neighborhood. I have no conflict. So therefore, I'm I'm just want to make the folks aware that I do live in the area. Uh but I'm not electing to recuse myself on the matter. >> Yeah. Just just just to confirm the same thing. There is no conflict. I gave that
advice to Councilman Whites and he's able to rely on that. So we can proceed. >> So Chris, why don't you start us off by where we are at this intersection and how we get to the recommended oneway on Biden. >> Gentlemen, thank you all for being here.
before I think Keith it'd be more important to say to start off to frame it is that this is one of several um actions that we're looking into for the traffic issues at Maple and Glenn as well as Glenn and Oak. So this is a
piece of that overall component. >> Uh good evening mayor and council. Uh first topic will be the intersection of Glenn Avenue and >> Chris forgive me. Is your mic on? >> Lights on. That's all. Thank you. Yep.
Just checking. >> Um, this intersection currently has a flashing red, flashing amber signal. It's a cautionary warning light system. This light system is currently being upgraded by our traffic signal division
because it was damaged in a motor vehicle accident. I believe it was earlier this year. uh they've constructed the footings and they will be putting up the light poles, arms and so forth. We're going to much larger light. I think the uh previous
ones or the current ones are 8 in. We're going to go to 12 in and we're going to double them up. So that'll be make it'll make the lights very very visible to motorists that notice them. >> I'm sorry. You said this was Glenn and Oak, right? Yeah. >> Pardon? >> Glenn and Oak. >> Yes. >> Okay. When when do we think that work
will be done? I saw it started. Looks great. >> We started it. I don't know when it's going to be done. Signal has a lot of other jobs. >> Okay. >> Uh Keith mentioned we have to get the bus pad done over by the high school and a few other things. It's on their list um hopefully by the end of this year.
>> Okay. I know much of the work has been done. It's getting darker earlier. So to the extent anything can be done to expedite the work, I know I'd appreciate it. Um there's also I know been discussion about putting an actual light there. any comment or thoughts on that? In other words, like a, you know, red, green, yellow light. >> Uh, a full traffic light. We have
discussed it with Bergen County Engineering. >> Um, they've told us do our warrants to that effect. Uh, Sergeant Torino assisted us in giving me a copy of a traffic study done last year with the counts. I also have to go now through
the MUTCD, that's the manual of uniform traffic control devices, and see how what other warrants we need to justify the light. uh the county will want those warrants to for us to get their approval for the light >> and and can I jump in that because as
Keith mentioned at the beginning we had a meeting with county uh last week and the thing that's interesting so the main one of the main issues which actually um the y'all made a presentation the council before I was on it um and at
that point it was about the um if you're heading north on Maple and you want to go west on Glenn which is up that we need a left lead, a left light. And so the the issue with putting a full light in at Oak and Glenn would mean they
would have to coordinate with the um Maple and Glenn. But then if we have the left turn signal at Maple and Glenn, then that means that they're all going to stack up at Oak and Glenn. So um it's not as simple like that's what's
interesting. It all goes into each other. you know one thing it's domino effect right so um at this point you know because I think that if you look at the turn signal at Maple and Glenn and how much traffic backs up on Maple
that's significant and that's actually the cause for a lot of these other issues that we're trying to to solve. So to me, the first priority is to solve that, which is to get the left lead and then like play that out and then if it makes sense, then do the light a full light at Oak and Glenn.
>> To Frank's point, there's a concern about with a left lead on Maple onto Glenn that if you had a light at Oak and Glenn, you're going to have stacking. How far does that >> how far does that vehicle stacking come down the hill? Could it come into the intersection? That's what Chris and the
county need to evaluate before we can take a hard look at going to a full traffic signalization at Oaken Glenn. >> So, I'm not necessarily in favor of a full traffic light there if it doesn't make sense. Um, I actually like the idea of a left leading light if you're on if you're on Maple. Um, I think my
frustration and concern has been I've been here now close to three years. We've been talking about it for at least the three years I've been here. And I know it's complicated, but nothing's changed in the three years other than the more recent construction. Um, you know, I think there's been at least two to three accidents a year since then.
Um, and just nothing's been done. >> Right. Um, Ray, could you talk a little bit about the accident data? It's a good segue actually from uh, >> so we were averaging about um, 11 to 12 crashes there a year, which is kind of
what got us to this path. We saw that there was an issue, we wanted to address it. We are actually down about 54 uh more than 50% than we were at this time last year with crashes. Um I think some of that has to do with awareness. Some of that has to do with they did do a
little bit of a bump out when they did the sidewalks um on the I guess that would be the north side going down the hill. Um really where where we're at now is trying to alleviate, you know, some of
those potential movements from all of the drivers from all directions. So really, it's the it's the drivers that are sitting at the red light um facing northbound and the drivers that are facing the red light facing uh going southbound. Um, if we eliminate some of
those movements, we would alleviate a lot of the crashes that we have at the intersection. That is why the the one way was discussed. That was why the letters went out to the residents and and why we pulled them um to get their
opinion. >> So, so Chris, why don't we transition to the to the one-way piece? >> Uh, yes. As Sergeant Torino said, they conducted a survey of the residents on Brighton Place, uh, soliciting their feedback on a proposed one-way. Uh, that
ordinance was prepared at the end of July and submitted up to the manager's office for your review. Um, Rey, what was the overall response from the residents? >> Uh, I believe we sent out 20 um 20
letters to the residents on Briden and Oak. Um we got nine returns within the time frame that we asked. Uh six were yeses for one way, three were no, two yeses came in after the fact. I think
that is important to note uh after the deadline. Um so it was a positive response from >> and then Evan, you've pulled some of the folks. >> Yeah, let's actually do one better than that. So again, I full disclosure, I live in the area. I Sunday I knocked on doors. I think I spoke to all but three
or four houses on the Oak and Brighten little little intersection there. Uh, everyone was overwhelmingly in favor of doing something. Um, even as I was standing there in a Sunday afternoon talking with my neighbors, you could see the cars zipping through and this was on a Sunday, it wasn't even during rush hour. Um, the one question that came up
from a number of people, and I know Chief, you and I discussed this, and I think you were somewhat supportive, was if we go one way, there will be a significant inconvenience to the folks on Brighten because it means every time that they want to go to the west side of town, they're going to have to circle around um and basically go out, make a
right onto Glenn. And especially for those folks who, you know, they're um, you know, they all go to Willard. Um, that's not an insignificant, you know, um, inconvenience. Plus, whenever they're coming home, they have to come to that same bad intersection we just discussed, they lose the ability to enter through Brighton. Um, so you'll be
putting more traffic there. Um, with that said, the consensus, and I'll say this as somebody up here in the D, was if they've got to go one way, go one way because the problem is that bad. But what um I heard a number of times, I know I'm personally supportive, and again I think you were as well, was um
before we go the more drastic route of making Briden one way was just to stop right-hand turns onto Biden coming from sort of the north. And I know we discussed either doing it 24/7 or maybe just doing it like you have on Lynwood where you have certain right turns and
out loud during rush hour. um that I think would stop the folks that are cutting through at least in that one direction which is the predom direction but still would preserve the ability for those folks in Brighton and Oak to utilize um to not have to make that you know to be able to come up Brighton so they don't have to loop around every
time they want to drop their kids off at Willard. Um I see you're you're shopping at a bit so please go ahead Chief. >> I was going to say I spoke with the engineer about that and uh the only uh kind of issue that we have with that is again that requires county approval because it's a little bit out of the norm. So, they're mostly in favor of
one-way streets. They're a little bit um harder to convince about no right turns off of major roads and stuff. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I know the the engineer would actually have to get with them and kind of propose that. The ones on Lynwood have been there for 20 plus years, and when we address them,
they're kind of the county is kind of not huge fans of them. That being said, I'm not saying it's prohibitive. I'm just saying that I don't disagree with the idea. I think it it might work. Um, however, it's just a hard enforcement issue for us. Like, we're going to have to get out there and create more enforcement, which we're able to do in
the beginning. It's just a matter of actually getting to the county and having them green like that to kind of see how that goes. >> So, are you saying that then the county doesn't not have to approve a one-way, but they would have to approve a right-hand turn proation? >> No, I think they have to approve the one way. I think the the oneway is like a
standard thing that they're more readily approved. The the no right from a certain area, they're a little bit more reticent to approve. At least that's what I'm getting from I'll let Chris speak to that. He knows this better than I do, but he said that those are you don't see them as often as you do the one-way streets.
>> And correct me if I'm wrong because it came up at one of the SESAC meetings with the um the no rights on Lynwood that those weren't really effective. Is that correct? >> They they had enforcement is the reason they
work. Um I drive on Lynwood frequently often. uh even to this date there are a number of people who will make the improper right turn during the prohibited time frames. Uh one of the things we also did on Wall three is at
the intersection of Wall Three and Shelton uh we reversed the stop sign so that Wall 3 now has to stop full stop before the motorist continues going up to Glenn. Uh, we feel that has helped dissuade some motorists from using Wall
3 off of Lynwood Avenue as a cut through to Glenn. >> I mean, I have to think that most folks would respect the sign. I get it. Some folks do not. And I know, you know, chief, you don't have an unlimited amount of, you know, folks on duty, but I imagine every now and then you could park, you know, one of your folks out there at the beginning. Um, what I don't
want to do is have another two or three months go by and nothing gets done. um can we potentially go to the county like this week and get their temperature because it sounds like we got to go to them regardless, >> right? And maybe give them the choice, but what I don't want to be doing is
have done nothing by Christmas or early next year and then be having the same conversation again. If we need to go one way, go one way. But I could tell you that there was a strong consensus that if there's a less drastic means um because it's going to be a lot of folks and you're going to be routing around to that lousy intersection we're just
discussing. It's going to inconvenience a lot of folks in those two little blocks. Um again, they're willing to do it because the problem of the cut through is that bad. Um but um but I'd like to see us look at more less dramat less drastic um way of handling it while at the same time, you know, bringing our safety, you know, in check.
>> And of course, we would patrol that area, especially when something's new. That's what we did. Anytime we do improvements like we did new sidewalks or anything like that, new new traffic patterns, we're out there in force for the first couple of months. It's just longterm we have a lot of linear roadway. It's just not possible. But that doesn't mean we're not out there.
We we still write tickets for the Lynwood ones. It's just on occasion. >> Yeah, the enforcement piece doesn't bother me. What bothers me is is go I don't want to go to the county and again have another six months of discussion. >> I want to get something done. Well, that's that's why they're here. Did you want to say something? >> Could I just add just a couple things?
So, first of all, not in a mean way, but we're at a workshop discussing action, which is something. So, we have to, and I'm very grateful for this something. I also want to lighten it up. You know, as you know, I'm a big walker and when we were kids, um,
and Hudson were both two-way streets, and people still get it wrong. So, I know we're going to talk about that corner, but good luck with a sign because if if I'm walking, you know, when I used to walk Sheamus, I would say 50% of the cars try to turn down the
already one way. So, a sign suggesting no turn isn't going to work. And the same thing, I know Frank came over and looked at it with Prospect and Maple and we've talked about this. There's a small section um I think it's Hillside. It's it's actually in Glenrock and you guys
went the the one way is the only way and it's the only way because people are not paying attention there. All all respect to signs in general, people aren't they're just going to blow through them. You can't enforce it. In the central business district, you see a significant amount of people trying to turn the
wrong way down Hudson Street. Like a significant like you could get picked off by a car, which is why I support the bumpouts on that corner. But I I do think it's it's extreme. I remember the top of spring also used to go both ways and the neighbors didn't like it but it's the safest option to make briden
one way and um I would bet if I was allowed to bet up here which I don't know if I am 50 bucks that the first week at least 25 people still drive the wrong way up the one way >> I'm sure of that could you please >> so yeah there there obviously will be enforcement that will go along with
either of them um as drivers I I think that when we look at a sign that says no right turn during a certain time and a one way. There's really no ambiguity with one way. You're not going to say, "Well, let me roll the dice and go up the oneway street." No, it's a oneway. You're you're wrong a 100 times out of a
100. Somebody else is going to see a sign that says, "No right turn between 4 and 6 p.m." They're going, "Well, I went right there the other 22 hours of the day and had no issues." These two hours, do they really matter? Unless we're there, they're going to do it for those
>> and they're going to do it at top speed. the the the one ways that we see at Hudson are they they aren't doing it obviously purposely. They're doing it because they're seeing the signs late and we really don't see a lot of issues with vehicles going down the wrong way.
They see it, they go, "Oh, they started to make their turn and then they go the other way." Um, in terms of being a traffic officer, being a parent, living on a side street or living on a main road, if you're telling me that you can
take more than 50% of the traffic off of my street and make it a oneway and I can be outside with my kids and and do that. To me, to me, that's a home run. And all I have to do is go down that one way, make a right turn on a main road, make another right turn to go up to go west.
I would take that a 100 times out of 100 to get more. When we did the numbers, it's probably more close to 70% of the vehicles because 70% of the vehicles were going west. You're still going to have vehicles that are going to be coming east that are going to end up on Maple and try to make that left. But you
are taking a significant number of vehicles off of your residential neighborhood because what is it used for? It's used as a cut through. That's what it's used as. and you are now going to have 70% of those cars no longer on your
street. >> We're doing it for multiple reasons. We're doing it to make your neighborhood safer and we're doing it to make that intersection safer. Um, you're going to have vehicles that are going to try to turn left that are going to be in front of the art barn, right? They're going to try to go up the hill. There is going to
be no cars facing them trying to go straight. There are no cars that are going to be facing them going left. I don't want to say no because the residents are going to be coming out of that that that location. Minimal traffic. So, we just got rid of two uh
vehicle movements from from that direction. People can't go people are are not going to be coming out of there trying to go up the hill making a right. People aren't going to be going straight into town >> and people aren't going to be going left down the hill from there. What you're saying is
>> what you're saying is not only eliminating the cut through, but you're also making the Glenn and Oak intersection safer because you're going to have a >> significantly less amount of vehicles exiting off of Oak to cross Glenn.
>> Yeah. Exponentially. Uh you're going to cut that down. >> I didn't think about it like that. So that's that's interesting. And I mean I understand Evan that you you you would rather do a step it and to see if that works but having you know really immersed myself in public safety
as in the SEAC discussions and that well over it was like spring of 24 when Ray was here to say do one way. So I think that that's he's the expert. >> No agreed. I'm not a traffic expert. I'm a guy who drives a car at the bottom. >> So and your neighbors have already said
yes to it. So I I and again >> so let let me make this one easier. So like I said, I want something done. If the consensus is one way, let's do one way. >> And and chief, between you and Chris, that that at this point is your recommendation, right? >> One way is definitely the safer way to go. I mean, the other way might
alleviate some traffic. It does. It's not the huge step, >> but the concern is what concern is what the sergeant expressed, >> right? Yeah. And like everyone else here, Sergeant Torino is the traffic expert. I'm going to defer to him. He has a lot more training in this area than I do. But and Chris, you agree with
that from an engineer? >> I agree wholeheartedly with what Sergeant Torino presented. Um I find no fault in what he presented and I agree with him. >> Okay. >> Right. >> So are we anybody else any move forward with this? >> I'm good. Timing again. We need county
approval. What's the time frame on this? >> Ordinance is before you folks. >> Okay. So we do ordinance next month. So if we introduce this at the November meeting and adopt it in December, it would go into effect approximately, you know, around July, January 1st, 20 days after the adoption.
>> So we don't need the county then to approve it. >> Do we need a county approval? >> Well, you you would send the you would send the ordinance once introduced to the county for their comment, right, Chris? >> I would send it to the county as a courtesy. Uh we have discussed it with the county. I don't recall them having any objections.
>> No. Our principal contact with county engineering is the assistant county engineer, uh, Miss Nancy Diargus. She's the one we just had >> the Zoom meeting with, was it last week? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And I I guess my next question is, Evan,
do you recommend that we sense once we introduce this or as we prepare to introduce, do we want do we want more correspondents to go out to the residents or do we think between the survey and your visits it's enough? I just want to make sure. >> I would like I mean, you're talking like two dozen houses. It's not a big lift.
Send folks about the public hearing. So, if they want to show up, if people do feel strongly, I mean, they'll probably come knock on my door, which is fine, but um you know, I just want to make sure that they know because again, it's a pretty drastic step and it sounds like again, Ray, I'm deferring to you on this and so I'm good with it. Um I just don't want anybody to feel that they weren't
heard. So, if we can give notice to folks of >> So, Chris, we've sent out correspondence similar to that, right? When we did something like this, >> beyond the survey, something saying, "Hey, we're actually going to do this now." >> We did. We've never sent out a notification that we're having a hearing on a particular ordinance. >> I do. I do.
>> He she she does that part, but but not to the individual residents. You just do the >> Yeah. >> Normally, no. But every once in a while, like now we're asking to do it. >> So, Heather, can your office do that? >> We can. Okay. That'd be great. >> Like when we suspend, we tried to suspend parking on North Walnut when I
was first on the council and we notified all of them and they came and then we didn't. The same thing. >> All right. So, Heather, when you when you do that, you would set up the >> It won't be 200 feet. It'll just be Brighton and Oak right right there. Oak right there at that intersection. >> That's it.
>> Evan, if you'd like, um, I would walk around and knock on doors with you. >> Oh. >> So that we could let I mean, it's only it's only 24 houses, >> you know. Paul, I want my neighbors to like me. >> But I I just want to say like >> or you can do it on your own. >> I I kid and I certainly I'm sure they
would welcome it. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, let's let's you know, I I think that, you know, that if we if we go around and we tell everybody. >> All right. Then, um, >> you want to do that? >> Absolutely. >> All right. So, you don't need to do the mail. Paul and I have a date. >> Actually, if we if we can have some kind of a notice so that if people aren't
there, we can just leave it in their mailbox, let them know we stopped by and and leave our number um so they can they can call with questions. Rey, thank you so much. You were incredibly compelling. there was, you know, everybody's sitting on the fence and then you laid it out
and was like, I guess this is the way to go. Thank you so much. That means so much to us who we don't design traffic, you study this. Uh Chris, also thank you guys so much. Really >> and this is one of many pieces and I just really do appreciate all the thought and guidance that has been
presented and again not just here but with all the SEESAC discussions and with the county. So I think you know that things are moving and they're going to continue to move. Yeah, >> no one's going anywhere. Just moving on to the next. >> No, no. And before we do, I know we had talked about signage on the uh on the
uphill side of the uh of the trestle. >> Yeah. So, that that's happened. >> We have we installed an L led Yes. illuminated warning sign. >> Looks great. Correct. >> Excellent. Excellent. Good. >> Uh it's not on the uphill side of the trestle. It's on the downhill side of the trestle.
>> Excuse me. That's what I meant. That's what I meant. >> Oh, no. You are correct because originally we were thinking on the uphill side of the trestle, but that's a very shaded area and we probably would not have gotten an adequate recharge on the solar cells. >> We're talking about the western side of the trestle. If you're heading
>> eastbound, you're heading Yeah, you're heading eastbound. >> Yeah, eastbound. It's on the eastbound side of the meeting, >> right? >> Not on the westbound side. >> And that's already >> it's all done. >> Excellent. Thank you. And what Chris is saying is that Signal's recommendation was to put it east of the trestle as
opposed to west because of the sun that's there. And so where it is I think is actually very effective. >> Um so you see it and great. So it's like >> it gives you adequate warning of the crosswalk. >> And yes, >> Ray, could you follow up with us in a
few months after this is done? Maybe 3 to six months. >> Yeah, absolutely. just so that we see the the effect of this and we can figure if we need to take next steps. >> Mayor, there's also one other thing to keep in mind. In our discussions with
the county, um we raised the issue of an inter local agreement. Uh I think you've gotten that right, Keith. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So, we have to execute an interlocal agreement if we're going to move to make a dedicated left turn lane on northbound Maple at Glenn.
>> A left turn light, not a lane >> signal. We may not have a room for a lane, but we're going to have a light that leading green. >> To do that, the county has said we have to redo the footings for that light. Uh, larger poles and larger crossarms. Um
that light is all owned by Bergen County whereas the signalized intersection of Oaken Glenn is ours. >> So where are we in that? Are we >> uh we're going to have to work out we're going to have to work out a interlocal service shared services agreement with
the county. Um the process with that with them is a lengthy long drawn out process >> and that's what the meeting was we had last week mayor to get that started. And the the the good thing is that that we only have to do replace two of the
lights, not all four of the poles because two are like if you're on Glenn and you want to turn on Maple, you have a left turn lane and a left lead. So we only have to do the other two which is makes it less cumbersome. Um but as Chris said, it's
>> it's process. >> You'd only be improving half the intersection and >> we have but we have begun that process. Yes, >> I' I've already requested the uh shared service agreement from the county engineering department. So, we're just waiting to get the draft. >> Good. >> And I'd like to say one last thing, Mayor, is I'm learning more official terms for lights and signals than I ever
thought I would. >> Yeah. Just don't just don't use them with me. I I like the regular terms. So, um thank you all. One more. >> No, I know. But on on this is a big issue. We have too many accidents there. And Evan and Frank, thank you both for
um you know, staying on top of this. Really great move. So through you mayor um the next issue are the proposed bumpouts in the central business district. So just to give a little history on this. So bumpouts have been discussed various streets down in the
CBD for a number of years. Um in 2027 we are most likely uh to pave or repave um East Ridgewood Avenue. And when the engineering department repaved the tree streets, um we were we did it in such a
way that the start of the pavement was inside of the crosswalk, so to speak. So it allows us to move to install bumpouts at the intersections along East Ridgewood Avenue. So Chris's the the
engineering folks have put together um some schematics that are before you tonight. Um he can walk you through each of those. Um obviously the bumpouts are intended uh to in slow traffic down um
vehicular traffic, but also to shorten the crosswalk areas where pedestrians will cross from corner to corner. Um, so it makes it a safer environment for pedestrians, uh, both by slowing traffic and by having shorter crossings. So with that, um, you know, Chris can take you
through. It's also, um, the visuals are up on the screens. Um, all we're looking for tonight is conceptual approval that the council would want to move in this direction along East Ridgewood Avenue. And then what we would do is internally we would have discussions about
including some of these intersections likely in our 2026 capital paving plan or 2027 capital paving plan and then it would um be finalized with the resurfacing of Eastridge would happen. And and Keith, when you say conceptual,
that we're not saying that we're agreeing to what we're seeing exactly on this. This is just an idea. >> Right. Right. Right. Now, these are con conceptual plans, right? I I know Frank, you have a concern about Broad Street that we can certainly talk about tonight. Um, but what I'm looking for is
direction from the council to the engineering department that they should move forward with finalizing um, bumpouts in each of these intersections as we get to the 2026 and 2027 uh, capital paving plans.
>> And just as before we start um, effects on parking spots. It look like am I correct to see that we're actually adding parking spots? >> What's that? In some cases, yeah, I mean, >> we will lose parking spots. No if ends or buts. >> I'm sorry. >> We will lose parking spots. >> How many are we losing total?
>> Uh, that depends on the individual intersections. Uh, for example, we're not permitted to allow parking within 25 ft of a marked crosswalk. Correct, Chief? >> Yep. 25. >> So, and then we have to see like this first example here on
Broad and Hudson Street. We want to narrow the width of Hudson Street. We still want to maintain two lanes. A lane to make a right turn, a lane to make a left turn. However, we want to bump out the north east corner to reduce the
exposure of a pedestrian in a crosswalk both crossing Broad Street and Hudson Street. The other thing that we have found out when we build bumpouts in the village, they help tremendously in making the motorist more aware of the pedestrian because it projects the pro
pedestrian further out into the street but still on a safe sidewalk. An excellent example of that that we built was at Franklin Avenue and North Broad Street by the train station. Um that was a really good location because the
sidewalk came up from underneath the the trestle bridge put the pedestrian in a very visible spot. Uh I think you guys haven't had too many accidents >> not there >> and so there's other spots through the CPT over the years that we have done
bumpouts. Um they've worked very successfully. U as Keith mentioned they do also act as a traffic calming means because they slow traffic down. Cars negotiating a turn have to slow down. Um, slower speeds in the central
business district I think are only a plus. And all right, the first example, as I said, is over here broadson. >> Chris, wait, can I just ask a general question? So, I read all the information on the streets. There's one corner that's missing. Can we add a corner maybe into this based upon cost? Because
the corner that I think has the longest crosswalks and we don't have to talk about tonight, but it's a workshop is um Chestnut and Franklin. And if we're doing bumpouts, I mean, you know, the short I'm a big walker as everyone knows. And so that that corner has been >> So we need we need to treat Franklin as
a separate >> because of the county. >> It's a county road. >> There's a history there. So I would ask that the conversation tonight focused on East Ridgewood and was before you tonight. Okay. And then we can revisit the Franklin thing as we move forward. >> I just want to get it out of there.
>> You know, I I support that completely. >> I just feel like we never >> Yes, we'll do that. We'll do that. There's a there's I wasn't here for it. I've heard bits and pieces. There's a little bit of a history with the Franklin Avenue piece. >> Well, you miss you missed the Girl Scout flags. >> But if we could if we could stick to the East Ridgewood Avenue and then we'll
we'll revisit some of the improvements to Franklin because that might be a greater conversation as we move forward as well. And Chris, as we're going through this, just for the legend, that um red, I guess, is where the new sidewalk would end. And the green, is that supposed to be grass like on the
south broad like there's >> green would indicate landscaping? Um at the corner of the parking garage, uh Yoan, who designed these drawings, shows two trees, shrubs. Um again, they could be very pretty. It gives a little green
effect. Most of the red that you see around the proposed curb, that's the brick band. Um, we'd have to buy another tractor trailer load of the decorative bricks that we use for the brick band because we don't have any we don't have
enough left in our storage. >> Okay. I just want So, thank you. >> Okay. So, one of the main issues we see from the police department is when we're looking at crosswalks, we don't see the pedestrians entering the crosswalks. Mostly it's because they're coming right
off the sidewalk, they'll make a quick turn and they're already in the crosswalk. This alleviates a lot of that because now if they're walking on the sidewalk and they make a left, they're still on a bumpout. So, it's going to allow the vehicles to see pedestrians before they actually enter the roadway,
which is why these have been successful. >> Yeah. and and it shortens the the cross >> and it also shortens how long you're in the in the >> crosswalk. And that's that's really the the for me I mean sometimes you're you're crossing the street and you're you're out there for a long time before you get to the other side. Y
>> So >> so what what I noticed is I'll be driving and you don't see the they pop out and because there's a car parked right there, you don't see them until you're you're already into the crosswalk and they're in the crosswalk. So this would alleviate that. actually that they'd actually be on a separate spot that
>> Yeah. Great. And like I said, well, you were there at CBDAC meet across that they they were asking for it. Like it's funny that when we get to the next one, that was specifically asked for at our meeting. So, >> so can I and B I'm supportive. This is all makes sense getting to defer to you
guys on this. I do want to come back to the spots, but also the last page. >> Well, let's let's go through them one at a time. All right. But if you could focus also when you show us how many spots we're going to lose or gain, if you could highlight that, I'd appreciate it. Well, and okay. >> All right. This is drawing number one.
If we can go to drawing number two that shows the intersection of Broad North South Broad and East Richard Avenue. >> All right. And this one I want to talk about because I I >> Heather, can you can you move it or I don't know if this thing works.
>> That that works. >> There you go. >> Push push hard, I guess. Uh this is one of our interesting intersections. Um, as you can see, the crosswalks don't all align. There's one over there that crosses East Richard Avenue that's very
much a diagonal. >> No, that's been doing that all. >> Um, one of the things we proposed there is straightening that out with a bump out on East Richard Avenue. That again will shorten the crossing distance that a pedestrian is exposed to vehicular
traffic. Um, >> so I I have a lot of questions on this one. Um, I want to start at the northwest corner that so because what I'm seeing here is that we're going to eliminate the turn lane. So we'll have
one lane there as opposed to two. >> Yes. >> And from other discussions we've had when we do that that there's going to be a traffic backup. And so my concern is that going down to one lane that traffic's going to go all the way to Franklin. >> I don't think it'll go all the way to
Franklin. Uh however, we do have a lot of storage volume on North Broad Street for that traffic. >> A lot of what? I'm sorry. >> Storage volume. So if we do have five, six cars waiting, we have the room that they're safely stored. They won't cross
another intersection and block that causing gridlock. So, and then like continuing on the northwest corner that they're actually want here, they want to add three spaces. However, that like the existing last spot there is already like
watching somebody dart out of there is like death race 2000 and so that's with two lanes of traffic. And my concern in this fixture is that I can't imagine how what's labeled plus three is able going to be able to pull out in traffic. So,
what I'd rather see there is more of mimicking the the grass on that's in the parking lot there. So, it more tapers because I I I think while you know Evans case in point, people want more spaces, I think here it's unrealistic. And then
two, I'm I'm just concerned about going down to one lane of how that's going to back up specifically because like you just said tonight that one of the um benefits of a bumpout is it slows traffic. I would say that the fastest traffic is on East Ridgewood A hitting
west. So there's no bumpouts on that side. So that means that that traffic is going to keep zipping and making the right onto Broad or left. And then that's why I think that then the northwest corner we're going to see a lot more traffic back up because it's going to be more difficult for them to
make that turn. So in based on the bumpout slowing traffic, I'd like to see that on the um north side of Eastridge would have to slow the traffic down before it gets to that intersection. And like I said in the northwest, I think that completely needs to be redone um
and not try to put spaces in there. And then two, I'd like to see if I understand with crosswalks and going across three lanes of traffic is not ideal, but I'm just concerned about the backup. >> I I want to just bounce off of that really quick. I think this is the
perfect opportunity to do like a little bit of a case study with taking the lane now before we put a cement structure there >> and see what kind of response we get. Mhm. >> Um, we could do it for a couple weeks. We could do it for we could put the the
orange ballards up and basically just close the lane >> and and see what we have. >> It's a great idea. >> And I agree actually with the if if with the parking spots, there's no way we'd be able to put parking spots there. You would not be able to back out of that parking spot. >> You you would be trapped forever.
>> Yeah, it's it would be better to put more green space, put a bench, put put something else. But if if we go through with that, I would say close it for a couple weeks, 30 days, and we'll get back with you with >> I agree. >> Also, is there a median there? There is
in this picture. >> There is. >> Okay. And it's a raised median, right? It's like the height of a curb, >> but it's not it's not designed as a pedestrian refuge. >> It's >> it's merely a median. >> It's like a skip hop. It's It's not like the one on Wilsey Square. It's it's as
as as Chris said, it's not a pedestrian refuge. >> But if it were a pedestrian refuge, then >> from one side to the center is short and and the other center to the other side, each of those legs would be shorter than
this proposed drawing. And again, I'm not the expert these guys are, but I am incredibly familiar with every one of these intersections that has now been shortened so significantly if this if we go with this that I don't
think you need a pedestrian refuge median. I mean, if you look at it, >> it's close to it's probably a little more than half the distance >> that it was before. I mean, it's really it's it's really great. And again, look,
I've, you know, I've I've always said that East Ridgewood Avenue is the most dangerous street in America, you know, because you see people, it's, you know, and and the crosswalks are very long. the fact that and something I did not notice um for all the times I've looked
at this because the the crosswalk on East Ridgewood Avenue on the east side um uh is is so dangerous. I mean, I have I have
almost been hit >> several times walking across there and I'm watching. I put my phone in my pocket and I'm and I'm watching and it's it's just a terrible intersection. >> Well, this is a good example of how it would be so much shorter. It would be straighter. >> Absolutely. And I I never realized
>> until I looked at this that it was on a diagonal >> and so straightening it I look I think >> we got consensus here on this. >> I I do I do I mean I think Ray makes a great point. I think if we could do a test case on this absolutely >> it would make sense. I do believe to
council member Mortimer's point, you know, by eliminating a lane of traffic, we're going to get resistance from motorists and and and you know, listen, it's it's very hard to transcend anywhere these days. Um especially when you have the county ripping up North
Maple Avenue and PSNG ripping up half downtown. But it's it's frustrating, especially at rush hour. So, you have to weigh out the the convenience of moving traffic with the bumpout for pedestrian safety. Um, and this is certainly one that I think we just need to do a little
more evaluation of. >> No question. And to Frank, to Frank's point, I mean, the, you know, anything that um makes traffic more difficult in the central business district is not a good thing for anybody. So, I I I really
appreciate that. Um, and I guess recommendation >> in the northeast corner the bump out like could that come around more onto East Ridgewood A. Um, so then that way if the bumpout would slow it the traffic down a little bit there as well.
>> Again, we could take a look at that. Uh, you know, as Keith said, these are conceptual drawings. Yeah, >> these are pres presentation of ideas. Um these are certainly ideas before we construct anything that have to be much
more fully developed. Um take in the comments from the chief, captain and the sergeant and how it should go or how they think it should go. And then we also have another advantage like we said we could do a test case. We have
>> a nice supply of concrete blocks. >> Uh they work well for dining corrals. They also work well for traffic blocking. So, we could do something like that. See how it behaves. See how pedestrians regard it, how motorists regard it.
>> Yeah, I think it's that's a great idea. >> Sounds like everyone agrees. We want >> Should we go to the next one? >> Well, we I sorry. So, two things. So, we are heading into holiday. So, I just want to you know, this is a big fourth quarter for the downtown. So, the timing of the test would be very important and it might inflame the reaction.
>> We we wouldn't do this during the winter months. I just want to make sure >> this wouldn't be until the spring. >> That's great. That's all I wanted to make sure. And I did just want to also say if you wanted to see some serious traffic today, good job on Broad Street because that was like a terrifying experience to be a pedestrian and I was
way it was so controlled. They had the traffic going the wrong way today down Broad Street like the wrong side and I just it was very impressive. >> So we we tried to I don't want to go off topic but they wanted to do that tomorrow and tomorrow's Thursday. Thursday is a big downtown restaurant
time. So, they they did extra work today so that they wouldn't go into more of a restaurant type. >> We appreciate that. >> So, let's let's go to the next page. >> And for the southbound traffic on Broad Street, if you're going down to one lane, can you have signage se x feet in
advance saying lane ahead closed >> so people know what's coming? >> I'm I'm sorry. I I I didn't hear all that. Say it again. I'm sorry. If you're going to do this test test, uh, how it
would feel to go down to one lane in on South Broad, no, on >> North Broad heading south. >> Uh, can you have signage warning people several feet in advance or yards in advance saying go? >> Yes, absolutely. We'll put reflectors
out, we'll put the ballards out, we can put the speed sign out, we we'll make sure that it's very known what it's there for. >> Good. All right, turn to chestnut. Next one is the offset intersection of East Richard Avenue, Ches Street to the
north, and Prospect Street to the south. Let's see if I can do this. >> This looks great. Are we losing any spots? >> Um, no, I don't believe so because most of those areas with those three crosswalks
across East Rid Avenue, that already negates parking. Like in front of uh the former bank building, that's all. low parking. You're not losing any on this one. >> And Evan, just so you know, at the joint meeting I keep referring to that Glenn, who's head of the chamber, he was
comfortable with losing spots for and specifically in the last one we just talked about, he mentioned one of these ones that we're losing over because he'd rather have pedestrian safety. So, the chambers behind it. >> Yeah. He specifically mentioned the ones that would be obstructing. So, if you're
driving, you know, uh, westbound on Rididgewood Avenue and you have that last spot and then somebody's walking out, that car is generally obstructing the pedestrian in the thing. So, he said if you lost one from those key intersections that I'm not going to cry over, but >> but I thought it was hilarious that he
said it and then poof, it's inventory. So, that's great. But, I just want you to know that if if the downtown is saying, "Hey, man, we want I think that's a good thing." >> I get it. I just, you know, I I I I respect Glenn tremendously. I mean, he's one voice. Um, and I again I this is great. I just don't want to go overboard
and lose a lot of spots in very prime territory. >> So, >> are we good with this? >> No, I'm sorry. I feel like I have to raise my hand over here because I have some questions. So, um, one, I think this is great. Again, it'll really ruin Door Dash's day because that's where they hang out. >> We're going to we're going to lose a lot of tickets at this intersection.
>> Yeah, we really are going to lose that. So, that is >> because that's a lot of yellow zones where our guys are are are running tickets often. Um, but this is much safer. This is going to be this is going to be such an improvement. My question is about the medium. So, you know how we have the no left-hand turn and I get asked frequently and I've heard
different rumors as to why we can't make the barrier permanent and remove those ugly orange cones that people again fun fact even though it says no a left-hand turn. A lot of people do and then they run over the cones and then I have to go out in the street and try to put the cones up. So, can we I've heard
different rumors that we can't have something hardcaped in there that's raised. um for because of fire trucks or whatever, but >> you can it's called like a Jersey barrier. >> It's called a what a Jersey barrier. Connecticut energy barrier. >> So, I just want to make sure that everybody understands those left those I
understand why they're there and I hate to be like, "Oh, they look so terrible, but they look so terrible and they're not working because a lot of a lot and I would say at least like 10 times a week I see somebody drive through them. Can we make that barrier a little higher, a little greener?" We
can make one of the reasons we use those rubber ballards, cones, however you would like to refer to them, is they're very forgiving if somebody makes an error or makes an illegal left turn. >> Can we put something less forgiving? >> Well, that's a choice the council and the village can do is we can make a more
permanent thing like we have the median on Garber Square as you come out from underneath the row. >> Um, when we redid that, we made that a little larger. We made that a little more durable. Um, the other thing is, >> so I just want to say this, I want to
have the discussion about it because I think you have a problem there and if it's there's nothing holding us back and it's not it's illegal to make a left-hand turn. It's such a gross grossed up area with the orange cones, right? And they're not effective. And I think, you know, if you get rid of the
Door Dashers, which is huge, and there I mean like no door dash, you would have you'd have a lot less street wreckage. And I don't want to create like a massive barrier, but I think a more permanent barrier. I mean, Paul, you like were there all the time. You understand what I'm talking about? It could be prettier and it could be safer.
>> You just have to remember that we move them for all the parades that we do in town and stuff. So, you have to kind of design it with that >> in mind. You know, the Fourth of July parade, downtown for the holidays, things like that. Those will no longer be able to be removed. >> And it goes it goes deeper than that. We
have many issues where we need to flow traffic through there. Whether it's for an emergency, whether it's for a detour, um we don't have crashes there, which is good. We do have people that go through it. >> So, it's a double-edged sword. We do need it at times because the fire
department's working there. We have something going on and we're just moving the the Ballards. >> Is there a better temporary choice? >> There could be. We can get back. We can try to find something that looks better. >> Maybe like Ballard. Maybe just something that's like, you know, a flush. We have
found our experience with more durable ballards is they don't last any longer. And an example of that is West Richard Avenue, Garber Square at the Bullnose. Um motorists making a left turn from
West Richard Avenue to go eastbound on Garber uh miss and hit that bulldoz frequently and often. Um right now it's damaged. we have to replace it, but it's been hit many times. >> If we could look for something in the
middle, then something that may get rid of those because the orange ones just aren't working. >> And I understand about the >> I think they are working. They give it they delineate what is not allowed, but as I said, they're forgiving for those people who make mistakes, >> right?
>> Um more permanent ballards, barriers, and so forth. Aside from the freight issues and use of street issues will have a significantly more detrimental effect on a motorist car who makes the mistake. >> I'm with you. I'm I'm going to just
double down a bit because I don't think it's such a mistake. Sometimes people crouch out there, make a conscious decision, and run them over. So, understanding the chief's concern and Ray's concern about the mobility of what's there for parades and downtown for the holidays and traffic flow and
all that, why don't we take a look at whether there is some sort of middle ground, something that's movable, but takes it up a notch from from the the orange uh temporary ballots that are there. And not to be silly, but you know how in some cases they have those that
go flat with the surface like I mean I wonder I don't know what the cost is. >> Hydraulic ones. >> They're going to be pricey. >> Very pricey. Well, no, but there's there's also those ballers I know that we looked at for the dining corral, which are, >> you know, they're they're permanent
until you pick them up, >> you take them out and and and it's not a big process to, >> you know, take them up and uh >> and I mean, I don't want to hold up the good work that's included in here. I just wanted to mention it because I think it's it could be advantageous.
>> Shall we move on? >> Yep. >> Good. Okay. Uh, next one would be Eastwood Avenue, Oak Street, Vaness. >> And this really shortened them, which is great. >> It's great. >> Again, how many spots?
>> Any pardon? >> Do we lose any spots? >> Uh, probably. I don't know how many. >> Okay. So, I mean, Keith, this is my It's hard for me to appine on this without having that analysis done. I I'll tell you, Evan, I'm very familiar with this
corner and and I may be off by one or two, >> but I don't see where we're losing. >> I mean, that's the way I look at it, too. But >> I don't I don't see and again, I'm really >> I just want to I just want to double down on my opening comments. This this
is none of this is finalized. What I'm looking for here is to direct engineering to put more hours into this work effort to put a two-year plan together to include bumpouts in the CBD. The details of parking spaces, you know,
what replaces the Ballards, all that type of thing. That will come with time. I just don't want to have them put a considerable amount of effort putting construction plans together for this without the council's consent that this is where they want to see money. >> I mean, I think you've got that. that I mean I think everybody everybody loves the idea this is pedestrian safety this
is a great idea and and I understand not all the details are fully baked but I can tell you for me it's the loss of spots is definitive so as you I think Keith you should have to have your departments look at this we should do more of this but again with an eye towards preserving the parking in some
of these key areas >> and and and to that end I I will tell you I'm in favor of all of this um uh I mean the the crosswalks are too long. Um I I I've had this discussion with Chris
Ruters Hower several years ago that that um extending the corners has, as you said tonight, a calming effect on traffic. You know, at one point we talked about reducing the speed limit on Ridgewood Avenue, which we cannot do
below 25. This effectively does that. And what I would ask the council at this point, because look, if you want to walk through every one of these, that's fine. But since this is a preliminary view, >> let's I'm in favor of saying, "Yeah,
spend some more time on this. Give us a better view of this instead of us dissecting this this this in initial draft." >> Well, but I I do think digging in, Paul, is is a good So then that way it gives direction on where they can go. Okay.
And since since it is conceptual, I do ask Keith is should we give thought to having an urban planner also weigh in to like because my whole thing is what what is a downtown like ours going to need to
be to survive 101 15 years from now and so I just wonder conceptually is there anything that they would opine on >> I mean listen we we can certainly have engineering come up you know tweak these conceptual plans we can have the planner look at them early next year you know to
to to make sure that they're comfortable and honestly And honestly, I I I do think that once these plans are semifinal, we we owe it to the to the chamber and the guild and the special improvement district >> to sit down with the leadership of those organizations and and and sort of
fine-tune this. Keep in mind there there are slides within this deck that you're you're gaining parking spaces. You get to Cottage and East Ridgewood and you're picking up three, right? So So I don't I don't you know, without having final plans, we don't know exactly what the net loss or the net gain is. Um, but
that's certainly something that we're going to take into account as we decide this. >> So, I mean, I kind of agree with Paul. I'm happy to go line by line on this, but I think the general consensus is we really like this. >> So, I would spend more time on it. Um, you know, I do think some of those details, you're right, they need to go through, you know, the the, you know,
chamber of commerce need to go through Frank's committees. We need to get more buy in and weigh in. The last page though, I do want to discuss that. >> Hold on. Hold hold up, hold up. It's a work session. All those people are important. The public is going to come just like they tonight said where did
the idea come from? We have to go through the slides with the professionals. I don't know if any of you guys remember with Garber Square who was who was involved for that one when we did that. That did not go over well with the public. These are changes to the artery of our town and the commerce
is super important but there is pedestrian traffic, there is school traffic. So, if we could just conceptually like ask some questions. But I do think the public needs to see these slides if they want to come back to them and people want to talk about them, let them say what we're going to
do because the last Does anybody remember Harvard Square? Who was here for that? Chris, I know you were Heather. It did not go well and the public was and you you must have been because I see you smiling. It was not a good meeting. So, there there changes to traffic which will impact schools and everything. Let's just go show the
slides, have them be in the record, and then conceptually agree at the end because we can't skip over all this content, you guys, because it's and they're re >> I'm with you, Siobhan. I mean, all all this is in the record. I mean, if you want, we can keep going. Again, we're all agreeing with each other on this. >> I got stuff to say. >> I I think the the consensus of the
council is to is that is that they want to go through >> Yeah. >> each of these. Um I I would ask that we do it because we know that these are preliminary drawings. Let's do that. But again, um to you know, let's try to
avoid dissecting them completely. But with that, let's continue. >> There's one thing on this view that I'd like everybody to keep in mind about 20 21 years ago, right, gentlemen? We
didn't have a we did not have the rotary clock and we did not have that refuge island. We had a crosswalk that went from Vaness Park all the way to where Richard Coffee was. A former chief of police, Bill Corkran, once took me aside
and pointed out that on a Friday night, he could count upwards of 22 to 24 people at once in that crosswalk. That was a driving reason why we built that refuge island. It has proven to be very successful. We also made the dedicated
right turn only lane for the traffic that goes northbound from Vaness along Vaness Park. What we show here is basically enhancement of what our previous project had been because we feel engineering feels that that was a
significant pedestrian safety improvement and Jack Carlo got his oak tree planted >> and and beautifying. So, um, on this page, um, it's not to I don't know what the scale is, but
there's one tiny little green spot and I if you have a really tiny green spot, I think it's going to turn to mud. So, um, you know, in this area or >> I wouldn't agree with you quite because we put in a little bit of green spot on
the bumpout we did at North Broad and Franklin. >> Yeah. We have a tree planted there and I think that green spot >> Yeah, that's very nice. This looks softens. This looks way smaller. >> This it softens the pure concrete. >> I absolutely agree with you. But this one looks
>> And we do, I believe, have irrigation where the oak tree is and the rotary clock. >> Um >> and you're talking about the one in front of Raymond. >> She's talking about like the micro green spot. >> Yes. In front of really tiny one there. >> That one. >> Yeah. >> Northeast corner. We could see there's
we could see how big it actually is and what we could put into it. I certainly defer to my colleagues at the parks department for their recommendations. >> And that was my next thing. Can the parks department handle all this much greenery? It, you know, run it by them.
Also run it by um NJ Transit because are their buses going to have problems making these turns? I'm concerned about that. I was at Arthur Groom today and they showed me how the buses are cutting the corners and they're going right over the bricks.
>> The buses are not necessarily our friends in the CBD. >> So, we just had an issue on Monday where they leaked a heck of a lot of oil on our streets and didn't want to own up to it. The fire department had to put out a couple dozen bags of speedy dry and
clean it up and >> they denied all culpability. Are is it on the cameras? >> We don't know. We haven't gotten that far yet. >> Okay. So, I'm concern >> I'm just saying New Jersey Transit buses have not always been the CBD's friend.
>> Yep. >> Okay. >> Let's go to >> Walnut. >> Yeah. Let's see. There we go. This is uh East Richard Avenue, North South Walnut Street. Um
again, making the intersection more pedestrian friendly with shortening the crosswalks here. We have one long diagonal. Um >> Chris, what in the southeast corner? What's that um triangle with the lines in it?
>> The souththeast corner. >> I'm just >> That's just a don't park here spot. >> Okay. because you can't make a parking spot out of that. >> Yeah, I just was curious. I had seen that before. >> Yeah, we would. That's just where we would put cross-hatching to indicate a
no parking zone. What it would be used for is what we've seen elsewhere in the CBD is a parking enforcement officer would park his vehicle there. A police officer would park their vehicle there if they're on patrol or if that was their station. >> Okay. I just know what that represents. So, thank you. >> Okay.
Uh this intersection has also uh a number of councils ago uh it was brought to our attention that it was felt it was poorly illuminated and we increased the illumination working with PSENG by doubling up some of the decorative light poles.
>> Nice. Good. >> Next is ah this would be the mid block. Where was this one? >> Where? >> That's what I think it is, too. >> Yeah. I can't tell. >> Oh, this is midb block at Daily Treat.
>> Midblock at the What? >> Oh, >> by Daily Treat. >> Okay. >> And Titos. >> Mhm. >> Because that that's a section of the roadway that East Richard Avenue right through there from Walnut Street heading
east to Cottage is quite tight. Um, if you ever want to get an adrenaline rush, drive down that section with a transit bus coming in the opposite lane. It is snug. So again, this is a suggestion. This
would cost a couple parking spaces. Uh, but we do get a lot of cross street traffic here. Again, it's an issue that pedestrians just don't want to go to, say, Walnut Street to cross or all the way down to Cottage Street to cross.
Okay. >> And where it says 15 miles per hour, you're just estimating how fast cars would be going if we build >> No. Uh Yovan put that on there. Um he forgot that state doesn't allow 15 mph zones. >> All right.
>> Cottage. >> All right. Now we go down to cottage. And here again, we bump out, shorten the crosswalks across East Richard Avenue. The crosswalk across Cottage Place also benefits a little bit by shortening. Uh
we have we bump out the area in front of the theater, >> which is a great idea. Um, well, we have to see how great that is depending what happens with the theater and and whether the village wants to have the ability
for vehicles to pull up in front of the theater to discharge a passenger or passengers. Next one, continuing down to nope. Nope. >> That's a question.
>> Next one would be Let me see where that drawing is. >> Oh, yeah. Gotcha. I >> think this Yeah, >> the annex. >> This would be over by uh the Cottage Street lot. And on the opposite side of the Cottage Street lot is the new
restaurant, Tates. Um showing a midblock crosswalk and a bumpout area. This will go this would lose several parking spaces. However, it also narrows East Richard Avenue in this area because here the avenue has opened up. We show a
large green island where we currently have the cross-hatched yellow cross-hatch pavement markings again that could channelize the traffic. Um, we have a very good example of a very large landscaping island that we built on
Grove Street. on its eastern terminus just before the Saddle River. >> How would that affect again parades and other such things? >> Pardon? >> Parades if you have a raised >> that's something I would have as part of the design evolution we've discussed with the police department, fire
department and so forth. >> Yeah. I mean depending on how high it is and stuff like we were worried about like ballards that would actually obstruct that couldn't get over. This is if it's a little step up, it probably wouldn't be that bad for for some of our purposes, but you know, you'd have to see like we don't really do races in the
center of town. So, I mean, for parades, I think this would be >> okay. >> Okay. But, >> I mean, the curb on this, if we were to build this island, and there was a concern we could use a mountable curb instead of a curb with a vertical reveal. >> Um,
yeah, we we certainly have to run this by the property owners. I I heard them complaining today. I heard one complaining today. >> I'm sorry. I couldn't hear >> what's what's marked out there now. >> Oh, what's marked out there right now is
the layout for the crosswalk for Tatis. >> Exactly. >> Yes. And that's >> the loss the loss of a of a parking spot. >> It is a loss of several parking spots. at least two
uh >> prospect indeed. >> Yeah, >> this is uh Dayton Prospect Street. Um you got the Prospect Street lot. The aerial view shows the old bus shelter
that has been since removed. We're working on providing a new attractive bus shelter. But here again, we propose wider refuge islands, pedestrian bumpouts, and shorten crosswalks to reduce the
pedestrian exposure to traffic. >> Yeah, I really like the larger islands on >> um Baness because like whenever there's something in the park, there's a lot of foot traffic. So, I think that that's great. You know, this circle is so much bigger.
It could be like the parks in the middle of Broadway in New York City where people sit and hang around. >> Yeah. Could be >> and and relax. >> Well, again, I'll go back to the example I gave that we built about 12 15 years ago on Gro Street. We had excess
asphalt. When Gro Street came out across over the Saddle River, the roadway was wide enough to support two lanes of traffic. Yet, we only had one lane of traffic. So, there's always a jostling of cars. Who goes first? Who has to go behind? Speed limit on the parameter
side was 35. Once you cross into Rididgewood, it was 25. Um, the police department used to have a radar trap on Gro Street that did a phenomenal amount of business. >> Yes. My regrets is I put them out of business because we built the island and
the island now the trees are starting to become more mature. Um parks has kept them up very nicely and it looks quite it's a quite attractive gateway into the village. So again like here we could do that. >> Yeah, this looks great. This one
>> and I like the next one too. The Dayton and Walnut. Um, again, having uh done um different fairs and stuff in Van Nest, I think both of these bumpouts at these Dayton corners are going to going to help. This one I want to double check
because the only thing Yoan is proposing is on the north side of Dayton because on the south side of Dayton where it goes down as a diagonal, we've already shortened that area. We've already bumped that area out when we redid that intersection. I think it was a year or
two ago. >> So now we would propose to do the bumpouts over at the park and across from the park on South Walnut Street. >> I don't feel the need for, you know, extending the bumpout that you did a couple years ago. I think it's working
wonderfully. >> The one on Dayton. >> Yeah. >> Uh it seems to be a success. Um we haven't gotten any complaints. I feel safer there. >> Okay, that's good. >> And then the final slide, I want to just
preface this. There's no commitment to this, but this is something Chris, could you just go one further? Do you have the clitter? >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> So, this is um something that was kicked around in the engineering division with regard to the re the possible relocation
of the bus station to the west side. So, that's when this came up. Um, as we were putting together some of the concept plans on the bumpouts, we sort of revisited the concept of down the road, not now, no commitment. Want to be
clear, uh, the expansion of Vanessa Square, right? We, this park has a tremendous rate of usage. Um, in talking to Nancy Boss and her staff at Parks and Recreation, you know, there's a lot of wear and tear on this park because
there's just so much usage. So, one of the things that engineering was kicking around was is there an ability um with some sacrifice, which would include, you know, the loss of some parking downtown, but is there the possibility of ever expanding um Ben Square and what would
the bumpouts if we were to do something like that look like? So, that was the purpose of putting it in this slide deck. This is not something that's currently under design. It's just food for thought for the future. Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Vaness used to be that big
>> at one point. It's my understanding that it was >> I yield to people who have been there far longer than I >> was. It was designed to be that big in that that memorial was supposed to be viewed from that side
>> at a distance so that you would get that perspective. But um I forget what it was. Was it when they built not the bus station? >> What was there? The opera house. >> The opera house was there. >> Yeah, the opera house was there. Um, and
Village Hall was going to be where the Prospect Lot is now. That's what it was. Village Hall was supposed to be there. Um, but then Village Hall was, you know, obviously moved here. So, um, >> but at one time this is, >> yeah, I mean, regardless of the history,
I'm not for this at all. I mean, I get that it would be nice to make Veness S square into Venice, I guess, you know, rectangle at that point because you're expanding it out that way. But the amount of space you would get here, it's not as if people are using this to play soccer or play Frisbee. It's not a lot. I mean, it'd be great to have that
space. It's not substantially more space and the amount of spots and parking that you would lose in prime real estate. Um, especially considering that lot to me is very safe and it's just it's just worded real well. the sacrifice again everything else I'm for and again my question is how many spots this last one
I'm I'm I'm you know I don't want to completely make up my mind but I could tell you I'm pretty firmly against >> I I I agree completely with Evan um while it would be absolutely lovely to expand um Van Nest and if it was you know a handful of spaces that's one
thing that's a lot of parking I don't believe that the cost benefit um of parking to additional uh park space would be worthwhile. And again, I I haven't made up my mind yet completely, but um I'm pretty close to there. Well,
now to play the other side though that um I I do think it merits more investigation if something like this maybe it's not the full piece, but as Keith indicated uh from Parks and Wreck and from somebody who does a lot of
events in Vanessa that that it's packed. And so to me, if we have a a very a park that's used so much and we can make it a little bit bigger could have a significant impact. So I think that's good. and and I agree with that. Um, and I just did a a rough count. That's about
40 parking spaces. That's a lot of parking spaces. >> And that's why I said let's I I like the idea. It has merit, but maybe it's not this drastic, you know, and and like to along the same line, maybe we bump it out on the on the Dayton side, too,
because Dayton's pretty big on over there. Um >> so so with that >> can I just say >> what you want to do here have have food trucks, farmers market, car show. Um you can do that there now.
>> Yeah, >> the way it is. It's it's all paved. If I were going to expand the park, I'd want it greenery. >> Um Yeah. So I'm nowhere near ready for this. I'm just not ready for this. >> Yeah. And I I have no problem taking that back to to parks and recreation
again. It was tied into the concept of what we were going to do at the bus station. It was tied into what bumpouts would look like under a variety of options option existing conditions option if we were ever to to to decide to make an expansion.
>> So, but I'm glad I'm glad to take that feedback that this is, you know, not something we're moving on uh to parks and recreation so we can move forward with what Chris needs to do accordingly. So I think it's great that we're having a workshop with an idea that we might not go forward with, but it's a good
thing for people to think about. So I I love the concept of expanding Vaness. I also want to just say some things because when we talk about our utilization of our parks and their recovery rate, it's not just recreation. Vaness is probably per square foot our most overutilized park in Ridgewood. And
from a park standpoint, sorry, Frank is the old parks rep. We've talked a lot about sports and this, but from pure recreation, it's over overutilized. So, the concept, well, I'm not going to wed myself to this design. I think it warrants a lot of discussion about how
much green space we want in town, how much it's coveted, and because we don't have enough of it, the existing land is overutilized and kind of tired. So, um, I think it's a great concept. If I were voting tonight, I would be like, I'm completely not ready. And I think the
public should take this from this workshop and say, "Wow, that's an idea, not one for this year, not one for next year." So, thank you to engineering for putting it there because I think it's cool to have ideas to discuss. And I just want to really stress this because, you know, we've talked a lot about
grass. We've talked a lot about our parks. No doubt Van Ness needs some love and attention. And just because we don't play sports on it doesn't mean it's not overutilized. And I I just want to stress that, you know, all of this is just like I say about the budget every year. It's about determining priorities,
right? And in talking to parks and recreation, you know, there are certain events that have grown too big >> Yeah. >> to be held at Vanessa Square. as we and as we turn the as we turn the calendar into 2026,
those decisions are going to need to be made by my office in conjunction with the chief's office and with parks and wreck to tell some of those and I'm not advocating for this design. I'm not that's not where I'm heading. I'm just putting it out there that there are some there are some activities that have grown out of the space and we're going
to have to talk about where we relocate those activities in the village in order to make sure that it's safe and sustainable um in the space where the activity is held. >> And a good example of that is the daffodil festival. When that started, there were 12 vendors. I believe last
year there was 78. And so I'd like to say it this way about this last page is this serves as a catalyst for us to start thinking of how we could expand Van Nest. >> And my very last thing before I stop
rambling, Keith, I have a question is that let's pretend we find a design that we like for expanding Van Nest. Could open space dollars be used to do that? >> Yes. or by way as as as they could be just for you know food for thought again
as they could be if the um >> intention of the prior council which was to do something parklike at the town garage site that would be another location where open space monies could be utilized to do some sort of park development there if the environmentals
come back that indicate that's a possibility and if that was the desire of the council >> and and let me just say I I I actually like the idea that Siobhan brought up, which is if you're going to expand Van Nest into Dayton. Um, >> that was my idea,
>> which excuse >> whoever's idea it was, it wasn't mine, but I like it. Um, because it's a wide street. And let me just say that 15 years ago, there weren't nearly as many events as there are today, right? And
those events, you know, when you talk about limiting them, >> you've got a a struggling downtown. >> Those events support the downtown. And in fact, that was for many years the focus of bringing more events
>> to the central business district. Um, and you know, and doing it someplace else doesn't do it for um for the stores in in the central business. And that's where you have to balance the priorities, right? I mean, I'll tell you the the Easter egg hunt last year was an
issue. >> There were there were too many people to sustain that event in a safe way in that space. And that is a discussion that the chief and I have had like probably a half a dozen times since April, right? And we need to we need to figure out
what we do with that moving forward. >> I think that's a good example of um something that has um uh become a victim of its own success. And so we have to look at that. >> And by the way, staging multiple times during the day for that. Like these are
all things that we plan to have conversations >> out of that park that is an engine for the central business district. I'm not in favor of that. I I think that there are other alternatives as you said, staging things um uh other ways of doing
it. Like I said, 15 years ago, there were very few events in the park. >> I I think we I think we all understand the importance of Vaness serving as a driver for for community events, but also to help sustain the businesses.
>> Our point is on the administrative side is we have to make sure that it's safe. >> Keith, if I can just make one other suggestion. So, I mean, I'm coming up on three years on the council, and one thing I've learned is that when we try to do too much and we try to do everything all at once, we get absolutely nothing done. I would suggest
that you focus on some of the quick hits and low hanging fruit. There was a lot of stuff in here that you will get the five of us to say this is awesome and you're not, let's not let the perfect be the enemy of the good and instead of, you know, spending time maybe on, you know, I don't want to pick on the last proposal, which again sounds like it
needs a lot more work. Let's get some of this stuff done sooner rather than later. and especially the easy ones. Let's bang them out. >> So, if we're walking out of here tonight with support of bumpouts in the central business district, which is well, I'll end where we started. >> These are concepts and we're going to
direct Chris's office to um fine-tune these >> um quantify what the uh net gain versus loss is of parking spaces and doing some of these things. take back the feedback that the council's provided and put together a comprehensive two-year plan.
Capital budget 26, capital budget 27. That's what we're looking to to accomplish tonight. >> Right? So, we would be doing these a couple at a time. >> What you saw tonight sands the last slide. Some form of those concepts would be implemented over two capital budgets
and be tied up with road resurfacing likely in the fall of 2027. a and tied to the accidents as well because we want to have the improvements. So I would actually think the order would go from Broad Street down when you look at the proposal and we can all think about that
but you know as you go it seems very logical to start there and keep going because it's incremental. >> Yeah. >> And it would make sense too because as the as Chris alluded to you know the evolution of the theater and what happens there it would be intuitive to to start at broad and move down. But
Chris, I think you have enough direction tonight to be able to take this back to your team and and figure out how to move forward. >> Yeah. Wherever the inception of this was, um, I want to thank >> everybody who who who did this because I think the bumpouts are really great idea.
>> The credit goes to Yo Mahenzik, our assistant engineer. He's the principal CAD CAD designer, excuse me. Um, he prepared the drawings. Um, he will be instrumental in fine-tuning them. uh to make them real.
>> Great gentlemen. Thank you so much. >> Still holding them here. >> Oh boy. I'm I'm trying to get I'm trying to get the council a fivem minute break. So >> Okay. Do you want to do that? >> No. >> No. If they're here, let's get let's >> So we have no items for discussion under Rididgewood Water tonight. Um our next item is under parking and this is uh to
discuss the amending of chapter 265 which is vehicles and traffics traffic uh no parking for the bike lane area on South Pleasant A. So Chris, if you'll pull up your memo um and just talk a little bit about the genesis of this,
the uh mutual aid grant that we received from the DOT and how it ties into that. and then the chief and his uh his um captain and sergeant can talk about the safety issues relative to the bike path. >> Yeah, we um we resurface South Pleasant
Avenue. Uh a portion of the funding was provided by the Department of Transportation under a municipal aid grant. Um the DO's requirements on how we do these grants nowadays is we have to do a standalone project. Um, that's
been the way it's been for the last 5 years or so. Previously, we just threw a DOT designated street into our capital paving. Um, DOT has changed that standalone project. When we were looking at South Pleasant
for reservicing, uh, the village council was approached by a group of residents that desired a bike path, a bark bike path on South Pleasant. Uh we've installed the bike path on the northbound direction of
South Pleasant from Gro Street goes down to down to Hall School >> and Delaware. Doesn't it just go down? Oh, that's the that's the side. >> It goes all the way down to Hall School, loops around and stops at Stevens.
>> Um it is marked. It's clear part of our obligations for putting in a bike path uh under a DOT grant is that the council has to adopt an ordinance prohibiting parking on set bike path. That is the ordinance that's before you folks
tonight. >> So, um I know um Kathy No had some questions about this. Um uh I I don't know if you remember what they were, but if you could address that since we're discussing about it now. was about the
elimination of the parking and how that would affect the side streets I believe Kathy >> and drop off and pick up at >> right drop off and pickup. So um you know and and it certainly sounds like the right thing to do but um I'd like to
address her her questions. >> Well down by Hall School we already have restrictions on parking on that segment of the street. Um, what was that section of school? The >> streets Houston. >> Oh, Lane. Sorry.
>> Houston. Hston. >> Houston. House depends on where you are or not. >> Yeah. Uh, that already has a number of restrictions particularly on the westbound direction where Hston Lane goes from from South Pleasant to Stevens. Um,
we like to move the traffic and the vehicles to the rear of Hall School because when they rebuilt Hall School, they put in a really a decent pattern for picking up children. It's also a secure area. By secure, I mean it's out
of the normal traffic stream. The only traffic back there is parents picking up kids. So, you don't have any truck traffic. You don't have any through traffic. How many blocks are we talking about restricting parking? >> Uh how many blocks in totality?
>> Yeah. >> Um >> by this ordinance? >> By I'd say a guesstimate between 8 and 10. It's from Gro Street all the way down to House. >> And that would be all the time. >> Yes. >> On both sides of the street?
>> Nope. Just on the northbound direction where the lane is the bike lane is marked >> and and the bike lane is painted. I just like it's been striped. Right now, we have vehicles parking over top of it until this ordinance is approved. Um, which we couldn't do until the project was completed this past summer.
>> So, we don't really have much choice since we put a bike path there um that we approved. Um, and now with cars parked there, it is unusable. Yeah, it's it's very dangerous as it stands right now because you can't have a car there and then expect someone to be on a bike
and swerve into traffic. >> Regardless of what the intent was, whether to allow parking or not, once the bike lane is actually there, to have cars parked in it is is that >> and and this is something that we anticipate elementary school students would be utilizing a lot.
>> Through through you, mayor, the chief has a lot of exposure to Hall school. So, as both a the police chief and as a parent, what what is your take on on the concept here? >> So, I mean, Haw School actually does a very good job at the drop off and the pickup. They keep it mostly on Stevens.
Um there's a huge uh a huge um push from the school itself to to try to have kids to bike and walk to school. So, I think that's where a lot of this impetus came from. I can't speak to the effectiveness of whether or not that happens. On gorgeous days, of course, it happens. On
on rainy days, it won't happen. But I I can only speak to the fact that now that that lane is there, we really can't have cars parking in the lane, you know. So, really really the choice becomes you have to remove what you already did or you have to you're not you can't have
parking there. I know there's parking along the whole other side of the street. And I hate to be this person, but um on Stevens and on um Pleasant when people are parked on both sides of the street, it's almost impassible. They're too narrow to do that, right? So, in reality, this is only creating I
mean, now that street is wider, so you probably could have parked, but you never really could have parked on both sides of the street prior to this improvement to the street because, you know, if you're parked on this side and then someone's even staggered, it's it's always that kind of thing. I'm there many many days and it's one of those
Stevens still has that problem. I think we did a good job fixing um Pleasant because now it's wider, but I mean restricting parking on one side uh I don't think will be a massive problem because it never really was able to be used both sides. >> Now you're kind of forcing people to one side
>> and this is without question a consequence of embracing the >> unintended consequence. The question what what you saying right? >> Yes. It's the unintended consequence all the vehicles that do park there like the no said and we're fully well aware of it in traffic bureau that um from
Doorchester to you know going uh northbound you've probably got 15 to 20 vehicles maybe that park on that side of the road specific to pickup hour. So, where you know they're going to go they're going
to have to go to the uh other side of the road um and then cross to the sidewalk side. Um >> but from your expert opinion, you don't see the the parking as a problem. It >> they're just going to have to move and get used to it. It's going to be the
consequence of we have to have a new norm. >> But it's not like it's it's going to be that there's no place to park. It's just you got to park on the other side. >> It's going to be parking on the other side. >> Okay. And I think that there was like school events. She also asked about do we foresee that there won't be enough parking if say there's a school play or
something. >> Uh it's it's going to be the you know they're going to have to park further down. They're just going to have to walk further to get to where they want to go if there's going to only be a regulation on the one side. >> I mean we have that problem now on Stevens. People will end up parking on
both sides whether they're allowed to or not and it just you know creates issues. Chief, at the request of the school, do you have the jurisdiction to close the bike lane and if we had to bag the signs for a temporary period of time? >> I mean, we could >> we we did that in one of my other towns.
I wanted >> if we if we have like advanced notice of it and that is something we could >> So, if if they're having, you know, >> a major event, >> if they're having a major event at Hall School >> and the principal calls you up and says, "Chief, you know, we we need we need additional parking at Hall School." And
she's great, by the way. I'm dealing with her on the um the baseball field improvements, right? She's super. >> And she calls you and says, you know, we need you to close the bike lane and and allow us to park there. We could feasibly put a >> Yeah. For the back to school,
>> put something put something out that says bike lane closed right on a on a on a on a on a barrier and then and then have signal bag the sign or the police department bag the signs for a temporary period of time. Yeah. And we have the variable message boards that if we had advanced notice, we could say by claim
closed for >> that. That's something we can talk to the school administration about. >> Can I just say a couple things that are somewhat contrarian, so I'm just going to say it. So I was the Orchard school safety chair and and I went to Orchard and went back here and my first day that I took Liam to kindergarten, I called my
mom. I'm like, "Oh my, nobody walks to school anymore." Because when I was a kid, like nobody drove to school. And so a huge part of my responsibility was to incentivize other methods of transportation which is actually safer. So I want to go back to the girls. One, if every third, fourth, and fifth grader
is biking, which is ambitious, think of how many less cars will need parking spaces. So I I just I we're making it sound all bad, but it's not. The other thing is that, you know, Trell doesn't even have a parking lot. So on the messaging you just get used to this
change because the reason for the change from the girls philosophy and from the environmental philosophy and from the safety is that if the kids are walking more there's less chance of being struck. So I I think where I'm at is by law we have to suspend this which we
should and two we need to still even though biking is so weird in our town everywhere in the city too we need to embrace it. the reason we did it was to have less traffic to pro better habits and let's let's lean into it a bit. That that's just my thoughts. If you say like
at the high school, I know every high school event that parents are there, they encourage car pooling, right? Because good luck finding parking or walking. And I think, you know, that's just my thoughts is that if people really stopped driving, we would have less car accidents and it it's a
walkable community and the goals and all the things that these young girls talked about results in less traffic. So that's just however we end up I think by law we have to do it. But embracing the bike lane is a good thing and encouraging people. It is walk to school month,
right? Everybody could get mayor's wellness minutes. We did this a lot at Orchard and I just think we should take it as an opportunity, I don't know if you guys agree with that, to promote more walking because that's really what the goal was. >> Good thing we Good thing we built those sidewalks on South Pleasant. >> Yeah.
>> The only hiccup for Haw is the entire east side of 17 goes there and they can't walk from it's too far. So I mean that's the only hiccup. Those are the people who are definitely going to be the drivers. But you do actually see a large community of people walk like you you see more people on Dorchester,
Ellington, Nukem. They're they're doing a lot of walking. I think Hogs does that very well. But it's the people still gets busing. Yes. >> Yes, they do have some. >> So if if the council is inclined to move forward with the parking restrictions,
as Chris outlines in his memo, the chief and I can can have a conversation with uh Dr. Schwarz about how we would move forward in coordinating with the school if it was necessary. >> Everybody good? >> Yes. No, >> let's go. >> Now, may I may you let them go?
>> Sure. >> Good. Uh, thank you so much and thank you for answering all of our questions. You've really helped us. >> Item one under budget and item one under policy. Are there any questions for Chris or is everybody good? >> Item one, where are you? We're both both are both both items one
>> C1 and D1. >> Tim, >> laboratory services and encroachment agreement. Are we do we have any >> I'm good. >> Okay. All right. >> Good. >> I'll I'll go over them formally, but I just want to make sure I didn't need to keep >> Great. Um, we're going to take a fivem minute break and we're going to keep it
to five minutes. So, let's go. I've been trying to get to that break. Where are the >> Wow. Oh, I don't even know. I can't >> I was normally
told >> well I think both personal professional I appreciate nothing. I don't see >> there's a more philosophical conversation anyone
That's what I said. First figure we'll fight about later. >> What they have to do is they have to do the ABA ramps and it's going to be more like we're going to do it together.
>> Sunday. >> Look at that weather. >> It'll be and we have a flyer that we can say >> I've already like >> take care.
>> Thanks. >> Go get a snack. Sometimes he takes it. >> But I do appreciate that shock. Everybody's going. >> Okay, we are reconvening. Nobody left so
I don't think we need a roll call. >> Let me just do it. >> What's that? >> Council member Mortimer. >> I am here. Heather. >> Good. Deputy Mayor Parin. >> Yes. Here. >> Council member Whites >> here. >> Council member Winterrad >> here. >> Mayor Bajanos >> here. Let's go.
>> Okay. Mayor, we're moving on to the budget portion of the agenda. The first item is to award a contract for flushing laboratory furnishing laboratory uh analysis services for the water pollution control facility, the lake view compost facility and the grad pool facility.
>> I do think flushing laboratory would be a better day for >> furnishing furnishing. We took uh bids on Wednesday, September 17th. Uh we received three we had four plan holders. We received three responding bids. Um, after review of the bids, it was noted
that the apparent low bidder had made a mathematical error rendering the second submission as the low bidder. It's Pace Analytical Services LLC. Chris is making the recommendation uh to PACE for calendar year 2026 out of the operating
budget at a not to exceed amount of $18,551. >> Questions? Nope. >> Okay, >> let's go. Uh the next is to award a professional services contract for our employee assistance program. Um as you know not long a after I arrived here we
changed um EAP service contractors. Uh we are now with intervention strategies international. Uh they do a tremendous job. Um the current contract is set to expire at the end of this month. Uh, Don Centrulo, our
director of health, is recommending a renewal of their contract from November of 2025 through December of 2026. Um, it's $675 per month for a total of $8,100 annually. There is no increase for next
year. over this year's contract. Uh they provide services to our employees 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for immediate access for emergency consultation services. >> Questions? >> Let's go. >> Next item is number three. Uh this is
the renewal of a shared services agreement for TV inspection of our sanitary sewer systems. This is a shared services agreement with Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority for TV inspection of our sanitary sewer lines. The cost of this service is 98 cents per
foot with a minimum of $500 a day in 2026, which is three cents per foot more than it is in 2025. Uh Chris and Heather are recommending that we renew this contract with Northwest Bergen. >> How often do we do this?
>> Um it's on an as needed basis. So, um I know that uh we utilize them on some of the the sanitary storm water sewer and sanitary storm water uh sewer systems. Uh both of them we've been able to television lines with Northwest.
>> Everybody good? Let's go. >> Okay. Under policy, uh this is a request for an encroachment agreement uh on Elaine Terrace. Um you see the memo written by Chris. Uh resident is seeking to memorialize an existing encroachment.
Uh the map outlining that encroachment is attached. Um their property has into the right of way of a lane terrace. The encroachment can be seen um on the property survey. Uh all we're doing here is formalizing this act. >> Questions?
>> Let's go. >> Okay. Uh moving on to dining corrals. Uh both dates and fees for 2026. Um in the central business district uh we have um four to five locations uh where restaurants are offering dining corral
from May 1st to October 31st. Uh we are the fee is $315 per parking space. Um we've consulted with Bob Rooney who handles the parking utility. Um and he's indicated that the fees and the time frame for the 2026 calendar should
remain the same as they are for 2025. >> Pretty good. Let's go. >> Um, next item under operations is the annual best practices inventory. As I alluded to during the manager report, um, you can look through and see um,
where we were able to answer yes, no, or not applicable. Um, some of them require uh, full commenting in the right hand column of the document. Um, so we are well within the best practices range for
maintaining all of our aid. Um, anyone who any municipality um that scores above 32 uh receives full 100% aid from the state. Um, and we scored a 40 on this uh on this best practices inventory
for this year. >> All right, everybody good? >> Okay. Um, next is a memorandum from Chief Judge from the Rididgewood Fire Department, uh, requesting that we enter into the Pay County Cooperative
Purchasing System. Um, the chief, uh, both as the deputy director of OEM and for the fire department has indicated that this is an option for purchasing goods and services that are needed for both departments. Um, so he is making the recommendation that we join this
co-op. were a member of multiple other co-ops, we would just pass this resolution and be able to buy off the P County co-op as we do with all the others. >> Everybody good? >> Yep. >> Let's go. Um, next matter I'm going to recuse myself on Pam.
>> Yeah. Uh, this has to do with Were you going to say >> introduction for it? Go ahead. >> Yeah. So, this is a memorandum from recreation director Nancy Beos regarding the replacement of the 911 memorial
trees. Um, there is a concern about the health of the existing trees um on the pathway between village hall and the public library. Um we are looking to replace these trees this fall um in light of the fact that next September
will be the 25th anniversary um of the 9/11 attacks. So we would like to get the new tree the trees that are in failing health out replaced with the new trees. We are taking into account some of the work that the library is planning. Um they're looking to alter
their footprint. So, how we plant the trees will be um done in conjunction with um Lori at the library um and her professional staff over there. And we are looking to plant them this fall so that next September we can have a
rededication in light of the 25th anniversary. >> I do have one question is that could open space funds be used to buy these trees? >> Um certainly could. I mean the memorandum that Nancy put together has it coming out of 2025 capital. Um, but
if there's a desire to to move this purchase to open space, we can we could certainly take the funding from there rather than from the capital budget. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And also I >> is that is that a consensus of the council to go in that direction? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Sure.
>> Yeah, we can certainly do that. Certainly falls under the um the uh jurisdiction of what we can fund um out of the open space trust fund. And the total amount is $12,700. And the low co quote was from downstream service of Hawthorne.
>> I spoke to Nancy Beos about this and what I didn't realize in the p before is there are 12 trees, one for each of our residents who died on 911. Correct. And >> the trees have been ailing for years. They were beautiful cherry trees, but I
think it's because they're grafted that they are susceptible to blight. And so the new trees, when I asked Nancy, how are the new trees going to survive any better? She said, "Well, they're going to be crab apples, right?" And that's what Declan recommended rather than the
cherries. Um, and I was also concerned about can you plant where the stumps of other trees are, but the contract with uh with Downs would specify that they have to grind or remove the stumps. So,
that makes it better for the new trees. So, I just want to let you know, know about that. Very good. Everybody in support? >> Yep. >> Okay. And we are going to take the money from open space. >> Okay. And then um lastly under
operations we have uh the declaration of surplus property from the Rididgewood Fire Department. Uh 44 Scott Airpacks. Um these air packs have the lifespan of 15 years. Uh we had applied for an AFG grant two years ago. We've been able to
replace all of our older uh Scott air packs. Uh the new packs were purchased and are now placed in service. So these 44 are now at end of life and have no value and that they can be disposed of. We just need council authorization to declare it a surplus and dispose of that property. >> Everybody good?
>> Yep. And mayor, that concludes my portion of the agenda. >> Let's go back to public comment. >> Uh good evening again, Mayor and Council Boy, a loving Rididgewood taxpayer. Uh with respect to the comments about the bike path and the parking situation, uh
it concerns me um with all due respect to Sergeant Torino that he said something about people would have to park on the opposite side of the street where there are no sidewalks and then walk across the street to the sidewalks. To me, that presents a a safety issue of
some sort, particularly if you have little children, you're trying to get them to cross the street. Uh it's my understanding from speaking to Miss No and Mr. No that sidewalks were constructed as far down as Delaware Avenue and a crosswalk has been placed at that point. My suggestion would be
then if you have sidewalks on both sides of the street down to Delaware that you not permit any parking on where there are no sidewalks even I guess it's would be south of Delaware. So people don't have to cross the street in that in that
aspect to get to a sidewalk. They can only park on the side of the street where there are sidewalks on that side of the street. They cannot park where there are no sidewalks because you don't want people walking across the street, particularly people with young children. Again, to me, it presents a safety hazard. I understand that sidewalks
can't be constructed any further down than Delaware because of uh an embankment that's there that would and retaining walls that would prevent that. So, when you're drafting that ordinance, if you could just take a look at it and and just make sure that things be done safely. so people aren't
crossing the street where they don't have to cross the street. Um there was a comment made by someone on the deis uh previously about people not wanting trees in front of their property. That really concerns me. Trees benefit
everyone. Trees don't only benefit the person whose property it's in front of. I don't know how many of you were in Ridgewood many years ago. made the New York Times when the people on Hawthorne Place decided that they didn't want sidewalks on the street and they ripped
out all the sidewalks. You know, here we go again. Somebody doesn't want trees, which are a benefit to the community and decides, well, I don't want a tree in front of my house, so we're we're giving in and not placing it there. Now, I heard what was said. Well, there's some concern about, well,
if they don't take care of the tree, you know, the tree is going to die. But still to have somebody be able to make a decision that they don't want to do something that benefits the whole community. I don't want a tree in front of my house. What if we have a whole block of people who say, "I don't want a tree in front of my house." And then we
wind up with a treeless street. That doesn't strike me as something that we should permit. Uh perhaps it has to be looked at on a case-byase basis, but just to walk away from anybody who says, "I don't want to treat in front of my house and say we're okay with that." I I don't think that that does a service to
the me the other members of the community. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Boyd. >> Kathy, no. Um I'm curious as to the DOT money that was accepted for uh towards the paving of Pleasant. How much did we
receive and is it worth all the angst of parking and whatnot in the neighborhood. Um, and I I guess it sounds also like you didn't speak to the principal. Uh, the pe the parents who go to Haw, their
kids go to Haw. People drive everywhere. I mean, when we first moved there, there weren't any cars. Um, now it's just constant, you know, which, like I said, they park in front of my house, everything has been fine. But there's more drivers and after school they want
to get out really quick because the kids all have activities. But I would like to hear how much money was received and for just just for public knowledge. And again, I think the neighbors who live along Pleasant should have been notified
that they're not going to be allowed to park in front of their house. and you know courtesy and transparency that you always tell us. I I think they are do that information beforehand not after.
>> Thank you Kathy. >> Good evening again. Ann loving. One thing about more people driving now than than years ago, when our daughter started at Haw in 1986, there were two two working mothers in
her kindergarten class. Um, I was one of them. I was like a pariah. Now, everybody's working and so you have to drive because you got to get to you got to get to work as soon as you drop your kid at school. So, that's that's one of the reasons that more people are driving now. I think that's the main
reason. Um, I have a comment about the mayor's comment that we don't have to have an injunction with Shedler with the two particular lawsuits that are in effect right now. I don't understand why the village
wouldn't want to do that in order to give the residents who are spending their money, I am not one of them, but spending their money um just provide relief for them until this gets settled. I don't know why you would just say, "Well, we don't have to do it, so we're not doing it." You know, there's people
putting a lot of sweat equity into this. The last thing I'd like to say is this is the second work session in a row where the mayor has tried to squaltch comments. Um, previously there was quite uh
actually rudeness towards Councilman Mortimer when he was asking questions about the finances for the proposed um special improvement district and you literally cut him off and and Mr. Mortimer said, "But it's a work session. I have questions I want to ask." And you
said, "Well, we've done two years of this and you know, we're all set. We don't need 11th hour questions now tonight." Yeah, I know it's late, but they were putting up all these different slides and basically, Mr. Mayor, you said, "All right, let's just move on. We
don't have to look at all these." And Miss Winterrad said, "Yeah, we do. I have questions." And I appreciate that. I I don't understand why you constantly, not constantly, but two work sessions in a row cutting off council colleagues who
have questions. We the taxpayers would like to hear the questions that the other elected officials have. And I'm glad that they persevered and we got to hear all the questions and see all the slides rather than just saying, "Okay, this is good. We trust you." Thank you.
>> Thank you, Ann. Anybody else? Let's go to our hybrid access. Rurick, you're up. Uh, good evening. Uh, Roric Hal, village resident. Uh, I see some people are
introducing themselves as village taxpayers. Does that mean they're not village residents? It's I'd be intrigued. Anyway, I was pleased with the bump out presentation in a sense that it shows a commitment for
pedestrian safety. uh until I uh had my problems with my lungs. I used to be a big big walker and I've walked all over Rididgewood and there were three occasions where I really almost
got into an accident actually. Uh a couple cases I did and uh so I'm very very sensitive to pedestrian safety. Now looking at the presentation, I would say that we might be far better
off in Ridgewood if the work could be done by an engineering company that could is a specialist in traffic flow. Uh, I like the idea of Frank Mortimers of maybe getting a a
municipal planning company, but I would be happy with even a traffic a company with that's an expert in traffic flow. For instance, one thing that our village manager who I'm a big big fan of
mentioned to Siobhan when Keith you said, "Let's look at Richard Avenue, not at Franklin Avenue." Guess what? If you start restricting traffic in Richard Avenue, it's going to divert it to to Franklin Avenue. Uh the
problem we have with West Glenn is that eight or nine years ago when New Jersey Transit gave us an opportunity to widen Glennwood and the Village Council dropped the
wall. We knew and I was very active in that area. We knew that it was going to direct traffic to Glenn to West Glenn. And the same thing is going to happen with uh w with w with Franklin which is a very very difficult
uh street as it is and it'll get even worse. Now the reason I say in my opinion the v the engineering department may not have the bandwidth to really do a a a the proper job is the intersection
of rigid avenue and broad. I mean, that's a disaster if you really think about it. I mean, by restricting the traffic going south on broad, I drive this all the time. My wife and I, whenever we're traveling, we go down
broad from our apartment on on in in the in in the Benjamin and there's always traffic, people backing up, backing out of their parking lot. You come to the intersection, even now with two lanes, it's an impossible section intersection
to go through. To turn it into a one lane is is ludicrous. Absolutely ludicrous. Plus, the design does nothing. It does nothing. And this is really what upsets me about the traffic heading west on
Rigid Avenue at Broad. to quote the village engineer a few meetings ago when he said over traffic heading west going in going down to broad south broad will fly through it I don't want traffic to fly through the
intersection >> Rurick your time is up if you could finish up please >> okay my my point is please think seriously about bringing in a traffic engineer an engineering company that specialize in traffic that would work
and come up with a plan for traffic safety across in the village CBD which includes Franklin, Rigid Avenue, Dayton, etc., etc. But anyway, uh we we're making progress one step at a time and
I'm happy with what we've done so far. Thank you. >> Thank you so much, Rorick. Susan, you're up. >> Hi. Um, Susan Rouan. Um, oh, what is it? I'm a Ridgewood resident. Live right beside the foot bridge. Yay. I just want
to thank everyone um for the progress made so far on the foot bridge. I know it's been um a pain to, you know, it's been a nightmare trying to get it done and all these delays, but it feels good to finally see her. Um
>> Susan, Susan, if you could speak a little more clearly. Um we just we can't maybe you're you're not close to the phone, so >> No, I don't know. Um can you hear me now? >> A little better. Sure.
>> All right. Um yeah, just thank you for the foot bridge to get finished. um that just came up and I know this is I'm not trying to add something else onto your plates. Um I did see comments
on Facebook about paving um East Saddle River Road. >> I um just wondered if if that was ever discussed because I know Costco is going to be added. It's going to be a half
mile away and I think um from the foot bridge and I know that that's going to just increase traffic nonethe [Music] road that whole place is just going to be a little bit of a nightmare for a while. Um I know when companies come in
they go in and do infrastructure work um adding lights, expanding roadways. Has anybody ever discussed with paramis or Bergen County about paving west settle east saddle river road now that Costco
is going in again. The track team runs on it. Students walk home. Um people use it and you know right now it is busy road but when Costco goes in that's just going to be a nightmare of traffic.
Um, so I didn't know if that was ever discussed with Pamis or Costco or Bergen about um adding the sidewalks. Um, as for Haw, I know my kids went there. That place is a nightmare.
>> Um, traffic, I mean, people do weird things in the pickup line and I just advise you to try not to make it worse than it is. Um, and so that was pretty much it. I listened to the pause thing, didn't really understand it, but I just
want to add pause is a nightmare at pickup time and drop off. And if you're doing something there, um, please just make sure it doesn't make things worse for them. All right. Thanks. >> Thank you so much. Anybody else?
>> Seeing no one, I'm going to close public comment. And >> Heather, no response. >> Oh, excuse me. Are you pardon? I always do that. I was I apologize. Does anybody want to respond to >> two two brief things, mayor, if I may, to Miss No. I want to say it was
somewhere between 200 and 250,000 for the DOT grant. It was definitely fiscal year 2024 uh for South Pleasant. Um I if you email me, I can send you the exact number, but I want to say it was somewhere between 2 and 250. Um with regard to notifying
folks, Heather, if we're going to do that ordinance, maybe we do the same with that that we're going to do with Brighton. So maybe our offices can have that conversation. And lastly, uh with regard to uh Susan, relative to East Saddle River Road, I've actually had
some inquiries from some other residents in that area. Uh we have submitted uh that roadway for consideration for Bergen County's road resurfacing uh program. Uh but we also have some trench work that is still settling that is the responsibility of Ridgewood Water. So
Ridgewood Water will be on East Saddle River Road. um once that trench has settled to do some resurfacing, but a comprehensive road resurfacing would need to come from the county of Bergen. >> Anybody else? Matt, >> just briefly, uh the mayor doesn't need
me to speak for him, but with regard to the the position of being the chair of this meeting, he has to move the business along. As it is right now, it's 11:00. Uh people are getting tired, but to try and move it along and try and see if discussions can be directed in a certain way. and then when somebody
brought up the fact that there was another question he certainly allowed it. So certainly in terms of managing a meeting that is the way that a chairman of a meeting would do that. The second thing was about uh Mr. Wayne with regard to the intersection at Pamis Road and um
Lynwood that is a discussion that's going on with the county as we've been advised by Pamis at the last hearing of the Costco application. And just I'm sorry I know Sean you got something but just on the first point um it was actually my idea to skip through the slides. It wasn't Paul's uh I I brought
up the point that since they were conceptual and not fully detailed that perhaps we we wait for them to come back. My recollection and I'm sure the video will show hopefully the same uh Paul I think you agreed with me but as soon as it was clear that both Siobhan and Frank wanted to press on and go side by side it was a pretty quick you know
swivel to to go side by side which is what we did. So, um I think Matt, you're right. Paul has the ability to move things along, especially as it is now 11 o'clock and we still have not done our close session. Uh but tonight, uh I was the one being impatient, not Paul. >> Anybody else?
>> Yeah, I have I have two things. Um so, with respect to the bike lane, the young ladies did connect with the schools and the board of ed because they were students. So, when we would meet with them, they were also meeting, you know, with all interested parties. So, you know, they're teenagers and maybe could
have been done better, but a lot of the leg work why we work with the AP students is for them to take the idea and work through it. Um, so that's with respect to the bike line. With respect to shade tree, um this is something we've really struggled with because and we've taken a vote on it and this year
we move to if you request a tree if we request two trees, we'll give you them because we'd rather that while we still have a deficit of several thousand trees, the shade tree commission's made the determinative decision that we're not going to argue with homeowners who don't want them. Um there's a lot of
work in planting a tree. So this is really important for we don't want to battle with the homeowner because like I said we have a huge deficit and so the commission feels it's best to do it that way. Um there is an absolutely valid point at some point we will run back to those homes and we'll have a decision to
make but for now we feel that it's best to place them. We've made a decision and our favorite kind of tree now is the one that's requested the year before the street um that Pam grew up on. We went on a tour. We were selling free trees big time and the rate of rejections on
that street in a flood plane was 50%. Um, and those trees had been expressly ordered for markouts. So, I just want to be clear, we're making a financial logistical decision because it takes labor and time to do the markouts and if we take the tree out there and it's
wrong, that tree is not just transferable. So, right, >> I know it's not the best answer, but we're not going to argue with every home homeowner. and we did take a vote on it in Shade Tree and we really just want to move forward that way for now. >> And and just along those lines, I I was
asked by the the co-chairs of the Shade Tree Commission to talk about this issue with them. Um I want to say it was sometime last year. Um we had we've only had I would say three homeowners who were really obstinate about having the
trees planted in front of their home. One one was over in the Shedler neighborhood. Um and it got to the point where the right decision was to while we could still do it to relocate those trees and and we did successfully do
that. The direction that I shared with the co-chairs of the Sha Tree Commission was to try to prioritize those residents who are requesting the trees. It's a much easier process. their welcoming of the tree uh is is important, especially
as to its care and the fact that they're going to be equally committed, as is the village, to to try to to try to have the tree take and and live a long healthy life. Um, but I just want to qualify that there's only probably been three people um that have really um opposed
the planting of a tree in front of their home, at least during my tenure here. Well, three people who once the tree was in, but we did proactively send the letters because when I first got there, we didn't have any analytics. So, uh, the street that Pam grew up on is was the worst one. They were at rates of
over 50% and we applied, I think it was not last year, but the year before, 65 trees over into the Shedler neighborhood. And I think the rates of rejection were close to 40% as well on paper, meaning we sent a letter, a tree is coming your way. And then we had three adversarial situations which were
terrible, but that's it. >> And on the bright side, since 2020, the village has planted 1,196 trees. >> Uh, we for a grant >> ready.
Be it resolved by the village council of village of Ridgewood that the v council meet in close session on October 22nd, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. or soon thereafter as the matter on the agenda can be reached and it said close session be held in the caucus room on the fourth floor of the Ridgewood Village Hall 131 North Maple
Avenue, Richmond, New Jersey be further resolved that the matters to be discussed in close session are limited to personnel matters to include appointment of village professionals. These matters are allowable under NJS 10 column 4-12 that second be further resolved that the minutes of this meeting shall be made available to the
general public when such matters have been deemed completed by resolution of the village council. I have a motion >> second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed >> completely forgot that we have closed session. Are you
What I mean?