She said no. How you doing? Yes, I remember. I saw you. >> So the next day, I have a missed call and I check and you called back >> and it was like and it was and it was
going in like 7:30. >> Well, he is one of your constituents, you know, technically. [laughter] >> Okay, we all ready to go? >> Yeah. Good evening. This is the Rididgewood Village Council public workshop. The
date is January 28th, 2026. The time is 7:30 p.m. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Rididgewood 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. Mayor Vaganos >> here. Will you all please join us in a salute to our flag? I pledge allegiance
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. >> And let's go right to public comment.
Public comment is limited to three minutes per person. After two minutes, the bell will ring and that's a one minute warning and then at the end I'll say time is up. >> Good evening. Ann Loving Ridgewood resident and actually that's what I wanted to speak about. In December, in
fact, early December, I wrote to the mayor and I asked him about the origin of these bells that go off. This was a new thing that was introduced. The mayor did not respond to my email. I then came to the mic and asked everybody about it
and nobody responded. And subsequently, we've had a lot of residents at meetings and a number of them have indicated that they find the bell obnoxious, interruptive, and unnecessary. Um, I think it's really contradictory to your
insistence that you never interrupt us and because it's interruptive. And in fact, on at least two occasions, one being my husband, the bell went off and you told the person, "Oh, your time's up." But actually, they still had another minute. So, it's confusing to
you. We have a countdown clock. We can all see it. It's huge. Um, the system that was in place was fine. You know, 3 minutes is up. There's a little noise and, you know, you give everybody another sentence or two. I would love to have an explanation for this system
which seems just so unnecessary. And thank you. >> Thank you, Ann. Anyone else? >> Seeing no one, we're going to go to our hybrid access uh where I see Mr. Halib is waiting with a comment.
>> Good evening, Roric. >> Do do you hear me? >> We can. >> We can. >> Yeah. Roric Halib resident of Rididgewood for almost 57 years. Uh speaking about trees, I'm an environmentalist and I love
trees. I would like to ask Deputy Mayor Pam Perin to see what she can do at the next Green Rididgewood meeting to resuscitate the 1,00 acre initiative. A thousand acres does so much for the
environment. It cuts down on the acreage of lawns and thus reduces the use of water and chemicals. It also encourages the planting of trees by individual homeowners. I understand that the that there are
some 8,000 homes in Rididgewood. If half the homeowners plant a tree a year on their property, that's 4,000 trees. The most important thing about a thousand acres is that it encourages Rigid residents to be passionate and to
being engaged about the environment. Yes, with a thousand acres, Ridgard can plant a multiple of the number of trees some are asking the village to plant. As some of you may remember, I have called for an arboritum of native trees
at Shedler. It can be used to help educate Richard's residents in the choice of trees they can plant. Thank you. >> Thank you, Roric. >> Thank you, Rorick. >> Anyone else? Seeing no one, I'm going to close public
comment and we will begin with our agenda. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, tonight we have two presentations. Uh, the first is the introduction of our new management personnel. So, I'd like to ask uh Bill Berwis, Neil Gone, and James McGrath to come
forward. [clears throat] As they do, and as the council is aware, uh we have experienced some leadership changes as we enter into 20126. The changes are being made uh to fill positions yet continue the progress that
we have started. the I also believe that these leadership changes will bring our organization to the next level. And following these appointments, it will strengthen village operations and support our long-term goals. Uh tonight, I'm here to introduce these three gentlemen to you. Uh first, under
Ridgewood Water Deputy Director position. Uh with the departure of Michael Kors as our business manager, uh I worked with Rich Calby to restructure the position into the role of deputy director of Rididgewood Water. I'm pleased to announce that William Beerwas has been promoted to this position. Mr.
Beerwas has served as the chief operating as the chief operator at Ridgewood Water and has been with the village for over 10 years. His experience, institutional knowledge, and dedication to service make him well suited for this expanded leadership role. Bill, you want to take a minute to
introduce yourself? >> Yeah, thank you, Keith. Thank you, Mayor C, for having me. >> Bill, if you could speak into the mic, make sure the light is on. >> Sure. >> There you go. >> Thank you. So, good evening. For those I haven't met, my name is Bill Beerwas and I serve currently as a deputy director
of Richard Water. I bring just under 25 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. I've worked at four different public utilities, hold a bachelor's degree from William Patterson, and the highest level water distribution license and second highest water treatment license from the state
of New Jersey. Public utility service is also something I grew up with. Much like you're going to hear from Neil, I come from a family with a strong utility background. My father served as the director of operations at a neighboring utility for over 35 years. He's
currently a licensed operator and he's representing a combined 50 years in the water industry. Um much of the holiday time in my house was spent talking water, something my daughter and my mother can readily attest to. Here at Ridge of Water, I've served as both the
assistant superintendent and superintendent overseeing a staff of more than 30 employees um in the distribution, treatment, and laboratory divisions. In that role, I was directly involved in the design and imple implementation of all PAS
treatment facilities and served as a catalyst for the overall POS centralization effort. As deputy director, my responsibilities expand to include oversight of customer service, meter and markout, and uh recently the engineering division. I will also
support the director of operations, Mr. Richard Calby, with capital planning, budgeting, overall utility direction, regulatory coordination, communications, and emergency response, just to name a few. Looking ahead, my primary goals are
to complete the lead service line program in all four towns within the NJD time frame. I'd also like to complete the PAS centralization project by 2027 and eliminate those quarterly notices as soon as possible. Uh lastly, I'd like to
look into some green initiatives, maybe [clears throat] solar, get our utility bills down. Um, I want to end by sincerely thanking the mayor, council, Keith, and Rich for the opportunity to serve the residents of Ridgewood and neighboring communities in this new role. Thank you all. Thank you, Bill.
>> Bill, I know I speak for the entire council and they can speak for themselves. I am personally very, very excited that you are the new deputy director of Rididgewood Water. We are very fortunate, as are the residents of all four service towns, to have you on
board. Um, it's it's like having a number one and a number one A right there. So, we're we're we're pretty happy about that. Would you take a moment, however, and introduce your supervisor who is sit seated in the back there. Um,
>> that's what I was going to say. >> This is the director of operations of my household. Yes, [laughter] it's Amelia Berwas. This is my oldest daughter. She's eight and a half. >> Hi, Amelia. How you doing? >> Good. Thanks for being here tonight. She's the real boss. [laughter]
>> You'll keep an eye on dad for us, right? Make sure he's doing his job. >> Thank you very [laughter] much. >> Good. Good. Bill, welcome. >> Yeah. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you, >> Mayor. Our second introduction tonight is our new director of public works,
Villageer. Uh with the retirement of our former engineer, Chris Rutishouser, I'm pleased to announce the appointment of James McGrath uh effective January 12th uh of this year. Uh during the transition period where James had the
opportunity to overlap with Chris, uh they've worked together to ensure continuity and a smooth transfer of responsibilities. James brings with him experience in both private and public sector. Uh having served most recently as the city engineer in the city of
Patterson and with prior experience working with a consulting engineering firm. So James, welcome. If you want to take a moment to introduce yourself. >> Thank you. And I want to preface this by saying that I missed an entire paragraph of what I meant to write down. So I'm going to try my best here. [laughter] Uh good evening, mayor, council,
residents of Ridgewood. Uh I've met a few of you. The rest of you, I'm sure we'll work together. Uh I want to thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself. Uh my name is James McGrath. I'm honored to now serve as the village engineer and the director of the public works department for the village of
Rididgewood. Um, I've got 15 years of experience in the private sector and most recently I was the municipal engineer for the city of Patterson before starting here a few weeks ago and I've gotten right into the deep end. Um, I've spent my career in both the public
and private sector, ensuring projects are under budget and on time. Uh, I have experience working with elected officials, working with the public, uh, making sure the public gets the infrastructure that they want, need, and deserve. Um, my primary goal here in
Ridgewood is to provide customer service to the residents who need it and deserve it. And I want to be a reliable resource for all you here on the deis as well as everybody else in village hall and beyond. Um, I think this role is best served not by
just sitting in the engineering office developing plans and specifications, but I want to be able to listen to people's problems, problem solve, and help you guys make informed decisions uh on projects throughout the village. Um, in the near term, as you all know, we're
working on bidding out for the pedestrian bridge at Habernickl Park. We're working on the traffic signal intersection at the intersection of Oak Street and East Glennav and obviously we have the Shedler rebid coming next week. Um I look forward to discussing with all of you these projects in more detail. Uh
and I want to make sure that you guys have the information you need. So please don't hesitate to reach out. Um, I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have been working basically 247 in streets and fleets, um,
pollution control as well as traffic and signal getting through this storm for you guys, for the residents. I've been working with Keith, uh, and all those guys to make sure that the snow gets removed and everybody has access to all of their sidewalks, the fire hydrants, the streets throughout the entire
village. So, I would be remiss if I didn't put the onus on them and the amazing work that they've been doing. Um, I'm excited to be here. I'm grateful for the opportunity and hopefully we can all work together for many years. Thank you, >> James. Welcome. We're so happy to have
you on board. Um, that you started at the deep end of the pool. Um, in case you didn't know, there is no shallow end of the pool in Richwood. It's all the deep end. Um, and but we are really happy to have you on board. Um, if if
the uh 12 to 15 inches of snow was um a uh your your first effort, we're giving you an A+ to get started. So, thank you very much. We really appreciate all your efforts. >> We're we're pretty sure Chris Ruthouser sent that storm over the weekend.
[laughter] So, yeah. Yeah, that was that was his fond farewell. And then lastly, mayor, um, effective January 1st of this year, the information technology department and the Ridgewood Water GIS division uh, has been combined into a single department,
centralizing all technology related functions under one organizational structure. Neil Gogne, who's with us tonight, has been appointed as the director of IT and GIS and Dylan Hansen will serve as the assistant director of information technology and will continue in his role
as the chief information officer for the village. Uh, this consolidation will improve coordination, efficiency, and strategic planning across all technology systems. And I am pleased to have Neil in this position. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge building out the GIS
division over at Ridgewood Water. is also fourth generation employee at Ridgewood Water. So, Neil, welcome. And if you'd like to take a minute to introduce yourself to the council and the public, >> of course. Uh, again, my name is Neil. I think you guys have all probably met me
quite a few times at this point. Um, so, thank you, mayor, council, and the public. Um, I'm honored and grateful for this opportunity to serve as a director of IT and GIS for the village and I sincerely appreciate the confidence that you all are putting in me with this. As
Keith said, I am a fourth generation employee of the village of Ridgewood and I have a family legacy of over 80 years. I'm currently serving my 25th uh year of service and until now every single year was to Ridgewood Water. I began in 2000
as an intern for the GIS division and over time I had the privilege of growing into the role of a GIS manager in 2016. Along the way, I helped build a strong dedicated team that led efforts to modernize technology, improve workflows,
and support informed decision- making. Um, during my time at Rididgewood Water, I've worked closely with all the divisions of Ridgewood Water, and I've also worked with the other departments within the village to support their daily operations, their long-term planning and public services. Stepping
into this role will now allow me to build on that experience and continue to serve the village that I care about so deeply. The position represents the coming together of three very strong teams to one unified department, and each team has built a solid foundation.
and my focus will be on uh strengthening the collaboration between them, improving communication and aligning our efforts to better support the staff and the residents. A key priority working closely with our new village engineer James to ensure that he will also get
the access to the same GIS-driven technology that has helped Rididgewood Water remain on the forefront of data and asset management. I want to take a moment though to acknowledge the exceptional teams that I have the privilege to work with. To the IT staff,
Gabriella and Mark, I want to thank them so very much for welcoming me and their continued dedication under Dylan's leadership to keeping our systems reliable and secure throughout all these years. And to Dylan, after working together for over 20 years, I step into
this role with great respect of what you built and the expertise you bring. I'm confident that together we will continue advancing the IT division and delivering a high level of service that this village expects. And to my GIS team, Christina Shying, Alec, Alex, and our
talented interns, probably had about 15 of them so far. Um, I'm very proud of what we built together and I look forward to extending that same level of excellence throughout the rest of the village. I'm also honored to now lead the Ridgewood Water Skater System, which
is something my father began 30 years ago and ran and uh led until his retirement. Aaron, I am now excited to work alongside him as he carries the responsibility forward and I'm confident that me and him together will be able to
continue building on that strong foundation that my father started. I look forward to working with our administration, department heads, and the staff as we continue to modernize our technology and delivering services to this community. And thank you and
very proud of this position. >> Neil, welcome aboard. Uh and again you've been here but this is a new position uh for you. It's one that is so urgently needed. I mean again we have a great IT department but as we all know
time marches on and we need to make it as strong as ever and we know that that with your leadership and your background that it's going to be a topflight uh uh IT department. Um, and if you could spend a little time helping me with the
new operating system on my iPhone, I would greatly appreciate it because I'm really Anyway, we'll we'll talk later. >> I I I am a Android user. We might have to defer to the actual IT department. >> We're going to have to get another guy. [laughter] Sorry. But thank gentlemen,
thank you all. Um, let me tell you, um, it's all about leadership and you guys have huge departments, huge responsibilities. We are all incredibly comfortable and appreciative of your leadership, your
abilities um as we go forth from this day on. So, thank you all so much. Let's give him a round of applause everybody. [applause] You guys have a good night. >> Thank you guys. Mayor, [clears throat] our second presentation tonight um started just
about a year ago this week during a budget meeting where we started to speak about improvements to our senior program and to the physical plant downstairs in the community center. Um, I'm very pleased to report that tonight we will
have a presentation from Nancy Boss, our director of parks and recreation, and Gwen Hawk, who's representing the community center board, um, on the work that they have put in uh, to work with the folks at our friends at Ridgerest uh, to put together a grant agreement
uh, that's going to be presented to the council tonight to make those set improvements downstairs to the community center space. So, Nancy and Gwen, if you'd come forward. Oh, Liz, are you coming up too? And Liz Cloak, also from the community. >> Everybody bring the whole team up. Sheila, >> Sheila,
>> Deanna, >> come on. >> Come on. >> Come on. You're all a part of this. Let's go. >> Wait, Rich, who should come up too? >> Okay. Rich's Rich's part is later in the
evening, I believe. So, um, but but we're going to we might mention your name now at some point. So, ladies, thank you all so much for being here. If you would just take a moment to introduce yourselves before you begin the presentation. >> Just check to make sure the green light
is on. >> Thank you. Yes, >> my name is Liz Cloak. I'm a member of the park and recreation commission and also the >> foundation Richwood Community Center foundation board. >> I'm Gwen Hal and I am the president of
the Community Center of Ridgewood Foundation. Um, and I've been on that board since it's it was founded in the year 2014. >> Good evening again. This is the third time this week for you and I. So, thank
you. But good evening, mayor and council. Nancy Bigos, director of parks and recreation. >> Good evening. Uh, Danna Shablick, the recreation program administrator, senior citizens for the parks and recck department.
>> Good evening. Uh, Shila Broen. I'm also on the uh foundation board and on the community center advisory committee and also uh co-chair of age friendly richwood. >> Welcome everybody. Thank you all for being here. Thank you for the incredible
work you've done on this project. Why don't you tell us a little bit about it? >> Thank you. Good evening Mayor. So as as Keith mentioned about a year ago, we were challenged with the concept to come
up with a premier community center. Um, members of the community center of Ridgewood Foundation, professional staff have visited multiple community centers throughout Bergen County. We have
researched um studies on aging in place, the trends of our senior citizens. We've um investigated um new and innovative products, where we
are, where we should be in the future, what our senior citizens needs are, how they like to socialize, what programming ideas are important to them, their health and fitness needs. We have written, rewritten, and rewritten the
senior citizen um proposal that we presented to you. several months ago. We wanted to have this vision of what would be the premier senior citizen community center with for the village of Ridgewood.
As we did this, we realized that funding was also going to be part of our challenge. We decided internally that we would need to be able to fundrise fund raise ourselves. we would be able to look for outside grant funding and
concurrently we had the opportunity for us to apply for a grant um which would make all of these dreams attainable for us. This evening I'd like to introduce again to you both Gwen Hal and Liz
Cloak, president and vice president of the community center of Richwood Foundation and ask that they share their findings with you. Um, thank you, Nancy. Again, my name is Liz Cloak and speaking on behalf of the Ridgewood Community Center Foundation, I
would like to thank the Ridgewood Senior Citizens Corp. from the bottom of my heart for their extraordinary donation of $231,000 and for placing their trust in a partnership with us and the village of Ridgewood to help build a better
tomorrow for our community. This remarkable gift used to create a state-of-the-art senior center offering expanded [music] programming, more inviting social spaces, new exercise spaces, more dedicated staff, and better
overall ambiance will benefit the young, the old, and all who use the community center or visit Village Hall. Your gift powerfully illustrates how individuals, charities, and foundations share our belief in the enduring virtue
of supporting the generations who came before us and those who will follow by donating directly to the Community Center of Ridgewood through our foundation. The true power of philanthropy lies in
its capacity to create lasting, positive, and social change by channeling resources, time, and skills toward critical, often overlooked societal needs. It transforms lives. It
strengthens communities and fosters a sense of purpose and fulfillment, not only for the donors, but for the recipients. And I might add, it's an incredible example to our kids. Thank you to everyone involved for
stepping up for our seniors, for being so generous and kind, but for most of all, for being wonderful neighbors and terrific friends. >> Thank you so much, Liz. By the way, just want to check something. Did you say $231,000? Cuz I
could have sworn that you only asked for 82. Let's start at 75. [laughter] >> Very impressive. >> So, um I would like to say more about the
journey that brought us to the final number. It's again it's not written in my speech, but it was arduous. Um, and but we were really nurtured by our donor foundation and their mission is to
improve the lives of seniors in the Ridgewood vicinity. And I'm not I can't quote it verbatim, but that's the general mission. and um their board of about seven members I think Rich
um they scrutinized our presentation and and that was last August when we pitched the our request to them and and we uh it was a it was an awful weather day and we invited them all to
come to the community center but that you had the flood walls up and everything and um we just thought this we were starting on our on our worst foot forward. And some of the members of the Ridgewood Senior Citizens Court
Board joined via Zoom and some came and actually sat in the community center on our worst day. And we impressed them. They liked what we had to say and they liked our courage and our vision and our
uh thorowness. and we grew together from August to last month when we finally hashed out our final draft of the contract agreement. And the number increased as we
as we scrutinized our budget and we realized we really did need an architect and we really did need a designer and we really did need someone to oversee the construction pro process. And with the fees associated with that
and um other things, our grant uh amount increased accordingly. And so we really can't thank the foundation, the Rididgewood Senior Citizens Corporation for for caring about our project and
agreeing to foot the entire bill and not saying uh well we'll give you half of that and you'll have to put this off till next year. Um so thanks thanks again personally and professionally. And now I'd like to
thank all of you up there for encouraging us and promising to back us and giving us the and and our donors um the sense that this was going to be a collaboration that would enable the project to move
forward every step of the way. The fact that in um I believe it was March when we told you about this project, you unanimously supported us. I thought that across the board from the clerk to the council to the attorney to the manager
to the people in the audience, it looked like we this was a really positive thing for our village and um working with you and working with Nancy and Deiana, the the staff has been an honor and it's
been a pleasant experience. Um but I'll I'll read my speech now. For more for more than a decade, our dedicated Community Center of Ridgewood Foundation members have been raising funds specifically for the community
cent's budget, a critically important component of the village budget that can too easily be overshadowed by competing needs. We work closely with the community center advisory board who communicates project or programming needs and we
raise money through multiple annual fundraising and outreach events. The community center truly resides in the heart of our village. It is a place where residents of all ages, especially our most vulnerable, should be able to reliably and affordably access local
resources. This incredible gift that we are receiving today is the seed planted by one huge forward-thinking group of senior citizen advocates, the Rididgewood Senior Citizens Corporation, which the city which the community center of Rididgewood Foundation and the
Village of Ridgwood will continue to nurture and grow. With our deepest gratitude, the community center of Rididgewood Foundation thanks you. And we are as a group myself, Liz, Beth Abbott, the secretary, Claudia
Fortunado, Sheila Broen, Lillian Blood, Joanne Archer, Anna Serno, and Jean Solomon. Thank you. >> Thank you, Gwen. Anybody else on this? Well,
>> no, I I wasn't really scripted here, but I I do want to um thank you for putting down that challenge >> um because without that, maybe we wouldn't have have moved as quickly um as we did. But for personally, for me, this is a dream come true. Uh Annie
Zusie and I um opened up the uh the um youth lounge um many years ago. Um, and then through a series of coincidences or whatever, I was able to to continue to
to work on the um uh the the community center, but but really so important to our older adults who live in Ridgewood to have a place to come to socialize, to um to really
assuage loneliness, uh to have a a meeting place, a purpose, um activities and and the dream of of opening up our activities and having more of our seniors participate is really the
driving factor um of doing this. And we're so grateful to the foundation for um their support in this dream come true. So, uh, thank you and thank you to Gwen and to to Liz and and everyone on
our our committee who um really contributed to the thought. And I'll leave this with you that uh through um the year 2030, uh 10,000 people across the United
States turn 65 each day. And so this is um a growing segment of our population. We're already at about 25% I think or 24% of older adults. Um it's uh we want
vibrancy. We want an intergenerational community and this really helps us to be there. So thank you for that. >> That is so incredibly well said Sheila. Um, and I will tell you that while the gauntlet was thrown from this deis,
every one of you picked it up, embraced it, and were were Johnny on the spot on every inch of it. I mean, I I think that that happened in February, and you came to us in March, and uh I saw the work that you did on
this, and it was truly incredible. I think that um correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that that through this program, our our programming for seniors is going to is going to increase about threefold from what it currently is, which is amazing. And the hours are
going to go from a handful of hours a week to something like 40 hours a week so that people can just come on in and and say, "Yeah, I'm not doing anything. Let me go see who's down at the senior center." um which is really what it's
all about. So, as you said, this is about fighting loneliness and maintaining vibrancy. Um at this moment, I'm going to ask Rich Barkley to come up because Rich, you and your foundation
have really made this all entirely possible. Please, please come up to the mic over here so that we we can hear you. Um Yep. Right over there. probably won't get shot, but no
[laughter] promises. Um, Rich, I remember when when the community center board asked for 75 or $80,000 and you just kept increasing that number. Um, that's not just so you know,
in in the grant world, not that I'm that familiar with it, I don't think that that happens that often. So, why don't you tell us what you saw? Uh we saw a fantastic project that was underfunded. Uh I mean it was simply as that and
uh there were a lot of reasons why for that. I think a a lot of the the board and the and the village employees were doing the best they could trying to uh get every penny from the dollar that they could get, but it just didn't seem to us that it was on track to really get
done in the the way it should be done here in Rididgewood and the way we wanted it seen done here in Rididgewood. we just kind of pushed on and pushed on and um I think where we are now uh is fantastic. Um I think that uh
I was going to say the hard part's done, but I think the easy part's done. Now you got to put it uh you got to put it into action. I look forward look forward to seeing it and um we're just happy that we can help. Well, let me just say that whatever percentage of people in our
village who are seniors and I think it's something as you said like 25% always bear in mind that the work that you have done here and the contributions that you have all made don't just affect them. They will affect generations
of seniors going forward and generations of family members who are concerned about their parents who are saying, "Gee, I hope mom's got something to do today. I hope dad's got something to do." So, um, you have made so many lives
better going forward. Um, I open it up to the council if anybody would like to add to the good feelings that are shared today. So I will um so I was going to say when the engineers were here like such important work obviously engineering
infrastructure but I want to say the same thing to you like absolutely such important work um as many of you know my kids did both their mitzvah projects benefiting Ridgerest. It's a wonderful place for all generations and while the beneficiaries of this grant will be
older adults it benefits families. It benefits daughters who are caregivers and grandchildren who can see their grandparents and have access to their friends. And I could personalize it, but I am so proud of all of you. Um, I was I'm so proud of this council not saying
no and sort of leaving it as a challenge. I'm so incredibly grateful to Rich and what Ridgerest has done for so many people. And um I just I'm just so proud of all of you. I think it's such a great thing for Rididgewood. And again,
um, I tell my interns all the time, they watch these meetings and you just heard from highly technical engineers who do great things and this is a great thing for our town and I'm just beyond impressed. And Sheila, I love that statistic. I've been using it all over
and as America gets older, Rididgewood's going to be the best and the first on making sure Rididgewood residents have the best and the first access to all of this. So, thank you. Thank you. I can't wait to bring my mom and my kids. And thank you. >> As a senior citizen myself, I really
look forward to seeing your programs blossom because I'm going to participate. >> Um, anybody know what night bingo is? Just Never mind. We'll figure we'll figure that out later. >> Yeah. No, I I do just want to echo all the kind words [clears throat] that have been said tonight. Um this is just a
wonderful wonderful thing in an area where one of the few areas I think Bridgewood was behind a lot of the other towns, a lot of the other municipalities. Um there really are very few higher purposes than taking care of our seniors and not just taking care of them but providing them quality of life
which is precisely what this does. Um I want to thank the donors. I want to thank all of you for the amazing work that you've done and will continue to do and on behalf I think of a grateful village. Thank you all. And I just want to say is like bunch of us were on parks and red parks and recreation u board
meeting last night. We got to celebrate and being on PRC board I get to see how much hard work you all put into this and just I'm proud to serve with you. So thank you for all you do. >> Mayor, if I may suggest >> um why don't we visit item E1 now on the
agenda folks are here. So Matt Rogers um finalized the grant agreement which procedurally will be between the Ridgewood Senior Citizen Housing Corp and the Community Center of Ridgewood Foundation which is a nonprofit
organization. The village obligation is the $75,000 in staff funding which we discussed Monday night when we spoke to Nancy about her 2026 budget. That is a three-year commitment um as it's outlined in this agreement that would be
signed by both parties. Um so what we would be doing is we would be accepting the $231,000 donation. Um it would come in over a period of three payments, one at the inception of the project, one mid project, and one at the conclusion of
the project. Um, and the council action that is necessary uh for a resolution on February 11th would be a formal resolution accepting the gift [clears throat] as we have with other donations that have been made in the past. >> Questions, comments? Anybody?
>> Anybody have any objection [clears throat] to accepting the $231,000 donation? >> No, I did just want to say thank you to Matt. The agreement was very straightforward for me. Thank you. >> No objections, just appreciation.
>> Yep. Thank you all. Thank you all for making this happen. Um we're all very excited to see this thing, as Pam said, blossom and unfold. So, be safe tonight. Be well. >> Thank you. >> Have a good evening. >> Thank you.
>> How about a round of applause? >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thanks for that, Frank. >> You're welcome. Here you go. >> Yep. >> Good job, Gwen. Okay. And with that, let's go to our manager's report.
>> Um, thank you, mayor. Um, first off, I want to start with the obvious. Uh, Rididgewood, New Jersey experienced 15.3 in. That's the official number of snow over Sunday into Monday. Um, I want to first thank all of our bluecollar
employees, our supervisors who were out there and who have been working on this and our storm response for just about a week now. um our streets division, fleet division, uh signal traffic and signal folks, water pollution control facility employees, our parks division, um and
also our communications director, Carol Balcowski, um have been working around the clock, literally around the clock, um to address the storm as it hit us and then in subsequent days. Um, right now we are in the full process of working
with our folks from our streets division, uh, with some help from the other divisions that I've mentioned to remove the enormous snow piles throughout the central business district and also in our common area parking lots. That work effort is happening
between 11:00 p.m. and 7 a.m. overnight as to not to disrupt the business district. Um, and I especially want to thank uh James McGrath, our new director of public works and village man uh village engineer who was, as the mayor said, thrown into the deep end of the
pool. Um, right as Chris was leaving, the snow was coming. Um, and I also want to thank uh Mike Juna uh who is the director of our street our supervisor of our streets division uh for his work um and his constant contact over the weekend. Um we are still in the process
of cleaning up. I strongly encourage residents to assist us in this endeavor. If you have a fire hydrant on or near your home, uh please help the Ridgewood Fire Department clean 3 ft around the fire hydrant in all directions. Um I can tell you that each of our platoon that
have been out there since the storm have been trying to keep up with clearing the fire hydrants, but we have over 700 fire hydrants in the village of Ridgewood. Um so the fire department is doing the best they can. We can certainly use the assistance of our residents in that endeavor. Um, we also need residents who
have not yet cleared their sidewalks or their corners to come out and make that so we have walkers who are trying to get to school. We have pedest heavy pedestrian traffic throughout the village despite the snowfall. Um but we
are working very hard um with our streets division and water pollution control has taken some initiative to try to clear the corner sidewalks which have larger mounds of snow. Um and we are working through that. And the police department also was deployed Monday
morning to identify some of those larger areas um especially on the corners uh where residents would not be able to remove the snow themselves and we've tried to supplement that uh with our village operation. On a whole, I think our team did outstanding. Uh we have not
had that many complaints other than some uncleared sidewalks and some uncleared corners. Um and code enforcement is continuing to go out uh to enforce with residents those who have not yet cleared uh the path. So that's that. Um also
wanted to report tonight um we had the affordable housing ruling come down from the federal court judge. uh he ruled against the 27 municipalities that were part of that litigation. Um we do have a
um we do have a review that's ongoing currently with our municipal planner um Beth McManus and with Matt Rogers and there will be more about that affordable housing ruling uh before the vote on the zoning ordinances which is slated for
February the 11th. Uh also implemented uh in the weaning hours of the Murphy administration in Trenton, uh the legislature passed and the governor signed a new ebike law. Yes. Which will require licensing. Um we've put
communications out through our social media channels and in our weekly update. So to those parents whose children currently have ebikes or are preparing to buy an ebike for their child, we ask you to review those materials so you are
aware of the new e bike law. Uh we are halfway through our budget hearings. Uh we had two meetings already. We have two more set. One is for Monday, February 2nd. The second meeting is on February 9th. both begin at 5:00 pm. Um,
and we are hopeful to introduce the budget at the February 11th council meeting. I will note that after talking to Heather, um, and having knowing that those affordable housing ordinances are on the agenda for February 11th, we have
readvertised that meeting that is our public meeting for the month of February. That will be a 6:30 start time for the public meeting out here on the Deis. Uh we will start with the budget. Um that will be the first thing on the agenda and then we will move into the
rest of the public meeting agenda including the affordable housing ordinances. But in an effort to try to prevent going beyond midnight which is what happened at the January meeting uh we are going to start an hour earlier uh recognizing that we have the budget to consider.
>> Thank you. Keith PSEG um is planning a tree planting tree pruning initiative throughout the village. Uh we had a preliminary meeting with them last week before the storm. Um we are being very careful um about notifying residents and
PSENG has committed uh that their independent contractor will notify residents whose trees will be affected. Uh there will be more communications coming out about that. We'll also be able to supply a map that indicates where PSCG will be working and uh doing
the tree pruning. I know in the past this has been a source of constonnation amongst residents in the village because sometimes the contractor that PSCG uses um does not do do the best job aesthetically of addressing this situation. Um but we've put them on
notice that we have a higher expectation this time around. Um as Mr. McGrath mentioned earlier the bids for the Shedler remediation project are due on Tuesday, February 3rd. Um, also on February 3rd, we will be hosting our community forum on parking in the
downtown. Um, that meeting is scheduled for here at Village Hall that Tuesday night, February 3rd, at 6:30 p.m. Also pleased to announce that Valley Hospital has reconciled their tax lean uh through
the fourth quarter of 2025. Um so they have um paid and the person who was holding that tax tax certificate um has been compensated. Uh also pleased to report that today we signed the PBA contract. Um want to thank the committee
Kyle Montton Jay Chuck um and the other gentlemen who sat on the committee uh for all of their positive work. Um this year's uh cost of living increase is 1.5%. Um and those numbers will be um dictated into the budget um as we prepare to
introduce that on February 11th. Um the just a few announcements here. Uh the village of Ridgewood is selling 2026 Ridgewood parking permits in the lobby of Village Hall. Please bring your driver's license and copy of your registration for all the cars in which you wish to purchase a permit. We cannot
issue permits without those documents. Um, couple reminders about snow. Um, please make sure that you are clearing your sidewalks and also please make sure that all garbage and and recycling is brought to the curb for the foreseeable future until it's announced otherwise so
that we can keep our employees safe as they collect both garbage and recycling. The Rididgewood High School Jamberee 2026 celebrates their 80th show. Lights, Camber, and Jamberee on February 5th, 6th, and 7th at BF Middle School. You
can visit rhhjamberee.org for tickets. All village offices and departments will be closed on Thursday, February 12th, and Monday, February 16th, in observance of Lincoln's birthday and President's Day. There will be no garbage or recycling pickup, and
the recycling center will be closed on both days. Please check your village calendar for garbage and recycling pickups for these two weeks as they will change due to the holidays. We also encourage you to sign up for the recycling coach app which will allow you to see all the changes straight from
your cell phone. And upcoming village council meetings, February 4th is a work session. February 11th is a public meeting. February 25th is a work session. And as I mentioned earlier, we have two budget meetings on February 2nd and February 9th. Both start at 5:00 pm. That's all I have.
Keith, I have a just on the PSE andG that years ago, prior to anyone on this council, PSCG was here to present the work that they're doing. Um, and I think that that I'd like to see if we could do that again because as you said, a lot of times they don't do a good job and they
actually destroyed trees. And if possible, I would like to them not only to give us a presentation, but so the public can also respond to that, too. >> So, so that's the first time I've heard that there was a public presentation made prior. >> Yeah. Um I I wasn't aware of that
>> 100% that was me as a resident who saw that. >> I can make the ask. I can't guarantee that they will accept, but we can certainly ask them to come to a counseling. >> Okay. And then second, the another reminder to add is to make sure that everyone's taking all the snow off their car, especially off the roof because of
how dangerous that becomes. >> And Keith, I have a question. Um the ebike law, does that include scooters? >> Yes, it does. Good. >> You mean like scooter related >> like electric scooters? >> If if it if it includes a motor, I
believe it's anything that is motorized. >> Yes. >> Got it. Good. Thank you very much. >> I I do want to say because we're all together and it's a work session, the the fact that we got the meeting with PSCG has is big time. Um this has been a clamoring from Shade Tree um from Declan
and you know we've seen templates Frank I can forward it to you of the communication because there's several problems. one, you know, when Rididgewood does the work, people there's more interaction, but when they come in, it's shocking and then it's doubly shocking because, you know, they kind of Edward Scissor hands it. And um
I thought I think it's a great that we've established a connection. I'm really grateful that it happened. I know that Sha Tree really has wanted this for three years. So, um I think it's a good first step and I'm anxious to see they have a fairly large area and when the
letters go out, we should be prepared. not our communications, but we're going to help them in communicating their PSE and G message. Um, but for the residents, this is going to be some um tree work that we don't have full and total say in. Um, but we I think the
first step is making sure that it's communicated so it's a lot less shocking and that that they interface with our our Declan so we can have more of a say. particular >> I think more than communication is that that they can't just like I'm blaming the subcontractors that just go out
there and do I would say a poor job. >> Yeah. No, no, agreed. >> That's to me the most >> well that's the compounded problem. The one is that nobody knows they're coming. They come and then it's done and there's um feedback on the less than desirable. So I I it's the first step. You know,
you can't go in and tell somebody else how to do it. I am grateful that we had the meeting and that the connection started and I'm really anxious to see the communication go out um because like for our team if we have a problem we pretty much knew know about it right away and they're used to handling the residents and we can have more of a
discussion or even change the project. >> It was a challenge to get the internal meeting. So I I can't guarantee that they will commit to come here. They also during the meeting indicated us that they were going to start in early summer. The next day I received word
that they wanted to start in April. And today I received word that they wanted to start in two weeks which I denied because the policy of PSCG is to give the residents 45 days lead time. And I told um the engineering division that they are the contractor is obligated to
provide that 45 days notice. you know, they're they're >> they know why we want to talk to them and I think it's it's an uncomfortable situation for them. So, I will press hard to get them here, but I just don't want to make any commitments.
>> And I would say that they were here in in the making their presentation probably 2017 or 2018. But that's >> I I also shifting from trees which is something is that the removal of the snow in the car is particularly important in Rididgewood and will be
more likely to be enforced because that law its genesis was here. Um a woman who worked for the board of ed's husband was killed by a vehicle that failed to clear it and she went all the way to the state house. Um, I don't want to mention her name, but you know, there's a lot of she advocated for it in memory of her
husband. So, it's particularly important overall, but in Rididgewood, you will be ticketed because many people remember that incident and her call to action. And, you know, you should do it anyway, but I don't know if everybody knew that, but that happened here and that's why the state law exists.
>> Got it. Everybody good? >> Yep. >> Let's go to council reports. Frank, kick it off. >> All right. I have all of my councils have met since uh this year. [clears throat] So open space we met on January 8th. We conferred on teen alignment. We appointed a new secretary
and confirmed leaison. Um, we reviewed the open space regulations, guidelines, the Ridgewood master plan, and then we based and based on those guiding documents, we discussed what goals for 2026 we would like like to achieve, including our strategic direction, our
targeted initiatives, and what events we want to host and also attend this year. Ridgewood Art Council met on January 12th. And I'd say to all residents, uh, please check out the February issue of Ridgewood Living because there's a great article on the Arts Council and all the
great work that it does. During our meeting on January 12th, we discussed upcoming events that the Art Council will be hosting, including we have two coming up in March. We have Children in the Arts, uh, which is on March 15th at 2 PM in our library. And then on March
26th, also in our library at 7 p.m. is our artist talk with Tamara Freeman. The Arts Council events are always free to attend. They're a lot of fun. So mark your calendars and I hope to see you there. Citizen safety met on January 15th. We
reorganized our committee. We welcomed our new chair and our new secretary. And also, Citizen Safety is now meeting in the senior lounge, making it easier for all residents to attend. site triangle updates. Two additional properties have come into compliance and
one new summons was issued. To date, the total number of compliances is up to 132 ebikes. It was funny because we actually met before the state law was signed and um this is a big issue for citizen safety and so we discussed different
ways to educate the public on the need for safety. For anyone that's wondering about this, um, about a month ago, the New York Times had a a great article on this safety issues with ebikes, and I would encourage everyone to read that. Um, I also want to commend the Ridgewood
Police Department for their leadership in an educational campaign that they're putting together on eBuck in ebike safety. So, keep an eye on social media for what they have planned. Additionally, SEESAC itself um is going to launch a social media campaign that
is going to proactively um cover various safety initiatives and educational advice that's going to go out throughout the year. We're working with the villages uh communication director um and so that should be informative as well. Additionally, that uh Rididgewood Police Department announced that a third
officer is being assigned to the traffic division, which just shows how Ridgewood is committed to making our village a safer place. And actually, parks and w met yesterday uh last night. Um we reorganized that committee. We welcomed a new chair, a new vice chair, new
leaons um to our other committees and we welcomed new committee members. We discussed projects that uh parks and wreck has planned for 2026, including new sun shades at Graden, the new playground and pavilion at King's Pond, and speaking of Kings Pond, we learned
on Monday from Nancy that there's actually a beaver family that's living at Kings Pond, which I personally think is awesome. >> Do they have a seal? >> Well, no. They they continue to live rentree. Um, but we've talked about this at parks and wreck and we're going to
try to get a field trip to check them out and then see maybe that that should become our new mascot. I don't know. So, we'll keep keep it keep hearing about the beavers um in the future. Um, and also we discussed some of the renovations like our skate park we're
going to be redoing which apparently we found out that um has a pretty wide range of um fans going all the way to Pennsylvania about our skate park which is wild. Um we talked about the recreation job fair which is coming up
on March 16th and that's how we get a lot of our summer employees for grade and summer camp lifeguards and etc. And then finally, uh, we also talked about what we just heard about, all the great stuff that's happening at the community center. And so I just want to say, haha,
I heard about it before all you did. And then, uh, and finally, we talked about the daffodil festival, which will be on April 25th this year. And that concludes my reports. Mayor, >> thank you, Frank. And I just found it fascinating that um, with this new
senior program, you didn't comment on Never mind. It's not a big deal, Siobhan. Sure. So, I just want to begin and say thank you uh to the streets division, but also thank you to the parks department who was out there as well on um Sunday. I was in town early
before the heavy snowfall started. And I just want to remind people that the the items that were buying during capital were all out in use. It wasn't just the streets division, it was the Bobcat, you know, vets is here. It's cleared for walking. So, thank you to everybody. Mike Genta's whole division, Nancy and
the parks. It was an awesome cleanup and um I'm just very grateful they left their warm houses and made a lot of things happen for us. Um Access and Stigmafree had a joint meeting because there's a duality of you know what impacts the family. We made connections
between each of the groups um and we came up with the centralized theme that we were going to focus on caregivers. Obviously, if you're in a stigmafree situation, there's a family member handling many elements of the care and similarly with access. And we're going to be hosting a guest speaker possibly
at the Richard Public Library to talk about some of these things ranging from the stuff like the physical stuff that you need to actual time and some caregiving tools. I want to thank um the board of health and Jamie Davis and everybody on both those committees who
were open-minded to the fact that these two committees deserve to be separate because they're separate issues, but there is a lot of commonality. So, thank you to everybody who made that happen. Um I also want to say thank you. who I had the luxury of hosting uh during January um Pack 35 of the Boy Scout
troop from Somerville um from Tim's son and they were wonderful and they're going to be partnering with Shade Tree on some ideas including growing trees on private property from an acorn which is a really novel idea from some of our Shade Tree interns. So, um, you really
have not lived and Paul, I will not tell you how excited they were to take over your spot and, uh, pretend that they were mayors and run votes on all sorts of things. Um, I also had the unique opportunity to meet with several residents in town regarding parking for those who live in some of the older
buildings in town. And I just want to remind people um we're available to discuss any situation with people, but the Walker report that's coming up is going to be very beneficial to people who live in town, work in town, commute in town. And I want to thank Rachel who
put together that meeting and everybody um who attended. I certainly learned a lot about different types of parking like 8 to8 and some of the residents that live there and some of the amenities they're looking for. And I want to thank Heather because some of them were unaware of the things we
currently offer. Um I equally want to say thank you to the MLK committee. While I could not attend the events, um I did have the luxury of meeting the whole committee um for an annual lunch after. And I want to thank everybody who worked on it for a vibrant lineup and
for people who were able to donate. Ridgequest was the beneficiary. So thank you to everybody who made that happen. Um Shade Tree met. Um, we have a lot of novel ideas going on. We're um beginning the process of we have a sample of the
door knocker and the door hanger so we get better interaction with people when their tree is cut down or when they're selected for it. We're also beginning our process to the daffodil fest and discussing which trees will be given away and how to do more engagement. I want to thank everybody from Shade Tree.
Um, we are meeting with GIS because there's some questions about the meandering right ofway and where we can plant in different areas. I want to thank Neil Gone for setting that up. And the next shade tree um meeting will be February 10th at 7:30 in the gardening
room. I wanted to let the public know that um several of us from the council are pleased to be attending um the historical commission's award. Um, as some of you know, this council nominated Isabelle Elano um for the historical society for her work on the Shedler
House and she received it and several of us will be taking another road trip on March 18th to receive the award. I want to thank everybody, particularly Isabella's family and Heather and Pam who helped with this. Um, we're very excited. I also had a meeting and I'm
pleased to let the council and the community know that we have engaged a new forester, a female forester, which I think is wonderful. Um that's local for our community forest management plant that we need to be a tree city and you'll be seeing receiving more of that.
Um she's full of resources. She had a lot of ideas on how to engage utilities and you're going to be hearing more reporting. But we have to do this like our master plan. We have to commit to the forestry plan. it's it's due. Um and we're very very excited to include the
work we've been doing um particularly adopt a sapling because now it will make its way into our plan. And almost lastly, uh we had a World Cup watch party meeting. Uh I want to thank RSA, the Maroons, and um Rasa. And they're
looking at two potential events within the community community. The first would be for the first USA game. And remember, all US GA games are played in California. That will be at Vaness and that's on June 12th and they're working with the guild. It's going to be a great
time. It'll hopely drive some commerce. And then the second one will be here on Vets Field on June 19th and that'll be a kickoff to the Maroon's Father's Day tournament. I don't think everybody who is donating making this happen. Um, our next step is going to be meeting with
the police. But these are very well organized. They want to cultivate and promote the love of soccer, but also foster a sense of community through this watch for our country and locally. And lastly, just a gentle reminder, we did not have our January fields meeting, but we will be meeting February 3rd, 8 a.m.
Get ready, Keith. On Tuesday for Fields and that's it. >> Thanks, Siobhan. Evan, >> great. Thanks so much. I'll be brief. Uh, library met last night. Um we had our review of the budget from last year uh and the final sign off. We also discussed our budget for the year
coming. Um the request that was made uh the other night at the budget meeting from the library for funds and welcomed uh one new member to the library board. Uh Cashelle met actually just right before this meeting. Uh we've started kicking off the process of booking bands
um booking some of the sound folks um starting to get our budget and um especially our advertising in order. Um really want to thank Gail McCarthy for leading that group. Um really wonderful group of volunteers. Should be another great season at the Cashra Shell. And finally on Martin Luther King Day, I had
the privilege of going to the uh to a Boy Scout Eagle Scout um ceremony. I want to congratulate Matthew Mumji and Patrick Glenn, two really wonderful uh Ridgewood High School students who both um were awarded their Eagle Scout award. Um, I had the honor and it was a true honor to present to them um,
certificates on behalf of the village and the fire department uh, and just be part of an otherwise really wonderful event. >> That actually sounds like a lot of fun. I've been to those things and and those Eagle Scouts are exceptional young men. >> I could not agree more. It's just
shining just really bright shining stars. Uh, do you ever lose faith in the future? Go to an Eagle Scout event. >> That's that's very well said. >> Thanks, Ev Pam. Well, I was lucky to uh go to Florida while the storm was happening
and I came home and I couldn't help thinking that the village looks so clean. It reminded me of The Cat in the Hat Came Back by Dr. Seuss if you've ever read that book. It's where he blows all the snow away. So, that's what uh um
all that hard work that our crews did reminded me of. Um, I also want to thank the interfaith council, the MLK uh committee because I went to all their events for that weekend and they were so thoughtprovoking and so well planned.
Um, and I urge anybody to to attend those um events next year. Uh, the planning board will meet on February 3rd here in this room at 7:30. There is only one issue on the agenda. It is uh the
ordinance that the council was talking about recently to vacate property at Grand View Circle. And uh that is pursuant to an agreement with the neighboring uh property owners that that
they can have the property from now on. Um and let's see. Oh, Frank, Earth Day is April 26th. It's a Sunday. >> Gotcha. Thanks. >> And Green Ridgewood and the green team will be meeting on February 4th down in
the senior lounge at 7:30. That's a Thursday night. um and the collaborating committee for the Earth Day project uh with Frank and me and um Nancy Beos and
representatives from the Conservancy for Rididgewood Public Lands and and some of our other um directors of departments Sean Hamlin and uh and Rich Calby. We are continuing to plan for the Earth Day
event. And that's all I have. Thanks, Pam. And let's get right to our agenda. Keith, >> thank you, Mayor. Um, tonight we do not have anything under Ridgewood Water, nor do we have anything under parking. So, we'll move right to item C, which is the
budget. Um, items one and five were removed from the agenda as they do not need council approval. Um, item two is the award of contract under the state contract for purchase of equipment and service for vehicles for the police department. In your packet, you'll find
a memorandum from Lieutenant Chuck. Um, this is a request for a contract with Winter Ford of Cherry Hill to purchase, install, and repair vehicles purchased in 2026 with police emergency lights, safety equipment, and other equipment
that is needed for our police cars. Um it is the intention of the PD to use all eligible equipment that's being taken from retired cars before we invest in any new materials um and install them in at least five of the vehicles this year.
Um Winter Ford is under a state contract. Uh they have been our vendor for a number of years and has provided excellent service in the opinion of the police department. And this is a contract that would not the PO would not exceed $140,000. It's covered by the capital budget and some operating
expenses. >> Questions? >> All good. >> Okay. Um, second one is item three, award of contract under the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program for the fleet leasing maintenance program with Enterprise. Uh, this is also a
memorandum from Lieutenant Chuck. Um, and the police department is requesting that we extend the fleet leasing agreement with Enterprise Management and authorize the addition of several police vehicles under the program for 2026. Uh, this year's replacement cycle is the
leasing of four patrol vehicles, three Ford police pursuit vehicles, and one Ford Expedition. The vehicles will replace units that have already been taken out of service due to major mechanical failures and are critical to maintaining adequate police patrol and supervisory coverage in the village.
These are all five-year leases. Uh total cost not to exceed $200,000. And again, this is a source well cooperative contract. Everybody good? >> Yep. Let's go. >> Okay. Item four is award of contract under the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey Cooperative
Purchasing for the Security Systems Vendor and Access Control of CCTV. Again, a third memorandum from Lieutenant Chuck uh requesting that we continue to use Open Systems uh integration as the vill's security
vendor for 2026. Um he does outline the various security initiatives that they would undertake. Uh they have served since 2025 and they have been proven to be a highly capable and reliable partner. The police department has developed an effective working
relationship with the firm and they would like to continue the partnership in 2026. The village currently operates a security infrastructure valued at approximately $2.5 million consisting of more than 350 cameras, doors, monitored access points across multiple buildings
and parking facilities. The system requires software updates, hardware maintenance, and system monitoring along with licensing renewals. Uh several major projects are scheduled for 2026, including upgrades to fire safety doors at village hall, implementing panic,
burglar, and expanded access control uh for s sanitation fleet and other villages village offices to ensure employee safety. Uh this is a contract not to exceed the purchase order 220,000. >> Everybody good? >> One comment that um and this also ties
into Neil's new position. I'm wondering if we should have some sort of presentation or meeting on how AI could impact some of this stuff because like with cameras, AI can identify if there's um and make alerts and then of course
with AI um within the system. So just kind of >> so a yeah a couple things about that. So I know Neil is working with the police department and with Dylan um to get up to speed on the security aspect of what it and GIS division will do. Um, I can
tell you that anything that is security related, we would need to do in close session. >> Okay. >> Um, so as Neil gets acclimated to his new position, you know, later in the year, we can have that discussion, but I just want to set expectations that any discussion of that would need to happen in closed rather than an open session.
>> Okay. And maybe we do um both like also a nonsecurity with open because I think AI is really going to make a big impact. Again, at the League of Municipalities, I attended the governing and AI session. It just makes me think of like looking to the future and the more we can do that now >> and and I know Heather's looking at that
as it relates to the clerk's office as well. That was part of our budget presentation. So, okay. Um, next item is item six with which is to authorize payment for a partial refund of a tax court judgment settlement um on Franklin Turnpike. Total amount $50,000 for the
remainder of the year to be applied to credits in future quarters. Any questions? Everybody good? Okay. And um lastly, under policy, we have an amendment uh to chapter 190 of the code book, and this has to do with blade
signs. Um the most significant change, and I I can defer to Matt on this as well, is item B in the ad section. Uh this will change the language to no more than two blade signs, each of which shall be located no closer than 20 ft
away from one another. Um, that's a change from the limitation to one blade sign that existed in the previous language, which is on page two under the delete section. >> Um, I have a question, Matt. Did we just did we discuss whether a second floor
tenant can have a blade sign? >> If it was discussed, I don't believe there was ever a consensus. I think the intent that had come out of the ordinance committee was that no, they didn't want to go that way. But um it's certainly something that can be
considered and amended later, but I think at this point in time, the last time that we discussed it, I didn't think that that was something that there was um >> this this does not change the second floor. If if you look at the first sentence of section B, >> ground floor, >> each business occupying space on the ground floor of a building is permitted.
Right. Right. Yeah. I'm pretty sure we talked about that at the ordinance committee meeting and there wasn't a consensus with regard to a favorable position with it, but it can always be revisited. >> Yeah, I checked my notes and I I didn't have take any note of >> No, I didn't think it could. Okay, my recollection is the same as Matt's and
and and again, I agree. I think that that's something we might want to take a second look at because there are some retail restaurants that are moving to a second floor. So, >> yeah, >> we'll see how that goes. So the question becomes, do we want to move forward with this or do we want to send this back to
the ordinance working group to consider the second floor or do we want to do that as a separate work effort? >> I think we should move forward with this. I mean I I will say just historically because you know here it used to be the whole structure was retail on the first floor, professional
services like lawyers above that is changing and there are more uh goods and experiences on the second floor. But um just >> I I understand the philosophy. I just you know if if there's a desire to change something else in this should we do it as a package? >> I think it's yeah let's just do
>> I would move forward. >> We would have to defeat the ordinance reintroduce anyway. So we have to go through the same process. You'd have to because if you're going to change it to make it available for second um >> maybe not maybe we're not that far. This isn't before yet.
>> This is before introduction. >> And I think mathematically you'd be you'd be tight. You'd be if everybody wanted to do it, you'd be in trouble with the 20. I like the 20 ft. I think that's good. It's one storefront. I think they're super charming, but you could run the risk of clutter if you put them closer.
>> There are only a handful of second floor businesses that might be interested in this, and we have yet to hear that any of them would want it. >> So So move forward with this version. move forward with this >> and then we'll we'll deal with anything else that comes. >> Okay. So, this this would be listed for
introduction on February 11th. >> I I do want to just say this because I'm assuming Pam had this from CB. Bladesides are super charming. They add to the overall appeal and I think it's a nice subtle touch that you've done Pam with them and I just think it's a good job. >> I think it's totally in keeping with the
character of our town. Sure. Same. >> And mayor, that concludes my section of the agenda with the exception of a clo item for close session. >> Great. Then uh let's go back to close uh excuse me to public comment. >> Uh good evening mayor and council boy a loving Rididgewood resident. Uh with
respect to the ebike situation um I'm in complete support that we need to follow the state's regulations with respect to that. But I think uh it would be easier to get the message out if we had the board of education's cooperation in helping us. I know the parents do read
everything that goes out from the board of education. I'm not sure if they read everything that is being generated by the manager's office. No disrespect intended or or or the or the council pages. So, if there's any way you can ask the board of education to cooperate
and get the message out to parents, I know we have some 12 year olds on our block who have ebikes. I believe it's 15 now. Y and I don't know if all the parents know this. So, if there's any way you can find a a a vehicle that you
can directly get to the parents, that would uh be very helpful in trying to control this, trying to get people to comply. Uh the manager made some comments tonight with respect to sidewalk clearing. Uh, I will say that I noticed that there were many sidewalks that had not been cleared and I believe
it would help if there have been messages that have gone out about clearing fire hydrants, about no parking at certain times, but I don't recall there being any message that was sent out as to what the village code is with respect to sidewalk clearance. And I
believe it is in the CBD. They have to be cleared within 24 hours or less. And I believe that the residential property owners have 48 hours. Uh I believe it's been more than 48 hours since the storm has been over. And there's still some residences where this hasn't been
cleared. Uh I think there are some people, and no disrespect intended to them, they just don't know that they're supposed to do it within 48 hours. Uh they work a job in the city, they come home, and they say, "Well, I'll get around to it when I get around to it."
So, if there's any message that can be put out prior to the next storm, which I believe is coming this weekend or predicted that it's coming this weekend, that these are the requirements with respect to um sidewalk clearing that you have 24 hours if you're in CBD, I think,
and 48 hours if you're someplace else. Maybe that would help in in getting them cleared. Also, if there is any way that you could post who to call without bothering the police department, that would be helpful, too. I believe the code enforcement officers
responsible for this. However, the last time I tried to call the call call the code enforcement officer, I was told that I had to provide my name and my phone number. And I don't believe that everybody is going to want to do that. I don't know if Mr. Molina was contacted
to find out what that was all about. But to me, that's still hanging and it pre prevents some people from making complaints or pointing out situations that need to be corrected. Thank you. >> Thank you, Boyd. Anybody else?
Seeing no one, we will go to our hybrid access. Cynthia, you're up. >> Good evening. Can you hear me? >> Uh, barely. If you could just speak closer to the telephone, that would be great. >> Oh. Oh, it's the computer. Um, better. >> Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity
to speak. I just wanted to piggyback on what Miss Loving brought up. >> Would you state your name, please? >> Oh, Cynthia O'Keefe, Rididgewood resident. Um, so I wanted to piggyback on what Miss Loving had brought up with regard
to the bell and um, you know, the question once again remains unanswered and you know I just think out of respect you know you could come up with some kind of a explanation for the public as
to why the bell is necessary. Um, it is quite jarring. You know, again, you have a time clock that counts down. So, you know, a number of people have mentioned to you that, you know, they find it disruptive to their flow of
what they're trying to say. And, you know, we take public comments seriously, as you should as well. And I just don't I don't see the necessity for the bell. You know, I'd like some kind of an explanation, but for people to ask week
after week why it's necessary and then nobody comes up with an answer, it's just a little insulting. I I just don't understand it. I mean, you've said I I think it was Miss Winterrad who said the the council is so transparent that you're see-through, but that's not the
case when you won't even answer the question. So, if you would just do us the the kindness and, you know, have some mercy. And if we're asking the question over and over again, the public would like to know why the bell is necessary when you have a countdown
clock. And you know, it quite possibly could be jarring to somebody who's a sensory adult who's dealing with issues. And you know, I I don't understand it. I think it's ridiculous. But um you seem to like it. We would just like an explanation as to why it's necessary and
why it was implemented. Thank you. >> Thank you, Cynthia. Seeing no one else, I'm going to close public comment. Um, mayor, >> just just two items. Um, first of all, to Mr. Loving, uh, we've had multiple meetings with the board of education. Um, the police department has taken the
lead along with Christine Corass, uh, the public information officer for the school district, and we are partnering to put out good information about the new ebike law. So, that's that's already underway. Um, with regard to messaging on the storm, we did put out um some things on social media. I don't think it
made it into a weekly eblast um about the clearing of sidewalks and corners. Um went out Monday I believe um just to sort of reiterate that. Um but any suggestions that we can have or even if you can ID and want to send me um the
addresses I will share them with code enforcement. Um the reason that code enforcement and all the village departments are asking folks uh for their contact information is for follow-up purposes which I think I explained at a prior meeting. So, thank you. >> Anybody else?
>> Yes. Uh, to answer your question, Ann, the idea of the bell came from a class that three of us took at the League of Municipalities where they suggested that this is a best practice. However, now
that we have it here, I hate it. Um, I find it jarring as well. And for our community, I would suggest we go back to what we were doing before. I mean there were other ideas in the class um that I think are more palatable
um that would require infrastructure. So I like the idea of lights um so people who you can't see the clock from on there and in the class it was discussed with case laws and some of the lawyers that you need to be even in the execution. Um I don't know how I feel
about the bell. I think Paul's position as being a chair it's hard. Um I you know I think we need something to ensure that we're even and everyone's speech free speech is the same. I like still like the idea of a warning light. Um
they really recommended this um as a best practice. So I'd be fine with adjusting the bell if we had something else particularly for the people who call in. And I I do just want to take a moment here. I think what Paul does invoking and listening and making sure the rules of the meeting are applied
evenly to everyone is hard and sometimes you know he needs the clock helps moving it helps. If the bell's unhelpful I'd be willing to not use it but I do think we need a warning because as you guys have seen some residents do go on and on and
on and when Paul invokes the final time as the chair it it's hard for him. So, um I don't know. I like the idea of maybe a warning light. >> Um the bell was not my idea. Um that
being said, I am I have mentioned to some of my colleagues that we could go with some other warning that is less jarring. And um and I would I would ask Heather if you could possibly look into
something like that. Um I know that some of my colleagues have mentioned to me that I am too lax in um uh administering the final moment
that I I let everyone go 30 seconds beyond. Some people go beyond that. I try not to interrupt them uh at that point because I want everybody to have the opportunity to be heard. But I think we can come up with something that is
less jarring. So Heather, what do you think? Thank you. >> I I will say the big challenge in the takeaway is implementing it for the people at home, too. Um they did make recommendations like for infrastructure expensive, not to us, but to other
people. Um and we didn't, you know, you'd have to move the clock and all of that. So if you're watching at home, you can't see the countdown clock. And I think as long as it's even and evenly enforced, that would be a good thing. >> Good. Anybody else? >> Nope. Good. In that case, we will
entertain a resolution to go into close session. >> Okay. be resolved by the village council of the village of Ridgewood that the village council meet in close session on January 28th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. or soon thereafter as the matter on the agenda can be reached and that said close session be held in the caucus room on
the fourth floor of the Ridge of Village Hall 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey be further resolved. The matters to be discussed in close session are limited to legal matters to include Valley Health versus Village at Ridgewood. This matter is allowable under NJSA 10 column 4-12 that second be
further resolved. The minutes of this meeting shall be made available to the general public on one such matters have been deemed completed by resolution of the village council. May I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I oppose. Thank you.