Underage Drinking Ordinance

Tuesday April 2nd 2007 at the Ridgewood Public Library - Residents, Parents, School Administrators and local Police officers were present to discuss the issue of underage drinking on private property throughout the village. A lot of opinions were expressed during the emotional question and answer session hosted by Sheila Brogan, mostly directed towards Captain Keith Killion.

The proposal is a request to the village council to introduce and pass an ordinance that allows the Ridgewood Police to enter your property if they suspect underage children are drinking on the property without their parents present. It would also give officers that option to cite these local minors with a summons violating the village ordinance and a fine of $250 for the first offense and $350 for each additional offense as is currently enforced in surrounding towns such as Fair Lawn who was the most recent borough to pass a similar ordinance.

Much concern was addressed regarding the future consequences of violating this ordinance and the effect on their children's "Permanent Record" and its effects on their college and career applications. It was clearly stated that violation of this ordinance is not a criminal offense, not a misdemeanor, simply a violation of a local village ordinance similar to a littering ticket. It would also provide the judge - during the mandatory court appearance - with the option to postpone or revoke the minor's driving privileges for 6 months.

Overall there were a lot of complaints about some parents choices to allow their kids to drink underage at parties with other students and a request was made specifically from one mother to the other parents that "If you see my kids, please don't let them drink."

This ordinance is proposed to provide stricter village laws to attempt to reduce the likelihood that local teenagers will drink underage. It is still very much against the law to drink, possess, or have consumed alcoholic beverages on public property and ANYONE found responsible for providing alcohol to a minor will be charged for violating current laws.

Street Paving & Maintenance

Due to the seasonal weather changes and utility construction and repair it is necessary for our public roads to be repaved. You can request this and the filling of pot-holes within the village by contacting the Village Manager's office (201) 670-5500 ext. 203 and notify them of the location you wish to have repaired.

You may view the list of streets to be paved by clicking on the following link or calling or emailing the Village Manager's office for an update.

http://www.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/engineering/StreetList06&07.pdf

Snow Plowing? How much does this cost the vilalge, and how effective is it. Every year I am able to get from one end of town to the other and the maintenance crew does an excellent job of clearing the primary roads throughout the village. But what about the side streets? They are plowed once or twice during snow fall and notorious for re-blocking cleared driveways, however, every year there is always a 3" - 6" layer of ice on my and surround side streets. Attaching plows to a couple of our already owned Village trucks and making employees already on payroll return to these streets may further reduce this problem. Of course, one would have to consider the increase gas cost, and time it would take to complete this.

New Leaf Collection Policy

Do we really believe that the new "Leaf Collection Policy" is because of storm water contamination. Or, could it be that the village is being cheap and attempting to cut costs by not having trucks go around the village and pick up leaves.

I understand we are under a financial strain - but it is certainly not because not enough revenue is coming into the town.

The ordinance does not declare what spots and how often the adjusted Leaf Collection will take place. Just that residents have to take more time to bag up all their leaves and truck them over to their designated spots on their designated days.

However - This will help keep the roads a little clearer and easier to navigate - But its fall and kids are back in school - Wouldn't it be safer to have narrower streats to force drivers to drive slower and more carefully?

I know we have been spoiled by with a great sanitation collection program - If this is something that really needs to be done than I may be inclined to go a long with it. It would be a great way for a private company to raise additional funds to do this job for the town billing directly to residents. But how much is this service worth. Would you pay your landscaper $10 - $20 - $50 a week to bag and remove your leaves?

Eminent Domain

PARKING -


Parking has been an issue in Ridgewood for as long as anyone can remember. Many surrounding towns do not have this problem since traffic is less strenuos in places like Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, & Midland Park. Many of these towns do not even have parking meters in their down town business district.

Ridgewood on the other hand - has parking meters effective until 8pm Monday through Friday. The village council is currently in the process of file papers with the state to acquire lot space in the Downtown Business District using "EMINENT DOMAIN" to build a parking structure by the train station.

The proposed renovations to the Ridgewood Train Station will comply with state and federal regulations for handicap accessibility. This project is estimated to cost upwards of $10 - $20 million much of which will be paid for by NJ TRANSIT.

I would like to see the results of the village parking study to determine exactly how much traffic congestion would be relieved with this proposed parking structure. I don't believe this structure will do much to satisfy village residents. In my opinion - if the village is taking steps to virtually steal property from an over 30 year business owner - if they want the village to support their decision, they should provide an incentive to residents to do this.

(Eminent domain states a property can be acquired by the state if its current use could be altered to better support the city and its residents) - After paying 2.67% property taxes for village services - the least the town could do is offer free parking to village residents.

Wouldn't it also be great if the village took steps to create a public transportation system within the village to help alleviate some of this traffic flow. Here is what I propose.

A San Francisco trolly type bus that would operate for free or a minimal fee from all elementary schools to the train station and park & ride from 5 am to 10 am. After 10 am the trolly would switch to provide transportation from all elementary schools to the downtown business district till 4 pm. From 4 pm - 7 pm the trolly would include the train station and the park & ride.

Of course this trolly would operate on some combination of "Biodiesel" fuel that would be both cost efficient and environmentally friendly. The projected roundtrip routes would be from 20 - 45 minutes to complete the 5 mile loop of the village. This would not only allieviate the congestion downtown but also free up parking at the train station while providing a great service for many residents.

I will be conducting a cost analysis of this proposed project and post the results.

RHS FOOTBALL UPDATE

The Ridgewood Maroon Football Team defeated Paramus Catholic High School 10 - 6 last saturaday afternoon bringing their season record to 2-0 with their division rival game this Thursday at 7 PM at Hackensack High School. It should be the best regular season match-up.

Saturday October 21st at 1 PM they will take on Don Bosco and Matthew Simms son of legendary NY Giant Quarterback Phill Simms and brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneer Quarterback Chris Simms. This game could possibly be the "real" state championship game.

For detailed schedule -

http://www.highschoolsports.net/defaultcal_160.cfm?ct=s&school=NJ0745165884&spt=4&lvl=1&division=-1

Ridgewood Public School Issues

SMOKING BAN?

While I understand the rationale behind the decision to introduce an ordinance to prohibit smoking within 1000 feet of the Ridgewood High School, I do not understand a few things. 1) Why is just prohibited to students? 2) Aren't all persons under the legal age (18) prohibited from smoking anywhere in the village? I seem to remember that ordinance being passed 10 years ago. 3) One Hour before and One Hour after will result in no smoking from 6:15 am to 7 pm because of athletic practices, events, etc. Why not just prohibit smoking by everyone at all times? The faculty should be setting examples anyway.

It seems to be an enforcement problem of the previous ordinance - Smoking is going to continue around the village and designating an area for this seems to be the best solution. Why this has recently become an issue again is a surprise to me.

The ordinance can be viewed on the 9/13 agenda for the village council -

http://www.ridgewoodnj.net/agenda/SHORT9%201306.htm

2005 AUDIT

The annual audit for 2005 was recently provided to the Village Council person's and as a resident of Ridgewood I would greatly like to get a hold of a copy of this audit and that of our public schools - with over $100 Million of residents property taxes distributed among the village council, BOE, and county - all we hear about is how tight our budget is - How can $80 Million not be enough money to educate 5,000 students?

If the high school has 1600 students - 400 per grade - then both middle schools have about 600 students - then each of our 6 or 7 elementary schools have (K - 5) 400 students each -

1600 + 600(2) + 400(6) = 4800

$80,000,000.00 / 5000 = $16,000.00 a year per child

That is what most state colleges charge for a year of tuition!!!

If they are still unable to provide quality education and services at this price it's no wonder why residents are paying the additional $10,000.00 a year to send their children to private high schools.
Holmstead

A proposed program would seek $1 - $5 Million for staff and a facility. The rough idea of the program is to take the students that are having difficulty in the current school program and place them in a learning environment tailored to their learning styles.

http://www.holmstead.org/


RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STATE RANKING -

In the recent article published by "The Ridgewood News", RHS placed 24th in the state from its previous 17th. There have been many excuses / reasons for this slip from its fromer prestegious top 10 ranking. I pose one question on this issue - When I was at RHS the test that determines the school ranking (The HSPT's) was given to us at least 2 times in almost the exact same format and questions - (PHSPT's in sophomore year and HSPT's in Junior year).

Granted a school average of 97.5% is not a bad thing - but if you are taking the test twice - shouldn't we know who did not score 100% and work with them to improve their scrore? The test does not include any other course material other than math and english on a 9th grade level.

Congratulations RHS Football

Congratulations to the Boy's Varsity Football Team for their 20 - 13 home opening victory over Nutley High School this Saturday 9/9/06. With many returning starters in their Junior year coming off their 8-2 season last year, this season looks to be another one in strong contention for another State Championship title. The next game will be Saturday at 1pm at RHS against Paramus Catholic.

Congratulations to Chuck Johnson - Head football coach receives Dr. John F. Bateman Foundation's Winners for Life Annual Award for NJ HS Football Coach who best emulates the criteria of service to American youth. The award was established in memory of legendary Rutgers football coach John Bateman.

more...

http://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/index.cfm?&ArticleID=19911

Welcome to I Care About Ridgewood Blog

Welcome to "I Care About Ridgewood" blog.

For too long I think many residents have taken the happenings of the village for granted. Apathy towards ones civic duty to keep tabs on our local government officials has gone on for too long by too many.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" - we have coasted by too long and let a few small issues grow into bigger ones...

I don't want to come off as a cynic or a pessimist because I was born and raised in this town and I know everyone who lives here loves it here. It truly is a great place to raise a family and god willing I will do the same myself as I get older.

This blog is here to provide an outlet for residents to visit and present their comments and criticism about the village.

Praise for things that were done well - Criticism for things that need to be improved

Most of all - Communication between those who make the decisions... and those who are affected by those decisions...

Many residents don't know that if their is a pothole on your street you can call up the village manager and make a request to have it filled in. (They will add you to their schedule and may not do a good job of giving you a percise time frame of when it will get done... but it will get done...)

- WWW.TIXMEOFF.COM/RIDGEWOOD - will be a site for residents to track their complaints and log how long it took for the village to respond - how well it was handled - and if it could have been handled more efficiently.