Ridgewood August 18, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 Village council accepts new gifts from foundation by John Koster The Ridgewood Village Council accepted three recent gifts from the Bolger Foundation at last week’s public meeting, but Mayor Keith Killion said the council and administration would continue to examine policy as to which future gifts would be deemed acceptable. Shortly after the 2008 election, the three new council members, following suggestions from some of their supporters, introduced and adopted an ordinance that banned any gifts to Ridgewood by anyone who had an application before the planning board or board of adjustment. The goal of the ordinance, they said, was to avoid the perception that a donor might have undue influence. Opponents of the ordinance, including members of the Ridgewood Library Board and former mayors, urged that the ordinance be defeated. However, it was adopted by a 3-2 vote. A few weeks ago, council members were surprised to learn that several donations from The Bolger Foundation had been accepted for municipal property. Bolger has a couple of projects underway in the village. Mayor Killion and the council decided that the donations, mostly in the form of donated labor, could not be undone or returned. Killion said that policy review would continue, and the intent of the ordinance would be honored. The gifts accepted were: The repainting of the Ridgewood Village Hall main entrance and front pillars, the renovation of the stairs at the main entrance of village hall, and the renovation of the front pillars at the Ridgewood Public Library. The offer to install an eagle atop the flagpole at Van Neste Square Park is still under consideration. Ridgewood philanthropist David Bolger, whose foundation has contributed to many projects in Ridgewood and in the surrounding communities, stated, “To the best of my knowledge, not anyone from The Bolger Foundation has ever donated or gifted anything with an ulterior motive.” Bolger added, “I offered to do this work to have village hall presentable for the Fourth of July festivities. This work, by the way, was slated to be done some 10 years ago, but just never came to fruition. While overseeing this work being done, I also noted a few other areas that needed to be addressed, i.e. weeding, pruning, etc., so The Bolger Foundation provided the funding for these other small jobs to be done also, so the Village of Ridgewood taxpayers would not have to bear the cost. I even had the Puritz Memorial Stone moved, since the area that it was in was overgrown and covered by vegetation. “To assert that The Bolger Foundation’s actions were in any way inappropriate is totally unfounded.” Bolger also presented Ridgewood Village Manager Kenneth Gabbert with a multi-page letter concerning The Bolger Foundation’s donations to the village over the years. (continued on page 16) 8-11-10 janine GaryStevens6x2(8-11-10) 6 x 2”