Ridgewood June 16, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Municipal budget vote postponed until June 16 by John Koster The Ridgewood Village Council postponed the adoption vote on the municipal budget from June 9 to June 16 with the understanding that the tax impact figure would not change, but that some staff jobs might still be saved by negotiation. Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert said the tax impact of the 2010 budget would remain at $175 for the average house assessed at $799,000, but that talks with the police and the bluecollar and white-collar unions would continue to the last minute to try to save some staff jobs. Ridgewood has sent out a total of 45 Rice letters -- notifications of possible layoffs, which give the recipients the option of choosing a public or private hearing to try to justify continued employment. The two junior police officers who Chante Nails � Early� Summer ������� �������������������������� ������������������������� ��������������� ����������������������������� ������������������������ ��������������������� �������������������������������� ��������������� Free �������� �������������������������������� ��������������� 50% off �������$ 5 off �������� �������� ���������� were hired about 18 months ago, Gabbert said, are now targeted for termination as of June 30. Police officers had previously asked that efforts be made to retain the new hires. At last week’s meeting, retired Ridgewood Fire Chief James Bombace argued against another cost-cutting move: the two qualified paid firefighters who now work in the Ridgewood Fire Prevention Bureau are scheduled for integration into the firefighting teams – eliminating two positions while keeping the individuals involved on staff with salary and benefits. The duties of the bureau will be carried out by the department through scheduling and possible outside consultants. “You are reducing a level of safety for the residents of Ridgewood and for the firefighters,” Bombace said. “I think you’re looking at it in the wrong way.” Gabbert pointed out that all 70 municipalities in Bergen County have fire prevention bureaus, while only four – Ridgewood, Englewood, Hackensack, and Teaneck – have paid fire departments, and towns with volunteer departments find ways to cover the fire prevention bureau requirements without keeping paid firefighter on that duty. Gabbert said Ridgewood has “a phenomenal fire department – a professional fire department” and that the municipal government would not jeopardize standards involved in safety. “We’re experiencing extraordinary circumstances here with the budget,” Councilman Paul Aronsohn told the former chief. “The safety and security of the community is our number one priority,” Mayor David Pfund told the audience. However, there was no action on the council’s part to rescind the decision, though several people from the audience said that hiring outside contractors to handle local fire inspections had not worked in other towns and probably would not work in Ridgewood. ����������������������������������������� ����������������������� ������������ ���������������� ����������������� �������������������������������� ��������������� 20% off ����������� � � ������ ���������$ 10 off �������������������������������� ��������������� ����������������� Remodeling Renovations & Repairs ����������� ���������������� ����������� ������������� ���������������������� ���� ���������� �������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ���������������������������������� �������������������������������� www.hawthornehandyman.com 973-949-4431 ����������������������� �������������������������� ���������������������� ������������������� ��������������������� ������������������������� ������������� ����������������� �������������� ������������� ����������� ����������������� ����������������� � ���������� ��������������