July 20, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 Ridgewood Village will not bid on Ramsey Water & Sewer this week by John Koster The Village of Ridgewood will not submit a formal proposal to acquire Ramsey Water and Sewer on July 20. A statement issued to the press notes: “Recently, village staff have reviewed request for bid documentation from Ramsey Water and Sewer, visited Ramsey Water and Sewer facilities, and developed a working plan as part of a formal bid proposal to acquire Ramsey Water and Sewer. “The Village of Ridgewood, with the operational efficiencies of Ridgewood Water, has the potential to meet Ramsey Water and Sewer customer needs, while enhancing the long term Ridgewood Water operations and doing so at a benefit to current and future Ridgewood Water customers. “While there is promise for a linking of the two water operations and management, such an event will be reserved for the future. “The Village of Ridgewood will not submit a formal proposal to acquire Ramsey Water and Sewer for the July 20, 2011 deadline.” Ridgewood’s closed-session conference on this topic drew concern from League of Women Voters leader Ellie Gruber at the July 13 Ridgewood Village Council meeting. Gruber had objected to the concept of allowing public Summer entertainment at the Kasschau Shell will continue July 19 with a concert featuring The McVey Family and Friends with their Broadway and Beyond repertoire. This concert is sponsored by The Valley Hospital and Valley National Bank. On July 21, Bucky Pizzarelli and Friends will entertain. This concert is sponsored by Ulrich, Inc. The July 26 concert will feature Rio Clemente and Friends, Bishop of Jazz. This concert is sponsored by Feeney Funeral Home and the A.M. Rotary Club. Now in its 53nd year of free summer entertainment, Under the Stars at the Kasschau Shell will offer concerts Kasschau Shell performances announced on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. at the Veterans Field band shell. Each week, a variety of family entertainment will be offered. Attendees should bring a lawn chair or blanket. Restrooms are wheelchair accessible. For taped rain site information (June through August only), call (201) 444-1776 after 7 p.m. The Kasschau Memorial Shell operates under the auspices of the Village of Ridgewood in cooperation with the Department of Parks and Recreation. In addition, many local organizations and businesses provide the funds to support these programs. officials to confer on the possible purchase of the Ramsey utility without the optional presence of private citizens, which she said violated the spirit, if not the letter, of the Sunshine Law. That law permits closed sessions for conferences on personnel matters and litigation, but little else. “You may have more information than we do, but you don’t know better than we do on public matters,” Gruber told the council. “This is diverting the purpose of the Sunshine Law.” Village Manager Kenneth Gabbert said after the meeting that Ridgewood has weighed its options following the closed session with Ramsey officials and had elected not to pursue the purchase of the Ramsey utility. The Ridgewood Water Company supplies Glen Rock, Midland Park, Wyckoff, and Ridgewood. The three outside towns are now involved in litigation charging that Ridgewood used money from water fees for Ridgewood municipal expenses not directly involved in operating the (continued on page 16)