Ramsey July 20, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 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 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 water services. Ramsey, which has been working to keep up with the mounting costs of maintaining water standards, recently authorized the receipt of bids for the potential sale of its public and sewer system assets. Plans call for the receipt of bids on July 20, but the sale of these assets could not be completed without the public’s approval of a referendum on this matter. Ramsey Mayor Christopher Botta previously explained that the solicitation of bids does not assure that these assets will be sold. Once the bids have been opened, Ramsey officials, including the borough’s board of public works, must then decide whether the sale is a viable option for the municipality. The key would be the November public referendum, which would be held after a bid has been accepted and price and terms set for the sale. The question would be whether the accepted bid and the criteria associated with it are acceptable and in the best interests of the borough’s residents. The First Presbyterian Church at 15 Shuart Lane will host a women’s support group on Wednesdays through Aug. 31. All women are welcome to attend. The summer meetings will begin with a short walk around the block at 7 p.m. and will continue with a discussion at 7:30 p.m. Topics to be addressed will include Women’s support group offered this summer job loss, health and weight concerns, or simply growing older. Refreshments will be served. For more information, or to RSVP, contact Linda MacDonald at (201) 315-1805 or linda@potomacgrouphomes. com.