Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • February 1, 2012 Ridgewood Council hears plan to clear Ho-Ho-Kus Brook sandbar by John Koster Ridgewood Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser recently advised the governing body of the negotiations with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to eradicate much of a sandbar in Ho-Ho-Kus Brook. That sandbar has contributed to two floods that caused extensive damage at Ridgewood Village Hall. Rutishauser told the council that tentative plans call for removing the sandbar from the Ho-Ho-Kus border to the border of Glen Rock. “How DEP regards that remains to be seen,” Rutishauser said. State approval, he said, was necessary and state money – said to be potentially available – would be very desirable. Sandbars, Rutishauser told the council last week, are “a part of the natural life of the stream. As we have heavy rain events, more sediment moves into the streams.” He said that, while the sandbar could be reduced, especially at bends in the river, it could not be eliminated entirely. “The only way we could do that is if the river bottom (were) concrete, and we’re not going to do that,” Rutishauser said. Respecting the natural life of the river, Rutishauser said, meant that whatever plans Ridgewood worked out with the DEP would have to be forestalled during the trout season because the trout are notoriously vulnerable to sedimentation in the brook. “Trout are especially sensitive fish,” Rutishauser said. He believed that some state money might be freed up, but only after the trout season in early summer. “We may have to wait when we do this so that we do not harm the fish.” Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh asked if removing the sandbar in Ho-Ho-Kus Brook would eliminate the flooding problem on a permanent basis. “Unless every community in the watershed ceases development and removes its impervious surfaces, it’s not going to improve,” Rutishauser said. The council also discussed implementing plans to put up masonry interior walls inside the first floor of the munici- pal building, a project tentatively estimated at $300,000 and now being readied for bids from contractors. The council also and endorsed plans to purchase two new police cars to replace cars ruined by the 2011 floods, and covered by insurance. A number of Ridgewood groups, corporations, and individuals have donated money to make education more enjoyable for the students in the school system without an additional burden on the taxpayers of Ridgewood. The Ridgewood Lacrosse Association topped the list of recent donations accepted by the Ridgewood Board of Education with a $7,500 check. The funds are to be used for the lease payments for the lights at Stevens and Stadium fields. The Orchard School Home & School Association donated $5,000 to be used for field trip expenses for the elementary school students at the Orchard School, in addition to $1,688 from the Orchard School Activities Fund to pay the Pep Club advisor’s first session stipend. The Benjamin Franklin Middle School Home & School Association donated $3,400 to purchase picture frames and Lacrosse group leads list of donors accompanying hardware, two recycling bins, structural improvements to the school kitchen, and two iPads and insurance coverage for the computer program. The Ridgewood Education Foundation put up $2,666 to help fund Super Science Saturday, the event in which teachers and scientific and medical professionals offer science demonstrations to middle school students and other youngsters from Ridgewood and around the region. Valley Hospital gave an additional $2,500 for Super Science Saturday. The Ridgewood High School TV Club gave the club DVDs and other equipment valued at $201. William S. Andrews donated $100 to purchase supplies for the Travell School Library. J. KOSTER Nominating packets are now available for Ridgewood residents who are registered voters and wish to run for the Ridgewood Village Council. Packets may be picked up at the Ridgewood Village Clerk’s Office in Ridgewood Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on legal holidays. The deadline for filing completed nominating petitions is Candidates sought for village council March 5. Three positions will be available in this year’s May 8 non-partisan council election. The newly elected council members will be sworn in and take office on July 1. For details, contact the clerk’s office at (201) 670-5500, extension 201, or e-mail hmailander@ridgewoodnj.net.