Ridgewood February 29, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 9 Village council considers taller flood barrier by John Koster Last week, several village residents attended the Ridgewood Council meeting and proposed a flood bulwark of increased height as an alternative or supplement to the $550,000 worth of internal masonry now being pursued to solve chronic flooding of the first floor of Ridgewood Village Hall. “Maybe my plan isn’t perfect. I don’t have an engineering degree. I’m not a hydraulics expert, but I don’t understand why we’re spending so much money just to get slapped in the face every time there’s a flood,” said resident Gary Cirillo. Ridgewood Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser said the project Cirillo suggested could be possible, with some additional considerations. Paul Woodburn, a resident who said he rushed to the February 22 meeting after he hear about Cirillo’s suggestion, also said he liked the idea. Cirillo said that extending the height of the barrier wall around the perimeter of Ridgewood Village Hall by twoand-a-half feet would be adequate to prevent floods such as those caused by Hurricane Irene. The storm cost Ridgewood $95,000 in emergency cleanup contractor fees and is now budgeted to cost the village an additional $550,000 as the ground floor is refurbished with tiled floors, drains, and masonry. The total refurbishment with demolition of the damaged sheetrock already carried out will be $645,000. Tropical Storm Floyd, which hit in September 1999, cost $1 million just for the destruction of the first floor, where the police station had been located, and led to the reconstruction of the entire municipal building due to inadequate flood protection and mold contamination. An interim storm also flooded the first floor to a depth of several inches and destroyed carpets and fixtures. Rutishauser, the main technical proponent after Cirillo broached the subject, said the taller perimeter flood barrier could be handled in one of two ways: either a masonry height extension of the walls around most of the building by 2.5 feet, or temporary wall extensions made of portable aluminum to add the extra height when storms become threatening. Rutishauser’s ballpark estimate was that the wall extension could cost about $150,000. “We’ve been very fortunate that the water came up very gradually,” Rutishauser said of the three previous floods, which ruined carpets and furniture. “It doesn’t surge, it just comes up gradually.” “If we’re looking at your design, I feel a little better about it,” Councilman Stephen Wellinghorst told Rutishauser. Cirillo and Woodburn spoke out against the $550,000 construction plan. “I don’t think you should turn the building into some mausoleum on the first floor,” Woodburn told the council. Mayor Keith Killion winced at a “swimming pool” reference, and then noted that Ridgewood residents had previously proposed a masonry swimming pool at some length. A proposal to turn the lake-like Graydon Pool into several swimming pools dominated Ridgewood Council meetings a few years ago. Those plans were halted due to residents’ protests and lack of money. Council members said they would consider the flood bulwark, but would not scrap the plan to refurbish the first floor into a flood-resistant area. Deputy Mayor Thomas Riche said it might be worthwhile to pursue both plans. Mayor Killion said the exterior wall would not be aes- thetically pleasing and could have technical problems. A veteran of the U.S. Army Engineers in Vietnam, Killion asked how the proposed wall extension would be compatible with barrier-free access to those who are chair-bound or use walkers. The first floor is the home of the long-awaited Ridgewood Community Center, which was well-used until the last flood and is scheduled to become available again. Bulwark proponents suggested that a flexible gateway could be installed on an emergency basis during impending flood, and later removed. Mayor Killion questioned whether such a gate could withstand hydraulic pressure from moving water even if the water did not surge. The alternative – steps on both sides of a permanent flood wall – would restrict access by the seniors and those with disabilities. “It’s a balancing act. There is no perfect fix,” Mayor Killion said. “Storms that we have had before that did not cause flooding now cause flooding. We’re looking at the best scenario: whether to add three feet to the exterior wall or the internal construction (to make flood cleanup easier and less expensive). Speaking after the meeting, Mayor Killion said adding three feet to the exterior barrier walls would make Ridgewood Village Hall “look like a prison.” The proposal will await input from Council Member Bernadette Walsh, who was not present at last week’s work session. No formal action was taken last week. The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus will host its annual Saint Patrick’s Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 24. Catered by The Best of Everything, the event will include a full traditional dinner of corned beef and cabbage. Along with the Irish fare, the Willie Lynch Band will entertain with dance music and Irish favorites. The Irish step danc- Knights host Saint Patrick’s event ers from the McLoughlin Dance School will make a special appearance. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the Mount Carmel Church gymnasium at 52 Passaic Street. Tickets are $50 each and payment may be mailed to: Mark Stappenbeck, 452 Hunter Road, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.