Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • July 25, 2012 Ridgewood Shared service agreement questioned prior to passage by John Koster An agreement for shared garage services between Ridgewood and Paramus was questioned with regard to possible duplication of services before it was adopted at last week’s Ridgewood Council meeting. Resident Boyd Loving, a frequent and respected commentator at council meetings, asked Village Manager Ken Gabbert if the agreement involved any duplication of personnel that might cost Ridgewood extra salaries or insurance programs. He also asked whether any services being farmed out to Paramus could actually be handled in Ridgewood. “I don’t want us to get into a situation where we’re double-paying,” Loving explained. “There are items we simply don’t do,” Gabbert told the resident. “Transmissions come to mind.” Gabbert said, however, that Ridgewood would continue to do all the maintenance chores routinely done in-house. Gabbert said that, by placing parameters around what could be charged, the resolution could actually save Ridgewood money. He said Ridgewood can perform most of its own services, but that the regulations could cover a situation in which Ridgewood might be “overwhelmed” due to staff injuries or illnesses. The resolution as adopted authorizes a shared service agreement that will permit the Borough of Paramus to provide for the labor, maintenance, and repair of Ridgewood vehicles billed on an hourly basis plus a 15 percent administrative fee, on an as-needed basis. The Ridgewood Village Council appointed the Green Team Advisory Committee members who will serve a oneyear term that will extend through the summer of 2013. Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh will serve as the chair of the committee. The other members include Frank Moritz, director of operations; Christopher Rutishauser, village engineer; Nancy Bigos, deputy director of Ridgewood Parks and Recreation; Edward Schwartz, a Village council names Green Team member of the Ridgewood Environment Advisory Committee; Michelle Lenhard of the Ridgewood Board of Education; Joan Groome of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce; Janet Fricke, a resident and member of the village staff; and Nancy Orr, a resident and director safety compliance sustainability for Becton Dickinson. J. KOSTER Facilitating feedback The Ridgewood Village Council rearranged one small sector of the Sydney D. Stoldt Courtroom where council meetings take place to make life a little easier for everybody. The lectern with microphone that formerly stood facing the council bench in the middle of the floor has been moved to the window side, so speakers can face the audience and the council at the same time, as they make their presentations at public meetings. Tried out for the first time on July 18, the new system seemed to work to the satisfaction of the half-dozen council regulars and several other speakers. Ridgewood Resident Roger Wiegand is pictured facing the council to make his point.