May 30, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Ridgewood Officials respond to charges against water company by John Koster The Village of Ridgewood’s official response to charges that residents outside Ridgewood paid the village’s police and administration bills through their own water bills called the charges of bill padding “outrageous claims,” and cited Ridgewood’s low water rates. “It’s become apparent and is unfortunate that my adversary in the law suit continues in his effort to try this case in the media and not wait for the court to adjudicate the legal issues and the merits of any claims,” Ridgewood Village Attorney Matthew S. Rogers said in an official statement. “In a surprise to the village, and certainly a detriment to any amicable resolution, my adversary called a press conference on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Generally, such tactics are used to inflame the situation due to a lack of confidence in the legal merits of their case. “Be that as it may, on behalf of the Village of Ridgewood and Ridgewood Water, we continue to scrutinize the applicable law and remain confident in our case and the legal process. Although my adversary wants to once again make outrageous claims, we feel it is important to continue the good faith and responsible effort we have made over the years to maintain the low rates changed by the Water Utility to the rate payers of Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff.” Rogers’ official statement was the first official response to the May 16 press conference in which Attorney Joseph Fiorenzo, former mayor of Wyckoff, charged that Ridgewood had used inflated water rate bills to cover the salaries and pensions of officials who reported only to Ridgewood, even though the same water rates were charged to Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff customers. Fiorenzo told reporters that, based on what he called forensic accounting, Ridgewood owed Wyckoff residents $1,640,492, Glen Rock residents $1,049165, and Midland Park residents $619,635 for money that residents from these three towns paid for water bills which did not go to cover the operating expenses of the Ridgewood Water Utility. He also estimated that Ridgewood owed its own residents $2,475,300 because a large portion of the water bill was earmarked for non-water expenses, though he admitted that this aspect might be more controversial because the money was paying Ridgewood employees who provided services to the Ridgewood residents -- but not for water services. The forensic accounting, Fiorenzo said, showed that Ridgewood had used money billed in 2010 and 2011 to pay for $2,413,737 for health insurance for Ridgewood employees, $645,362 for the Ridgewood Police Department, $570,374 in municipal attorney’s fees, $435,995 for Ridgewood engineering, $189,864 for the police and paid fire department retirement system, $180,600 for Ridgewood’s paid fire department, and $29,996 for the consolidated police and fire department retirement system. Residents of Wyckoff, Glen Rock, and Midland Park protested when Ridgewood unilaterally imposed a 21 percent water rate increase in 2010, followed by an additional five percent increase in 2011. The Ridgewood Water Utility cited a deficit in operating expenses to request the increases, but Fiorenzo showed figures that he said revealed a surplus of almost $1 million at the time the request was made. Attempts for another 2012 rate increase have been tabled at each Ridgewood Council meeting pending the result of the lawsuit, which has not yet been scheduled. Ridgewood was able to increase the 2010 and 2011 water rates because a 2007 state regulation allows utilities to impose increases without going before the Board of Public Utilities, provided that all customers in the service grid pay the same rate. Wyckoff initiated the suit, and was later joined by Glen Rock and Midland Park. Village residents and pool patrons are invited to an outdoor showing of the popular movie “A Bug’s Life” on June 2 at 8 p.m. The Graydon Pool beach will be transformed into a theater for this event. Admission is free to Graydon patrons. The cost for non-patrons is $10 per family or $5 per person. The movie is the story of a misfit ant that is looking for “warriors” to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers and recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept Graydon to host Movie Night circus troupe. The Water’s Edge Café will be open throughout the evening. Ice cream, candies, sodas, and other refreshments will be sold. Residents are reminded to bring blankets or lawn chairs and flashlights. For details, contact the Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation at the Stable, 259 North Maple Avenue, (201) 670-5560, Monday through Friday, between office hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or visit www.ridgewoodnj.net/graydon.