Ridgewood
May 30, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7
Council to adopt budget before body reorganizes
by John Koster The Ridgewood Village Council has agreed to introduce the municipal budget on May 29 at 7 p.m. and to hold the adoption hearing on that spending plan on June 26 at 7 p.m. This schedule will allow the seated council to adopt the budget before it reorganizes in the aftermath of the May election. No figures or tax impact estimates were available at press time. The decision to adopt the municipal budget during the life of the present council came at last week’s work session. Mayor Keith Killion will be departing after a narrow defeat in the non-partisan election earlier this month, and Councilman Stephen Wellinghorst opted not to seek re-election, which means that the council which reorganizes in July will have two new members, Gwenn Hauck and Albert Pucciarelli, and a new mayor to be selected by the reconstituted council. Paul Aronsohn, the largest vote-getter in the election, will serve on the five-member council with Hauck, Pucciarelli, and present council members Thomas Riche and Bernadette Walsh. In other business, the council convened a special public meeting and introduced an ordinance to appropriate $155,000 for watershed protection measures involving Ho-Ho-Kus Brook and Saddle River. This ordinance will be considered for adoption at the June 13 meeting. The protection measure would be funded with $127,875 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and $27,125 from the council’s capital reserve balance fund. The council also introduced an ordinance to acquire open land known as the General Energy Property, a small piece of natural land adjacent to the Schedler Property, which has already been purchased as open space. If the ordinance is adopted on June 13, funds to be used for the new purchase would include $30,000 from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund, $30,000 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Trust Fund, and $40,000 from Ridgewood’s capital fund balance. The council also introduced an ordinance to appropriate $131,195 for 52 sets of turnout gear and bailout systems for the Ridgewood Fire Department, with $118,076 of the cost coming from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and $13,119 from Ridgewood’s capital inventory. The adoption hearing will be June 13. The council also introduced an ordinance to extend the lease on 1057 Hillcrest Avenue for one year to the highest bidder, with the minimum acceptable bid established at $3,918 per month. The house is located on the Habernickel property, which
is now being developed for a mixture of active and passive recreation purposes. Formerly known as the Horse Farm, the Habernickel Property was acquired from the owner some years ago with the first use of the money set aside, based on a referendum, for purchase and preservation of Ridgewood open space. In a presentation at the work session portion of the meeting, the council learned about the Mobi-Chair and the Mobi-Mat, two devices to give special needs people improved access to Graydon Pool. Council members said the products were interesting, but no vote was taken.
The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood will present its Eighth Annual Two-Piano Festival on Friday, June 8 at 8 p.m. The event will take place at the Society’s Anderson Hall, 113 Cottage Place in Ridgewood. The concert, which features local artists, will benefit the scholarship
Two-Piano Festival slated
fund of the Professional Music Teachers’ Guild. Nine pianists will join forces to present works by Debussy, Liszt, Brahms, de Falla, Gershwin, and more. The suggested donation is $15. For details, visit www. uuridgewood.org or call (201) 444-6225.