April 17. 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 Ridgewood Zero-increase budget is predicted, questioned by John Koster Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli predicted that the municipal budget when introduced will come close to the proposed zero-increase budget for which they and Council Member Gwenn Hauck had hoped. “We now have in sight a zero tax increase budget,” Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli said. He added that it would be possible to offer early-day scheduling at Graydon Pool and adequately fund the library with the proposed budget, with details available shortly. Veteran Councilman Thomas Riche disagreed. Riche said that a surplus of $500,000 as provided in the budget now nearing introduction might not provide for emergencies. “You can’t emergency-appropriate money that was not budgeted properly,” Riche warned the other three council members. Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh was not present at the April 10 public meeting. Roger Wiegand, a resident who frequently speaks at meetings, questioned whether a $500,000 surplus for emergencies would be adequate in light of Ridgewood’s recent history of emergencies. “This is larger than last year. It is larger that a couple of years ago,” Aronsohn said of the proposed $500,000 contingency fund. The fund is intended to cover anything not budgeted -- such as storm and flood disasters like those of Hurricane Sandy or the October 2011 snowstorm that led to a week-long power failure and massive police and employee overtime. “To me it seems like a reasonable number based on the past,” Pucciarelli said. Wiegand spoke at some length for the opposing viewpoint. “I am not clairvoyant and I don’t think anybody on the council is, but it seems to me that a surplus of $500,000 may not be sufficient,” Wiegand said. “I think maybe we took a chance to get to that zero budget increase.” Pucciarelli and Aronsohn asked Wiegand what amount of surplus he would consider adequate, and he declined to stipulate a specific amount. However, Wiegand got Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert to admit that the amount was smaller than state standards recommended, though Gabbert did not cite a specific number either. The only actual vote related to the budget took place when the council finally introduced the non-union salary ordinance and the management salary ordinance, which had been tabled for further study some weeks ago. The two ordinances as introduced last week provided for a zero salary increase for non-union workers and managementlevel workers for 2012 and 2013, but make the workers eligible for a performance compensation increase of as much (continued on page 10) New Ridgewood Fire Lieutenant Brendan Corcoran and new Ridgewood Police Lieutenant Glenn Ender were sworn in to their new posts at the Ridgewood Village Council meeting on April 10. They were greeted by applause from family, friends, and members of the public. Fire Chief James Van Goor, Police Chief John Ward, and members of both units attended the ceremony. New leaders