August 28, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 Area Wyckoff omits jail time for sprinkler violations by John Koster Wyckoff residents who let their lawn sprinklers vio- late watering restrictions may have to pay $50 fines, but unlike Glen Rock and Midland Park and Ridgewood resi- dents, they will not be facing a highly unlikely 90 days in jail or water service shut-off based on last week’s adopted version of the watering ordinance promulgated by the Ridgewood Water Company. The Wyckoff Township Committee voted last week to adopt the edited version of the Ridgewood ordinance which subjects watering violators to a fine of $50 pay- able to the Wyckoff Violation Bureau but deleted “not to exceed $500 or imprisonment for a term of not to exceed 90 days, or both.” The Wyckoff version also cut the wording that empow- ered the Ridgewood Water Company, which serves Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Midland Park, and Glen Rock, to cut off the supply of water to the premises of violators -- unlikely in any case due to safety and sanitary consid- erations. Glen Rock and Midland Park retained the original wording promulgated by the Ridgewood authorities, but officials said actual jail time is extremely improbable. “We didn’t change anything,” said Glen Rock Admin- istrator Lenora Benjamin. “It’s really not worth doing. Are we every going to throw anybody in jail? No.” The ordinance as adopted in all four towns recognizes four stages of emergency restrictions to be declared by the Ridgewood Village Manager. Stage I, Moderate, provides for mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednes- days, Fridays, and Sundays at properties with even-num- bered addresses. Irrigation using a hand-held hose shall be allowed at any time. No irrigation shall be allowed on Mondays except for the use of a hand-held hose. Stage I regulations shall be effective each year begin- ning June 1 and continuing through Aug. 31, unless resi- dents are otherwise notified. Stage II, Severe, provides for mandatory restriction of irrigation to Tuesdays and Saturdays at properties with odd-numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays at properties with even-numbered addresses. No irriga- tion shall be allowed Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays except for the use of a hand-held hose. Irrigation using a hand-held hose shall be allowed ay any time. Stage III, Pending/Critical provides for mandatory restriction of irrigation to the use of a hand-held hose on Tuesdays and Saturdays at properties with odd-num- bered addresses and Wednesdays and Sundays at even- numbered addresses. No irrigation of any kind shall be allowed on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Stage IV, Critical, prohibits irrigation at any time. Exceptions for irrigation using a hand-held hose may be allowed under conditions prescribed by the Village Man- ager of Ridgewood. The Village Manager of Ridgewood is also empowered to declare elevated levels of restric- tions based on the water supply and weather conditions. Glen Rock and Midland Park joined Wyckoff in legal action against Ridgewood protesting increased water rates and charging that Ridgewood had been passing water fees from outside towns on to Ridgewood agen- cies not directly involved in supplying water, including the Ridgewood police and municipal administration. This practice was curtailed when Ken Gabbert took over as village manager in 2010. He has now been fired by a 3-2 vote of the Ridgewood Village Council despite the protests of the other two members: Thomas Riche and Bernadette Walsh. Boost for YWCA YWCA Bergen County CFAO Laura DeLuca, left, and Arlene Vazquez, president of the YWCA’s Board of Direc- tors, right, accept a check for $10,000 from the Newcomers Club of Ridgewood. The funds will be used to support YWCA programs for women, girls, and families, including scholarships for families in need of child care, special needs recreation pro- grams, and healingSPACE, the county’s only Sexual Violence Resource Center. The Newcom- ers Club brings together new residents in the community and sponsors a wide range of activities, interest groups and volunteer opportunities, and fundraising events in support of the YWCA. (Photo courtesy of YWCA Bergen County Public Relations Department.)