November 13, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 Ridgewood Residents urge: Improve downtown traffic safety by John Koster A handful of Ridgewood residents urged the Ridgewood Village Council to consider increasing the number of down- town traffic lights to prevent further pedestrian accidents or automobile collisions at several troubled intersections. “I didn’t even have a driver’s license, and in February 2006 I was run over by a truck,” said Rita Villafuerte, a Ridgewood resident since 1968. “I was sure I was dead.” Villafuerte said she was trapped under the truck and that the driver, who stopped to try to rescue her, was as horrified as she was. She cast no aspersions for the acci- dent, which she said almost killed her and required exten- sive hospitalization and surgery. However, she pointed out that motorists and pedestrians in Ridgewood both tend to be careless. She said she hoped more safety precautions by motorists, pedestrians, and local officials would reduce the number of accidents. “I feel something has to be done about traffic, but I don’t know what,” she acknowledged. She said she once got out of her own car, which her hus- band had been driving, to explain to a grandmother trying to cross grandchildren who had walked out from between parked cars that the children should be taught to use the crosswalks. The grandmother seemed surprised by the idea. Robert Welch, another resident, suggested that a traf- fic light be installed on the North Walnut Street turn off Franklin Avenue, which runs through the central business district parallel to Ridgewood Avenue. An older resident was struck and killed by a car while crossing North Walnut Street near his home last year. “Your message is right in spirit,” said Mayor Paul Aronsohn. “We’ve got to find a way forward on it.” Kent Aldershof and Jin Kim, two neighbors from Godwin Avenue in Ridgewood, said Godwin is also dan- gerous for motorists and pedestrians, “It has grown much too dangerous with the expansion of the George Washington (Middle) School and the soccer field,” said Aldershof. “The number of near misses is absolutely breath-taking,” said Kim. Mayor Aronsohn noted that the 35 mile-per-hour speed limit on Midland Park’s portion of Godwin Avenue could be part of the problem. Godwin Avenue runs between a large number of residences as it enters Ridgewood. The Ridgewood Council, not coincidentally, had already decided to discuss the possible signalization of three or four intersections. Residents independently urged that all cross- ings of Franklin Avenue be signalized. Bergen County, however, is responsible for approving traffic lights and this means Ridgewood officials can only recommend installations. Proposals for several large multi-story residential build- ings in the area near the railroad right of way are already pending. Municipal officials have argued that these build- ings would present a more attractive introduction or vista of Ridgewood than the vacant buildings and parking lots now at the locations. Residents, however, have pointed out that Ridgewood’s downtown business district already has a troubled traffic situation, and introducing more residents before the downtown area is better signalized could lead to increased problems. Trustees to decide on possible shift to fall election The Ridgewood Board of Education plans to vote on whether to shift the date of the Ridgewood Board of Edu- cation election from the traditional April date to date of the general election in November. Ridgewood’s decision is expected at the Nov. 18 board meeting and statements from board members suggest that the response to the shift in date will be favorable. Ridgewood was one of a handful of local school districts that opted to retain its spring board and budget election, when many districts made the move to November for the first time last year. Those who moved their school trustee elections to the date of the general election were permitted to forgo a public budget vote as long as the budget falls within the state-mandated cap, which is currently two per- cent. Ridgewood school administration sources say that changing the date of the school election from spring to fall could save as much as $43,000. Opponents of the change, including League of Woman Voters leader Sally Brandes, have pointed out that, in cases where the school board election voters reject the proposed budget, cuts to the budget by the Ridgewood Village Coun- cil could reduce spending by more than $43,000. The council is responsible for trimming school budgets that are defeated at the polls. Amounts cut in the past have been up to $100,000. Brandes said at a previous meeting that the citizens’ right to vote on budgets was at least a theoretical under- mining of the democratic process. J. KOSTER