Your local government,
summarized.

The Village Council meeting on April 8, 2026, began with the approval of bills, claims, and minutes. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to recognizing Dr. Robert G. Lahita for his 36 years of service as the medical director for the ambulance service, proclaiming April 8th as 'Dr. Bob Day.' Several proclamations were also read, including for Tree Planting Month, Slow Mo May, National Mental Health Awareness Month, National Drinking Water Week, and Older Americans Month. Public comment featured concerns about the soil remediation project at Schedler Field, with residents questioning tree removal and the council's attendance at related meetings. Environmental initiatives, such as tree planting and reducing single-use plastics, were discussed, alongside resident concerns about artificial turf and water quality. The village's budget and spending were also a topic of discussion, with residents expressing concerns about tax increases and suggesting service cuts, while the council defended the budget process and highlighted its challenges. The council addressed a substantial number of ordinances and resolutions, including the adoption of ordinances related to cap banks, bond ordinances for treatment plants, salary adjustments, zoning amendments for blade signs, and fees for emergency management. The 2026 municipal budget public hearing was held, proposing a 3.98% increase, but its adoption was deferred to May pending state approval. Discussions also delved into the village's debt load, the Valley Hospital tax appeal, and village operations, including employee numbers and vehicle fleets. The meeting concluded with the adjournment of the council.

This community meeting provided an update on the Schedler Property Soil Remediation Project. Village Manager Keith Casmark introduced representatives from Matrix New World Engineering and North Star Environmental Services, who detailed the scope of work, which includes removing contaminated soil, flat areas, and debris from the property. The presentation covered the necessary state approvals received from the NJDEP and SHPO, setting a tentative project start date for late April or early May 2026, with an estimated duration of six to eight weeks. The meeting also addressed community concerns regarding traffic and air quality. The Ridgewood Police Department outlined a comprehensive traffic plan designed to minimize disruption from truck movements, including rerouting access points and utilizing offsite staging areas. A detailed air quality monitoring plan was presented, explaining the thresholds for public health risk, public notification, and on-site response actions to control dust. Five air monitoring stations will be deployed, and the plan will be made publicly available. Finally, the presentation covered site protection measures, including fencing off an archeologically sensitive area and the process for obtaining permits to remediate identified wetlands. Residents were encouraged to sign up for notifications via a QR code, although the likelihood of needing to issue public health alerts was deemed very low due to the robust monitoring and mitigation strategies. The meeting concluded with an open Q&A session, beginning with a resident's question about the placement of air quality monitors.

The Village of Ridgewood convened a community forum on April 1, 2026, to address the mandated reassessment of all real properties, a process initiated by the Bergen County Board of Taxation to align property values with current market rates for the 2027 tax year. Village Manager Keith Kasmarek emphasized that this reassessment is revenue-neutral, aiming to redistribute the tax burden rather than increase overall tax collection, noting the significant market changes since the last revaluation in 2008 and reassessment in 2012. Representatives from Appraisal Systems, Robert Brescia and Michael Coplin, detailed the seven-step reassessment process, explaining how taxes are calculated and providing examples of potential impacts on individual tax bills. They also addressed resident concerns regarding inspection procedures, privacy, and liability, assuring them of inspector training and safety protocols in coordination with the Ridgewood Police Department. Throughout the forum, residents raised numerous questions concerning the practicalities and fairness of the reassessment. Key concerns included the scheduling of property inspections, the relationship between appraised, assessed, and market values, and the calculation of the tax rate. Residents also inquired about how specific property features, such as renovations, kitchens, central air, generators, and flood plain status, would affect their assessments. The council and Appraisal Systems representatives responded by explaining the necessity of mass appraisals for efficiency, clarifying valuation methodologies, and detailing the timeline for notifications and informal hearings. They stressed that the current assessments are outdated and inequitable, making this reassessment crucial for fairness. Mayor Paul Vagianos and Assessor William Palumbo reinforced the message of revenue neutrality and the importance of the reassessment as the primary avenue for equity, given the challenges of appealing current, outdated assessments. Discussions also touched upon senior tax programs, with the assessor's office confirming they maintain relevant documentation. The council encouraged residents to review their property record cards once available to ensure accuracy and to communicate any special circumstances. The overall sentiment from the village leadership was one of transparency and a commitment to a fair and accurate reassessment process for all property owners in Ridgewood.

The Village Council of Ridgewood held a public workshop on March 30, 2026. The meeting began with a special presentation by Penn Miller Jones, a new business owner, who introduced his plans to open 'The Milkshake Factory' in town. Following this, Rich Calby, Director of Ridgewood Water, presented several agenda items concerning water infrastructure, including a research project with Revive, an agreement with the NJDOT, a supplemental bond ordinance for PAS plants, and a new vendor for drug and alcohol testing. Chief Judge also provided an update on BLS billing services and the urgent need to replace an aging ambulance, which was approved by the council. The council then discussed and approved a grant acceptance from NJIT for a storm water management study, aimed at developing flood mitigation strategies. This initiative was highlighted as particularly important due to ongoing flooding issues and reduced federal support. Further agenda items included the authorization of grant applications for improvements to Upper Citizens Park and the rehabilitation of the pedestrian tunnel at the Ridgewood train station, with applications being submitted to both county and state historic preservation funds. The meeting concluded with the council voting to enter into a closed session to discuss legal matters concerning Valley Hospital tax appeals. The council members expressed enthusiasm for the various projects and initiatives discussed, particularly those focused on improving infrastructure and community services.

The Village of Ridgewood held a series of meetings on March 25th and 26th, 2026, encompassing a Public Workshop, a Special Public Meeting, and a Regular Council Meeting. Key discussions revolved around the upcoming property reassessment, the Shedler Field soil remediation project, and various village ordinances and improvements. The reassessment process was explained, emphasizing its revenue-neutral nature and the goal of bringing property values to fair market value. Residents raised concerns about how neighborhood changes and property features would be factored into valuations, with council members assuring transparency and explaining the reliance on historical sales data. The Shedler Field project was a significant focus, with the adoption of a bond ordinance to fund soil remediation. Public comments and council responses clarified that the bond ordinance and associated loan are strictly for soil remediation and cannot be used for park development. Concerns were also raised regarding communication strategies for upcoming meetings related to the Shedler Field project and the rationale behind berm removal. Other topics addressed included public notification on the village website, downtown improvements such as flower pots and trash cans, and train tunnel safety. Several ordinances were introduced and adopted, including those concerning blade signs, affordable housing, and the rescission and replacement of previous ordinances. Resolutions were approved for traffic engineering contracts, budget transfers, and field policy revisions. The council also discussed the purchase of diesel fuel and gasoline, a potential partnership for flood mitigation with NJIT, and the declaration of surplus police cars. The meetings demonstrated the council's engagement with both legally mandated actions and community concerns, with a commitment to transparency and addressing resident feedback.

The Paterson Municipal Council convened for a special virtual meeting on March 25, 2026. The meeting began with a roll call and the reading of the 48-hour notice. Several resolutions were presented and adopted. The first item authorized a contract for consulting services for a reuse study of the Ivanho Millhouse building. This was followed by the approval of a contract for a rear loader packer for the Department of Public Works. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a discussion and subsequent approval of a resolution appointing Cheryl Lynn Hajes to the rent leveling board, which involved a debate regarding the proper procedure for confirming resignations and appointments. The council also approved contracts for traffic sign materials and raffle licenses. A key agenda item was the authorization for the issuance of up to $70 million in tax anticipation notes to address the city's cash flow issues, stemming from the timing of state aid distribution versus municipal expenses. The administration explained that this was a necessary measure to ensure timely payment of obligations and that it was not indicative of fiscal mismanagement but rather a structural issue with state funding timelines. The meeting concluded with the closing of the public portion and the adjournment of the special meeting.