Village of Ridgewood

Discussion focused on the maintenance needs of village buildings, particularly Village Hall, highlighting HVAC issues and potential capital requests for replacement. The need for upgrades to utilities in the community center area was also discussed.

This agenda item covered adjustments to salaries and wages for traffic signal technicians, recognizing their work above and beyond call of duty. Operating expenses were reviewed, including a reduction in inspection services and a slight increase in signs and sign supplies due to demand. Training costs for traffic signal certifications were also discussed.

The budget for the water pollution control facility was presented, with discussions on salaries and wages, including overtime, and other expenses. The facility's 24-hour operation and the variability of overtime needs were highlighted. Capital requests for a hydro sewer truck and root control were also reviewed.

This section covered the budget for the fleet and streets division, noting a decrease in expenses due to newer vehicles and lower fuel/tire prices. Discussions also included the need for a new street sweeper and a replacement lift for the garage. The importance of regular street sweeping for D permits was emphasized.

The budget for yard waste recycling was presented, showing a reduction in full-time salaries due to staffing changes and an increase in part-time salaries to supplement seasonal needs. Other expenses were reviewed, with a focus on restorative adjustments.

The engineering division's budget was discussed, including adjustments to salaries and wages due to retirement and the addition of a new engineer. A credit in salaries and wages was noted, offsetting capital outlay for engineering projects. Overtime and uncompensated time (termination pay) were also discussed.

The council discussed an increase in materials and supplies, noting that the requested budget of $40,000 is an adjustment based on actual spending of over $43,000 last year, and also reflects a $24,000 reduction in that line item last year.

The council discussed the Municipal Services Act, which requires the municipality to reimburse condo associations for certain costs like snow removal and street lighting. It was clarified that garbage collection is not a reimbursable expense.

The council discussed capital requests for a crane service truck ($38,000) and a street sweeper ($336,000). The crane service truck is to be replaced by a lift at a cost of $47,800. The current street sweeper, a 2014 model, is in disrepair and requires replacement.

Concerns were raised about overtime and uncompensated time in the engineering department. Uncompensated time was explained as termination pay for sick leave and vacation time for long-term employees, with payouts capped by state law going forward.

The utilities budget was presented as slightly down, with potential for reducing petrol costs. Final bills from 2025 are pending, which may increase costs, and caution was advised regarding gasoline price increases.

The Emergency Management Agency (EMA) budget was reviewed, with salaries and wages remaining flat. Other expenses included a discussion about printing and mailing the OEM handbook to residents, which is considered a 'want, not a need'.

The cost and distribution of the OEM handbook were discussed. While the handbook is available online, a proposal to print and mail it to all 8,000 households for $11,000 was considered. Ideas for a promotional campaign to increase awareness were also discussed.

Line items 029 and 030 in the OEM budget were identified as restorative cuts, aiming to restore funding levels from the previous year. Line item 030, which was zeroed out last year, is crucial for purchasing equipment and supplies.

The miscellaneous line item (098) in the OEM budget, used for emergency provisions, was noted to be over budget for the year due to recent storm-related expenses for feeding public works and safety personnel.

A capital budget of $120,000 was slated for the EOC. A proposal from the architect was presented, outlining the renovation to create one large, secure, multi-purpose room and additional office space, including technology upgrades.

The capital budget is a work in progress. The second round of bids for the Schedler project soil remediation will be opened, and department heads will meet to refine capital appropriation requests. A full capital budget recommendation is expected by February 9th.

Debt service is up over 10% this year due to two sales in 2025: one for bonds whose debt service began this year, and one for notes totaling approximately $25 million.

Shared services agreements were reviewed, detailing amounts received ($336,000) and paid out. Major payouts include consolidated dispatch ($800,000), Municipal Court to Glen Rock ($57,000), Northwest Bergen Utilities Authority ($28,000), and SE Valley Sewer Commission ($89,000).

Health insurance costs are a significant impact on the budget. Without the Difference Card, the village would have seen a $3 million increase. With 178 employees moving to the high deductible plan with the Difference Card, the increase was reduced to $1.1 million, including a $162,000 administration fee.

Retiree premiums saw a 32.1% increase, which could not be affected during open enrollment. The Difference Card does not apply to retirees, contributing to this significant rise.

Other insurance costs are up approximately 5% over last year, primarily due to a 7% increase in the Joint Insurance Fund, bringing the total to $1,230,000.

Workers' compensation insurance is slightly down by about 7% from last year.

There is a net increase of three part-time positions, primarily for the community center as part of an agreement with Rich Crest. The council emphasized the need to justify new hires and explore part-time options to mitigate healthcare costs.

Activity for trust funds from 12/31/24 to 12/31/25 was reviewed. Funds like Recycling Trust, Storm Recovery, and Terminal Leave may impact the budget. The Storm Recovery fund is being depleted by current expenses.

The affordable housing trust fund has a healthy surplus, and some professional services will be billed to it instead of the current fund, requiring a budget adjustment.

The recycling trust fund is down by approximately $30,000 from the end of 2024, requiring prudent allocation of these funds.

The open space trust fund is projected to effectively double next year if no funds are allocated, increasing to close to $9 million.

Municipal court fines, specifically those from DWI offenses, were briefly mentioned.

The introduction of the 2026 budget is planned for February 11th, following a meeting on February 9th to discuss final capital budget recommendations, revenues, surplus, and the overall tax rate.

C.J. reported a recurring basement drainage issue caused by backflow from the city sewer system, stating an inspector identified the city sewer system as the cause. He mentioned speaking with the engineering team and Peter, who suggested it would be discussed in the budget meeting.

Keith Camarck, the village manager, offered to provide contact numbers for Jinu to discuss the drainage issue further. He stated he would speak with engineering and the water pollution control facility to revisit the issue and explore solutions.

Mayor Paul Vagianos arrived at the meeting and apologized for his delay, explaining the budget hearing schedule was shifted due to a previous snowstorm.

Pamela Perron expressed strong support for the Signal division, highlighting their excellent work, professionalism, and helpfulness in various town events and initiatives. She emphasized how lucky the public is to have such a capable department.

Keith Camarck acknowledged the council's positive sentiment towards the Signal division, noting their cost savings and ability to fix anything.

Evan requested more detail on the chemicals budget if it remains at the higher dollar amount, as the provided sheet lacked sufficient detail for such a significant expenditure.

Bob commented that if the water pollution control facility is not maintained this year, they will likely need to request capital funds later, as repairs are not cheap.

Evan stated that while safety and conservatism are important, the budget ultimately affects what residents pay, necessitating hard questions and detailed information to ensure prudent spending.

Evan expressed surprise and delight at the projected decrease in the fleet and streets division budget, calling it 'hitting it out of the park' and suggesting Mike's performance warranted a gold star.

Mayor Paul Vagianos joked that Evan was so happy with the budget reduction that he might want to put Evan's face on one of the trucks.

Mayor Paul Vagianos asked for clarification on how the savings were achieved in the yard waste budget, questioning the reduction in full-time staff while the total budget increased.

Mayor Paul Vagianos asked Mike to focus on the D requirements related to the street sweeper replacement.

Mayor Paul Vagianos focused on the overtime and uncompensated time in the engineering budget, asking for an explanation.

Mayor Paul Vagianos clarified that the uncompensated time payout was due to long-term employees leaving before the $15,000 cap was instituted, and that future payouts would be capped.