Village of Ridgewood

The council approved the bills, claims, and vouchers, along with the statement of funds on hand as of March 31st, 2026.

The village council minutes from January 28th, 2026, were approved after review.

Ordinance 4090, related to establishing a cap bank for calendar year 2026, was adopted on its second reading after a public hearing.

A public hearing was held for the 2026 municipal budget, which proposed a 3.98% increase. The adoption of the budget was deferred to May pending approval from the division of local government services.

Ordinance 4095, authorizing a $4 million bond for the construction of new treatment plants, was adopted on its first reading, with a public hearing scheduled for April 22nd, 2026.

Several resolutions related to Ridgewood Water were adopted by consent agenda, including a pilot test for granular activated carbon regeneration, a NJDOT agreement for utility engineering and construction, and guard rail installation.

Ordinance 4091, which amends ordinance 4020 to fix salaries for supervisory employees for 2026 and 2027, was adopted on its second reading.

Ordinance 4092 was adopted on its second reading after a public hearing.

Ordinance 4093, amending chapter 145 of the code to establish fees for cost recovery by the Office of Emergency Management for non-emergency assistance requests, was adopted on its second reading.

Ordinance 4094, extending and replacing ordinance 4087 to amend chapter 190 of the zoning code concerning blade signs, was adopted on its second reading.

A series of resolutions were adopted by consent agenda, including awarding contracts for basic life support services, fuel, an ambulance, and professional services, as well as authorizing property tax refunds, flood mitigation agreements, grant applications, and declaring property surplus.

An unnamed resident expressed disappointment that no council members attended the meeting about soil removal at Schedler Field, calling it insulting to residents.

D.L. found it confusing to hear proclamations about tree planting and pollinators while trees were being cut down at Schedler Field and questioned the hypocrisy, also noting concerns about PFOS chemicals in the water.

D.L. expressed concern about overspending and tax increases, suggesting a need to cut services and questioning spending on projects like the tunnel, train path, and garages. She also noted the lack of picnic tables in parks.

C.O. questioned the village's commitment to being green, citing the proposal for artificial turf which can create heat islands, and its proximity to private wells, while also mentioning water quality concerns.

B.D. inquired about the Valley Hospital tax appeal, specifically how the assessed value is accounted for in the budget and what happens if the hospital wins the appeal, expressing concern about the impact on taxpayers.

R.N. asked about the village's total debt, inquiring about the breakdown of debt service across different utilities and the general fund, and how it relates to the village's bond rating.

B.A. asked for the approximate number of village employees and a breakdown by department, as well as the number and type of village-owned vehicles, noting the number of vehicles seen at the recycling center.

B.A. inquired about the process for disposing of old village vehicles, asking if they are recycled or sold.

B.D. suggested that when council members speak to restaurants about reducing single-use plastics, they encourage the use of wooden or bamboo utensils instead of plastic, citing European practices.

S.W., as the shade tree liaison, explained that the proclamations are meant to inspire residents to plant trees on their own property. She clarified that trees removed at Schedler are due to hazardous conditions or remediation needs, and that the village plans to reforest the area. She also corrected the acreage of Schedler Field to seven acres.

E.W. responded to D.L.'s suggestion to cut services, inviting her to be specific about which services should be cut, and questioned whether to cut police, fire, paving, or sidewalks. He emphasized the difficulty of the budget process and the need for specific proposals.

P.P. mentioned that Green Ridgewood and the Green Team will be discussing the Daffodil Festival, Earth Day Fair, and the Saddle River Coalition. She also noted the new 'Skip the Stuff' law prohibiting eateries from handing out single-use plastic utensils and condiments, and that she and the Central Business District Advisory Committee will be informing restaurants about this law.

Mayor Vagianos confirmed with Mr. Wright that the Valley Hospital tax appeal involves an approximate tax payment of $5.3 to $5.4 million annually on a property valued at $181 million. He also confirmed that state law requires this assessed value to be included in the budget.

B.B. confirmed that the village was required by law to include the $5.3 million in the budget. He explained that state law does not allow the village to collect more than needed to operate and that the collected funds must be accounted for in expenditures, with most of the $5.3 million going to the school and county budgets.

E.W. stated that the village's debt load has remained consistently at the same dollar amount over the last several years, which contributes to their good bond rating. He also noted that they generally bond and retire approximately $7.5 million per year.

F.M. provided context on the increasing cost of fire trucks, noting that a single engine truck can cost $1.2 million and a ladder truck could cost $2.4 million, making it impossible to cut fire trucks despite their expense. He expressed pride in maintaining the village's safety while keeping the debt load consistent.

E.W. mentioned that the council has started planning capital expenditures years in advance, with discussions about vehicles like fire trucks being earmarked for future years if not purchased in the current year, indicating a more strategic long-term planning approach.

K. explained that the village has approximately 233 employees, with breakdowns for police and fire departments. He also noted that the village has about 150 seasonal employees in the summer. He clarified that the number of vehicles seen at the recycling center is primarily for DPW and that the village's self-performed solid waste and recycling pickup contributes to a larger fleet. He offered to provide a specific vehicle count.

E.W. stated that the council rigorously questions the need for new vehicles requested by directors, ensuring purchases are 'need to have' rather than 'nice to have.' He also noted that most vehicles have a lifespan of a decade or more and that the village has been careful about increasing permanent headcount due to the high cost of employee benefits.

P.P. mentioned that the 'Skip the Stuff' law, which prohibits eateries from handing out single-use plastic utensils and condiments, will be effective August 1st. She stated that she and the Central Business District Advisory Committee will be going door-to-door to inform restaurants about the new requirements.