Monday, January 9, 2012

The Village pulls through a very difficult year on its way to restoring long term financial sustainability

The Village pulls through a very difficult year on its way to restoring long term financial sustainability
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

(RIDGEWOOD-NJ) In the recent Ridgewood News article by Joseph Cramer ,"Ridgewood officials offer up resolutions for 2012"http://www.northjersey.com/topstories/ridgewood/136819473_Ridgewood_officials_offer_up_resolutions_for_2012.html  Village Manager Ken Gabbert mentioned a number of important initiatives that were accomplished in a 2011 which he called a "year of transition,"

Gabbert cited the implementation of the Unlimited Pre-Paid Parking (UP3) and the redeployment of school crossing guards to other village positions in the summer months as part of the revamping of the Villages finances. Gabbert also went on to say that "2011 was the first full year following the financial decisions of 2010. In 2011, we entered the year down 14 percent in total staff from a year earlier and working from a tighter budget than prior years."http://www.northjersey.com/topstories/ridgewood/136819473_Ridgewood_officials_offer_up_resolutions_for_2012.html

The year was marred by severe weather that put significant pressure of Village resources. Other dominant themes were the battle between the Urbanization types vs the Keep it a Village types and Incentive pay vs Union seniority battle at the Village Hall .The Village manager was in the hot seat most of the year creating a lot of controversy working on cleaning up the financial mess created over the last 15 years.

Despite heavy criticism from pro-union factions in town the council continues to push forward with the non-union staff incentive pay program that earned Ridgewood the New Jersey State Innovation in Government Honorable Mention Award . Its nice to be in the forefront of something again.

The renegotiation of police and fire department contracts have also come under heated criticism but in the long run it seems to put the Village back on the coarse of financial sustainability while not forcing further reductions in services or as an unintended consequence ringing up massive amounts of overtime.

The other novel initiate was the Water Pollution Control Facility acceptance program and the development of a sustainable energy program for the Village. Another notable accomplishment was the dam reconstruction at Habernickel though the skeptics still remain on the wisdom of buying the so called  ,"money pit" to begin with there is no debate the reconstructed damn added needed viability to the property .

The single largest event and accomplishment of the council was running the well organized and professional hearings on the Valley Hospital expansion . It reminded many residents of the old days when Village interests were always put ahead of personal agendas and the conclusion to deny The Valley Hospital's out sized  "Renewal" proposal seemed to most to be an obvious conclusion.

Obviously there is an enormous challenge in front of everyone to preserve the Village and make the needed capital investments . The council must continue to move forward on the path of long term incremental reform to financial sustainability .and avoid and wild eyed schemes or look socialize the risk on any private investments.

http://www.theridgewoodblog.net/2012/01/village-pulls-through-very-difficult.html

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Desperate Democrats look to blitz Scott Garrett with Former NY Giants linebacker Harry Carson in the 5th district

Desperate Democrats look to blitz Scott Garrett with Former NY Giants linebacker Harry Carson in the 5th district
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog

(RIDGEWOOD-NJ) Former New York Giants and Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson is said to be considering a run for Congress in New Jersey 5th congressional district against Representative Scott Garrett .

Carson recently told The Associated Press he hasn’t made a definitive decision yet but is thinking about it. Carson has never held public office,but has been talking to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about the idea of running.Carson currently lives in Franklin Lakes.

Carson spent his entire professional football career, from 1976 to 1988, with the NY Giants. Sources say that Carson could afford to finance his own campaign and obviously has name recognition.

http://www.theridgewoodblog.net/2012/01/desperate-democrats-look-to-blitz-scott.html