School board adopts budget after busing and staffing backlash
The Board of Education adopted its final 2026–27 budget after a hearing dominated by concerns over administrative staffing, communications spending, ITDC reductions, and converting courtesy busing to paid subscription service on a route parents called hazardous. Administration defended the budget’s assumptions, cost drivers, and safety determinations while board members sought more detail on staffing, facilities, and benefits.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — school board adopts budget after busing, officials answer residents on traffic, pfas,, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The Board of Education adopted its final 2026–27 budget after a hearing dominated by concerns over administrative staffing, communications spending, ITDC reductions, and converting courtesy busing to paid subscription service on a route parents called hazardous. Administration defended the budget’s assumptions, cost drivers, and safety determinations while board members sought more detail on staffing, facilities, and benefits.
The Board of Education adopted its final 2026–27 budget after a hearing dominated by concerns over administrative staffing, communications spending, ITDC reductions, and converting courtesy busing to paid subscription service on a route parents called hazardous. Administration defended the budget’s assumptions, cost drivers, and safety determinations while board members sought more detail on staffing, facilities, and benefits.
Officials answer residents on traffic, PFAS, parks, and parking
Residents raised a mix of concerns about traffic safety, PFAS treatment notices, snow enforcement, park access and amenities, and downtown parking outreach. Officials responded with updates on safety steps, treatment progress, accessibility issues, and how public meetings and rules are being handled.
Consent Agenda — Receipt of Suspensions and HIB Reports
The Board moved to the consent agenda portion of the meeting and considered an item described as the receipt of suspensions and harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) reports. A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent agenda item. The Board conducted a roll call vote and approved the item unanimously.
Board approved receipt of suspensions and HIB reports as part of the consent agenda.
Capital purchase: playground equipment purchase and installation at Kings Pond Park (Green Acres diversion requirement)
The Village Manager introduced a capital item for the Recreation Department: purchase and installation of children’s playground equipment at Kings Pond Park. He stated the Council was familiar with the matter and that it followed State House Commission approval in December and finalization of a diversion/disposal process under the New Jersey Green Acres program. He said that as part of the agreement, the Village was responsible for purchasing and installing a new children’s playground at Kings Pond. He stated capital funds were available from two accounts, including one from 2022 and additional money appropriated in the 20125 capital budget account (as transcribed). He identified the equipment as a Little Tikes Recreation playground structure to be installed at Kings Pond, with Great Lakes Recreation of Zeeland, Michigan as the vendor through a Sourcewell contract. He noted the vendor had recently installed the playground at Habernickle Park and that the Recreation Department was pleased with that work. He stated the total amount would not exceed “133,6712” (as transcribed). The transcript did not capture a formal motion/second/vote sequence on this item during this segment, but the item was presented as part of the agenda’s budget/capital items and discussed briefly with no recorded objections.
large dollar figure ($1,336,712)
Village Manager report (snow response; hydrants/sidewalks; recreation award; federal lead service line funds; rear-yard collection suspension; job fair; Super Science Saturday; upcoming meetings)
The Village Manager reiterated thanks to blue-collar staff and public safety personnel for storm response. He reported the Village recorded 20.7 inches from the most recent storm and that crews worked 20 straight hours, continuing with overnight work to clear piles in the central business district. He said the Village coordinated with code enforcement and the police department to keep intersections clear for students and pedestrians. He asked residents to ensure sidewalks are cleared and emphasized that property owners are responsible for clearing corners and access to crosswalk corners, even when snow piles are high. On behalf of the fire department, he asked residents to clear snow around fire hydrants, noting there are 700 hydrants in Ridgewood. He congratulated Parks and Recreation Director Nancy Boss on being named New Jersey Recreation Professional of the Year by the New Jersey Parks and Recreation Association, and described Ridgewood’s recreation programming as broad beyond sports. He announced that U.S. Senators Booker and Kim notified Ridgewood Water of a 1.5 million federal appropriation supplement for lead service line replacement, and said additional federal funds were also supporting PFAS and lead service line efforts (he stated the Village was “somewhere” at a total of 7 million in federal funds supplementing the effort). He thanked community members for the Ramadan iftar invitation at the YMCA and referenced the crescent lighting event. Operational announcements included that rear-yard garbage collection would remain suspended for another week due to the possibility of another significant storm, and residents should continue placing trash curbside. He announced a Parks and Recreation seasonal summer job fair on Monday, March 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall/community center for ages 16 and older, and “Super Science Saturday” on March 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Ridgewood High School. He listed upcoming Council meetings: March 4 work session, March 11 public meeting, March 25 work session, and March 30 work session, all beginning at 7:30 p.m.
large dollar figure ($1,500,000)
Mayor’s remarks highlighting 2025 accomplishments and recognitions
The Mayor delivered extended remarks reflecting on the prior year and expressing pride in Ridgewood’s accomplishments. The Mayor cited multiple recognitions: the Bergen Joint Insurance Fund gold safety award for 2025; a Niche magazine ranking of Ridgewood as the second best New Jersey suburb; a ranking as the 11th safest town in the country; a “bankanking rates.com” rating of best downtown; a 2011 magazine bronze award certification from Sustainable New Jersey; and stated Ridgewood is a “pretty nice place to live.” The Mayor thanked Council colleagues individually for their roles and described the Council as five different people rowing in the same direction. The Mayor also thanked Village staff for daily services (snow, garbage, permits, etc.). The Mayor listed financial and operational highlights: maintaining a AAA bond rating; a budget increase of 3.14; increasing ratables by 200 million over the past four years; increasing the budget surplus by 900,000 in 2025; and securing almost 4 million in grant funding for projects including new lighting at “Vetsfield,” PFAS remediation, a new bus station, Van Neste Square improvements, Citizens Park renovation, skate park equipment upgrades, and police and fire department upgrades. The Mayor said the Village limited health care cost increases by almost 1.5 million while maintaining quality. Major projects cited included: an agreement to acquire the Warner Theater; fundraising of almost a quarter million dollars in private donations through the Ridgewood Arts Foundation to hire architects/engineers/theater professionals; and plans to apply for a 7.5 million New Jersey Economic Development Authority grant to convert the theater into a regional performing arts center. The Mayor also cited final approval to build a park/field at the Shedler property after 17 years, with contaminated soil removal planned in spring and phased construction beginning sometime in summer. The Mayor credited a Councilmember for shepherding the project. Other highlights included: a grant of almost a quarter million dollars to convert the first floor of Village Hall into a senior center to triple senior programming; establishment of a Special Improvement District (SID) for the central business district; passage of an open space tax referendum averaging 37 per household per year; replacement of the Kingsbridge Lane bridge (closed since 2021); a new pavilion and ADA-compliant playground at Habernickle Park; installation of new lighting at Vetsfield described as brighter on the field and darker for surrounding homes; expanded pickleball courts at Glen School; a new roundabout near Ridgewood High School at Beverly Road; a long-overdue bus stop at Ridgewood High School; planting 200 trees; expanded Village communications (nearly 6,000 Facebook followers, 3,000 Instagram followers, and 3,000 Ridgewood app downloads); returning the police department and trash/recycling fleets to full strength; a styrofoam densifier shared with nine towns and recycling of six tons of styrofoam; recycling of 100 tons of food scraps in 2025; a new NJ Transit bus station and Van Nest bus stop; an e-bike ordinance; replacement of almost two miles of underground water lines; final approval for a PFAS treatment facility; fire department call volumes (2,700 fire calls, almost 2,500 inspections, and 3,300 ambulance calls); library usage (200,000 visits and almost 500,000 web visits); and a community food drive organized during a lapse in SNAP benefits. The Mayor concluded by thanking residents for trust, encouraging respectful discussion over confrontation, and again thanking Council colleagues for their work.
land/acquisition
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Ridgewood had 165 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEOfficials field questions on Shedler, water, and parking. Residents pressed officials about Shedler remediation funding, holiday scheduling, Hawthorne water purchases, field-lighting rules, and Village Hall parking constraints. Staff clarified funding sources, remediation planning, water compliance, and possible parking adjustments.
- GOVERNANCERidgewood Water presentation: contracts, change orders, corrections, and salary scale correction; grant announcement. Ridgewood Water Director Richard C. announced a $1.53 million congressional direct spending grant for lead abatement and presented multiple water-utility items including SCADA software, soil testing/disposal, supplies, backfill stone, a geotechnical option change order, a raw water main project change order, a correction to a prior Water Smart/Veritex resolution, and a salary scale correction for an assistant recycling supervisor.
- GOVERNANCEShedler remediation and park approvals move forward. The council advanced the Shedler project on several fronts: bonding and emergency funding for soil remediation, grant applications, professional remediation and historic-preservation work, and acceptance of NJDEP’s conditional park authorization. Public comments and staff updates focused on how cleanup is financed, whether conditions are being met, and how residents are being informed.
- GOVERNANCEGreen Acres and Warner actions stir public debate. Council endorsed a parkland disposal application tied to Green Acres compliance while also supporting Warner Theater financing actions. Residents later challenged the village’s account of replacement-land efforts and weighed in on whether taking financial risk for the theater is worthwhile.
- GOVERNANCEWarner Theater acquisition financing takes shape. Council and bond counsel laid out a multi-step plan for the village’s role in acquiring the Warner Theater, including a nonrefundable option payment and a larger purchase appropriation held in escrow. Public discussion centered on debt exposure, the Arts Foundation’s role, and what happens if outside financing does not materialize.
- GOVERNANCESecond reading and public hearing: Bond ordinance for parking utility improvements ($1,372,000 appropriation; $1,300,000 bonds/notes). The Council held the public hearing and adopted Ordinance 4055 on second reading, appropriating $1,372,000 for various parking utility improvements and authorizing $1,300,000 in bonds/notes, including replacement of parking kiosks and work with Walker Consultants.
- GOVERNANCEPFAS treatment expansion drives new water borrowing. Ridgewood Water continued expanding its PFAS treatment program through supplemental bond ordinances, financing resolutions, utility contracts, a carbon-reactivation pilot, and closeout of related construction work. Officials said added borrowing is needed to cover project shortfalls, loan requirements, and the next phase of new treatment plants.
- GOVERNANCEResidents press council on affordable housing and neighborhood issues. Public comments focused heavily on affordable housing litigation and process, especially the Kensington matter, while also touching on pedestrian safety, noise enforcement, Twinney Pond, and development communication. Staff responded with updates on restoration efforts, ordinance access, and the broader housing process.
- GOVERNANCESecond reading and adoption: replace Ordinance 4087 and amend zoning code sign provisions (blade signs). The Council held a public hearing and adopted Ordinance 4094, which rescinds and replaces Ordinance 4087 and amends Chapter 190 zoning code sign provisions, including section 190-122 and section 190-12H10 regarding blade signs. No public comments were recorded; the ordinance passed unanimously.
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