STATE OF THE VILLAGE 

Mayor Paul Vagianos

‍2024 was another very good year for our Village.

There were many accomplishments and achievements that made it sparkle just a little bit brighter.  

With your indulgence, I'll go over some of the highlights of 2024. As I did last year, let me begin by saying how fortunate we are to have a Council that is as dedicated, hardworking and just plain smart as the one sitting before you tonight. They only do it for one reason - for love of this wonderful place we all call home.

The accomplishments of this Village rest upon the foundation created by this Village Council. 

Pam - steady, smart, environmentally conscious and, most importantly, detail oriented in a way I could never be.

Evan - insightful, no nonsense, and as careful with your money as he is with his own.

Siobhan - still the hardest-working member of this Council, whose problem-solving approach to our work has been invaluable.

And while Lorraine has stepped down from the Council, she is a part of every milestone achieved in 2024.

Then there's that new guy, Frank, who in just a short time has shown himself to be as detail oriented as Pam, as hardworking as Siobhan and as insightful as Evan. I think he's gonna work out just fine.

We are five completely different people all with the same goal - making this Village a great place to live.

But the success of this Council is working with great people. And here in Ridgewood, we have the best. It is through the tireless efforts of our incredible staff, who are always ready to go the extra mile for the people who live here, that the dreams of this Council are turned into reality. For the vast majority of them, it’s not a job, it's a mission. And we should all be grateful to them for making our Village as wonderful as it is. 

Now, let's take a look at some of the accomplishments the Council and staff have achieved in 2024.

‍FLOODING

Let's start with flooding, which, in the last few years as we all know, has become a much larger problem, with flooding events increasing in both severity and frequency. And while even one flood in your home is too much, many families in the Village have experienced repeated flooding in their homes. But with the assistance of our congressman, Josh Gottheimer, the Village has engaged the United States Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study and propose long-term solutions to this issue.

Let’s be clear, they’re referred to as long-term solutions for a reason - safeguarding our homes and infrastructure from the ever-worsening flooding that has plagued us can't happen overnight. But this is where we begin.

In the meantime, we’ve started a Residential Flood Advisory Committee comprised of residents who have been adversely affected by flooding.

And there are actions we can take in the short term. Most recently, we hired a company to hydro-jet the stormwater system on Hope and Gilbert Streets, which have been plagued by severe flooding during heavy storms. They removed an incredible amount of roots, rubble and silt that had been clogging the system for years. The removal of this debris will have a significant impact on flooding in that area. And hydro-jetting of our stormwater system in problem areas will continue in the spring.

Additionally, the Village is working to remove any downed trees and other obstructions in our above-ground waterways that can make the situation worse.

Most significantly, behind the environmental leadership of Deputy Mayor Pam Perron and our Green Ridgewood committee, we’ve passed what may be the strongest stormwater management ordinance in the state. Special thanks to Joan Hubertus and David Refkin for their guidance and hard work on this project.

‍'OLD BUSINESS'

‍Let's move on to, what I will call, “old business" - those matters that have been hanging around for years that should've been taken care of long ago.

• First on our hit parade is the Kingsbridge Lane Pedestrian Bridge, which has been closed since 2021, awaiting structural repairs. Well, it's not waiting any longer. Back in October a very large crane took it away for long-awaited repairs. We anticipate they will be bringing it back sometime this spring - all shiny and new.
• Next up, the Town Garage (pictured), which has been sitting dormant - and not very attractive - in our beloved downtown since about 2007. This past October the Village took ownership of the property, and a couple of weeks ago the building was demolished. We’ve begun remediation of the site - at the expense of the prior owner - which will be followed by two years of required environmental testing.
• And while we’re on the subject of demolishing stuff, we also knocked down the barn at Habernickel Park, which was in such poor condition it should've been razed years ago.
• The bus station on Oak Street has been in disrepair for so long that it has become structurally unsound and has been locked for years. In the coming weeks this will also come down and will be replaced. Eventually, we will look at the possibility of moving it to the train station to create a transit hub to better serve our community.
• The Pease Library, the train station concession stand and the former taxi stand on Broad Street are Village assets that have been vacant for several years. No, we're not going to demolish them. Instead, we leased them all out, bringing revenue into the Village and to our library. Both the taxi stand and Pease Library have been renovated by the new tenants. And the train station concession stand was brought back online by Boxcar, providing a valuable service to our residents who commute.

‍LOCAL GEMS

‍Next up, The View is one of Ridgewood’s local gems. With incredible views of New York City, it's an attraction to both residents and neighbors from surrounding communities.  

Unfortunately, through the years it had become an attractive nuisance for the neighbors, both above and below The View. So in 2024, working with area residents, we signifcantly increased the frequency of police patrols and enforcement of parking ordinances in the area. We also created a buffer zone with plantings to protect the residents at the bottom of the hill from any flying debris without detracting from the splendor of the lookout at the top.

While this will require continued vigilance by our Police Department and maintenance by our Parks Department going forward, we are committed to working with area residents to keep this precious local landmark beautiful, safe and clean.

And working with American Legion Post 53, we dedicated the Gold Star Families Monument (pictured) in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square this past September. In case you are unaware, a Gold Star family is one that has lost a family member serving in our armed forces. We are forever grateful to American Legion Post 53 for their work on this project; to Tess Giuliani and Lynne Brady for their timeless design; to former American Legion Commander Bob Paoli and current Commander Lou Francis for their leadership and dedication to this effort; and most of all, to those families who sacrificed a loved one defending our great nation.

If you haven’t seen the monument, please stop by. It is moving, memorable and reminds us all of what some families have sacrificed for the freedom we enjoy every day.

‍MOVING FORWARD

‍Moving forward, I am particularly proud of the partnership being forged with the Board of Education. It began with providing full-time special police officers in the high school and both middle schools. In addition to enhancing security, these officers are a welcome addition to our schools that allow our students to build important relationships with them in a non-confrontational setting. The benefits of these relationships show themselves during each school day and will endure long after our students have graduated. I look forward to working closely with the Board of Education on many projects in the future that benefit both our community and our taxpayers.

Speaking of which, with the help of the Board of Education, we’re putting in new lighting at Vets Field that will use less energy and have less “spillage” of light onto neighboring properties. I want to take a moment to again thank the County, the Board of Education and our local sports organizations that helped make this project a reality. We asked for their help and they all came through. When we work together like this, there’s nothing we can’t get done.

Next, Ridgewood Water, under the leadership of Director Rich Calbi, was recognized as a leader in the industry by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for its work on water conservation and PFAS initiatives. In 2024 it was the first water company in the state of New Jersey to receive the NJDEP's award entitled “Our Water's Worth It."

Our aging water infrastructure has been neglected for so long it probably should have been included in the “old business” section of this discussion. But that’s all changing. Ridgewood Water is in the midst of upgrading this aging system with a new pumping station to ensure that the boil water advisories of last summer do not recur. And, in this past year alone, Ridgewood Water has installed and replaced more than 3.5 miles of new water mains and begun construction on four new PFAS Treatment Facilities (pictured). When our seven-year PFAS remediation project is finished at the end of next year, Ridgewood Water will begin its long overdue systemwide upgrade, currently in the planning stages, to begin in 2027.

And in our beautiful Central Business District we have begun the process of helping our local downtown shopping area evolve in this ever-expanding Amazon economy. First, Pam Perron is leading the effort to start something called a business improvement district. This will provide our downtown with additional funding to better compete and thrive. At no cost to taxpayers.

We also changed our CBD zoning ordinance to make it significantly easier for businesses to open in town. That zoning ordinance also allows for different types of businesses to open that Amazon and the Internet can’t compete with, like microbreweries and other gathering places where people can just go and have fun. 

It’s gonna be a better CBD when we're done with it.

‍LOT'S OF OTHER STUFF

‍Here’s just a smidgen of some of the things we did in 2024.

• We built new sidewalks on East Glen and Clinton Avenues, for a safer walk to school.
  
• We expanded senior programs in town so that Ridgewood isn't just a great place to raise your kids. It’s also a great place to live once your children have grown.
• We expanded recycling programs for styrofoam, vegetable oil and shredding. These expanded programs are a win-win for our community by protecting the environment and saving our taxpayers money.
• We entered into an agreement with Mahwah to operate their health department. Shared services programs with other towns like this save our taxpayers even more money. Going forward, shared services with other communities and the Board of Education is the future of cost savings in the Village.
• With all this going on, our Parks Department planted more than 300 trees in the Village in 2024.
• Here’s one of my personal favorites: Our amazing Ridgewood Public Library serviced 15,000 to 20,000 visitors per month in 2024.
• Our Fire Department provided CPR and defibrillator training to dozens of our staff and residents.
• In recognition of our residents who served in the military, we expanded our CBD veterans banner program. Check it out to see if you recognize any of your friends and neighbors on the lightposts downtown. Special thanks to Joan Monton, who made sure we got it done.
• In 2024 we also introduced the “My Ridgewood” app (pictured) so we can all navigate Village services easily right from our phone.
• The Village expanded the reverse 911 notification program to include an additional 3,400 residents.
  

And we did all of this and more while maintaining our AAA bond rating and a tax increase of just 2.74%, which was well below the rate of inflation.

The list goes on and on and on. As I said, it was a very good year for the Village.

‍ON THE HORIZON

‍Let’s take a moment to look ahead at what’s on the horizon in 2025.

• We’re building a new pavillion at Habernickel Park (pictured) that'll provide much-needed shelter for the young athletes and families that enjoy the park. 
•  In 2025 Ridgewood Water will break ground on the last four PFAS Treatment Facilities, all of which will be completed by the end of next year. When these facilities are up and running, we will have reduced PFAS in our water to undetectable levels. Undetectable. And this will all be done before 46 other states - and much of New Jersey - have even begun to comply with the new stricter federal regulations to reduce PFAS levels in our water supply. Bear in mind PFAS is not a Ridgewood Water problem; it’s a worldwide problem affecting every inhabited continent on the planet. We’re way ahead of the curve on this one.
• Schedler Park - This property was purchased by the Village in 2009 and has been at a standstill for more than 15 years. Another project that could fall into the “old business” category that should’ve been completed years ago. In 2025 we will ensure that the property complies with all NJDEP standards and we will build the park that our Village needs, deserves and has been waiting for, for far too long.
• The Warner Theater - This was a tough one. It was heart-wrenching to see it go. But with every end there’s a new beginning. And the dream of many in our community is to give our theater new life by turning it into a performing arts center. Let me be clear. This is, by no means, a done deal. It will take the entire community, holding hands together, to make this dream come true. And while it won’t be easy, I believe it can be done. We’ve already started on this path, and I hope to bring you more news on this front in 2025. Stay tuned as we begin to walk down this road together. 
  

Finally, there is something that I believe is more important to all of us than everything I have discussed thus far. During the last couple of years, we've worked very hard to change how we speak to one another at Village Council meetings. So that we focus on the issues that affect us, not the people who discuss them. And that we speak to each other with the respect that recognizes that we are all neighbors in the same community. 

In the past, the tendency for many was to launch personal attacks on those who've disagreed with us. But in the Council chambers we've made tremendous strides in speaking to each other in a respectful way when we disagree. I personally applaud everyone who no longer engages in personal attacks. Who passionately promote and defend the positions you take on the issues that come before us. Who care enough about our Village to engage with us. We need you here. Our community needs you here. And we are all grateful for the change in tone. Let's face it, we can get more done when we aren't fighting with each other.

At the same time, however, these personal attacks continue outside the Council chambers on a handful of social media sites and in other incredibly frightening ways. Most recently, one individual attacked a candidate for Council by trying to get him fired from his teaching position at an Ivy League university. It seems inconceivable, doesn’t it? But it isn't the first time this has happened. These personal attacks have become the norm. They’ve gone mainstream.

The thinking goes something like this: If we can’t change someone's mind on an issue, we will make it so difficult and so painful for those who disagree with us that we will keep them - and others like them - from speaking out. It is designed to stifle dissent, discussion and the free flow of ideas. And it works.

At our last Council meeting it was suggested that the reason we had so few candidates running for Village Council and the Board of Education was the cost of engaging in an election campaign. And, in an interesting way, that suggestion was correct. But it's not the financial cost that keeps people from running for local public office. It’s the personal cost.

Through the years I've spoken to many people about running for Council. Most of whom say, “Why would I ever subject myself and my family to that kind of abuse?” The vast majority of people cannot afford to be confronted with these kinds of personal attacks. The kind where their character, their careers and even their children are attacked and placed in jeopardy. The cost is just too high.

Friends, what are we doing here?! Is this really what we consider to be acceptable? This Council won’t tolerate it in the Council chambers and this Village shouldn’t tolerate it in this community.

Going forward, I'm asking that we all stick to the issues when going online and stay away from these kinds of personal attacks. And for anyone reading such personal attacks online, let those who continue to engage in them know that this is no longer acceptable in our town.

This is how we end this. This is how we stop the personal attacks. This is how we engage more people in making this Village the best it can be. This is how we move forward. Let's always make it about the issues, not the people.

I want to thank our community for placing their faith and trust in us by re-electing Pam and me to Council and for electing Frank this past November.

I know I speak for Evan, Siobhan, Pam and Frank when I say that we will work very hard for our community every single day.

Thank you so much.

Paul Vagianos

Village Mayor‍

‍www.ridgewoodnj.net

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