[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6063598,"mediaKeyId","3267792-eeefa8b83c5175bd6e251dec18c370c8","parentId",3267792,"title","Neighbors press Ridgewood council over Schedler park turf plan, PFAS and tree removals","audioSeconds",4514,"startMs",2522000,"endMs",7036000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3267792-eeefa8b83c5175bd6e251dec18c370c8&start=2522&end=7036","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3267792-eeefa8b83c5175bd6e251dec18c370c8/thumbnail_2522000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6063598/Ridgewood/Bergen-County/New-Jersey/Neighbors-press-Ridgewood-council-over-Schedler-park-turf-plan-PFAS-and-tree-removals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063598-19b5d98db6410b2ceaf43904c0024a29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138584&Signature=Cf-pZB4~eyf~IjTL~jTgGmcegr9BJ6JZ0odyRzi~SCw9IWtdFHxCDPGuMbzXKrKVIeJvQWd9xjRRvgarPP8JOOdbFHciN8yzOssm0dbeLaAO9RDqa7xli8yEJotcVtoNJUh-BUxeX3qTKinvoQ4zc8YB35jlYAg5Th68WvaPlhqE41gwQeuDgQWUNGIpJYVNXiibaKfnDLB6W2M3fUAj3CxEuFZyS7ojF3PDj1LpMcKrKOTuxYjlmzIvGbrm3FOTJNWstrvC~XroXUtN76RxgfRUShpsguKlqtush-hVn~aCBsOQnGOGUvuJ~AgHMOkGaJV0xV~eV1HTfeQty-zSpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Village of Ridgewood","date","2025-04-10T14:53:29Z","article","Residents of the Schedler neighborhood and other commentators used the village’s public-comment period on April 9 to press elected officials over plans for the Schedler property, artificial turf and soil contamination. Speakers urged the council to reconsider plans for turf fields, raised concerns about PFAS and microplastics, and criticized tree removals and community outreach; village leaders and the manager responded with clarifications about remediation, PFAS treatment easements and planned tree plantings.

Why it matters: The Schedler property has been the subject of long-running debate in Ridgewood. The council is preparing capital funding and remediation work for the site, and several residents say potential artificial turf would add PFAS and microplastic risks near private wells. Officials say the village must remediate contaminated soils and that the property’s reuse as a park is intended to bring more public access and preserve the rehabilitated Schedler house.

Resident concerns and examples

Cynthia O’Keefe, a Ridgewood resident who spoke during public comment, criticized the council and staff for issuing proclamations while pursuing the Schedler plan. “It’s very hypocritical to me,” she said, tying the village proclamations about clean water and trees to the Schedler choices. O’Keefe and others warned about PFAS-related health risks and microplastics from turf infill; she said private wells near the property increase neighborhood vulnerability.

Anne Loving, another resident, also urged a change of course: “Please, I implore you, change your minds on the artificial turf,” she said, arguing scientific understanding and community preferences had evolved.

Council and staff responses

Village Manager Keith Kazmark pushed back on the charge of hypocrisy and said the council’s direction was to develop the site as a park, not commercial development. “The investment that I’ve been directed to guide here… is to develop a park on that property. A park. Not a strip mall, not a gas station, not a billboard,” Kazmark said, describing the council’s intent to remediate the site and restore public use. He also emphasized the village’s PFAS treatment investment, saying the consent order with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requires treatment facilities and that the village is building the necessary plants to deliver PFAS-free water to customers over time.

Manager Kazmark and Ridgewood Water Director Rich Kalbi also described the technical work tied to PFAS: Kalbi noted that multiple PFAS treatment plants are under construction, that the utility has secured principal forgiveness and favorable loan terms for some projects, and that additional facilities will come online in 2025. Kazmark said the easement the village seeks on the property is for underground infrastructure required by the PFAS program and, he said, “will not have any impact on flooding” because the work is underground.

Council members also noted other investments intended to offset impacts: members pointed to a village program to plant more than 200 street trees this year, and annual allocations for tree replacement and improvements in the Central Business District. Council members said the village had removed community gardens on the Schedler site and that the main disagreement where neighbors differ from some advocates remains turf versus natural grass and the size of the playing field.

Clarifying details from the meeting

- Schedler soil remediation: the capital package presented to council includes a $1,500,000 estimate for soil remediation at the Schedler property based on an engineering report; staff described this as an estimate and subject to change after further testing and work planning.
- PFAS treatment: staff said the village has planned roughly $150 million (previously allocated) toward PFAS treatment plants across Ridgewood Water’s system, with several plants under construction and more contracts to be awarded in 2025.
- Easement for PFAS work: the council described the easement sought on the Schedler property as an underground utility easement for pipelines and equipment tied to PFAS treatment that would be covered after installation.
- Trees: council members and the Shade Tree Commission reported a village program to plant 200+ trees in residential areas in 2025 and ongoing CBD plantings; council members said some on-site trees at Schedler are invasive Norway maple and removal was anticipated in prior plans.

What residents asked for and next steps

Speakers asked the council to drop artificial turf and to hold more inclusive outreach. Several residents asked the council to hold committee meetings at the Schedler House so more people can inspect the building and the site; the mayor and manager said staff will arrange hybrid meeting support and that the fields committee will hold an in-person meeting at the house with a Zoom option.

Ending: The Schedler debate remains unresolved. The council voted to proceed with the budget and bond items that include remediation funding; public and committee meetings are planned in the coming weeks where details of design, field size and surface material will be discussed further.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","20250409 - Village Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Residents raised sharp objections at public comment about plans for artificial turf and tree removals at the Schedler property and the council and manager replied with details about remediation, easements for PFAS treatment and tree-planting commitments.","taxTitle","Ridgewood, Bergen County, New Jersey","taxId",56894,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063603,"Ridgewood council introduces 2025 budget, funds PFAS treatment and Schedler remediation",2007,5068000,7075000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3267792-eeefa8b83c5175bd6e251dec18c370c8&start=5068&end=7075","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3267792-eeefa8b83c5175bd6e251dec18c370c8/thumbnail_5068000.jpg","/articles/6063603/Ridgewood/Bergen-County/New-Jersey/Ridgewood-council-introduces-2025-budget-funds-PFAS-treatment-and-Schedler-remediation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063603-6fd09c85b60bbb7afd404849cbd72376/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138583&Signature=GU7R~8JFtOfNqOgbyO6GNDMvhWibD5-hyneBCT4tg~GHORJPfiKnQ9aq2UJ8Cja6QP9FGsmpRo2G-wcm-lswJ8mvSwxNRgyrRSm9HthYhFD4tiCgu~3T3zD9dagA1y-exDZ4vtup-BDX4WaLdcqFNUj11UXm7NsVdNntivRN5S8gVCOoe0IkgiZLtAwKF5IKUZ8Ks2RDdEQQzVl-27v11L0pXvSjgMSChWgDhXMWkiz5NRj3F51Ickn1raGOX8lOC2W3zQWWpHhKZqtzEjoe0NvTqbPrMOQuRhPAENc84MrpUR1sC1xT9Zj--OXPmtWGEBRLza4~8edZNxSdQxGYEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Village Council of Ridgewood on April 9 introduced the 2025 municipal budget and approved multiple bond and water ordinances to fund infrastructure and public-safety projects, including continued work on PFAS treatment across the Ridgewood Water service area and a $1.5 million soil remediation allocation for the Schedler property. The council set a public hearing on the budget for May 14.

The municipal budget packet presented by Village Manager Keith Kazmark and Finance Director Bob Bruney showed total general appropriations of $64,770,957 and an amount to be raised by taxation of $45,189,633. The manager said the proposal is “affordable” and asked the council to set May 14 as the final public hearing and adoption date. The proposal would raise the municipal portion of property taxes by 3.14%; the presentation showed the average Ridgewood home would pay about $149.63 more annually (about $12.47 per month) under the proposed numbers.

Why it matters: the budget funds a multi-year capital program and several large water-treatment projects. Ridgewood Water is mid-buildout on a PFAS removal program that the council and utility described as a multi-million-dollar investment. The administration said the village will continue to fund road paving, tree plantings, police and fire equipment replacements, and library and park upgrades while meeting debt service targets that helped preserve the village’s Standard & Poor’s rating.

Key numbers and projects highlighted by staff include:
- Total general appropriations: $64,770,957; amount to be raised by taxation: $45,189,633.
- The village plans continued construction of PFAS treatment facilities for Ridgewood Water; staff said additional PFAS facilities and connection work remain on the schedule and that six more treatment contracts are expected to be active by the end of 2025.
- A $1,500,000 line in the bond package for soil remediation at the Schedler property, described by staff as an engineering estimate tied to removal of the berm and grid-sampling–determined contaminated soils.
- Capital allocations for road paving, a firefighter equipment rotation program, sinking-fund contributions for a new fire engine ($350,000 set aside this year), library ADA restroom upgrades, pedestrian-tunnel work, and additional pedestrian-activated crosswalks.

Rich Kalbi, director of Ridgewood Water, summarized the utility work during the presentation: “We secured construction contracts for another 6 PFAS treatment facilities, and they'll be active by the end of 2025.” Kalbi and manager Kazmark also outlined lead-service-line replacement plans and said the utility is pursuing principal forgiveness and other loan subsidies for treatment work.

On financing, Finance Director Bob Bruney explained the budget accounts for union contract increases, higher pension and health-benefit bills from the state, and a modest debt-service reduction tied to recent debt management. Bruney told the council the proposed 2025 budget was under the municipal tax levy cap by approximately $1,200,000 and under the appropriation cap by $5,000.

Council action and ordinances: the council took multiple votes at the meeting, including second-reading adoptions and initial readings tied to the budget package and water projects. Notable actions that passed included:
- Introduction/first reading of Ordinance 4046 (calendar year 2025 budget cap bank / NJSA 40A:4-45.14); hearing set for May 14, 2025 (motion adopted by roll call).
- Adoption on second reading of Ordinance 4039, a bond ordinance for water utility improvements (appropriation $4,992,000; bonds/notes $4,742,000) (motion adopted by roll call).
- Adoption on second reading of Ordinances 4037 and 4038 (fees/code and water piping system compliance/right of access) (motions adopted by roll call).
- Adoption on second reading of the main capital bond ordinance (Ordinance 4045) funding general capital items including paving, equipment and smaller projects (motion adopted by roll call).
- Several resolutions awarding contracts for water-utility emergency work, SCADA updates at the water pollution control facility, and other capital procurements were adopted by consent vote.

Votes at a glance (council roll-call recorded votes at the meeting):
- Ordinance 4046 (budget introduction / NJSA 40A:4-45.14): introduced and hearing set for 05/14/2025. Roll-call: Mortimer, Perrin, Weitz, Winograd, Vazianos — all recorded “Yes.”
- Ordinance 4039 (water bond ordinance): adopted on second reading. Roll-call: Mortimer, Perrin, Weitz, Winograd, Vazianos — all recorded “Yes.”
- Ordinance 4045 (general capital bond ordinance): adopted on second reading. Roll-call: Mortimer, Perrin, Weitz, Winograd, Vazianos — all recorded “Yes.”
(Additional ordinances and resolutions listed in the meeting record were adopted by similar roll-call votes; full minutes and ordinance text will be posted with the official meeting record.)

Administration notes and next steps: Kazmark said the budget and supporting materials will be posted the day after introduction and that staff will return May 14 for the formal hearing and adoption. Ridgewood Water said it will continue lead service-line outreach and expects to bid the first homeowner replacement contracts in 2025. The manager and directors also flagged several grant applications that could supplement the capital program, including state and federal grants for the pedestrian tunnel and train-station improvements.

Ending: Council members praised staff and volunteers for the work that produced the budget and for maintaining core services while advancing long-term projects. The public hearing on the budget will be held May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall; the administration said the full draft budget and the presentation slide deck will be posted online for public review before that date.","The Village Council introduced the 2025 municipal budget and approved several bond ordinances and water-utility measures that fund PFAS treatment facilities, soil remediation at the Schedler property and a multi-year capital plan; a public hearing on the budget is set for May 14.","actionData","errors"]

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Neighbors press Ridgewood council over Schedler park turf plan, PFAS and tree removals

Ridgewood council introduces 2025 budget, funds PFAS treatment and Schedler remediation