Votes at a glance: Ridgewood council introduces multiple ordinances, adopts several measures and approves contracts on March 12, 2025

The Village of Ridgewood council on March 12 introduced a slate of ordinances for first reading, adopted several ordinance measures on second reading, approved numerous contracts and professional services on a consent agenda, and separately passed a resolution urging state lawmakers to allow municipalities to publish legal notices on official websites.

Key procedural outcome: Most measures on the evening’s consent agenda were adopted by a unanimous recorded vote of the three council members present (Mortimer, Deputy Mayor Perrin and Council Member Weitz). Four ordinances were adopted on second reading and final publication; several bond and capital ordinances were introduced on first reading with public hearings set for April 9, 2025.

Votes and actions (selected, by item)

- Bills, claims and vouchers: Motion to accept statement of funds on hand as of Feb. 28, 2025 — approved (recorded roll call: Mortimer yes; Perrin yes; Weitz yes).

- Minutes: Motion to approve council minutes of Jan. 22, Jan. 29 (text on record) and Feb. 5 — approved (Mortimer yes; Perrin yes; Weitz yes).

- Proclamations (adopted): World Down Syndrome Day (proclaimed 03/21/2025); National Poison Prevention Week (March 16–20, 2025); World Autism Awareness Day (04/02/2025). These were presented and the council adopted the proclamations as read.

- Ordinances adopted on second reading (final publication required): - Ordinance 40-32 — Appropriation of $350,000 from the water capital fund for SCADA and security upgrades; adopted on second reading (Mortimer yes; Perrin yes; Weitz yes). - Ordinance 40-33 — Amend vehicles and traffic schedule 8 (through streets); adopted on second reading (Mortimer yes; Perrin yes; Weitz yes). - Ordinance 40-35 — Amend vehicle/traffic permit parking and reserved spaces provisions; adopted on second reading (Mortimer yes; Perrin yes; Weitz yes). - Ordinance 40-36 — Amend fees enumeration (section 1-45-6); adopted on second reading (Mortimer yes; Perrin yes; Weitz yes).

- Ordinances introduced on first reading (public hearings set for April 9, 2025): - Ordinance 40-37 — Amend court fees (chapter 145) relating to code chapters; first reading adopted and hearing set 04/09/2025 (Mortimer yes; Perrin yes; Weitz yes). - Ordinance 40-38 — Amend water code (piping system compliance/right of access); first reading adopted and hearing set 04/09/2025 (Mortimer yes; Perrin yes; Weitz yes). - Ordinance 40-39 — Bond ordinance for various water utility improvements; appropriating $4,992,000 (first reading adopted; hearing set 04/09/2025; roll call yes by present members). - Ordinance 40-40 — Amend food and food handling definitions (chapter 156); first reading adopted and hearing set 04/09/2025. - Ordinance 40-41 — Amend general fees (section 1-45-5); first reading adopted and hearing set 04/09/2025. - Ordinance 40-42 — Amend wildlife feeding rules (chapter 105); first reading adopted and hearing set 04/09/2025. - Ordinance 40-43 — Rescind and replace chapter 260 (trees and shrubs); first reading adopted and hearing set 04/09/2025. - Ordinance 40-44 — Amend skateboard chapter to include scooters and micromobility devices in the Central Business District; first reading adopted and hearing set 04/09/2025. - Ordinance 40-45 — Bond ordinance for various capital improvements appropriating $4,092,190; first reading adopted and hearing set 04/09/2025. (Council discussion noted the largest expense in the bonding plan is soil remediation at the Schedler property.)

- Ordinance 40-34 (bond ordinance appropriating $2,765,550): Public hearing opened as required by notice but the council determined it could not adopt the bond ordinance at the evening’s meeting because a four-member vote is required for final adoption; the council continued the public hearing and will resume final action on April 9, 2025.

- Consent-agenda resolutions (approved by single consent vote, roll call Mortimer yes; Perrin yes; Weitz yes), included the following categories (titles as read): - Award sole-source contract for corrosion control at Passaic Valley Water Commission interconnection. - Award contract for leak-detection services, intermediate zone. - Award contract for HVAC maintenance and repair. - Award professional services contract for construction administration at Eastside Main and Mountain PP/OS treatment facilities. - Award contract for thermal imaging camera kits (Fire Department). - Award contracts under state or cooperative purchasing for SCBA, vehicle bodies, resurfacing tennis and pickleball courts, vehicle leasing and related purchases. - Professional services contracts: municipal planning consultant (fourth round housing element/fair share plan); special counsel and historic-preservation consultants related to the Schedler property SHIPO application; engineering and landscape architectural services for concept and sanitary sewer lateral oversight at the Schedler/Zabriskie house. - Authorize change order for North Walnut parking lot removal of underground fuel storage tanks and associated documentation for tank removal. - Budget reserve transfers, grant applications and acceptances (including Bergen County Municipal Alliance grant), tax refunds and cancellations, donations acceptance (furniture for Zabriskie Schedler House), and committee appointments. (Resolution 25-159 for sanitation vehicles was removed from the consent agenda and carried to April 9.)

- Separate resolution (25-179) urging state leaders to authorize municipal publication of legal notices on official websites: The council passed the resolution after debate; the vote was recorded as two yes and one no (the record shows a majority in favor and one dissenting vote).

What the votes mean next

- Items adopted on first reading will return for public hearing and final action on April 9, 2025 (those ordinances list 04/09/2025 as the hearing date). - The bond ordinance hearing that was opened (40-34) was continued and will be returned for adoption at the April 9 meeting because the council could not legally adopt a bond ordinance at this meeting with only three members present.

Full roll-call pattern at this meeting: When roll calls were recorded, the three members present—Council Member Mortimer, Deputy Mayor Perrin and Council Member Weitz—voted in the affirmative on the consent agenda and most individual motions where votes were recorded. Mayor Badriana and Council Member Winograd were absent.