Ridgewood council adopts multiple ordinances and consent-agenda items; tree-protection ordinance defeated for revision

The Village Council of Ridgewood on Tuesday adopted multiple ordinances on first reading, approved several ordinances on second reading and final publication, accepted a consent agenda of contracts and appointments, and defeated a proposed rewrite of the village tree-protection code so it can be revised and reintroduced.

Key votes and motions

- The council adopted on first reading ordinances 4032, 4033, 4034, 4035 and 4036. Titles read by the clerk covered water capital appropriations (4032), amendments to the Vehicles and Traffic code (4033, 4035), a bond ordinance for capital improvements (4034) and adjustments to fees (4036). Roll-call responses recorded in the minutes show affirmative votes from council members recorded individually for each first-reading adoption.

- Ordinances 4028 and 4029 were read and adopted on second reading and final publication as required by law; both public hearings were opened and closed with no public speakers.

- Ordinance 4031 (administration of government, police department) was adopted on second reading and final publication.

- Ordinance 4030, a rescission and replacement of Chapter 260 (tree protection, removal and replacement), was introduced and the clerk opened the public hearing. After extensive public feedback and subsequent council discussion, the council voted to defeat ordinance 4030 so the village attorney and Shadetree Committee can prepare substantive changes; the council said it will reintroduce a revised version at a later date.

Consent agenda and contracts

- Resolution 25-104 (temporary water capital and temporary general capital budget authorization) and a long consent list of administrative and procurement resolutions were approved by one consent motion and recorded as adopted by roll call. The consent set included equipment purchases, maintenance contracts, cooperative-purchase awards and committee appointments (resolutions 25-115 through 25-143).

- The council separately considered Resolution 25-114 concerning an emergency tree removal after a water-main break. The resolution awarded emergency tree-removal services to Downstream Service Inc., of Hawthorne, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $4,850; the chief financial officer had certified available funds in the Ridgewood Water operating budget. A council member recorded a recusal on that item before the vote.

Appointments and oath of office

- The council read Resolution 25-103 and appointed Jennifer Natoli as deputy village clerk, effective Jan. 6, 2025, and administered the oath of office during the meeting.

Closed session

- Near the close of the meeting the council voted to enter closed session to discuss legal matters, including a contract with Economic Development Strategist, LLC. The council stated the closed session is allowable under the cited municipal statute and that minutes will be released once the matters are completed.

Why it matters: The actions set in motion multiple capital and operational projects (water system upgrades, traffic and parking code adjustments, procurement of equipment and services) and postponed a substantive rewrite of the village’s tree-protection ordinance for further work. The emergency award addressed an immediate infrastructure repair after a water-main break.

What’s next: The council will reintroduce the revised tree-protection ordinance after attorney and Shadetree Committee edits. Several ordinances were scheduled for public hearings on March 12, 2025.