Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge more staffing, evening hours at Ridgewood Community Center
Summary
Public commenters and the community center advisory board urged the council to increase staffing and general fund support for the Ridgewood Community Center to expand evening/weekend programming for seniors and teens; advisory leaders said the center depends on municipal subsidy rather than federal funds.
Ridgewood — Multiple residents and members of the Community Center Advisory Board urged the Ridgewood Village Council Thursday to increase municipal support and staffing for the Ridgewood Community Center so it can offer more evening and weekend programming for seniors and teens.
Gwen Hauck, a longtime user, told the council the community center serves as a “home base” for seniors and youth activities and that municipal funds are essential to sustain programs. “Please subsidize the parks and rec department so we can have a healthier community center,” Hauck said during the public‑comment period.
Liz Cloke, vice president of the Community Center Advisory Board, told the council the center’s current staffing model does not allow for sufficient evening and weekend coverage and cited an informal poll of neighboring towns showing heavier staffing at comparable centers. Cloke said the advisory board will continue fundraising for events but said fundraisers should not be expected to cover salaries for village employees.
Council members responded that they hear the request and plan to discuss staffing alternatives. Mayor Vadgianos and other council members suggested a follow‑up meeting with the advisory board and department staff and asked the administration to present options at a later budget session. Director Bigos and Recreation Supervisor Katie Fry said the community center’s staffing is currently one full‑time director (the center’s day‑to‑day supervisor) and that weekend or evening programming requires paid overtime or additional staff.
Council members also discussed a potential planning meeting and additional analysis; no action was taken at Thursday’s session. The advisory board invited council members to a senior “lunch and learn” event April 22 to observe center activities.
Public comments during the session also included a resident request that the village consider funding school resource officers for elementary schools and paying to expand PFAS filters on school water fountains; council members characterized those items as Board of Education responsibilities, though members said they would continue to coordinate with the school district.
