Ridgewood council adopts $8.1 million in bonds, approves Warner Theater purchase after public questions

The Ridgewood Village Council on Oct. 8 adopted four bond ordinances totaling $8,100,000 to fund three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) water‑treatment facilities and to finance acquisition of the Warner Theater.

Council members voted unanimously to pass: bond ordinance 4,057 for $1,500,000 to construct the main PFAS treatment facility; ordinance 4,058 for $2,000,000 to build an east side PFAS facility; ordinance 4,059 for $2,000,000 to construct the mountain PFAS facility; and ordinance 4,060 to appropriate $2,600,000 for acquisition of the Warner Theater (issuing $2,475,000 in bonds or notes). Each ordinance was read by title on the council floor and approved after the public hearing was opened and closed.

Why it matters: the PFAS ordinances fund local water‑treatment infrastructure intended to remove contaminants from municipal supplies. The Warner Theater acquisition represents a municipal effort to preserve a locally significant building on the village’s main street.

Council procedure and public questions

The council opened public comment on the Warner Theater ordinance after the clerk read its title. Resident Boyd Loving, who identified himself as a Ridgewood taxpayer, said he was "shocked" and criticized the council for opening the public hearing "with no explanation about what this is about" and for not having bond counsel or other professionals present that night to answer questions.

Village Manager Keith responded that the topic had been discussed at multiple prior meetings and work sessions where bond counsel and the chief financial officer had appeared, and that officials had allowed extended questioning at a previous meeting. Manager Keith said he had chosen not to bring paid professionals back that evening to avoid additional hourly expenses, and he "stood by that decision." Mayor Rogers and other council members said the issue had been discussed repeatedly in prior meetings, and the roll‑call votes that followed were unanimous.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 4,057 (Main PFAS treatment facility): Appropriation $1,500,000 — adopted on second reading. Roll call: Mortimer, Perrin, Weitz, Winograd, Vadgianos — yes. - Ordinance 4,058 (East side PFAS treatment facility): Supplemental appropriation $2,000,000 — adopted on second reading. Roll call: Mortimer, Perrin, Weitz, Winograd, Vadgianos — yes. - Ordinance 4,059 (Mountain PFAS treatment facility): Supplemental appropriation $2,000,000 — adopted on second reading. Roll call: Mortimer, Perrin, Weitz, Winograd, Vadgianos — yes. - Ordinance 4,060 (Warner Theater acquisition): Appropriation $2,600,000 (authorize $2,475,000 bonds/notes) — adopted on second reading. Roll call: Mortimer, Perrin, Weitz, Winograd, Vadgianos — yes.

What council said

Mayor Rogers and several council members emphasized that the Warner Theater purchase had been the subject of multiple prior public discussions and work sessions, and that those recordings and previous appearances by bond counsel were available to residents. Manager Keith said the decision not to bring bond counsel back that night was an administrative choice to avoid additional professional fees.

Next steps

The PFAS projects will proceed through the village’s procurement and contract processes; specific construction timelines and contractor awards were not announced at the Oct. 8 meeting. The Warner Theater appropriation takes effect following the final publication required by law.