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Residents press council on artificial turf, engagement and PAS concerns; mayor and staff outline next steps
Summary
Public commenters urged the council to reject artificial turf at Shuddler, seek more resident engagement on contested projects, and address water PFAS (PAS) and snow-removal enforcement; Mayor Rajenos and staff outlined budget timing, Shedler claim processing, PAS remediation progress and community outreach steps.
Residents used the Feb. 25 public-comment period to press the council on multiple high-profile local issues.
Ian, identified in the record as a Ridgewood resident, urged the council to "open your closed minds" on artificial turf and "put a natural grass field at Shuddler," citing media reports about turf hazards and chemicals. Denise Lima thanked crews for snow removal, asked when a user-friendly budget will be posted ahead of the March 11 introduction, requested park improvements and picnic benches, and asked for an update on Shedler and the Bergen GIF claims process. Cynthia O'Keefe urged the council to improve resident engagement on major projects (Shedler, affordable housing) and described an incident she called an assault at a prior meeting, saying the community should not accept such behavior.
Mayor Paul Rajenos responded on several fronts: he said the municipal budget will be introduced on March 11 in accordance with statute and that budget documents (including a user-friendly version) will be posted after that introduction with a month for public review and a public hearing before final adoption in April. On Shedler, he said the Bergen Joint Insurance Fund approved the claim package and the village had received paperwork from the GIF attorney for staff review and anticipated moving to execute documents in the next few weeks. On the artificial-turf question, the mayor encouraged openness to new information and said council members are listening to residents.
On water quality, the village manager and staff summarized recent federal appropriations and treatment progress: Rididgewood Water has received federal funds for lead-service-line replacement and PAS remediation, staff reported many treatment facilities already operating and indicated full PAS removal is expected in the coming implementation timeline (staff stated a 2027 completion target in discussion). Council members stressed continued transparency and frequent public updates on these water projects.
On snow enforcement, residents asked why summonses cannot be issued unless staff witness a homeowner pushing snow back into the street; staff and the police chief said photographic evidence and timely reporting are helpful and that police will increase patrols in the narrow enforcement window after storms.
Next steps: staff will post budget documents after the March 11 introduction, finish reviewing Shedler GIF paperwork and proceed with agreed steps for soil remediation and park construction, continue outreach on water/PAS remediation progress and plan additional public information events.
