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Ridgewood council advances multiple ordinances, approves Special Improvement District with mayor recused
Summary
Council introduced and adopted a slate of ordinances on first and second readings, approved consent-agenda resolutions including contracts and grant applications, and passed a resolution ratifying Special Improvement District assessments; Mayor Baglanos recused himself from the SID vote and the resolution passed with council dissent noted.
The Ridgewood Village Council on July 15 handled a busy regular agenda: multiple ordinances were advanced on first reading, several items were adopted on second reading, a consent agenda of resolutions passed by single roll call, and the council considered a Special Improvement District (SID) resolution separately.
On first reading, the council moved ordinance 4105, a bond ordinance providing for water utility improvements that appropriates $728,000 and authorizes borrowing for part of the cost. The clerk read several other ordinance titles for first reading, including vehicle-and-traffic and code amendments.
On second reading (final adoption), the council considered and approved several ordinances after the required public hearings were opened and closed. These included ordinance 4099 (amending conditional-use standards for institutional uses) and a package of ordinances on taxis/limousines, valet parking standards, fee enumerations, departmental fee updates for recreation and parks, and a special emergency appropriation for reassessment work. Where members asked minor clarifying edits (for example, a motion to change the word "situate" to "located" in ordinance 4109), the council moved and approved the language change before adopting the ordinance on first reading.
A consent agenda of resolutions (numbers 26-190 through 26-202 and later 26-203 through 26-227) covering contract awards, grant authorizations (including NJDOT resurfacing grants), professional services, project acceptances and appointments passed by a single vote.
The council read resolution 26-228 in full, a ratification of special assessments tied to a 2026 Ridgewood Business Alliance Special Improvement District. The clerk noted that 26 written objections were received and that the village attorney had sent letters denying objections where appropriate. Mayor Baglanos recused himself from that matter because he had not attended the property hearing; the council proceeded to vote and approved the resolution. Public comment and council discussion revealed concerns about assessment amounts for certain property classes, including nonprofits; one council member stated publicly they would vote no. The council recorded the outcome in public remarks after the meeting as "it passed" and a resident later summarized the vote as 2–1 (with the mayor recused).
Why it matters: The ordinance adoptions and the SID assessment create or preserve legal rules and local revenue flows that affect municipal water infrastructure projects, downtown management and local permitting. The SID decision has immediate economic implications for assessed downtown properties and triggered formal objections that the council reviewed before voting.
What to watch: Several ordinances were scheduled for final publication as required by law with set hearing dates (many fixed for Aug. 12, 2026). The SID assessment process remains subject to any outstanding litigation noted by the village attorney for specific properties and possible later adjustments following further review.
Next steps: The clerk will publish adopted ordinances and process filings as required by statute; the council indicated it may revisit code amendments based on planning-board suggestions and stakeholder feedback.
