September 17, 2024 Council Update

The full meeting is available here.

Below you will find a summary of the main points from the September 2024 Council Meeting. 

PRESENTATION FROM JERSEY CENTRAL POWER & LIGHT 

Bob Flynn, a representative from JCP&L, presented proposed improvements to communications which included: getting the grid prepared, addressing communication gaps, and creating new teams to handle responses to outages. JCP&L is looking to spend $936 million on these improvements and implementation would cost each household about $5 over five years.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING UPDATE

Thanks to Dan Daily for asking for an update on the affordable housing settlement. Contrary to the Borough Attorney's message to the court in July, there was no Council vote on a settlement with Fair Share Housing Tuesday night. Mr. Clemack reported that issues arose as late as that afternoon that have once again delayed the process. He also reported that the shopping malls were out as possible locations and that the three present proposals are for: Lower Ringwood by the vet’s office; Block 601, Lot 14 on Peters Mine Road; and possibly on the Convent property where Avatar has its inpatient rehab center.

STREAMING COUNCIL MEETINGS ON CHANNEL 77

Thanks to Mark Savastano for asking when we’d be able to stream the Council meetings. After a year of significant problems with the live streaming of the Council Meetings (Tuesday night’s meeting was no exception and live streaming was once again unavailable) the Borough manager claims that new equipment which will be faster and better quality was installed and should be operational before the October Council Meeting. Fingers crossed they finally solve this problem.

Manager's Report

PAVING SCHEDULE

The schedule for this year includes: the entire length of Locust Lane, Juniper Terrace, Hemlock Place and Milligan Drive, and partial paving of Carletondale Road, Van Dunk Lane, and Pima Court.

VALLEY ROAD WELL

Thanks to Peter Sando for asking when the Valley Road well will be back in service. The manager reports that after about a year of being offline due to the well testing positive for E. coli, the Valley Road well should be back online by the end of next week, 9/27/24. The pump in the well will have a significant increase (25 gallons to over 90 gallons a minute) from its previous level of power after this long rehabilitation process. Final payment of $45.2K to contractors was approved.

2024 BUDGET 

The 2024 budget totals $18.1 million, and $11.7 million or nearly two-thirds expended to date.  The manager did not disclose if this includes $1 million in cash spent on the Pagano property. This is of interest to taxpayers and we should ask for an explanation at the next meeting.

RAIN GARDEN AT RYERSON

A rain garden at Ryerson built with nearly $200k from a grant is expected to improve water quality for Cupsaw Lake. It is currently in survey and design and should be constructed in Spring 2025.

PORTABLE ADVERTISING SIGNS

Approved an ordinance to allow businesses to have sandwich signs boards out by the road to attract customers. This is a test case and they will limit the number.

TOWN WIDE GARAGE SALE

Saturday 9/28 & Sunday 9/29 9am-4pm each day. Ringwood residents who have registered to participate will be listed on the Ringwood Borough website on Friday evening and on the map the day of the event (pick up at Parking Ride or Borough Hall). 

SPECIAL MEETINGS ON THE SKYLINE DRIVE/FIELDSTONE REDEVELOPMENT AREA

There will be a Special Public Meeting of the Planning Board on Wednesday, September 25th at 7:30pm, followed by a Special Public Meeting of the Council on Monday, September 30th at 7:30pm. Both meetings will be held at Borough Hall and will focus on getting the long overdue approval to redevelop Fieldstone.

TO WRAP IT UP

There will be a Special Public Meeting of the Planning Board on Wednesday, September 25th at 7:30pm, followed by a Special Public Meeting of the Council on Monday, September 30th at 7:30pm. Both meetings will be held at Borough Hall and will focus on getting the long overdue approval to redevelop Fieldstone.

The Ringwood Town Fireworks at Shepherd's Lake were amazing and bands were great too, especially our very own Lake Dwellers! Great local fare from Luigi's Pizza & Restaurant, Lakeside Diner, Parties by Porcelli, Subway, Kona Ice and Tom's Ice Cream Truck were enjoyed by all! Thank you to the Recreation Department and the Holiday Observers for making it such a success!

The Ringwood Educational Fund will host the Harlem Wizards at Lakeland on Thursday, Oct. 24th, 2024. Tickets are available here. It's going to be so much fun!

The Annual Center for Food Action Hunger Walk will take place on November 3rd at 1pm on the Lakeland Regional HS track. Please come out and support this great cause!

Thanks for reading! 

Breeze Sando

President, Ringwood Democratic Organization