Stop and Shop Closing Update 7/16/24
Hello Ringwood!
Our meeting mainly focused on community concerns regarding the closing of Stop and Shop in town.
Azarian had a press release on 7/16/24:
https://www.azariangroup.com/press-release-ringwood-nj/
Borough Manager gave a statement regarding the Stop and Shop closing.
See full statement here:
Kristen Holton gave a statement regarding the Stop and Shop closing.
She’s working with the economic commission to increase eco-tourism and attract more retailers to our community. By choosing to shop local, your support strengthens our economic development. She’s also working with a local non-profit to help bring more people to our community.
Audio of statements from Borough Manager and Director of Economic Development regarding the closing of Stop and Shop.
https://www.ringwoodnj.net/filestorage/2345/2767/4269/26866/Council_7-16-24__cdda__01.mp3
You can give the Borough feedback on Skyline Drive here: https://www.ringwoodnj.net/content/2347/27289/28727/default.aspx
Manager’s Report:
A much needed crosswalk connecting both shopping centers on Skyline Drive with flashing lights is planned to be installed in the near future. This has been a long time safety concern for our younger residents.
We are at 48.9% of our annual budget.
JCP&L: We have had a lot of outages lately and asked them to explain what caused all of these outages. Some of these outages were caused by storms which caused trees to fall on power lines. There was also equipment failure on their part.
Mr. Heck: If you see a tree that is in decline near a power line, please take it down to help decrease these outages. We are also meeting with legislators about this.
We are also addressing dead spots in the Northern part of Cupsaw as well as in Stonetown for our first responders. We are going to put repeaters in three different locations in order to increase communication in our handheld radio devices even if there are power outages. We will be discussing this more at our August meeting. The cost for this upgrade is approx $424,000.
New job opportunities in the Borough including a plumber and a truck driver.
Old Business:
Ordinance No. 2024-#09 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 28 – STORMWATER MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE BOROUGH OF RINGWOOD REPLACING IN ITS ENTIRETY SECTION 1-11.
Public Portion:
Concern from a resident: Please explain Section 28-8- Requirements for single family residential dwellings. Is this only for new construction and renovations?
Mr. Heck- Yes, this is only for new construction and renovations.
New Business:
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-#10 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 7 – TRAFFIC – OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE BOROUGH OF RINGWOOD, COUNTY OF PASSAIC, STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO PROHIBIT THE PARKING OF INOPERABLE OR DISABLED VEHICLES ON ANY PUBLIC STREET OR STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY IN THE BOROUGH OF RINGWOOD.
Resolutions:
2024-146 Approval of Bill List
2024-147 Authorize Chapter 159 - 2023 Local Recreation Improvement Grant, $63,000.00
2024-148 Authorize Chapter 159 - Passaic County Stigma Free Grant, $1,000.00
2024-149 Contractors’ Payment Invoice, Subsurface Technologies, Contract No. 2024-03 $24,065.00
2024-150 Contractors’ Payment Invoice, Subsurface Technologies, Contract No.
2024-04 $16,845.00
Consent Agendas:
2024-151 Approval of Consent Agenda
2024-152 Approval of Payroll & Payroll Transfers – June 2024
2024-153 Authorize Redemption of Tax Sales Certificates
2024-154 Voided and Replaced Checks 2024-155 Professional Services Payment, 792 Water Tank Remediation-Skyline Drive – INSITE Project, Contract No. 2022-103, $5,200
End of meeting comments:
We know that the news of Stop and Shop closing in town seems grim for our community. Keep in mind that this is a Stop and Shop corporate decision where they are closing 32 stores in the tristate area, including 10 in New Jersey. However, we think this could be an opportunity for us to grow and have new businesses in our community. We are in constant communication with Azarian, who also had a press release today stating,
“We understand the community’s concern over the loss of our longtime grocery tenant,” said John M. Azarian, CEO of The Azarian Group, LLC. “While the decision to close was made solely by the grocery chain at the national level, we are viewing this as an opportunity for positive change in the community. We are now presented with the chance to introduce a different store to the center, one that would operate as brand-new and would allow for further pursuit of updated renovations to the center as a whole.”
The council has also been invited to a handful of ribbon cutting ceremonies courtesy of Ms. Holten, our Director of Economic Development. These businesses include: Dairy Queens new owners, McGowan Well Water Compliance Management on Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Deliberate Fitness at Cupsaw Plaza, and Mapi’s Mechanics on Skyline Drive. We welcome all of these businesses to our community and we ask residents to look at our local businesses before looking out of town.
With that being said, all are welcome to our Ringwood Market event this Saturday, July 20th from 10-3pm. There will be local vendors and non-profits showcased as well as live music, and games for families.
Warm Regards,
