May 2024 Council Meeting Blog
Manager’s Report:
Edward Drive & Skyline Lakes Drive were both recently paved.
Bike lane coming to Skyline Lakes Drive.
Medium in the middle is out allowing for paved off street parking and the bike lane.
Next phase of the project will begin in the near future.
The center island Memorial will be back soon.
Soliciting List:
In 2018 we passed an ordinance for canvassing/ no soliciting list where you can’t knock on doors. Call clerk to be added to the list if you are interested.
26 peddlers are currently awaiting approval.
Their approval expires at the end of every calendar year.
Updates:
Police communication upgrades are continuing.
We are resurfacing the Upper Ringwood basketball court
Stonetown turf field project is moving forward.
WiFi is coming at Stonetown ballfield.
AEDs at all ballfields are being checked and moved to make more accessible.
Looking at playground upgrades at Poplar and Library Playgrounds,
Second round of Hometown Hero Banners was a success with 53 more banners purchased. They are currently displayed all around town,
Rebuilding Together did a recent tire clean up in Upper Ringwood. Hundreds of tires were removed free of charge to the residents.
Budget:
Annual increase of $67.84 for an average assessed home. ($302,874)
Does not include school or county portions of the budget.
Operating budget: $18,109,123.12
Increase from 2023 Budget: $754,818.
Approx, distribution of property taxes:
40% Ringwood Schools
20% Lakeland
Passaic County: 19%
Ringwood Municipal Tax: 21%
Amount Raised from Taxes: $12,913,829.08
Average Home Assessment 2024: $302,874.000
Rateable Net Change in 2024: -$878,800
Additional Revenue for 2024: $1,508,445.87 (Grants received)
Shared Services: $113,440 (Snake Den Road for Bloomingdale, Storm Water Cleaning for Pompton Lakes, & Building Inspector for Wanaque)
2024 Fund Balance: $1,425,000
Water Dept. Budget:
2024 Operating Budget Introduced: $1,705,045.
Municipal Budget Public Hearing:
No one stepped forward
Old Business:
Ordinance Number 2024-#05
Stop Signs around Skyline Lakes Drive & Skylands/ Cupsaw Ave Road
Ordinance Number 2024-#06
Ordinance amending chapter 20- Solid Waste Management- Section 20-2- Disposal of leaves and garden debris- of the revised ordinances of the Borough of Ringwood to amend in its entirety
Recently just over the past weekend, 20-30 people were stopped from dumping.
Ordinance Number 2024-#07
An ordinance authorizing the purchase of block 801, Lot 4, for the sum of $1,047,000. And the acquisition by gift of block 801, Lot 3 and acquisition by gift of Block 801, Lot 4.04, as the said lots are shown and designated on the tax map of the Borough of Ringwood.
Funded with cash by: Capital Cash Accounts, Special Trust Account, General Capital, Capital Reserve, and Legal Operating Expenses.
$560,000 in legal fees spent over the past 8 years.
Land was assessed by an appraiser.
New Business:
Ordinance Number 2024-#08:
Stop intersection at Woodland Road and Stetson Road.
Resolutions:
2024-107: Approval to submit a grant application and execute a grant contract with the NJDOT for the Skyline Lakes Drive, Phase 3- Roadway Improvements Project
Requesting $754,486.25 with this grant application.
2024-108: Award of contract- Curbside collection, removal, transportation, and disposal of solid waste & recyclable materials Contract No. 2024-101.
$5,032,332 over a three year period.
2024-109:
Rain Garden at Ryerson
Grant: $89,612.
