Board questions fundraising for proposed Pizzuto Way memorial
A Board of Education discussion turned on a QR-code flyer, a roadway co-naming, and who would pay to build and maintain a memorial near the high school.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — discussion, budget amendments and adoption of the, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Board members said the memorial idea has changed over time, and they want clearer answers on fundraising, design, and who would maintain any roadway feature.
A memorial plan raised basic questions before any bricks go down. The Board of Education spent part of its meeting sorting through a fundraising flyer tied to a project near the high school. One board member said a text message and screenshot of the flyer, which included a QR code for donations, made the effort look like a school or district collection rather than a private one. That led to a broader discussion about who is collecting money, through what channel, and how the accounting would work.
Board members described the project as three pieces. One is a co-naming of a roadway area near the high school, referred to in the meeting as “Herman’s Place” and “Pizzuto Way,” with the co-naming coordinated with the Village and not expected to cost the district. Another is a mural, funded mainly through donations, including support from the Ridgewood Education Foundation and other private donors. A third piece would add some kind of roadway or pathway feature when the road is paved, possibly a brick section spelling out “Pizzuto Way.”
That third piece drew the most scrutiny. Board members questioned whether brick belongs in a road used by trucks and snowplows and what the long-term maintenance burden would be. They discussed other options, including sidewalk sections or plaques, and noted that earlier ideas had raised concerns about distracting drivers. By the end, the Board made clear it needs more detail on the material itself and on the fundraising structure before the project comes into sharper focus.
Budget amendments and adoption of the 2026 municipal budget
Ridgewood locked in its 2026 budget. The Council adopted the spending plan and related amendments on a unanimous consent vote, with the Village Manager and CFO Bob Rooney saying the budget rises 3.98% over 2025. For a home assessed at $715,000, they said, that means about $195 more per year.
The Village Manager said this was a hard budget year across North Jersey, with pressure from health benefits, fuel costs, and snow removal after two major storms. Rooney walked through the amendments: a $29,181 revenue reclassification tied to unavailable state aid municipal relief funds, offset by $20,000 in fees and permits and $10,596 in investment interest; a water capital revision required by the state; and a $400 adjustment to the open space trust fund tax levy.
Councilmembers said Ridgewood kept the increase below what some nearby towns are seeing. They pointed to continued staffing for police and fire and capital spending that includes $2.75 million for paving, plus equipment purchases such as a fire truck, street sweeper, sign truck, and hydro sewer truck. Resolutions 26-122 through 26-125 all passed.
Board approves HR changes and corrections
The Board approved a human resources package covering retirements, resignations, renewals for 2026–2027, and several corrections to the record. The superintendent corrected Dr. Lillian Labowski’s service to 20 years, and one board member abstained only from a sub-item covering eight lunchroom appointments.
leadership change
Village updates PFAS, contracts, July 4
The Village Manager said the new state budget includes $20 million for Ridgewood Water PFAS treatment and reported progress on labor contracts. He also announced July 4 parking limits at the Hudson Street garage, restated heat rules for Maple Park turf use, and listed summer events and meeting dates.
large dollar figure ($20,000,000)
Residents press council on referendum questions
Council reports pointed to an upcoming open space referendum and Planning Board work on affordable housing ordinances. During closing public comment, residents asked what referendum money could fund and whether the Planning Board had made a Kensington zoning recommendation.
Voters need to know what a new tax would fund and how housing decisions could affect neighborhood development.
Ridgewood Water moves PFAS projects ahead
Ridgewood Water gave a detailed update on its 12-facility PFAS treatment program, including construction timing, costs, grants, and conservation messaging. The Council advanced that work by authorizing a $1 million state grant step for the Glenn Rick Manii facility, awarding East Side Reservoir treatment construction, and approving a change order for inspection and administration at four PFAS sites.
These projects affect drinking water quality, water rates, and the timeline for bringing PFAS treatment online.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Ridgewood had 153 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEMemorial Day comments honor Ridgewood figures including Varian Fry. In opening public comment, a resident urged Memorial Day remembrance and highlighted local figures including Varian Fry and a WWII-era pilot. Council later responded by thanking the speaker and referencing books and a Netflix series about Fry’s rescue work.
- GOVERNANCEConsent agenda resolutions (block): contracts, grants, change orders, refunds, referendum question, housing plan endorsement, and appointments. Council adopted Resolutions 25-298 through 25-321 as a single consent agenda block. Items included SCADA upgrades, train station kiosk restoration, South Pleasant Avenue resurfacing with ADA improvements, emergency lights, Village Hall roof replacement, parks mower, vehicle lease, multiple Chapter 159 budget amendments and grants, remediation services and change orders, bridge handrailings, pickleball courts renovation, tax refunds/cancellations, an open space tax levy referendum question, endorsement of the 4th round housing plan, a site access agreement renewal, acceptance of a Special Improvement District feasibility study, and appointment of a student intern liaison for Green Ridgewood.
- GOVERNANCEConsent agenda resolutions block (contracts, professional services, grants, surplus property, senior parking program, appointments). The Council adopted a large block of resolutions (26-128 through 26-154) including multiple contract awards, professional services, shared services, bid rejection, financing, grant applications, liquor license transfer authorization, surplus property declarations, establishment of a senior parking program, and appointments to boards/committees.
- GOVERNANCERidgewood Water change order and final retainage payment. The Council approved Ridgewood Water resolutions authorizing a change order for lead service line replacements (contract one, not to exceed $433,333) and authorizing final retainage payment for raw water mains phase one (contract two).
- GOVERNANCESecond reading and public hearing: Establish new chapter for sidewalk displays. The Council held the public hearing and adopted Ordinance 4096 on second reading to establish a new chapter entitled “Sidewalk Displays.” A resident asked whether the HPC recommended opposition. Councilmember Whites voted no, citing concerns about overly broad displays and uneven sidewalk widths; other members voted yes.
- GOVERNANCEFirst reading: create Special Improvement District and designate district management corporation. Council introduced Ordinance 4053 on first reading to create a new chapter establishing a Special Improvement District and designating a district management corporation. Council noted the schedule of properties would be reordered by block and lot for easier research. A public hearing/second reading was scheduled for August 13, 2025.
- GOVERNANCEFirst reading: amend Chapter 190 land use and development to create S-1 Senior Overlay Zone District. Council introduced Ordinance 4052 on first reading to amend Chapter 190 (Land Use and Development) to create an S-1 Senior Overlay Zone District. A public hearing/second reading was scheduled for August 13, 2025. The introduction passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Long-Range Facilities Plan Amendment (Water Line Replacement at Willard and GW). The Board approved an amendment to the long-range facilities plan to include replacement of water lines at Willard and GW, described as required by the state and necessary to qualify for a grant intended to cover 100% of the cost.
- GOVERNANCESecurity systems: CCTV and access control upgrades for Village Hall, fire headquarters, Station 31, OEM, and off-site offices. The Council reviewed a memorandum from Lieutenant Chuck regarding awarding a contract through an Educational Services Commission of New Jersey cooperative for CCTV and access control upgrades, including Village Hall doors, call box replacements, and panic alarms at multiple facilities, with costs not to exceed $190,000.
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