Saturday, May 17, 2008
BY JAN BARRY
STAFF WRITER
RINGWOOD — Step by step, the all-Republican Borough Council seems intent on overturning the decisions of the previous, Democratic majority.
In a typical makeover for a new governing body, the council replaced the borough attorney and municipal manager.
Now the council is aiming to uproot a tree ordinance planted by the Democrats.
Under a proposed revision introduced Thursday, homeowners who want to appeal the borough code official's denial of a tree-removal application would no longer appear before the council to plead their case. Future appeals would be heard by the borough manager.
Looking to preserve Ringwood's forest ambience, the previous council closely questioned homeowners who argued that a large tree was leaning too close to their homes and should be cut down. In nearly every case, the council approved the previously denied permit.
The new council — which approved three contested tree permits on Thursday — doesn't want to oversee what it views as personal landscaping decisions.
"I feel the homeowner has the right to take down a tree," Councilwoman Linda Schaefer said during a recent council discussion on the issue.
Facing an impending mandate from the Highlands Council to have a local code setting limits on removing trees, the council is not tossing out the ordinance entirely. It is, however, intent on trimming it to its liking.
The revised ordinance will be presented for a public hearing on June 19.
The council also introduced a $976,000 bond ordinance, to be heard the same date, that would pay for a new Borough Hall roof, DPW garage renovations, road repairs and various other improvements.
Council members assured a group of Upper Ringwood residents that one thing won't change, however: The borough still is committed to getting Ford Motor Co.'s toxic waste cleaned up and to working with the state to help two families displaced by sinkholes in a neighborhood near the old Ford dumps.
E-mail: barry@northjersey.com
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