Wyckoff June 2, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Robert Shannon receives top Scouting award by John Koster Wyckoff Township Administrator Robert Shannon was recently honored by the Iaoapogh Mountains Boy Scout District for his contributions to Scouting and to the wider community with the organization’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Shannon served as publicity director of the Ramapo Mountains District in the 1980s and then joined Troop 77 as assistant scoutmaster in 2000. He has served as chairman for the district for the past two years. He also served as vice chairman of the Iaoapogh Mountains Community Service Award Fundraising Committee since 2004, chairman of three nominating committees, and a volunteer archery instructor at the Northwest Bergen Action Center at the 2005 National Jamboree. He previously received the Boy Scout Council’s highest award, the Silver Beaver, and has been named Humanitarian of the Year by the Wyckoff YMCA. Shannon is also a Wyckoff Volunteer Fireman and a bagpiper in the Bergen County Pipe Band and has received the Dana Hannon Distinguished Service Award, named for the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department member and NYFD fireman killed attempting to rescue victims of the World Trade Center attack. Shannon’s son Tim is an Eagle Scout, a volunteer firefighter and an EMT, and a student at Roger Williams University. His daughter Anne is president of the class of 2010 at Marist College. Shannon also lectures under the auspices of Rutgers University, and has published 14 articles on management and has chapters on purchasing and ethics in several textbooks printed by Rutgers. Members of the Wyckoff Township Committee and a number of other administrators rate him as the top municipal administrator in Bergen County and one of the top five in New Jersey. Bob Shannon and Chuck Shotmeyer Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox said that court rulings have interfered with police efforts to check credentials of door-to-door solicitors and to curb those soliciting for donations after dark. Chief Fox suggested that residents have a right not to give money to anyone who annoys them at home. “Although the police department cannot stop these solicitor activities, residents should let their conscience be their guide in offering any money to a person who comes to their home,” Chief Fox said recently. “If they have any concerns or fears about someone at their door, they should contact the Wyckoff Police.” Fox said that a group now seeking donations in Wyckoff, the New Jersey Environmental Federation, has already Chief to solicitors: Let your conscience be your guide generated complaints about soliciting after dark. The chief has asked the group not to solicit after dark in Wyckoff, but they have ref used his request. “Efforts by the township attorney have been rebuked as well,” the chief said. “Residents have reported that they find it uncomfortable to deal with a solicitor at their door in the dark, without any township solicitor badge, asking for money.” Fox explained that for many years, residents had been advised to ask to see a solicitor’s badge when the solicitor called before the resident opened the door or made a donation. In the past few years, however, the courts have ruled that non-profit solicitors do not have to abide by any township regulations about soliciting, including the requirement that the solicitors obtain badges from the police. “There is no badge issued and no background checks are conducted on the individuals knocking on your door,” Chief Fox said. “The police department has little, if any, control. A solicitor conducting a business for profit must still continue to be licensed by the township. Most nonprofit groups make an initial contact with the police department simply advising of their presence in town, and I make suggestions regarding issues such as the time of day that they would solicit. Most have complied with the request.” The chief urged residents not to feel obligated to donate to groups they do not support, and to call the police in case of any concerns or fears aroused by late-hour soliciting at their doors. Now Open! 396 Franklin Ave Wyckoff, NJ 201-891-5500 Across from Aldo’s Restaurant Wyckoff Cycle LLC Guitar Sale! Music ������������ ����������������� ����������������������� ������������������������ We Teach Math! CONFIDENCE • LEADERSHIP LOSE WEIGHT • FOCUS Ages 6 and up. Register for any of our 4 sessions. 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