Wyckoff December 7, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 27 Township wins state award for communications by John Koster Wyckoff won the “Best Overall” award in communications from the New Jersey League of Municipalities for the second time in a row. The award was presented at last month’s league convention. Wyckoff’s second top victory in two years marks the thirteenth time in 21 years that the township has achieved a high score in the competition, which is open to all of New Jersey’s municipalities. A recent key component of the winning program is the e-blasts of information sent out to the computers of individual residents warning of individual emergencies. The double fulcrum of the winning program, however, is seen as the regular stream of public service announcements sent out to the press informing residents of useful information with regard to recycling, appropriate responses to weather conditions, and health information in extremely hot or cold weather, plus the annual municipal calendar that provides phone numbers, meeting schedules, and garbage pickup and recycling information. The calendar revolves around a different theme each year, and vintage and contemporary photographs are used to make the calendar as attractive and informative as possible. The township also sends out a quarterly newsletter to all residents. “We try to anticipate what our residents need to know to utilize municipal services,” said one public official. “For example, the fall publication features leaf collections because we feel residents should know when it begins, how it is conducted, and what is picked up. Giving residents the benefit of this information facilitates out collection. Any time we arm the public worth details to help them utilize a program it increases the effectiveness of that program.” Wyckoff instituted a Wyckoff on the Web program in 1996 so residents can keep track of local events via computer and through the many publications that circulate in the community. The system has been updated twice since its introduction. Wyckoff also enables residents to file for a number of municipal permits and applications by e-mail, forestalling time-consuming visits to Wyckoff Town Hall. Trials awaited in two pending lawsuits (continued from page 4) implied powers.” Russello also found that there was insufficient evidence for a fact finder to conclude that Saxton reasonably relied on an assurance by the board that the extra compensation in his agreements with the district would be counted toward his pension. “Saxton knew the risks when he signed the agreements,” Russello emphasized, criticizing the former superintendent for relying on the advice of the former school board attorney in his original contract in 1997, and in subsequent contracts that he signed in 2001 and 2005. The attorney’s advice, Russello said, was incorrect. He also ruled that it would be inequitable to hold the taxpayers liable for damages for an increased pension when the state’s pension board found Saxton was not entitled to it. Saxton claims in his lawsuit, however, that the district assured him that the extra compensation he was to receive in unused sick days and vacation days and other forms of compensation, including consulting fees for the 30-day transition period when he retired from the district, would be counted toward his pension, which he claims could amount to $350,000 over his and his wife’s lifetimes. He maintains that he relied on the assurance of the school district’s former attorney that the additional compensation would be credited toward his pension and the district should now pay him for his lost pension benefits. Saxton, who spent two years as interim superintendent for the Henry P Becton Regional High School after leaving Ramapo Indian Hills and is now interim superintendent at the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District, advised that he will appeal the dismissal of that part of his lawsuit against the district relating to his pension benefits because he believes the judge was wrong when he found that the school board’s guarantee that his additional compensation would be pensionable was not within the legal power of the board. He said he also intends to appeal the decision of the state’s pension board that his additional compensation is not creditable towards his pension. The balance of the suit concerning Saxton’s claim that the district did not pay him for unused sick days and vacation days will be heard in Superior Court on Dec. 14. In that lawsuit, Saxton claims his contract with the district called for him to receive 25 vacation days annually, exclusive of legal holidays, and 12 sick days per school year, which were to be accumulated in addition to another 100 days upon the exhaustion of his earned sick days. He claims he was also entitled to other fringe benefits, including an annual flexible spending account that was to range between $3,500 for the 1997-98 up to $7,081 for 2000-01. Saxton also claims the district breached the terms of his contract and his 2005 memorandum of understanding which provided an additional five vacation days, compensation for unused vacation days, a tax-sheltered annuity, and compensation for professional services rendered for 30 working days within 60 days after his retirement at a per diem rate. The district counters that Saxton breached his contract and owes the district $20,000 for leaving before the end of his contract; that his agreement was for a maximum of 15 vacation days per year; that he had no approval to accumulate vacation days; and that he was not entitled to use comp days in place of vacation days. The district also claims Saxton was incorrectly paid for 40 vacation days in 2005-06 and for 20 days in 200607, and that his per diem rate for those vacation days was inflated. The district is asking the court for compensatory damages for those vacation days and for the misrepresentation of vacation days as comp days to increase the number of unused vacation days for which Saxton would have to be compensated when he retired. The district further asserts that Saxton was overpaid for his annual flexible spending account by $7,487, and wants that amount repaid with attorney fees and expenses.