Letters to the Editor (continued from previous page) grant, or to acquire the land or development rights to preserve Abma’s Farm should the owners ever decide to sell. Eileen Avia Wyckoff Dear Editor: We are facing a very important election in the Borough of Midland Park. The present mayor, who has missed many council meetings, has decided that he is too busy to perform the duties of mayor but will run for council and a candidate with no governmental experience will run for mayor. I remind the citizens of Midland Park that we have a strong council, weak mayor form of government. The council controls both policy and budget. The mayor can only vote to break a tie and perform certain ceremonial duties. Being a life-long resident and former councilman and mayor of Midland Park, I can attest to the fact that council members often commit more time to borough affairs than the mayor. The borough’s auditor has said that Midland Park is in the best financial condition of any town he is aware of. This is due to the pay-as-you-go philosophy of the council. We don’t need any of the innovative financing schemes which left many towns and our state close to bankruptcy. We have seen what change for the sake of change has done for us in Washington. Don’t let it happen in Midland Park. I urge all residents to exercise their duty to vote on Nov. 8 and to support Bud O’Hagan for mayor and Nick Papapietro and Mike Junta for council. These gentlemen have found the time to assure the continuation of good government in Midland Park. J. William Van Dyke Midland Park November 2, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 17 Urges support for O’Hagan served this community well for three years. My hope is that he will continue to help Wyckoff remain a wonderful place to live. No matter how you may vote farther up the ticket, I encourage all Wyckoff voters to do the same. Elaine Fichera Wyckoff Dear Editor: Wyckoff is blessed with many residents who spend countless hours giving back to the community by serving the township in many ways. This year’s township committee candidates – Tom Madigan, Doug Christie, and Brian Scanlan -- have demonstrated their commitment to Wyckoff with excellent service. Read the voters’ letters of support and campaign literature for each and it is spelled out in chapter and verse. So what make a difference? Ideas, a voice that will continue to move Wyckoff forward, and the leadership to have those ideas implemented. Brian Scanlan has now proved that his energetic presence on the township committee and his innovative programs like Nifty Fifty recycling to further preserve our environment and his introduction of the outdoor restaurant dining ordinance have been refreshing and positive enhancements. Brian is also the only candidate who actively promotes the value of continuing the open space program that can protect some of Wyckoff’s treasures before they are gobbled up by developers. We need to keep him on the township committee so he can continue to provide the necessary and provocative voice that moves Wyckoff forward while retaining current core values. It is in our hands to do so on Nov. 8. Vince Tortorelli Wyckoff Dear Editor: This Nov. 8, the people of Wyckoff have an opportunity to fill two seats on the township committee. The two candidates who receive the most votes, no matter what their political parties might be, will fill those seats. It’s important for voters to know that they can choose to vote for just one candidate or for any two candidates. Particularly at the local level, I think we should vote for the person, not the party. We should focus on the issues and the candidates’ records of service to our town, not whether they’re “red” or “blue.” For me, this election is about who can continue to manage our tax dollars wisely, who will prudently preserve our open space, promote smart environmental policies, and support our excellent educational system. Let’s cast our votes for individuals whose thinking is never influenced by anything other than a desire to serve all of the citizens of Wyckoff equally, whether they’re registered Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. With these qualifications in mind, my vote in November will go to Brian Scanlan, in column one, who has already Applauds Scanlan’s innovative programs Dear Editor: Given recent publicity, the undersigned trustees want to express the realities of recent activities of the board of trustees of the Franklin Lakes Library. Since June of this year, the board has been completing a strategic plan, which is important to the future needs of the library and is a required process related to a new law governing the transfer of any excess funds from a library to a town. The board engaged a library consulting firm to help develop the plan in accordance with guidance from the New Jersey State Librarian. The consultant conducted surveys, met with focus groups, and held town hall meetings of diverse groups of our residents. We heard the desire for continued investment in technology and opinions on improving the use of library space. The library needs to provide not only materials wanted by our residents, but also new formats and training to use them. The plan will include this input and a constant will be convenient hours, a knowledgeable staff, and a safe and beautiful building. In 2001, when the board approached the town about renovating the library, the project was approved on condition that the library provide funds to keep the building well maintained. The library’s capital improvement initiatives list, in place since 2004, is now being updated as part of the plan and, in addition to technology and space initiatives, will include safety considerations such as a needed canopy in front of the handicapped parking area. All such investments are carefully considered with an in-depth review process by the board. We stand firmly on the side of the process the board is following in the review of any excess funds. The process has been thorough and the original timeline is on track. The board will soon be voting on the strategic plan and forwarding it to the state librarian who is the only person able to approve any transfer of excess funds. We serve our residents who gain value from our library’s offerings, beautiful environment, and talented staff. The library is a valuable asset to our town and contributes to our families’ growth and learning and is a positive factor to our real estate values. We are long term residents of the town and are dedicated to continuing to fulfill our fiduciary responsibilities to our library and the taxpayers of Franklin Lakes. We thank you for being such a great library town, where two-thirds of the residents hold a library card. Louise Riccobene, Library Trustee Joseph Leone, Library Trustee Franklin Lakes Dear Editor: I have never written a public endorsement for a candidate for public office. This year, however, I am writing to endorse Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan for mayor of Midland Park. Bud is a dedicated public servant who has always made the residents of Midland Park his first priority. Bud has served in many capacities during his public career. He has been a member of the Midland Park Council for 22 years and council president four times. In addition, Bud previously served on the zoning board for 10 years. He has also been involved in numerous civic and charitable groups including the Midland Park Lions Club, the Midland Park Chamber of Commerce, and Meals on Wheels Bud knows the intricacies of municipal government. He has worked on numerous municipal budgets, and the current excellent financial condition of our community is based on the dedicated and collective efforts of Bud and the current Republican council, which has the sole responsibility to introduce and pass the borough’s annual budget. Midland Park is well-run and efficient. Indeed, faced with very challenging economic conditions, Midland Park can proudly state that it has no debt and has not suffered through any furloughs or layoffs. Midland Park’s independent auditor has described the town’s financial stability as follows: “I’d be hard pressed to find another town in better financial condition.” In addition to his service to the community, Bud and his wife, Janet, have been residents of Midland Park for more than 41 years. They have raised their two boys in our town Board of trustees address question of excess funds and have watched Midland Park prosper. Bud is a Realtor who recognizes the need to keep our costs down and to maintain property taxes at a manageable level. I know and respect the individuals who are challenging Bud and his running mates for council, Councilman Nick Papapietro and Councilman Mike Junta. Nevertheless, while I appreciate their willingness to seek elective office, this is no time for a change. If the clock “ain’t” broke, don’t “fix” it. I urge my neighbors and fellow residents of Midland Park to cast your vote for Bud O’Hagan for mayor and Nick Papapietro and Mike Junta for council. Jim DeLuca Midland Park Dear Editor: As is becoming apparent in all areas of the country, there is a restless unease coming to the surface, a need to change the status quo. To say that this feeling may not be present in Wyckoff is not realistic. For years, this town was governed by one party, seemingly by a group that changed only slightly. In some cases, change only came when one stepped down or left only to be replaced by a relative or associate as if in some sort of monarchy. That finally changed three years ago with the election of Brian Scanlan to the township committee. While, in the past, many issues that affected the community seemed to go through despite the objections of the citizens, seeming to pass with a wink or a handshake deal, many of the people I know said they lacked a voice for their concerns until Mr. Scanlan was elected. When projects like the ravine development or the massive overbuilding at Boulder Run (a project whose stores I boycott even today) were passed despite popular sentiment, I wondered just whom our representative government is representing. Now, with the proposed city within a city Christian Health Care Center mini-town and other open space issues on the agenda, we need a strong voice on the committee more than ever. Mr. Scanlan had made every effort to keep the public informed of all township government actions, represents a thoughtful and balanced viewpoint on the issues facing all of Wyckoff’s residents, and has continued to support the things that make the town an attractive place to live, including working with the other committee members to keep the tax rate from rising. His actions in preserving open space and other environmental issues prove the necessity of reelecting Mr. Scanlan on Nov. 8 to have him continue to work for all the people in town. He deserves it, and so do we. Steve Becker Wyckoff Dear Editor: I am writing in support of the Tom Madigan and Doug Christie Republican team running for the Wyckoff Township Committee. I have known Tom Madigan personally for over 20 years and he is a shining example of what is good about our Wyckoff community. Doug Christie has the same love for Wyckoff, and together Tom and Doug make a perfect pair. Both of these candidates represent conservative family values and the traditions that led us to Wyckoff to raise our families. They are steadfastly committed to maintaining a Wyckoff that is affordable for all residents, especially young families and seniors. We could not ask for two better candidates to represent all of us on the Wyckoff Township Committee. I applaud Tom Madigan and Doug Christie for their many years of volunteerism and their quest to improve and enhance our town. The Madigan and Christie team deserves our support and I urge you to vote for these two fine men on Nov. 8.Vote Column 2. Barbara Giliberto Wyckoff Dear Editor: It has been wonderful to see the preservation of open space become a non-partisan issue in Wyckoff after the passing of the referendum establishing our Open Space Trust Fund in 2006. That fund, which is financed by a tax of approximately $40 annually (based on the average (continued on page 19) Scanlan brings fresh perspective Voting for Madigan and Christie Supports O’Hagan, Papapietro, Junta Support for Scanlan Wyckoff needs to renew open space fund