Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • June 22, 2011 Ramsey The Ramsey Knights of Columbus recently held the 34th Annual Shield Awards to recognize outstanding individuals from the borough’s five emergency service departments. Each individual was chosen by his or her organization for contributions and meritorious service. This year’s recipients included Lieutenant Sean Matro, Public safety officials receive Shield Awards Ramsey Ambulance Corps; Lieutenant Jonathan Krehel, Ramsey Fire Department; Stephen Goeller, RN, Ramsey Office of Emergency Management; Patrolman Paul Vassallo, Ramsey Police Department; and Lieutenant Richard VanDerWall, Ramsey Rescue Squad. Guest speakers at the ceremony were Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan and Ramsey Mayor Chris Botta. Council Members Deirdre Dillon, Vanessa Jachzel, Kenneth Tyburczy, and Harry Weber also participated in the ceremony. “As a long-time member of three of the five departments, it is always a privilege and pleasure to honor such dedicated public safety professionals, in what is certainly a dangerous and draining field,” stated Grand Knight and Shield Award Chairman Michael Adams. The Knights of Columbus Shield Awards were started in May 1977 to honor an outstanding member of the Ramsey Fire Department and the Ramsey Police Department. Over the years, the Ramsey Ambulance Corps, OEM, and Rescue Squad have been included. Each agency chooses its own recipient using various selection processes. Additional information about the Shield Awards is available online at ramseykofc.org. Botta named interim attorney by John Koster Harold Cook III, the attorney for the Wyckoff Zoning Board of Adjustment, has tendered his resignation as a contract employee of Wyckoff pending the outcome of the investigation for offenses allegedly committed elsewhere, without conceding any guilt in the charges against him. Christopher Botta, Esq., the current mayor of Ramsey, has been appointed the zoning board’s attorney on an interim basis. “He was an outstanding board of adjustment attorney and I can understand that he needs the time to get his other problems straightened out,” Wyckoff Township Committeeman Rudy Boonstra, the governing body’s liaison to the board of adjustment, said of Cook. “I certainly wish him well.” Boonstra said Cook has also resigned from his posts as municipal magistrate in Ringwood, Wanaque, Haledon, and North Haledon. Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney concurred with Boonstra’s good wishes, but had no further comment. Rooney had previously praised Cook’s knowledge of land use law. Salvatore Alfano delivered a letter to Wyckoff Board of Adjustment Chairman Douglas Christie on June 13, effectively submitting Cook’s resignation. “I represent Harold Cook,” Alfano wrote. “As you know, the disciplinary counsel for the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct has filed a complaint against Judge Cook. Although Judge Cook intends to vigorously defend himself and address any concerns the committee has, he is concerned about the deleterious impact the allegations in this complaint in and of themselves may have on the orderly (continued on page 25) Shield Award recipients and well-wishers pause for a group photo at the awards ceremony.