Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • April 25, 2012 Wyckoff Resident expresses concern after receiving e-mail by John Koster Several members of Wyckoff’s governing body told a concerned resident his privacy was safe after John Unglert protested what he said was an unsolicited e-mail from Township Committeeman Brian Scanlan. Scanlan was not present at the meeting. Unglert used the term “self-promotion” several times, and said he had not intended to be placed on an e-mail list to receive return messages when he made rare email comments to officials in Wyckoff. Mayor Christopher De Phillips concurred that the privacy of Wyckoff residents should be respected and protected from unsolicited e-mails. Mayor De Phillips, an attorney, asked that comments regarding Scanlan be curtailed until Scanlan was present to defend himself. Scanlan, who was contacted after the meeting, denied any wrong-doing and indicated that he found the incident puzzling. Unglert, a resident who sometimes attends public meetings, rose to protest the fact that he had received an unsolicited e-mail full of rather general local information from Scanlan. The committeeman apparently sent the e-mail to a number of residents. Most of the Scanlan e-mail discussed information already covered by Wyckoff press releases to newspapers and on the Web, and there were no hostile comments about other township committee members or candidates. However, Unglert said Scanlan should not have listed the count of 239 Wyckoff residents who had used West Bergen Mental Healthcare’s facilities last year. Although no names were mentioned, Unglert said that was a violation of residents’ right to privacy. Unglert particularly objected to Scanlan’s mention of GeesePeace, a group that locates nesting geese and dunks their fertile eggs in oil to prevent further incubation and eventual hatching. Scanlan had written: “If you have seen Canada geese on your property (especially pairs), please contact me if you are interested in having volunteers from GeesePeace visit to look for nests and oil eggs as we attempt to reduce geese population growth.” All four committee members present at last week’s meeting said GeesePeace is not officially sponsored by the Wyckoff Township Committee, as the e-mail could be read to imply. “They have a home in my back yard, and that’s fine with me,” Committeeman Kevin Rooney said of the geese. “I don’t want anyone in my yard oiling eggs or disturbing nesting couples.” Committeeman Rudy Boonstra also concurred with Unglert’s dismay at receiving an unrequested e-mail from a local political figure. “I don’t think it’s at all proper…to cherry pick e-mails,” he said. Mayor De Phillips told Unglert and the dozen other people in the audience, most of whom were there for other matters, that Scanlan’s e-mail was not recognized as an official publication by the Wyckoff Township Committee. The mayor also confirmed that Wyckoff has not endorsed GeesePeace. “At least for myself…the commentary was not an authorized commentary,” De Phillips said. “Your personal information, to the extent that it is reflected in your emails, is safe with us.” After the meeting, Scanlan said Unglert had given him an e-mail address when Scanlan was campaigning for re-election. Scanlan said he did not share e-mail information with anyone and used an e-mail program that made it easy to unsubscribe to his e-mail. “My entire approach to being an elected public official is to be as transparent as possible, and I will certainly note change,” Scanlan said. “I hope that the comments made by my colleagues were not politically motivated; frankly, we should be focused on setting the policies to run the town as smoothly as possible and at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayer.” This year, Wyckoff’s Republican County Committee election will feature contests in Districts 1, 2, 7, and 9. In each district, voters are asked to select one male and one female committee representative. These representatives are charged with various duties, the most important of which is the selection of a replacement when a Republican leaves before his or her term has expired on the Republican County Committee election features contests Township Committee. They also vote on the biannual selection of the Bergen County Republican chairman. The chairman determines which candidates may be listed on the official Republican Party line, “Republicans for Responsible Government”, in the June primary election. Wyckoff resident Robert Yudin has served as the Bergen County Republican chairman since 2008. In District 1, Sabaudin Skenderi is running against Lou Graglia, a four-year incumbent. Graglia is listed on the party line with his running mate, Lisa LoRusso, a newcomer. In District 2, Kathy Scarpelli, a county committee member since 2000, had filed a joint petition to run with former mayor David Connolly on the “Republicans for Responsible Government” line. However, the chairman split the candidates, with only Connolly receiving the party line. Subsequently Connolly and Scarpelli asked to be listed together on the party line as they had filed, were denied, and Connolly decided to leave the line. Late last week challengers Dana Christie and Ken Porro were granted the party line on the ballot. Connolly and Scarpelli will run on a new line, “Republicans for the Future”. In District 7, Yudin did not grant the party line to incumbent Joe Schuh, a 30year county committee veteran. Yudin assigned his own name to the party line instead. Municipal Republican Chairman Drita McNamara retained the party line in District 7. In District 9 newcomers Susan and Joel Winton have received the party line. Also running is former Wyckoff Republican League President Bob Kane, a newcomer to the county committee. Kane will run on the “Republicans for the Future” line along with Connolly and Scarpelli.