Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • June 27, 2012 Area The seven Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority commissioners who received dismissal letters from Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan in April will be allowed to retain their jobs, compensation, and benefits. In his ruling, Bergen County Superior Court Judge Alexander Carver III found that Donovan had acted beyond the scope of her authority when she attempted to fire the commissioners for refusing to stop accepting their medical benefits and $5,000 NBCUA commissioners retain jobs, benefits stipends. Judge Carver also overturned Donovan’s vetoes of the authority’s minutes. An appeal of his decision is expected. Earlier this year, the county counsel’s office filed a lawsuit to recover the compensation paid to the seven commissioners since November 2011. The commissioners were charged with accepting the stipends and health benefits despite Donovan’s vetoes, which were upheld by the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services. The NBCUA’s suit challenged Donovan’s vetoes and her right to fire the authority’s commissioners. Before Judge Carver rendered his decision, the Bergen County Board of Freeholders voted unanimously to halt any future pay and benefits to Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority commissioners, thereby rescinding a 1979 ordinance. The seven commissioners who received dismissal letters from Donovan include Chairman William F. Dator of Mahwah, Vice Chairman Michael Kasparian of HoHo-Kus, and Commissioners Brian Chewcaskie of Allendale, Peter Dachnowicz of Waldwick, Frank Kelaher of Ramsey, Marion Plumley of Midland Park, and Jason T. Shafron of Wyckoff. Newly-appointed Commissioners Elizabeth Salazer of Saddle River and Kenneth Gabbert of Upper Saddle River, who had not taken stipends or received health benefits, did not receive the dismissal letter. Wyckoff resident Robert Yudin won his third term as chairman of the Bergen County Republican Organization last week in a hotly-contested election. Yudin was confirmed as the winner after a runoff election on June 21 with Franklin Lakes businessman Anthony Rottino. Yudin, who runs a Wyckoff-based appliance retail establishment, received 438 ballots. Rottino polled 315 votes. The runoff was necessitated as none of the three candidates in the original election for chairman held on June 14 was able to garner more than 50 percent of the ballots. John McCann of Cresskill, the third candidate, is general counsel to Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino. In the first round of voting, Yudin received 283 votes, Rottino 268 and McCann 198. The chairman called for party unity, adding that the focus should now be on the Bergen County Freeholder Board election. There is currently a 5-2 GOP majority on Robert Yudin wins third term as GOP chairman that board, and two seats will be available in this November’s general election. Prior to the election, Yudin pledged that, if he won the runoff, he would appoint McCann as deputy chairman for policy and planning. He said McCann “would be given full authority to appoint members and staff to any committees which he finds necessary to create in order to implement his suggested reforms, which include: establishing a party platform, assisting local candidates with their elections, new voter outreach, charitable and public relations and other items.” WEA scholarships (continued from page 6) International. Doughan, who attended Lincoln Elementary School and Eisenhower Middle School, is the daughter of WEA member Cheryl Doughan. The honoree graduated from Ramapo High School and will enter Boston University in September to pursue a degree in special education. Among Doughan’s many accomplishments are being named Bergen County Volunteer of the Year for two years in a row. She left her mark on Ramapo High School as captain of DECA and the cheerleaders, and through her involvement with other activities including the school newspaper and Academic Decathlon. WEA, a professional organization comprised of faculty and staff of the Wyckoff Public Schools, congratulates the winners and wishes the Class of 2012 the best. Robert Yudin