Wyckoff October 10, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Ordinance promotes ‘peace and good order’ by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee has introduced an ordinance to promote “peace and good order.” The proposal will be considered for adoption on Oct. 16. Wyckoff Attorney Rob Landel said he drafted the ordinance based on several municipal ordinances from other communities. Landel and Mayor Christopher De Phillips said that due consideration had been exercised to ensure the ordinance did not infringe on Constitutional rights such as free assembly and free speech. The ordinance provides for fines of up to $500 or imprisonment for up to 90 days in the Bergen County Jail for violations. “I have nothing against skate-boarding,” Mayor De Phillips said. “I just don’t want skateboarding into parking spaces when shoppers are trying to park there.” The ordinance is aimed primarily at the newly expanded Boulder Run Shopping Center where, over the summer, two violent incidents involving teens took place. A number of residents have also complained about loitering by teenagers. Members of the township committee have additionally commented on the motorists who park in the Boulder Run parking lot to enjoy the Labor Day fireworks for free. This annual event is a fundraiser for the township’s volunteer fire department. The ordinance would prohibit any interference with motor vehicle traffic or pedestrian traffic in streets, sidewalks, alleys, or the parking lot, as well as “making or uttering unsolicited remarks of an offensive, abusive, profane, disgusting, or insulting nature, or which are calculated to annoy or disturb the person to whom they are made” and “fighting or other conduct disruptive to the public peace.” The ordinance would also forbid “creating, continuing, causing or allowing to be made and loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others.” The governing body’s support for the ordinance was unanimous, and there were no comments from the audience at the introduction. Democratic Township Committee Brian Scanlan joined the four Republican committeemen in approving the text as introduced. “I also support this ordinance very much,” Scanlan said. “I think it’s great to give the police department another tool.” Mayor De Phillps said he was willing to work with Brian Hekemian of Boulder Run to smooth the enforcement process and protect everyone concerned. “We’re not here to ‘get’ them,” Mayor De Phillips said of the Boulder Run merchants. “We’re here to work with them to ensure that the goals of the ordinance are well met.” Aloha from Wyckoff! Residents and staff of The Longview Assisted Living Residence at Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff recently enjoyed a Hawaiian luau. Pictured, from left, are Activity Assistant Yvonne Patton and Longview resident Mary Haywood. (Photo courtesy of Cheryl Wolf.)