Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • January 11, 2012 Waldwick Waldwick resident John O’Dwyer was named the borough’s municipal judge during the New Year’s Day reorganization meeting. His term will expire on Dec. 31, 2014, and he will serve at an annual salary of $12,000. “I am delighted that Mayor Giordano saw fit to appoint me. It’s a natural in my career as an attorney, having appeared in the courts regularly since 1983. Being able to utilize the skills I’ve honed in front of other judges and in other courts will serve the people of Waldwick well,” he noted. “John will serve the Borough of Waldwick as judge with professionalism, dedication and honor, just like all the previous judges before him,” commented Mayor John O’Dwyer named new municipal judge Thomas Giordano. “We are blessed to have this type of men, past and present, in our judicial system here in Waldwick,” O’Dwyer replaces Neale Bedrock, who had filled in the unexpired term left vacant by the retirement of Judge Dennis Lahiff in 2009. The new judge is the senior partner at Ginarte, O’Dwyer, Gonzalez, Gallardo & Winograd, LLP , a Newark law firm which specializes in complex civil litigation including products liability, construction litigation and catastrophic injuries in state and municipal courts. A cum laude graduate of Boston College Law School, he received his BA degree from Alhghey College in Mendville, PA. A long time member and past president of Waldwick Lions Club, O’Dwyer has lived in the borough for 23 years. He and his wife Susan, a former Waldwick councilwoman, have two daughters, Elizabeth and Jackie. Sinclair is Citizen of the Year Participation in the state coop for the purchase of natural gas has not worked out for the Borough of Waldwick, so Borough Administrator Gary Kratz is recommending dropping out of it at this time. “We will monitor it, and we can always go back at a later date. It doesn’t make sense now,” Kratz told the mayor and council last week. The opt-out date for a new contract is Jan. 19. The administrator explained that when the borough joined the NJ SEM coop two years ago, its natural gas prices were lower. Soon thereafter, however, natural gas prices dropped below the coop rates, but the borough was locked into a two-year contract with the SEM. “Not a lot of money, at most Borough to drop out of gas coop 2 percent, but still, for two years in a row, we came out the losers,” Kratz said. He added that he did not know if the situation was a function of the market or the SEM. He recommended going back to PSE&G for the gas. He said he is analyzing electric costs as well and may recommend the same for that service when that contract comes up for renewal. Additionally, Kratz said dealing with the coop necessitates two separate billing services, which makes it harder to track spending. “The separate billing is a ‘pain in the neck’ to reconcile,” he said. “If we are not saving any money, it doesn’t make sense to continue,” he added. Tom Sinclair, left, receives his award from outgoing Mayor Russell “Buddy” Litchult as Sinclair’s wife looks on. Waldwick Ambulance Corps Captain Tom Sinclair has been named the 2011 Citizen of the Year. Outgoing Mayor Russell Litchult announced his selection prior to the annual reorganization meeting on New Year’s Day. An ambulance corps member for the past eight years, Sinclair has logged more than 1,000 emergency service calls. “Now that is dedication,” said Litchult, who praised Sinclair for his dedication in providing the best emergency care possible for Waldwick residents. “For Tom to feel this way, it shows that he has gone above and beyond his scope of responsibility,” Litchult added, pointing out that Sinclair was honored at the Valley Hospital EMT of the Year in 2006.