Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 9, 2013 Wyckoff Boonstra named mayor; DePhillips, Shannon honored by John Koster Wyckoff’s 2013 Mayor Rudy Boonstra and the Wyckoff Township Committee honored Wyckoff Township Administrator Robert Shannon and out-going Mayor Christopher DePhillips and with proclamations at last week’s reorganization meeting. “I love this town...I really love this town,” Boonstra said as he officially began his second term as mayor. He last served in 2010. “I am honored that you have chosen me as your chairman and therefore as your mayor for 2013,” Boonstra told his peers, who approved his appointment unanimously. “I will continue to work hard and tirelessly with my colleagues for the betterment of the community.” Boonstra is a 40-year veteran of the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department and has served on a number of local and school boards. Incumbent Wyckoff Township Committeeman Kevin Rooney and newly elected Committeeman Haakon Jepsen took the oath as members of the governing body. The committee now has four Republican members and one Democrat, Brian Scanlan. Township Committeeman Douglas Christie was named deputy mayor, and Louis Graglia was sworn as the new fire chief. Mike Rose, the former fire chief, will remain on the department, but has been replaced as chief because his new home is outside the immediate area. DePhillips praised Shannon at the head of the list of important public employees, but the special proclamation reportedly came as a surprise to Shannon. The administrator has served since 1984 and is considered one of the top administrators in the county and the state. DePhillips, who opted not to seek reelection, listed the township’s top achievements Administrator Robert Shannon, Township Committeemen Haakon Jepsen and Kevin Rooney, Mayor Rudy Boonstra, Committeemen Brian Scanlan and Douglas Christie, and out-going Mayor Christopher De Phillips. in 2012. Those achievements included the purchase of Russell Farms and the opening of the newly-renovated library. In addition, the committee passed “the leanest budget in northwest Bergen limiting the municipal tax increase to less than one percent. But for the mandated pension and health costs, the budget would have been completely flat, or perhaps even decreased,” DePhillips said. He also mentioned the planning board’s approval of the Wyckoff Parks and Recreation Foundation’s plans to upgrade the township’s fields at Pulis and the board’s approval of the Shop Rite application. He pointed out that the voters approved a referendum to allow raffles in Wyckoff to support the fundraising efforts of non-profit organizations. “The township expanded its complement of shared services by entering into New Milford, with whom we now share our CFO, and with North Haledon, which now shares its electrical subcode officer with us,” DePhillips added. He noted that the township committee approved a new garbage and recycling contract that will save money for the taxpayers. In addition, he said the township restructured the Municipal Alliance and co-sponsored with the Wyckoff schools and the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey a successful program on anti-drug education for the benefit of residents. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the township started a campaign for residents to stay informed through e-mail, reverse 911 calls, and text messaging. He concluded by saying the township had reduced the speed limit on nine municipal roads; sponsored two crime summits to keep residents informed; and in the wake of the Connecticut shooting, partnered with Superintendent (Richard) Kuder to increase patrols at the township schools.