Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • June 12, 2013 Wyckoff Smoking ban expansion tabled for review by John Koster The Wyckoff Township Committee has tabled the proposed expansion of the ban on public smoking that would have covered sports bleachers and dugouts and Russell Farm trails when the new park opens. “There are so many gray areas in this ordinance that I’m having trouble with it,” Township Committeeman Kevin Rooney said last week. Addressing Township Committeeman Brian Scanlan, he added, “I do agree with you, Brian, that nobody should be blowing smoke in some kid’s face or some coach’s face....But in the parking lot?” “I think we can carve out an exception for the parking lot. That could be done,” Scanlan said. The ordinance was tabled for some revisions, such as possibly allowing smokers to use the parking lots of sport facilities, but not the bleachers or dugouts, and including the outside areas of the Larkin House, a donated building used for group meetings, in the smoking ban. Susan Winton, a resident, said she does not like smoking and is allergic to cigarette smoke, but that she was shocked by attempts to control the outdoor air. She said this is outside the purview of responsible government. “Somewhere, people have to have the right to do what they want,” Winton said from the audience. “I’m allergic to smoke. I’m offended by it, but I can walk away...The air is outside. We don’t own the outside air. I think it’s presumptuous to pass an ordinance on this.” Haakon Jepsen, the newest member of the township committee, opened the debate on the dais by asking if the ordinance had been thoroughly researched. “It’s not all playground and it IS open air,” Jepsen said. “I don’t smoke. I’m not in favor of smoking, but there are residents in town who don’t have children.” Jepsen questioned Wyckoff Township Attorney Robert Landel on the dimensions of the smoking restriction ordinance. Landel explained that, while the Wyckoff Board of Education has a policy against any smoking on school property, a board policy is not the same as a municipal ordinance. Landel said, and Wyckoff Township Administrator Robert Shannon confirmed, that the K-8 school board policy against smoking would have to be bolstered by a binding municipal ordinance before the Wyckoff Police Department could enforce it. “Our police department does not enforce school policy. Our police department enforces our own ordinances,” Landel explained. Rooney -- who pointed out that no one on the township committee smokes -- pondered the problem of a person who smokes who had been hired to clean up a Wyckoff public building. The individual understood he could not smoke inside the public building, but ventured out to the parking lot for a cigarette. Rooney said some consideration might be shown for people who smoke, as long as the contact with smoke did not involve sports fans or pedestrians having cigarette smoke blown in their faces at the sports fields or parks. The proposed Wyckoff ordinance now tabled for review states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke within the boundary of the parks, parklands, parkways, park areas, or playgrounds defined in Section 146-4 of this chapter. To the extent possible, ‘Smoke Free Zone’ signs shall be clearly, sufficiently, and conspicuously posted at (continued on page 24) Five candidates, including two incumbents, have filed for the three available seats on the Wyckoff Board of Education. The candidates filed by last week’s June 4 deadline, and will compete for the public’s endorsement in the Nov. 5 general election. Christopher DellaPietra, an attorney; and Samir Tameja, a physician, will be seeking reelection. The field of candidates also includes Robert Buono, a maintenance supervisor with the Borough of Ramsey and Wyckoff special policeman and volunteer fireman and contractor who has run previously; Nicholas Mamola, a marketing executive; and Barry Houldsworth, a technology executive. J. KOSTER Five candidates vie for three seats Police arrest man for heroin possession On June 1 at 8:43 a.m., Wyckoff Police Lieutenant David Murphy, who was off-duty at the time, spotted a man in a vehicle in the Wyckoff Community Park area who appeared to be either asleep or in need of medical attention. Wyckoff Police Sergeant Michael Ragucci and Patrolman Mark Tagliareni responded to the call. The man in the car was indentified as a 38-year-old Oakland resident and former Wyckoff business owner. During the investigation, an empty packet used to store heroin was uncovered in the vehicle and another packet containing heroin was found in the man’s wallet. He was arrested and charged with possession of heroin and released on his own recognizance. He faces a municipal court appearance this month. In an unrelated incident on May 30, Patrolman William Plisich saw a vehicle traveling on Wyckoff Avenue and repeatedly crossing the center lane into the lane for oncoming traffic. The vehicle was stopped and a 21-yearold Wyckoff man was arrested for DWI and charged with refusing a breath test, driving while intoxicated, and several motor vehicle violations. He was released to a friend and will appear in municipal court. In separate incidents, two men were charged with contempt of restraining orders for harassing ex-girlfriends who live in Wyckoff.