Unsuccessful Candidate Appointed To Regional School Board Wyckoff Seat

WYCKOFF, NJ — Brian DeLaite, who lost his bid for a seat from Wyckoff on the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education, was just appointed to fill a vacancy resulting from James Setteducato's resignation earlier this year.

DeLaite had interviewed for Setteducato's seat at Monday's school board meeting just before another candidate Michael Homaychak, who is on the Wyckoff Planning Board. The regional school board convened an executive session to deliberate, and then returned to vote 4-2 to approve DeLaite over Homaychak.

Board President John Carolan and member Robert Fortunato recused themselves from discussion and vote, citing conflicts of interest, and Board Secretary Thomas Lambe said that a majority, or four, of the remaining board members was needed for approval.

Board member Judith Sullivan, who voted against the motion to approve DeLaite, formally objected to way in which the appointment vote was conducted, stating that she had a different interpretation of board policy relating to voting when members abstain.

Sullivan and member Marianna Emmolo voted against approval of DeLaite to fill the seat vacated by Setteducato, who resigned, effective Sept. 29. Setteducato was elected to the seat in 2020, and his term was set to expire in December 2023.

DeLaite had just ran to fill one of the two seats being vacated by Carolan and Fortunato, who decided not to run for re-election this year. Yet DeLaite, running together with Edward Seavers, lost by several hundred votes to another slate of newcomers — Thomas Bogdansky and Doreen Mariani — according to the County Clerk's Office unofficial vote tally.

Monday's appointment of DeLaite was met with criticism from some audience members, who spoke of his recent electoral loss and referenced Homaychack's past board experience as reason to appoint him over DeLaite.

"The Wyckoff public told you that (DeLaite) wasn't welcomed here, but you don't listen. You don't care," one person said during the public comment period. "The people have spoken, but you don't care. You are in a vacuum."

"Shame on you," another person said. "I cannot believe you just chose someone over someone else who had all the right experience. Do you see what you are doing? You are losing your majority. But you are going to hold out to the bitter end and make every wrong choice for the district."