New Committee Member Madigan Praised as 'Pillar of the Community'

Throughout his nearly three decades in Wyckoff, when Thomas Madigan has seen a need for his service, he's just about always raised his hand, ready and willing to volunteer. So when a seat opened on the Township Committee, Madigan knew what he had to do.

"The timing was right for me. I'm enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve," Madigan said today.

The governing body unanimously selected Madigan Tuesday to serve the remainder of former Committeeman Dave Connolly's term, which runs through 2011. He will be sworn in next Tuesday at Town Hall.

Madigan is anxious to get started. "I'm looking forward to listening and rolling up my sleeves and getting to work," he said.

The longtime volunteer was selected from a field of three candidates forwarded by the Republican county committee. While governing body members said they were glad to have a qualified field to choose from, with Erik Ruebenacker and Christine Becker under consideration, Madigan's history in the township gave him the edge.

"One of the things that made the decision relatively easy for me is his long history of service," said Committeeman Kevin Rooney. "Tom has shown his leadership."

Mayor Rudy Boonstra said, "I think he's the right person. We're all very pleased he's willing to step into Dave (Connolly's) considerable shoes."

"I have an extraordinarily high opinion of Tom," said Committeeman Chris DePhillips, who also called Madigan a "pillar of the community."

Madigan, a graduate of Stonehill College in Massachusetts and an accounts executive at CEI Packaging in Teterboro, has given his time to many segments of the community. He's served on the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education, is a past governor of the Wyckoff-Midland Park Rotary Club, has been active with the Wyckoff Education Foundation, the Ramapo APTS and the Ramapo Music Parents Association, to name just a few.

An active parishioner at St. Elizabeth's Church, Madigan and his wife Mary have hosted ill children from other countries as part of the Rotary's Gift of Life program and has helped grant more than $10,000 in scholarships to RIH students via the Elizabeth "Bitsy" Madigan Scholarship Fund.

"Service is in his blood," DePhillips said."The Madigan family is so generous and giving."

"The care factor to the community and his willingness to put in the time commitment really swayed me," Rooney said.

Madigan said his background will help him quickly acclimate to the work of the governing body, as most community issues are "pretty familiar" to him. He said the current Township Committee has put a new emphasis on transparency and said his personality is suited to an open atmosphere.

"What you see is what you get with me," he said, while describing himself as "pretty candid.

"I always try to be respectful and listen to others' thoughts and opinions," Madigan said.

The appointment process by which Madigan was selected is mandated by statute, with the GOP committee having the responsibility, as the majority party on the governing body, with selecting qualified residents to serve.

DePhillips said he also has "an extremely high opinion of Erik (Ruebenacker) and Christine (Becker)," and believes they would have made fine additions to the governing body. However, "Tom was the most ready to serve now," DePhillips said.

"He'll be a great addition to the board."

The committee has not yet decided in what areas Madigan will serve, as each governing body member has several subcommittee and liaison assignments. However, Madigan will have to leave his current post as a recreation commission member, appointed by the Township Committee.

"We'll probably have to take a look at realigning some of them (liaison assignments)," Boonstra said.

Madigan said he doesn't have a preference and would gladly take whichever responsibilities are assigned.

All the members say their familiarity with each other will help the newly constituted governing body get to work without much of an adjustment period.

"We've known him and been accustomed to him as a friend," Rooney said, with DePhillips adding that "anyone who knows Tom knows how good-natured he is and his care for Wyckoff."

"I expect to have a great working relationship," Madigan said.

The new member's calendar may be full with a variety of volunteer work, but he said he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Tom is the type of person you want to have on the governing body," DePhillips said.