New Mayor Selected, Committee Seat Remains Vacant In Wyckoff

WYCKOFF, NJ — Inside a crowded town hall on New Year's Day, the fate of local government leadership in Wyckoff was to be decided for the year 2023.

A reorganization meeting of the Wyckoff Township Committee adjourned with a new mayor, yet a vacancy on the dais remained, as the committee deadlocked 2-2 on selecting whom should take the empty seat.

Tom Madigan, a four-term committee member, was voted in by committee colleagues to become Wyckoff's new mayor for a one-year term. Former Mayor Rudy Boonstra, who was just sworn in for another three-year committee term, passed the gavel to Madigan, whom Boonstra had nominated to take over.

"It is my honor and pleasure to nominate my friend, (Madigan), for Mayor," Boonstra said at the meeting. "(He) is, more than anyone else I can think of, qualified to be Mayor in 2023. Plus, he loves Wyckoff — that I know."

Madigan, who has lived in Wyckoff for 40 years and has raised seven children in town, demonstrates a deep commitment to the community, Boonstra said. He served as mayor in 2019, and on the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional Board of Education for 14 years.

"I would like to ensure residents that the governing body will continue to meet challenges in the coming year, and will do so honestly, openly and fairly, guided by a simple and shared goal of making our community a better place to live," Madigan said, as he thanked his colleagues and residents.

The vote to appoint Madigan as mayor passed without debate, yet the question over who would fill the seat vacated by Rubenstein, who resigned in early December, pitted committee members against one another.

Committeemen Boonstra and Timothy Shanley favored Scott Fisher, while Madigan and committeeman Peter Melchionne preferred Mae Bogdansky.

Both candidates, the committee said, are well-qualified, active in the community and have worked for the township in various capacities. But still the committee could not break the deadlock, and the selection of whom will fill the seat will now be decided by the Bergen County Republican Committee.

"This was a tough vote," Shanley said. "(The township committee) has had discussions back and forth, and we could not come to a consensus. (Bogdansky) is a good person to serve on the committee, but I believe (Fisher) is a better choice."

Shanley said that Fisher, in interviews with the committee, identified specific problems the township is facing. Bogdansky, on the other hand, who received praise from Melchionne for her work experience, would, the councilman said, give a good replacement to Rubenstein as another "qualified woman," thus showing diversity on the council and in Wyckoff.

"I appreciate the sentiments," Boonstra said to Melchionne. "But there are complicating factors and differing opinions here. So, while it pains me, I (like Shanley) am going to vote 'No' on this."

Bogdanski and Fisher traded compliments during a public commenting period at the end of the meeting, promising to respect the county committee's decision.

"I wholeheartedly believe Scott would do just as good a job as I would in the seat," Bogdanski said. "I think whatever the decision, it is a win-win."

"I echo (Bogdanski's) comments," Fisher said. "I support (her) 100% and think she would do a fantastic job. Whatever the decision is, I know she and I will serve equally and support each other."

The 20-member county committee, which nominated three candidates — including Bogdanski and Fischer — for appointment to the open town committee seat, is statutorily obligated to make a final decision within two weeks.

"I am confident that the committee will value the public's input," Madigan said, "and I look forward to when (the members) decide."