Madigan Appointed to Zoning Board Despite Scanlan Objection

The Township's governing body appointed former committeeman Thomas Madigan to a 1-year second alternate position on the Wyckoff Zoning Board on Tuesday despite protest from that board's liaison.

Brian Scanlan, the lone Democrat on the committee, said he was left out of the appointment process despite being appointed the liaison to the land use board.

The first Scanlan heard of Madigan's appointment was via a telephone call Monday afternoon from Mayor Chris DePhillips, Scanlan said. 

Madigan was recently cleared of charges that he .

A longtime Wyckoff resident, Madigan had served 12 years on the Ramapo-Indian Hills Board of Education, as well as the township's Recreation Commission and, during his tenure as committeeman, as its liaison to the Environmental Commission.

"I have a problem with the absence of process," Scanlan said before a vote on Madigan's appointment. "I'm supposed to be the liaison to the zoning board and this is a zoning board appointment."

Scanlan said he was surprised that the appointment appeared on the agenda without discussion between himself and committee members. 

"I recognize I'm one vote out of five, but it would have been nice to have had a process here," Scanlan said.

Scanlan also expressed concern that other candidates were not properly vetted by the committee. 

"I would have liked to have cast a wider net in terms of filling this appointment," Scanlan said before praising Madigan's record of community service. 

Scanlan, who never criticized Madigan's record of service, said two candidates in particular had resumes that were noteworthy. 

One candidate was on track to receive a master's degree in city and regional planning from the Edward J. Bloustien School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers. The other applicant, Scanlan said, holds a master's from the Columbia School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, and is member of American Planning Association.

"Those are applications we received just a few months ago, and to my knowledge those candidates were not even considered,"  Scanlan said.

Committeeman Doug Christie, who served as the Wyckoff Zoning Board's chairman, rebuked Scanlan, saying Madigan's appointment was apt.

"One of the things you look for most in a candidate is someone that understands the community, understands Wyckoff , and wants to preserve the history that we have here." Christie said Tuesday. "Tom's been a member of our community for 27 years, he's raised seven children in this town."

While the candidates Scanlan mentioned are "book smart," Christie continued. "I don't know if they have the long history that we have here [with Madigan.]"

"He understands the community, he knows what we try to achieve here within the community, and he knows of the bucolic beauty that our community has," Christie said.

Committeeman Kevin Rooney also strongly supported the majority decision to tap Madigan, saying he understood Scanlan's objections but that Madigan's many positive qualities qualities were too hard to overlook. 

"[Madigan has] proven himself as a leader," Rooney said. "He's a diligent, hard worker; he's a quick learner; and I know when he sinks his teeth into something he doesn't let go until he has a full understanding and grasp of it."

The committee voted 4-1 to approve Madigan's 1-year appointment; Scanlan was the lone vote against.

The Township Committee , the vote was 3-0 in favor of his appointment — Scanlan was absent and traveling on business.

Madigan served the remainder of Connolly's term and lost his bid to sit a full term on the committee last year when Wyckoff residents .

Madigan's future was uncertain within the township  in November 2010 alleging that Madigan slapped her 17-year-old son at an 

Madigan got his day in court and was initially found guilt of simple assault last November, but a superior court judge overruled the decision last month.

His 1-year appointment is a non-voting position unless the land use board doesn't have quorum. 

The complete zoning board roster includes Mark Borst, Carl Fry, Jerry Lombardo, Robert Decker, Jim Donkersloot, Erik Ruebenacker, Susan Yudin, first alternative Haakon Jepsen, board attorney John Spizziri, and now Madigan.

The committee appointed Madigan's son, Michael Madigan, to the Design Review Advisory Committee at this year's reorganization meeting.