New Year Brings New Mayor to Wyckoff

At a reorganization meeting on New Year’s Day, the Wyckoff Township Committee appointed Douglas Christie Mayor of the township for 2014.

Each year, the Committee chooses one of its five members to assume the role of mayor. This year will mark Christie’s first in the position.

“Thank you all for your confidence in me,” Christie said after being sworn into the office Wednesday afternoon.

“Wyckoff is an absolutely wonderful town. It is not defined by the number of roads we have, or our wonderful homes, our school system or anything like that. It is defined by the people. People like you and me…We don’t treat each other like citizens, we treat each other like neighbors.”

Christie, a lifelong Wyckoff resident, was elected to the governing body in 2012 and served as Deputy Mayor in 2013. Christie owns and operates a construction company. He’s a 26-year member of the Wyckoff volunteer Fire Department, and has served on numerous boards and committees in the township.

Wednesday, Christie was joined by his wife, two daughters, parents, other family members, friends, and other residents and township officials at a ceremony that welcomed him to the new office, and swore in several other local government officers.

2013’s Mayor Rudy Boonstra, who was reelected to the Township Committee last year, was re-sworn in to his seat on the governing body. Committeeeman and previous township mayor Kevin Rooney was sworn in as deputy mayor for 2014.

Christie commended Wyckoff’s volunteers, including his fellow committeemen, for their service to the township. He also thanked his family members for their support, and acknowledged the family members of the other committeemen.

Christie also highlighted several projects that the committee is planning to work on this year, including installing new sports fields behind the YMCA, working to help fund more open hours and work at the historic Zabriskie House, and creating new zoning ordinances that will limit the construction of “McMansions” by limiting setbacks.

“As for me, I plan to kiss a lot of babies and cut a lot of ribbons,” Christie said.