Controversial judge declines appointment, By Terry McGahan WEST MILFORD Terence Corcoran, the recently appointed township judge, has turned down the position following criticism of his selection. In a surprise announcement on Wednesday night, Mayor Joseph DiDonato read a letter from Corcoran explaining why the sitting temporary judge decided not to take up the role on a permanent basis. DiDonato read Corcoran’s letter aloud at the council meeting, which said, “ I have made a decision not to accept the appointment. I have decided that in view of the controversy regarding the appointment, it is in my best interest both professional and personal not to accept the office.” Corcoran was officially appointed to the judge’s role on October 11, just two weeks prior to his refusal. Council members Phil Weisbecker and Bob Nolan, along with the local office of the Policemen’s Benevolent Association, had voiced concern at Corcoran’s appointment. The police association was strongest in its criticism of the judge in a letter written earlier this year on June 29 to Police Chief Paul Costello. In the letter, written by the association’s West Milford rep, Detective Joseph Walker, he complained of what he considered Corcoran’s, “ mistakes, and not being knowledgeable about the law.” Nolan said on Thursday, “I think that it’s unfortunate. My “no” vote was in response to the mayor’s decision not to allow councilman Weisbecker and me an opportunity to speak to Judge Corcoran prior to voting on his appointment. It was not a “no” vote for Judge Corcoran’s appointment, but I was left with no other choice after the mayor decided to force the vote that evening.” After the announcement, Mayor DiDonato said that the three-person team who selected Corcoran, council members James Warden, Carmen Scangarello and himself, will meet shortly to consider their next action. While the appointment committee deliberates, Corcoran will remain temporary township Judge. Having been appointed to the position at the start of 2006, due to the retirement of the previous judge, Corcoran will remain there until a permanent replacement is found. More controversy and debate arose at Wednesday night’s meeting surrounding the proposed introduction of a 50-percent reduction in the sales tax for West Milford. The plan, which was initiated by the local Republican Party, would reduce the sales tax charged in town from seven to three-and-a-half percent. The West Milford Republican Party’s vice-chair ,Frank Hannan, announced at the meeting that the idea has now been written into a New Jersey Assembly Bill, A3557, with a complimentary bill in the state senate, S2323. Hannan said of the bill, “It will give a 50-percent exemption in sales tax to municipalities that are 99 percent or above within the preservation zone.” Hannan also said that as well as a boost to local businesses, the bill would increase employment and promote tourism within the town. Weisbecker supported the bill. “I think it’s great,” he said. “I believe this will do wonders for our municipality, and do wonders for our businesses.” Not so eager to see the bill pass are Nolan and Warden. Both believe that the idea is little more than electioneering by Republicans so close to the vote on November 7. Nolan said, “It’s funny that all of a sudden two weeks before the election here comes this bill, and the legislature is not even in session. Where was this bill in the spring when the legislature was in session?” Warden argued that the bill has little chance of passing and that if it did, there would be a damaging effect to the long-standing campaign to introduce a water surcharge tax on the downstate users of West Milford’s water. The bi-partisan effort to create this tax would see much of the funds raised sent to towns like West Milford to alleviate property taxes. Warden said, “The 3.5 per-cent sale tax is nothing more than an election ploy ... If by chance, a one in a million chance, this bill passed, the water surcharge would never be considered, which would make all property tax payers in this town suffer.” The bill will initially be sent to the Environmental and Solid Waste Committee within the state legislature. Hannan is requesting the council pass a resolution supporting the bill and to encourage it passing to the floor of the assembly for a vote.