To the editor: Every member of the West Milford Township Council will inevitably encounter an actual or perceived conflict of interest at some point in time during his/her term. After all, the council deals with issues that are specific to their hometown ...their passions, their neighbors, their friends and even their foes. It is for this reason that the council has the right, and indeed the duty, to abstain from votes where a potential bias or lack of impartiality exists. Councilmen James Warden (D) and Bob Nolan (D) recently recused themselves from voting on an issue pertaining to the SOS organization. Although neither required nor requested, they simultaneously announced the reasons for their conflicts as well. Despite this fact, their motives were recently questioned by a fellow council member (R) at a council meeting as well as in the newspapers. I find this troublesome for three reasons. Firstly, where uncertainty exists, it is solely up the individual councilman to know, in his heart, whether he can or cannot be impartial. Nobody else can make that determination. Secondly, instead of criticizing those that choose the righteous path, shouldn’t we focus on councilmen that do have conflicts of interest, deceive the public they serve, decide not to recuse themselves, and vote on issues despite their conflicts? Lastly, it seems apparent that partisan politics interferes with even the most honorable actions taken by our council members and needs to be eliminated from the West Milford government as soon as legally possible. Councilmen Warden and Nolan were responsible in their actions. It is, therefore, a shame that an attempt was made to impede good government and discredit their ethical decision. Bettina Bieri (R) West Milford