What the Heck?
The $800,000 Question: Transparency, Taxes, and the Push for Accountability
The clock has been temporarily paused on a decision that could cost Ringwood taxpayers for decades. On March 12, the Council tabled a vote on outgoing Borough Administrator Scott Heck’s separation agreement. The next Council Meeting is Tuesday, April 21, and at that meeting the municipal budget drops and further cuts are anticipated. As the community prepares for that date, a series of troubling financial disclosures has painted a picture of a borough government operating with minimal oversight and maximum haste.
The "Bombshell" Comp Time Claim
When residents entered the recent council meeting, the public understanding was that the vote concerned standard health benefits. Instead, a bombshell dropped: Scott Heck claimed he was owed over $800,000 in unpaid comp time dating back to 2008.
In a move framed as "goodwill," the Council explained that Heck would waive the cash payout in exchange for a lifetime health benefit package for himself ad his wife. However, the logic behind the $800,000 figure remains thin:
Triple-Hatting: During the period this time was allegedly accrued, Heck simultaneously served as Borough Manager, Director of Public Works, and Head of the Water and Sewer Department.
The Overtime Paradox: Comp time is generated by working beyond 40 hours a week. Critics argue that these positions are most likely exempt from overtime anyway, and when one individual holds an executive role plus two additional roles, there simply aren't enough hours in the day to generate it.
Self-Oversight: Heck effectively oversaw his own hours and approved his own time.
The "15-Minute" Audit: An outside consultant hired to verify these records reviewed various memos. No documentation was shown to the public. No one in that room came away understanding how that number was arrived at or why it should be trusted. That is not an audit. That is a formality designed to look like one.
If the $800,000 claim were truly "bulletproof," one must ask why any individual would walk away from nearly a million dollars in cash. A lifetime health benefit is significantly harder for the state to challenge or "claw back" than a lump-sum payment.
The Semeraro Connection
The push to finalize this deal in Ringwood stands in stark contrast to events in West Orange. Last month, a police chief there retired with a $780,000 payout that was immediately flagged by the State Comptroller.
The attorney advising West Orange to "pump the brakes" and wait for a full investigation is Mark Semeraro. Interestingly, Mark Semeraro is also the Ringwood Borough Attorney currently advising our council to move forward with Heck's agreement.
Why is the same attorney cautious in West Orange but accelerating the process in Ringwood? Furthermore, public records show that Heck and Semeraro share a political history in the Passaic County Regular Republican Organization dating back to the early 2000s. Taxpayers deserve to know if this long-standing partnership is influencing the "fast-track" nature of this deal.
Patterns of Peculiar Spending
The separation agreement is not an isolated incident. It is part of a pattern of financial decisions that bypass traditional checks and balances:
The $1 Million Cash Land Purchase: In 2024, the Borough paid $1,050,000 in cash for the Pagano property—seven times its assessed value. Unlike other land acquisitions that utilize Green Acres or County Open Space grants, Ringwood taxpayers footed 100% of the bill. Despite the rush to buy it, the Borough’s own 2025 Housing Plan admits the land has "zero" realistic development potential.
The Special Counsel Retainer: Former Borough Attorney Richard Clemack was recently appointed as "Special Counsel" at a rate of $3,500 a month ($42,000/year). No clear explanation has been provided as to why the former attorney is being kept on a year-long retainer.
Ignoring the Auditors: The Borough’s own certified public accountants, Nisivoccia LLP, issued a written warning stating that the "concentration of duties and responsibilities in a limited number of individuals is not desirable from a control point of view." This warning appears to have been ignored for years.
The Path Forward: April 21
With the budget release looming and Fieldstone still in disrepair, Ringwood cannot afford "business as usual." The community is not just asking for a vote; it is asking for a fully independent audit—not a 15-minute rubber stamp.
Before the budget is adopted and before lifetime benefits are ratified, we need a real accounting of where the money has gone. This is not a partisan issue; it is a question of basic honesty and the responsible stewardship of public funds.
Your voice still matters. Stay informed, share the facts, and show up on April 21. It’s your money; it’s time to start asking why it’s being spent this way.