Dear Editor:

At the April 17th Council meeting, a local resident questioned how the former Ringwood Republican Municipal Leader/ ex- mayor suddenly became the Deputy Borough Manager at a salary of $60,000 per year. The resident’s feeling was that it basically stunk of back room politics and “did not pass the sniff” test.  Even though Mayor Davison could do no more than dance around the question of how many, if any, other candidates were ever considered for the position, he was “proud to be sitting next to such a worthy person” for the job. Of course he missed the entire point…it was not about whether or not Mr. Heck is worthy of the position…it had to do with process and open government. Mayor Davison’s view might have been tainted by the fact that on one side of him sat the former Republican municipal leader earning $60,000 of taxpayer money in a job that the town never had previously as a separate position.  On his other side sat the Republican Club Attorney who received a 35% increase in retainer fee over the previous attorney. Or perhaps he remembered that when he left his job at the County, his republican cronies on the council rushed to his aid and forced then Borough Manager/ Clerk Kathy Cencicola out to create a $100,000 plus per year job for good Ol’ Walt. In municipal government, forcing someone out is a misnomer; it really means buying someone out. For example, in that case, taxpayer dollars were used to pay for her health coverage in Florida for several years. As far as I know, we the taxpayers are still paying the bill, just so the “boys” could provide a job for one of their own. It’s all part of the Republican “Friends and Family” program in Ringwood.

Next thing you know, they’ll be buying the present DPW director out so Mr. Heck can take over that department and increase his already inflated salary. Don’t forget, he likely falls into the old politician’s trick. Since having served on the council, he likely has 12 years in the pension system, a system where the payout is based on your highest three years of earning. So work three years at full salary and get retirement pay as if you had 15 years of service. Nice deal if you can get it. Again, all part of the Republican “Friends and Family” program.  Cronyism is a live and well and flourishing in Ringwood. Now we know what was meant by their campaign slogan “Getting Ringwood Back on Track”.

Tom Mac Allen
Ringwood, NJ