Ringwood residents questioned on Mar. 27 how Town Manager Scott Heck accumulated more than $813,000 in unused compensatory time and why they were not informed sooner about the growing sum.
The issue has drawn attention to public employee retirement payouts in New Jersey, which have faced criticism from lawmakers and fiscal watchdogs. Residents filled the Passaic County borough’s council chamber earlier this month to seek answers about the payout and oversight of municipal compensation policies.
“How does a town get into a position like this?” resident Travis Potter said at the meeting. “How did you not address this, year after year?” Marc Pfeiffer, a former deputy director of the state Division of Local Government Services and now a Rutgers University professor, said that while such arrangements are uncommon, they do occur in smaller towns. “It’s not like he’s getting something nobody else is getting,” Pfeiffer said.
Large payouts for unused leave are sometimes called “boat checks.” In another case cited during the meeting, West Orange’s former Police Chief James Abbott is entitled to a payout exceeding $787,000 for unused leave after his December retirement; that payment remains under review by state officials and local authorities.
New Jersey set limits on sick leave payouts for newly hired public employees in 2010 but allowed exceptions for long-serving workers. “It didn’t turn the tap off,” Pfeiffer previously told NJ.com. “And so now we’re living with the decisions that were made years ago.”
Town attorney Semeraro addressed what could happen if negotiations over Heck’s contract break down: “If that contract doesn’t go forward, there’s no reason for Mr. Heck to voluntarily give up $500,000,” he told council members. “We have to worry about $800,000 when he retires.” Mayor Jaime Matteo-Landis ended the meeting by tabling discussion of Heck’s proposed contract until April 21.
