Payment to Former Police Chief Was Focus of Investigation

An attorney hired by the Washington Township Council to review a terminal leave payment has found that there was likely no violation of the state's Local Governments Ethics Law, but did find some discrepancies between how the payment was made and what the Township Charter requires.

Ronald Mondello was hired by the Council to investigate a terminal leave payment of $38,184.90 made to former Police Chief William Cicchetti after they approved a payment of just $24,000.

Mondello submited a synopsis of his findings to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and state Department of Community Affairs at the request of the Council in order for them to "review this matter for any legal infractions and provide direction, if any."

Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said that Cicchetti had wanted a payments totaling $68,000 over three years, according to Mondello's synopsis. During closed session meetings in 2010, Sobkowicz reportedly advocated for payments between $63,000 and $64,000, though the Council favored a sum between $23,000 and $24,000 as calculated by then-CFO Jacqueline Do.

Though Mondello found the state ethics law was likely not violated, he did find that the payment lacked required signatures from the township treasurer, department director and township administrator.

"Based on the evidence, only the Mayor and CFO authorized this payment," Mondello wrote. "The Township Council is concerned that Director Rinaldi, Business Administrator Chen and the Council should have known or been made aware of the exact amount of terminal leave payment."

The Council was "gravely" concerned by Mondello's findings that "a failure to adhere to the Township’s Charter, state laws and regulations exists," Mondello wrote in his synopsis.

Council President Steve Cascio said Mondello's findings were essentially what he expected. The Council will rely on the county and state to continue the investigation, he said.

"They're going to find more, but as a Council we don't have the resources to investigate further," Cascio said.

Sobkowicz said there had been some confusion in 2010 because they didn't have all of Cicchetti's time documented, but the amount ultimately paid was correct.

"He was paid the way he should have been paid," Sobkowicz said. "That's it."

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