Who the heck is running this town!

No wonder the parking authority runs at a loss....classic....

Yeah but the candy machines are kickin it

my 1st instinct is, innocent until proven guilty...

meanwhile, lives are in danger as people continue to be run down in the CBD. Ridgewood Police are hard at work chasing quarters

If found guilty he should be fired and how about a $10,000 fine,then see if it was worth all those quarters.

Rumor has it he posted bail in quarters! ;)

The real question is, why is a public works inspector making $86k? (plus ridiculous pension, etc)

$86K as a DPW inspector after 8 years on the job. Add on healthcare and pension benefits and the village of Ridgewood and the tax paying citizens are paying out over $110K annually to compensate this man for his efforts. So as a token of his thanks, to God, country and fellow citizens he decides to steal from them.

I hope for his sake and his families the charges are proven to be unsubstantiated but if they are let me know where to apply I know many people who would be more than happy to do that job for $20K.

What does this guy do; to warrant getting paid $86,000.00. Police officers in
NYC get paid far less for risking their lives.

It does not surprise me, because we pay the Superintendent of Schools and the BOE
$250,000.00 each per year and they do absolutely nothing. Thank the Lord I'm moving out of this town.

Forget the stealing of quarters, how about the fact a public works employee with 8 years of service making 86k,,,, that is a bigger crime...no wonder the taxes are so high in Ridgewood

What about the dimes ?
where are all the dimes?
I put dimes in the meters...where are they?

oh boy the town of ridgewood is really going down the tubes, this guys make 86000 a year for doing almost nothing in the town for the dpw and he is stealing quarters. if you live in this town you should begin to question who is in charge of running things. it sounds like the village that used to be is starting to turn to a town that is more like hackenscak or bergenfield.

i guess the police are dealing with this nonsense instead of handling real issues that must need to be addressed

$86K to empty meters???

they need to do better background checks? It seems like you do not even need a high school diploma to get a town job.

An independent review of the Village's procedures associated with the collection, storage, and protection of cash assets seems to be in order. Coupled with this review, procedures related to routine security audits, if any exist, should also be examined.

lol craig

One detail that is missing here,
What was the amount of money involved?
The amount of the pilferred ($500 I believe was the amount) repored at the North Jersey Media News. .

What are the internal controls of cash that flow thru the process? And can they be improved upon?

Why is this man making so much money ??
The Parking Authority can 't be closed because it is the personal piggy bank for Village employees

If they find out that he did take it, he should sue the Village for "temptation beyond reason." Leaving cash in a room, not under lock and key and in a safe, is just plain stupid.

I don't think the Village can come up with an accurate amount of money stolen,and i will wager good money this has been going on for quite awhile..AND it wouldn't surprise me if they state otherwise

Perhaps, this case should not be heard in our local Municipal Court.
If the amount of the alleged theft is well over $500 the case should be transfered to the County Court.

If not, perhaps that is why it is being heard in the Ridgewood Court.
Can we get more detail information?

It appears we have all should have become Public Works Inspectors, 8-9 years $86k plus overtime another $10k or more plus 14 holidays plus 25 days vacation. Always 8 hours or less, expect when collecting overtime. Please sign me up I have a MBA would love to inspect stuff in Ridgewood, please where do I send my resume for that gig?

Talk to the mayor next time the contract negotiations take place. He just handed over $100,000 to Nancy Greene and Co. at the library to pay union salary increases. The new boss, same as the old boss.....

Is this the second or third parking related arrest of Village employees? Now, I think we know why there is such resistance to the automated, credit-card accepting parking meters that other towns use. I think a movement towards a system that electronically tracks receipts would be harder for rank and file employees to game. Our Mayor's first responsibility on this one is to make sure that if this person is found guilty, that they are fired, that they surrender all retirement benefits related to their service in the Village and that they make restitution to the Village for any missing funds, we don't mind if it's in quarters.

I am from hawthorne and know this family very well they are nothing but giving people and I for one do not believe a word of these accusations. No one should cast judgement.....everyone is innocent until proven guilty. And if your not happy in the town you live in then move out.

I'm missing something here. The article says he is charged with 4th degree theft but also states the amount is OVER $500 per police. When you look up 4th degree theft it seems to say that charge covers $200 UP TO $500.

So, which is it- can anyone clarify? If it's over $500, why this charge?

One place with that info (there are many) is here:
http://essexcountynjcriminalattorneys.wordpress.com/about/nj-shoplifting-charges-and-theft-arrest/

Seems that in many cases 4th degree can get "pre-trial intervention" and upon completion of a program, such a charge can be dismissed (!) see links below, I'm not a lawyer.

http://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/possible-punishment-sentence-for-4th-degree-theft--9133.html

More on "pre-trial intervention" here.
http://www.mercercountycriminallawyer.com/Pre-Trial-Intervention.shtml

Apparently, under some circumstances a conviction can even be expunged from a person's record. See link below:
http://bergencountynjcriminallawyer.com/offenses/expungements/pti-conditional-discharge/
(whoever wrote that stuff could use some spelling help...)

A video by a lawyer about PTI is here:
http://criminallawyerinnj.com/pre-trial-intervention-new-jersey/

Um.. in a word, wow.... Maybe other readers can shed more light on all this.

I'd love a job like that and would do it for half his salary... Seems as if Golden Ridgewood is starting to lose ground among those that live in the surrounding towns a lot of people looking down their noses and moving to other towns closer and with less BS that seems to be going on... What happened to the RW I loved within 15 years of living around here??

sorry glenrocking....that was lost a long time ago and the current mayor and council have even bigger plans to advance their agenda......

well I would love to know who of you are with a crime in your past. anyone on here ever take things home from work? pens,paper,small supplies. but that's ok everyone is better then the next guy right. you are all so perfect. maybe instead of complain about how much one person made you should have made better choices or spent more time away from your family to earn 86,000 dollars a year. hypocritical babies all of you.

Remember the management level employee from DPW who took wood chipper to home in Ringwood area after storm a few yrs back, well we can see nothing has changed. When will the town see that hard work pays off and that throwing money at problems is just not going to work!? That's what are kids need to know.

Mr. Rica, Why Were You Do This? You Are Already Making So Much Money Already?

I know Thomas Rica and have always found him to be an honest hard working Village employee.
Innocent till proven guilty!
Lets give him his day in court.

I too know the Rica family and they are wonderful people. I too believe we are innocent until proven guilty. Yes, give him his day in court. But too, people remember we all are human..... You know those that live in glass houses should not throw stones... lets please be sensitive to his situation and respect, his family during this time. He does have a beautiful family, great wife with 3 young children . People should worry about their own life and if they have nothing nice to say ... then say nothing...My thoughts and prayers are with the family ... no matter what the outcome of this situation.... We live , We learn... we fall, we get up .... but most of all we get through hard times with our God and loving people around us , not the insecure people who enjoy watching others go down.!!!!

Is this employee still working or has he been suspended while under investigation?

Cyndi, you bring up many things for people to consider. Charity being one of them.
I can only hope the charges against your friend prove to be false.
That said, people need to reach out before they break the law.
Many people struggle to earn an living and provide for their family, young or old.
A very small number decide to break the law.
Recently a man in Glen Rock embezzled over $50,000 from his neighbors through a local soccer club. He has small children. But he decided to do what he did. He chose that route. He had his hand slapped (He just has to pay back the money.) To me and others he broke the trust we have with each other. No one is perfect. But most of us chose to live within the law.
If one choses to work for the public, and then they are charged with a crime (embezzling public funds,) the public will let you know their frustration with our society and the individual involved. It is the land of free speech. (sort of.)

Tom Rica is one of the most honesty and kind hearted men I have ever met. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. I am proud to call him my friend...innocent and will be proven innocent!!!

He can only be proven not guilty if he goes to trial. Or the charges can dismissed. I hope you are right, Miriam.

Me too...but I have all the faith in the world that all charges will be dropped and the person that is really guilty of this crime will be found. I just hope when that time comes, some restitution will go to Tom for what he and his family are having to go through.

I believe in due process of law. Let them prove the charges against Mr. Rica beyond a reasonable doubt.

Jp, he will NOT be found guilty

Those of you who are defending that dirtbag Rica need Jesus.The dirtbag was caught red-handed stealing the money.Hope they find the real thief Miriam?They caught him already.As soon as his dumb ass walked out with the quarters.You're in denial!!!

Im not in denial Julio, Im using my right to free speech and honoring the law of innocent until proven guilty in a COURT of law!!! If you weren't there, don't judge!!!