Freeholder candidate Heather Darling hosted successful fundraiser

Letters to the Editor
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Freeholder candidate Heather Darling hosted successful fundraiser

MORRIS COUNTY — Freeholder candidate Heather Darling hosted her first fundraiser at Zeris Inn, Mountain Lakes on Monday, April 17.

The well attended function included a mix of local Republican Party leadership and members of the community supporting Darling. Darling’s message was that unchecked spending, the current practice of rewarding special interests and lack of sustainable ratables are the issues plaguing Morris County. Darling, who operates a law firm she built herself and an unrelated business she took over from her father, said she knows about building and operating a business on a shoestring budget, building relationships with customers, and hiring and managing employees who count on their jobs to provide food and shelter for their families. Darling said that her daily routine is analyzing information and making critical decisions which affect her business, her employees and her client’s futures.

Heather Darling referenced the outflow of businesses from Morris County beginning in the 1990’s and the need to utilize Morris County’s transportation system and natural resources to attract businesses that promote a healthier lifestyle for their employees including outdoor recreation. Darling spoke of Economic Development Committee summits wherein she noticed apparent and untapped opportunities for mutual economic growth among certain towns in Morris County with the existing infrastructure to support such growth. Darling raised the idea of creating alliances between businesses and the County College of Morris to develop a labor pool prepared to fill managerial and professional job openings as well as similar alliances between businesses and Morris County Vo-Tech to prepare students for jobs. She contrasted training students for jobs in a free enterprise system with the current Freeholder Board’s plan to limit bidding to union shops with apprenticeship programs which she believes stem from promises by members of the Board to organized labor in exchange for campaign funding.

Darling went on to address spending, stating her belief that special interest groups are profiting, at the expense of the taxpayers, from those in county government interested in campaign contributions for self-perpetuation. Citing statistics, Darling referenced Morris County as only one of nine counties in the nation posting average annual property taxes over $10,000, then contrasted that to Morris County’s deteriorating infrastructure, poor road conditions, and cutbacks in human services needed by seniors and veterans including consideration by the current Freeholder Board of the privatization of the County’s nursing facility, Morris View.  Heather Darling projected that the heroin epidemic, sanctuary city issues, bail reform and the need to protect citizens from random acts of terrorism will create a massive financial burden on Morris County as the Sheriff’s Office adapts to respond to these needs and stated that Morris County tax payers need Freeholders who will look at the tax payers’ bottom line.

Darling referred to herself as a conservative businesswoman and not a politician.  She stated that her volunteer efforts in Morris County have been rendered without any expectation of compensation including the many evenings she has spent over the last couple of years visiting Republican clubs throughout the county and getting to know the concerns of the members and their communities, indicating that she has visited each town with an organized club and attended reorganization meetings to meet the leaders in the other towns without clubs meeting regularly.

Darling closed with the indication that she intends to fight for the citizens of Morris County because it is “our home.”

Criminal Charge against Barberio has resulted in odd behavior

Frank L. Cahill
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Criminal Charge against Barberio has resulted in odd behavior

PARSIPPANY — As reported in Parsippany Focus on April 7, Democratic activist and candidate for governor Bill Brennan filed a citizen’s complaint against Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio and Business Administrator Ellen Sandman in Parsippany Municipal Court on Friday, April 7, a move that could result in fourth degree criminal charges against the duo. (Click here to read full story: Criminal Complaints filed against Barberio).

According to the complaint, both defendants were to appear in Morris County Superior Court on Wednesday, April 19 at 11:30 a.m.

Before a complaint is sent to Morris County Superior Court, a probable cause hearing must be heard by a judge.  Parsippany Municipal Court determined that they were in conflict and sent the case for probable cause to Morristown Municipal Court.

Bill Brennan stated “My criminal charge in Parsippany has resulted in odd behavior by the municipal court system. Before sending the case to Morristown Municipal Court for a probable cause determination, the Parsippany Municipal Court set a first appearance for the defendants in Superior Court for April 19. This caused media inquiries to the Superior Court regarding status. In response the Superior Court was perplexed because no paperwork had been received from either Parsippany or Morristown.”

Mr. Brennan then asked Parsippany Municipal Court what happened and was told that on April 7 the case was sent to Morristown Municipal Court for a Probable Cause determination.

Morristown Municipal Court is hopelessly conflicted because:

  • Morristown Planning Board Attorney is John Inglesino;
  • Morristown Township Attorney, Vij Pawar, represents Barberio (in Carifi vs. Barberio);
  • Morristown Prosecutor, Robert J. Rudy, III, is partnered with Barberio’s attorney,Vij Pawar (in Carifi vs. Barberio). Mr. Rudy currently serves as the Municipal Prosecutor for the Town of Morristown.

Parsippany Focus called Mr. Pawar on Wednesday, April 19, asking for comment as to why the Probable Cause hearing was scheduled for Morristown Municipal Court on Thursday, April 20, when it is clearly a conflict of interest. Mr. Pawar did not return our call.

Parsippany Focus called the Morristown Court Clerk on Thursday, April 20, and was advised the case has been sent back to Parsippany Municipal Clerk for further determination.

Despite these conflicts, the Morristown Municipal Court held onto the charge from April 10 until April 20 when they “discovered” these conflicts.

Mr. Brennan stated “This delay appears to be a calculated maneuver to buy time for the Mayor and Council. Both Morristown judges violated the Judicial Code of Conduct by delaying a case on behalf of the defendants under the misguided notion that somehow modifying a salary ordinance after the hiring and payment of employees would mean a crime did not occur. Under Inglesino’s reasoning two employees could be hired as Keyboarding Clerk 1 on New Year’s eve and each receive $48,000 in salary for that day – they could then work on January 2 and each receive another $48,000 in salary for that day and then be laid off. This nonsense is what passes for legal advice in Parsippany – so far the system is failing us again when it comes to Christie’s cronies.”

“On “Planet Inglesino” two keyboarding clerks can legally collect a total of $192,000 by working two days each and the salary range would not be violated. This is absurd.
We are about to see what kind of corrupt judge goes along with such an obvious fallacy,” stated Mr. Brennan in a press release.

Parsippany Focus contacted Parsippany Municipal Court Administrator Alvaro Leal, who confirmed the case was sent to Morristown Municipal Court for probable cause and was being returned to Parsippany Municipal Court, to be reassigned to yet another Municipal Court Judge for Probable Cause.  At this time it was not determined when and where this will happen.

In the meantime, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council scheduled an “special” meeting, on April 11, to pass an ordinance to change the White Color Salary Ordinance (Click here to read story: Cover Up Of A Crime? Salary Ordinance Revised; 3-2 Vote on First Reading). Council President Louis Valori, Councilman Michael dePierro and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani approved the Ordinance on First Reading. Council Vice President Robert Peluso and Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr. voted no.

The Ordinance is on the agenda for the Regular Council meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 25 for final reading and approval.

The Ordinance, #2017:05, shall be retroactive to January 1, 2017 for all employees active on the date of introduction of this ordinance. The salary in this ordinance for Keyboarding Clerk 1 will have a minimum starting salary of $17,000 annually to $55,000 annually. (Note: A copy of the Ordinance was not available to the public during the special meeting, Parsippany Focus obtained a copy through Open Public Records Act (OPRA). Click here to see the complete White Collar Salary ranges.

“I find it kind-of comical that we had to have this special meeting, at the last second, right after this gentlemen who you claim files this bogus claim,” Councilman Paul Carifi told Parsippany Focus. “Again, the mayor hired these people at a higher rate than what the salary ordinance allows. That is a fact. This is a knee-jerk reaction, as usual, by the mayor.”

“I’m voting with my conscience, no,” Council Vice President Robert Peluso said.

Bill Brennan told the Daily Record, “I am beginning a legal campaign against these lawless abusers. Inglesino is my ultimate target. I investigated the perpetrators and started with Inglesino’s cronies, and am working my way up.”

Teacher arrested at Littleton School for invasion of privacy

Frank L. Cahill
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Teacher arrested at Littleton School for invasion of privacy

PARSIPPANY — On Thursday, April 20, a recording device was located inside an adult designated faculty bathroom at Littleton School by a school employee.

The device was removed and the Parsippany Police Department was immediately contacted.

After a brief investigation by Detective Marcin Czajka, it was determined that the recording device was capturing footage of the toilet area and was placed there for an undetermined amount of time.

Through the initial investigation, Detective Czajka was able to determine that the recording device was placed there by Christopher Esnes, 40, Gillette, who is employed as a teacher in the school, and was released on his own recognizance pending his court date.

He was placed under arrest by Detective Lieutenant Brian Dowd and Detective Marcin Czajka and processed at Parsippany Police Headquarters. He was charged on a Complaint-Summons with Invasion of Privacy, a third degree crime, and released on his own recognizance pending his court date. At the current time, no footage involving a juvenile has been found. This incident is still under investigation by Detective Marcin Czajka.

A Parsippany-Troy Hills School district spokesperson said Esnes has been suspended and has been barred from Littleton and all district properties. Esnes was receiving a salary of $77,914 at the time of his suspension, according to public records.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Library congratulates PHS AcDec; celebrates with Pizza Party

Frank L. Cahill
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Library congratulates PHS AcDec; celebrates with Pizza Party

PARSIPPANY — Congratulations to the Parsippany High School Academic Decathlon (AcDec) Team for 1st Place in the NJ State Competition! To celebrate the team’s achievements the Friends of the Parsippany Library hosted a pizza party in Teen Central on April 13. The staff and Friends of the Parsippany Library would like to wish the team the best of luck in Madison, Wisconsin to compete in the National Competition April 20-22. This is their 5th state championship. Overall, the Parsippany High School team took home more than 70 awards and honors for the regional competition.

Academic Decathalon President, Rohan Khajuria thanked the library “It means a lot to all of us when people recognize all of the hard work we put into the club. We’re also very grateful to the library for providing us with so many resources to study.”

Special Program Featuring NJ Sharing Network CEO Joe Roth

Frank L. Cahill
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Special Program Featuring NJ Sharing Network CEO Joe Roth

PARSIPPANY — Members of the Morris County Multi-Organ Transplant Group held a special meeting on March 8 with guest speaker Joe Roth, New Jersey Sharing Network CEO.  Mr. Roth spoke about the organization’s  2016 accomplishments.

Organ transplantation is a vital lifesaving tool.  Over 118,000 men and women across the country are on the organ donor wait list according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Mr. Roth spoke about advancements in organ transplantation and statistics on donation, transplants performed.  2016 was a record breaking year for NJ Sharing Network as NJSN celebrates its 30th anniversary. During 2016, NJSN helped make 613 organ transplants possible, broken down into 138 liver, 24 pancreas, 299 kidney, 70 heart and 82 lung transplants. This represents a 15% increase from 2015 figures.

Members of the MCMOTG have had kidney, heart, liver, lung, pancreas and tissue/bone transplants, are on the wait list, have donated as well as family.  Members live in Parsippany, Morristown, Morris Township, Boonton, Denville, Chatham and Lake Hopatcong.

The group’s next meeting is Wednesday, May 3 in the Community Room in the Parsippany Police Complex.

For more information on the Morris County Transplant Group contact Nick at (973) 984-6966 or e-mail mcorgantransplantgroup@gmail.com or the NJ Sharing Network: njsharingnetwork.org or call (908) 516-5400.

A Magical Day for Families at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum

Frank L. Cahill
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A Magical Day for Families at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum

MORRIS COUNTY — Fairy Day is a day for fairies, magic, and wishes to come true. On this magical day, the young and young-at-heart embrace the possibilities of the unknown, and believe in fairies. For centuries, fairies have been an important part of culture and legend, and in all of the ancient legends, these mythological creatures are described as intelligent, mischievous, and magical. Mortals don’t often see fairies because of the division between our world and their world, but it is believed that by creating special fairies houses, we can draw them into our world.

On Sunday, June 25, at 1:00 p.m., The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township hosts its annual Fairy Day for fairy believers to design and build their own fairy houses to welcome these wee folks into the garden. After all, these tiny spirits need shelter during their stay!

Upon arrival, you are escorted by a winged helper to a reserved site along the garden paths where you can craft a unique and personalized mini-fairy home. While you are expressing your creativity building a unique fairy-home, take a break and enjoy a free lemonade and a tasty snack, or make a fairy-themed craft to take home. You can also decorate your own tiny fairy boat to float on the water, play games on the lawn, and hunt for hidden fairy doors in the gardens to win a prize.  Join in the fun as traditional maypole dancers lead you through this age-old ritual.

All building supplies, including bark, branches, lichens, mosses, feathers, stones, and leaves are provided. If you prefer, bring your own building supplies, as long as they are all natural. Fairies shun manmade materials.

At 3:00 p.m., when all the houses are completed, join in a colorful, musical procession around the gardens to marvel at the finished projects. Wear your own fairy finery, if you like! 

If you would like to see the finished creations, but are unable to attend Fairy Day, don’t worry!  All the houses will be on display for the month of July for you to enjoy. Visit the Haggerty Education Center for a map of the sites.

A limited number of fairy house sites are available for Fairy Day, and there is a fee of $30.00 per fairy house, which includes all materials, activities, and refreshments. Preregistration is required. To see photos of previous fairy houses or to get ideas for your own house, or for more information or register, visit arboretumfriends.org.

Looking for more fairy-themed fun? Participate in a special Family Photo Scavenger Hunt during the month of July and search the gardens for hidden fairy doors. Take photos of all the doors with your camera or phone, and return to the center to claim your prize. These hunts take place every Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for $10.00 per family. No registration is needed for Family Photo Scavenger Hunt.

           

The Best of the Best of Student Artwork on Display at CCM

Frank L. Cahill
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The Best of the Best of Student Artwork on Display at CCM

RANDOLPH  — The County College of Morris (CCM) Art and Design Gallery once again will be hosting “The Best of the Best Student Exhibition” in May.

The annual exhibition provides an opportunity for the community to view artwork produced by CCM students during the course of an academic year. About 30 student pieces will be on display, representing each area of the CCM Department of Art and Design: design, fine art, graphic design and photography.

The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, runs May 5 to May 26. The Art and Design Gallery hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from noon to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 8:00 p.m., Fridays noon to 4:00 p.m., and the first Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Two men arrested on armed robbery charges

Frank L. Cahill
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Two men arrested on armed robbery charges

LONG VALLEY — Authorities have arrested two men in connection with a February armed robbery of a convenience store in Long Hill Township, according to Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Long Hill Township Police Chief Michael Mazzeo.

The arrest of suspects, Frank E. Kline, 52, and David B. Domanski, 53, both of Washington Township, Warren County, was announced by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. The men are also suspected of an armed robbery that occurred March 26 at Krauszer’s Food Store on Stirling Road in Warren Township, Somerset County.

The robbery in Long Hill occurred at about 8:20 p.m. on February 25 at the Country Farms convenience store on Division Avenue in the Millington section of the township. An investigation revealed that a white male entered the store, pointed a handgun towards the clerk, demanded money, and discharged one round in the direction of the clerk. The clerk turned over a sum of money and the suspect immediately fled on foot. There were no injuries reported.     

During the course of the investigation, detectives from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the prosecutor’s Major Crime Unit, the Long Hill Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office,  the Warren Township Police Department and the Washington Township (Warren) Police Department worked together to identify Kline and Domanski as suspects in the armed robberies.

Both men were arrested and charged with one count of first degree Robbery and one count of Conspiracy.  Kline also faces two additional counts for second degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes.  Both defendants were lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Despite these accusations, the defendants are presumed innocent unless. or until, proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (973) 285-6200 or the Long Hill Township Police Department at (908) 647-1800.

Distracted Driver Hits Tree; Charged with DWI

Frank L. Cahill
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Distracted Driver Hits Tree; Charged with DWI

PARSIPPANY — Mr. Raoul Selikson, 58,  was driving a 1999 Green Toyota Camry, traveling North on Baldwin Road in the right turn lane.

He had a green signal and continued North through the intersection of Baldwin Road and Vail Road and failed to make a right turn, traveling through the intersection and striking the curb in front of 540 Vail Road. The vehicle continued over curb leaving the roadway into a landscaped area of property at 540 Vail Road, crashing over a small shrub, and striking a tree where it came to uncontrolled rest.

Mr. Selikson stated he was distracted looking at his radio changing the channel and did not realize he was traveling off the road till he struck the tree. Two witnesses observed the vehicle traveling north on Baldwin Road enter the intersection at a green light and drive through the intersection, failing to turn right, run off the roadway onto the property of 540 Vail Road and crash into a tree.

Both witnesses stated the driver appeared disoriented when they first approached.

Parsippany Patrolman Arthur Ohlsenn determined the crash was caused by Selikson not paying attention, distracted driving, and use of Controlled Dangerous Substance.

The vehicle was towed from the scene by C & L Towing.

He was issued a summons for 39:4-50 and 39:4-50(G)(1).

New Jersey Statue defines 39:4-50: Driving while intoxicated. (a) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a person who operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug, or operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more by weight of alcohol in the defendant’s blood or permits another person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug to operate a motor vehicle owned by him or in his custody or control or permits another to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more by weight of alcohol in the defendant’s blood.

39:4-50(G)(1) Driving with intoxicated on any school property used for school purposes which is owned by or leased to any elementary or secondary school or school board, or within 1,000 feet of such school property;

A court date to appear in Parsippany Municipal Court was set.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Diversity in Parsippany Makes us a Better Community

Letters to the Editor
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Diversity in Parsippany Makes us a Better Community

This article was submitted by resident Gordon Meth.

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills is situated in one of the most enviable counties in the Country – Morris County. Morris County has the 8th highest median household income of the 3,144 counties and equivalents in the United States.

Violent crime in Morris County is in the bottom 15th percentile of the Country, and is among the lowest in the New York City Metropolitan Area. In terms of educational attainment, approximately 51% of the County population aged 25 or older has a bachelor’s degree or higher, and this is the 40th highest for a county in the United States.

Sixteen (16) of the top 100 New Jersey public high schools according to Niche.com are located in Morris County (Parsippany High School is ranked 61 in the state and ninth in Morris County.  Parsippany Hills High School is ranked 69 in the state and tenth in Morris County.  Both schools are in the top 5% of public high schools nationwide). Median home value for Morris County is the second highest in New Jersey, and 36th in the Country. In exchange for this, Morris County has the eighth highest median property taxes in the Country.

With a population of nearly 54,000 people, Parsippany-Troy Hills is the largest municipality in Morris County by a factor of nearly two. Parsippany-Troy Hills contains nearly 11% of Morris County’s population. Money Magazine ranks Parsippany-Troy Hills the fifth best small city in the United States to live in (although given the criteria of having a population of 50,000-300,000, Parsippany-Troy Hills is the only Morris County municipality given consideration, and is one of only 35 New Jersey municipalities that are given consideration). In terms of educational attainment, approximately 53% of Parsippany-Troy Hills population aged 25 or older has a bachelor’s degree or higher, with 22% having graduate or professional degrees.  This is slightly higher than the overall for Morris County.  Median family income is nearly $90,000 per year, which is less than the $100,000 per year median family income for Morris County.

Parsippany-Troy Hills has only six elected officials (an elected mayor and five council persons), whereas every other Morris County municipality has 5-12 elected officials.  In total, there are 259 municipal elected officials in Morris County.  Parsippany-Troy Hills has the lowest number of elected officials per capita by a factor of 2-39.  Two-thirds of Morris County municipalities have elected mayors, and Parsippany-Troy Hills has the only full time mayor.  Six Morris County municipalities have ward systems.  The opposite extreme of Parsippany-Troy Hills is Rockaway Township, which has and elected mayor, an 11 member council, a ward system, and a population slightly less than 25,000.

A total of nearly 19,000 Parsippany-Troy Hills residents, or 35%, are foreign born (including myself, as I was born in Canada).  Nearly 11,000 of these residents are naturalized citizens, and over 10,500 of these residents can vote.   This ratio of foreign-born population is approximately the same as New York City.  In Morris County, only Dover has a higher proportion of foreign-born population, with nearly 50% being foreign-born.  Parsippany-Troy Hills has approximately 20% of Morris County’s foreign-born population.  Parsippany-Troy Hills has the 19th highest number of foreign born persons by municipality in New Jersey.    One of the key factors of the high ranking of our high schools is an A- rating for diversity.  The ethnic makeup of Parsippany-Troy Hills foreign born population is 45% Asian Indian, 17% white alone, non-Hispanic, 13% Chinese, 11% Hispanic or Latino, 5% other Asian, and 10% other or multi-race.  A total of 62% of the foreign-born population 25 and over in Parsippany-Troy Hills have bachelor degrees or higher, versus 46% for natural born residents of Parsippany-Troy Hills 25 and over.  Nearly half of these foreign born persons have graduate or professional degrees, versus only about a third of the natural born residents.  The foreign-born population has median earnings approximately $6,000 more per year than natural born residents.  The unemployment rate of foreign-born population in Parsippany-Troy Hills is 3.7%, versus 5.0% for natural born residents.  Consequently, foreign-born residents of Parsippany-Troy Hills raise our overall development as a community.

 

 

 

 

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