MORRISTOWN — The Parsippany Township Council and Mayor James Barberio were back in Superior Court on Friday, July 10. At issue, a resolution which the Council had passed in 2014. The resolution authorized the hiring of an attorney to aid in the Council’s investigation of Barberio and the prosecution of township attorney John Inglesino over their refusal to turn over unredacted bills from his law firm as well as to investigate the unilateral hiring of computer expert Aurora Information and Security Risk. Aurora had previously invoiced the township upwards of $1 million. The hiring of all township contactors require Council approval for amounts over $17,500.
Barberio contends that Councilmen Carifi and Valori were conflicted from voting on matters relating to Inglesino, a conflict both Councilmen deny.
The Council retained attorney Wilfredo J. Ortiz II to lead the investigation of Barberio and Inglesino, but Barberio’s refusal to allow an investigation to go forward has left the decision with Judge Minkowitz, who replaced Judge Weisenbeck in early June.
Morristown Township attorney Vijayant Pawar, a close associate of Inglesino (who serves as planning board attorney and Special Redevelopment Counsel for Morristown in addition to being Parsippany’s town attorney) is representing Barberio. Pawar argued today that Ortiz cannot represent both the entire Council in compelling Barberio to retain a prosecuting attorney while also representing Carifi and Valori in the mayor’s cross-claim that both are conflicted from investigating Barberio and Inglesino.
Although no ruling was made, Judge Minkowitz suggested that the Council choose from a yet to be determined list of approved attorneys as it’s counsel in the matter while Ortiz remains on as counsel to Carifi and Valori in Barberio’s counter-claim.
If Barberio does not consent to an attorney from the pre-approved list, oral arguments will begin on July 24.
