PARSIPPANY — Mayor Michael Soriano’s Statement on Veto of Ordinance 2019:26:
“This afternoon, I am returning the first veto of my administration on Ordinance 2019:26. This ordinance would eliminate checks and balances from the appointment of members of the Knoll Golf Advisory Committee (KGAC). The passage of this ordinance was immediately preceded by a rejection of this year’s slate of KGAC appointments, and it is my belief that this ordinance was passed solely to prevent new members from serving effectively on the committee.
As a municipal utility, the Knoll Golf Course is an executive operational function, with the members of the KGAC reporting concerns directly to the administration. For twenty-five years, twelve of the thirteen members of the committee have been appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Township Council; the thirteenth member is a member of the Council appointed solely by the Council. This allows for a check-and-balance between the two branches of government on oversight of the golf utility. This ordinance would mandate that seven (7) members would be appointed solely by the Council and six (6) members would be appointed solely by the Mayor, giving unimpeded control of the committee’s majority to the Council.
In considering appointments to the KGAC, I have made it a priority to introduce new members in order to broaden the makeup of citizen representatives in Township government. Eliminating checks and balances from the appointment process would impede these efforts to make citizen involvement in our Township more inclusive.
The current method for appointment to the KGAC has operated without opposition for over twenty years. I believe the sole justification for this change in appointment procedure is a short-term desire by the Council majority to keep the committee’s membership from evolving. Membership of the KGAC must be available to new blood as well as existing members. That is why my initial appointment list, which was rejected immediately prior to the drafting of this ordinance, included both current and new appointments.
I am open to further discussions on altering the appointment process to the KGAC, but only under conditions of good faith. I am not open to any ordinance designed to purposefully exclude well-qualified appointees due to lack of political ties to members of Council. Indeed, if the Council had shown the same vigor for public safety as they have for golf, they may not have cut two EMT positions from the township’s workforce.
Accordingly, I have elected to veto Ordinance 2019:26.
Mayor Michael Soriano
TOWNSHIP OF PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS
LEGAL NOTICE TOWNSHIP OF PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS
MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES
NOTICE OF INTRODUCTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the following Ordinance was submitted in writing at a Meeting of the Township Council of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey, held on April 16, 2019 introduced and passed on first reading and the governing body will further consider the same for second reading and final passage thereof at a Meeting to be held on May 14, 2019 at 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be reached, at the Municipal Building in said Township at which time and place a Public Hearing will be held thereon by the governing body, and all persons and citizens in interest shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning same. A copy of this ordinance has been posted on the Bulletin Board in the Municipal Building. During the week prior to and up to and including the date of such meeting, copies of said Ordinance will be made available at the Clerk’s Office in said Municipal Building to the members of the general public who shall request the same.
KHALED MADIN
Township Clerk
TOWNSHIP OF PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
ORDINANCE NO. 2019:26
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL OF
THE TOWNSHIP OF PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
AMENDING CHAPTER 4, ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT, OF THE CODE OF PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS
WHEREAS, the Township finds that it is in the best interests of the Township to revise the appointment provisions for the Knoll Country Club Golf Advisory Committee in order to improve the functionality of the Knoll Country Club Golf Advisory Committee of the Township. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, IN THE COUNTY OF MORRIS, NEW JERSEY AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 4, ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT, §4-38, Subsection B(10), Golf Advisory Committee, of the code of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, is hereby amended as follows (additions are underlined and in bold typeface, and deletions are crossed out): B(10). Golf Advisory Committee. There shall be a Knoll Country Club Golf Advisory Committee whose function shall be to provide independent advice to the Knoll Country Club Utility as to how to maximize the benefit of the Knoll Country Club to the citizens of the Township. The Golf Advisory Committee shall consist of 13 members who shall each serve for a term of three years without remuneration. One such member shall be a member of the Township Council and shall be appointed by the Council; of the other remaining 12 members, who shall hold no other Township office, 6 shall be appointed by the Council and 6 shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council.
SECTION 2. If any section, paragraph, subsection, clause or provision of this Ordinance shall be declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of this Ordinance as a whole or any part thereof.
SECTION 3. All ordinances or parts of ordinances of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills heretofore adopted that are inconsistent with any of the terms and provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its final passage, approval and publication as provided by law.
