PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Member Justin Musella proposed a motion to introduce Ordinance 2024:01. This ordinance aims to repeal Ordinances 2023:25, 2023:37, and 2023:38, all of which were approved during the previous council session on Thursday, December 28.
When council members convened in 2023 for their last meeting, it was to approve PILOT agreements in a lengthy 7-hour session marked by the presence of 900 upset residents.
Two Republican council members, Loretta Gragnani and Michael DePierro, have retired.
One of the new council members is Democrat Judy Hernandez, who becomes the only Dem on the council. She won by eight votes.
The other two winners last year were GOP incumbent Paul Carifi, Jr., and newcomer Matthew McGrath.
This triggered strong opposition from residents who denounced the deal as a favor to affluent developers. The final vote tally was 4-1, with Councilman Justin Musella casting the sole dissenting vote.
Musella read the following Ordinance into the record and made a motion to approve.
“An Ordinance of The Township Council of The Township Of Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County, New Jersey, Repealing Ordinances 2023:26 (Adopting The 7 Campus Drive Redevelopment Plan); 2023:37 (Authorizing the Execution of Financial Agreement With the Township and Sig Sylvan Club Urban Renewal, LLC, Granting a Tax Exemption with Respect To That Certain Property Identified as Block 202, Lot 1.9 In Accordance With The Long-Term Tax Exemption Law, N.J.S.A. 40a:20-1 Et Seq); 2023:38 (Authorizing the Execution of Financial Agreement With The Township And Kanso Parsippany Urban Renewal, LLC, Granting A Tax Exemption With Respect To That Certain Property Identified as Block 202, Lot 1.9 In Accordance With the Long Term Tax Exemption Law, N.J.S.A. 40a:20-1 Et Seq.); 2023:39 (Authorizing The Execution of Financial Agreement with The Township And Par Development Urban Renewal, LLC, Granting a Tax Exemption With Respect To That Certain Property Identified As Block 202, Lot 3.8 In Accordance With The Long-Term Tax Exemption Law, N.J.S.A. 40a:20-1 Et Seq.).”
New Councilwoman Judith Hernandez seconded the motion, but it was subsequently voted against by Council President Paul Carifi, Jr., and Council Vice President Frank Neglia. Councilman Matthew McGrath, who is new to the council, abstained from voting, resulting in a final vote tally of 2-2-1. Consequently, the motion did not pass.
