Council Candidate Musella’s Statement on Soriano Budget Crisis

Press Release
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Council Candidate Musella’s Statement on Soriano Budget Crisis

PARSIPPANY — Council candidate Justin Musella released the following statement on the rapidly deteriorating situation with the Soriano Administration’s budget crisis.

“By attempting to place blame with the council for the township’s budget woes, Soriano has shown he is incapable of taking responsibility for his woeful mismanagement of our local government. Not only has he failed to introduce a balanced budget as required by law, but his behavior has also shown a complete lack of empathy for Township employees by using them as pawns for his political games. As pointed out in the Council’s bipartisan opposition to his budget gimmicks, it is Soriano’s sole constitutional role to present a budget and have it approved.

Reporting from Parsippany Focus and the Daily Record revealed Business Administrator Fred Carr sent an email to all department heads shifting the blame onto the Council and put into place a promotion, raise, and hiring freeze until further notice. Prior to this email, however, Soriano promoted his Public Information Officer to Confidential Aide with an accompanying $20,000 raise. This inappropriate and unfair action shows he is incapable of placing the public’s interest before his own and continues a streak of nepotistic mismanagement. I am calling on Soriano to take responsibility for his years of running our finances into the ground, work on introducing a reasonable budget, and stop blaming others for issues of his own creation. Instead of posting pictures on Facebook of his newly adopted cat, how about proposing a sound budget that the Council can adopt.”

Parsippany-Troy Hills School District Honors Retirees

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany-Troy Hills School District Honors Retirees

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills School District honors its retirees, teachers, and staff with 25 years of service and Teacher of the Year.

Council Fires Back at Business Administrator and Mayor

Frank L. Cahill
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Council Fires Back at Business Administrator and Mayor

PARSIPPANY — In an interoffice email from Parsippany-Troy Hills Business Administrator Fred Carr to “Department and Division Heads” he is quoted as saying “Based on our ongoing budget discussions, the time has come to take the following actions with regards to the 2021 yet to be introduced budget.” Effective immediately.

In order to provide a balanced budget recommendation as requested by the members of Council: 

  1. Most capital spending will be reduced/deferred until 2022, details to follow.
  2. All scheduled overtime will cease. Unscheduled overtime as a result of emergencies needs to be closely controlled.
  3. All Professional education or attendance at training, seminars, unless required by Collective Bargaining will cease. Individuals may choose to attend class or professional development at their own expense if desired, but the Township will be unable to reimburse them.
  4. Attendance at the NJ League of Municipalities will not be reimbursed by the Township.  This includes entry badges, hotels, meals, or travel expenses. This includes members of Boards and Commissions (aka planning and zoning, etc. plus all employees, Mayor and Council Members).  Individuals may choose to attend the convention at their own expense.
  5. We are in a hiring freeze and promotional freeze,  wherever additional compensation is considered, effective immediately. Minor hiring allowed in Recreations to support summer programs starting soon can move forward.

Juan (referring to CFO Juan Uribe) and I will be meeting with selected Department Heads this week to fine-tune our numbers. Get out your pencils, sharpen them, and be prepared for considerable pain. We are now in the discussion of ending programs and services.

The Township Council did not request the budget cuts or create the budget shortfall that this Administration

Council President Michael dePierro

Council President Michael dePierro said “I just became aware of a June 21 email that was recently sent to all Township Department Heads by our Business Administrator that misrepresents a list of five very severe budget cuts developed BY THE ADMINISTRATION as being requested by the Township Council in order to balance the budget. This sends a wrong message to our employees and to the public. The Township Council did not request the budget cuts or create the budget shortfall that this Administration finds itself in … this falls upon the Administration. In producing the Township budget, the Administration must follow State mandates. The State of New Jersey mandates that all Municipalities produce:

  • A balanced budget (revenue equals expenses).
  • A budget that remains within the State mandated CAP.
  • A budget that follows the Appropriations CAP.
  • A budget that falls within the Levy CAP.

“As of June 22, the Township Council has not received a budget that is certified by the Township Auditor. The Auditor cannot certify the budget until the budget meets all of the State mandates. When the Administration finally submits a certified budget to the Council, we can then review the budget, make changes (if needed), and finally adopt it.”

“If the Administration is looking for advice on areas to cut, I would recommend all of the new, administrative positions that have been created in the past three years. The salary, pension, and benefits of many of those positions exceed six figures.”

“As I stated in a previously issued memo, “During a Mayor’s first year in office, he can blame the previous administration for almost anything and get away with it. During the second year, not so much. By the third year, the Mayor owns the budget and any poor fiscal practices are completely on him. If the Mayor has not started developing a Fund Balance to protect the Township in the last three years, that omission falls on him,” continued dePierro.”

“At the June 15 Council meeting, the Township Council gave the Business administrator a mandate. The Business Administrator distributed an email to department heads reflecting tax increases and budget cuts that would meet the Council’s demands. Since early May, Council President Michael dePierro has advocated for a 14.6% tax increase and felt that this was more suitable to Parsippany residents than borrowing on a low-interest special emergency note. As Mayor, I’m open to any discussion that doesn’t involve the Council’s astronomical tax hike.” said Mayor Michael Soriano.

Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr.

Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr. said “Months ago the council was presented with a budget by the administration that did not meet state regulations including but not limited to things that were listed as revenues that are not and can not be used as revenues. Therefore making it a “bogus” budget. The budget was deemed by the auditor and the state as to be in violation. Therefore the council requested the administration provide a budget that meets all state regulations. To say the council wants to raise taxes by 14% is ludicrous. We expect a budget from the administration that keeps a tax increase within the 2% cap and that meets all state regulations that we can review. Recently the council became aware of a directive to department heads addressing budget cuts. We have also become aware of an employee in the Mayor’s office and his administration receiving a new title and a $20,000 raise just before the memo to all department heads directing a hiring freeze, a cease in promotions, and overtime amongst other things.  The timing of the memo just after this promotion and raise is again ludicrous. I support all our hard-working employees and to blame this budget crisis on the council and to take it out on our employees is not right and will not be tolerated.

Mayor Soriano blames the Township Council for the severe budget cuts that he must make, then he blames me for wanting a 14.6 % increase

dePierro replied in a Facebook post “I just read a preposterous statement made by Mayor Michael Soriano that “I advocated for a 14.6 % tax increase, and felt that this was more suitable to Parsippany residents than borrowing on a low-interest special emergency note”. The truth is, the unanimous Council decision not to borrow $5 million is that the taxpayers would have to pay back $1 million per year for five years plus interest. The Mayor had no idea how the Township would pay back that loan, he just wanted to kick the can down the road and get past this election year. First Mayor Soriano blames the Township Council for the severe budget cuts that he must make, then he blames me for wanting a 14.6 % increase. He takes no blame for the budget crisis that he, alone, is responsible for.”

“Regarding your June 21, 2021 email to the Department Heads, it is misleading to associate the five action items, determined and supported by the Administration, to reduce appropriations as if those actions were at the request of the Town Council. There is no reason to even mention the Town Council in your email. A balanced budget is collectively required by the State of NJ, Township Auditor, and Town Council. In order to avoid any misinterpretation, please send an email to the Department Heads clarifying your statement. Please include or send separately a copy of your email to Loretta Gragnani and me with a copy to Khaled Madin,” stated Vice President Janice McCarthy.

Business Administrator Fred Carr responded to Ms. McCarthy “Thank you for the email with regards to the 2021 Budget. I am aware that ” A balanced budget is collectively required by the State of NJ, Township Auditor, and Town Council.”  The Council, during the meeting of  15 June 2021 asked that administration work with the Auditor and provide a balanced budget.”

When asking Mr. Carr if clarification was sent to the Department Heads, he replied I know that a clarification was not sent.

Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani

Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani said “As a member of the Finance Committee at no time during those meetings and Council Meetings were recommendations made to the budget. Currently, the Council has not received a balanced budget from the Administration and until one is received by the Council all revisions and recommendations are the responsibility of the Administration.”

“The budget has not been presented to the council. Until that happens, no budget decisions are at the command or recommendation of the Council. That decision-making responsibility sits solely with the administration until the decisions are complete. As I have said before: I look forward to seeing the Mayor’s completed budget at which time, the council will review the completed presentation,” said Councilwoman Emily Peterson.

Video: Parsippany High School Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony

Frank L. Cahill
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Video: Parsippany High School Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony

PARSIPPANY — Video: Parsippany High School Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony

Video: Parsippany Hills Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony

Frank L. Cahill
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Video: Parsippany Hills Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony

PARSIPPANY— Video: Parsippany Hills Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony

Parsippany Hills High School Graduation 2021

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany Hills High School Graduation 2021

PARSIPPANY — Principal Dr. Matthew Thompson announced the graduates of 262 students for the Class of 2021.

The 2020-2021 Class Officers were Ester Fifo, President; Amisha Patel, Vice President; Gowri Konkesa, Secretary and Abigail Jandora, Treasurer.

Graduates included Jillian Marie Adubato, Michael P. Agostinho, Justin Aguirre-Rosas, Muhammad Aqib Ali, Rami Ray Almarzoh, Varenya Alvakonda, Nicholas Falcon Andrew, Camilo Arango, Emily Jane Arnold, Haseem Arshad, Rithvik Ayyalasomayajula, Madison Bailey, Marissa Bella Baker, Jacqueline Lucero Baldarrago, Michael Francis Savas, Jack Anthony Bellardino, Brett J. Berry, John K. Bhat, lshaan Bhatt, Shaleen Mangesh Bordawekar, Sean N. Boufford, Haley H. Breslauer, Rebecca Sarina Brugaletta, Nayeli Buezo Jimenez, Angelina Noelle Butarascu, Jose De Los Angeles Caballero Molina, Julian Dominic Cachuela, Brandon Jarrett Callan, Jessica Anne Capozzi, Justin Logan Celencevicius, Marcus Luis P. Celestino, Saad N. Chaudhry, Susan Chen, Kyle Joseph Cipkins, Christina Marie Culotta, Jessica Currao, Matthew Vincent Damiano, Matthew Degady, Michael Degady, Deep K. Desai, Neelay M. Desai, Samay Malay Desai, Sweta Malay Desai, Sohan Srivatsav Deshapaga, Sumreen Dhillon, Andrew Joseph DiLauri, Christopher O. Dogbe and Bruce Harrison Downing, Jr.

Also Nicholas Philip Durso, Sandra Duszkiewicz, David R. Edmiston, Christian Fernandez, Sarah Louise Fichter, Esther Oluwaseyi Fifo, Nicholas Fred Floris, Brandon Fontanella, Samantha Marie Fornini, Nadirah I. Freeman, Gian Marco Fuentes, Chandni R. Gajipara, James Garcia, Yahir Garcia-Tellez, Alyssa Guarneri,  Nicholas Gerard Gubernot, Taylor Mackenzie Gudelanis, Tyler Gurth, Russell Hasani, Mallie P. Henderson, Lauren Grace Hernandez,  Lauren Nicole Higdon, Jacob Joseph Hockwitt, Maia Grace Hoffman, Ian W. Hopkins, KrystalHsieh, Zhi-Yi Hsu, Alyssa H. Huang, Jessica Yan Huang, Anthony E. lancu, Isabella Rose lmperati, Vanessa Lynn lradi, Dana Elizabeth luspa, Daniel Patrick Jakubiak, Abigail Jandora,  Jake Ryan Jasiecki, Kamaya Leilani Jones, Nevaeh S. Jardine, Ujvala Jupalli, Mariana Jurado Gaviria, Nicole A. Kafka, Hinal S. Kalavadia, Andrew X. Keane, Brady Lee Kells, Ridhi Kempegowda, lrfan Ali Kermalli, Laila R. Kirstein, Haritha Kollipara, Pearl Caroline Kolluri, Sunetra M. Komathchal, Gowri Reddy Konkesa, Abhay Krishna, Renata Krysztofik, Sharanya Kumar, Madhava R. Kunderan, Alwin M. Kurian, Jeffrey Kwan, Ivy Lai, Jamie Lai, Thomas Lally, Christine Lam, Nikhita Lavu, Abigail M. Lee, Marissa Brooke Lailo Lerman, Avianna Rose Loper, Alyssa Gabriella Lopez, Dakota Alexis Lynch, and James Patrick Lynch.

In addition Anshika Madan, Robin Mager, Nandini R. Majmudar, Meer M. Malek, Sana Malek, Allison Nicole Marino, Jaeden Russell Martin, Lillian B. Martin, Aakash A Maurya, Alexander Mazzara, Joseph Andrew McClusick, Darien Alice McEnroe, Nitya S. Mehta, Sreemanth Meka, Daniel Menendez, Cristofer Raja Mezger, Derrik Mirochnik, Harsh Pranay Mistry, Nidhi H. Mistry, Alexandra Lynn Monroe, Leticia Moraes, Olavo Moraes, Tanyaradzwa Emeldah Mudzinganyama, Jake Thomas Murphy, Aleksandre Museridze, Rithvik Nakirikanti, Adwait Naware, Robert A Nese, Arnold Hong Nguyen, Jimmy T. Nguyen, Erin Margaretta O’Gorman, Catherine E. O’Neill, Kendall Elizabeth Pachiolo, Davida Fafali Padi, Sanskaar Pahwa, Jarod P. Palatini, Angela Patricia Palazzo, Vidhi S. Parekh, Jordan Frances Paris, Elise Christina Parisi, Tatyana Aaliyah Parker, Juhi V. Parmar, Jillian G. Pasquino, Amish K. Patel, Amisha India Patel, Arya Patel, Avi K. Patel, Darsh S. Patel, Dhruvaben Patel, Disha H. Patel, Harini Prakash Patel, lsha Patel, Jaykumar V. Patel, Kirtan Dhaval Patel, Maahi Patel, Mihir C. Patel, Neha R. Patel, Rahi Ketur Patel, Reva K. Patel, Rick D. Patel, Aneri Path, Reva Mangesh Pathre, Aditya Reddy Patur, Emma Adair Peters, Abigail Elizabeth Phelps, Jonathan J. Pietrowicz, Derek Plata Teutle, Jennifer Portillo, lshana Bindhyachal Prasad, Nadira Rahman, Jack Collins Raia, Nakul Raj, Mansi Rana, Agamya A. Rao, Jasmyn A. Reid, Ian Joseph Reo, Jack Reppen, Allison Rice, Brian Robert Ries, Ulises Roldan,
Jaden J. Roman, Trevor Rosamilia, Delia Elizabeth Ryerson, Samantha Nicole Salazar, Ty Sallie, Tyler A. Salmon, Nerina Jade San Martin, Thilak G. Sankar, Olivia McMann Santana, Deep Jaimin Shah, Dev Jaimin Shah, Kashyap N. Shah, Ravi Shah, Rhea Shajan, Adit Sharma, Rohan Sharma, Rodrigo Bittencourt Shauy, John Andrew Shields, Olivia Marie Singh, Swetha Sivakumar, Seta Grace Skahill, Jacob Ian Smith, Olivia May Smith, Ashley I. Sokolowski, Nicole S. Sokolowski, Maya K. Solanki, Sujith Somayaji, John J. Sotardi,
Saileash Srinivasan Kalaivani, Andrew J. Stark, Shawn Nicholas Stavrou, Christopher R. Swanson, Aleesha Syed, William Essam Takieddine, Priscilla Tam,  Zachary Thomas Taylor, Jordan Thompson, Aidan Yuenhang To, Emily Nicole Tourso, Erin-Marie Tracy, Riti Trambadia, Tyler Tran, Jack Tremaroli, Valerie Anne Trento, Nicholas Tsangaropoulos, Janae Melanie Turner, Udayan Vashisth, Meet S. Vekaria, Kristina Verderamo,  Chloe M. Vergel de Dios, Jessica Faith Verile,  Michael A. Ververs, Sophia Elizabeth Vicenzino,  Andre Vo, Noelle Ellen Volpe, Henry Robert Wayland, Cory Wechsler, Samantha Woodell, Anthony Robert Yarussi, Nicolle Zapata, Adriana Maria Zelayandia, Sofia Victoria Zevallos, Sarah Marie Ziler, Taylor Elizabeth Zitelli, Vasili I. Zois, and Nicholas Joseph Zorzoris.

Parsippany High School Class of 2021

Frank L. Cahill
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Parsippany High School Class of 2021

PARSIPPANY — Principal Dr. Denis Mulroony announced the graduates of 227 students for the Class of 2021.

The 2020-2021 Class officers were Jessica Reich, President; Eileen Zhang, Vice President; Jasmine Bhavar, Secretary and Mia Petrolino, Treasurer.

Class of 2021 President Jessica Reich addresses the Class of 2021

The Class of 2021 graduates are Emily Adawi, Russelle Aguirre, Kevin Ahearn, Arezzo Morccal Ahmadi, Ayaan Ahmed, Luke Alleyne, Angela Andujar Rodriguez, Shane Apito, Islarnin Faruk Arasan, Bryan Costa Araujo, Kayshla Araya, Mohammed Arman, Adam Ashi, Amanda Aza, Suraj Balanagu, Breanna Lynn Batelli, Clayton J. Bemauer, Jasmine Bhavsar, Brook Lynn Bierals, Margaret Jonelle Boch, Kaitlyn Rose Bourdette, Sierra Brda, Abigail Bresalier, Chloe Lynn Budd, Joseph Bundrick, Roxanne Burby, Nicola Cacciapaglia, Camron Cagatay, Teoman Can, Briana L. Capo, Mariah Christine Caponigro, Christian Caporelli, Christopher Casaliggi Jr., Esra Doga Cavuslar, Fiona Blair Celli, Emily Gabriella Chacon, Julissa Luisa Chacon,  Pratham Bhavendrarao Chavan, Gavin Cheng, Varshini Chennupati, Elizabeth Anne Cogan, Joseph Colasuonno, Brianna Colemam, Michaela Coleman, Mariah Nicole Colon, Anthony Cordasco, Gennelle Kyla Cruz, Jessica A. Cruz, Dominick D’Ascoli,  Lara Damra,  Elisa M. de la Torre, Peter Alexander De Mare Jr.,  Alexandra Nicolette De Martinis, Maame Arna Tiwaa Debrah, Atharva Deokule, Lindsey Kate Depetris, Nidhi Desai Shreya Desai, Neil Deshpande, Jenna C. Devens, Para Dhulashia, Trevor Di Macco, Taha Diricanli Magdalene Dobkowski, Tatjana Dobrijevic, Natalie Donda, Owen Eke, Mohammed S. Elzain,  Zachary Tyler Harris-Enslin, Aminata Fall, Emily Rose Feola, Aiden Figueroa, Justice Fitzgerald, Christina Fitzsimmons, Diana Elisa Galante, Krutarth Gandhi, Yash Garala, Joshua Garcia, Elvin L. Garcia Granwell, Jonathan Gasparro,  Hannah E. Go, Nathaniel Gongora, Julian Goodwin, Christopher Jon Hagerman, Justin Paul Hagerman, Michael Hammer, and Amna Hanif.

Board of Education President Frank Neglia presents Nicholas Sherry with his diploma
Heidi Hansberry presents her son Seamus with his diploma

Also Seamus Edward Hansberry,  Brooke Bredina Henao, Juan David Hernandez Flores, Joel Hernandez-Mendoza,  Samantha Hincapie Limate, Christopher Michael Holler,  Wael Homsi, Nimeesha Huq, Celina Huynh, Kevin Ryder James, Kenneth James Johnson, Dan Kalen Kabore, Charles Kachulis, Derek Kaiser, Rohan Kapadia, Sarah Elisabeth Katz, Abraham Khan, Hamza Ali Khan, Sameer Khan, Aadarsha Khatiwada, Antara A. Kotwal, Joshua Kreitman, Samantha Kruger, Manan Lad, Aidan Sebastian Lafuente, Kenneth R. Lee IV,
Joseph S. Leogrande, Wendy Leon, Christopher Francesco Leone, Sarah Elizabeth Lepre,
Rainie Li, Anson Lin, Jeffry J. Lopez Perez,  Morgan Ashley Lorencovitz, Jacqueline Lui,
Eric Maciag, Sana Majid, Aunmol Malik, Praneal Mandavia, Camila Martinez Montijo, Michael Vincenzo Marucci,  Dominic James Masherelli, Gianna Olivia Masherelli, Gianna McConnon, Joseph McConnon, Peter McMaster, Melanie Mejia, Alanna Yrene Mendoza, Jacob Meth, Meera Mistry, Kayla Riane Mlynarski, Farrah Mohamed, Malaika Mohammad, Snigda Nadella
Ankitha Rangaswamy Nagabhushan, Sajjad Nazari, Thanvi Nimmala YuktaNyati, and Sarah Grace Olsen.

Board member Susy Golderer presents Jacob Meth with his diploma

Also Carlos Ortiz, Lesly Karina Paguay, Samman Kumar Pandey, Alessandra Raquel Parziale, Vasanth Pasumpadiyar, Anisha Patel, Avi Patel, Dhrasti Patel, Jaagrat Patel, Neer Patel, Pathey Patel, Rahul Patel, Rishi Patel, Ritika R. Patel, Jared T. Pechman, Adarsa Pedada, Christina Noel Peterson, Mia Grace Petrolino, Sydney Petzinger, Zachary Andrew Petzinger, Diana Pham, Tolsi Pipalia, Nicholas Pisillo, Fraidoon Pourooshasb,  Kevin Michael Preston, Gwin Promprated, Nicole Antonia Rago, Panah Rahmat, Purvi Ranade, Janani Rao, Jessica Taylor Reich, Dennis Pera Ribeiro, James Riedinger, Denise Rodriguez, Dominic Romero, Abhilasha Devendrasinh Salunia, Sebastian Sanchez, Jackson Robert Sandelli, Sajjad Sarwary, Anas Sawalhi, Benjamin Scalchi, Mark J. Shachov, Soumil Shah, Swara Shah, Ahmad Sharafi, Jackson David Sharpell, Nicholas John Sherry, Mohammad Shaheer Siddiqi, Jamie Solomon, , Joelle Elena Spirock, Julia Strain, Dominick Stull, Giovanna Stull, Esin Surmeli, Victoria M. Taco, Nirbhav Talloju, Venkata Tanguturu, Dylan M. Tannu, Kaleigh Mae Tkach, Janna Alexandra Torres, Chaitanya Trivedi, Michael Angelo Turo, Arianna Elizabeth Urban, Rohan Vaghela, Ronak Vaghela, Austin Van Buren, Ethan Velasquez, Rachel Beth Volarich, Riddhi Mayank Vyas, Jaleel Wali, William Edward Walker, Karrnina Wall, Tyler Ray Wang,  Jing Xuan Wei, Sean Wisniewski, Emma Wright, Karen Yousef, Eileen Zhang, Max Zhang, Lindsey Zicker and Alexander M. Zitelli.

Final Parsippany Republican Primary Results

Frank L. Cahill
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Final Parsippany Republican Primary Results

PARSIPPANY — The official results in the Republican Primary Race has been updated.

The last update posted on the Morris County Elections website was on Tuesday, June 22 at 12:30 p.m.

According to the website, ballots cast at the polls, mail-in, and all provisional ballots have been counted.

Candidate Position June 8 June 18 Additional
Louis Valori Mayor 2,013 2,172 159
James Barberio Mayor 2,275 2,356 81
Justin Musella Council 1,763 1,894 131
Gary Martin Council 1,629 1,763 134
Frank Neglia Council 1,758 1,809 51
Deborah Orme Council 1,485 1,534 49
Robert Peluso Council 1,269 1,329 60

Council candidate Frank Neglia leads Gary Martin by 46 votes. Candidates have ten days after the votes are certified to file for a recount.

There were a total of 797 mail-in ballots, with Lou Valori receiving 524 votes and James Barberio receiving 267; There were a total of 111 provisional ballots with Lou Valori receiving 64 votes and James Barberio receiving 47. Valori lost by a total of 183 votes.

James Barberio won 25 voting districts out of the 39 districts. Barberio received 51.90% of the votes and Valori received 47.86%.

Editors Note: This article was updated with the official results on Tuesday, June 22.

Dunn Bill Ensuring College Students Have Access to Mental Health Services Passes Assembly

Frank L. Cahill
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Dunn Bill Ensuring College Students Have Access to Mental Health Services Passes Assembly

PARSIPPANY — This past year’s college experience looked a lot different, and it affected students’ mental well-being. Addressing the increased stress, anxiety, and depression on campuses in New Jersey, the Assembly passed a bill requiring colleges to connect students to mental health services.

“The college life that many had imagined was put on hold or canceled. Campus closures due to the coronavirus, restrictions on socializing, and uncertainty about future careers are wreaking havoc on students’ mental health,” said Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, a prime sponsor of the legislation. “While we know that students are experiencing more mental health disturbances, we also know they are not reaching out for help when they are in crisis. We need to make sure they are aware of the services that are available and they have that lifeline any time they need to talk to someone.”
Under the bill (A3007), higher education institutions in the state are required to ensure access to campus-based mental health care programs and services and provide newly enrolled students with information on their location and availability starting in the 2021-2022 academic year. Students unable to access on-campus services must be provided assistance and referrals. Additionally, 24-hour toll-free telephone hotlines for those experiencing a mental health crisis must be advertised in dormitories, libraries, and student centers.
“Providing information on mental health services at the beginning of the semester, when you are learning about how and where to access all the resources you need, reduces some of the stigma surrounding seeking out psychological help,” said Dunn. “Students will get information on everything from dental to mental. In order to prevent potential tragedies, we want to normalize mental health care so that they feel comfortable reaching out for help.”
Before the pandemic, Rowan University reported three suicides in just over two months in the fall of 2019. Last October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported suicide had become the second leading cause of death among 10-to-24-year olds. In August 2020, the CDC released a report on the pandemic’s effect on mental health that identified a disproportionate number of 18-to-24-year olds, about one-quarter of those surveyed, had seriously considered suicide in the last 30 days.
“Coronavirus shutdowns and closures have prevented people from scheduling doctors’ appointments and put people into isolation, both of which carry consequences to one’s health and well-being,” explained Dunn. “Mental health cannot wait. It has to be convenient and easily accessible for the person in crisis and this bill will help meet this timely need.”

Planning Board to hold Meeting on Monday, June 21

Frank L. Cahill
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Planning Board to hold Meeting on Monday, June 21

PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board will hold a meeting on Monday, June 21, at 7:30 p.m.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will be held via a web conferencing program named WebEx. This program will allow the public to listen in to the meeting and to participate during the public portion session only. This program uses a “raise hand” button in the software to address those who wish to speak during the public portion.

Please be advised that in order for a member of the public to speak during the public portion, they will need to provide their first name, last name, email address, address and city accurately. Anyone not using their real name and address will not be allowed to speak during the public portion.

Click here to download the agenda.
Click here to access the meeting.

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