We write on behalf of the residents, both the townhomes and single-family homes of the Glenmont Commons community. It is a community comprising approximately 265 townhomes and 140 single-family homes. The community was built between 2000 with the last phase of the development ending in about circa 2007. Tucked away, yet conveniently located, this community has plenty of advantages with very close access to the Morris County parks and recreational facilities. This is part of the same Parsippany township that was once rated number 13 in the top 20 best places to live in the country by Money magazine.
16 years after the community was built out completely, the residents find themselves in an environment that is deprived of the most basic necessity of having decent roads. We believe the roads have never been repaved since. The community roads have huge potholes, cracks, and crevices, some as deep as 8 inches soon becoming a safety hazard as drivers try to avoid them and the potential to run into pedestrians, needless to say, the cost economics of maintaining your own vehicles (tires/rims, suspensions, wheel alignment, axles, etc.).
The community roads have huge potholes, cracks, and crevices, some as deep as 8 inchesThe subsequent repair of the road looks like “patches” on a quilt.
There are parts of the road that have sunk, and many of the manholes are a few inches above the surface of the road. In addition, due to shoddy standards associated with water pipes leading to our townhomes, and single-family homes, homeowners have had to replace the incoming water lines out of their own pocket. The subsequent repair of the road looks like “patches” on a quilt. With new townhomes being built on the corner of Old Dover Road and Mountain Way, there is an obvious increase in the flow of traffic and heavy vehicles in and around this community. This only exacerbates the already poor conditions of the road, as the roads connect to the main arteries from Route 10 and these have not been addressed as well. There are new line markings though, but this is like putting lipstick on a pig.
Today we find ourselves in a really awkward situation asking our town leaders to take care of a situation that could have been avoided if they had followed through on their management responsibilities in 2010.
Circa 2020, the members of the community based on the several observations duly noted, started to voice their concerns about the condition of the roads in and around the community. The townhomes’ HOA which governs only the townhomes and not the single-family homes was made aware of the concerns. When the HOA reached out to the township, the HOA was advised the roads did not belong to the town but to the builder/developer of the community.
However, the community residents are thankful that their roads somehow fall under the radar of the streets and road division for the snow to be cleared in the winter, which is a double-edged sword adding to the already poor condition of the roads due to the impact of the heavy machines. After a lot of further back and forth, in October 2021, the HOA was informed that for the town to take over the road, the HOA would have to amend its by-laws to indicate that HOA did not own the roads. Based upon the amended by-laws the town would reach out to the builder/developer to formally sign over the roads to the town. The HOA fulfilled its obligation of having the by-laws amended and passed by a majority of its members in August 2023. Now the matter sits with the township’s attorney to address with the developer’s attorney.
Since this was an election year, and part of the council was due to be re-voted in/out, we had candidates approach the community trying to understand our needs. While they broke bread with us, donuts and coffee with Councilman Paul Carifi, samosa, and chai with Mayor James Barberio and others, the issue has remained stagnant over the past three months, and we are afraid it will remain stagnant until the next election cycle. Why are we not surprised? There is little to no confidence in the political goodwill of our leaders, considering the amount of an average estimated (approximately) $4.5 to $5.5 million in property taxes being paid by the residents of the community to the township every year.
Since the informal meetings with the mayor and council, members of the community have attended the council meetings & public hearing sessions to move the case further. At the October 17, 2023 council meeting, we were informed that the town attorney would reach out to the developer’s attorney. In the following council meeting on November 21, 2023, where the members of the community were focused on the PILOT program, as a community we again asked this question. In response, the town attorney stated he just called the developer’s attorney just that day. It is hard not to notice the lack of political will and intent as it seems like cell phones or other forms of communication do not work in the 30 days between the last town council meeting and this one.
So, how did we get here? In 2010 the township inspected the roads built for the community and as part of their engineering punch-out list, the township’s engineers identified the roads were not built to their specifications. Did the township pursue the matter with the builder/developer?
Today, almost 14 years later, the community is paying for that decision. The consequences of lack of management or mismanagement by the township, council, and mayor’s office. The roads in the community are a SAFETY hazard. Is it too much to ask for safer and cleaner roads for a community that is paying over $5 million in taxes per year? The community has entrusted its faith and confidence in the hands of the politicians thus far and is growing impatient as the condition grows from bad to worse which can have its own consequences and dire implications. The homeowners & residents are willing to work with anyone who can help take this to the next level with a prompt response that has a more tangible outcome. We hope this letter brings attention to this issue to the overall Parsippany community and sparks more urgent action by the town’s leaders.
We do not intend to have this issue fester until the next election cycle where it will be dangled as a carrot to vote for the right mayoral/council candidate.
Tax-paying residents of Parsippany-Troy Hills (Glenmont Commons)
Parsippany-Troy Hills Zoning Board of Adjustment 2023 Members and Term Dates
Robert Iracane Chairman 12/31/26
Dave Kaplan Vice-Chair 12/31/23
Bernard Berkowitz Member 12/31/24
Scott Joskowitz Member 12/31/25
Nancy Snyder Member 12/31/23
Sridath Reddy Member 12/31/26
Davey Willans Member 12/31/24
Casey Parikh Alt. No. 1 12/31/23
Chris Mazzarella Alt. No. 2 12/31/23
John Chadwick, Planner, John T. Chadwick IV P.P.
Chas Holloway, Engineer, GPI
Peter King, Attorney, King Moench Hirniak & Collins, LLP
Nora O. Jolie, Board Secretary
Agenda subject to change without notice Although the information on this site is believed to be reliable, online postings of meeting agendas are not considered official copies.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting was held on Thursday, December 28, 2023.
This meeting was held at the Parsippany PAL, 33 Baldwin Road. The meeting started at 1:30 p.m. Formal action may or may not be taken at all scheduled meetings.
Any individual who is a qualified disabled person under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request auxiliary aids such as a sign interpreter or a tape recorder to be used for a meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours before the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to request auxiliary aid.
Mayor James R. Barberio Council President Loretta Gragnani Council Vice-President Michael J. dePierro Councilman Paul Carifi Jr. Councilman Frank Neglia Councilman Justin Musella
MORRIS COUNTY — The 32nd Anniversary of First Night Morris County will take place on Sunday, December 31 in Morristown. First Night Morris County is an alcohol-free and substance-free celebration of arts and culture.
This year there will be over 70 live performances, 20 venues, and 50+ on-demand films taking place from 4:00 p.m. to midnight in downtown Morristown.
Events include:
•Theatre, music (rock, jazz, classical, opera), visual arts, film festivals, children’s programs, and so much more. •Fireworks at 9:15 p.m., and the program concludes with a Midnight Countdown Featuring Fireworks to Welcome in the New Year. •Complimentary Shuttles Start at 4:45 p.m. •Children’s Fun Festival at Morristown High School from 4:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. •Film Festival Starting at 6:00 p.m. •Complimentary Parking at any Morristown Parking Garage Starting at 4:00 p.m. •Complimentary Mobile App & Print Program •On-Demand Access from 4:00 p.m. on December 31, 2023, to 4:00 p.m. on January 1, 2024
Your First Night Morris County admission button (ticket) gives you access to innovative, diverse, and high-quality performances ideal for participants of all ages.
In-person venues are within close walking distance of one another, and virtual programs are accessible through the mobile app or website. For one affordable price, you and your friends and family will enjoy unlimited access to all performances in person, streaming, or on-demand.
Prices are $30.00 per ticket and $23.75 per ticket for a family of 4 packs.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2023:34 during their meeting on Thursday, December 28.
The ordinance prohibits parking on both sides of Littleton Road, extending from Route 287 to Parsippany Boulevard.
Following a thorough investigation conducted by the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department and the Parsippany Engineering Department, it was determined that parking restrictions on both sides of the street should be enforced at all times.
The ordinance will be effective 20 days after passage.
PARSIPPANY — Information from reliable sources within the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department disclosed that Mayor James Barberio will be promoting Captain Brian J. Dowd to Deputy Chief of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department.
Dowd was hired in January 1999 and assigned to the Patrol Division. He is married with three children and is a resident of Cranford.
Former Mayor Michael Soriano requested that a Civil Service Exam for Police Chief be given when Chief Miller submitted his retirement effective July 1, 2021. The results of the exam were:
•Captain Thomas G. Carney scored 90.89 which placed him in first place. •Captain John J. Wieners, III scored 89.62 which placed him in second place. •Captain Brian J. Dowd scored 82.69 which placed him in third place. •Acting Police Chief Richard Patina scored 81.29 which placed him in fourth place.
Under New Jersey’s Rule of Three, when an employer receives a list it may appoint any one of the top three eligible on the list. Thus, the employer can skip the first two top-ranked eligible employees and appoint the third, if they choose.
At that time, Captain Dowd withdrew his name from the list, and Mayor James Barberio promoted Richard Patina to chief on December 27, 2022.
Editors Note: We received communication from Parsippany Police Chief Richard Patina, that the final decision in the selection of Deputy Chief.
PARSIPPANY — Due to overwhelming attendance, the Parsippany-Troy Hills Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 19 had to be abruptly canceled due to overcrowding at the Parsippany Municipal Council Chambers.
Council President Loretta Grangani subsequently rescheduled the meeting for Thursday, December 28 at 1:00 p.m., relocating it to the PAL Building at 33 Baldwin Road.
Lake Hiawatha resident Nicholas Homyak was seen carrying a sign before the meeting started at the rescheduled meeting on Thursday, December 28 held at the Parsippany PAL Building.Before the meeting commenced, numerous residents organized a protest, displaying signs and vocalizing their concerns through chants and slogans.
The venue change was necessitated and the meeting was attended to by over 800 residents, a significant number of whom carried protest signs, causing the room to reach maximum capacity and requiring additional chairs to accommodate the large crowd. During the over seven-hour meeting on Thursday, critics strongly criticized the deals, arguing that they unfairly disadvantage local schools and place an undue burden on taxpayers.
Tensions escalated among residents when Council President Gragnani declared that each resident would only have a strict 90-second window to speak during all public sessions. Frustration mounted as residents attempted to ask questions and convey their viewpoints, only to be stopped by Parsippany Police for exceeding the 90-second time limit. “This meeting is a complete farce,” one speaker said as police took the microphone away. “As a veteran, I deserve more than 90 seconds to speak.”
Greg Remos said “I was shocked at her attitude towards folks wanting to ask questions. Wouldn’t even grant enough time to ask decent questions.” “I looked into the recall. It looks like if they serve at least one year, we can petition for a recall (just forces another election, but possible.)”
Channel 12 News was present and actively filming at the beginning and throughout the event for their nightly newscast coverage.
During the meeting, Councilman Justin Musella put forth a motion to move the public portion to the beginning of the agenda. Unfortunately, the motion failed to garner a second from fellow council members, leaving attendees disheartened and frustrated. The audience expressed their discontent loudly, as they had hoped for broader council support to allow the motion to be voted upon.
In the usual protocol of Council Meetings, the public session traditionally precedes the voting on any ordinances. However, in this particular meeting, there was a departure from the norm as the public portion was rescheduled to the end, following the completion of ordinance voting. This unexpected change in the meeting sequence added to the disappointment of those in attendance.
The PILOT deals, also known as “payments in lieu of taxes,” have been approved for developers with projects on Campus Drive and Sylvan Way. These incentives were granted through successive 4-1 votes during a tumultuous over seven-hour council session. Councilman Musella cast the lone dissenting vote against the PILOT agreement.
PILOTS have become prevalent throughout the State with at least 50 PILOT agreements in Morris County alone. Neighboring towns like Boonton, Montville, Denville, Hanover Township, and Florham Park, to name a few, have such agreements. If Parsippany doesn’t use PILOTs developers will most likely go to towns that are using the tool. Without any development replacing the vacant office buildings, the town will have to recoup the revenue from existing taxpayers. Redevelopment is necessary to prevent residents from being overburdened with picking up the tax burden previously covered by commercial properties.
“25 of the 39 Municipalities in Morris County, including Parsippany, have PILOTS. The School Board and one Councilman have been very vocal in opposing PILOTS and have published false and misleading statements. The current PILOT issues regard three projects that require six separate financial agreements. All of these projects will produce new and productive revenue-generating properties,” said Council Vice President Michael dePierro.
The ongoing feud between the Board of Education and Mayor James Barberio escalated further during the recent votes on PILOTs. Many current and incoming Board of Education members expressed their strong opposition to the PILOTs during the public comment periods held for each vote. This public disagreement highlights the tension and differences of opinion between the two parties regarding the PILOT programs.
Andrew Choffo is an incoming school board member against the projects. “There’s simply no reason to give sweetheart deals to real estate developers to build residential properties under a PILOT project,” says Andy Choffo.
Council Vice President Michael dePierro said “In general, PILOTS are a financial tool to encourage replacement of vacant, blighted properties into productive, revenue generators providing jobs and other benefits to the municipality. Under current economic conditions (high interest rates and high construction costs), vacant office buildings would remain vacant resulting in a continued revenue loss to the Township and a threat of additional Affordable Housing Units in the Township’s round IV negotiations with the Courts which is coming up soon. I would not support PILOTS if interest rates and cost for construction were lower.”
Mayor James Barberio
“The Council, by a 4-1 vote, approved a redevelopment plan and Pilot Agreements to bolster Parsippany’s commercial tax base. All of these properties were unanimously declared blighted by all of the Council. Parsippany must use the financial tools available to maximize our commercial ratables so that we can minimize taxes on our residents. Unfortunately, the Board of Education has launched a misinformation campaign about Pilots and I wish they didn’t mislead the parents and students. The fact is that Pilot Agreements do not impact funding for our schools – not one dime,” said Mayor James Barberio.
“What was even more reprehensible is that the Board of Education, along with Councilman Musella, used this misinformation in an attempt to shut down the Council meeting. Shame is on them for attempting to thwart the people’s elected representatives from conducting the people’s business. They didn’t want the facts to be brought out! I am and will continue to be committed to doing all I can to increase commercial ratables by repurposing vacant commercial buildings so that we can keep taxes on our residents to a minimum,” continued the Mayor.
Lake Parsippany resident Tony Barone said “Parsippany turned on in force in opposition, without avail. The Council had decided beforehand to giveaway the tax break. Citizen after citizen spoke, providing a wide range of reasons why the pilot should be rejected or at least delayed for further consideration. It didn’t matter.”
“They knew right from the start what their plan was. So smug and disrespectable to all the people who took the time to go there,” said Sue Petrovic.
Ken Hyland said, “I had to leave early but it was getting a little boisterous.”
“Parsippany residents are outraged as Barberio and this lame duck council inflicted irreparable harm to the township in open defiance of the wishes of the public and the alternate solutions instead of PILOTs before them. By making it more difficult for working families to attend because of the meeting time as well as the 90-second limit on public comments – my colleagues on the council showed that these PILOTs were a foregone conclusion and that the chorus of outrage directed towards these developer tax breaks was nothing more than a nuisance to them,” stated Councilman Justin Musella.
Councilman Justin Musella. Councilman Musella cast the lone dissenting vote against all of the PILOT agreements.
Jill Lammey said “I was there and was shocked at the Council President’s attitude towards some of the residents. I say don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” “I agree they always seem to change the rules during the game; Grant it five minutes we would still be there, but they looked like they cared less. I saw the Mayor walk out a few times. Pathetic if you ask me.”
Rakesh Bhatia said “It was shocking to see how these elected officials went 100% against the will of the citizens they were elected to serve. Even if they haven’t been purchased outright by vested interests, they certainly were smug enough at the public meeting to turn a deaf ear to the clearly expressed objections to their shenanigans. They did their best to push through their agendas before their terms ran out this year.”
Councilman Frank Neglia stated “This PILOT plan is a good one and will help the town and taxpayers immensely despite the propaganda you are being fed by someone. It’s easy to complain and disagree but if you’re going to do that, come up with a solution not just words and propaganda. Pilot plans do not hurt schools, and I would gladly sit down with anyone and prove to you how the schools do not lose a penny and how a pilot program benefits schools.”
Lake Hiawatha resident Jennifer Iceland said, “Thanks to Justin M. and all his supporters to bring the PILOT issue for most of Par-Troy Hills township residents awareness…as far as I am concerned Justin has been tireless working on this topic and one of a kind politician.”
Parsippany’s Declining Office Market
100 Kimball Drive – 175,000 square feet five-story, Class A office building (Constructed in 2007)
Parsippany office market is the largest in Morris County and one of the largest markets in Northern New Jersey. The Class A office market is comprised of approximately 12 million square feet of office buildings, the majority of which were constructed before 2000. Corporate leasing demand has been declining in Northern New Jersey as well as Parsippany. Parsippany office market has the highest level of vacancy in any submarket of Northern New Jersey. Statistically, the market equilibrium in commercial real estate is considered 15% to 20% vacant. Parsippany is over 40%. There are currently an unprecedented number of “vacant” buildings in the Parsippany office market, including:
•100 Kimball Drive – 175,000 square feet five-story, Class A office building (Constructed in 2007) •200 Kimball Drive – 175,000 square foot five-story, Class A office building •11 Waterview Boulevard – 121,441-square-foot office, Class A office building (Constructed in 2001) •15 Waterview Boulevard – 129,884-square-foot office four-story (Constructed in 1999); Class A office building •7 Century Drive – 67,817-square-foot office three-story (Constructed in 1979); Class B office building. Planned warehouse. •6 Sylvan Way – 195,200-square foot four-story (Constructed in 1981); Class A office building. Planned Life Time Fitness and 280 multi-family housing units •9 Sylvan Way – Industrial Redevelopment – Proposed 73,000 square-foot build-to-suite class A warehouse for lease and for sale. •8 Sylvan Way – 176,062-square foot three-story (Constructed in 1979); Class A office •7 Campus Drive – 156,000-square foot three-story (Constructed in 1982); Class A office – Industrial Redevelopment •2 Hilton Court – 181,592-square foot four-story (Constructed in 1991); Class A office – Industrial Redevelopment •1599 Littleton Road – 97,817-square foot three-story (Constructed in 1969); Class B office – Tenant Vacating in 2024
Apart from the existing vacant buildings, there are seven additional office buildings where significant leases are set to expire in the next six years. If these tenants choose not to renew, it could potentially contribute an additional million square feet of vacant office space to the market.
These proposed PILOTS mean Parsippany will receive nearly 35 million dollars in revenue over what it will receive if these projects do not happen. If that money is not raised through the below PILOTS the cost will be shifted to the Parsippany taxpayers.
“Contrary to School Board claims, the School Board will receive their share of the assessed Land taxes on these PILOT locations. They will still also receive 100% of their budget through tax collection. Also, three of these locations will not produce any school children. The three locations that do, are all part of the Township’s Affordable Agreement with the Courts. The developer at 2 & 3 Campus Drive has reduced the number of school children by dedicating some of the units to supportive housing for adults. The Township still receives credit for the same number of units required by the courts. The estimated number of school children will be far less than our objectors claim,” said Council Vice President Michael dePierro.
Ordinance 2023:26 – 7 Campus Drive One of the initial Ordinances on the agenda was Ordinance 2023:26, An Ordinance of the Township Council of Parippany-Troy Hills Adopting the “7 Campus Drive” Redevelopment Plan. Despite public opposition, the ordinance was passed 4-1, with Councilman Justin Musella voting against the plan.
Ordinance 2023:37 – Life Time Fitness – 6 Sylvan Way The next Ordinance to receive excessive public outcry was Ordinance 2023:37, authorizing the Execution of a Financial Agreement (PILOT) with the Township and SIG Sylvan Club Urban Renewal, LLC, granting a tax exemption concerning property identified at Block 202, Lot 1.9 per the Long-Term Exemption Law. The property location is Six Sylvan Way and is currently owned by Signature Acquisitions. This project will split the property where Avis Rent-A-Car, recently vacated, and replace the current structure with a Lifetime Fitness. A typical club features a 125,000-square-foot format, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, athletic courts, saunas, cardio and weight training equipment, fitness studios, kids spaces, a cafe, and a spa. The center’s pool area will occupy about 50,000 square feet of space with an outdoor beach club and bistro, lap pools, and a whirlpool. The average membership fee to join Lifetime is $175.00 per month.
Residents expressed their concerns about the necessity of another gym in Parsippany, particularly one that received a PILOT program. These concerns were amplified by the recent closure of Esporta Fitness in the Troy Hills Shopping Center, leaving a sizable 61,221-square-foot space vacant.
Life Time Fitness in Montvale
The ordinance granting a PILOT financial agreement to Life Time Fitness was passed with a vote of 4-1 in favor. Councilman Musella cast the lone dissenting vote against the PILOT agreement.
Ordinance 2023-38 – Kanso Parsippany Urban Renewal, LLC. – 6Sylvan Way An ordinance granting a Tax Exemption (PILOT) for Six Sylvan Way, under the Log Term Tax Exemption Law, identified as Block 202, Lot 1.9. This property will be developed into 280 multi-family housing units.
The ordinance granting a PILOT financial agreement to Kanso Parsippany Urban Renewal was passed with a vote of 4-1 in favor. Councilman Musella cast the lone dissenting vote against the PILOT agreement.
Ordinance 2023:39 – PAR Development Urban Renewal – 7 Campus Drive An ordinance granting a Tax Exemption (PILOT) for Seven Campus Drive, under the Log Term Tax Exemption Law, identified as Block 202, Lot 3.8.
The ordinance granting a PILOT financial agreement to PAR Development Urban Renewal was passed with a vote of 4-1 in favor. Councilman Musella cast the lone dissenting vote against the PILOT agreement.
Randy Glowacki said “Once again we see the Council except for Justin Musella being in the pockets of developers. How could they possibly vote for this after the meeting this afternoon? I’ve lived in this town for 67 years and it’s just business as usual. Something’s rotten in Denmark.”
Patricia Huncken said “The citizens voted them in and yet they don’t listen to them. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
Greg Remos said “Can elected officials in Parsippany be recalled? Is there a law for that?”
Marcy Phelps said “Starting to believe no elected official care about taxpaying residents, except Justin Musella. Remember this one election day.” “Let’s get them to recall petitions ready!”
Jennifer Iceland asked, “How about impeachment?”
Ralph Weber said “Over 700 people showed up and as far as I saw not one resident was in favor of any of the PILOT programs. It was like a football game around 1:00 p.m. Others state the arrogance of some of the town council members and the Mayor. Considering the issues in Jersey City where they stopped four of the six PILOTS, due to not meeting 100% of the program and the loss of revenue. Montville is in the early stages and is in the millions in loss. People have a right to their concerns. To reject the community and its outcry is political suicide.”
Over 50 residents spoke out against the PILOTs during the first public hearing. However, tensions among residents escalated with the strict 90-second time limit for each resident. This led to growing frustration as residents attempted to ask questions and express their views, only to be interrupted by Parsippany Police for exceeding the 90-second time limit.
Dear fellow Parsippany Residents: I hope and trust that you are enjoying this holiday season. The Council and I have been hard at work to keep taxes as low as possible while, at the same time, maintaining and enhancing the quality and scope of municipal services. We are always looking to cut costs where possible. But the fact is that we must grow our revenues to keep taxes as low as possible.
Toward that end, members of the Council and I have made it a priority to encourage the redevelopment of underutilized vacant commercial properties that are not generating significant revenue for Parsippany. We have approximately 20 vacant commercial properties and 1.2 million square feet of vacant space. This problem is getting worse, and will not improve unless we utilize the financial tools associated with our state’s Redevelopment Law. At least 25 of 39 Morris County municipalities have utilized PILOTs to keep taxes as low as possible for their residents. Parsippany needs to do the same on a targeted basis.
Unfortunately, the Board of Education has been spreading false and misleading information in an effort to inflame our community and to prevent the Council from performing the people’s business. The purpose of this letter is to debunk the three main arguments being used against the PILOTs up for approval.
First, it is imperative to understand that PILOTs do not take any money away from our schools. The fact is that the Board of Education receives every dime contained in its approved budget – whether the Township has PILOT agreements or not. The Board of Education’s contention that PILOTs take money away from the schools is false.
Second, the Board of Education’s contention that PILOTs will create more school children is also false. Let’s also be clear that according to their own figures, enrollment is down. That being said, like virtually all other towns in Morris County and across New Jersey, Parsippany has seen an increase in multifamily housing development with affordable housing set-asides. Those projects are mandated by the state’s affordable housing laws and were negotiated by my predecessor. Unfortunately, affordable housing will remain a challenge for Parsippany for years to come.
Third, the PILOTs we have negotiated will not cost taxpayers money. In fact, the opposite is true – these PILOTs will jump-start revenue to town hall from commercial projects, which will reduce the tax burden on our residential taxpayers. But for these PILOT agreements, these projects would not come to Parsippany. This fact exposes the fallacy in the argument being made by those opposing these PILOTs. They are counting money the town would never receive from ordinary taxes because those projects would never be constructed without a PILOT.
It would be easier for all of us to put our heads in the sand and let these properties go dark. Then blame the national economy for it, and we would not have to worry about the sideshows and misinformation being lobbed at us. But leaders make the hard decisions. I ran for Mayor on a platform of redeveloping vacant commercial buildings and bringing in good ratables for Parsippany. By building up our commercial revenue base, we can ease the tax burden on our residential taxpayers.
PILOTs are not the answer to all of our problems. However, PILOT agreements can be used – and I argue — should be used — on a targeted basis to attract good quality commercial development that would otherwise not come to Parsippany, and to help shape development patterns in our Township.
Thank you for taking the time from your holiday season to read this communication and to become more informed about the workings of our community. I continue to work to keep our town a great place to live and work. I wish you and your loved ones a safe and Happy New Year.
PARSIPPANY — On Wednesday, December 27, Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio presided over the Oath of Office ceremony for six recently appointed Parsippany Police recruits. The event occurred at the Parsippany Municipal Building and drew a substantial audience of the recruits’ families, friends, and fellow Parsippany Police officers.
The six recruits will start at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy on January 8 and will be members of the 102nd Basic Police Class, graduating on May 30.
The recruits are Richard “Frank” Nicoletti, Shalin Patel, Nicholas “Nick” Santangelo, Thomas Lally, Robert M. Hockey, Jr., and Ryan McConnell.
Ryan McConnell takes the oath of office administered by Mayor James BarberioShalin Patel takes the oath of office administered by Mayor James BarberioRichard Nicoletti takes the oath of office administered by Mayor James BarberioRobert M. Hockey, Jr., takes the oath of office administered by Mayor James BarberioNicholas “Nick” Santangelo takes the oath of office administered by Mayor James BarberioThomas Lally takes the oath of office administered by Mayor James BarberioThe recruits signing the “Oath of Allegiance”Nicolas “Nick” Santangelo, Thomas Lally, Salin Patel, Parsippany-Troy Hills Council President Loretta Gragnani, Council Vice President Michael dePierro, Ryan McConnell, Robert M. Hockey, Jr., and Richard “Frank” Nicoletti
