PARSIPPANY — The competition for the Parsippany Board of Education was intense, featuring 11 candidates vying for just three available seats. Cassandra Cogan withdrew from the race upon her acceptance into the “European Master in Global Studies” (EMGS) program.
Newcomer Wendy Wright emerged as the leading vote-receiver, with Timothy Berrios and Andy Choffo securing the subsequent spots.
Matthew DeVitto and Kendra Von Achen’s terms end on December 31 as well as Deborah Orme, who chose not to seek re-election.
The board is made up of nine members who are appointed or elected by registered voters of Parsippany-Troy Hills Township. Board members are residents of Parsippany and are elected to serve three-year terms. The nine members also elect a Board President and Vice-President by a majority vote.
Editors Note: Results are unofficial. Early Voting and Initial Mail-In Ballots Counted and await Final Mail-In and Provisional Ballot Results.
I am a more than 22-year Parsippany resident who doesn’t attend Council or other municipal meetings. However, I participated in the November 9th Council meeting called with very little notice, and I now suspect the last-minute nature of the gathering was to keep as many residents in the dark as possible about a pending construction development deal that will cost taxpayers millions. This meeting reminded me of what happened one year ago when the issue of PLA was discussed.
I can call it PLA Part 2.
The meeting’s order of business was the establishment of a long-term tax exemption plan for three “Payment in Lieu of Taxes” (better known as PILOTs) to certain developers looking to build two large-scale apartment complexes and one warehouse in town. In short, the Mayor-sponsored measure up for approval is nothing more than taxpayer-funded development that will unleash a deteriorating quality of life, higher local taxes, and strained municipal services.
At the beginning of this last-minute meeting, Mayor Barberio argued how wonderful this project is and how important it is to support developers during these economic times.
The Mayor contends Parsippany has no future without his taxpayer-funding arrangement and without providing the Council or constituents with any credible and supportive facts or figures. He just offered fear-based statements and empty promises of benefit at the meeting.
After Mayor Barberio’s pitch, John Inglesino reiterated the same previous basic talking points the Mayor delivered.
As a resident who never goes to municipal meetings, I didn’t really know who Mr. Inglesino was at the meeting, but one thing was clear to me: He is no stranger to the Barberio and Carifi clan.
Mr. Inglesino gave evasive answers to specific questions from Councilman Justin Musella and tried to convince everyone that everything would be good for Parsippany’s future and its residents if the deal was approved by the Council.
While the other council people kowtowed to the Mayor’s sales pitch, only Justin Musella raised smart questions and tried to understand how good this project could be for residents. All other Councilors didn’t make one peep, they just bobbed their heads in agreement – I’m interested WHY???
After Barberio and Inglesino’s marketing presentation, residents present were allowed to speak. Residents had A LOT of comments and questions:
1) Why is it necessary to give developers a break from taxes while township residents struggle to keep up with annual tax increases?
2) Why does this need to be done so quickly?
All attending residents and Councilman Musella voiced suspicion and disagreement with the Mayor’s burdensome initiative. And again, the Mayor could not give one substantive, clear, fact-backed answer to any of our questions.
I still kept asking myself why would a Republican, self-proclaimed fiscal disciplined mayor impose something so burdensome upon his constituents. Then, I later learned that Mr. Inglesino was the “shadow Mayor” and Parsippany township attorney working under Barberio between 2010-2018.
Come on Mayor Barberio and complicit Council members Carifi, Neglia, dePierro, and Gragnani, you must do better for your residents than to prioritize political operatives and your connected friends over the welfare of your residents.
I urge all Parsippany residents to stop what they’re are doing and voice opposition to this taxpayer-funded project that Mayor Barberio is trying to shove down our throats for the sake of YOUR future ability to afford to stay in town.
This measure will hit your wallets like a bulldozer for years to come —long after residents are able to vote these entrenched, self-serving council people out.
Please attend the Tuesday, November 21 Council meeting at 7 pm to say NO to developer giveaways!
MORRIS COUNTY — Repairing OUR World – United Against Hate kicks off United Against Hate week featuring the screening of the riveting documentary, “Repairing the World – Stories from the Tree of Life” which will be held on Sunday, November 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Adath Shalom, 841 Mountain Way, Morris Plains. The event is co-sponsored by more than 15 synagogues, churches, Morris County Human Relations Commission, Diversity Council of Morris County, Parsippany Interfaith Council, and Randolph PEACE.
As the Pittsburgh community was experiencing grief and fear, neighbors came together, drawing upon connections to meet fear with courage, adopting the slogan “Stronger than Hate”. A diverse community worked to heal from the impacts of antisemitism, racism, hate speech, etc. The film gives voice to a multi-faith, multicultural cross-section of Pittsburgh survivors, family members, leaders, and community members to show the power of unity in crisis.
The powerful program features a story of hope and how we can do something to stop the spread of hate in our local communities where united we can effectively make a change that can be felt in people’s lives. It is a beautiful redefinition of what it means to be a good neighbor and community member.
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-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, November 9, 2023.
Regular Township Council Meetings will commence at 7:00 p.m. All meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings. Council meetings are held at Parsippany Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard. 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
About six weeks ago I heard a rumor that the office-to-apartment projects at 2-3 Campus Drive would be applying for a Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes (PILOT) agreement and that the announcement would be deliberately withheld until after the general election so that it would not become a campaign issue. As evidenced by Thursday night’s PILOT ordinances, the rumor was right on the money.
Parsippany has already had one experience with residential PILOTs, which is Stanberry and the final result was a disaster. The current mayor and two of the current council members were not in office during the final Stanberry deliberations. So, for your benefit and as a reminder to the three council members who were present, I’d like to start off with a little history, and then review some of the things that we learned about residential PILOTs.
After all of the discussion about the PILOT agreement for the Stanberry project had been completed, the administration, the council, and the public finally realized that the Township of Parsippany was being taken advantage of. However, to everyone’s great disappointment, the council reluctantly approved that PILOT by a 4-1 margin. The four council members voting yes made it clear that they did not vote for approval on the merits of the agreement, but rather, out of fear of litigation. The only positive thing that came out of this fiasco was that the former Business Administrator, Keith Kazmark, announced publicly at the February 19, 2019, town council meeting that the administration and the council attended a meeting where developers were explicitly told that PILOTs will no longer be considered for residential properties in Parsippany.
PILOTs are drafted by the developer’s attorney, and every complex clause contained in the PILOT is designed to reduce the developer’s property taxes as much as the township will bear, usually by 50% or more. In the case of Stanberry, Parsippany could have received over 60 million dollars more in tax revenue over 30 years if the property were assessed according to conventional means.
We also found out during the Stanberry negotiations that the terms of the PILOT are constructed to achieve a specific profit margin or above for the developer, and that Parsippany is expected to agree to terms that will guarantee that profit margin. On several occasions, Parsippany asked for a certain clause to be modified but was rebuffed because it would reduce the developer’s profit margin to an unacceptable level.
Another thing we learned is that the developer does not accept any degree of risk in the PILOT. Who can forget the council meeting where Parsippany proposed a change to the PILOT, and the developer’s spokesman openly stated that they will not accept any conditions that involve potential risk? I thought Councilmember Carifi wanted to strangle the guy as he voiced what everyone in the audience was thinking, “Oh, I see, it’s OK for Parsippany to take risks in the PILOT, but not for the developer”.
If you haven’t yet been convinced how one-sided PILOTs are in favor of the developer, I’ll give you one more example. About six months after the PILOT was agreed to, Stanberry announced to the council that market conditions had changed and they needed additional favorable terms in the PILOT, threatening litigation if Parsippany did not approve them. In the end, Parsippany gave them what they wanted.
Because there are affordable housing units involved, the courts require Parsippany to provide the zoning changes necessary to build the development project at 2-3 Campus Drive. Parsippany has complied, thus avoiding the possibility of a builder’s remedy lawsuit. The courts also permit the developer to ask for a PILOT, but (and this is a key point), the governing body is under no legal obligation to grant one.
The Stanberry PILOT was an embarrassment for two mayors, the council, and the taxpayers of Parsippany. It will cost the township in the neighborhood of 60 million dollars in lost revenue over a 30-year period. With all of the budget problems, Parsippany cannot afford to repeat that mistake. Stop giving away the taxpayer’s money and kill all of these PILOT ordinances on the first reading.
MORRIS COUNTY — If you need to renew your driver’s license and registration, and don’t want to make a trip to the local DMV, no worries. An upcoming visit from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s (NJMVC) mobile unit at the Morris County Library will give residents the chance to do these tasks and more.
The MVC “Agency on Wheels” will be available on November 20. The unit will be at the library from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Morris County Library is located at 30 East Hanover Avenue, Whippany. Click here to make an appointment.
The mobile unit has a limit of 40 customers per date with an additional 10 customers to be placed on a standby list. A social security card or 2022 W2 form, current pay stub, or 1099 form are required to participate, as well as six points of ID.
Some services that will be available include:
Driver Licenses – The Mobile Units provide the opportunity for drivers to renew their license, obtain a duplicate license, change their name or address on their license, add a boat endorsement, add a veteran designation, register to vote, and/or make organ donation selections.
Non-Driver Identification Cards – The Mobile Units can provide residents with photo identification that may then serve as a primary or secondary form of personal ID.
Registrations – Drivers may renew their registration or obtain a duplicate registration card for their vehicle in the Mobile Units.
REAL ID – Mobile units can provide REAL ID to a limited number of customers. Customers who have scheduled appointments for REAL IDs must arrive no later than 11:30 a.m. on the day of the appointment.
License Plates – The Mobile Units allow drivers the option to surrender license plates.
Placards – Drivers may obtain a Persons with a Disability, Purple Heart, or Disabled Veteran placard from the Mobile Units.
Examination Permits – Customers can apply for an examination permit to take a written (law/knowledge) test. However, the written test itself is not available in the Mobile Units
REAL ID appointments are limited and must be scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. only.
Issuance of a REAL ID requires additional proof of identity. Click here to see what to bring to satisfy these requirements.
PARSIPPANY — As the Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medal program has grown in popularity, the Board of County Commissioners hosted two Veterans Day Observance ceremonies on November 8 and November 9 this year to publicly honor 28 local veterans, who were accompanied by family and friends.
State and federal authorities also issued honors to the former service members at these events, including State Sen. Anthony Bucco (Morris-25) and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (Morris-25), Kellie Doucette, District Director, and Willy Tolba, Veterans and Military Affairs Liaison of U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s Office. State Sen. Joe Pennacchio (Morris-26) and U.S. Rep. Tom Kean also sent “Citations of Commendations and Praise” that were issued to each veteran at both events.
Making this year’s events extra special, Parsippany Council President Loretta Gragnani and Vice President Michael dePierro, who were receiving honors with veteran service, were surprised to discover they were also being honored for many years of dedicated public service to the county.
Gragnani, whose husband, Adam, was posthumously honored for his service as a Navy veteran, is the current president of the Parsippany Township Council after serving on the council for two consecutive terms. In addition, she has served on the Board of Adjustments since 2006 in Parsippany, the township she has resided in for 54 years.
DePierro has spent more than 40 years on the Parsippany Council, which, if coupled with the six years he served on the Parsippany school board, makes him the longest-serving elected official in Morris County who is still active. He is the only Parsippany official to be inducted into the New Jersey State League of Municipalities “Elected Officials Hall of Fame.”
They both plan on officially retiring from public service at the end of the year.
After honoring them at the start of the 7:00 p.m. regular public meeting on Wednesday, Commissioner Director John Krickus began the presentation of Distinguished Military Service Medals to Morris County veterans.
Commissioner Deputy Director Christine Myers, Rev. David A. Hollowell, Sr. and Commissioner Director Krickus.
“Of all the titles I have had as an elected official, there is no title I am prouder of than United States Marine… During the time I served, I remember that our Vietnam Veterans were not treated the way they should have been. Thankfully today, I think we have a great widespread respect for our veterans, and I hope that always continues. You can challenge the war, but don’t challenge the warrior; they’re just serving our country,” said Krickus, a Marine Corps veteran.
He also noted that November 10, marks the 248th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.
The second ceremony took place on November 9th at the Morris County Veterans Services Office (VSO), where a ribbon cutting was also held to celebrate the opening of a new space for veterans’ services in the county-owned offices at the Morris View Health Care Center off West Hanover Avenue in Morris Township. The added room more than doubles the space available to support veterans and their families.
Commissioner Stephen Shaw, whose father, Robert Kent Shaw, was a U.S. Army Korean War veteran, reflected on the significance of the county’s Veteran medal programs.
“I did not know anything about my father’s military service until after he passed away. He was awarded a medal posthumously two years ago, which prompted me to look into his military service and realize what he went through and the sacrifices that he made in Korea,” said Shaw.
“The Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation does a phenomenal job researching and compiling information on the county website for a compendium of veterans from Morris County, going back to the Revolutionary War,” Shaw added.
In preparation for the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the War in Afghanistan coming up on October 7, 2026, the Morris County Office of Planning & Preservation invites local soldiers and sailors to participate in its latest Veterans Compendium project.
Group shot of Morris County veterans and public officials
The Honored Veterans in Brief
The late Adam J. Gragnani, Parsippany Troy-Hills Township
A veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War era, he enlisted in February 1962 and served until October 1966.
Michael J. dePierro, Parsippany Troy-Hills Township
Served with the U.S. Air Force from October 1959 to August 1962 during the Vietnam War era, training elite servicemen in single-sideband communications systems before their units went into combat in Vietnam.
The late Frank C. Cestone, Denville
Served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War from 1950 until 1954, specializing in metal smithing and rigging. He worked aboard a blimp, Airship Squadron Three, one of the Navy’s “lighter-than-air” units.
Jesse William Christmas, Hanover Township
Served in the U.S. Air Force from August 2011 to September 2014 during the Global War on Terror as a cyber transport systems specialist.
Javier Colon, Town of Boonton
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Mr. Colon deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq for the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom during the 12 years he has served with the National Guard. He was called up via President Proclamation to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michael N. Cutter, Morristown
A U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War, he was on active duty from 1962 to 1965, before transferring to the Reserves and continuing to serve until 1968.
Kimberly S. Dean, Chester Township
A veteran of the U.S. Army, she served from April 1998 until her retirement in July 2023. She is a veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, having served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Kevin M. Enriquez, Riverdale
A Marine, he served during the Global War on Terror from September 2012 until September 2016.
John “Jack” F. Haren, Morris Plains
Served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from April 1970 to June 1975 as a member of the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
David A. Hollowell, Sr., Morris Township
A Vietnam Veteran who served in the U.S. Army from February 1966 to February 1968, he supported the Army Geospatial Center as a computer programmer and systems analyst.
Stanley A. Kasiski, Hanover Township
A Vietnam veteran who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968, he served on active duty until 1970 when he transferred to the U.S. Army National Guard. His career in the National Guard spanned 23 years.
William Klimczuk, Mount Olive
A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served on active duty from October 1996 to 1999, with additional time in the Reserves until 2003. He served in El Salvador and in Operation Enduring Freedom during the Global War on Terrorism.
The Late Edward William Klingener, Sr., Town of Boonton
A Vietnam-era Veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1965 before he transferred to the Reserves. He served at the Boca Chica Marina at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West, Fla., and rescued a man while serving on a crash crew during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was attached to the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 11 (VAW11) in North Island, Calif., where the squadron did shakedown cruises on the USS Coral Sea and USS Ranger. He was stationed off the coast of Vietnam on the USS Hancock CV-19.
Lemuel C. Leeper-Tilghman, Roxbury Township
A veteran of the U.S. Army and National Guard, he served from May 2010 to April 2021 in the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Steven J. Levine, Pequannock
A U.S. Navy veteran, he served during the Vietnam War from June 1964 to September 1967.
Alistair H. Maclennan, Chester Township
Alistair H. Maclennan of Chester Township served in the Marines from 1965 to 1966 before he was honorably discharged.
The late Brian McCluskey, Denville
A Vietnam Veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy from April 1972 to September 1977 as a quartermaster in ship navigation.
Robert J. McDonnell, Lincoln Park
A Vietnam Veteran who served in the U.S. Army from September 1966 to August 1968, he served with 1st Signal Brigade, and as operations officer of 37th Signal Battalion. He and other officers with degrees in electrical engineering deployed the Troposcatter Microwave Communications System and other cutting-edge communication technology throughout the U.S. Army I Corps.
The late James L. McElwee, Morris Township
A Vietnam Era Veteran, he served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1970 and continued to serve as a member of the U.S. Army National Guard in Morris County for more than two decades.
Damonique Simkins Murray, Dover
A veteran of the Gulf War, she served in the U.S. Army from November 1991 to August 1999.
Jasmine Navarro, Wharton
Jasmine Navarro of Wharton served in the U.S. Army from 2004 to 2010 during Operation Iraqi Freedom and has continued to work as a Department of Defense civilian in South Carolina, Saudi Arabia, Arizona, and currently at Picatinny Arsenal.
Joseph C. Notowicz, Morristown
A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served during the Vietnam War from March 1967 until March 1970. Serving in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery in Europe, he handled logistical, maintenance, and supply tasks.
Ronald J. Pellegrino, Wharton
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Navy Reserve, and New York Naval Militia, he served from October 1985 to May 1997, including duty in Panama, during the Cold War and in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He continued to work in the defense sector and as a Department of Defense civilian, now serving at Picatinny Arsenal.
Anthony “Tony” P. Romano, Morris Township
A Vietnam-era Veteran, he served with the U.S. Army on active duty from 1956 to 1958, before he transferred to the Reserves. In July of 1956, aboard a military ship en route to France, he did critical mechanical work as an electrician supporting the military supply line to the front lines.
James Tarsitano, Jr., Jefferson Township
A Vietnam Veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force from August 1963 to July 1969, he earned the Air Force Medal 900-3, known as the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, among other accolades.
Louis F. Tremallo, Jr., Morris Township
A Vietnam-era veteran, he served with U.S. Army National Guard’s 112th Field Artillery at Morristown Armory, for six years from July 1969 until July 1975.
Marc Weinberg, Denville
A Vietnam War Veteran, he served in the U.S. Army from May 1966 to February 1969.
The late Warren E. Wilhide, Sr., Morris Township
A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served during the Korean War from 1951 to 1954, stationed at Chuncheon Air Base in Korea and with an anti-aircraft battery defending the U.S. Capitol and White House in Washington.
PARSIPPANY — Eslibel Velasquez Ospina, originally from Colombia and having arrived in the United States in 1986, became a U.S. citizen last July. During the General Election on Tuesday, November 7, he experienced casting his vote for the first time in the United States.
