PARSIPPANY — Mayor James Barberio in a March 19, 2017 statement on his personal blog* “CAHILL/FOCUS WRONG AGAIN! MAYOR BARBERIO DID NOT VIOLATE SALARY ORDINANCE!” His answer on the blog is clearly a “Smoke Screen.”

He claims the use of misinformation doesn’t suddenly make it true either. The facts are in black-and-white. The facts are the facts. You decide.

An ordinance is a law or regulation made by a city or town government.

During numerous Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests, Parsippany Focus requested the following documents:

• Eugene Natoli Request for Personnel Action (click here for complete document)
• Ramona (Jackie) Ortiz Request for Personnel Action (click here for complete document)
• White Collar Salary Ordinance (click here for complete document)

Eugene Natoli
As reported in Parsippany Focus, on January 9, 2017, Retired Police Sergeant Eugene Natoli was hired by Parsippany-Troy Hills Township on December 19, 2016 at an annual salary of $50,000. The “Request for Personnel Action” report indicates he works in the “Administration Department” as a “Keyboarding Clerk 1.” The position is a full time, permanent position.

The salary ordinance for white-collar workers, specifically Keyboarding Clerk 1, Ordinance 2016:22, passed on second reading on August 16, 2016 states the salary is a minimum of $17,000 with a maximum of $48,000. He was hired at $2,000 more than the maximum amount allowed by Township Ordinance. It is evident that Mayor Barberio hired Mr. Natoli in clear violation of the law. (For complete story, click here)

Ramona (Jackie) Ortiz
According to documents revealed through an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request Ramona (Jackie) Ortiz was hired effective December 5, 2016 as a Keyboarding Clerk I, at an annual salary of $54,000. The salary ordinance for white-collar workers, specifically Keyboarding Clerk 1, Ordinance 2016:22, passed on second reading on August 16, 2016 states the salary is a minimum of $17,000 with a maximum of $48,000. She was hired at $6,000 more than the maximum amount allowed by Township Ordinance. It is evident that Mayor Barberio hired Ms. Ortiz in clear violation of the law. (For complete story, click here).

Of course, Mr. Barberio states “The salary cap ordinance is a function of two factors, the first being civil service title requirements, raises and the like; and the second being the budget.” Mr. Barberio is correct. The employees were hired using Ordinance 2016:22. There is no 2017 Ordinance in effect. The employees should have been hired using the 2016:22 Ordinance. They were hired in 2016.

Barberio breaks Township Ordinances
Elected to Enforce

State Statute, 40:69A-40 states the duties of the Mayor shall enforce the charter and ordinances of the municipality and all general laws applicable thereto.

This is not the first time. In 2014 Parsippany Focus reported Business Administrator Ellen Sandman was hired $15,000 over the maximum salary guideline.  When Mayor Barberio announced the hiring of Sandman, he revealed Sandman’s salary would be $140,000. Former Councilman Jonathan Nelson asked the Mayor in Public Session, “I don’t have the white collar salary ordinance in front of me but I believe this amount is over the salary cap,” The former CFO Joe Kovalcik stated that her pay was within the salary ordinance. Parsippany Focus filed an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request for the salary ordinance for white-collar workers at that time.

*The blog indicates it is “Paid for by the Friends of Jamie Barberio, P.O. Box 29, Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034” which is also his political fundraising organization.

The Parsippany United Methodist Church is pleased to again be hosting a Canticles of Life Benefit Concert on Saturday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first Canticles concert. Since then, over $131,000 has been raised for this music ministry. Presented by the nonprofit Triad Arts Ensemble, the concerts not only benefit three NJ organizations that support those impacted by HIV/AIDS, but they also raise awareness and help to shine God’s love through the compassion, talents and financial gifts of those attending and performing.

Canticles Chairperson Ginny Johnston will be conducting the 26-voice Triad Vocal Ensemble. They will feature a mix of styles including anthems, Broadway, and an inspiring new work, “I Choose Love” by NJ composer Mark Miller. Also performing will be singer/songwriter/ instrumentalists Margo Hennebach and Mark Saunders. The last time they appeared on the Canticles series was as two thirds of the international trio, Mad Agnes. Having just returned from an extended pilgrimage in Ireland, they’ll share their love of Celtic music, incorporate vocal improvisation as learned from Bobby McFerrin, and invite attendees to share their world through on-the-spot creations. And to round out the program will be the Dan Crisci Jazz Trio, offering several instrumental selections. Additionally, panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display and a reception will follow the performance. There will also be a time of reflection and sharing by representatives from the charities.

The concert will benefit: New Jersey AIDS Services based in Morristown, the NAMES Project of Northern NJ, which supports the AIDS Memorial Quilt; and the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children in Newark.

Tickets are no longer required to attend. A free-will offering will be accepted at the concert. You can also make tax-deductible contributions online ahead of time. Click here or talk to Pastor Jeff Edwards at (973) 887-4657 for more information. The church is located at 903 South Beverwyck Road.

PARSIPPANY —University of Scranton, Circle K International member, Emily Mulhaul had an opportunity to visit the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany and discuss her organization, “TheTangibleMore.” Emily is the daughter of Past President Michael Mulhaul.

Mulhaul started, TheTangibleMore, a non profit to encourage unity in our Nation by helping those in immediate need. This is what we can do now for our Homeless Americans. The organization began as a positive and noncontroversial reaction to the Women’s March on January 21, 2017.

In one day, the Women’s March attracted over three million individuals across the United States, with the largest crowds marching through Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C. The streets of cities as large as Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington D.C are shelter for our Homeless Americans. Their goal is to encourage a continual and collective effort and raise three million tangible donations for the 500,000 Homeless Americans.

“We did not forget you when we marched past you,” she said.

The community service club, Circle K, at the University of Scranton donated white socks and undergarments to the local community center for individuals during Fall of 2016. They also donated, 79 toothbrushes and 44 bottles of toothpaste to their local homeless shelter.

The group was formed to deal with the homeless population:

PARSIPPANY — Mack-Cali has intervened in the Township’s Mt. Laurel affordable housing action. This means that Mack-Cali is seeking to construct multi-family housing in Parsippany, a portion of which is affordable housing. Although Mack-Cali has not specified in court papers exactly where it seeks to construct such housing, there is speculation that at least one site being considered is 1633 Littleton Road. That property currently consists of a vacant office building.

Roseland Residential Trust, Mack-Cali’s multi-family subsidiary, acquired Two Campus Drive in Mack-Cali’s Business Campus for approximately $5.5 million. The strategic acquisition will pave the way for the execution of the mixed-use master plan for the Campus in Parsippany. This property is adjacent to 1633 Littleton Road.

In a undated letter mailed to ONLY Sedgefield and Glacier Hills residents, Mayor James Barberio said “As I sated (sic) in my recent State of the Town address, our ability to comply with New Jersey Supreme Court draconian mandates on affordable housing is one of the most significant changes we face. We will face this challenge together as a community – so that you, the residents, are fully informed about this challenge and have the opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts, views and opinions.” Click here to view a copy of the letter mailed to Sedgefield and Glacier Hills residents.

Barberio continued “I strongly believe that, given the magnitude of the issue of affordable housing here in Parsippany, I have an obligation to conduct meetings with our residents. The purpose of such meetings is to educate you on the affordable housing issue and what it means to Parsippany and potentially for 1633 Littleton Road.”

“I will be hosting a TOWN HALL meeting for the residents of Sedgefield and Glacier Hills ONLY on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at Parsippany Town Hall. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. At that meeting you will be provided with a special briefing by our Township Attorney, John lnglesino, Esq. Mr. lnglesino will outline the history of the affordable housing law in New Jersey, including recent Supreme Court decisions. He will advise how these decisions will impact Parsippany and what we can do to minimize such impacts. We will also have our Township planner, Ed Sneickus, present to address any planning-related questions you may have. You will have the opportunity to ask questions. We are allotting one hour for remarks by me and my administration and one hour for questions and comments,” he continued.

Glacier Hills resident Brian Tappen told Parsippany Focus “A town meeting is a town meeting.  The Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A 10:4-6 (1973) states:  All meetings of public bodies in New Jersey must be open to the public unless closure is specifically permitted by law. If a meeting by members of a public body is closed to the public, the reason given must be one specifically authorized under the law. Members of the town should all be allowed to come and voice their opinion. This is a move by the Mayor to sell the people of Glacier Hills and Sedgefield that he is working to help them while attacking community leaders who raised this concern. His letter of 2017-03-01 to Glacier Hills says he will fight any project that is bad for Parsippany, Glacier Hills and Sedgefield, yet when community leaders tried to rally people against the project the Mayor sent letters (2017-01-23) to everyone in Glacier Hills and Sedgefield attacking those community leaders for their actions. The Mayor is trying to violate the Open Public Meetings Act and further his reelection campaign with this ploy.”

“The residents of this town know about the obligation that each town in New Jersey has to secure the numbers every year for low-income housing families. The upcoming Special meeting (for only Sedgefield and Glacier Hills communities) is just another song and dance to side step the truth. We just do not believe that our town’s elected officials would allow for a corporation to dictate where and when these buildings are to go up even if it’s on their own land. Aren’t there many other sites that are better or just a good in this town? The Mack-Cali Complex in Parsippany is 600 acres. The equivalent to a small town in the United States. It should not be allowed to be rezoned for other than what it already has been permitted from this town … Businesses and Hotels,” said Carlo Guzman, President Sedgefield Civic Association.

He continues “Mack-Cali wants to attract commercial companies into it’s complex they can easily modernize those outdated and empty ones or sell them or the entire complex. It was not permitted when Llewellyn and Prudential tried.”

Democrat Mayoral Candidate Michael Soriano stated “The Route 202 corridor is already beyond capacity, and traffic along the road has been an issue that has gone unaddressed by the current administration for far too long.  This is an issue that effects most of the residents of Parsippany everyday, and the outcome of the Mack-Cali project will have an impact in every corner of town.  I believe that an issue of such importance that it requires a special meeting at town hall with the township attorney present should be open to all residents of Parsippany, and that the residents of Sedgefield and Glacier Hills would welcome their input.”

Mr. Inglesino stated numerous times at Township Council meetings that the courts have not decided Parsippany’s required number of affordable housing units.

Mr. Inglesino also stated at a recent Council Meeting, the meeting will be for the residents of Glacier Hills and Sedgefield and that the Council members are not allowed to attend the meeting. Since the meeting was not being publicly advertised it would be in violation of Open Public Meeting Act if attended by a majority of the Council. Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., is a resident of Sedgefield.

“I am extremely concerned about the Mayor’s actions. It is clear that he is using township funds and facilities, as well as employees, to conduct his political campaign. He is excluding major portions of our community, as well as the Township Council. The Mayor’s agenda is obvious. Our tax dollars are being used to fund his re-election efforts,” stated Robert Peluso Republican Candidate for Mayor.

Democrat Council Candidate Katie Cassidy told Parsippany Focus, “I’m concerned about a change of use in even a portion of the Mack-Cali complex. Building multi-family housing there would have a substantial impact on the township, especially near 202, where the traffic is already a problem. What affects Sedgefield and Glacier Hills affects other communities in the township as well. If an issue is complex enough for both the Attorney and the Planner to be present, the Council should be there as well. Sure, that would require public notice per the Open Public Meetings Act, but that should not be too much to ask. The administration should reschedule the meeting to give adequate time for public notice and hold the meeting at one of the high schools so that anyone concerned can go. Parsippany works best when its many communities come together. We should have an opportunity to do that on this issue.”

Inglesino indicated the meeting will be video-taped and be shown on public access TV and made available to the public.

Township resident Nick Homyak commented “Barberio is dividing the Town into neighborhoods because he doesn’t want another Waterview like grassroots event. This meeting should be open to all Parsippany Residents. The mayor has already sealed the town against against chance of a better outcome.”

Mayor James Barberio’s letter stated “In order that we adequately plan for this event, I ask that you contact my office to advise via email at partroymayorsoffice@parsippany.net or by phone at (973) 263-4297 to confirm your attendance.”

On February 7, 2017, The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council approved a liquor license transfer to Hanover Hospitality Corp, a subsidy of Mack-Cali. The vote passed 3- 2. Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., and Council Vice President Robert Peluso voted against the transfer. There was no location disclosed on the application.

In neighboring Morris Plains, Mack-Cali held a ground breaking ceremony, in August 2016, for its newest luxury multi-family residential community, Signature Place at Morris Plains. The three-story multi-family complex under construction is located approximately one-half mile from 1633 Littleton Road.