Video: Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting – June 27, 2023
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting will be held on June 27, 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.
Click here to download the agenda.
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.
Click here to download the 2023 agenda schedule.
Mayor and Council
Mayor James R Barberio
Council President Loretta Gragnani
Council Vice-President Michael J. dePierro
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr.
Councilman Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella
Legal Battle Unfolds Over Parsippany Republican Municipal Committee Appointments
PARSIPPANY – A legal dispute erupted in the Parsippany Republican Municipal Committee appointments, adding to the chaos following the tumultuous June primary. The controversy revolves around allegations of appointments to vacant positions within the Parsippany Republican Municipal Committee.
Parsippany Republican Municipal Committee Chair Dee (Delores) dePierro and Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi were named in a lawsuit that they arranged for illegal appointments to vacant local County Committee seats ahead of the 2023 municipal reorganization meeting to obstruct the newly elected County Committee from conducting its operational tasks.
The lawsuit filed by Morris County Republican Committee (MCRC) challenges the legality of thirteen appointments by the current municipal chair, Dee dePierro, ahead of the party leadership election. Peter King, MCRC Vice Chairman, argues that Delores dePierro, Chairwoman Parsippany Republican Municipal Committee, lacked the authority to fill the vacancies independently, citing the party’s bylaws and state law.
Dee dePierro, a supporter of Mayor James Barberio, submitted the appointments to Morris County Elections, despite the Parsippany Republican Municipal Committee bylaws stipulating that the entire organization should fill vacancies through a vote. dePierro contends that she has the authority to make such appointments, citing past practices of other municipal chairs.
The lawsuit filed in Morris County Superior Court alleges that these appointments were made surreptitiously to hinder the newly elected County Committee from carrying out its responsibilities. It claims that dePierro hand-picked her allies for the vacant county committee seats after learning of the competition between school board member Susy Golderer and Mayor Barberio for the position of Chairperson of the Parsippany Republican Municipal Committee.
The legal challenge highlights that no meeting has been scheduled as required by the committee bylaws, which state that a meeting should be held seven days after the June 6 election. Despite the election results not being certified until later, dePierro made the appointments on June 15 without the necessary meeting, quorum, or vote by the county committee members. The lawsuit argues that this action violates the local county committee bylaws. Editor’s Note: Please be advised that New Jersey law now states the reorganization must be held within three Saturdays after the results are certified. In this case, the reorganization meeting should occur before or on Saturday, July 8.
The election wasn’t certified by Morris County Elections until June 19.
Parsippany comprises 39 voting districts, where Republican voters elect a male and a female candidate for each district, resulting in 78 committee members. However, only 63 positions were officially certified during the election process, leaving 15 seats vacant. Of these vacancies, thirteen were appointed by Dee dePierro and publicly announced on the Morris County Election website, which became a subject of the lawsuit. The remaining two vacant seats were intended for Ann and Nick Grossi, who had completed the necessary certification processes but declined to accept the appointment to the committee. (Click here for a roster of committee members as listed on the Morris County Elections website).
According to the complaint, the following were the illegally appointed members:
1. BettyLou DeCroce
2. Amanda McGrath
3. Jennifer Nazziola
4. Antonio Piccininni
5. Tina Piccininni
6. Annmarie Ferrara
7. David Kaplan
8. Loretta Gragnani
9. Kenneth Lambert
10. Joanne Krevis
11. Amanda Terpstra
12. Frank Neglia
13. John Beehler
Editors Note: After this article was published, it was learned that County Committee (male) for District 18 was awarded to John Beehler. The primary election had two candidates running for that position, Mr. John Beyroutey, receiving 57 votes, and John Beehler, receiving 47. Mr. Beyroutey was disqualified since he no longer lives within District 18.
In an interview with the New Jersey Globe, dePierro admitted to consulting with various individuals, including Mayor Barberio and her husband, Council Vice President Michael dePierro, and Council President Loretta Gragnani, to select appointees based on their preferences. This process bypassed the county committee bylaws and voting procedure. The selected appointment forms were notarized by Michael dePierro and accepted. The primary election was certified on June 19 by County Clerk Ann Grossi.
Grossi and her husband Nick were initially included in the process but were not posted on the County Election website, thus leaving two seats still vacant.
“MCRC Chairwoman Laurie Ali and Vice Chairman Peter King are attempting to take over Parsippany with lies, deceit, and hypocrisy. When the Former Chairman Lou Valori appointed members, it was fine. But when Chairwoman dePierro does the same thing, there’s a lawsuit. Parsippany should decide Parsippany’s business, not outsiders like Laura Ali and Peter King,” said Mayor James Barberio.
An anonymous county committee member alleged that Mayor Barberio colluded with dePierro to manipulate the situation, recognizing that he would not secure enough votes without their assistance.
In response to these developments, Candidate Susy Golderer called on Barberio to cease the illegal backfilling of Parsippany Republican Municipal Committee vacancies, criticizing the self-serving political maneuver as an embarrassment to the local party. Golderer urged unity among committee members for the betterment of the Parsippany Republican Party.
Morris County Superior Court Judge Stuart Minkowitz has been assigned to preside over the lawsuit, which will ultimately determine the validity of the Parsippany Republican Municipal Committee appointments and resolve the ongoing dispute. The hearing is scheduled for Friday, June 30, at 3:00 p.m.
After the case is resolved, Chairwoman Dee dePierro can arrange to have the committee meet and elect a new slate of officers, which according to the bylaws, must be on the first Monday following the primary election.
When this article was published, attorneys for the Defendants had not filed an answer with the Courts and weren’t available to Parsippany Focus.
End of an Era: Father Joe Buffardi Retires
PARSIPPANY — Father Joe, a beloved figure in our Parsippany community, has recently retired after dedicating decades of service. Born in Newark in 1948, he moved to Montclair after the untimely passing of his father. While renowned for his remarkable presence during mass, Father Joseph G. Buffardi’s journey extends far beyond his time at St. Christopher’s.
Father Joe showcased his athletic prowess as an outstanding baseball and basketball player during his childhood, actively participating in the CYO youth programs. During his junior year at Immaculate Conception in Montclair, he received the divine calling to become a priest. Embracing this path, Father Joe pursued his studies at the Seminary, where he graduated at the top of his class.
Father Joe served in various parishes within the Paterson Diocese following his ordination before joining the St. Christopher’s community in 1988. After a fruitful tenure until 1995, he was transferred to support churches in Dover and Paterson. However, Parsippany was fortunate to welcome Father Joe back in 2009, where he has since been a steadfast leader. As he embarks on retirement this summer, he plans to settle permanently in his Jersey Shore home.
As an avid lifelong fan of the NY Yankees, Father Joe intends to indulge in watching plenty of baseball during his retirement while also continuing to assist local parishes in the seaside area.
Father Joe shares his wisdom in parting: • His foremost career advice to young individuals: Pursue what brings you joy and make your own decisions in life. • A valuable life lesson he has learned: Persevere in what you aspire to do, never give up, and trust that everything will eventually fall into place.
Local Student Receives National Honor
PARSIPPANY — The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) announced that student Bhavishya Boga had been selected to join the esteemed organization.
The Society recognizes top scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship, and community commitment. The announcement was made by NSHSS Co-founder and President James W. Lewis. “On behalf of NSHSS and our co-founder Claes Nobel, a member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, I am honored to recognize the hard work, passion, and commitment that Bhavishya has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence,” said Lewis.
“Bhavishya is now a member of a unique community of scholars – a community that represents our very best hope for the future.” “We are proud to provide lifetime membership to young scholars to support their growth and development,” stated Lewis. “We help students like Bhavishya build on their academic success by connecting them with learning experiences and resources to help prepare them for college and meaningful careers.” NSHSS members automatically become lifetime members at the time of their initial membership. Each step along the way – from high school to college to career – NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions. Formed in 2002 by James W Lewis and Claes Nobel, members of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, the National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence at the high school level and helps to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving students through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study, and peer networks.
Currently, there are more than 1,700,000 members in over 170 countries. To help us further efforts that provide students with the continued opportunity, please acknowledge NSHSS in any press release by providing a resource link to www.nshss.org. For more information about NSHSS, click here.
New Jersey Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Municipalities Over Gannett
MORRIS COUNTY — The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled unanimously in a landmark decision that Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC, the owner of many of New Jersey’s largest newspapers as well as the USA Today, is not entitled to attorney’s fees in a lawsuit they filed to obtain Internal Affairs records from Neptune Township for a police officer who was convicted of violently murdering his ex-wife.
Even though Gannett was entitled to the records under what is known to lawyers and public records requestors as the “common law right of access,” the Appellate Division had previously held in the same case that they were personnel records that are not subject to disclosure under the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”).
The OPRA statute defines government records and informs municipal clerks and other custodians what records must be disclosed and what records, like personnel files, are exempt. OPRA also provides that a requestor who prevails in any proceeding is entitled to statutory attorney fees.
In contrast, the common law right of public access is undefined and requires the custodian of records to consider a balancing test with many complex factors, which is a difficult assignment for a judge, much less a non-attorney like most municipal clerks and other government records custodians.
Counsel for Neptune Township, Jonathan F. Cohen, of Plosia Cohen LLC in Chester, explained that “unlike the Open Public Records Act, the common law right of public access is subject to the American Rule, which means that each side generally bears the cost of their attorney.” The issue of whether fees are available in these types of cases, in which records are available under the common law but not OPRA, has been in controversy since 2008 when the Supreme Court issued its decision in Mason v. City of Hoboken, which established how attorney’s fees were to be determined in OPRA cases and left an open issue as to whether common law fees might be similarly available.
Cohen said, “Today the Supreme Court closed the door on the availability of common law fees, thereby saving New Jersey taxpayers untold funds which would otherwise go to attorneys who have made a cottage industry suing municipalities and other public entities for records.” Cohen, who has represented Parsippany and many other Morris County municipalities over the past several years, celebrated his second win for a municipal client at the Supreme Court. Cohen stated that he and his client were “pleased that the New Jersey Supreme Court once again got it right and struck the proper balance between the public interest in obtaining documents and the government interest in protecting taxpayer funds from opportunistic attorneys.” As noted by Cohen, Gannett could fund this litigation and hired one of New Jersey’s most prestigious law firms for the case. There is no reason New Jersey taxpayers should be left holding the bag if a court disagrees with a municipal clerk or records custodian on something as complicated as the common law right of the access balancing test.
Click here to download the syllabus of the case.
Parsippany Voters Voice Their Choices in Contested Races of the 2023 Primary Elections
PARSIPPANY — The voters have spoken in the 2023 Primary races. Parsippany Focus highlighted how Parsippany voters responded to the candidates. Please note: We only show the contested races and how Parsippany voters cast their votes. These numbers do not reflect the entire Morris County and/or LD26.
| Total Registered Voters | 36,485 |
| Total – Republican | 11,590 |
| Total – Democrat | 11,980 |
| Total – Nonpartisan | 12,915 |
| Total Votes Cast | 5,692 |
| Total Republican | 4,016 |
| Total Democratic | 1,676 |
| Total Nonpartisan | 0 |
| Total Voter Turnout | 15.60% |
| Total Republican Turnout | 34.65% |
| Total Democratic Turnout | 13.99% |
| Total Nonpartisan Turnout | 0.00% |
| State Senate – 26th LD | |
| Joseph Pennacchio | 1,895 |
| Thomas Mastrangelo | 1,525 |
| General Assembly – 26th LD | (vote for two) |
| Jay Webber | 2,220 |
| Brian Bergen | 1,777 |
| Robert Peluso | 1,383 |
| BettyLou DeCroce | 1,297 |
| Morris County Clerk | |
| Ann Grossi | 2,660 |
| Morris County Commissioner | |
| Paul DeGroot | 1,596 |
| Tayfun Selen | 1,557 |
| Township Council | (vote for three) |
| Matthew McGrath | 2,488 |
| Paul Carifi, Jr. | 2,413 |
| Adam Kandil | 2,223 |
| Danny Desai | 1,424 |
| Gary Martin | 1,327 |
Video: Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting – June 13, 2023
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting was held on June 13, 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.
Click here to download the agenda.
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.
Click here to download the 2023 agenda schedule.
Mayor and Council
Mayor James R Barberio
Council President Loretta Gragnani
Council Vice-President Michael J. dePierro
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr.
Councilman Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella
New Jersey Allocates $10 Million to Combat Rise in Auto Thefts with License Plate Recognition Technology
MORRIS COUNTY —
MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Murphy and Attorney General Platkin have announced a significant investment of $10 million in automated license plate recognition (ALPR) technology. The funding, sourced from the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) State Fiscal Recovery Fund, aims to tackle the rise in auto thefts and associated violent crime across New Jersey.
The allocated funds will be utilized to acquire and expand high-speed, automated camera systems capable of capturing and storing computer-readable images of license plates. These systems will be integrated into a centralized database accessible to law enforcement agencies, providing them with a valuable tool to combat the escalating rates of motor vehicle thefts.
ALPR technology will be deployed at fixed locations throughout the state and mounted on police vehicles. This strategic placement will enhance law enforcement’s ability to address the increased incidents of motor vehicle thefts, which have been observed in both suburban and urban areas of New Jersey.
Acting Attorney General Platkin emphasized the life-saving potential of deploying automated license plate readers, as stolen vehicles are often used in violent shootings. The implementation of this technology is expected to have a significant impact on reducing crime and enhancing public safety.
A portion of the funding will be allocated to the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) to install cameras along major roadways and highways across the state. The intelligence gathered from these cameras will be shared in real-time with relevant law enforcement partners through the Regional Operations Intelligence Center and Real-Time Crime Centers operated by the NJSP, supporting ongoing investigations.
The remaining funds will be made available to county and local law enforcement agencies, with the condition that they comply with ARP rules and agree to share captured license plate information with the NJSP.
New Jersey has experienced a concerning surge in motor vehicle thefts since the onset of the pandemic, reaching a record high of 14,320 stolen vehicles in 2021. The first quarter of 2022 is on track to exhibit a 53% increase in motor vehicle thefts compared to 2020.
The alarming trend of stolen vehicles being utilized in more violent crimes, particularly shootings, necessitates swift action. The $10 million investment in ALPR technology is crucial to making communities safer, preventing criminal activities such as human trafficking and gunrunning, and enabling law enforcement officers to effectively address the rising tide of motor vehicle thefts throughout the state.
The initiative has received support from Senator Vin Gopal, who recognizes it as an essential component in the collective effort to combat the rise in car thefts, enhance community safety, and mitigate criminal activities. Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, expressed confidence in the investment, highlighting its potential to combat the growing number of motor vehicle thefts and associated violent crimes.
By leveraging license plate recognition technology, New Jersey is taking proactive measures to protect its residents, curb auto thefts, and create a safer environment for all.