MORRIS COUNTY — For the fourth consecutive year, County College of Morris (CCM) has been ranked number one in New Jersey by PayScale for associate degree holders who earn the highest salaries.
PayScale’s 2020-21 “Best Community Colleges in New Jersey by Salary Potential” placed CCM first among 24 institutions of higher education in New Jersey who award associate degrees. The 2020-21 report noted that CCM alumni by mid-career, who have more than 10 years of work experience, earn an average of $71,500. The PayScale report looked only at those who possess an associate and no higher degree. PayScale’s 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2019-20 reports also placed CCM first in the state based on the earnings of its associate degree graduates.
The 2020-21 report also showed that CCM associate degree holders, with five years of work experience or less, earn an average early career salary of $46,700, which is comparable to the salaries earned by graduates with a bachelor’s degree from mid-level colleges in New Jersey.
“We’re proud to once again earn this recognition of the value of a CCM education,” remarked Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, president of CCM. “Ranking number one for four years in a row is additional confirmation that CCM offers students high-quality programs and services to achieve their dreams, earn good salaries, and impact the world.”
MORRIS COUNTY — The polls are closed and the ballots are being tallied and soon Morris County residents will know who will represent them on the Board of Freeholders. As of Tuesday, November 3, 2020, 9:55:31 p.m. the following results for the Morris County Board of Freeholder candidates. 26.41% of the votes in Morris County were counted.
Editor’s Note: This coverage is made possible throughVotebeat, a nonpartisan reporting project covering local election integrity and voting access. The article is available for reprint under the terms ofVotebeat’s republishing policy. By Colleen O’Dea, SENIOR WRITER, NJ Spotlight. Colleen O’Dea has spent her entire career reporting New Jersey news and won numerous state and national journalism awards and fellowships. She joined NJ Spotlight News in 2011 and now serves as its data reporter, as well as covering general assignment topics that include elections, politics, criminal justice, social issues, and affordable housing.
With the early mail-in ballot tally approaching the total number of votes in the 2016 presidential election, no one was sure how many people might come out to vote in person on Tuesday.
But voters did come out. And in some cases, the New Jersey voters who chose not to mail in their votes faced problems at the polls on Election Day, from locations that did not open on time to poll workers providing incorrect guidance.
The delayed opening of at least three polling locations in Newark led to long lines and reports of at least some people leaving without voting because they had to go to work, according to tips from ProPublica’s Electionland project, of which NJ Spotlight News is a member. Voters also reported delayed openings at polling locations in Trenton, New Brunswick, and Paterson.
Henal Patel, director of democracy and justice at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, said the “most egregious” problems reported to the election protection coalition of legal and advocacy groups were the delayed openings of polls in Newark, which also had only two drop boxes in the center of the city where voters could deposit mail-in ballots early despite having the largest number of registrants in the state.
“This is a major issue; it’s unacceptable,” she said. “I don’t think we have a clear reason for what happened. We heard some reports that the county did not have printed ballots.”
Essex County Board of Elections Clerk Linda Von Nessi did not respond to a request for comment.
While 3.75 million people in New Jersey had submitted mail-in ballots as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, it was clear that thousands more decided to vote in person, using paper provisional ballots.
Problems at some polls
There were reports that no signs were visible to indicate that typical polling locations were closed or to clearly say where to vote at open sites. At Rafael Hernandez Elementary School in Newark, one of the polling places where voters lined up around the block Tuesday morning due to the delayed opening, a handwritten sign on one door said voting would occur in the gymnasium but there were no signs directing voters to that location, which was around the block, through a chain-link fence and partially hidden by a dumpster.
“Where is the sign?” asked Julia Cabrera, a Newark resident who chose to vote in-person to ensure her vote would count. “They’re just making it difficult for minorities because they know our votes count.”
The polling place at Rafael Hernandez Elementary School, Newark is behind the dumpster.
Reports claimed disabled voters were unable to use a machine to vote and others that said poll workers were providing incorrect information — in one case, telling a woman who had brought her husband’s mail-in ballot to a polling place to sign in for him and in another of a woman being told to take a provisional ballot and drop it in the mail because the polling place would not be opening.
“We are seeing issues of poll workers giving out incorrect information, which creates confusion,” Patel said. “We seem to be getting more of this than we usually do.”
The process of a mostly mail-in ballot election for New Jersey had already been confusing for those who chose to vote early, with many unsure about how to fill out the ballots and others distrustful of using mail-in ballots based on statements made by President Donald Trump and some New Jersey Republican leaders.
Because all active registered voters received a mail-in ballot and most people were expected to vote early that way, counties consolidated polling locations — at least half the typical sites had to be open. While counties were to have sent voters a mailer listing their in-person voting place, people were also being encouraged to use the state’s polling place locator to find their voting spot. But that, and the state’s ballot tracker, were both down for a time late Tuesday morning, though they were back up by early afternoon.
The area highlighted in red shows the message on the New Jersey Division of Elections’ website, alerting users to a problem with the site; the problem, which occurred Tuesday morning, was resolved.
Alicia D’Allesandro, a spokeswoman for the state Division of Elections, said that some voters may have found the state tracking site slow because of volume, but stressed that county offices were having “no issues” downloading votes to the state system.
“Nothing at this point is slowing the vote,” she said.
Secretary of State Tahesha Way, who oversees elections, downplayed Election Day problems during a visit to the multi-district voting site at the Prudential Center in Newark.
“It is going as well as expected,” she said. “The small hiccups happen in every election.”
Complaints of electioneering violations
A number of voters also complained of violations of state law on electioneering, specifically the rule that no one can advocate for a candidate within 100 feet of a polling location. There is no legal bar to electioneering at a dropbox, only at polling locations.
Close by the polling place in High Bridge, Hunterdon County on Election Day.
Gov. Phil Murphy had said Monday that state officials were ready for any potential acts of mischief or intimidation at the polls and would not tolerate any actions like the pro-Trump caravan of vehicles that blocked traffic on the Garden State Parkway on Sunday.
“I believe we’re going to have a safe and successful day, but we’re gonna take nothing for granted,” he said. “And I would just say to folks, any amount of intimidation is categorically, flat out, one hundred percent, black-and-white illegal. And that will be enforced strenuously.”
The number of New Jerseyans who wind up voting on Election Day may not be known for some time since officials will not start counting provisional ballots until after all mail-in votes are tallied.
Because of the election schedule, the counting of ballots will continue for another two weeks or longer and none of the election night results will be certain for a while.
Most congressional races probably will be called
That won’t stop most of the congressional races from being called, as one party or the other has a substantial voter registration majority in most districts. But the closest races, expected to be Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s 2nd District seat, Democratic Rep. Andy Kim’s 3rd District seat, and Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski 7th District seat, could well remain undecided until all provisional ballots cast in person at the polls on Tuesday are counted. The results of the election won’t be certified until Nov. 20.
“There will be a lot of pressure on the county clerks to get the vote count right,” said Matthew Hale, a political science professor at Seton Hall University. “That could take time … But I think overall New Jersey seems to be in better shape than most places.”
During a virtual rally last night, Democrats warned patience would be needed, as the count would take more than a week.
Some Republican strategists said more GOP voters than Democrats are likely to vote in person and because of the delay in counting provisional ballots, close races with mail-in-only results that appear to favor Democrats could swing red once provisional ballots are counted. If that happens, it would be the opposite of a national trend called the “blue shift” in which later ballot counts tend to favor Democrats because they tend to cast more provisional ballots that are tallied later.
A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll last month found Republicans more likely to distrust mail-in balloting. According to the poll, three-quarters of Republicans said mail-in voting is susceptible to fraud, while almost the same number of Democrats trust the safety and security of ballots cast by mail.
With every active registered voter in New Jersey automatically sent a mail-in ballot to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the pre-Election Day turnout was substantial: The number of ballots cast as of noon on Nov. 2 had reached 90% of the 2016 presidential turnout of 3.98 million people, which represented 68% of those registered. Gov. Phil Murphy was predicting the state’s rate would exceed that this year.
Republican resistance to election changes
Republicans initially resisted the change. Many called for Murphy to allow for machine voting at polling places. The state Republican Party joined with the Trump campaign in a suit challenging the change — originally put in place as an executive order, then ultimately voted by lawmakers — in federal court, but a judge dismissed the suit. Some GOP leaders included Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick of Union County, falsely stated that polling places would not be open. Ultimately the state Republican Party and candidates sent out mailers calling mail-in balloting safe and urging voters to place their votes in one of the 329 drop boxes placed around the state.
Akin to the national trend, Democrats initially returned ballots at greater rates than Republicans, but that changed over the last weekend. An NJ Spotlight News analysis of mail-in balloting through Nov. 1 found that 66.2% of Republicans who got a ballot had returned it, compared with 64.1% of Democrats. But Democrats dominate both Republicans and unaffiliated voters in the state and 43.6% of all ballots submitted were from Democrats, compared to 25.9% from Republicans.
The change, enacted by Murphy at the end of August, left county officials scrambling to get 6 million ballots printed and mailed, drop boxes with cameras installed, large open spaces to process and scan ballots while still socially distancing, and armies of temporary staff hired to deal with the tight timeline to completely transform the way they have conducted balloting for decades.
Mail-in ballots take much longer to count than machine tallies, but with a federal election deadline looming due to the presidential election the law Democrats passed and Murphy signed allowed counties to begin scanning ballots into counting machines 10 days before Election Day. That has enabled many counties to keep up with the steady stream of ballots, with the help of extra workers; Bergen County, for instance, has brought on about 100 temporary staff to help with the work. Other counties, including Camden, have been relying on workers loaned from other county departments and the National Guard to assist them.
Rich Ambrosino, a member of the Camden Board of Elections, said that as of last Friday, seven days into the early counting, Camden County had only opened and processed “a little over half” of nearly 200,000 ballots it had received. Once the ballots were out and flattened, the county had seven high-speed counters that would work quickly.
‘Laborious’ counting of ballots
Board of elections members has been working overtime, as a majority of members in each county is required to oversee ballot processing and scanning, and the boards — split evenly between Democrats and Republicans — have also been meeting four times a week to consider whether to question ballots due to a signature mismatch or other issues.
Eileen Kean, a board member in Monmouth County, said the work has been “laborious” but all the early votes should mean relatively few people showing up in person at polling locations.
“The publicity about this was so good that people know they will not be able to vote on a machine” and decided to vote early using a mail-in ballot, she said.
But this being New Jersey’s first statewide mail-in ballot election, it has been fraught with glitches and voter confusion. As a member of Pro Publica’s Electionland project, NJ Spotlight News has received dozens of tips from voters, ranging from people who never got a mail-in ballot despite trying repeatedly to those who received duplicate ballots or ballots for people who had not lived at their address for many years.
Still, Murphy said Monday that he thinks the election process has worked well overall and that the early counting will provide a good picture of what the ultimate results will be.
“I believe we will know a fair amount” on election night, he said.
No mystery in some races
Democrat Joe Biden is well ahead in the polls in New Jersey and expected to win the state’s presidential contest easily. Similarly, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, finishing his first full term, is expected to beat Republican Rikin Mehta, who had raised less than $600,000 through Oct. 14, not quite 5% of Booker’s $14.4 million campaign account.
Nationally, though, it is unclear when the race for president and control of Congress will be known, given that states are conducting their elections according to different rules, including whether voting in person or by mail, when votes would begin to be counted and how long the counting can last.
In an email message Monday, Audrey Kline, national policy director of the National Vote at Home Institute, said Americans need to understand that, despite assertions that Trump has made, there is nothing nefarious about a vote count that continues beyond Election Day.
“Regardless of whether we have fast or slow results on election night, neither one is an indication of fraud,” she said.
— John Mooney and Jeff Pillets contributed to this story.
Parsippany Municipal Building located at 1001 Parsippany Boulevard
PARSIPPANY — Late Tuesday evening, the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills was informed that we have a presumptive COVID-19 positive case yet to be confirmed by lab results.
In an abundance of caution, we are initiating a one-day pause in the first-floor Construction, Zoning, Planning, Inspection area for cleaning/disinfection and to perform contact tracing. If you have any questions please contact [email protected].
Due to the nature of this situation, please be patient, as responses may take additional time.
PARSIPPANY — The Associated Press projected that US Representative Mikie Sherrill, the incumbent Democrat in the 11th district, has defeated Republican challenger Rosemary Becchi. As of Thursday, November 5, 2020, 3:55:14 p.m. The following results are for the 11th Congressional District candidates. 33.77% of the votes in Morris County were counted.
Democrat
Mikie Sherrill
56,785
57.22%
Republican
Rosemary Becchi
42,422
42.75%
Write-Ins
32
0.03%
Votes Cast
99,239
Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill was re-elected to the House of Representatives for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District for a second term. Sherrill claimed a historic victory in the 11th District in 2018, flipping a reliably Republican seat for the first time in over thirty years.
“It is an honor to serve the 11th District,” said Congresswoman Sherrill. “Over the past two years, I have fought to make sure that Washington works for New Jersey, to see that our tax dollars come back to our communities, to lower the cost of prescription drugs, to fund infrastructure projects important to North Jersey, to address issues of justice in our communities, and to support families and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many challenges that lie ahead. We will work together to rebuild our economy and ensure a bright future for our children.”
Congresswoman Sherrill is a Naval Academy graduate, Navy veteran and helicopter pilot, former federal prosecutor, and mother of four.
During her first term in Congress, Congresswoman Sherrill led bipartisan legislation to lift the SALT deduction cap, improve our healthcare system, and protect New Jersey’s public lands. Four of her bipartisan bills were signed into law.
Results will be updated as they are provided by the Board of Elections and are subject to change until all ballots have been counted.
Complete Mail-In Ballot results will not be available until after November 10, the deadline for timely postmarked Mail-In Ballots to be received. Provisional Ballots will be counted once all Mail-In Ballots have been tallied.
Official final results may not be available until November 20.
PARSIPPANY — The polls have been closed and the ballots are being tallied, but final numbers are still be counted. Soon Parsippany residents will know who will represent them on the Parsippany School District Board of Education. As of Thursday, November 12, 2020, 3:08 p.m. the following results for the Parsippany Board of Education candidates. 644.22% of the votes in Morris County were counted.
Matthew DeVitto
10,701
21.39%
Deborah Orme
9,900
19.78%
Timothy P. Berrios
9,297
18.58%
John E. Titus III
6,403
12.80%
Aisha Mahmood
7,048
14.09%
Nilesh Bagdai
6,430
12.85%
Votes Cast
50,038
Results will be updated as they are provided by the Board of Elections and are subject to change until all ballots have been counted.
Complete Mail-In Ballot results will not be available until after November 10, the deadline for timely postmarked Mail-In Ballots to be received. Provisional Ballots will be counted once all Mail-In Ballots have been tallied.
Official final results may not be available until November 20.
PARSIPPANY — A letter to Parents from Dr. Barbara Sargent
Good afternoon, Families!
I hope this letter finds everyone at home healthy and well. I have enjoyed the opportunity to speak with many of you about your children’s learning needs and the challenges associated with hybrid instruction. Our students need more class time and our challenge is to provide this in as safe a manner as possible.
Effective Monday, November 30, we will hold classes in-person Monday through Friday at the PreK – 8 level and maintain Week A/Week B with Early Dismissal. High school teachers and students will continue with Virtual Friday as they are utilizing an A/B Day schedule and experiencing live classes each afternoon. Adding Friday will require an entirely new high school schedule and put teachers in the difficult position of not being able to meet with fully remote students or schedule small group tutorials. Elementary and middle school teachers can do this each afternoon. The week of November 30 will be Week A.
Our custodial staff will conduct a thorough cleaning of the schools on Friday afternoons and Saturdays, where necessary, to ensure a safe start for the next week of learning.
Tuesday, November 3 (Election Day) will be a fully remote day for everyone.
Due to the large number of educators who will attend the NJEA Virtual Convention next Thursday and Friday, we are not able to properly staff our classrooms and provide supervision to the students who will attend school. With more than 160 educators intending to attend the Convention this year, we need to close school on the NJEA Convention Days of November 5-6. Schools will be open on December 21-22 for instruction.
Friday, November 20: Elementary and middle school teachers will be available for students during the morning for Virtual Friday instruction, questions, check-ins, etc. Elementary principals will communicate the schedules for special education students in self-contained classes (PreK-5).
Monday, November 23: Week B elementary and middle schools will follow their regular early dismissal schedule; afternoon virtual instruction will not occur on these days. Elementary principals will communicate the schedules for special education students in self-contained classes (PreK-5).
Tuesday, November 24: Week B elementary and middle schools will follow their regular early dismissal schedule; afternoon virtual instruction will not occur on these days. Elementary principals will communicate the schedules for special education students in self-contained classes (PreK-5).
Wednesday, November 25 will be a Virtual ½ Day for ALL PreK-12 students. No students will attend in-person and principals will communicate the schedule for this day.
A revised school calendar shows Week A/Week B designations through February, though parents should not presume that we will be following this model for the next four months. This is strictly for planning purposes. By the end of February, there will have been 51 days of in-person instruction for Week A PreK-8 students and 50 days of in-person instruction for Week B PreK-8 students.
Changes for Lunch pick up – Week of Nov 2
Monday (for Monday and Tuesday) and Wednesday (for Wednesday through Sunday) between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
MORRIS PLAINS — Morris County Acting Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph K. Kimker, and Morris Plains Police Chief Michael M. Koroski announce the sentencing of Adam J. Klymko, 31, on Theft by Unlawful Taking on October 30, 2020.
On or about March 2, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office received an allegation that Morris Plains PBA Local 254 was the victim of theft and that the defendant was believed to have withdrawn monies from the PBA Local 254 operating and fundraising account.
At the time of the thefts, the defendant was the PBA Treasurer and a Morris Plains Police Officer.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Specialized Crimes Unit commenced an investigation into the allegation and, based on bank account information obtained during the investigation, it was determined that the thefts occurred using banking applications from a cellular telephone; ATM, and counter withdrawals.
On September 15, the defendant pleads guilty to one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a, a crime of the third degree, based on the defendant’s criminal activity on various dates between January 1, 2018, and March 1, 2020.
On October 30, the Hon. David H. Ironson, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris Vicinage, sentenced the defendant to non-custodial probation for a term of five years with the special condition that the defendant makes restitution, via monthly payments of $1,438.00, through the Morris County Probation Department, to Morris Plain PBA Local 254, in the total amount of $86,275.57.
As part of the plea agreement, Judge Ironson ordered the defendant’s forfeiture of public office/employment, and the defendant is forever disqualified from holding any position of honor, trust, or profit under the State or any of its administrative or political subdivisions.
It is my pleasure to recommend Aisha Mahmood as she throws her hat into the ring for a position on the Parsippany Board of Education
A graduate of Parsippany-Troy Hills High School and a resident of Parsippany for 30 years, Aisha brings a unique approach to her quest to aid in the future challenges facing the school community.
Aisha graduated from Kean University with a degree in biology. Since then she has worked in the pharmaceutical, financial, and telecommunication industries. She has 14 years of experience as a business and project manager and also 15 years as a real estate agent. It is a combination of skills gleaned from these varied professional experiences that make her singularly prepared to tackle the responsibilities of a school board member.
As a real estate agent, one has to be aware of federal and state laws, regulations, and local policies. This is a basic component of board decisions as well. Also, the board has to set the budget as well as the agenda of the schools, make rules and policies, and set learning standards, all the while being responsive to the values and beliefs of the community. In all her past jobs and professional life, Aisha has had to keep abreast of the latest technology to be effective. She has advised prospective clients on current market conditions and directed the negotiation process of real estate transactions. She remains open to learning about the expectations, goals, and needs of the district in learning how to provide the best educational experience the community can afford for its students, while working within the tax base, being aware of state and federal monies available.
Aisha believes that the district must prepare its students for entering college, the workforce, the military, or any other area in which individuals have an interest. “As a board member, I will strive to help our school system have what it needs to prepare our students to meet our changing world. Technology! I personally believe there should be more technology-related classes for students in a week.”
Although there are other candidates with more experience than Aisha has, she believes her professional experience together with her technical skills and business sensibilities provide her with a firm foundation to fill the needs of a school board position.
Please consider Aisha Mahmood for a position on the Parsippany Board of Education. VOTE 4, 5, 6 November 3!
I am not going to mince words. You need to vote for our incumbent Board Members: Matt DeVitto, Debbie Orme, and Tim Berrios; and here is why.
Experience matters! COVID remains a reality that affects our town and our schools. The school district has worked tirelessly to maintain a viable educational experience for students while maintaining a safe environment for both students and staff. It is not the right time to elect new Board Members that may require 6 to 12 months before they are able to be helpful.
Special Education! Matt, Debbie, and Tim remain committed to our students who are most at risk. They have supported several new initiatives that benefit these students. The STRIVE Program; expansion of classes for students with behavioral disabilities; and expanding access to social workers and school psychologists are only some of the enhancements they have supported.
Fiscal Responsibility! Matt, Debbie, and Tim have consistently worked to ensure that the interests of taxpayers are represented while providing high-quality educational programs to our students. They have worked hard so that the school budget tax levy has stayed at or below a 2% increase. Don’t you wish all your elected officials had this fiscal responsibility? Have you received Mayor Soriano’s water bill yet? You will not be happy!
Text Messages! Has your cell phone privacy been invaded by unsolicited text messages from John Titus, Aisha Mahmood, and Nilesh Bagdai? These Parsippany Board of Education challengers sent out hundreds of unsolicited text messages to Parsippany residents soliciting votes for themselves. This is unconscionable. Matt DeVitto, Debbie Orme, and Tim Berrios would never do this. Please nix 456!
Dark Money! Signs, postcards and ads cost thousands of dollars. Matt, Debbie, and Tim are self-funding their campaign. Every dollar spent has been provided by these hard-working Board of Education Members. Not so with the 4-5-6 ticket of John Titus, Aisha Mahmood, and Nilesh Bagdai. They have accepted thousands of dollars from out of town sources. John Titus and Aisha Mahmood both received $1,000 each from the progressive Political Action Committee, Millennials for NJ. Why would out of town sources pour thousands of dollars into a board of education election? I have no answers.
Please re-elect the hard-working team of Matt DeVitto, Debbie Orme, and Tim Berrios. Honesty, integrity, and experience are more important now than ever.
Sincerely, Andy Choffo
I am writing this letter as a private citizen and not in my capacity as a Board of Education Member.
Fire at 92 North Beverwyck Road. Photo by Fireground Buff Network LLC
PARSIPPANY — An early morning fire caused damage to three businesses, Towne Vision, Upper Cutz and ITech Computer on North Beverwyck Road and minor damage to number of apartments.
A two-story fire at 90-92 North Beverwyck Road brought Lake Hiawatha Fire Department District 4, Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire District 5, and Town of Boonton RIC, Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance, Rockaway Neck Volunteer Ambulance, and Parsippany Rescue and Recovery to the scene at approximately 6:00 a.m.
Morris County Sheriffs’ investigation, Parsippany Police Department, Jersey Central Power, and Light as well as New Jersey Natural Gas was also at the scene.
American Red Cross also arrived to help the families displaced by the fire.
Fire at 92 North Beverwyck Road. Photo by Fireground Buff Network LLCFire at 92 North Beverwyck Road. Photo by Fireground Buff Network LLCFire at 92 North Beverwyck Road. Photo by Fireground Buff Network LLCFire at 92 North Beverwyck Road. Photo by Fireground Buff Network LLC
MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS), which provides blood for local patients, is looking for a few good volunteers. The blood drive volunteer is an integral member of the team whose tasks include assisting donors with registration and/or at the refreshment area.
No medical background necessary. Volunteers should be outgoing to provide friendly customer service and be able to perform tasks as needed. Must have transportation. All training is provided including additional precautions for the safety of our team and blood donors.
For additional information call or text Sharon Zetts, Manager, NJBS Volunteer Services at (732) 850-8906, Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
To apply online as a blood drive volunteer click here.
Senator Pennacchio welcomed word that the United States Department of Justice is actively investigating the COVID tragedies inside state-run veterans’ homes, and emphasized the need for the Senate to conduct its own inquiry
MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio welcomed word that the United States Department of Justice is actively investigating the COVID tragedies inside state-run veterans’ homes, and emphasized the need for the Senate to conduct its own inquiry.
According to published reports, in announcing the launch of a civil rights investigation the feds cited the state’s lack of cooperation with an earlier analysis and concerns about the quality of care at veterans’ facilities.
“It is unfortunate that it has come down to this, that the federal government is looking into the state’s troubling incompetency. At least somebody is listening,” said Pennacchio. “Along with colleagues in the Senate Republican Caucus, I have been saying all along that the Administration’s lack of transparency was troubling and unacceptable. We now know that they were not forthcoming with federal investigators.
“I am pleased that it appears the feds were listening when we called for their involvement in letters back in June and again on September 3, but this is no substitute for the Senate Select Committee with subpoena power we have been calling for since May. These are state-run nursing homes, and state policy put the residents and healthcare workers at risk,” Pennacchio said.
Reliable estimates, and numbers cited by the DOJ in announcing the investigation, show that almost 200 residents died from COVID at two veterans’ homes operated by the New Jersey.
“One of every three residents in the homes in Paramus and the Menlo Park facility in Edison lost their lives,” Pennacchio said. “Yet the Democrats in Trenton have consistently circled the wagons to protect the administration. Republican efforts to convene a select committee to review the impact of state policy and the decisions that may have contributed to the loss of life have been stymied at every turn as the whitewash continues.”
On Tuesday, it was revealed that another resident at the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home has tested positive for the virus. Sixty residents are awaiting results from their tests, according to NorthJersey.com.
In the first wave of COVID, 89 residents died at this one facility, and more than 200 residents and workers were infected.
“This is what we wanted to avoid, and if the Senate convened our committee in May when we first called for it, I am convinced nursing homes would be better prepared for new cases this winter,” Pennacchio said. “It is imperative that we hear from testimony from the insiders who know where the system failed, and know who failed the system.
“Every week that passes without a Senate investigation only makes it more difficult to prevent large-scale loss of life in our veterans’ homes and in nursing homes across the state where more than 7,100 vulnerable seniors were lost,” said Pennacchio.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Clerk Ann F. Grossi, Esq. advises that “The Morris County Clerk’s Office has received many calls from voters intending to cast their vote on a voting machine on Election Day.” This message clarifies what to expect at the polling location.
On August 14, 2020, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 177, stipulating that the 2020 General Election be conducted exclusively by mail-in-ballot, which included additional stipulations on how the election will be run.
Based upon this Executive Order, a limited number of polling locations will be open on Election Day. Each polling location will house an American with Disabilities compliant audio voting device. “This means that only voters having a qualifying disability, such as impaired vision, and/or conditions that affect a voters’ ability to write and fill out a ballot, etc., will qualify to vote on the machine. All other voters will not qualify,” said Clerk Grossi.
Voters who choose to vote at their polling location and do not qualify to vote on the voting mechanism may do so in the following ways:
1. Voters may personally deposit their completed mail-in-ballot package at their polling location. (May not deliver others.)
2. Voters who do not bring their completed mail-in ballot package with them to the polling location, may vote on a paper Provisional Ballot.
3. Provisional Ballots are counted after all vote by mail ballots are counted as they must be verified and checked against mail-in ballots received by the Board of Elections.
The Board of Elections is a separate and independent agency from the County Clerk’s Office responsible for receiving, verifying, and counting all paper ballots, polling locations, poll workers, and voting machines.
Click here or visit the Facebook page facebook.com/morriscountyclerk and Twitter account twitter.com/morrisctyclerk for updates and frequently asked questions pertaining to the 2020 General Election.
PARSIPPANY — “Earlier this month, the Republican-majority Township Council and I reluctantly, but unanimously, approved a plan increasing water and sewer rates by 39%. The Township auditor and budget consultant proposed – after an exhaustive fiscal analysis – that anything less than this action would leave the Township in a disastrous financial position.
I want to address the reasons for this increase, the history that led us to this point, and to separate the lies from the truth. Before I begin, let me say this: I am here to report to you the facts surrounding our Township’s finances.
Now, If you don’t trust me because of my political party, or from negative things you’ve heard about me or my administration, I really do hope that you’ll give me a chance. I never dreamt of having a political career. I left a secure, steady, and solid career to run for Mayor because I saw problems in our town that needed to be fixed. Those seeking favors from the Township often threaten me with votes. It never works.
It is my honor and privilege to serve you, and I believe true public service means looking out for the long-term interests of our community.
Now let’s start with some background. For several years, the Township has inched closer to a major shortfall in our water and sewer utilities. Until this year, water and sewer rates had not increased since 2006. Robbing Peter to pay Paul created a problem because it doesn’t allow for rising costs and flat revenue.
This crunch was inevitable given the Township’s long-standing reliance on the water and sewer funds to balance the municipal budget. Many have asked why these increases have happened in 2020, not in 2018 or 2019.
First, significantly smaller increases were proposed in 2018 and 2019. They were not approved. This compounded the growing shortfall. Second, this was the final year we could have kept the water and sewer rates stagnant without both utilities going bankrupt. A major rate increase and bankruptcy were our only options.
If I had a choice, there would’ve been no rate increase this year. But I did not have a choice. The Council did not have a choice. And if you were in my shoes, you would not have had a choice, either. Myself and the members of the Council – Democrats and Republicans – pay the same water and sewer fees that you do.
Why was this rate increase approved unanimously? Because all members of the governing body recognized the severity of Parsippany’s fiscal issues, with deep and longstanding roots in past budgeting practices. This drastic change could have been avoided years ago. In most towns, water and sewer rates increase by small amounts each year, and water and sewer funds are rarely transferred to balance the municipal budget. Regrettably, those principles weren’t followed here, and we’re paying the price today.
Unfortunately, a number of lies have emerged around this issue. I will address them directly.
PARSIPPANY — Charles J. Bedi, 81, passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at his home.
He was born in and raised in the Bronx. Charlie lived in Lake Hiawatha for 58 years.
Charlie was an Offset Printing Professional retiring from Graphic Packaging in Piscataway after many years.
He was a past chief and president of Parsippany Rescue and Recovery Squad in Lake Hiawatha.
He was pre-deceased by his late wife: Alicia E. (Morrison) who passed away on August 28, 2001, and his late son-in-law: Michael W. Coll who passed away on December 1, 2005.
Survivors include his partner of sixteen years: Margaret Calvetto; his sons: Charles Joseph and his wife Christine; Robert M. and his wife Debbie; his daughter: Karen L. Coll; and his nine grandchildren: Brian, Alicia, Colin, Molly, Ryan, Ben, Lauren, Christopher, and Nick. Charlie is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Liturgy of Christian burial Friday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church 179 Baldwin Road, Parsippany. Entombment: Private.
Visitation will be on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Par-Troy Funeral Home 95 Parsippany Road, Parsippany (973) 887-3235 or click here.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in his memory to Parsippany Rescue and Recovery P.O. Box 45 Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034
Charlie was on R&R for over 40 years and served as a judge of the parade committee. He was the one who fought for the building in Lake Hiawatha. He served this town with pride. They were his second family.He was on R&R for over 40 years and served as a judge of the parade committee. He was the one who fought for the building in Lake Hiawatha. He served this town with pride. They were his second family.
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council renewed the Retail Liquor License for Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas at its regular council meeting held on October 20.
In March 2019, Cinépolis USA, a leading world-class cinema exhibitor known for its enhanced movie-going concepts announced multi-million dollar renovations to enhance its existing New Jersey theater locations in Parsippany and Mansfield. Mansfield renovations have been completed.
Cinépolis closed its third New Jersey location. The Cinépolis Succasunna theater in the Roxbury Mall showed its last movie Sunday evening, January 5.
Following completion, both cinemas will offer guests an enhanced movie-going experience with fully-reclining leather seats, cutting-edge sound, high-definition projection technology, and an upscale lounge-style lobby to anchor the entry space. Additionally, both cinemas will offer in-seat food delivery when ordering hot food items from the new gourmet menu at the concession stand, or when ordered in advance through the Cinépolis USA mobile app.
Following its completion, the 38,865-square-foot project will encompass 12 film screens and 719 seats.
Parsippany location has been closed since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Cinépolis is located at 3165 Route 46, Morris Hills Shopping Center.
PARQ Parsippany Illustrative Perspective View Looking West
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board approved the PARQ proposal on Monday, October 5. The vote was 5-2. Ms. Judy Hernandez and Mr. Dominic Mele voted against the project.
The plan is for an upscale mixed-use development encompassing 75 high-end townhomes, 525 luxury apartments, 16,000 square feet of experiential retail, invigorating green spaces, and state of the art facilities to be known as PARQ Parsippany.
It will also include athletic fields and recreational facilities that will be integrated into the community for public events, sports programs, and open to Township residents.
PARQ Parsippany will usher in a new era of Lanidex Plaza, a suburban office complex built in the mid-1970s to early 1980s set on 45 acres with 450,000 square feet of commercial office space.
The transformation from Lanidex Plaza to PARQ Parsippany will meet the demand of the ever-changing needs of lifestyle for the next generation while reacclimating the property back into the fiber within Parsippany’s community.
The proposal includes 525 apartments located in Buildings 1 and 2 and 75 three-bedroom Townhomes. In addition Building 1 will contain approximately 2,600 square feet of retail (orange area) and Building 2 will contain approximately 8,140 square feet of retail (orange area).
The proposed development at Lanidex Plaza. The proposal includes 525 apartments located in Building 1 and 2 and 75 three-bedroom TownhomesBuilding 1 will consist of 275 units in a six-story building with an attached six-story parking garage. The building will consist of 17 studio apartments, 134 one-bedroom apartments, 60 two-bedroom apartments, and 4 three-bedroom apartments. In addition, it will include 12 low to moderate-income one-bedroom units, 36 low income to moderate two-bedroom units, and 12 three-bedroom low to moderate income housing.Building 2 will consist of 250 units in a six-story building with an attached six-story parking garage. The building will consist of 26 studio apartments, 144 one-bedroom apartments, and 20 two-bedroom apartments. In addition, it will include 12 low to moderate-income one-bedroom units, 36 low to moderate-income two-bedroom units, and 12 three-bedroom low to moderate-income housing.Typical Three-Bedroom Townhome
The Owners’ have carefully considered and listened to the Township to develop a vision that will reenergize the property and seamlessly integrate it with the design and planning to transcend expectations and complement the community.
The pool area with spa and sun shelf including, lounge seating and shade structure. The adjacent area includes BBQ grills, billiards, and ping pong and bar seating; Lounge seating with a fire pit.
The transformation of the property will commence with Phase I and II with anticipated completion in 2025. The development plan was crafted to accommodate the existing tenants in the complex.
The residential component will include luxury apartments with elegant hotel-style lobby, club suite, co-working alcoves, private event rooms, state-of-the-art fitness centers, resort-style pools with BBQ and lounge areas, and townhomes which will feature contemporary farmhouse style architecture with a private clubhouse, outdoor pool, and highly amenitized indoor and outdoor spaces.
Phase I includes the development of the 75 Townhomes. It is estimated that phase will take sixteen months to complete. Phase II includes Building 1, expected to take twenty months to complete. Phase III (Building 2) will start construction approximately twelve months after the completion of Phase II and will take approximately twenty months to complete.
This complex is being developed without any (Payment in lieu of Taxes) PILOT programs.
Editors Note: This project is also part of Parsippany’s COAH obligations which is currently in review at the Courts.
Click here to view the Planning Board Meeting of Monday, October 5.
During the meeting, resident Daniela Valenzano stated her concerns about bussing and overcrowding. She stated, “We are already at $3 million in bussing. All of my children went to Eastlake, Brooklawn, and Parsippany Hills. They were overcrowded then. They are overcrowded now.” The students would tentatively attend Eastlake School, Brooklawn Middle School, and Parsippany Hills High School. The complex is less than two miles from Eastlake School and approximately 2.3 miles to Brooklawn Middle School and 2.5 miles to Parsippany Hills High School.
Attorney Joseph O’Neil stated “The law provides that the school board is only responsible to bus children two miles or beyond. However, we have committed to providing for busing. It’s a school board’s discretion. It’s completely up to the school board. That’s the offer. And that stands out.” The applicant offered to provide “subscription bussing.”
Member Dominic Mele questioned “Mr. O’Neill regarding the main entrance off the road, it’s currently a private road, is it not? What is the intention of the applicant? The applicant would have to be responsible for snow removal is not correct.” Mr.O’Neill responded, “There’s a series of laws governing that and we will comply with that.”
Valenzano then stated “Because it’s going to deplete the resources and kill the taxpayers. So we’re either going to have to build new schools because you’re grossly underestimating the number of children that are coming into this development. You’re grossly underestimating the traffic; There are no air reports. I’m not even gonna get into that. We didn’t discuss it, but these buildings are got higher over COVID. They didn’t get smaller. They got higher. You try to squeeze in into two extra two bedrooms. Thank God the board shot that down. A lot of decisions were made without taking into consideration. The taxpayers are going to bore the brunt of this. We’re all sitting here on hold, waiting for answers. We’re taxed to death in this town. Our water and sewer bill is going up 39%. You’re telling us you have enough water at the last meeting. No one got to speak on that. Not one person here believes we have enough water for all of these projects you guys are doing. We’re going to be paying through the nose. I think we deserve an answer. That’s why we’re here for the third time. Just tell us what it’s going to cost.”
Board Attorney Scott Carlson said Truthfully the ability of these kids to access the school is really outside the (Planning) board’s jurisdiction tonight. What is within the borders? Jurisdiction is accessing on and off the site. And the applicant has provided testimony to that effect, whether or not that’s sufficient or insufficient. I leave that to the board. I’m not a deciding member. You know, air quality, these are the issues. These issues were decided long ago by the township council.”
During the public comment section resident, Iva Pohner said “As soon as the redevelopment plans became public, I have studied the plans and I’m shocked by an apparent disregard for health and well-being, the current and future residents of this community. My views are based on facts and studies but also based on common sense and deeply rooted fear for my health and the health of my family. Our small development is sandwiched between routes 287, 80, and very busy Parsippany Road. The traffic volume has steadily increased in one’s quiet and healthy space is now one of the most polluted places in the metropolitan areas. We all know that the interchange between 287 and 80 is bumper to bumper parking every morning and afternoon when people go to and from work. And it is also a major truck route. I’ve monitored air pollution on daily basis in the spring using a readily available iPhone app. And the pollution was the same as the busy streets of Manhattan… I think we should be looking to improve the situation for current residents and not subject future residents to this. The proposal was presented as modern and inspired. What is modern or inspired about the location of a playground and sports fields or apartment building right next to route 287 and 80, who will send their kids to play there?”
Former Mayor James Barberio said “This project will be a traffic nightmare for our residents, particularly residents in Lake Parsippany who know all too well that so many roads cannot handle the additional traffic caused by over 600 new housing units. The associated and the height of the project. My administration was presented with very similar proposals. We studied it and determined that the impacts on our town particularly traffic impacts just were enormously bad. I rejected proposals like this when I was Mayor because I knew then what I still know now, this project will ruin the quality of life for our Lake Parsippany community. My traffic experts concluded that this extra traffic would create unsafe conditions on Parsippany Road for residents needing to get into onto Parsippany Road from Lake Parsippany. I’ve listened to the testimony, and I didn’t hear any analysis to address that point, except that onsite. You can only vote with regards to onsite traffic, but basically, the onsite traffic is going to create a hazard for the off-site traffic.” He continued to say “I know the whole thing with the affordable housing, I’ve dealt with it, but I’ve had people sit there when I was Mayor, maybe one or two on the board, tried to beat me up with the Whole Foods, but you never got an affordable housing on it. Not one ounce of affordable housing on it. The bottom line is this. It’s unsafe. This will make proximity roads unsafe. I know the board members have a very, very tough decision to make, and I know your hands are tied. I know the COAH rules and fair share housing. I know all that. And my heart goes out to you because of whatever decision you make, it’s not going to be easy. Thank you for your time.”
“I’ve been concerned about this project from the start when over 2,000 units of housing were proposed for this complex,” Mayor Michael Soriano said. “While we were able to knock the unit count down by nearly three-quarters, I remain concerned about the strain this development will put on Parsippany Road and municipal services. Unfortunately, we are in a position where the courts are partially dictating development in Parsippany.”
In the closing statement, Joseph O’Neill said Thank you, Mr. Chairman, just thought I’ll thank the board for its time over these last three nights, I’ll remind you that we are here for a fully compliant application with the requirements that were adopted as part of the affordable housing plan adopted by the council. That was subject to years of discussion, both under the Barberio Administration and the current administration as to what that plan was going to look like. And at the ultimate adoption of that plan, Lanidex was included in that plan. An ordinance and overlay ordinance was adopted, and we comply fully with the requirements of that ordinance. The issues regarding traffic, all these other issues, we’ve addressed these issues as they applied to this application. If there are other issues that need to be handled in redevelopment, we can talk about that. The site was also designated for redevelopment. We should keep it just to what this application is, which is what you see before you, and part an important part of the plan. I know that the town is still in court with the plan. We’ll be attending a hearing on Wednesday. We look forward to reporting that the board approved this project. Thank you very much.”
Before a resolution was formalized, Attorney Joe O’Neill reminded the board “This ordinance was adopted as part of the plan that was adopted by the court. Now, the township hasn’t finalized that plan because of various issues that came up Normally, if you deny an application to fully comply with an ordinance, we just get a prerogative RIT lawsuit. But we would be forced to file a contempt proceeding that the township had violated its settlement agreement with the fair share housing. That would open up the township to additional issues. So it’s two-pronged. It’s really the normal prerogative RIT case you would have if you denied something. And all you’re supposed to be doing is measuring this application against the ordinance. Then the other issue is that ordinance was adopted as part of that plan. You can’t modify the plan in the way Councilman dePierro is suggesting, not at this point. So you would be in violation of that plan. I might be able to alleviate some of the concerns by offering that my client has just instructed. We will remove building 700 from the application. We don’t have to do that. That is beyond the ordinance requirements that were adopted but to facilitate and to address some of the concerns of the board, we’re willing to offer that.”
PARSIPPANY — Provident Financial Services, Inc. the parent company of Provident Bank, announced today that the acquisition of SB One Bancorp and its subsidiary, SB One Bank, closed effective July 31, 2020.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, each outstanding share of SB One common stock will be exchanged for 1.357 shares of Provident common stock together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares. The combined organization will have approximately $12 billion in assets and will rank as the 3rd largest bank headquartered in New Jersey. The merger brings together two high-performing companies with complementary geographies and business lines.
“We welcome the customers, employees, and shareholders of SB One to the Provident team. We also welcome Edward Leppert, Robert McNerney, and Anthony Labozzetta to our Boards of Directors. I especially look forward to Tony joining our executive management team as President and Chief Operating Officer,” said Christopher Martin, Chairman, and CEO of Provident.
Piper Sandler & Co. served as financial advisor and Luse Gorman, PC provided legal counsel to Provident. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company, served as a financial advisor, and Hogan Lovells US LLP served as legal counsel to SB One.
Provident Bank is located at 401 Smith Road, Parsippany.
Henal Patel, director of democracy and justice at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, said the “most egregious” problems reported to the election protection coalition of legal and advocacy groups were the delayed openings of polls in 
It is my pleasure to recommend Aisha Mahmood as she throws her hat into the ring for a position on the Parsippany Board of Education
He was pre-deceased by his late wife: Alicia E. (Morrison) who passed away on August 28, 2001, and his late son-in-law: Michael W. Coll who passed away on December 1, 2005.
