Carifi: “This mayor is sneaking in merit raises while Parsippany Residents struggle to get by and keep their jobs.”

Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr. today called on Mayor Barberio to be a responsible steward of taxpayer funds and take out exorbitant merit raises to a chosen few employees in his budget proposal.

“The mayor has distorted the REAL budget story and fails to tell Parsippany residents the underhanded maneuvers he pulled to hand out exorbitant raises for a chosen few while Parsippany residents are struggling to make ends meet and retain their jobs,” Carifi said.

“Mayor Barberio tried to sneak in huge merit raises, in addition to annual pay raises, without discussing it with the township council members during prior budget meetings. This is a violation of the public trust.”

“We should not be handing out merit raises during these challenging economic times when Parsippany residents are under constant threat of pay freezes, pay cuts, furloughs and layoffs. Handing out $5,000 merit raises in addition to two-percent annual raises for employees making more than $90,000 a year is irresponsible,” added Carifi. “Additionally, the mayor is trying to hand out raises to part-time employees that far exceed what most full-time employees are getting as their annual raise. Again, it is another reckless and irresponsible backdoor maneuver crafted by this mayor.

“Instead of recklessly handing out these raises, funds should go to programs that directly benefit residents and taxpayers. I am committed to supporting programs for seniors, families and improving the quality-of-life in this township. However, the mayor is tacking on merit raises to the budget proposal that will cost taxpayers plenty while he distorts and I will not support his underhanded tactics and this is the reason I voted no. I am being honest and forthcoming with the taxpayer, unfortunately the mayor hides from and deceives them.”

Snyder, approximately a one year old Labrador Retriever Mix was at Petco, 1111 Route 46, Parsippany, on Saturday waiting for it’s Furever Home.  The dog is up for adoption through Eleventh Hour Rescue. Synder also has a brother, Scully that was there looking for his Forever Home. You can visit Scully’s website by clicking here.

Eleventh Hour Rescue is a volunteer based, non profit, 501(c)3 organization that literally saves dogs and cats from death row.  They rely on the generosity of their volunteers to provide loving foster homes for our dogs and cats pulled from death row in high-kill shelters.  They invite you to explore their website and humbly offer you the chance to let one of our exceptional animals touch your heart the same way they each touch ours. Without the public, they couldn’t do what they do, and that is to simply give them a chance.  Without the public, the animals don’t stand a chance. For more information on these dogs visit their website by clicking here. You can also call them at (973) 664-0865.

Watch the kids of Central Middle School show off their many, many talents.

Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Paul Philipps announce that Doctor Fadi Bejjani, 56, of Roseland was indicted today after an investigation revealed that he was allegedly practicing medicine while his license was suspended. His practice was listed as Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery, located at 2932 Route 10, Morris Plains.

The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the Division of Consumer Affairs, filed a complaint against the defendant on June 5, 2012, charging numerous alleged violations concerning his practice of medicine including, but not limited to, the performance of surgeries that he was unqualified to perform; gross negligence committed in the performance of cosmetic and spinal procedures on at least nine patients; the failure to notify the Board of Medical Examiners of a prior charge of Driving a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence; pending disciplinary actions instituted in the State of New York with regard to his medical practice; a guilty plea in federal court for filing false federal tax returns; and other violations of Board of Medical Examiners regulations.

Subsequent to the filing of the complaint by the Board of Medical Examiners, defendant entered into a Consent Order on June 13, 2012, suspending his license to practice medicine in the State of New Jersey. An undercover investigator from the Division of Consumer Affairs visited Dr. Bejjani’s office in Parsippany-Troy Hills on July 26, 2012, for a consultation for cosmetic surgery. Allegedly, a consultation fee was provided to the defendant, the undercover investigator was examined as a patient, the surgery and surgical fees were discussed and the undercover investigator was provided with consent forms and instructions pertaining to the operation.

Defendant was indicted on two counts of Third Degree Unlicensed Practice of Medicine.

The defendant’s license to practice remains suspended and he is currently in custody in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, on charges of filing false federal tax returns. His expected earliest date of release is September 27, 2013.

The State is represented by Assistant Prosecutor/SDAG Julie Serfess with regard to these charges.

Acting Prosecutor Knapp thanks the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Division of Consumer Affairs, the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, whose efforts contributed to this result.

As far as the allegations of insurance fraud, Bejjani was found to have been falsifying tax returns since 2005, withholding thousands of dollars of income. In his plea agreement, Bejjani admitted he failed to include $139,381 as income on his personal federal tax return in the tax year of 2005; $127,532 in 2006, $161,135 in 2007, and $110,062 in 2008.

A press release issued by the national Department of Justice in May, 2012 said that Bejjani will be sentenced in on Tuesday, September 1 in Syracuse, New York.  Bejjani was a resident of Utica at the time he filed his 2005-2008 taxes.

His maximum term of imprisonment could be three years, with a fine of $250,000. In addition, he will be required to pay back a total of $164, 409 for the tax years 2005-2008.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Any inquiries can be directed to First Assistant Morris County Prosecutor/SDAG Thomas Zelante at (973) 285-6252 or tzelante@co.morris.nj.us.

It’s spring time! In this weeks episode we will be featuring pan seared salmon with balsamic sauce – fennel & onions, organic kale salad, oven roasted sweet potato fries,and citrus infused strawberries for dessert. We will also feature a “kids corner” power smoothie for.

The children at Rockaway Meadow wow and awe us with a spectacular circus performance.

The campaign sign above appears on a wooden fence on South Beverwyck Road are starting to appear all over town. The primary election will be held on Tuesday, June 4.

Parsippany’s Future members were out campaigning in the nice Spring weather.  The trio, running under the slogan “Parsippany’s Future” were seen on Pennsylvania Lane visiting the residents and discussing their platform for the upcoming Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, June 4. Robert Peluso and Louis Valori are seeking seats on the Parsippany-Troy Hills Council and Paul Carifi, Jr., is seeking the Mayor’s seat.

The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills hosted a community forum on Monday, April 22 at the Parsippany PAL Youth Center.

Guest speakers included Steve Liga, Dr. Frank Mattiace, Devin Fox, Christine Michaels, Elizabeth Thompson, Paul Ressler, Donovan Allieri and Sam Archambault.

NCADD-NJ Advocacy Leaders and partners organized and promoted this event to create an open dialogue between parents, youth, the public, elected officials and decision makes on issues affecting our community like underage drinking and prescription drug use.

How to can help… As a call to action regarding “Help for Today Hope for Tomorrow” community forum, NCADD-NJ encourages you to share the issues that you care about with your elected officials and community leaders and build a dialog with them.

Each state Senate and Assembly member, as well as Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio have offices you can schedule an appointment to share the issues you care about.  For a list of your elected officials click here.

Pictured above was one of the many exhibits on display during the event.  At left, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, President Robert J. Peluso.

Community action has never been so much fun. Lakers joined in to take part in the first “Jump in the Lake!” event on Sunday, April 28 at Island Beach, Mountain Lakes.

The brisk event is a benefit to help preserve the quality of life in our community organized by the Citizens for Health, Safety & Welfare (formerly Don’t Rezone Waterview) in partnership with the New Jersey Highlands Coalition. Proceeds will go towards funding research and hiring professional experts to address the community’s concerns regarding the proposed development at Waterview.

Before or after the splash, the guests enjoyed music, food, vendors and entertainment for the entire family. Prizes were awarded to the craziest outfits; largest sports, business or neighborhood teams; and biggest fundraisers. The Grand Prize for the top fundraiser is a hot air balloon ride for two donated by A Beautiful Balloon.

Citizens for Health, Safety & Welfare (C4HSW), formerly known as “Don’t Rezone Waterview,” has been extremely active in the past couple of months and has established a very well-oiled, highly sophisticated organization to respond to the Waterview development plan. I am sending you this note to keep you up to date about our activities.

C4HSW is a New Jersey non-profit organization with three trustees, a 9-person board of directors (president, vice presidents, secretary, treasurer), with no official “membership.”  Our organization is comprised of hundreds of supporters.  The Waterview Rezoning Proposal had its first hearing before the Parsippany Planning Board in October, 2012.  Almost no one attended since it was not well-understood or publicized.  At the next meeting in December, enough residents showed up (roughly 180) to shut down the meeting since the venue was filled over its capacity.  The word started to get out about Waterview in time for the next meeting that was rescheduled at the Parsippany High School.  Roughly 600 angry residents showed up for that meeting.  By late December, 2012, a small, loosely knit group of concerned citizens had banded together to create “Don’t Rezone Waterview” (ultimately renamed C4HSW).  In, February 2013, the Planning Board made its recommendation to the Parsippany Council in favor of rezoning Waterview.  The Waterview property is currently zoned POD for office buildings only.  The Planning Board followed the developer’s recommendation that the property be rezoned to include zoning for mixed residential and commercial.    By February, 2013, C4HSW had organized sufficiently to hire an attorney and one expert to represent the interests of the hundreds of residents who had shown up to these meetings and were denied to opportunity to present any evidence in opposition to the developer’s case.  The recommendation to rezone Waterview was then sent to the Council, where it currently awaits a decision.  At the last Council meeting, on March 19, 2013, the Parsippany Planner presented his version of the Ordinance to Rezone Waterview.  Strangely, this version included an entrance onto Intervale Road, owned by Mountain Lakes, which had been voluntarily removed in the Planning Board stage by the developer.

Kire Milevski, John Longo and Joe Hunt were on Parsippany Road promoting the car wash fundraiser for the Parsippany Hills High School Baseball team.

Gene and Ann Capozzi originally of Parsippany; celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a surprise party that was held in their honor on Sunday, April 21 at the Mountain Lakes Club.

They were married on May 25, 1963 in Newark and moved to Parsippany in 1969 where they settled to raise their family.

Gene was a senior sanitation inspector for the town of Parsippany.  They owned a coffee shop and deli for many, many years where Ann worked.

When the happy couple retired in 2007 they moved to Brick.

They have three daughters; Sharon and Ray Hogrelius of Rockaway, Denine Sebesto and John Bydook of Parsippany and Eugina and George Smith also of Rockaway.

They are the proud grandparents of Raymond and Kevin Hogrelius, Michael and Alyssa Sebesto and Cassandra and Christopher Smith.